Fairy Tail: Lost One-Chapter 24: An Invitation or an Arrest?

Rudra strolled leisurely through the bustling market streets, soaking in the vibrant energy of the city. The air was thick with the rich aroma of fresh bread, sizzling meat, and exotic spices.

Merchants shouted deals from their stalls, hoping to lure in customers, while children wove through the crowd, their laughter ringing through the marketplace. The scene was lively, almost picturesque—if not for the occasional pickpocket attempting to lighten his pockets.

A man stumbled into him, muttering a hurried, "Sorry about that," before vanishing into the throng. Moments later, a woman brushed against his side, offering an absentminded apology as she slipped away.

Rudra smirked. Amateurs.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small pouch, feeling its unexpected weight. With a casual toss, he let the coins shift between his fingers. "Man, making money is easy."

His system chimed in, its tone laced with dry amusement. "You do realize you're just stealing, right?"

Rudra rolled his eyes, slipping the pouch back into his cloak. "You know they were the ones stealing from me first, right? I'm just returning the favor."

"Sure, keep telling yourself that."

Ignoring the system's unimpressed tone, he stopped at a food stall, exchanging a few coins for a skewer of sizzling meat. The vendor, a burly dwarf with a beard that could've been its own marketplace attraction, grunted as he handed over the food.

Rudra took a bite, savoring the smoky flavors as he made his way to the heart of the marketplace. At the central plaza, a massive fountain stood proudly, its intricate stone dragons spouting water into a crystalline pool. He settled onto the fountain's edge, exhaling as he enjoyed his meal.

After a few bites, Rudra muttered absently, "This place is boring."

"Why?" the system asked.

"Since Arthur is regressed, he'll be overpowered and fix every problem himself," Rudra sighed, twirling the skewer between his fingers.

"You're not wrong, host."

Through his Observation Haki, he sensed that Arthur wasn't heading home. Instead, he was moving toward an unfamiliar location—underground, engaged in a fight. If Rudra's guess was correct, these people were the ones planning to attack the academy, just as the story had originally dictated.

He exhaled through his nose, mildly exasperated. "How much time until I can use Dimension Shift again?" he asked, finishing the last of his skewer.

"It's ready, host. Do you want to use it?"

Before he could answer, something caught his attention.

A black cat padded toward him, its steps eerily deliberate. Its sleek fur glistened under the afternoon sun, and its intelligent, golden eyes locked onto his.

The feline let out a soft meow.

Rudra arched a brow. He wasn't an idiot. "I know you're not a cat, so kindly get lost."

The world around him warped.

The bustling market disappeared in an instant, replaced by an endless expanse of white. The cat's form shimmered, its fur fading into platinum blond hair, and its feline pupils remained sharp as ever. Now standing before him was a man with an elegant yet unsettling presence.

He studied Rudra with amusement, his smooth voice carrying an undercurrent of authority. "My name is Winsdom. I am what you lesser beings call a deity."

Rudra took another bite of his skewer, chewing slowly. "Deity? Yeah, sure."

Winsdom's expression twitched. Clearly, he wasn't used to being dismissed so easily. Taking a deep breath, he reined in his irritation before speaking again.

"I don't know why my Lord sent me to you, but he had a message," Winsdom said, his voice cold. "Stay away from Arthur Lewyin and his bond."

Rudra paused for a moment—then resumed eating. "Damn, this thing is delicious."

Winsdom's eye twitched. "Did you not hear what I just said?"

"I did," Rudra said, licking the sauce off his fingers. "I just don't care."

Winsdom exhaled sharply, his patience visibly thinning. "You're treading on dangerous ground, mortal. This is not a warning you can ignore."

Rudra wiped his hands on his cloak and stood, cracking his neck lazily. "Let me tell you something, Winsdom." His lips curled into a smirk. "I don't do well with threats. And if your 'Lord' is so concerned, maybe he should show up himself instead of sending his pet cat."

A flicker of something—anger? Amusement?—crossed Winsdom's face. Then he smiled, slow and knowing.

"You do realize you're trapped here, don't you?" he mused, his voice laced with cruel amusement. "This space belongs to me, and if I wished, I could end you here and now. No witnesses, no escape."

Rudra barely suppressed a chuckle, shaking his head. "Yeah? And yet, here you are, talking instead of doing." He tilted his head, eyes gleaming with sharp amusement. "If that old geezer really wanted me dead, he would've sent you to kill me, not waste time running your mouth."

Winsdom's smile faltered, ever so slightly. "Your arrogance is unwarranted, mortal. Do not overestimate your—"

"Overestimate?" Rudra interrupted, grinning. "Buddy, I think you're the one underestimating me."

The air around him crackled as his Devil Bringer began to glow, pulsating with an eerie blue light. From the shimmering energy, Yamato materialized in his left hand, its blade humming with power.

With a swift motion, he unsheathed Yamato and swung diagonally.

Reality itself split.

A deep, dark rift carved through the white void, splitting it in two like a shattered mirror. Space warped, cracks spreading outward as the entire dimension trembled. The once-endless whiteness fractured, dissolving into fragments of light and shadow.

Winsdom took a step back, his once-confident expression giving way to something unreadable—frustration? Shock?

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Rudra casually sheathed Yamato with a sharp click. "I can leave anytime I want."

The moment the words left his mouth, the crumbling void collapsed in on itself. The distorted space twisted and shattered like glass, forcing Winsdom's form to flicker. He grimaced as his human shape distorted before he instinctively reverted into a black cat, fur bristling with irritation. His golden eyes narrowed, tail flicking with restrained fury.

Rudra smirked down at him. "Now get lost."

And just like that, everything shifted.

One blink, and Rudra was back in the bustling market, standing by the fountain as if nothing had happened. The sounds of merchants calling out their wares, children laughing, and the sizzling of grilled meat filled the air once more.

The only evidence of the encounter?

A single black cat, sitting a few feet away, glaring at him with pure disdain.

Rudra chuckled, popping the last bit of his skewer into his mouth. "Thought so."

The cat let out another irritated meow before flicking its tail and slinking away into the crowd.

Rudra stretched lazily, rolling his shoulders as he took in the lively market. "Well," he muttered to himself, smirking, "that was a fun little distraction."

He dusted off his hands. "Now... what's next?"

Slowly, he sat down and resumed eating his food, savoring the moment. The market remained lively, merchants shouting their wares, the scent of sizzling meat and freshly baked bread filling the air. He enjoyed himself, taking his time.

By the time he had finished his meal, a sudden hush fell over the town square.

We have a visitor.

Rudra exhaled through his nose, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I know," he murmured, looking up.

Surrounding him was a group of people clad in military uniforms, their posture rigid, their eyes locked onto him with unwavering focus. But his attention immediately zeroed in on the woman standing at the forefront.

Alea.

Her golden eyes held a mix of emotions—reluctance, determination, and something else he couldn't quite place.

Rudra leaned back slightly, resting his elbow on the table as he smirked. "I knew we'd meet again," he mused, his voice laced with amusement. "But I didn't think it'd be this soon." His gaze flickered with mischief as he added, "So, how can I help you, beautiful?"

Alea's lips parted slightly before she hesitated, her expression briefly conflicted. Then she straightened. "Rudra, I want you to come with me to the palace."

Rudra raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And why's that?"

Before Alea could answer, a sharp voice cut in.

"Alea, we don't have time for this," a man with platinum blond hair interjected, his tone laced with irritation. "If he doesn't come willingly, we'll use force."

Alea turned to him sharply, her golden eyes flashing with warning. "Shut up, Bairon Wykes. I'm talking." She then turned back to Rudra. "Please, come peacefully."

A murmur rippled through the gathered crowd.

A Lance—one of the strongest warriors in the kingdom—asking someone to accompany them rather than dragging them by force? It was unheard of.

Bairon's expression twisted in anger. "Alea! What are you doing? Where's your pride as a Lance? How can you lower yourself to ask a criminal like him—"

Alea whirled on him, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. "This is the last time I'm telling you, Bairon Wykes—shut up."

The tension between them was thick enough to slice with a knife. Bairon clenched his fists, his jaw tightening, but he said nothing more.

Rudra, amused by the entire exchange, chuckled softly. "Well, well... that's quite the tone you've got there, Alea. Puts me in a tough spot." He stretched his arms lazily before resting them behind his head. "If I refuse, Blondie over there might blow a fuse. If I accept, people might start thinking I am a criminal."

Alea's expression tightened. "Rudra, this isn't a game."

"Isn't it?" Rudra countered, his smirk unwavering. "You Lances certainly like making things dramatic. And here I was just trying to enjoy my meal."

Alea took a deep breath. "I wouldn't have come if it weren't important. Please, just come with me. You'll understand everything once we're there."

Rudra held her gaze, reading the sincerity in her eyes. He tapped his fingers against the table before finally pushing himself up from his seat.

"Sure, why not?"

Alea let out a quiet sigh of relief. "Thank you."

As she stepped forward, she lowered her voice. "I'm sorry for this."

Rudra shrugged. "Don't be. I'm actually curious to see where this goes."

As they turned to leave, Bairon scoffed, his voice dripping with contempt. "This is a mistake, Alea."

Rudra smirked, glancing at him sideways. "If you're jealous that she's paying attention to me, just say so, Blondie."

Bairon's face darkened, his fists twitching. "Watch your mouth, criminal."

Rudra chuckled. "Oh? Did I strike a nerve?"

Alea shot Rudra a warning glance. "Enough."

He held up his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. I'll behave... for now."

With that, they made their way toward the palace, the weight of the crowd's stunned silence pressing around them.