Chapter 20

Sometimes one can feel like a proud mother for all the wrong reasons. Archer found herself experiencing that emotion as she watched Wendy school the poor bandit that decided to attack them. There was a whole group of them and once Archer determined their strenght she didn't hesitate to throw Wendy at one of them. Yes, she had her moments of using Wendy as a weapon. It wasn't often and it wasn't for dumb reasons. By throwing her towards the man she helped the child build up enough speed to increase the strenght of her feet coliding with the fool's face. While that happened Archer and Erza decided to handle the other men before they could even touch the carriage they were guarding. They chose the wrong day to plan such an attack. I'm sure that one guy was not expecting a bullet in the form of a toddler to be sent to his face. Wendy has had enough hand to hand training to be capable of handling the fumbling bandit. She knew to use her size to her advantage. She manipulated the air with trained ease and was giving the man a run for his money.

Grandeeny would be proud of the little fighting machine she trained.

Well, Archer was the one who taught her all her hand to hand combat. She taught her a style that would help her very much. Using the air with her moves was perfect.

At some point the four year old ended up standing on the unconscious man's ċhėst after a wing attack knocked him out. She stared at him a bit confused before looking towards Archer and pointing at the man.

"He won't get up"

"Good job. Go for that man, he's very bad" Archer threw a stone at the man she was indicating, striking him in the head and caused him to collide with a tree with the force of the hit.

"She's impressive " Erza said as she dropped her defeated bandit casually and sliced through the air, taking care of two more. "She incorporates her magic into her fighting style very easily and her way of fighting makes use of her size"

"Nice observation" Archer threw another stone and knocked out four bandits almost immediately. Another stone was sent flying, knocking down the one closest to the carriage causing the other to trip over his body. "Guess who taught her"

"I could tell by that proud look in your eyes"

Archer grinned under her mask as she manifested a white bow out of thin air. She pulled back the string, a fiery arrow forming as she did. She was calm as she aimed it at three other bandits. Once released the arrow split in three and struck the bandits in the ċhėst. They crumpled to the floor unmoving. They won't be moving for a full week. Their body cannot handle the flames of a Phoenix, even the weakest of said flames.

Archer glanced at Wendy just in time to see her standing on the ċhėst of her second victem before taking to the air in time to dodge another bandit. She kept herself in the air and prepared her powerful roar.

Erza and Archer saw opportunity and grabbed the last two bandits, throwing them towards the one about to be hit by the incoming roar. They crashed on top of each other and could not untangle themselves in time to dodge the attack

"You sure showed them" Archer laughed as she caught the little girl. She was beaming with happiness at her success and the compliment she received from Archer.

"You were amazing Wendy"

"Thank you big sis Erza" Wendy giggled in her joy and jumped over into the redhead's arms.

"Big sis? "

"Look a that" Archer chuckled even as she struck a bandit in the head before he could get up.

She threw him against a tree, placing a hard boot to his ċhėst and looking him in the eyes.

"Speak or suffer"

The poor soul was quick to crumble under her burning gaze and spilled everything he knew. When he could deal no more information Archer let him run away, ignoring the multiple thanks he sobbed out.

"Do you know anything about a dark guild by the name of bleeding heart? " Archer asked the blonde coachman.

He paled at the name and nodded. The name seemed to attract the woman inside the carriage for she stepped out despite the protest of the man who was with her. She was a very regal woman, dressing as elegantly as a queen. Despite the air she let off she wasnt as bad as one would think. She had a stern gaze and cold aura, but Archer can tell a person's true character easy enough.

"Were those bandits sent by that guild? " she asked calmly to which Archer nodded. She could read the look in the woman's eyes. The news angered her.

"Those scum"

"Is there something I should know, ma'am? "

"Tell me, do you know the Amethyst? "

"Ah, yes I do. He was one of my contractors a few days back"

"He's my cousin and he was the one who recommended you two to me. He said that despite your young age you are very competent wizards, a fact which was proven moments ago" there was a ghost of a smile on her face as she said that. "If you know dear Oliver than you must know that slimy Everett "

"Yes, we know of him"

"He is part of this dark guild although he denies this whenever brought up. I know without a doubt that he is behind all of this. All he cares about is his money and will stop at nothing to get it"

"Do you have something he wants? "

"Yes, you must know of the artifact that has been in our family for years" she revealed a familiar little box, but it was not the one they were hired to protect. "There are three of them. One is with my cousin. One with me and the other's location is confidential"

"He wants the artifact " Erza sighed. "He failed to snatch the one from Mr. Amethyst and decided to go after Lady Emerald"

Archer had a feeling when she heard the woman's last name.

"If that is what's going on I ask you not to worry ma'am " Archer reassured. "We will make sure he does not get his hands on your priceless treasure and keep you safe on this journey"

"I thank you" The woman curtsied before eyeing Wendy, who had been paying close attention. "I would like that child to ride with me, I do not feel right having her out here with you despite her capabilities "

"Are you sure? You don't have to, she's fine with us"

"Yes I am sure, I wish for her to join me, unless she does not want to" Lady Emerald said with the kindest smile they had seen her with. "I have lots of treats I'm sure she'll enjoy and I would feel safer having a brave little wizard by my side"

Archer chuckled at her words. She knew what she was doing. A lot of people took a liking to the cute little Wendy. She knew the she would like her. She must probably awaken her maternal instincts.

"Do you want to, Wendy? "

The girl nodded. "Lady Emerald is really nice"

"She is isn't she" Erza said with a giggle as she handed the happy child over to the smiling woman.

"You are the cutest thing" She said with a coo. "I promise to award you for your acts of bravery"

"She is quite adorable" the man at her side said looking defeated. He sighed and held the carriage door open for the woman, stepping in after her.

"Of course Wendy gets the royal treatment " Archer said amused as they continued along .

"I doubt anyone can ignore her charms" Erza said.

"Truer words have never been said"

~~~~

Coming into the town that is their destination the two followed the carriage to an impressive mansion. They hadn't stumbled upon any trouble after the bandits, but Archer was sure another attempt would be made. She had a feeling the wizards of the dark guild itself would be coming to handle the situation this time. If Everett returns she will escort him to the magic council. Thinking of it, she wondered if he was related to the bakery owner they caught on their first mission. They had the same last name. What are the odds of them being family?

They were invited into the home of lady Emerald and given their own room to spend however long it is they wanted to. Archer was not focused on most things. There was a very strong pull in the mansion . Could the woman have collected her keys like her cousin? Most likely. She felt the pull of two keys. The other key was some distance away but not too far from the town.

Archer decided to bring up the issue with her keys when the opportunity presented itself. Surprisingly it was Lady Emerald who brought the subject up.

"My cousin has told me that you retrieved the keys he held as treasure after many failed attempts of removing them from their protection" she spoke as she lead the girl down a hallway. "He told me that these keys belong to you and hence can only be collected by you"

They came to a stop In front of double doors that were pushed open by the butler that followed them. The room wad filled with priceless objects just like that of Mr. Amethyst . The two really were family. Archer was quick to locate two keys behind glass cases. She smiled upon seeing the ruby keys. Skiadrum and Weisslogia always stick together. You wouldn't find one without the other.

Archer approached the cases observing the keys withing. Skiadrum's key was drifting in literal shadows the only way of knowing it was there was the glow of the key itself. It had it's own design in the form of a shadow wrapping around the bow of the key. With Weisslogia it was the complete opposite. It was odd to look at. It was enguled in a white glow that hid the key almost completely.

"These keys do not allow anyone to get close to them. The darkness or white glow around them would swallow them up completely when someone reaches around three inches close to them"

Archer hummed and opened the first glass case. She reached out towards Skiadrum's key, easily grasping it. Upon contact the darkness around it faded and the key was within her palm. The next glass case was opened and she retrieved Weisslogia just as easily. She held the two between her fingers, a smile of success on her face.

"I thank you for allowing me to retrieve my keys"

"It's the least I can do"

"You're as kind and generous as your cousin , ma'am "

"I would like to think that our parents raised us properly"

~~~~~~

"What are you doing? " Erza asked as she eyed Archer who was seated on the windowsill. She was staring out into the night air with an intent gaze.

"Keeping an eye out" Archer said simply. "They will be back, it's best we be prepared"

Wendy moved to stand by the window with Archer, staring out as intently as the elder was. She didn't see anything nor did she smell any unfamiliar scents nearby.

"There's no one out there"

"Not right now, but there will be at some point"

"Oh" Wendy tried and failed to climb onto the windowsill. She looked to Archer for help but the girl shook her head.

"We wouldn't want you falling off now, would we? ".

"But you wouldn't let that happen"

"You're right, but you're still not coming up here"

Wendy pouted and returned to Erza, who giggled at her expression. She was genuinely disappointed. With the help of Erza she managed to climb into the big bed and secured herself under the soft blanket.

"Going to bed already? " Erza asked.

Wendy hummed in response. "It's an hour past my bedtime"

"You're allowed to rebel" Archer said amused.

"I want to sleep"

"Suit yourself, you're still a baby after all"

"No I'm not".

"You actually are" Erza informed.

"See, Erza knows "

"How am I a baby? "

"Because you're four years old. " Archer said.

"Baby can be used to refer to any child from birth to age of four years old" Erza informed. She had learned of such thing after listening to Levy ramble one day.

"Oh" Wendy said quietly in her realization. "So Sting and Rogue aren't babies? "

"No, they are five thus not in that category " Archer said

"Okay" Wendy seemed in thought. "So big brother Natsu was right"

"Surprisingly, yes"

Archer glanced back out the window when a couple of new scents made themselves known. Wendy must've caught onto them as well because she was suddenly sitting up in bed

"Are they here? " Erza asked as she placed a hand on her sword.

"Yes" Archer stood on the windowsill, summoning her bow and pulling back the string. A familiar fiery arrow formed between her finger and she carefully aimed her weapon at the unsuspecting targets.

She smiled and let the arrow silently travel through the air at incredible speed. It split off into four smaller arrows and each hit a target.

"Shall we disable them before they get a chance to enter the mansion? " Archer asked

Erza nodded before easily jumping through the window with her sword drawn. The poor bastards didn't even know what hit them. They were on the ground within seconds. This alerted the rest of them, putting them on guard.

"Wendy, let's play"

Wendy recognized those words and quickly approached Archer. The older girl picked her up and aimed her at a group of wizards, already activating their magic.

"You see those guys? ".

Wendy nodded.

"Hit them with your best shot"

Wendy nodded again and accepted the ball of air Archer offered her. Archer's elements taste differently than nornal elements. It was a conclusion they all came to after tasting her version of their elements. Archer's air was pure and not contaminated by the dirt in the air. It was far more nutritious and a small ball was enough to fully restore Wendy's energy along with giving her magic an impressive boost

When she released her roar of air it was twice the size and moved twice as fast. Even when it hit its target it didn't immediately disappear, but took the form of a tornado dealing more damage.

"Nice job" Archer ruffled her hair when her attack finally faded, leaving eight unconscious men.

"Thank you"

"You're welcome, now it's time for bed" Archer placed her back in the bed and covered her up.

"But I want to help"

"You've done enough for today. Go to sleep, it's already past your bed time after all" Archer pulled on her mask and returned to the windowsill.

Wendy watched her manifest her bow again.

"I'll return in less than ten minutes"