Fairy 69: Encounter in the woods

After that oddly suspicious pinkish red Magic Car drove past the trio. Vottes, Zack, and Hisui carried on their way once again towards Albero.

They chatted happily while travelling towards the next town, Albero. But little did the trio knew, not only the Black Rivers Dark Guild has found them. They even planning an ambush on their way to Albero.

From the current speed of the trio. It will take them least 2 days to reach Albero, or to be ambushed by the Black Rivers Wizards.

It cannot be helped, originally on foot, the distance between Foglia and Albero towns, should be over a day on foot. But because of Hisui, who still a child, with hasn't been trained to handle long distance travelling. The duo, Zack and Vottes slow down their movements.

Either Zack or Bottes mind this, they didn't want to burden Hisui's small legs, and they actually enjoyed their slow pace, while enjoying themselves while moving in a slow pace. Of course, even if the duo didn't mind, but Hisui, who doesn't like to burden no one, think otherwise. But didn't let it show on her face.

Night soon approaches the trio, as they begin to setup camp. Vottes begin to unpack what they need for the night camping, while looking after Hisui. While Zack himself, went away from the girls, and begin to hunt down something for them to eat.

Of course, the trio has supplies of food among them. But those kinds of supplies are mostly food like sweets, or dried meat. And besides those things, that last a long time, or could be used in situations they cannot hunt, Zack also brought spices and herbs along with him.

After all, when it comes to travelling, it best to pack food that last a long time, as well spices and herbs. It a lot better to hunt your own food, because just relying on the food you packed with you, could lead to problems, when you run out of food supplies halfway through your journey.

Not to mention, Zack normally don't pack up sweets. Even if he does sometimes buy cakes or chocolate back in Magnolia for Erza and the others to eat. Doesn't mean he like sweet and chocolate himself. He doesn't mind them once in a while.

But if he going to be something sweet, it also has to be bitter. When it comes to Zack with his favourite food, it is bitter, he is a big fan of coffee, and when he does buy Erza a cake, to show his generosity towards her, when she trained him with the sword, he also buys himself a coffee cake as well.

Which is why, Zack didn't normally packed sweets or similar stuff. But Hisui and Vottes on the other hand is different. Hisui is a royal princess who used to have cakes and high-ends chocolate each time she enjoys her afternoon tea back in the royal castle.

And Vottes always seems to have a sweet tooth herself. Which is why, when resupplying, Vottes personally picked out some sweets, as well some chocolate while they still at Foglia.

Moments later, while still on the hunt. Zack who still looking for prey, suddenly halt his steps, when he spotted a lone wild monster like boar.

Zack recalled seeing this kind of monster before in a book at the guild's library. From what he recall, this monster is a C-Class monster, and it also eatable, which is why a smile creep on Zack's face knowing this, as he reached his hand out, only to cast Gravity Hold on the poor thing.

However, when Zack was about to cast Gravity Hold, his grassy widen eyes narrowed, when he stopped his spell halfway, when he felt magical power near him. And from the feeling of it, it belongs to human beings.

{AN: Reminder, Nightfall is the one, that taught Zack how to sense other's magical power or Ethernano)

'Two…? Could they be villagers? Or maybe follow Wizards… or maybe even Dark Wizards?' Zack who was about to hunt the now lucky boar-like monster. Turned his attention towards the source of magical power he could sense near him.

Curiosity burns within Zack, as he wonders who they could be. If they villagers, he will help them since they still monsters in these parts of the forest.

If they are wizards like him. He will greet them, but… if they are Dark Wizards that will be a different story.

There is no way Zack could leave such vile people, like the Black Rivers, or the insane people from the Nine Hands alone. They are dangerous people, that might harm innocent villagers or people, if they managed to unlucky bump into them.

If Zack knew this, and let them be, guilt will eat him alone. That is why he went towards the sources of magical power, that felt they belong to human beings, not monsters. And spotted two people ahead, who also noticed Zack when he came closer to them.

Of course, one might think after the encounter with Damon the leader of the Nine Hands, Zack might hide himself, when he sneaks up on possible Dark Wizards.

But Zack never been one for sneaking around, he is the kind of person that faces his problems head on. Not to mention, what is the odds of running into an SSS-Class or a Saint Wizard level being?

You have more chances to run into a S-Class Wizard or monster, then running into someone at Damon level. Of course, if you some kind of anime protagonist, who always find some kind of trouble each step you take, that will be a different story.

"Did I startle you two? I am sorry, I sensed some people nearby, sorry if I were disturbing you two." Zack the first one to speak among the three of them, as he looked at the two people before, who seems startled and very shocked upon seeing Zack coming towards them, but still made around 10m distance between each one of them.

'Now I think about it… they cannot be villagers, since they have magical power, so they wizards huh, but which kind?' Zack wondered in his mind, realising his earlier mistake, since him sensing Ethernano only applies to magic items, monsters, as well follow wizards.

After all, sensing magical power, doesn't work on those that has no Ethernano to begin with. Zack feels like a fool, thinking one of their possibilities these two are, are normal people, when they have magical power running inside them.

Out of odd habits, Zack checked the status of the two girls before him, one is a teenager with a white goth white dress. And the other one, is a young woman that looks around Vottes age.

Because his attention lies on their Status, Zack pays a little attention on the sole fact. These two girls looked blanky at Zack, a little to shock that it should be wary no matter who see it.

But Zack attention was on their status, not their faces, or their strange expressions to begin with. The first one he checked, was the teenager with the blonde twintail.

The moment he checked the teenager with the white goth dress's Status. Zack become stunned upon seeing her age, that doesn't match her slim petite body, coupled with her small, or nearly flat breasts of hers.

According to her Status, as anyone will expect her to be 15 years old by her age. But her real age seems to be 23 years old. making her 5 years older then Zack, as well 3 years older than Vottes herself.

Her stats on the other hand, is the perfect standard of a B-Class Wizard, with average stats between C- ~ C rank stats in her status.

The second woman, she has long purple hair, that is tied in a ponytail. It will be a lie, the moment Zack saw her hairstyle, he was reminded of Mirajane, who usual has a similar hairstyle as this woman has.

According to her Status, she is 21 years old. And her height is no different to Vottes, who only a year younger than herself, not only their height, even their huge chest size also similar in size as well.

With a long furry coat covering most of her body, and long leather boots. Even if she two years younger then the twintail girl, her stats seem to be higher, with average of C+ ~ C++ in her status, making her an A-Class Wizard.

"Huh…? S-Sorry! No, not at all!" The first one to snapped out whatever they are in. Was the purple haired woman, who show a faint smile on her face, before she sighed for some reason.

"Damned…! I-I mean n-no mind… no-not that, I mean we are honest s-surprised someone! Someone… someone? Yes, someone else with us!" However, on the other hand, the twintail young looking girl, became all stiff, almost like she is forcing herself to act. There even sigh that escaped from the purple haired beauty besides her.

Seeing she is all stiff and forcing herself, Zack became worried, when he looked at the twintail. Which is why, Zack failed to see the evil smirk on the purple haired woman, who looked at Zack if he were a naïve person.

However, even if Zack didn't notice, among the 'four' of them, someone or something else did.