[Northern Railway]
[Onibus Town]
Ivan had imagined his first job as a wizard before, picturing himself walking through woodlands on dirt roads searching for signs of civilization. However, what he had not imagined was himself sitting on a train.
He'd remembered that characters from the anime had used the train before, but that was thirty years in the future. Maybe he was belittling the world a bit, trains could have been invented whenever he supposed.
It only took one smart guy and some magic to achieve it after all.
Ivan turned and looked out the window to see the thick forest of Magnolia slowly fading away into the rolling farmland that was Onibus.
Farmhouses could be seen dotting the land, as well as small settlements in close knit areas. The sight brought a wave of peace to Ivan, like never before had he left Magnolia before, well Makarov had brought him to the capital when he was a baby, but he didn't remember much.
Ivan didn't get much time to enjoy his peaceful thoughts, Gildarts let out a loud sneeze. Ever since they had stepped foot outside the guild hall Guildart's had been sneezing like crazy. Ivan didn't know why, was it allergies? Did allergies exist here? Or had Makarov planted some sort of curse on the two of them in case they tried to leave?
He doubted it was the later, but allergies? Really? Gildart's the ace of fairy tail had allergies? He wondered if this was some sort of sick joke by the author.
"Please cover your mouth dude." Ivan said pulling himself away from his friend.
Gildart's let his rest back before snorting at Ivan's words.
"I don't know what's happening to me, I think I've been cursed by someone. Maybe gramps worked some magic on me and called it training."
Honestly that did sound like something Makarov might have done, call it training for the worst-case scenario. What if a wizard got sick while on a job? Well that definitely sounded like something Makarov would do.
"Maybe you're onto something..." Ivan said, then smiled. "Or maybe your just home sick!"
Gildarts glared at him.
"I'm not home sick you idiot! I've gotten sick once and that was your fault. It's just a sneeze."
Ivan raised an eyebrow.
"Really? You're blaming that on me?"
"You dared me to do it!"
"Yes, and you could've said no, right?"
"I was not giving you a free piece cake Ivan!"
Ivan laughed.
"Well, you weren't getting mine for free were you. Had to earn it through a dare, that I believe you agreed to."
"I uhh..." Gildart's quieted then sneezed again.
"You're defiantly sick."
The red-haired wizards replied with a grunt.
Time passed by quickly soon dawn turned to midday and finally it was the afternoon. Ivan speculated the time was two or three perhaps?
Gildarts was fast asleep on his side of the compartment while Ivan was just starting out the train, something he'd done even back on earth. He remembered long car rides doing the something or when he'd been on a plane.
A knock came from outside the sliding door. It was wooden so Ivan couldn't see who it was knocking but kicked Gildart's anyways, they'd be arriving soon and oaf had gotten enough sleep.
"Hello?" Ivan asked looking at the door.
No reply, then the door slid open.
It was a woman; Ivan had seen her before she was one of the many attendants on the train. She looked...odd, nothing like the women he'd seen early. Ivan couldn't help but wonder when she had last gotten sleep.
The attendant seemed distracted as she opened the door, her head was looking down the hallway and Ivan could hear something going on down there. For a long moment the women just kept staring down the hallway.
"Did you need something?" He asked
She startled and turned to him.
"I-I uhh..." She paused looking at the two of them.
Gildart's was still half asleep, and laying down on the coach while Ivan was, well he was looking much more dignified.
"Wow, uhm, you two are really young to be traveling alone...is there an adult with you guys?"
Ivan smiled.
"No, but I'll be happy to inform you that we are both guild wizards of Fairy Tail."
If the attendant had been startled earlier now, she looked spooked, not in a bad way Ivan thought but more so a really shocked kind of way.
"Y-you are wizards?" She asked the question like it was a bad thing, Ivan paused for a second then chose to answer honestly.
"Yes, we are? May I ask what is all this about? Is everything ok?"
The women nodded, then turned her head.
"I uhm...there are Kight's from the magic they are inspecting the train. I'm sorry it's just that there was an incident with a passenger a few minutes ago. I'm still a little startled." She bowed apologizing.
Ivan waved it away.
"Theirs's no need for that...but uhm what kind of incident is everyone ok? Was someone hurt?"
She turned back to them and smiled.
"No, everything's find just routine inspection that's all."
Something inside Ivan told him that this woman was now lying to him, well it wasn't that much of a gut feeling more so that he could tell just by looking at her. Quickly Ivan stood and poked his head out the compartment, his face soured at the sight.
Rune Knights.
There were two of them.
And it looked like they were looking for something or someone....
Ivan cursed under his breath though pulled his head back and thanked the attendant, the women walked away in a rush but in the opposite way of the Knights. He wondered what she might have seen.
Were these Knight's a problem? Had they done something to a passenger. Ivan pondered the thought, then he heard footsteps approaching. This time he kicked Gildar'ts hard, the oaf flew up off the coach just in time to a see an armored figure at their door.
It was a woman.
She had long brown hair with equally brown eyes, she looked rather intimidating under all that armor. However, Ivan couldn't help but notice her subtle beauty, she was rather stunning.
"I am Elara of the Rune Knight's; me and my partner are conducting a routine patrol of the train. May I ask what are your names?"
Ivan smiled and pointed to himself. "Ivan Dreyar," Then he pointed across from him, "And Gildart's Clive"
She nodded.
"And what would two young wizards like you be doing on a train by yourselves?"
Ivan shrugged.
"Just traveling to a town for a job were working."
The Knight looked at Gildart's who was up and rubbing his head.
"I see and you both are traveling where exactly?"
"Clover town."
"Clover town?" She asked.
"Yep."
Another nod.
Well, this was going better then Ivan had thought, he was worried then Bob had acted faster than he thought and put up some sort of notice to the council about them. But, well it seemed not. This gorgeous Knight was just doing a routine inspection after all.
"Well thank you both for your time..." She paused then looked back at them once more..."What guild are you apart of again?"
Ivan opened his mouth to speak...but he paused then looked at the Knight. What was going on? Why was this Knight asking them questions? Had they done something? No, she kept looking down the hallway of the train...there were two Knights. Meaning her partner was down there...
"What guild."
Ivan looked up to see the Knight had stepped closer and into their compartment.
This time Ivan answered without thought.
"Fairy Tail."
The Knight smiled.
"Thanks' both of you, please remained seated until the train stops." She turned and walked off.
Ivan turned to see Gildart's staring at him, confused.
"What?"
"Who was that?"
"Just some Knight from the council, why?"
He looked to the open door.
"Nothing, just gave me a weird vibe, what was she asking about?"
"Just who we are and where were going."
Gildarts shrugged.
"Whatever, just let me know when we arrive."
---
Ivan hadn't expected much from Clover town, not when it came from their train station. It was a rather simple place; a wooden platform placed next to the tracks with a small hunt of a stationhouse right next to it.
When the two of them stepped out of the train it felt like a breath of fresh air. Gildarts was still sneezing, but Ivan had already gotten used to it. Spending a few hours on a train together had done the job.
"So where too now?" Gildart's asked looking around the place.
Ivan shrugged.
"Clover town I suppose, see what's up, look around."
"Shouldn't we you know like announce ourselves or meet the person who posted the job?"
Ivan looked towards the town.
"Not yet, we should take a look around first and take in things, after a day we can present ourselves to the person who posted the job."
Gildart's nodded.
"Sound's good with me," He paused thinking, then ruffled around in his pocket pulling out a piece of paper. "Person who posted the job is...Cynthia Clover."
Ivan wondered when Gildart's had grabbed the job paper, then nodded back.
"Alright then, let's take a look at town."
---