I barely made it three steps past the battered, still-smoking doors of the Fairy Tail guild before I heard footsteps coming up behind me. Fast, purposeful, slightly terrifying in the way only Erza Scarlet could manage even when she was trying to act casual. I considered, briefly, whether it would be too dramatic to break into a run. Then I remembered that running from Erza was about as effective as hiding a fish from Happy.
She caught up, falling into step beside me, red hair catching the light like a warning sign. "Kaia," she said, in that calm, even tone she used whenever she suspected I was about to do something questionable. "What did Mirajane want?"
I tried not to wince. The memory of Mirajane's smirk was still fresh enough to haunt my dreams, and I wasn't sure what would be worse telling Erza the truth or inventing a lie she'd see through in ten seconds flat. In the end, I went for the time-honored tradition of all guilty teenagers: deflection and denial.
"Nothing important," I said, a little too quickly. "She was just… you know, being Mira."
Erza's eyes narrowed just a fraction. "Just being Mira?"
"Yeah. You know how she is. Mischief, gossip, ominous foreshadowing. Nothing to worry about." I forced a smile, hoping I looked more innocent than I felt. "Anyway, I need to get back to Fairy Hills. I'm way behind on my napping schedule."
For a moment, Erza didn't say anything. She just watched me, weighing my words, her gaze sharp enough to slice iron. I tried very hard not to fidget, and equally hard not to think about how she'd looked this morning, sunlight turning her hair to fire, a rare, soft smile lurking at the corners of her mouth.
"Are you sure everything's all right?" she asked, more quietly.
It was a simple question, but for some reason it caught me off guard. Maybe it was the way she said it, like she actually cared about the answer. In Fairy Tail, that kind of thing could throw you.
I nodded. "Really. I promise. If anything was wrong, I'd… probably panic and make it everyone's problem. Like last time with the soup."
A reluctant smile tugged at Erza's lips. "That was not soup, Kaia. That was an abomination."
"An abomination with noodles," I corrected, trying not to laugh. "Anyway, I'll see you later. Try not to let Mirajane glue feathers to your armor this time."
Her eyes widened, and I took the opportunity to retreat, moving at a speed just shy of running. I told myself I wasn't fleeing just advancing in the opposite direction.
The walk back to Fairy Hills was blessedly quiet. Magnolia bustled all around me vendors hawking bread, kids chasing enchanted hoops, the distant clang of construction as the guild replaced yet another table. For a moment, I let myself enjoy the simple comfort of a world that was, for once, not on fire. My boots scuffed along the cobblestones, a small but defiant sound.
[Well, well,] Styme's voice crackled in my head, cheerful and merciless as ever. [That was an impressive display of denial. Truly, your ability to dodge questions is evolving. Next stop: Olympic-level avoidance.]
I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. "Not now, Styme."
[Oh, but now is the perfect time. I couldn't help noticing the way you blushed when Erza asked you what Mirajane said. For future reference, your face turns the same color as a tomato. You might want to practice your poker face if you're going to keep secrets.]
"I wasn't blushing. I was just… sunburned. Indoors. From all the emotional radiation."
[Sure. And Makarov is secretly a five-foot-tall rabbit in disguise.]
"Okay, but you have to admit, that would explain a lot."
[Kaia,] Styme said, [I say this with genuine concern for your future. You are not nearly sneaky enough for this guild. One day you're going to try to keep a secret and Erza will simply stare at you until you spontaneously confess.]
I scowled, kicking at a loose pebble. "Why are you like this?"
[Consider it character-building. Also, entertainment. You're the most interesting show I've had in years. Now, are you going to tell me what Mirajane actually said, or am I going to have to hack your memories? Because, to be clear, I can.]
I sighed. "Fine. She… teased me. About Erza. About last night. You know. The whole" I stopped, because even thinking about it made me want to crawl into a hole and stay there forever. "She just likes messing with people. Especially Erza."
[You do realize Mirajane Strauss is the world's leading cause of emotional panic in redheads, yes? If you ever need a support group, I'll put you in touch with Lisanna.]
That startled a laugh out of me, and some of the tension slipped away. "You're the worst," I muttered, but I meant it with affection. Sort of.
[And yet, here we are. By the way, while you were busy blushing, I noticed your stats ticked up. All this social stress must be good for your magical control.]
I paused in the middle of the path. "Wait. Really?"
[Would I lie to you?] Styme replied, sounding aggrieved. [Check for yourself.]
Curiosity got the better of me. I focused, calling up the familiar blue window only I could see:
USER PROFILE: KAIA VEYRISAge: 15Location: Magnolia, FioreTitle: Underdog of Time (Temporary)Magic: Chrono-Flux (Unstable)
STATSVitality: 85/100Magic Power: 73/100Control: 29/100Luck: 99/100 (Still absurd.)Sanity: Hanging in there.
NOTESPotential: Yes, you still have too much of it.Training: Ongoing.Charm: See Erza for details.Attitude: Improving.Footwear: Intact (miracle).
NEW: Magical Social Resilience (Passive): +5 resistance to embarrassment. Duration: Ongoing.
I gaped at the new passive. "You're joking."
[Nope. Congratulations, you're officially five percent less likely to trip over your own tongue in front of your crush.]
"Styme!"
[Don't blame me. I just translate the data. You're the one doing all the embarrassing.]
I closed the window, trying (and failing) not to grin. Fairy Hills was coming into view a cluster of tidy cottages set among blooming gardens, with the sort of charm that made you half expect tiny fairies to flit between the rose bushes.
As I climbed the steps to my room, exhaustion hit me all at once a day's worth of brawling, blushing, and barely-controlled magic. I collapsed onto my bed, face-first, grateful that at least my pillow wasn't secretly judging me.
[You know,] Styme chimed in, [now would be a good time to take a break. Rest is important for magical growth. Plus, you'll need your strength if you plan on surviving another day with Erza, Mirajane, and the rest of the professional disaster artists in this guild.]
I mumbled into my pillow, "Remind me again why I joined?"
[For adventure, friendship, and the opportunity to witness Natsu set his own pants on fire at least once a week.]
"Right. Worth it."