{LUKA'S POV}
"Again! Again! Focus Luka, you can do better than this!" Frostburn loudly encourages me.

I grit my teeth. I punch the training mitts again and again. My flames fizzle against the wet sandbags and my fists smoke. As the only other assassin who specializes in fire magic, Leader instructed Frostburn to hone my magic power and ability.

I've never been properly trained how to use magic before. Mum is a holder-type wizard, so she doesn't know how to teach me, a caster-type.

Any magic that I'm able to use now is instinctual, drawing from my latent talent. Without a mentor, my fire burns intensely but without intent. With training, I may be able to concentrate it into a single point for better aim, condense it into a bullet, and even make the fire do more than burn.

The smoke is why we're outdoors. Leader was choking on smoke and yelled at us to take it outside.

Frostburn winked at me when Leader looked away, leading me to believe that she intentionally chose this method of training in order for me to get some fresh air. I've been underground for a week. I haven't even gone on my first mission yet.

I got all embarrassed when I saw that she did this for me. I need to become strong so I can protect Mum, but I also sort of want to impress Frostburn too. She's nice, unlike the other Scythes.

Eri Fudo—alter ego of Executioner—approaches us from off to the side. She waves at Frostburn. "Oi, Amari! Leader has a job for you!"

"Really?" Frostburn pauses my training.

She straightens up and uses her shirt to wipe the sweat off her forehead. I look away, embarrassed that I peeked at her belly when she lifted her shirt.

Frostburn takes the report folder from Eri. She skims the details of the target and job with a nod.

"Got it." Then Frostburn reaches out and rubs my head. "I'll be back later, Luka."

I open my eyes.

This one wasn't so bad. I turn my head to the side and immediately sit up in surprise.

Sylvie must've dragged here once I passed out, then sat by my side until she fell asleep herself. The way Sylvie laid her head on the bed, our faces were less than a foot apart. That was dangerous.

I've been relying on her far too much recently.

Sylvie is sitting on the floor, resting her head onto her arms like a pillow. She must've been holding my hand, because our arms are intertwined and her cheek rests comfortably in my palm.

I carefully extricate my arm, not wanting to disturb her since I don't know when she fell asleep. I brush her bangs aside, then catch myself and pull back.

I curl my knees up to my chest and rest my forehead on my knees, hugging them.

Why Frostburn? I may have complex feelings about Sylvie now, but I can confidently say that Frostburn was my first crush as a child. It's been a long time since I thought about her. Don't tell me she's going to appear before me next?

"Hmm?" Sylvie sits up and yawns loudly. Then she perks up. "Luka, you're finally awake!"

"Thanks for taking care of me."

Sylvie notices my posture and frowns. "You had another nightmare, didn't you?"

I open my mouth, close it, then open it again. "Yeah. Yeah, I did."

I recount my dream to Sylvie, telling her all about my training with the only other fire-using assassin. The only thing I withhold is that I secretly liked Frostburn, which makes me feel kinda guilty.

"Hold on, I thought you said you were the only fire wizard in Ankhseram's Scythes." Sylvie points out. "This murderer is targeting you specifically. Do you think it could be Frostburn getting revenge for the other Scythes? You betrayed them."

"It isn't Frostburn."

Someone knocks. We tense, but it's just Natsu and Happy at the door.

Natsu holds up a newspaper article casually. "Yo, I thought Luka might wanna read this."

"Aye!" Happy flies in after him and circles our heads. "What's got you two so spooked?"

Sylvie tells them about the dead visitor who burst into ghostly flames and my recurring lucid nightmares, while I read the article. The legendary journalist Aiiry Cauthfell has come out of retirement to write an exposé on the mystery killer in Magnolia.

The entire article is littered with scathing reviews of the Rune Knight's 'lowly behavior and tunnel vision.' She criticizes 'how quick they were to jump to conclusions without any concrete evidence whatsoever' and 'now they're stubbornly unwilling to investigate any other possible suspect.'

She goes on to call them 'blundering buffoons who're about to let a serial killer go free because their pea-sized brains simply can't comprehend that they're wrong.' She ends the article strong, stating that 'they choose to pin the blame on the most convenient target in order to save their own sorry asses.'

I can't help but smile. Mum is definitely pissed.

"They found a third and fourth victim. The time between murders is decreasing." I note.

Natsu nods. "The Rune Knights claim that this behavior is indicative of the serial killer getting antsy, since they're hot on his tail."

"Insinuating that it's Luka? How dare they!" Sylvie fumes on my behalf. "We've been together since the beginning. It can't possibly have been him!"

Natsu pats her affectionately on the head. "Fairy Tail stands unanimously with Luka. Right now, Luce is undermining every action the Rune Knights take with her strongest weapon."

"What's that?"

Natsu smirks. "Public opinion."

"You're saying that there are regular people out there who don't think I did it?" I ask incredulously. "I thought the blame for these murders were gonna get forced on me, no matter what."

"Luka, you've been the ultimate handyman around Magnolia. You've cleaned houses, mowed lawns, moved furniture, found pets, delivered gifts, and more. There are multiple people—not just in Fairy Tail—who support you. They're rallying behind Lucy to make the Rune Knight's investigation difficult."

My chest feels warm, my tongue heavy. I have... allies? It isn't just Sylvie and Mum?

Natsu and Happy leave shortly after. They still can't stay too long without drawing suspicion from the Rune Knights, who are constantly observing Mum.