Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Magnolia.
June 16, x791.
"Fonzie left around noon, right?" Cana, sounding a bit worried, asked while sitting on a lounge chair in the Mansion on the Lake's artificial grotto. "I know he's been leaving after morning training like this for a while, but he never takes this long to come back, does he?"
Currently, Elicia, Cana, Ultear, Mirajane, Rika, and Irene were taking the time to relax in the grotto while enjoying a few drinks. Meanwhile, Grayfia, Ikaruga, and Miyuki were serving them on the side.
"Yeah, that sounds about right." Elicia said, not sounding worried at all, despite the fact that her husband had been out of contact for more than ten hours. "But Fonzie's so strong that there are only two people I could think of who could fight him and win on Ishgar."
Elicia then turned to smile at Irene.
"And one of them is sitting right there." Elicia continued while raising her glass in Irene's direction.
Ireme, on the other hand, after Miyuki refilled her wine glass, raised her own glass in return.
"Though that may be true for now, I'm not sure how much longer that will last." Irene said, her comment genuine despite the almost condescending way she said it.
"It sounds like you don't believe that yourself." Ultear pointed out, catching onto Ireen's tone. "We all know how powerful you are, Irene. In fact, the only reason you were taken down when we had to fight you and Brandish back then was because of Master Retsu from Mermaid Heel."
"Ah! Yes, that woman." Irene said, the memory of that encounter making her frown slightly. "Though she did not look like much at first glance, she was quite strong. I wouldn't mind fighting her again. Though, I'm not sure it would even be a contest now that I have Belserion. Her nearly endless regeneration would be a hassle to get around, though."
"Then, I guess that means you have a way of disabling healing?" Mirajane asked curiously.
"I do." Irene replied with a nod. "Though, it takes quite a bit of effort to set up. So, it would be more effective if I knew the fight was coming beforehand. But even if I was caught off guard, I would have no problem dragging it out long enough to make the preparations."
"Interesting." Mirajane said with a nod of her own.
"But her healing only works when she uses… What did Alfonzo call it?" Rika chimed in, looking for the right word.
"[Bankai]." Elicia said helpfully.
"Yeah, [Bankai]." Rika said, nodding at Elicia in appreciation. "Her super-regeneration only works when she's in her [Bankai] form, right. So, wouldn't it be easiest to just take her out before she can activate it."
"Hmm… That sounds like the easiest way, indeed." Ultear said after thinking for a moment. "But how many people could actually do that? I mean, for someone like you, who specializes in super-long range combat, it wouldn't be a problem. But what about people who need to get close enough to see her?"
"Exactly." Mirajane added. "That would become a problem because if you can see her, then she can probably see you, too."
"Yeah, I guess I didn't think that far." Rika said in an understanding tone.
"Yeah, yeah, that's all really fascinating." Cana said, sounding a bit annoyed. "But still, Fonzie has been gone a lot longer than usual. Does anyone know where he went?"
"Oh, probably to get some solo training done." Elicia said casually. "Sometimes he over does it and takes a nap after he's done."
"Seriously?" Cana asked, sounding completely dumbfounded. "I don't' remember anything like this happening before."
"Well, it doesn't happen very often." Elicia said with a shrug. "The last time it happened, I think you were out on a quest. So, it makes sense that you never saw it."
"I guess that makes sense." Cana said, sounding relieved.
"But seriously, is there anyone who works as hard as Alfonzo does when he's not bogged down by work?" Ultear asked curiously.
"Well, I used to." Elicia said. "In fact, I still train harder than most of the guild. But Fonzie is just on a different level. And ever since he found the benefits of the Techno Organic Metal, he's been able to push his body further and further."
"Yeah, I tried using that stuff once." Mirajane said, shuddering as she remembered the experience. "I thought I was going to die from the pain. I can't believe Alfonzo does it every day."
"Yes, it sounds like he could be quite the masochist, doesn't it?" Ultear said, her voice taking on a sultry tone. "And that's why I allow him to pleasure me as I do."
"Seriously, Tear." Cana scoffed. "Doesn't this---"
"Shut up, Cana!" Ultear shouted. "Why can't you just let me have my fun? Would it kill you to let it go just once?"
"No, it wouldn't." Cana replied with a positively Cheshire grin on her face. "But it definitely wouldn't be nearly as much fun."
Ultear only puffed her cheeks and turned away in response. Meanwhile, Elicia, Cana, Mirajane, Rika, and Irene all laughed at Ultear's expense. Even the maids, Grayfia, Ikaruga, and Miyuki had to try to hold back smiles.
However, while everyone was laughing, Grayfia, who was pouring a drink for Rika, suddenly turned her head towards the front of the mansion. Though, she did not stop pouring Rika's drink, even stopping when it was filled to the perfect volume.
"It would seem Master Alfonzo has returned." Grayfia said as she stopped pouring. "If you would excuse me, I will go to greet him."
Yet, before Grayfia could even finish speaking, Cana had already shot up from her lounge chair and bolted for the grotto's entrance. Meanwhile, Grayfia, was completely unbothered, bowing to the other ladies before also making her way out of the grotto in calm, measured steps.
"I swear, she's acting like it's been months since she saw him last." Mirajane said while shaking her head. "I just don't get it, she never acted like this when he left for work."
"But she knew when to expect him back then." Rika pointed out. "And since she's gotten used to him getting back by a certain time, that probably has something to do with it."
"Does it really matter?" Elicia asked with a gentle smile on her face. "She is Fonzie's wife. So, it's only natural that she would be worried about him. Even if she has complete faith that he'll come back home."
"I guess that's true." Ultear replied. "I can still remember worrying about Mom whenever she took longer than expected, too. And ever since she started taking quests again, that feeling has come back."
At that moment, Irene, having just finished her glass of wine a moment ago, opened her eyes, which looked to be closed in satisfaction, and stood up. And like Grayfia, she started walking towards the grotto's entrance with perfectly measured steps.
"Well, it looks like she actually had reason to worry this time." Irene said while walking. "Right now, Alfonzo is in the living room. And from what I can feel, although he got a lot stronger, his magic power is almost completely exhausted."
Hearing that, Ultear, Mirajane, and Rika all widened their eyes in surprise.
Elicia, on the other hand, lowered her head in contemplation. Then, just as Irene was about to step out of the grotto, her head shot up, a look of realization flashing across her face as her lips curled into a smile.
"He did it!" Elicia said as she shot up to her feet.
Then, without any kind of explanation, she ran out of the grotto, passing Irene in a flash, leaving Ultear, Mirajane, and Rika confused. Meanwhile, Irene, who had been smiling in her usual confident way, smiled even wider as she continued to make her way towards the living room.
Unsure of what was going on exactly, the three ladies left in the grotto exchanged glances. However, because of Elicia's reaction, they were sure that nothing bad had happened to Alfonzo. So, they all stood up before also making their way out of the grotto.
Meanwhile, Ikaruga and Miyuki took the time to clean up after the six women. Then, with all the glasses and bottles of alcohol in hand, they left the grotto, as well.
"By the way, Miyuki." Ikaruga said in a playful tone. "I heard from a little birdy that you finally did it."
Knowing exactly what Ikaruga was talking about, Miyuki's cheeks were dusted with the slightest hint of a blush. Yet, she did not deem it necessary to dignify Ikaruga's statement with a response.
Not long later, Elicia reached the living room. When she did, the first thing she saw was Alfonzo sitting on the couch with is clothes in tatters. Meanwhile, all of his visible skin was covered in bruises and burns. Then, there was Grayfia, who was tending to his wounds while Cana hovered over him with a worried expression on her face.
"Come on, Cana, I told you I was fine." Alfonzo said while smiling tiredly. "I'm just a little exhausted. Seriously, there's nothing to worry about."
"*Sigh* Usually I wouldn't be worried." Cana said as she took a deep breath to forcefully calm herself down. "But I was doing a tarot reading this afternoon. And what I saw made it clear that you would be in danger while you were away. But it would be filled with opportunity."
"Well, it was kinda dangerous, I guess." Alfonzo said casually. "But it wouldn't have done anything permanent."
"And just what were you doing?' Cana asked, her expression making it clear that she would not be taking no for an answer.
However, before Alfonzo could answer, Elicia dashed into the room and threw herself in to Alfonzo's arms, a wide smile spread across her face.
"Congratulations, Fonzie." Elicia said as she plopped herself onto Alfonzo's lap. "But you managed to do it a lot faster than I thought you would."
"Huh?" Cana exclaimed in surprise. "You knew where he was the whole time, Lici? Then, why didn't you tell anyone."
"Actually, I didn't know until a little while ago." Elicia replied while turning to face Cana from Alfonzo's lap. "But something Irene said made me think about it."
Elicia then turned back to Alfonzo while smiling happily.
"Fonzie unlocked the rest of Riot and Bedlam's seal." Elicia declared. "That's the only reason I could think of when Irene said he got stronger but was facing magic power exhaustion."
"Yeah, that's right." Alfonzo replied in an exasperated tone with a nod while smiling wryly. "But I would have preferred to make the announcement myself, you know?"
When she heard that, Elicia froze like a deer in headlights. Then, she tilted her head cutely and…
"Tee-hee.!"
… giggled in the most innocent way she could.
Meanwhile, Cana, Scylla, and even Irene, who just arrived in the living room, sighed in unison while thinking the same thing.
'Elicia's tendency to speak before thinking as struck again.'
Eventually, Ultear, Mirajane, and Rika also entered the room. At first, when they saw Alfonzo's state and Grayfia tending to his wounds, they were surprised and worried. However, when they noticed the wry smile on his face, Elicia's attempt to look innocent, and the expressions on Cana's and Irene's faces that said they had completely given up, they found themselves confused again.
A moment later, when Elicia noticed the newcomers. She looked at Alfonzo with a smile.
"You don't have to be sad, Fonzie." Elicia said in an upbeat tone. "See, there are still a lot of people left for you to tell that you unlocked the rest of Riot's and Bedlam's seal, right?"
As soon as Elicia's words ended, she winced, as Scylla had started screaming at her from her inner world. At the same time, Ultear, Mirajane, and Rika were surprised once again. Meanwhile, Alfonzo, Cana, and Irene all stared at Elicia with the deadest deadpans any of them had ever made.
"Haha… Oops." Elicia said in a bashful tone. "I did it again, didn't I?"
The silence from Alfonzo, Cana, and Irene was more than enough of a response. And when Ultear, Mirajane, and Rika felt the atmosphere, they chose to stay silent, as well.
Yet, before Elicia could try to dig herself out of the hole she had just jumped into, Alfonzo opened his mouth to speak.
"Grayfia." Alfonzo said monotonously.
"Yes, Master Alfonzo." Grayfia replied, bowing her head while continuing to clean Alfonzo's wounds.
At that moment, the other five maids, Ikaruga, Maria, Mey-Rin, Ai, and Miyuki all entered the living room to see if any of those present needed them for anything.
"For the next two days, all of Lici's meals will be prepared by either Ikaruga or Mey-Rin." Alfonzo said in that same monotonous tone.
Upon hearing that, everyone, other than Alfonzo's eyes widened in surprise. Then, all the other ladies looked at Elicia with pity in their gazes. Meanwhile, the maids, though they did not show it, except for Mey-Rin, who began to shiver nervously, all thought the same thing.
'Madam Elicia is going to have a rough two days, isn't she?'
As for Elicia, she did not say anything. Not even try to plead for forgiveness. Because when she heard Alfonzo's decree, her eyes immediately rolled into the back of her head as she fainted, falling limply into Alfonzo's arms.
Not to say that Ikaruga's and Mey-Rin's cooking was as bad as Mirajane's used to be. However, everyone living in the Mansion on the Lake and those who frequently came to visit had gotten rather spoiled for normal cooking after eating food prepared by people like Alfonzo, Grayfia, and Maria for so long.
So, the thought of eating meals made by Ikaruga and Mey-Rin, who had skills of a fairly competent housewife and a student who was just barely passing at a cooking school, respectively, was too much for Elicia to take.