11 Chapter 11

Erza again found herself in a train with Archer. Unlike last time the girl was not sick. Apparently she had remembered to take her medicine and now she was perfectly fine. She was bright and cheery on the train. She has an interesting personality that tends to switch up often. She at the moment has taken to her habit of staring. Again Erza found that she should be used to it by now. Archer always stares when she tries to figure something out. She said it herself. She likes to observe and ends up making people uncomfortable.

"I have a question"

Archer raised an eyebrow. Her way of indulging in the future question. There are times when she speaks. Other times she takes to being quiet and only speaks when she feels the need to.

"Do you know what keys we'll find? "

"Yes but also no" Archer said and glanced out the window. She was seated on the opposite side of Erza. In all honesty she wouldn't have minded forgetting her meds. It meant she would be sick, but at least she'd have an excuse to use Erza's lap. She's getting off track. "I know that I will find a white and ruby key this time. What I don't know is what specific key I'll be finding"

Erza hummed her interest. "What about this key you say you need to find to help in your search for your siblings? "

"Demeter" Archer said calmly. "She's an old goddess. Very old. She's very connected to the earth and can track down anyone walking on her domain" Archer explained.

The name was odd, but she had heard it before. Levy spoke of the name once. She had read about some gods in one of her books and was very fascinated with everything she learned within. She would talk about the twelve Olympian gods and Demeter was a mentioned name. If she remembered correctly the bookworm had said that she guaranteed fertility on earth and protected farming and vegetation. Archer's talk about her being connected to earth was no surprise then.

"Although Athena could also be of use. She's very resourceful" Archer said to herself. The keys of the gods is something that came as a surprise to Archer. She had just stumbled upon one on a fateful day. She had found Athena's key first. She wasn't very nice to her. Something about mortals not being worthy of the god's power. It was an odd meeting. Six months later the goddess had reappeared out of the key and deemed her worthy. It was one of the most confusing things to happen to her in this life. To this day she was still confused. She had so many questions that they'd left unanswered.

They each have their own odd personality that Archer came to accept and grow used to. Ares is almost always angry and loves to pick fights with Apollo. Aphrodite is... Well, she's Aphrodite. That woman likes to coddle Archer. She would pop up out of nowhere and pamper her. There are times when she flirts with Anna, Irene, Igneel and Weisslogia . Archer sighed. It was sometimes a bit hard to keep them under control because they can fight over anything. And they're amazingly strong it's not even funny.

"Hopefully I find Demeter or Athena on this trip" Archer said as she reclined in her seat. "I don't like the idea of the others being out on their own. Especially not the youngest of them"

"How old are the youngest? " Erza asked.

"They're toddlers. Wendy is around four years old and the boys are five" Archer informed.

"Why were they being trained at such a young age? "

"Potential, I suppose" Archer said truthfully. She herself had found the three to be too young, but they were skilled little munchkins that adapted and grew. They have obvious potential. She remembered the one time Sting and Rogue teamed up to beat up Natsu because the boy ate their food. It was hilarious because that was the day Natsu got his ass handed to him by toddlers. It's a event Gajeel never let's the boy live down. "They're really strong , despite their age"

"Do you miss them? " Erza questioned. At the question Archer stared back out the window, seeming pensive.

"Well, yes actually. I do" Archer said after some time. Erza wasn't sur, but Archer's tone of voice made her think the girl was a bit surprised at her admittance. "Which means I've grown attached "

Erza wondered why she seemed so thoughtful at the statement. Is that a bad thing? Archer never seemed to have a problem with such things.

"Is that bad? "

Archer hummed and tugged on her scarf. "No not really, I suppose. My family doesn't get attached to those outside of the "circle" for reasons. Although my parents have no problem with interacting with others. We tend to keep to ourselves.I'm the only one who doesn't completely follow that rule"

"Where are your parents? "

Archer shrugged very casually. She didn't seem to care too much about the question. "Who knows? They do their thing without informing me. It's where I got the habit I suppose. I'll find them when they wish to be found. Or maybe I'll just stumble upon them one day"

Archer was so casual about it. She just admitted that she had no clue where her parents were. Erza doesn't have parents to begin with so she wouldn't know much. But she did feel that Archer should not have been so casual with it. Maybe it's just different with her. She is a weird person and Erza was still debating whether or not she was actually human.

In the end she dismissed it. Archer tends to be odd and she was getting used to that.

Things were perfectly fine.

~~~~~~~~~~

Archer was the first to step off the train when it came to a stop. The sun was high in the sky and she basked in it. She took a breath and sighed contently as she started walking down the streets. Trains are so crampt and stuffy. It wasn't very pleasant. Too many scents mixed together. Too many random sounds. She didn't like the form of transportation, but she went along with it anyway.

She had stopped some distance away and awaited Erza. She was following behind and was at her side soon enough. She had her eyes on the mission sheet and kept glancing up at the houses they passed. Archer kept an eye on her, just in case she stopped paying attention to her suroundings and bumped into anything.

Soon the two stood in front of a discreet house. It was modest and painted a vibrant blue. Archer stared up at the house, glancing at Erza to make sure they were at the right place. The girl nodded in confirmation so Archer knocked on the door.

The door was opened by a young man in his early twenties. He raised an eyebrow and Erza showed him the mission sheet. He looked skeptical for a moment, but opened the door wider for them to come in.

"The job is very simple and just as instructed on the mission sheet" the man began as he stood in what appeared to be the living room of his house. He pulled open a drawer on a desk and retrieved a moderate sized wooden box that he held up. "You need to deliver this box to a friend of mine in the neighboring town"

Archer held the box in her hands. Her calculating eyes observing and wondering. What is in the box?

"Can you manage that? " he asked with a stern look.

"Yes we can"

"Good. What is in the box is none of your concern. You are not to open it under any circumstances. "

"Yes sir" Archer said politely as she toyed with the box. "Worry not, we will deliver this box to whomever we need to"

The man smiled in appreciation and informed them of the receiver of the box. A mister Amethyst. A very rich man. When asked about what type of house to lookout for all the man said was that they would know when they found it.

And so they set off.

~~~~~~

Archer was toying with the box in her hand as she and Erza made their way through the forest. The next town was easy enough to reach so no train was needed. If they did plan on going with the train they would have to wait until later in the day. They decided to walk and were sure to make it before nightfall .

Archer spun the box around in her hand. She had the air of a curious child as she did. She was wondering what was to be found in this little box. It was unassuming. Just a wooden box that was sealed shut. She didn't try to open it because she was told not to and she would rather get paid for her job. But of course being the observing child she is she was curious. Through observation she found that the box was infused with magic and that what was to be found within was magical. So she concluded that they were escorting a magical artifact to a rich man.

"A magical artifact. I wonder what it does"

"The man said not to open the box" Erza said, her voice stern.

Archer waved her off. "I did no such thing. Observation reveals a lot. I've told you this. I can sense the magic infused in the box and also the magic that whatever item within it contains" Archer explained as she glanced at Erza. "Observation is key, Scarlet"

"Why do you refuse to use my name? "Erza raised an eyebrow. Ever since their meeting Archer had been referring to her as Scarlet. She didn't know why the girl saw the need to do that. She didn't even know why she chose that specific name.

"Does me not using your name bother you? "Archer asked. Her tone was innocent which let Erza know that Archer was genuine with her question.

"Not necessarily " Erza began. "I just find it odd. Why have you chosen such a nickname for me? "

Archer was about to answer the question. She was more than happy to reveal her reason for the name, but she was distracted. She stopped walking and cocked her head to the side. She had heard something and knew to inspect it. She smelled something as well. Scents of people. The rustling in the forest was easily caught by her sharp ears. She glanced at a certain set of trees.

"We've got a situation "

Archer was serious and Erza knew to be on guard. She had her hand on the Phoenix sword she took to carrying around more often. She was silent as she watched Archer. She was sure the girl had detected something. She kept her eyes on her for a sign.

And a sign came.

Erza was quick to move when she felt a shift in the air. She was quick on her feet and dodged the thick vine that had targeted her. With one swift movement her sword had sliced through the vine, immobilizing it. It fell to the ground unmoving. Erza effortlessly evaded the set of vines that soon targeted her. With each effelortless evasion she introduced her sword to a vine until none was left. She eyed the direction they had come from and sliced the open sir. A red glow sliced through the air in an arc. The grunt of pain she received made Erza know that she had made contact with her target.

Archer had her free hand in her pocket as she tilted her head to the side. She was not interested in whatever object had flew past her. She kept her eyes on the three men that appeared in front of her.

"Hand over the box kid" one ordered, drawing a bow.

Archer said nothing. Instead she threw the box into the air, gathering the men's attention. Her now free hand found its place in her other pocket and she casually walked towards the three men. One of them was quick to attack with some odd form of magic. She evaded it easily enough and pushed off the ground.

She was too fast for them to follow. Before they even knew what was happening each was sent tumbling down to the ground with a firm kick to their temples.

Archer landed back in her original spot and caught the descending box. She turned her attention to Erza to see her topple the last of the three that attacked her. She had one at the end of her blade, a glare aimed at him. Archer smiled as she approached the frightful man.

She crouched in front of him, her red eyes boring into him.

"It's best you tell me why you were after this box. We don't want to know how sharp that sword is, do we? " Archer raised an eyebrow.

The man knew better than to do anything else. His magic was not responding to his command. It hurt when he tried to use it. He was very aware of the fact that the children in front of him far outclass him.

"We were hired" the man was quick to spill. The look that Archer was giving him was unnerving. She eyed him as if he was some object. Something she could use and dispose of. It sent a shiver running down his spine.

"By who? "

He hesitated and the blade at his neck pressed harder against his flesh.

"A rich guy. His name is Everet Rourke. He promised us one million jewels if we manage to get the box"

Archer continued to eye him. Her eyes judging.

"I'm telling the truth. That's all I know. I swear" the man tried to sell his case. "Don't hurt me"

Wasn't Everet Rourke the name of the cake killer they faced on their first mission?

Archer stood and motioned for Erza to stand down. With one last glare at the man Erza returned her sword to its place at her hip.

"You've learned how to control the sword in such a short time. Impressive " Archer complimented. The first time Erza had zero control over the sword. That is why her first target was left unconscious. With control over the sword one can determine how much damage is done to a user's magic by regulating the magic within the sword itself.

Erza had smiled at the compliment. She had been testing the sword since its first use and learned to slightly manipulate its magic.

Archer noted the smile on Erza's face and smiled herself. She didn't think the girl would appreciate the compliment that much. It was absentminded on her part. Erza had looked at her and she raised an eyebrow.

"You were about to tell me why you call me Scarlet before those men appeared" Erza reminded. It seems she hadn't forgotten.

Archer could only let out a small laugh at the question.

"It's my favorite color" Archer pointed out, motioning to the scarf at her neck and the guild mark on her shoulder. "Like most shades of red the color is associated with courage, passion, heat, and joy"

"I don't see what it being your favorite color has to do with me" Erza said blankly.

"It's the color of your hair"

Erza blinked at the statement and took a strand of her hair between her fingers. She observed the string of hair and looked to Archer's scarf. How had she not noticed that before? She looked to Archer, who she knew was smiling under that mask.

"I see"

"Yup" Archer was cheerful. "You just so happen to have the hair the shade of my favorite color. It's quite beautiful and I won't ever forget who it belongs to"

"You won't? "

"Most definitely not and that I promise you"

Erza suddenly took interest in the dirt they walked on as she felt heat rise to her face. She couldn't help her reaction.

That's the nicest thing anyone ever said to her.