Something spooky this way comes!

Aven was grabbing a bit of sun on the roof of the Guild Hall, a spot that had become a sort of hangout for the young man. His hands were laced behind his head like a pillow, his legs casually crossed, and as usual, he'd concealed his magical presence to avoid the errant bystander from becoming suspicious or nosy. Between strengthening his magic, dealing with family drama, and planning for the assault on Caster's realm, he hadn't much time to simply relax and enjoy the gentle summer breeze; the last time he'd attempted a brief escape from the insanity of wizarding, he'd been confronted with a challenge to a duel by a newer Fairy Tail member, Ghost.

A loud knocking below him broke the serenity of the afternoon. Aven sighed, stretching his arms, before rising to his feet. Someone was making quite a ruckus below, not in the least shy about the level of noise they were reaching. A bother, that suppressing his magical presence also equally suppressed his ability to sense others' magic, but after dropping his concealment, a small grin crossed his features. Well, this is interesting... There was a steady pulse of magic from the young woman below, though her features were hidden by the top of a quirky parasol. A new applicant to the guild, perhaps? A small burst of golden light formed ethereal wings on Aven's back, and he stepped off the roof, gliding softly down to the cobble behind the impatient girl.

Upon turning around, he got a better view of who he was dealing with. A vigorous foot tapping, an expensive designer dress, and an irritated scowl that could frighten even the staunchest of service personnel; without a doubt, the girl was a noble. He may have jumped to conclusions before, it was very possible she was here to hire a wizard for a job, though the magic power she emitted was far more potent than most sheltered nobles he met on family business.

Regardless, he gave her a welcoming smile, a pitch black tendril snaking out from his shadow and opening the door for her. "My apologies for the wait, Miss; please, head inside at your leisure. Are you visiting Fairy Tail today to post a job, or to apply for membership?" He'd learned from personal experience, when dealing with other nobles at Balls and Weddings, that it was always wise to assume social inferiority if unsure of another's standing. There was no way to know whether she was a count's daughter, or the Princess of a foreign land, thus discretion was paramount to avoid offending her.

A lot of things had happened to Fairy Tail during the last decade. Far more things than Mura could remember, but it was no exaggeration that the guild had been on quite a roller coaster of an adventure. However, not all adventures exclude sad times, and they had to go through their fair share of trials and likewise struggles, but it was thanks to all the members that Fairy Tail didn’t succumb to absolute combustion or corruption. It might’ve lost its expressive extrovert atmosphere (not even that much was lost), but it really felt as if the guild had grown up with the times today. Mura felt it, deep inside…

… A slight drop of sweat trickled down his forehead when he heard the voice of a new person entering the guild hall. A girl expressing a high status in her appearance and choice of words alone with a lot of confidence in herself, who likely wanted to become a member of the guild given by ‘it’s more like I’m doing it a favor’. She sounded… veeeeeeeeeery entitled. Mura wasn’t a stranger to that type of people as she did remind him of his own cousins. He eyed them both from his bar stool with his legs crossed up on the bar table as he kind of had to look at them by bending his head over and seeing them upside down.

“Hey there, Aven…!” he greeted his more familiar guildmate and friend with the annoying circles, “I see that you’ve brought a lively, new person to our place. What’s she up to?”

Soon right by the job board, a portal would open up. It stood ten feet tall and wide. The color of the portal was jet black and pure white. Within it, one could see stars flying in it as if it was a very small galaxy. But in fact, it was a gateway. From his realm to the earth realm. Soon a figure would appear in it. Slowly but surely started walking out of it. Wearing his fame monk attire. All topped off with his cross on his back. Ghost would make his way into the guildhall. Stepping out of the portal Ghost would look around to see a few people in the hall. The portal itself would cause a small drift of wind to form.

The wind would soon stop as Ghost snaps his right fingers. Quickly the portal would close as he started to smile. His scanner picking up high magic power levels. He would simply walk by everyone making sure not to make eye contact with them. Only to stop and look at Mura bowing as a sign of respect for the master of the guild. Looking over at Aven Ghost scanners would indicate something changed about him. But he did give Ghost his first lost like ever. Ghost would now in respect as the last time these two saw each other. It was not the friendliness of turns. Looking over her would see a pink-haired girl. His scanner did not have any data on her. But it did pick up each of the three threat levels to him.

Putting himself in a prayer-like stance he would start to speak in a rather soft yet robotic done. "Let's see here Mater Mura your power level compared to mines is Run Away. Sir Aven your power level compared to mines is well over seventy percent. But we can't forget this person here a new client maybe? " Looking at her his scanners in his eyes would start to zero in on her from head to toe she would be stored in his memory banks. Bowing to her as he would quickly head out of the guildhall walking past the three. He would look on at the setting sun as he stayed in the doorway admiring it from afar.

Winchas took refuge in the guild hall, various tools scattered around the table while a single gun was propped up upon a stand. She thoroughly inspects the weapon under several magnifying glasses. She would usually be doing this at her workstation, but the hour was different, and the gunsmith was hungry. So while she waited for her meal, she went through with a check up on her guns. It did not take long however for her concentration to be broken. The loud thud nearly sent her into a fury. Then it came again along with a shrill voice demanding entry. Taking a spare gun she had, she was ready to shoot right through the door before she watched a guild mate take the door and opened it politely. Sighing, she sat back down.

Then she heard that voice again. It made her really really want to fire bullets into the throat of that entitled basket. However, she was told to keep her temper in check in the presence of potentially new members. Steaming, she stared daggers and bullets into the loud mouth, constructing a slur of insults that would make mothers blush and men shiver in fear. Each moment listening to every word that came out of that pink haired shrew made her clench her fist. And then the weird guildmate appeared, commenting on things before just leaving the conversation.

Winchas got up, walked up to Mura, and grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to listen to her whisper, an audibly loud whisper.
"Listen, if you don't get that pig skin shaded, curtain wearing, cheese skinned, snort faced, milk drinking, straw body to be one bit more humble, I can and will turn that skin skirt, foam wearing, pig strip into a 10 year cheddar cheese left out longer than her grandmother in a hospital right there right now where that sore eye, leash attached, wash board stands in her oversized trash can for shoes stands. It is either you still her, or I'm making her regret ever showing up with that face on her stick man of a figure." Winchas finished, for now, mumbling under her breath a bellow of more obscene phrases that are not allowed to be spoke off in a social context. Walking away, she sits down, seeing her meal is already here, and munches down on her meal, the only thing lifting her mood and putting a cute happy smile on her face.

There were times that Aven worried about Fairy Tail. It's members had always erred on the eccentric side, but as of late, the concept had been taken to a new extreme. As lively as this new recruit was, there was a clear source for her confidence, rooted in an obviously elevated Social Status. Hubris seemed to be the theme of the year, in fact, with recent addition, and he'd be lying if he said it didn't rub him the wrong way; sure, there was something to be said about pride in one's abilities and the positive effect that can have on a wizard's potential in a fight, but pride also comes before the fall. If possible, he'd like the newer member to learn that lesson on their own, though he feared for some of their safety in the process.

Regardless, Aven held the door open with his usual smile, hoping for the best, before following the young lady in, where Mura greeted the two of them. Aven gave the Guild Master a friendly grin and a wave. He was glad the position had been filled by someone as competent and patient as Mura: being a Guild Master was a taxing job, and with so many eccentric wizards to manage and clean up after, having mastered the art of 'Going with the flow' both in and out of combat, Mura was a perfect fit. "Afternoon, Master Mura! I just let her in the door, to be honest: she says she wants to join Fairy Tail, and I figured you'd like to speak with her on the matter."

Of course, it came as little surprise when the unofficial party was crashed by Ghost opening a portal by the job board, waltzing past the tables without so much as a friendly gesture or greeting. Aven often worried about the young wizard; particularly regarding the latter's sharp tongue and lack of social graces. A flashy entrance was appropriate in certain settings, but the Guild Hall was no place to open random portals to parallel dimensions. Ghost had been rather outspoken lately about his advances in magic, making offhanded comments and strange remarks about some form of analysis. If Aven were a betting man, he'd wager that, with the arrival of a new face, they were about to get an earful of something.

Sure enough, only though sheer will was Aven able to suppress the urge to roll his eyes as Ghost rattled off a completely unwarranted- and incredibly inaccurate- assessment of his and Mura's strength. Normally, it would be a feat of incredible audacity to annoy Aven, but Ghost had recently become an expert in the field, despite Aven's efforts. Seventy Percent of his power, hm? The twilight wizard was begging to be shown just how faulty his measurements were, when a small outburst from Winchas, the resident gunsmith, brought a grin to Aven's face. Some would call it a string of insults; Aven would call it a soliloquy, judging by the creativity of expression and length. He wondered how she rattled that entire verse off without a breath? Extensive practice, he imagined, or perhaps it was simply a talent of hers.

It may have been that Aven was lightly inspired by the forwardness of his guildmate, Winchas, or maybe he'd become a bit too tired of the small notes of disrespect: whatever the case, Aven decided to give a small demonstration about disrespecting other guild members, a simple issue Mura shouldn't need to waste his time on. Without warning, Aven's magic power surged through the room, as he released the power of his Circle Magic's Ascension Glyphs, exerting his pressure on the gathering. Mura wouldn't feel more than a small change in atmosphere, of course, but the rest would experience a sudden pressing weight to their movements. Aven spoke calmly, but sternly. "I'd appreciate if we refrain from flaunting our Social Standings here," He glanced at Spectra, "Fairy Tail is a family, and we treat each other as equals here, no matter if you were born Noble or worked your way from the very bottom." His attention shifted, casting a stern look at Ghost. "Bragging about our strength isn't something we do, either. This is a place for wizards to gather and grow at their own pace, and if you're set on belittling your fellow guild mates, or flaunting your power," Aven paused for a brief moment, a small gesture sending a Greatsword of radiant light whizzing past Ghost and out the door at a frightening speed, "You should be prepared to back it up."

His magic power receded, as he resealed the Ascension Glyphs, and he gave Mura a small bow. "I apologize if I was out of line, Master Mura, I simply wished to express a concern I've had for a while." There was a certain hypocrisy in abating shows of strength with greater shows of strength, one he knew all too well. Still, there were times when a man had to put his foot down, and he believed it was the time and place to set an example. Hopefully, the Guild Master would agree; otherwise, Aven would respectfully accept his punishment.

Oh hey, Ghost arrived just as Mura faced the two others. He appeared to wield a scanner on him, and he tried it out on Mura and Aven upon his arrival. Unlike the functionality of an iLac, which only reads the wearer’s prowess, his scanner could measure others? Mura didn’t know how it worked at all, but it sure seemed handy. Then again, was magic that easy to measure to begin with? How many times had Mura been wrong with first impressions and assumptions…? “Yeah, let’s not forget our client here.”

Mura would have addressed that next, but his shoulder suddenly got grabbed by Winchas, and oh boy, what an ill omen she emitted. Her whisper - which was more like a warning siren to the pink-haired noble - sure as hell had a lot of words to inform him about aforementioned client of theirs. All that from a few seconds of their first shared presence in one room together… poor Winchas. Her fuse must’ve been very difficult to cool down.

Just as much as sharing the position as Guildmaster proved a whole new challenge for the young samurai shaman priest. He would have to take action… funny enough, the cherry-haired lady didn’t know that he was one of the two respected Guildmasters of Fairy Tail. That was fair enough, he hadn’t been that open about his position, and she clearly seemed new and oblivious to many new things here in Fairy Tail. Aven explained that their client held a big wish to join Fairy Tail, and thus Mura smiled. It was always exciting to see new faces wanting to join their guild, but first Aven took care of the rather tense atmosphere that rose up. Unlike Aven, however, Mura was not the least phased or pushed to an unwished expression by Ghost’s scouter, Winchas’ poison or the client’s bad mouth. He allowed Aven to rebuke them before darting upwards while holding onto the bar stool with one hand, turning himself around upside down and landing his feet on the bar stool’s back piece as he balanced upon it and could eye everyone on the same angle.

He wasn’t used to the bowing and formality at all now. Fairy Tail had taken all of that away from his upbringing at Midi, and now it was coming back. Wew. “I-I’ts alright, Aven…” he pardoned his taller guildmate. Things were settled, hopefully, so he could now speak to the new girl with… rather nerve-poking auras. What was this shivering feeling… hmh…

“You seem more than sharp enough to have caught up on Aven’s words, but I’m Mura Kensho, one of the present Guildmasters of Fairy Tail.” Given by her words, she barely went as far as to assume that one of them in the guild hall was the Guildmaster, but he didn’t blame her. One would assume the leader of a proficient guild to be rather ‘outstanding’ and overall clear to spot and distinguish from the other members. But the first and only thing that distinguished Mura from his guildmates was his magical prowess, and there were entities among his dearest friends in Fairy Tail that were above his caliber. Therefore, he didn’t take it as an insult that she asked out like that.

“You seem to be very sure of yourself. I wonder what type of magic that you utilize,” he spoke to the circle-eyed noble with fine clothes, genuinely eager to see her present her arsenal, “We’re all seasoned wizards here, and hopefully the more versatile our powers become, the better…” There it was again. That goosebump… Mura, what was happening? “Excuse my shaking, I think I caught a cold…”

Soon enough Ghost nice viewing of the sunset would be interrupted by none other than Aven. Slowly but surely he would come to his knees under the man gravity like spell. His circle magic was something to be feared if you did n't know how to counter such a thing. But why would he cast such a spell was it to show off his might? Or was it to remind Ghost of his lost? Either way, it truly was uncalled for. Soon Ghost scanners would go up to seventy-five which indicates his magic power percent threat level. Ghost eyes would turn blood red as his scanners would turn green. Activate Battle Ready Tactics Program. The countersuit is in full effect. Prepare to engage- Soon Ghost would deactivate his battle roid. A style in which it will automatically activate upon the danger to himself.

Soon the spell would let up as Ghost would stand up. Slowly, but surely facing the group. Looking towards Aven his eyes would go from battle mode red back to normalize mode. Ghost clearly was upset. "Sir Aven I've done no such thing. I was simply stating the difference in our might. You claim to be a sharp thinker yet you clearly misinterpreted what I meant and by doing so you belittle us all. If I was to brag I would clearly state I was chosen as a Rising Star and my game knows no bound. My systems really do see you as a problem. I nearly went into assault mode there." Looking on at Mura Ghost was clearly in shock."Master Mura, clearly he went overboard just a little bit me bragging I would have stated I am a king but I did not. He must apologize for jumping to conclusions as always. A rank wizards my butt."

He would look to the girl sitting at the table as his scanner read threat level thirty percent. Simply blushing it off while looking at the pink hair girl. "So you royal to huh well then welcome to the guild. I'm sure you will find it pure wonders to be here once you learn the lay of the place." Still trying to play it off he was, in fact, a little bit down for being accused of such a thing. Soon his scanners would start to redirect itself back to Mura.

Aven smiled, silent gratitude for the Guild Master overlooking his show of force. Mura was always a pragmatic individual; it was likely he'd also seen a need to calm the situation, a favor Aven was happy to grant. It wasn't long, however, before Ghost spoke up once more, a slurry of accusations and lightly veiled insults, paired with a thin bordered defense of his words. Just when the situation was well on the way to resolution...

Eyes narrowed, Aven watched Ghost's demeanor with a hint of disdain. It wasn't an emotion he was used to, but it was certainly easy to embrace. "I suppose you didn't hear me before, when I clearly apologized to the Guild Master for the disturbance to his important work. As for an apology to anyone else, I hardly see a reason for that: perhaps, that strange scanner of yours is broken in more ways than one?" He scoffed. "You should learn to hold your tongue, especially when it would lash out against your seniors: you call me, a Guild Mate, a threat, in the same breath as insulting me! It's almost astonishing how quickly you forget, only moments ago, that I brought you to your knees with nothing but my magical pressure. If I were a threat to you, kid, they'd be cleaning you off the walls; but, I suppose this is some different Fairy Tail than the one I'm used to, where we consider our Guild mates to be threats instead of friends, targets instead of allies?"

Aven turned to the newcomer once more, his scowl softening somewhat into a disappointed frown. "If you'd truly like to improve Fairy Tail, Miss, then I suggest starting by treating your fellow guild mates with the respect they deserve as friends and allies..." He cast one final glance at Ghost. "...and ignore those who don't return the courtesy." With that, Aven's form dissolved into the light around him, his magical presence disappearing along with it, and in moments, he was gone.

… Oh cap. Now Ghost and Aven were at odds with each other over numbers. In all honesty, Aven shouldn’t let Ghost get to him, and Mura would likely advice him to stay calm. He would have to talk with him later, since Mura was also a good listener too… and hearing his guildmates’ issues with each their versions was kind of his duty before. But if you asked Mura, he couldn’t care less about what percentage of magic power that he exceeded Ghost in; he would likely just nod and move on with his life…

Many of Mura’s apparent qualities such as ‘patience’ and ‘competence’ were originally results of laziness. He was so happy that Aven didn’t catch on to Mura’s laid-back shenanigans; those would likely change his view on him as a Co-Guildmaster.

But they would grow. Aven, Ghost, you two will soon bear the guild on your shoulders with pride. The higher you go, the smaller such insignificant calls and words of superiority became.

Noooooow, back to Lady Spectra…

“… But I do know how to tie my own shoes,” Mura replied indifferently. He even went as far as setting his feet back on the ground and standing up just to let her watch how the floor had four, stony fingers rise up to untie and tie his sandals back. Meanwhile, his magic also manifested in form of a Mura-clone made of the same flooring that manifested a few floors above them at the office, busy in getting the Guild Crest Ink Box.

But until his clone came back down from the elevator, Mura really wanted to see Ghost’s magic. He felt her magical signature vibrate, but the nature of it was unknown to him. Maybe a little more showcasing would prompt her to demonstrate, in which he lifted up an open hand with nothing more than a solid, one karat diamond. He quickly clenched it and turned it to a handful of sand grains, however.

“So what type of magic do you possess? If you may, please direct it at me if you’re in need of a target.”

Arcadia rubbed her eyes and tapped her desktop lacrima workstation one last time. Pamphlets Flying Through the Air was now officially complete and the magically produced file was now winding its way through the lacrima-net to the people who would mass enchant it onto thousands of lacrima for the Fiore public to buy and watch. The barefoot slayer suspected many would download or stream it onto their iLacs to watch, but lacrima of invidious movies was still king of the marketplace for now.

After a long few hours spent on last minute touches, Arcadia was ready for a coupe days break. First thing first, she would head downstairs to the bar for extra special frozen treat. A combination of juice slush and soft serve ice cream. One of her newer favourites where alternating layers of ice cream and slush are layered together, oxygen with sprinkles over the the top. Today she felt like a combination of peach slush with cinnamon and sugar ice cream. She figured to see what toppings were left before choosing what to sprinkle over the top.

A certain laziness that comes with using portals was so second nature to her now that she's did not think twice about opening a portal straight to the bar from her upstairs office. Too her surprise, the lobby was busier than expected. Her portal closed behind her as she arrived in time to watch Spectra cast her spell in Mura. She was not quotes on time to hear Mura ask Spectra to do that. The barefoot slayer instinctually triggered her refraction spell, dejo that she appeared a few feet from where she really was.

Sensing no real danger, and seeing no one else ready to fight, Arcadia relaxed quickly enough. She left her displaced image up as a harmless precaution. Arcadia smiled brightly to Spectra, "Hey! Welcome! Uh, I'm Arcadia! If no one else has, I suggest our juice! Best in Fiore!"

The barefoot slayer went on to begin layering in ice cream and slush into a small bowl for her little treat. She also kept an eye on Spectra's audition.

An arm was lifted up and aimed forward towards him. Mura saw her action thoroughly, expecting a wave of sorts to be released from her palm. Kyuken had already entered his body through his back, in which the shaman’s eyes shone silver-white, and his reflexes were in-humanized. It was time to see what her magic was made of, and he assured himself that she, obviously, didn’t attempt to hurt him too much. He just wanted to see what type of magic that she used…

…

Arcadia had just greeted them, but Mura did not like the ghosts heading for him. Not. One. Bit. His rather calm, confident face contorted into fright as he swung his katana around at mach gazillion or something. All the ghosts, who were usually invulnerable to physical attacks, found themselves affected by his shamanism as his sword could smoothly cut them in halves. “ARRRRRRRGH, NOT THOSE TYPES OF GHOSTS!!! I COMPLETELY FORGOT YOU EXISTED- G-G-GET AWAY, GET AWAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!”

He had to jump up to the counter of the bar and flail his sword around so fast that the eye couldn’t track it. Not feeling safe enough, he swung the katana with his right hand and aimed his left palm out to shower the ghosts with small waves of fire, dust, sprinkles of water, splinters and gold dust in quick bursts.