Chapter 43 - Erza's determination

At the time I arrived back at home it was already morning, even though I tried to sleep up until noon I couldn't get a wink of sleep…

My frustration was too high to let my consciousness fade, also too big to realize I can literally force myself to sleep with magic…

Nice job genius!

I decided insomnia was the least of my worries and went to the guild, only to see a bunch of half dead kids being dragged by two full grown ȧduŀts with grins on their faces.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry at this point!

Oh, that's phrase is one off my bucket list. Sweet.

Erza seemed to be missing so I decided I'd ask Gramps if he had seen her, he's quite likely to have noticed whether someone was at the guild or not after all, being the one who watches over them.

"Hey, Gramps." I walked up to him and waved as he drank some ale from his mug.

"Yo, Arthu-… Erm… What happened to you…?" He replied, giving me a weird look.

After having spent over twenty four hours without sleep, I probably looked like a zombie at the moment.

"Hahaha… Well, I wasn't able to sleep much last night…" I replied with a wry smile.

"Mmm, if you're feeling unwell it might be best to retire back to your bed my boy. Sleep deprivation isn't exactly a nice thing you know." Gramps said, concern riddled across his face and in his voice.

"Don't worry Gramps, I feel fine. I'll get some sleep when I get back home, first off all I wanted to ask if you've seen Erza walk in today or not?" I said, awaiting for his response.

"She hasn't entered the guild hall at all today nor yesterday, which is weird to say the least… Usually unless she's on a job or training you'd end up finding Erza here spending most of the free time she has." Gramps replied, giving the matter some thought.

"Yeah, we were together most for most of yesterday, sort of doing a job." I replied.

"That so? Well, I don't know the details but it does sound a tad worrisome, however knowing her she's probably fine." Gramps gave his final input on the matter.

"Alright then… Seeing as Cana and Ultear are most likely in the process of entering the next world, I'll go ask Levy if she knows where she is. Thanks Gramps! I'll be seeing you later." I said and started walking off.

"Aye! I'll be waiting right here my boy, hahaha!" Gramps said with a laugh while raising his mug.

Soon after parting with the old man, I walked up to where Jet, Droy and Levy were seated.

Good ol' team shadow gear! Even though they're kinda young at the very moment.

"Hey guys, mind if I sit with you?" I asked, leaning on the table's edge.

"Sure thing Arthur, is there something you nee- What the hell?" Droy replied, a bit baffled at my sleep deprived appearance.

I however simply sat down at his voice of approval.

"It's just that I wanted to ask if Levy had seen Erza today or not." I said, shifting my half closed eyes to Levy.

"O-Okay but… Don't dodge the question maybe?" Levy said, a bit curious as to what had happened to me.

"I didn't get enough sleep, so anyway. Do you know where she is?" I asked again.

"Now that you mention it she hasn't been here all day." Jet commented.

"Yeah, she really hasn't. Weird… She wasn't here yesterday either was she?" Droy also said.

"Ah! That's on me, we were doing something together all day yesterday." I said raising my hand. "So, how about it Levy? You know anything?" I asked once more to the shy silent girl.

"I… Um… I think she spend most of the morning in her room before storming out in a quickened pace… I'm not sure where she went, maybe the forests? It was about when I came over to the guild so I ended up seeing her as she left… I uh… Overslept…" Levy said shyly, as if embarrassed because of oversleeping.

Was she perhaps reading books all night? My past life can relate.

As well as anime and manga of course!

"Cute…" Jet and Droy muttered under their breaths in unison.

"Okay, thanks for the info. If you guys need any help sometimes let me know okay?" I said giving a friendly smile and standing up from the table.

"No problem Arthur, and yeah I'll be sure to do that if something comes up!" Levy replied with a smile.

"See you later dude!" Jet waved good bye with a grin.

"Yeah talk to you later!" Droy similarly waved goodbye too.

Now having gained the information I needed, I teleported in the middle of the forest on Magnolia's outskirts.

Once I was there, I quickly activated Clairvoyance and Search to find Erza's exact location… Wait, why didn't I just do this in the first place?

I need to sleep…

Upon reviewing what I saw, she seemed quite haggard. Nearly her entire repertoire of weapons were laying on the ground as she panted heavily, her exhaustion was evident but a domineering aura could be felt even through my clairvoyance's vision.

Erza took a deep breath with her eyes shut before suddenly opening them and using her magic to take control of every weapon left on the ground.

She lifted them all up at once, before making them dance across the rocky fields of the forest clearing! She always held mastery with the control of weapons but on such a scale it began to strain her to even do it for mere moments.

The weapons fell back to the ground together with Erza as she fell to her knees.

At that point I teleported next to her, now seeing the field of weapons with my own eyes.

"Yeesh, it's like that unlimited blade works thing Shirou has…" I muttered as I stood next to the panting Erza.

"A-Arthur?" She said, still unable to catch her breath.

"Wassup?" I asked, now looking at her.

Before she replied I quickly sat down next to her and awaited for said reply.

"I'm training… Obviously." She replied, unable to look at me.

"Yeah, I can see that." I said, -"Lazarus?"- I proceeded to call on the sword with telepathy.

-"She's thinking of her strength as insufficient again, after yesterday's events"- The talking magic sword replied.

"Huh? What does that supposed to mean? Erza, were you not gaining confidence just yesterday? What happened?" I asked a series of questions.

"It's not… It's not enough… I thought I'd made myself strong by passing the exams but…" She said with a pause.

"But? Erza, you're an S class wizard. You beat Laxus, someone who can be said to be really strong! Heck originally he was dubbed the fifth strongest member aside from master, the S ranks and me!" I said, voicing my encouragement.

"Even so… The moment my information turned out to be wrong I became useless, I had nothing else to put up on the table to help… All my determination felt wasted, not to mention that if I had told you when you asked originally it might not have been too late at the time… The deal breaker was when I realized I was slowing you down just by being there…" Erza said in a self-deprecating tone.

"Erza! I-…" I started talking, but nothing came out my mouth.

To think, my own choice of having her return home would… Put a blow on her psyche like that.

…

That was until, Erza broke the silence.

"I have to do better. I have to train until I reach your level Arthur, I won't stop until I'm no longer a burden to you or anyone else." Erza said, looking up towards the field of swords.

She stood up, recalled every weapon from the ground back in her requip inventory and walked to the side of a huge cliff that was just overhead of her.

"I don't think of you as a burden." I said, looking to her and waiting to see what she would do next.

"I know. But I think of myself as one." Erza said, grasping the hilt of Lazarus.

Lazarus immediately spoke outside of telepathy.

"Hold on Erza! What are you doing? You're not ready for this!" The swords' booming voice echoed across the forest.

"Yesterday reminded me I can't think half-heartedly about improving." Erza said, as Lazarus' blade started glowing brightly. "We've been doing jobs as a team for over a year now, I have to say… I enjoy being with you. But I don't want to be just a companion you take along for fun joy rides, I want us to stand together as equals!" She said as I listened attentively.

The blue runes on the snow white sword shined as bright as a torch in the pitch black night, Erza wound up the sword with both hands to her side, readying herself to strike towards the cliff.

It was a mere cliff, yet it felt like Erza was challenging every opponent she would ever face with that one strike of hers!

Once the blade went into motion, the blinding light shone as bright as daylight! Sword slashing through the air with nothing more than pure skill and determination, Erza unleashed all of her Magic Power with that one attack.

The sound crumbling rocks echoed through the area, as the huge cliff slid off its ledges and fell in front of Erza, shattering on impact.

"Erza…" I said, having been struck by her spirit and determination had left me speechless.

She turned around, looking me straight in the eyes with her own. She bore a valiant figure akin to that of a warrior you'd hear about in a fairy tale.

The sun shone over her face, revealing her faint smiling features as she spoke a few domineering words.

"I will be more than just a simple S ranked mage from Fairy Tail, I will continue to rise further and further until I reach the top! Until I become the Queen of Fairies herself even!" Erza said, her voice bringing about a sense of Might and Valor.

Before I could even react to such a bold statement, which held true to her future moniker of Titania, the fairy queen. Erza's eyes lost their light, closing up as all strength left her body and she began to fall.

"Erza!" I shouted, running up to her fast enough to catch her before she fell.

"Erza, are you okay? Wake up, will you!" I said, nervous that she might have done something to herself by using Lazarus too early.

Originally when she wielded him on Crego island, she had used her own soul as fuel according to Lazarus. Else she'd have never been able to use him, but because of the unique circumstances it left no lasting effects…

What about now?

-"Calm yourself, Arthur. She'll be fine."- Lazarus spoke, once more with telepathy.

"Lazarus… Are you sure? She wasn't supposed to wield you yet so-" I got cut off.

-"Do not worry, in the end I managed to limit the output of her power and my own. She only used her entire supply of magic power in the last strike so she needs to rest now."- The sword explained.

"Haaaa…" I sighed in relief, "Why did she have to go and do that? Nearly scared me half to death when she started falling…" I said, scratching the back of my head.

-"You dolt, she was showing you her resolve! Even though I mostly hit the brakes, she was trying to create a damn hole in the mountain!"- Lazarus said, a bit irritated at his partner in crime.

"Her resolve… huh?" I muttered, thinking things over.

So Erza doesn't want to be left behind by me, huh? Well… That sounds like a damn challenge if I ever saw one!

"Alright Erza, have it your way. Starting tomorrow we'll be doing our own private boot camp! I'll make you regret that resolve so be ready!" I said, grinning at Erza whom I was still holding.

"Oh, wait. She's unconscious… Damn I'm really inattentive today." I shrugged off, deciding it was best to bring Erza home so she could rest.

-"She's been out here for about an hour yet she already spent herself entirely, I definitely need to scold her a bit on overtaxing her body…"- Lazarus commented as I opened a gate leading to Fairy Hills.

"You'd better, I hope she doesn't do anything reckless again. Training is a slow process after all!" I replied, walking through the gate and into the building.

Some of the women at the establishment gave me a weird look, as usually you wouldn't see any men at Fairy Hills which was known for being a female only housing for any women of Fairy Tail.

Though once they saw who I was and who I was carrying, they led me to Erza's room where I nestled her in her bed. Leaving Lazarus next to her as well.

-"Well then, I'll be leaving now. I think I also need some sleep…"- I said through telepathy.

-"Yes, I'll send your message to Erza once she wakes. Surely she'll be thrilled about more training… Seeing how she was acting and all."- The sword seemed like it was about to sigh, however he held it back and continued. "I'll be seeing you tomorrow Arthur. Take care." Lazarus concluded.

Not long after, I found myself back in my comfy bed at home.

It was a relatively short day, though for me it was mostly a continuation of yesterday as I never got to sleep.

I really do need to go now though, insomnia is bad for one's health after all.

"Well then, be it day time or not. Good night! {Sleep}." I uttered, falling deep into dream land upon the echo of my words.

…

(3rd Person POV)

While Arthur and Erza had fallen asleep, sleeping through the entire day like it were all but natural, the guildhall had mostly been as it was normally.

Rowdy and fun.

Of course, the now resting figures of their group of friends could be spotted in the middle of it all, wondering where their two friends might have gone off to.

As Levy and her two fan boys were explaining that Arthur had gone off to search for Erza a couple hours prior to now, the guild doors suddenly opened up and a slender person with pale white skin, black hair, green eyes and a pure white coat walked in, gaining the attention of everyone present.

He was obviously not a member of the guild, so perhaps was he a client?

"Good day, may I ask whom among you is named Arthur Wulf?" The pale man spoke with an indifferent, yet polite tone.

The guild master, Makarov stood up from his seat and walked up to the man.

"He ain't here, but perhaps I could ȧssist you?" Makarov inquired.

"If you could point me as towards his general location, then yes. You can indeed ȧssist me." The man said, still indifferent.

"Well, he was here a few hours ago. Now I'm not so sure as to where he is." The old master said with a shrug.

"I see. Well then, I will return at another time." The man said, turning around to leave the premise.

"What's your name lad? Perhaps I could send him a message whe-" Makarov began asking, yet by the time he realized it.

The pale man had long since vanished from the guildhall.