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CHAPTER START---
---The City of Gazania…
Less than a day after arresting The Great Reef Dark Guild, before anyone beyond the trusted Rune Knight and Fairy Tail Wizards could learn of the news, Oberon is already walking through the gorgeous city of Gazania.
The city is twice the size of Magnolia, located to the east of Fiore, and nestled between a handful of rocky mountain ranges. The buildings are all stone, reaching up to four stories tall, with the main allure being the towering structure at the far end of the city.
Oberon idly walks through the streets, waving to some people who recognize him, but most everyone is busy rushing to work this early in the morning. He looks down at his left hand, seeing the cast around it, and can already imagine the lecture he'll get after returning to the guild.
But for now, he takes solace in knowing everyone he parted ways with in Era is likely drunk and asleep or hungover in the Fairy Tail guildhall after celebrating their victory. Peering over the buildings, he sees a large white dome structure at the edge of the city, at least ten stories tall and shaped like a massive ball, half buried into the ground.
Casting aside any stray thoughts or concerns, he takes to the sky and quickly arrives at the large gates of this building, smiling at the thought of all the things he'll learn here. The Guild Emblem at the front of the building is not very popular, but Oberon has had them at the top of his list.
Sabertooth, one of the lesser Wizard Guilds in Fiore, but vastly important to the Magic Council and nation for its other services. Sabertooth hosts the largest archive of knowledge, both Magical and mundane, in all of Fiore.
They don't boast powerful Wizards, but act as a research, or more accurately, data collection and sorting unit for the Magic Council. Smaller organizations can also hire out their services, but much of their information is restricted, thus, getting into the building itself is nearly impossible.
Even with the reputation of Fairy Tail and Makarov Dreyar's Wizard Saint title, getting inside was impossible for Oberon. Until he made a friend. Jura Neekis, protégé of Wizard Saint Aven Etis. Not famous compared to the other Wizard Saints, but like Wizard Saint Draculos Hyberion, he controls an important organization.
The great archives of Ishgar, collecting and protecting all manner of knowledge across Fiore. And Sabertooth acts as one of the vassals for the monastery, which controls all other archives. Because of this, Oberon descends to the sight of a well-dressed older woman standing beside the open gate.
"Sir Oberon," the woman politely greets him.
"Just Oberon is fine, Master Brili."
"Well then, I'm sure you're eager to get started." She gestures to the main hallway and walks in, allowing Oberon to fall into step beside her. "Is there any particular reason you had to delay your visit?"
"I had to deal with an emergency for the Magic Council, that's all I can say about it."
"I understand. Regardless, it is our pleasure to work with you. Wizard Saint Aven is eager to meet you, the boy beloved by Magic."
"Yeah, Jura talks about him all the time. He sounds awesome."
"He is unique amongst the Wizard Saints. A scholar amongst soldiers and warlords."
"I suppose so. But being smart doesn't help when you get attacked by monsters," Oberon says, earning an annoyed glance from the woman. "Sorry. I just meant—"
"I'm aware that he is by far the weakest Wizard Saint, but you should be more careful of how you speak. Although I should expect as much from someone so young."
Oberon doesn't respond, silently following her through the massive stone halls, crossing many rooms and descending deeper into the structure before arriving in the center of it.
His jaw drops, unconsciously floating off the ground as the most gorgeous thing he'd ever seen is in front of him. A library from the basement floor to the roof of the entire building, wider than the Fairy Tail guildhall twice over, stacked with floor-to-ceiling shelves tightly packed.
And in front of him, lit by the large windows that allow natural light inside, is a small research area hosting four large desks and cushioned wooden chairs. "This is…wow…"
The woman gleams with pride as he floats about beside her. "You're welcome to stay as long as you'd like, and you have access to most of our information. Is there anything specific you'd like to start with?"
Oberon Requips two pages into his hands and passes them to her. She scans them, then notices that both sides are filled with the names of books.
"There was more, but Jura said those are only kept at the main monastery archive, so I'll go there sometime."
"So, an overnight stay it is. I'll have a room prepared for you."
"I'll be gone by tomorrow night. I've got some training to do while I recover, then it's back out on Jobs and Assignments from the Magic Council."
"Follow me," she leads him to the middle of the room, where he sees a strange Lacrima. Circular, connected to a stone altar. "Are the rumors of your Archive Magic true?"
"Super Archive Magic."
"Even better," she gestures to the Lacrima. "Enter the name of any book you desire into this Lacrima. It knows where all the books should be and what we have. I've already blocked anything you don't have clearance for, and no one will enter while you're here. It also brings the books to you and replaces them when you're done."
"This might be my new favourite place," Oberon floats over to the Lacrima and begins typing in the books he wants, completely ignoring the woman.
---19 Hours Later…
Walking through the hallway leading into the main archive, Master Brili escorts a taller man wearing an emblazoned Rune Knight uniform and holding a wooden staff that has the head carved to mimic a winding serpent into the reading area.
"He hasn't stopped since he arrived," she whispers to the man as they both stare up at Oberon.
The boy remains with his legs crossed high in the air, surrounded by a handful of books, while taking notes from all of them with his Super Archive Magic. With a thought, he closes one of the books, having completely transcribed its contents, and floats it to the stacks of hundreds of books below, constantly being moved back to the shelves by the Lacrima device.
"He may have done well in the Magic Academy, which is likely why Makarov kept his potential a secret until he officially joined Fairy Tail," the man says before tapping his staff on the ground.
The loud noise draws Oberon's attention, and he pauses his research to float down and greet them. "Hi, is something wrong?"
"Not at all, but you did miss dinner," the woman says. "I'll bring it in after your meeting."
"Meeting?" Oberon turns to the man, looking him up and down before recognizing the badge on his uniform. "You're Rune Knight Commander Dran Doma, what are you doing here?"
"I am merely here to speak with you, nothing more, I assure you."
The woman bows and leaves the room, and Gran Doma waits until he can't hear her footsteps before he continues. "May we sit?"
Oberon floats over to a table that's filled with books, moving them aside with a thought and sitting in one of the chairs. "Does Master Makarov know you're here?"
"No, he wouldn't approve of the offer I'm going to make you," Dran Doma says as he sits opposite the boy.
Oberon eyes him wearily. "So you came here because I'd be alone…creepy."
"Your movements aren't difficult to track. You're among the most famous people in Fiore, and the Magic Council did help facilitate your appointment to conduct research here today. And as for it being creepy, I am a strategist, first and foremost. I don't believe we have enough Rune Knights in Fiore to bring you down, and that includes myself."
"Mhm, alright. So, what do you want?"
"To give you what you want."
"What's that?"
"Full access to all the archive restricted by the Magic Council. You'd have access to any Magic you desire, research that we've blacklisted, and records we've expunged. And much more."
"Uh-huh. But the Magic Council usually has some kind of ulterior motive. So what is it?"
"First, I need you to answer one simple question."
"What's that?"
"If you were to leave Fairy Tail, would Fairy Sphere and Fairy Glitter still be available to you?"
"You're asking me to leave Fairy Tail?"
"I'm not asking you to do anything unless this were possible."
Oberon thinks about it for a moment, considering the requirements to cast the Spells, then nods. "It's a bit complicated, and I'm never going to explain any of the details to you. But yeah, I'd be able to use them."
"Damn it," Dran Doma sighs, deflating in his seat. "I was hoping you wouldn't be able to, then I could leave without making this absurd offer."
"You came here to make an offer you don't agree with?"
"I was outvoted," he says. "I, for one, no matter how powerful you may be, have reservations about promoting a child to the rank of Wizard Saint…"
CHAPTER END---
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