Chapter 23

The magic council. Archer did not see herself visiting the place so soon, but here she was. Erza was at her side and very quiet. She was nervous of course. Taking on an S-class mission while not being of that rank is punishable. Very punishable. Even so, Erza still came along despite Archer telling her she did not need to . Archer was very calm about it. In fact Erza was sure there was a smile under that mask of hers. Erza could not adopt her calm, but she was skilled enough at conceiling her emotions. She took a deep breath and pushed her nervousness away, following after the carefree Archer. At the doors to the building stood two rune knights acting as guards. The minute they noticed the two they stood up straighter and ordered them to stop.

"State your business"

Archer pulled the mission sheet out of her pocket and showed it off.

"We've completed this mission "

The two men looked very skeptical. Archer expected no less. They were ten year olds after all. She held up the tiny ball hiden within flames. With her command it expanded enough to make those within visable. The rune knights widened their eyes in shock and eyed the phoenix child coutously

"Who are you? "

Archer sighed, the flame prison reverted to the small size it originally was. She pocketed the mission, her hands remained where they were and she stepped forward. The guards would not hesitate to detain her, but of course Archer was having none of that. They were frozen before they could even make a move.

"That's going to get you in trouble" Erza stated as she walked past the frozen soldiers and caught up to Archer.

"Eh, I doubt the higher ups will punish me" Archer said as she pushed the massive doors open. Eyes were on them and before anyone could open their mouths or do anything they were frozen on the spot.

"You're just going to freeze everyone until you get to the chairman? "

"Yup " Archer proceeded up the stairs with complete nonchalance.

"Again, you could be punished"

"Not very likely"

And so they continued through the massive building. Anyone who made a move to question or stop them were frozen on the spot and Archer just continued on. She would usually let these distractions take place. It was amusing. She didn't mind entertaining the poor souls, but she wanted to see what the chairman would do with them. Obviously he would not punish them. Archer had a smile on her face as she traversed the halls of the building. They passed a couple of employees who hardly paid them mind. Lucky them. Had they tried to do anything they would've ended up like the rest who tried.

"Here we are" Archer came to a stop in front of massive doors. What's the point of such doors? It was just for show. The big door just means someone important resided within. Important buildings tend to have massive doors. Archer pushed the thought away and pushed the door open, not at all caring about what could be taking place within. The minute she stepped into the room spears were aimed at her and Erza. She raised an eyebrow, amusement glimmered in her eyes. She looked up, meeting the eyes of the old man towering over them. She smirked when his eyes widened.

"Stand down"

The soldiers followed their order and stepped back.

"Leave"

And they did.

"Hello old man" Archer waved, her tone was very friendly.

"You" the man eyed her cautiously. What was a phoenix child doing in his office? He did not know they still existed. He wasn't sure that actually existed to behind with. They obviously did. He was looking at one. A child, but still dangerous. It wasn't hard to identify Archer as one of them. She had the eyes. The phoenix red eyes that burned into him. Those eyes burned with knowledge he would never obtain. With wisdom far beyond her years. "Phoenix child , what do you want? "

"My reward" She threw her flaming prison on the ground and it expanded, releasing her prisoners. "Me and my partner have brought you every member of the bleeding heart guild. The building was burnt to the ground and everything valuable was also gathered"

Doma eyed the girl. He noted the guild mark on her exposed shoulder and tensed. Of all the guilds for the child to join it had to be that one. She just had to join the most destructive guild in Fiore. Just great. He sighed. That makes things harder. He was hoping she was without a guild. That would be far easier. He could've recruited her to do his bidding if she had let him. Judging from the air of nonchalance she had, he had a feeling she would've if he made it worth her while. But seeing as she is in a guild he could not do that. He also had a feeling she was not yet S-class. The same would go for her partner. That meant they took on a mission exceeding their rank. That is punishable. He would have to punish them

Yeah, he would not he doing that.

He would not risk angering a Phoenix. It's best to stay on her good side. He doesn't know a lot about her family but he does know that they are ridiculously powerful people or creatures. He wasn't so sure when it came to what they were. They could be humans or actual phoenix. No one really knew.

He looked at her, avoiding her eye. She was staring. Her stare made him uneasy. Unlike most people she did not seem afraid of his judgment . She was very calm and casual as she watched him. She watched him as if she was trying to decipher his existence . As if she was judging him. Judging his worth. He did not know what she was thinking. All he did know was that she was very dangerous and it's best to stay on her goodside.

He cleared his throat.

"I see you have joined the fairy tail guild " he spoke, regaining his composer. He then eyed the redhead. He could not punish Archer but he could punish Erza. She was not as important. "I'm ȧssuming you do not have clearance for that mission"

"That is correct"

"Such a thing is punishable"

"I'm aware" Archer shrugged. "What shall my punishment be? Shall I not receive the reward? Will I be banned from taking any more missions? Will my advance in ranks be compromised? "

Doma opened his mouth to speak, but Archer's gaze changed just slightly. That slight change was enough for him to freeze on the spot.

"I understand that you do not want to punish me for multiple reasons" the girl spoke. "You don't want to get on my bad side because I'm dangerous, right? "

She didn't wait for him to respond.

"Well, if you plan on punishing my partner you will end up on my bad side. " again her gaze shifted. It was no longer so intense. The casualness returned. "No one wants that right? I'm sure we all want to be friends"

Erza glanced at the cheerful Archer. For a moment all trace of cheerfulness was gone. Erza shook her head. No. Not completely all. She didn't lose every ounce of cheerfulness. She was serious but did not let that be the dominant emotion. Her cheerfulness overpowered the seriousness in her tone and that is how she ended up sounding so happy at the last sentence. It was a quick shift in mood, but apparently enough to affect the chairman. Erza has heard a lot about the council and of course the chairman. He makes all the decisions. Disrespecting him could land someone in jail or worse. Watching him now, she noticed how apprehensive he was . He hardly focused on her. All his focus was on Archer. He seemed uncomfortable under her gaze, but hid that fact quickly. Erza caught it though. It seems even he cant stand her stare. Erza looked back to Archer. The name of her family has enough power to affect Gran Doma to the point where he does not want to do anything to upset her. He knew who she was the minute she stepped foot into the office. The same went for Makarov. She had noticed how quickly recognition flashed in his eyes. There was an obvious history behind Archer's family and now she was curious.

"Ah, well... " the old man cleared his throat. "You have completed the mission despite not having clearance" he cleared his throat again. "However, you two are obviously competent wizards and as such I shall grant you your reward"

Archer smiled behind her mask.

Look at that. She made Gand Doma bend over. Getting into the council will apparently be far easier than she thought.

Five million jewel split two ways is two and a half each. Again, Erza earned a large sum of money by attending a mission with Archer. She didn't know what to do with the money. She still had more than half remaining from her last big reward. She'll just save the money then. As the two walked through the halls of the building again, everyone was released from the spell Archer trapped them in. They really couldn't do anything because they all stumbled out of the spell and were not fast enough to catch them before Archer teleported them out.

So that brings up a question

"You can use teleportation magic and yet we take the train or use the dragons" Erza pointed out.

Archer shrugged.

"May I ask, why your name affected the chairman so much? You didn't even need to introduce yourself. He already knew who you are just by looking at you"

"My family has distinguishing features. The long silver hair, androgynous appearance and of course the red eyes. It mattered not that I had my mask on, if one had heard of my family and is wise enough to understand the danger, they will take caution" Archer said simply. "Doma sees me as a danger and he apparently knows of the power I hold. As such he does not want to risk upsetting me because I could end him just like that. Although uf he had punished me I would not have minded. I think everyone should be treated fairly. But I knew that would not happen"

"I'm really curious about your family now" Erza admitted.

"You're not the first. Any who know of the phoenix are curious. They are not sure if they exist. They will however know when they meet one" Archer informed. "We're not hard to notice of we want to be noticed"

"You want to be noticed? "

"By certain people, yes" Archer nodded. "It's crucial"

"You know, Master Makarov and gran Doma recognized you. Isn't the mask useless? "

Archer chuckled at that. "Maybe"

"Why did I expect a straight answer from you"

"Because you still believe" Archer tugged on her scarf. "I wear the mask to help hide my identity. The old men wouldn't know who I am if I did not want them to. A look into my eyes will tell them everything I want them to know. I like my mask because I like to be hidden. Besides with the mask I could always commit something illegal and get away with it"

"I believe you could do such a thing even without the mask"

"Imagine being a famous wizard. So famous in fact that you gather fans thoughout earth land"

"You would be crowded on the streets the minute you were noticed, iifwere going for the same type of famous"

"Yes we are. So imagine if I'm that wizard. I would let myself become so popular without letting anyone get a glimpse of my face. So if I wished to wander the streets I would simply have to remove my mask"

Erza sighed.

"Plus I like the mysterious appeal" Archer added with amusement.

"Ah, yes. Your mysterious appeal "

Archer laughed as she walked. She walked oddly in her amusement. She took almost wobbling steps where she would lean onto the foot she was on to the point where she could fall. She would then tilt herself in the other direction and continue on.

"All joking aside. The mask helps my sėnsɨtɨvė ears. Although. I have very good control of my senses, I just prefer the mask doing the work for me"

"Why are you walking like that? " Erza asked as she watched Archer do her childish walk. The girl only laughed. A laugh of true childish joy.

"I'm happy" she said. She did indeed sound happy. "I've learned something today and I'll shall use it to my advantage. This discovery helps a lot "

"Oh"

"And I have so much more money. I can buy the others more stuff. The kids can get some nice toys and the boys well,I'm not sure what to get them that will be harmless. I'll just give them some money and let them buy their own things"

"Did you already spend the money we earned the other day? "

"Not completly, but I did use a lot of it"

"What did you do with it? "

"I rented another apartment at Fairy hills. I also got everyone new clothes and stuff. I had to buy an incredible amount of food to last us at least a month too. And the rest was given to the old man to store away for the future"

"For the future you mean, when anyone of our guild causes havoc on a mission? "

"Yes"

~~~~~~~~

Erza was left alone with Weislogia and Skiadrum. She sat under a tree and stared at the cave Archer stepped into. They were all lead there by the pull she felt. Apparently there is another key to be found. Erza decided not to accompany her this time. She needed a break. She almost had a heart attack when Archer released her hold when they were on the dragon. She was sure she would fly into the sky and plummet to her death but instead Archer supported her just bȧrėly and guided her hands to the long white hairs on Weislogia's back. His hair is surprisingly soft. She was told to hold on and that she would be secure. Archer did not lie to her. If only all the other dragons had hair like him.

After Archer retrieves her key they will return to lady Emerald and collect Wendy. After that it was time to head home. Of course they would end up traveling soon again . Archer goes on missions practically everyday. And of course Erza comes along. She didn't know why she always came along but it was always a learning experience in some way.

"Hello there"

Erza glanced up at the smiling Demeter in confusion.

"Did Archer summon you? "

"No" Demeter said simply and sat next to the confused Erza. "I can enter this realm anytime I want"

"Oh"

Demeter only giggled at the response. "Yes, I am a goddess after all"

"So, only you can do that? "

"No. Celestial spirits can as well. So can the dragons. " Demeter explained.

"So in the end you are all similar? "

"In that fashion. Unlike the celestial spirits the strenght of our summoner does not affect our own. In other words our summer can be a weak magic user while we can be strong enough to overpower a dragon"

"Are you strong enough to overpower a dragon? "

"Of course. I'm a goddess. I rank higher than those creatures"

"What about Archer. Are you stronger than her"

Demeter chuckled. "I have a feeling that is a question she would not answer"

"But you're not her"

"Yes, but your confusion amuses me as well"

"None of you are very fair to me"