Off with a Bang! [New Years Event]

Another year was approaching its end, the final hours ticking away before it would be arbitrarily decided that a new year had begun. This tradition had remained steadfast for long enough that most people would consider it as solid a rule as anything, but even as young as she was Akemi still felt that such claims were only as strong as the institutions that defended them. That's not to say that she didn't recognise the usefulness of time tracking, but she didn't share the exuberance other people felt when it came to the end of the year.

Still, she wasn't ignorant as to why people found these kinds of things important. It helped provide context and importance to their lives, it gave them things to look forward to and remember fondly. As an existential nihilist Akemi firmly believed that the only importance that existed was what you assigned for yourself, so these kinds of celebrations were agreements inside communities to assign importance to the same moments in time so people could enjoy them together.

But understanding why people found these things important wasn't the same as agreeing with them, which was why Akemi was inside Fairy Tail's library, her second home in the guild, doing research while doing her best to ignore all the sounds coming through the windows. Sometimes having sharp senses could be a real bother, and even if she could turn them off whenever she wanted she would have consider it the height of foolishness to blind and deafen herself just because her surroundings were a little bit annoying. After all, even within Fairy Tail danger could rear its ugly head when you least expected it.

As for what she was researching... she'd managed to get her hands on some sensitive military data which had been acquired through the ongoing war efforts against the Iron Covenant. Of course, she didn't have the rank or position to legally acquire the data, so these were acquired through less than legal means, although she was pretty confident that nobody would ever realise that these copies existed and she would make sure they were dealt with as soon as she'd memorised the contents. If she got caught with these in her possession most likely the leaders of Bellum's military would be less than happy.

The war was a messy affair so far, much messier than anyone had anticipated. Due to Pergrande's isolationist attitude in recent history, the rest of the continent had forgotten that at one point Pergrande had been poised to dominate the entire landmass before a series of unexplained events had interfered. The Pergrande of the modern age wasn't exactly the same, but the military force they'd been building up had surpassed expectations.

One of the reasons for that was their usage of oblivium, the mysterious and ominous metal that was nearly impervious to magic of any kind by disrupting the energies maintaining these physics-defying abilities. However, another factor was an absurd overrepresentation of espers within Pergrande's army. Espers were known to exist, people who could manipulate their surroundings through force of will without relying on magic, but for the most part their abilities were very limited. Pergrande, known for its distaste of magic after blaming mages for the incident that prevented continental domination, had apparently focused on nurturing psionic abilities within their territory, and the result was that their soldiers possessed abilities on par with those of mages. Their versatility was lacking, but these espers displayed a pragmatic efficiency that Akemi found more impressive than the flashy techniques used by most mages.

But that just meant that finding a way to deal with them was a top priority. Since they didn't use magic they were difficult to detect, and the soldiers with psionic abilities often also had oblivium equipment, meaning that alongside the element of surprise they also had the advantage that they were significantly more resistant to magic than any human had any right to be. Given that Pergrande had already built up its army in preparation for this war destroying the supplies would have limited effect unless they managed to drag out this war... Not to mention that such a task was easier said than done. Infiltrating Pergrande could very well be a suicide mission.

Akemi was pondering all of this when suddenly the sounds from outside became a lot louder, and this time there was also a voice she recognised instantly, in part because it called out her name. Very few people bothered to seek out the assassin unless they really needed something from her. Mura appeared comfortable enough to approach her, and then there was...

With a sigh, Akemi dismissed the documents into the shadows, where they disappeared to a place where she wouldn't have to worry about anyone finding them. She'd still have to destroy them in due time, but now that her apprentice had shown up it wasn't like she'd be able to focus on them. Once Nymara wanted your attention the only paths forward were to either answer her call or go to great lengths to try and lose her. While the latter was definitely an option Akemi would rather not antagonise the firebrand too much: best case scenario she'd just have to put up with Nymara being annoyed at her afterwards, worst case scenario Nymara would stop listening to her when Akemi needed something.

Given how loud Nymara was shouting Akemi decided to quickly leave the library before her apprentice decided to force her way in from the outside or something. Getting up from her seat Akemi's form shimmered, darkening and turning into a shadow that merged with the shadow of her chair and disappeared. Moments after Nymara's shadow darkened, Akemi's form rising up as if she was emerging from a hole in the ground.

"I'm aware that the year's about to end, but what are you doing?" She looked at Nymara, then at the fireworks filling the sky above the guild hall. Those hadn't been there before Nymara's arrival, which meant they were most likely her doing. Which just led to the question of where the firebrand had acquired such an abundance of fireworks. "It's a good thing that everyone else is also setting those things off, but be careful that you don't start a fire."

The people of Magnolia were smart enough that their houses were designed to be very sturdy, especially after a good portion of the town had been demolished recently thanks to the sudden attack of a dark guild. Nevertheless, fireworks were already likely to start fires without someone like Nymara liberally applying her own restless flames.

Akemi nodded towards Lucky, who was also present, and from the looks of it wasn't too happy with Nymara at the moment. Not entirely unusual, although if the assassin was reading the cat correctly he was currently annoyed about a recent development rather than his usual state of borderline exasperation. Nymara was certainly an interesting companion, but for anyone who appreciated their peace and quiet she could also be very taxing.

With a wave of her hand Akemi smothered the flames that Nymara had used to ignite the fireworks, the shadows of the grass around the fire rising up to swallow the orange tongues and leaving behind only a burned trail. With that hazard out of the way she folded her arms, seizing Nymara up. Her nose twitched as she smelled the familiar scent of alcohol, which explained why Nymara was being so loud. Frowning at her apprentice the disguised twilight dragoness looked at her for several seconds before sighing.

"I'm guessing that you want to join the festivities and that I'm supposed to come along with you." It wasn't exactly a huge leap in logic: there was a celebration happening, Nymara was calling for Akemi to call out, and the firebrand had a history of trying to get her mentor involved in such events. While Akemi rarely showed initiative for such activities herself she hadn't refused Nymara's invitations so far, so if she now had to celebrate the end of the year with the other female slayer as well she would just resign herself to it and try to enjoy it as well.

Current Appearance:

WC: 1,366
PWC: 1,366/4,000
TWC: 2,876/8,000

@Nymara

Given how many times Akemi had already shown up behind Nymara unannounced she would have thought that the fire slayer would have gotten used to the experience, but somehow every single time her apprentice would still react as if it was the very first time the assassin did it. It actually made Akemi worry a bit: was it simply Nymara's energetic self keeping her from paying attention, or did she have learning issues? Most of their training revolved around practical lessons, as Akemi was more focused on making Nymara a competent combatant and magic user than providing her with general education, but as a rule she could tell in advance when Nymara would have difficulty with a lesson, and it was almost always when the lesson involved a lot of theoretics.

Well, perhaps she shouldn't ponder it for too long. If it remained a problem she could track down a healer capable of checking Nymara's mind to see if she had any issues that needed fixing, but for now, she'd just raise an eyebrow as Nymara spun around and tried to pretend that she hadn't been shocked out of her skull. "I would have to be deaf to not hear you." She replied dryly to what most likely had been a rhetorical question. She sniffed as she caught the scent of alcohol coming from Nymara, telling her all that she needed to know about her apprentice's current state. "Granted, with all the explosions up in the sky I can't blame you for yelling." The fireworks maybe pretty, but they were also very noisy. Even without the drink Nymara would have been justified in speaking loudly if she wanted to be heard through the window this evening.

As usual, Lucky's attitude was far more respectful. While Akemi still had a hard time taking him seriously she had to admit that his demeanour was quite endearing: careful with his words, cautious with his actions, and overall unlikely to cause her any trouble. While she was almost psychopathically disinclined towards spending time with others of her own volition she didn't mind people approaching her as long as they didn't waste time with frivolous subjects or behaved like fools.

She did make an exception for Nymara on those fronts. She'd taken the firebrand as her apprentice because she saw promise in the girl, as energetic and reckless as she was, and beyond that putting up with Nymara's antics was worth it for the benefits. "That said, try to keep your yelling for appropriate moments." She smirked as she said that before her expression turned neutral once more. Turning her golden gaze upwards she watched the fireworks that Nymara had supposedly prepared for her. There was certainly an abundance, but unsurprisingly the display was a bit messy. "It's certainly flashy." She bit back another snarky remark. As much as she enjoyed dry commentary she didn't want every word that came out of her mouth to be belittling. That could never end well.

"As for my evening, there wasn't anything remarkable about it." Studying and pondering in the library was something she did a lot, so today was the same as usual in that aspect. Ignoring all the noise that was happening outside was the main deviation.

Of course, that part of the evening had now come to an end as the noise had come to her personally in the form of a drunken Nymara, who could give the rest of the city a run for their money when she got going. The assassin kept her arms folded as Nymara tried to entice her with fireworks (did she think that would work?), only relaxing a little once the firebrand more or less requested for her to join herself and the exceed for the festivities. "I don't think I'm making any breakthroughs today, so yes, I can spare the hours." Figuring out how to counter the espers and their oblivium was a long-term project: their ability to hide from magic detection and their ability to negate magic on a fundamental level meant that most tricks wouldn't work.

The fact that Nymara sounded so hopeful did intrigue her. Nymara was always enthusiastic, but the way she was talking made it clear that she was specifically hoping for Akemi's presence, rather than just inviting any of her friends along. Ever since the two of them had gone undercover on that job together the redhaired slayer had been a tad more attached than before. Akemi smirked to herself as she thought about it: it looked like some of her efforts were bearing fruit.

Lucky's casual comment about a mob did halt Akemi as she raised both eyebrows, looking at Lucky and then at Nymara. She didn't say anything, waiting for her apprentice to inevitably incriminate herself by protesting Lucky's words in a manner which told the twilight dragoness what had happened. Unfortunately, it seemed like this time around Lucky refrained from prolonging the argument, leaving many a detail untouched. "Now why would there be a mob chasing sir Lucky?" She idly mused to herself.

Nymara's comment earned her a look, following by Akemi mentioning for them to start moving. "If you want to enjoy the New Years together we better start moving, or we'll spend the entire evening here talking about whatever the two of you have been up to." Once they were walking the raven-haired Ace would reply to Nymara's question. "I usually don't pay much attention to it. If I'm feeling particularly thoughtful I'll consider all the progress made in the last year and priorities for the next." It wasn't something as ritualistic as the new years resolutions many people made, but it paid to look back at the past and use what you've learned as a stepping stone for the future.

"As for you, I imagine that you usually spend it feasting and drinking." She looked over her shoulder at the fireworks that Nymara had lit up. Given that the slayer had ignited the fuses without much of a thought the collection was burning up quickly. "On a related note, if you really wanted to make fireworks you could learn to make themselves. It's all fire in the end." She turned her gaze back at Nymara. "Of course, patterns and colours do require a lot of control, so maybe it's something we can aim for you to achieve next year."

Around the three of them the city of Magnolia continued its festivities unabated. Just like the guild headquartered in the settlement, the people were eager to cut loose. This wasn't a town where everyone would quietly spend their time with friends and family. No, people were out there on the streets, friends meeting up to head to pubs and friends setting off fireworks into the sky hours before midnight would strike. If there was one thing that you could be certain of in Magnolia it was that it wasn't a boring place.

Akemi, however, was more interested in the redhead next to her. She didn't care much for the smell of alcohol, but other than that she quite appreciated Nymara's presence. Her wildness could be a problem at times (many times) but her energetic nature combined with her looks made watching her more enjoyable than Akemi would admit out loud. Of course, given that she didn't want the exceed to get any ideas she wouldn't stare at Nymara too long, instead throwing her gaze at their surroundings as well. "So did you have a specific game or feast in mind, or are we just going to walk around and see what the city has to offer until midnight?" Knowing Nymara there hadn't been a real plan in her mind beyond getting Akemi to come along with her.

Current Appearance:

WC: 1,290
PWC: 2,656/4,000
TWC: 5,208/8,000

@Nymara

Akemi had wondered if Nymara would realise what the assassin was talking about, given that the firebrand could have a hard time catching any clues which weren't so unsubtle as to practically smack her in the face. From her perspective it wasn't that Nymara was unintelligent: she just tended to approach life in her own way, and it could take some real yanking to make her change tracks.

But this time around it looked like the assassin's words had hit the mark, which meant she got to enjoy the sight of Nymara's face turning red for reasons unrelated to her alcohol intake. Her hotheaded apprentice really was cute when caught off-guard, and Akemi permitted herself a light smirk as the other female slayer tried to regain her composure.

"I don't envy those who were planning to rest tonight, or those who have to get up early tomorrow." She shook her head as Nymara seemed to almost enjoy the idea of keeping others awake. "Still, there's measures they can take to ignore most of the celebrations, as long as nobody starts destroying any houses. On that note, I don't want to get in the way of your fun but if you start wrecking the place I'll have to take action." It was one thing to enjoy new years, another to completely lose all consideration for others. Not that Akemi was truly considerate: she just wanted to avoid getting into more trouble than she could handle.

With Nymara completely missing the point of Akemi's comment regarding the fireworks it looked like it was time for them to head out into the city, to partake in whatever festivities they had prepared. Given that this was Magnolia Akemi could only assume that they had pretty much every type of festivity you could imagine laid out throughout the streets, as New Years only came around once a year. "You think anyone could just bribe me with some fireworks to come out?" She raised an eyebrow as she folded her arms, subjecting Nymara to one of her stares. "I assure you that if some random sod had tried this I'd have sent them packing." She went along with Nymara's ideas because Nymara was her apprentice, as well as someone Akemi took a personal interest in. She wasn't about to just go and explain in detail that Nymara was special, but she figured that even the fire slayer could figure out that Akemi was more accommodating towards her than others.

"...It's a bad day for your reputation when you let yourself get outsmarted by her. Especially when she's inebriated." That comment was, surprisingly, directed at Lucky instead of Nymara, the assassin reminding the exceed who exactly it was that had managed to rope him into trouble. Nymara might not be unintelligent in Akemi's eyes, but she wasn't exactly cunning either. "It's too late to put the fireworks back in their boxes and return them, but first thing tomorrow morning we pay a visit to those you took them from so you can compensate them." While she did admonish Nymara she wasn't upset or bothered, in part because she wasn't surprised and in part because she didn't really care much. All that really mattered was maintaining a peaceful relationship with the city and its inhabitants, but Akemi's tone remained mild.

As they began to move towards the city the sounds of celebration became louder. For a human it would already have been quite noisy, with fireworks going up in the air and thousands of people laughing, talking, and yelling, some indoors but many also outside. For a slayer (or a dragon) it was a cacophony, and if it wasn't for the fact that Akemi was already used to such things she might have found herself overwhelmed. As it was she just sighed to herself as her head was filled with information about everyone in Magnolia, from the bartenders who were making bank to the professional fireworks experts who were setting up their grand displays that would make personal shoot-offs look tame in comparison. Unavoidably there was also trouble, with people getting drunk and shouting at one another, but most people were clearly having a good time.

Akemi personally didn't care much for such communal mindsets, but she couldn't deny its advantages. At least here in Magnolia everyone was empathic and cooperative enough that anyone got to enjoy tonight as long as they were willing to step forward and join the party.

"I wouldn't call it a list, no." She replied to Nymara's suggestion. "In the grand scheme of things a year might seem short, but it's still many days in which things can happen. Aside from some overarching goals I don't try to plan ahead for a whole year." This year war had broken out, one that threatened to consume the whole of Ishgar. It might not be something that happened every year, but it was a good example why planning ahead too much might leave you blindsided by unexpected developments. "I just look back at what has happened throughout the year. And as Sir Lucky has already pointed out, that's something you could do as well."

As Nymara suggested joining a fight Akemi tilted her head. "I'm not hearing any big fights yet. You'll have to wait until deeper in the night when all the children have gone to bed I think." And as she'd mentioned before, if Nymara actually started wrecking the place the twilight dragoness wasn't going to stand and watch it happen. "I won't stop you from getting in a fight, but as I've mentioned before you can't go around destroying the place." There were several pubs close to the guild hall (for obvious reasons), but most of the buildings in this area were either shops or more expensive homes owned by individuals who not only could afford to live here but also have their property rebuilt on a semi-regular basis. The kinds of pubs where brawls were common would be found closer to the edge of the city.

At least her companion was interested in the idea of creating fireworks. "Using fire magic to create fireworks is one of the more popular applications." The assassin remarked. "Most people don't learn magic to fight bandits and monsters, after all. If you want to read books on how to do it I can find you plenty: fire magic is common even if slayer magic isn't." Slayer magic had some unique properties, but in many ways it was very similar to standard elemental magic. Which made sense, since it was just elemental magic used by dragons and other powerful entities.

"I don't make a habit of getting into fights for the fun of it, no." She remarked dryly as Nymara asked her whether she boxed. "But if that's how you want to spend the evening..." She resisted the urge to facepalm. Nymara really took advantage of her generosity, even if the firebrand might not even realise it. "Let's go take a look at this watering hole of yours."

Unsurprisingly, the pub that Nymara had chosen was familiar enough with her that the bartender immediately shouted at the firebrand to get out, confirming Akemi's suspicions. The pub was crowded, with many people enjoying their drinks, their food, and the company of friends and acquaintances. But from the sounds of it this place was also familiar enough with brawls that everything was designed to be able to take a beating, even if Nymara's flames fell outside expectations. "I don't drink usually, but if you really want to you can just buy me whatever you're getting." Akemi almost never got drunk, but she figured that a mild buzz might make it easier to go along with Nymara's plans for the evening. "And no fire when you're punching people out." Even without her flames Nymara was perfectly capable of reducing this building to rubble, but at least restricting her to using her fists made such escalation less likely to occur. "And while I realise this is a tall order when you're drunk, try to avoid breaking any limbs."

Her sharp ears had already picked up on the fighting club down below, and from what she could tell they did have a healer on standby in case of serious injury. Still, better to end the night with zero incapacitating injuries if it was possible, and it might help Nymara remain more focused if Akemi told her to avoid going overboard.

Current Appearance:

WC: 1,409
PWC: 4,065/4,000 (Completed)
TWC: 7,927/8,000

@Nymara

As amusing as it was to listen to Nymara's attempt at flattery Akemi wasn't inclined towards accepting praise she didn't deserve. The raven-haired assassin shook her head in response to her red-haired apprentice. "There's much more left to learn about your fire magic, and more than I can teach. Eventually you'll either have to continue developing your abilities yourself or we'll have to find someone who can teach you what I can't." At the end of the day Akemi was a shadow magic, manipulating shade and dark to assassinate her enemies. Her teachings for Nymara had been pretty basic, even if she firmly believed that those basics were essential for a mage to become truly capable.

The following interaction between Nymara and Lucky was quite interesting to Akemi for personal reasons, as the knight exceed apparently had decided to stop beating around the bush and pointed out that Nymara's actions were motivated by more than just whatever passed for logic inside her passionate soul. Akemi smirked faintly as she watched Nymara's face go red. "Some introspection might be prudent at a later time. Right now, however, we have other things to take care of." If Nymara wanted her mentor to accompany her for the celebrations Akemi wasn't going to let them get sidetracked by all the things Nymara might have to think about.

They'd be here all day if they stopped for that.

At least Lucky and Nymara both accepted Akemi's criticism when the disguised dragoness pointed out their individual mistakes. "As long as you learn from what happened I'll consider that sufficient. Of course, the only way to prove that you've learned is to not make the same mistake again." She glanced towards Nymara, who seemed to be having a hard time focusing on anything right now. "As for how difficult it might be to plan ahead for an entire year... you can try it out for yourself if you like. You might learn something from it." From Akemi's perspective Nymara was usually very impulsive. For her to try and plan the next year might be a valuable opportunity to pick up some new skills, as well as learn that rigid plans were easily broken.

Akemi would have pointed out that fireworks wouldn't exactly improve Nymara's combat abilities, but fortunately the fire slayer didn't need to be told that once she thought about her own idea for a bit longer. Fireworks were certainly flashy, but there were much better ways to optimise the offensive capabilities of fire magic. The main reason she'd want Nymara to learn how to produce fireworks with her magic was that it would be a way to make her apprentice learn more control while using a method she'd most likely actually enjoy: with how flashy Nymara herself was she might be more eager to put herself through such training if the reward was that she could make colourful explosions in the skies.

"Betting is just a way to lose money" Akemi replied to Lucky's question once they were down in the basement watching Nymara punch the lights out of anybody foolish enough to enter the arena to face her. Just like Lucky she'd seen the betting stand that was crowded with bystanders who were hoping to make some money out of this, but she herself felt zero attraction to gambling. "Of course, as long as Nymara doesn't mess up she should be perfectly capable of beating down anyone who steps up against her." While Akemi might be critical of Nymara's control and restraint she'd never be so stubborn as to deny that her apprentice knew how to fight. With the physical enhancements all dragon slayers possessed she could wipe the floor with most opponents even without her magic.

Sure enough, Akemi confidently watched as Nymara punched her way through the competition, her apprentice displaying a lot more skill than she possessed when she first arrived at Fairy Tail. Hopefully these kind of encounters would also drive it home for the firebrand that raw power would always lose to a combination of power and skill. Once the final opponent was defeated (where did the crocodile even come from?) Akemi would answer Nymara's victorious smile with a nod and a light smile of her own. "Good job." Credit had to be given where credit was due.

She'd have been ready to head back out of the tavern to prepare for those fireworks that Nymara was looking forward to when her apprentice suggested that Akemi take her turn in the tournament as well. Pursing her lips the assassin hesitated, weighing the pros and cons, before placing her hand on Nymara's shoulder. "Just for today. I'll  make it quick though, so we don't miss those fireworks. You rest and keep a close eye on me." Her fighting style wasn't identical to Nymara's, but her apprentice might still learn something.

True to her word, Akemi wouldn't beat around the bush once the next tournament started and she stepped up. Her first opponent was the victim of a quick strike to the chest which drove all the air out of his lungs and left him gasping even as Akemi pushed him out of the ring. The second opponent managed to evade the strike but got caught by an uppercut that almost knocked his head from his shoulders before Akemi followed up with a kick that, again, made him leave the ring forcefully. Even without a hint of magic Akemi was still a disguised dragon, and there was little that some local brawling expert could do when facing her.

Quickly progressing through the rounds it wouldn't take long for Akemi to be facing her final challenger as well. Her acrobatic fighting style combined with unerring speed and precision had left her almost untouched, although this last challenger looked like he was planning to put an end to that. Tall but slender, the man had an almost willowy appearance, with long arms that allowed him to strike at Akemi from a distance where most people would only be punching air. The assassin was evading the attacks so far, but she'd yet to close the gap until...

Dashing forward Akemi ducked under the chopping right that came right at her, dropping so low that her hands touched the muddy ground. Digging her fingers into the dirt she lashed out with one leg, sweeping the man's legs out from underneath him. The muscles in her arms tensed as she forcefully altered her momentum, turning the legsweeper into a wide spin which resulted in her foot smashing into the man's head, leaving him spinning as well as he began to fall down. Before he could hit the ground, however, Akemi pulled in her legs and put her feet together, extending both legs to hit her opponent in the torso and launch him out of the ring, flying past the onlookers to smack into the wall.

Pushing herself back onto her feet Akemi frowned at her dirty hands, then walked away from the ring as the tournament had just come to an abrupt end. With a quick shake of her hands she got rid of most of the dirt and grime that had accumulated on her hands, although she kept them at her sides for the moment to not touch anything as she returned to Nymara and Lucky. "So, where are these games and fireworks you were talking about?"

Current Appearance:

WC: 1,232
PWC: 5,297/4,000 (Completed)
TWC: 10,955/8,000

@Nymara

Akemi's eye twitched as Nymara reacted to her victory so loudly. She was pleased that her apprentice was paying close attention, but if the firebrand kept going like this the assassin might start becoming embarrassed by proxy. As it was she just shook it off, ignoring the crowds as she made her way back to the fire slayer and her feline companion, raising an eyebrow as Nymara offered her a bag of jewels. "I'd judge you for gambling all your savings, but I suppose that in this case it could be considered a sensible investment." Akemi was capable of wiping out armies of trained soldiers given opportunity and cause. It wasn't exactly gambling to bet on her being able to defeat a bunch of hotheads who'd set up a fighting den underneath a tavern. "That said, I've got little use for that money, so you can keep it." She raised a hand to push the bag back towards Nymara, firmly signalling that she had no intention of taking any.

With the two of them having decisively struck down every combatant willing to face them in the ring there was little point left in staying, so Akemi would follow Nymara out of the fighting den, leaving the excited crowd behind to return to their schedule of non-lethal mayhem. There was more to the New Years than brutes beating each other up, after all, even if she suspected that given the opportunity Nymara would have no difficulty doing that all night.

The central park of Magnolia was always a sigh, with the giant tree in the middle towering above everything. But now it was even more extravagant than usual, Akemi's head turning as her golden gaze swept across the many different stalls that had been set up all over the terrain, offering food and games and drinks and everything else you could think of when it came to partying and amenities. When Magnolia wished to party it partied hard. "Many merchants must have been saving up for this opportunity all year." Unsurprisingly, given sales were always better during festivals. While the merchants saved up merchandise the people would save up money, one side wanting to use the opportunity to spend and the other wanting to use the opportunity to profit. A symbiotic relationship, which meant that the three of them were now met by a small forest of stalls.

Akemi was idly wondering how much of the food would end up going to waste and whether she should tell Nymara to just eat until she couldn't eat any more when her apprentice was distracted by a... The assassin blinked. A giant pool with an obstacle course above it? "Now there's something you don't see every day." She commented as she approached, watching many people try to make it across and all of them inevitably ending up in the water. She didn't think it looked that tough, but maybe she was underestimating just how slippery and unstable those platforms were, given that everyone kept sliding off if they didn't let go of the swinging ropes instead. The children were getting further than the adults at least, which suggested to her that for many of them alcohol might have played a factor.

Further evidence supporting her hypothesis was provided by her own apprentice, who attempted to pass the obstacle course only to fail almost immediately. It was almost humorous, the corners of Akemi's mouth twitching upwards as she watched the firebrand climb out of the water as she was followed by a small, rising cloud of steam. "There are people who've learned to retain their balance while drunk, but I'd suggest prioritising your fire magic before you try that." She studied Nymara's drenched form with a raised eyebrow, then motioned for her apprentice and Lucky to follow. "For now let's get something to eat. Given that even for you it'd be difficult to clean out every stall maybe we can get enough food inside of you to help you sober up a little."

Eating didn't necessarily help with alcohol, but it would give Nymara something to do. And with the right choice of food they could at least speed up the slayer's digestion so the alcohol would pass through Nymara's body faster. With the two others in tow Akemi would lead the way to a stall where they were grilling various types of meat, the scent of roasted flesh and boiling fat permeating the area in a manner which made Akemi's nostrils flare before she got control of herself. "Since you won some money back there I assume I don't have to pay for your meal, unless you want me to." Akemi looked at Nymara over her shoulder, her golden eye glowing faintly. "Of course, if I do pay for your meal this time I'll be expecting compensation afterwards."

Current Appearance:

WC: 806
PWC: 6,103/4,000 (Completed)
TWC: 14,325/8,000

@Nymara

Akemi shook her head as Nymara suggested that they'd find another fighting ring next time to avoid running into trouble by coming back here. "I'm not planning to make a habit out of this. You'll have to go by yourself next time." Showing off was for hotblooded individuals like the firebrand, not the raven-haired assassin who'd rather keep her abilities hidden for the most part. Even if she fought in these places without using her magic she might still be revealing things she'd rather keep hidden. "Destroying the place would definitely make them chase you out, but they also dislike it when someone keeps winning. Ruins the business if the outcome gets too predictable." A fighting ring might be designed to appeal to adrenaline junkies, but for the people running the place, it was also a source of income. If some unbeatable contestant kept showing up it interfered with the setup.

"I'm sure. You can use that money better than I could, since you use a lot more of it." Akemi's ascetic lifestyle meant that her day to day expenses were very minimal, in contrast to her apprentice who'd gorge herself on food and then assault her liver with liberal amounts of alcohol. Of course, when Lucky and Nymara mentioned a sleeping place the assassin raised an eyebrow. "You could buy yourself a bed for several months with that money, but it'd be better to save up for something long-term." She shook her head. "That said, you'll be sticking with me for the night, so no bridges either."

She nodded thoughtfully as Lucky remarked that perhaps this obstacle course was the natural consequence of the desire to provide new and fresh forms of entertainment year after year. "Perhaps. This is my first time celebrating New Years in Magnolia, so I wouldn't be able to say for certain." A quick glance told her that there was definitely magic involved in the obstacle course, the faint remnants of the spells used to put it all together. "I doubt that only one person was involved in setting this up. Magnolia is the city of festivals, so it wouldn't be difficult for the organisers to find helpers."

Seeing that Nymara was having difficulty getting back onto her feet Akemi would help her apprentice by grabbing her by the shoulder and pulling her upright, supporting the firebrand until she no longer looked like she'd fall over. "We're not obliterating any courses. These people put a lot of work into it and it'd only earn us their ire if we messed it up." She frowned. "We were already lucky enough that you weren't kicked from the festivities back when you burned that maze down."

With Lucky and Nymara busy arguing as usual Akemi remained silent for the moment, considering how much she should allow Nymara to eat before pulling the firebrand away from the stalls. When her apprentice's words implied that she thought she could grow meat the assassin blinked and glanced back at Nymara, looking confused for a moment before shaking her head and dismissing the thought. Like Lucky, she figured that if Nymara tried that she'd figure out quickly enough that it wasn't that easy to make your own steak.

"You won your fight as well, so that should be winners, not winner." Akemi pointed out. Nymara seemed to be more enthusiastic about the assassin's victory than her own, which Akemi found rather puzzling given that Nymara's victory had been well-earned. Her own victory was primarily an example of how experienced adventurers were on a different level than civilians, even civilians who trained themselves for combat purposes.

What was more interesting to her was how Nymara reacted to her words: Akemi had a habit of adding suggestive comments when talking to Nymara, but usually her passionate apprentice either ignored them or didn't seem to even be aware of the undertones. But for once the firebrand was showing some awareness, which made Akemi wonder just what was going through the girl's head right now. Was it the alcohol? She'd been very friendly the entire evening, more so than usual. But Nymara was so often drunk that it couldn't be just that.

"Figure something out... Yes, yes I think we will. Even if you're paying for this meal, I've put a lot of effort into training you, so getting something in return sounds like a good idea."

If Nymara was currently in a state of mind where she'd be more receptive to Akemi's ideas... It would be a waste to not make use of it. A short hum escaped Akemi's lips before she caught herself, focusing on the meal in front of them instead. As usual she didn't eat nearly as much as Nymara did, although she still ate more than one might expect from someone of her stature. She didn't say much while eating, instead filling her stomach as she carefully kept track of how much Nymara had eaten already. The two of them did draw some attention from their surroundings, but Akemi's golden glare was enough to keep at bay anyone who got ahead of themselves. She had no interest in mingling with the crowds.

Once she deemed that Nymara had eaten enough she finished her own meal and stood up, shaking her head as the firebrand offered to buy her even more food. "That should be enough for the both of us. Let's go find a good spot to watch the fireworks from."

Any spot would do, theoretically speaking, but down there amidst the stalls Akemi didn't think they'd get the best view. Motioning for Nymara and Lucky to follow she led them back to the area around the obstacle course, where there was a lot more free space and a clearer view of the sky. Thanks to the bustling liveliness of the city the stars weren't as visible as Akemi would have liked, but the dark veil of the night still spread out above and before them, waiting to be painted in many colours by the fireworks that merchants and citizens had painstakingly gathered and saved up throughout the year in eager expectation of this moment.

"From what I've heard the fireworks can keep going for hours. We don't have anything scheduled for tomorrow, but I'm not planning to stick around for the entire show." She looked at Lucky, then at Nymara. "And neither are you." She emphasised the last word as she looked at Nymara, before quickly turning her gaze back to Lucky. "It would be unbecoming of a knight to tire himself out to the point that he's still asleep when noon arrives, after all."

Current Appearance:

WC: 1,105
PWC: 7,208/4,000 (Completed)
TWC: 16,108/8,000

@Nymara

Akemi raised an eyebrow as Lucky quickly excused himself from the offer of a place to rest for the night. Truthfully she'd been planning to dismiss the exceed anyway, as she wasn't exactly in the mood for any spectators, but that the cat knight was both smart enough to see Akemi's true intentions and went along with them rather than getting in the way was more than she had expected. Perhaps where Lucky had come from they didn't have any objections against such things, but regardless of the reason it meant that she'd have to treat Lucky with a bit more respect.

"Understood. Given your small stature it shouldn't be difficult to find a good place to rest, but just in case..." Retrieving a portion of her winnings she put them in a separate bag which she pulled out of her own shadow, then handed it over to the exceed. "This should be enough for whatever lodgings you seek out in this city."

If Lucky was going to play along she might as well encourage him. Especially since she had no intention of keeping it to a single night, so it would be better if the exceed got into the habit of leaving the two of them alone.

Magnolia truly was one of the most lively settlements in Fiore. Maybe not quite the liveliest, but it came very close. Whether that was because Fairy Tail was settled here or not would require one to dive into the history book, but the results were the same nonetheless. "Rose Garden or Maclean Park may still be livelier, but it would be difficult to say for certain."

Of course, the discussion regarding the preparations required for a festival of this size were quickly interrupted by Nymara, who proudly declared that her ruination of the spring festival maze had been the responsibility of the cheaters that had pissed her off. The assassin gave her apprentice a neutral stare for a moment before sighing. "I guess it'll take a bit longer before you learn about the importance of subtlety." Punishing cheaters was definitely not something Akemi was opposed to: she just thought Nymara made too much of a mess when she was doing it. "When we went to the beach I also had to deal with a cheat, but I didn't set half the place on fire in the process." She commented dryly.

Lucky was correct that it was unusual for Nymara to not pay attention to her own accomplishments. Not that Akemi's apprentice was known for her arrogance, but she didn't hesitate to pride herself on her own accomplishments either. But this time around... Akemi almost snorted when Nymara seemed to not realise at how her words could be interpreted. Instead she merely nodded, a smirk twisting her lips slightly. "I don't doubt that you will, but the fireworks come first." was all she said.

Around them other people also began to find good places to watch the fireworks from. While the entire city was already filled with people celebrating the fireworks competition was arguably the star of the show, something which everyone could enjoy as the organisers and the candidates did their best to paint the sky with beautiful lights and imagery that would (hopefully) stay in the minds of the spectators all the way until the next year. "It would be better to ask them another time: they'll be busy for as long as the fireworks are going, and we'll be gone before the end of the show." Akemi might have given the impression that she was quite willing to change her plans for the sake of another's ideas, but that was primarily because it was pretty easy to reschedule training or studying. This time around the assassin wasn't planning to budge, and the only thing that'd keep her from dragging Nymara along was vehement resistance.

Finding a good spot for the three of them Akemi remained standing, folding her arms as she turned her attention towards the heavens above. The area was quickly becoming more crowded, although everyone was trying to keep enough distance from one another that they could get a clear view of the fireworks once they started. In the houses that surrounded the park many windows were also open so the people inside could look up at the night sky, and while it wasn't visible from their position Akemi knew that throughout the city people would be finding an opportunity to look upwards. She imagined that for the humans it was a unifying experience, a way to feel like they all belonged to the same community.

They most likely would also consider it unfortunate that Akemi had long since lost the ability to feel such a thing. On a smaller scale she could still feel connected to those who were actually close to her, but the social experiences that humans relied upon were mostly lost on her.

"Good."

By that point the organiser had stepped up and begun his short spiel that signalled the start of the competition, causing everyone else to fall silent as they awaited the fireworks with eager anticipation. When the first explosion filled the sky it was briefly as if the night had been replaced by dawn, an elaborate display of pyrotechnic brilliance that was quickly followed up by another. The people on the ground didn't hesitate to voice their approval, pointing and laughing and clapping as firework after firework shot up into the sky to dominate the heavens, from animals to paintings to fireworks that, through carefully timed explosions, managed to give the impression of actual movement and growth.

Akemi remained silent as she watched, taking note of the complexity of the techniques on display. She could imagine that even for the most talented of pyrotechnics these kinds of fireworks took years of training and refinement. It wasn't exactly her cup of tea, but she could respect the effort poured into it, and the skill of those who made these kinds of displays possible.

However, her attention was interrupted when Nymara voiced her awe, the assassin looking at her apprentice from the corner of her eye. Even the passionate firebrand had a hard time being her lively self when exposed to this kind of display it seemed. Which would be a good reason to let her watch the remainder... but Akemi could tell that Nymara was heating up their surroundings. Whether it was the alcohol or the fireworks, the redhead's excitement was reaching a point where Akemi had a perfect excuse to step in.

"It'll be good training if you learn to create displays like that."

She'd fall silent for a while after that, giving Nymara plenty of opportunity to memorise the firework display in front of her, so she could aim for similar heights herself. But eventually Nymara's temperature rose to a point where Akemi could hardly ignore it, and the raven-haired dark mage also reached the limits of her patience.

"It's been a pleasant evening, but I think it's time for us to leave." Lifting her hand she placed it on Nymara's shoulder, gripping it firmly while Akemi nodded at Lucky. "A good New Years to you sir Lucky."

With those words her shadow rose up and swallowed the two of them, leaving the exceed to enjoy the rest of the fireworks by himself, or whatever activities he still had on his mind.

---

Inside Akemi's room one of the shadows darkened, swelling up before returning to its passive state, revealing the two females who had just left the park behind them. The speed at which Akemi could move herself and others from one shadow to another was nigh-instantaneous, so the same fireworks which had been flying up into the sky when she shifted their location were only now exploding.

The room was the same as always, including a minimalistic approach to lighting. Right now none of the lights were even on, and if it wasn't for the curtains being drawn to let in the light of the night sky everything would have been cast in pure dark. As it was a normal human would probably have been unable to see anything: fortunate, then, that both Akemi and her partner had draconic vision, allowing them to see clearly even in this shrouded room.

"Hmmm... I guess fireworks are a suitable backdrop for this." Akemi let go of Nymara's shoulder, turning to face her apprentice fully. "But you've had a couple of drops too many for this. Hold still."

This time she placed her hand against Nymara's forehead, releasing a burst of her magic not to destroy but to purge. As dark magic flowed through Nymara's magic it'd leave her untouched, the voidlike magic instead solely consuming the poison named alcohol from her system. Perhaps a rather abrupt method of sobering Nymara up, but Akemi had never developed her magic to be gentle.

"Much better." Akemi pulled her hand back, then grabbed Nymara by the collar and leaned forward so their faces were almost touching. Her voice was different from before: usually soft and controlled, it now had a low heat to it, along with a subtle but sensual hiss. "I don't need my partner intoxicated, especially when I want her to show how much she's grown since last time~"

Current Appearance:

WC: 1,547
PWC: 8,755/4,000 (Completed)
TWC: 19,531/8,000

@Nymara