[center][hr][h1][color=9e0b0f]Marduk[/color][/h1][/center][hr][indent]

Marduk let loose a deep sigh, the simple action containing a mess of emotions. Nostalgia, regret, sadness - all the things that seemed to be coming to him easier these days.

[color=9e0b0f]"Suppose I must be feeling my age, eh?"[/color] The man chuckled dryly. Silence greeted him, but he closed his eyes and imagined for a moment that the people in the graves in front of him replied. He always did, and for a moment he was in a different time and place.

Then the moment passed.

[color=9e0b0f]"Cheers, old friends."[/color] The old man uncorked a bottle of wine and poured it over the graves. They'd appreciate good make.

A week had passed since he'd been away from the guild. The older ones would understand - he usually disappeared around this time of year. Marduk would make a week-and-a-half sojourn to a little known village where a certain set of graves were kept, to visit old friends from his time as a mage with the council.

Moreover, he always made a point to check up on the various children he'd picked up on the way. In his time he'd constantly been both witness or perpetrator to the orphaning of kids, caught up in the wrong place and the wrong time. He did what he could for them, often personally looking for families to adopt them, or otherwise taking them to an orphanage he knew he could trust. It was his own form of atonement for those times he felt that he had not done enough.

And even then it feels like he came short.

Even now he thought about what more he could have done. If he had been more careful. If he had more power. If he were smarter or was more knowledgeable.

If, if, if.

Always he would think "if" until he eventually stopped because it was useless. Changing the past was outside of his power. Not everyone could have the fortune of Fairy Tail.

Anyway, he's had his time, took his shot and he missed. There was another generation of dreams waiting, so he ought gracefully step aside. Smiling at the thought of his guild, the large man got up and stretched. It was time to head home.[/indent]

[hr][center][h1][color=gold][i]Vashya Rafflesia[/i][/color][/h1][/center][hr][indent]

The red-head was bouncing around from place to place, looking intently at even the most mundane items of the guild, like its' lights and even tables and chairs, uncaring of the stares she was attracting from their bemused occupants. It had been a week since they'd first visited, and her father was unfortunately still out. Most times, they'd left right away, but this time, Vashya had insisted on staying, finally getting bored with the lack of activity. Her warden didn't really feel the need to stop her - she wasn't really bothering anyone, and it was all harmless curiosity. He still made sure to watch her though closely; anyone who expected kids not to get into trouble was [i]asking[/i] for trouble.

Which was exactly what he was expecting when the little girl stepped towards a girl that looked about a few years older than her; "looked" being the operative word because the guild master of Fenixtear was [i]definitely[/i] not anywhere close to Vashya's age - or his for that matter!

[color=gold]"[b]WOAH! YOU'RE YOUNG![/b]"[/color] she squealed in delight, apparently finding Torys' age highly amusing. [color=gold]"How're y'that young! You're the guild master right? So you've gotta be like, super duper old! I mean, my mom was old, but my dad is really [i]really[/i] old!"[/color]

It felt like the girl had been holding in this question for days now, and a stream of words just kept pouring out, even as her warden stood up to try and get her to calm down before the young looking guild master decided to kick them out.

[color=gold]"You have got to be using magic. What kinda magic do you use? I bet it's time magic. I've got magic too, [i]watch[/i]!"[/color] 

And now a dark mass of tendrils began wriggling around her, like a ghostly menacing octopus. Each tendril snaked towards various objects and began lifting them into the air, with all the grace of an energetic eleven year old, which is to say very little.

Plates and silverware clattered to the floor as they slid off lifted tables, drinks spilled as their glasses were danced through the air, and there were more than a few foods that spilled due to careless handling of serving trays.

And then Vashya noticed the mess she was making, flinched, and shunted her magic away. The consequence of turning off the magic holding various things in the air where needless to say unfortunate.

Everything she held fell to the ground creating an almighty mess. The little girl's head swiveled around at her handiwork, eyes wide and panicked. 

Silence reigned as her mind shut off in an attempt to process what she had just done.

[color=gold]"S-so, um, tadaaa-aa...?"[/color] she shrunk into her shoulders, her voice trailing off shakily. [color=gold]"A-anyway, is that good enough to join your guild please?"[/color]

Ah, the warden thought. So that was what she was going for. He'd be lying if he didn't see this coming. He'd also be lying he said that he knew what to do next.[/indent]