Chapter Text
The sun glistens upon the pristine stone of the manor, nearly blinding in its splendor. Perfectly trimmed hedges line the walkway, and not a stone is out of place. Gildarts, however, feels very out of place. His cloak is weathered and torn, as are the rest of his clothes. His scent is that of a stale brewery and dirt, only adding to the gruff appearance. He stops abruptly as he approaches the door to the mansion to take in the serenity of the scenery. He was offered a great deal of money for this job, but he doesn’t see why a man of Jude’s status would seek the help of a guild. According to Master Makarov, he had asked for Gildarts directly.
“You must be the wizard Mr. Heartfilia is waiting on.” A man watering the flowers by the door greeted him before he could even knock. He was an older man, his sunkissed skin and hardened hands a sign of his dedication to his work. “I’m the groundskeeper here.” He stretched a calloused hand out to Gildarts with a friendly smile. “Name’s Reno. It’s an honor to meet ya.” Gildarts took his hand in greeting, surprised by how firm the handshake was. Reno was not large by any means, but he was certainly stronger than he looked. “I’ll take you inside, show you to his office.” He opened the door before briefly hesitating. “Don’t let his demeanor bug ya too much. He’s not as uptight as he seems. Just a little lost is all.” He proceeded into the manor and Gildarts followed behind him a bit bewildered. He hadn’t even spoken to the man yet and he was already being warned against his behavior? He supposed rich and pompous ass were just two traits that went hand in hand. Nothing to think too much about.
Every window was draped with curtains of better quality than any clothing Gildarts had ever worn. Every painting and statue on display was perfectly kept and polished. The mansion barely felt like a home at all to Gildarts. If anything, it felt more like an art exhibit or a museum. Everything was too clean, too quiet. This place was the exact opposite of the guild. “Just up these stairs is the office. Try to avoid touching anything or Miss Spetto might bite your head off!” Reno let out a hearty laugh, one that made Gildarts feel a little less wary of the place. “She’s the head maid. Lovely lady but boy oh boy does she take her job seriously! You trail even a little dirt in here and she’ll explode on ya.” Gildarts stopped walking and looked down at himself. He was the epitome of unkempt.
“It might be best if I don’t run into her. I’m afraid dirt and I are very close friends.” He looked behind him, eyes drawn to the trail of muddy boot tracks both of them trailed in.
“Ha! One of my people!” Reno gave him a pat on the shoulder before beckoning Gildarts to follow. “Groundskeepers can’t help but get dirty. I have a love for the Earth, and she loves me. Takes a lot of effort to take care of the grounds here and I’m proud of it. Being covered in dirt and grime just shows how passionate we are about what we do. Shows our effort.” A contagious grin was now plastered on the old man’s face.
“You got a way with words! Reminds me of another old man I know.” The friendly banter continued until they reached a large decorated door at the end of the hallway. Two guards stood outside stoically, not a word spoken as the two men approached.
“This here is the office. I’ll introduce ya then I’ll have to take my leave. Still got some work to finish outside.” He turned towards the guards and gave a nod. One opened the door, the other seemingly tightened his grip on his weapon. If Gildarts hadn’t been paying attention, he’s not sure he would have noticed the way the man’s demeanor changed. These guards were obviously well trained. “Mr. Heartfilia, that wizard ya asked for is here from Fairy Tail.” He quickly took his leave after the introduction, just as he said he would. One of the guards stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. They were obviously wary of Gildarts.
Gildarts understood immediately why Reno warned him against Mr. Heartfilia’s initial impression. The man was imposing. He was only sitting at his desk, but the sharpness in his eyes was enough to make someone nervous. There was a calculating aura to the man, and his posture was nauseatingly perfect. Gildarts could see why this man had so much success as a businessman. Anyone who didn’t face monsters for a living would think he was one. “Welcome, Gildarts. I apologize for such a quick summons. I know you must be a busy man.” Fake platitudes. His tone was too formal and his glare was too telling. This man didn’t give a damn if he caused anyone strife. He was simply making a first impression.
Gildarts didn’t care about first impressions. He was called for a job, and that was it. No need to fake a smile and pleasantries. Instead, he spoke very bluntly. “What is this mysterious job you need a wizard for? I asked the master and he didn’t exactly have any answers to give.” With a deep sigh, the feeling in the air seemed to shift. The man before him was no longer an imposing force to be reckoned with. He was simply a man. A man that looked exhausted.
“Forgive me. I’m afraid I’ve grown too accustomed to the societal standards of business men. It has been far too long since I have spoken candidly with anyone.” His shoulders seemed to lose their tension, and his head drooped slightly. “I need you to protect my daughter, Lucy.” That was certainly an unexpected request. Gildarts wasn’t even aware the man had a daughter. The mansion certainly showed no presence of one.
Mr. Heartfilia immediately seemed to put his guard back up. His shoulders squared back and his softened gaze reverted to a cold glare. “She’s a mage, similar to her mother. Her powers are nothing out of the ordinary, but I’m afraid there are people that want to harm her. It comes with the territory you see.”
There was certainly more to the story than what the man was saying. Gildarts could sense an odd tension in his words. “Is that all?” 3,000,000 jewels was a hefty price for any job, especially a simple protection fee. Something was off about the whole ordeal. “Seems like you need a bodyguard, not a wizard. I’m not sure I’m a good fit for the job.” Those words seemed to instill something in Mr. Heartfilia. He didn’t move or make a new expression, but his eyes betrayed him. He was afraid. Terrified even. Before he could say anything in rebuttal, Gildarts spoke again. “I’m not saying no. I’m just not sure why you need a wizard for this.” He sighed and rubbed his neck in a bit of exasperation. “How long do you need me for?”
“Indefinitely.”