The fortune teller was an enigmatic figure—a young woman with tarot cards who had mysteriously appeared in the city one day, setting up her stall in the bustling marketplace. Drawing on her extensive knowledge of magic and the supernatural, she sought to make a living. While many dismissed her as a charlatan, her abilities were genuine. If only more people believed in her gifts, she might have enjoyed a more prosperous life.

Happy led Natsu to her tent, where they found her seated at a table, carefully laying out tarot cards while speaking in an ancient, forgotten language. Her hair was tied back and concealed beneath a rag, and a veil obscured her face, leaving only her eyes visible—eyes brimming with mystery and the allure of the unknown.

"Ah, salaam and good morning, stranger!" she greeted Natsu with a warm smile. "Welcome to my tent of mystery, enchantment, and the finest merchandise this side of the sands, all on sale today!"

With a snap of her fingers, the tarot cards transformed into an array of magical products.

"So, what piques your interest? Snake eyes crafted from the gaze of the lucky viper? Fresh fruit from the Tree of Renewal? Oil of cherry blossoms from the Tiānkōng Empire? Or perhaps an enchanted cook pot that is perpetually brimming with food?"

"No thanks, I—wait, go back to the cook pot," Natsu interrupted.

"Ah, yes, good sir! With this pot, you'll never know hunger again. Food appears instantly and it never empties unless you request it. Observe!"

She presented the empty pot to Natsu and Happy, and before their eyes, a small yet exquisite feast materialized inside. Natsu's mouth watered as he reached for the food, only for the fortune teller to swiftly pull it away.

"Yes! This magnificent product can be yours for the low price of ten silver pieces!" she declared.

"What?!" Natsu exclaimed, incredulous at the price. "In what world is that a low price?!"

"My world! And I don't negotiate, so take it or leave it."

"I'll leave it, thank you very much. I didn't come to buy anything anyway. I heard you know about strange, paranormal matters."

"It's a subject I majored in. Do you seek my expertise?"

"Yeah. Tell me, can cats talk?"

She shot him a skeptical look.

"I beg your pardon?"

"I know it sounds crazy, but my cat can talk. Show her, Happy."

The fortune teller glanced down at the blue feline, who promptly complied with his owner's request.

"Hi, I'm Happy. Nice to meet you."

"See?!" Natsu exclaimed.

While Natsu heard Happy speaking like a human, all the fortune teller heard was,

"Meow. Meow. Meow."

She slowly turned back to Natsu, taking a cautious step away from him.

"Sir, are you well? Are you suffering from heat exhaustion? If so, I can offer you some fresh drinking water from the oasis—free of charge."

"Don't look at me like that! I'm not crazy!" Natsu insisted.

"I never said you were, sir, but the desert heat can play tricks on weary travelers."

"Lady, he's not crazy," Happy interjected. "Impulsive, temperamental, and gluttonous, yes. But not crazy."

"Exactly—Hey!" Natsu protested.

"What? I said you weren't crazy."

"Okay, maybe you have a point about the impulsiveness and temper, but I am not a glutton."

"You once tried to wrestle an elephant for a single peanut."

"That's not gluttony! That's survival!"

As the fortune teller watched the young man argue with his cat, her unease grew.

"Meow! Meow! Meow!"

"Now don't you start bringing up the mushroom incident! Yes, I shouldn't have eaten rancid fungus, but I was starving! Beggars can't be choosers, you know?"

"Oh God, and people think I'm deranged," she muttered to herself.

"What's the matter with you? Can't you hear him?" Natsu asked.

"The only sounds I hear from him are typical cat noises."

"You mean you don't hear him talking?"

"No."

"Oh no!" Natsu began to panic. "No! I can't be going insane! I'm too young for this! Lady, you've got to help me!"

Without thinking, he grabbed her arms to prevent her from fleeing.

"Release me at once, fool!" She jerked his hands off. "How dare you—"

But her anger faded into wonder as she noticed the ring on Natsu's finger. She quickly grasped his hand, examining the jewel he wore with intrigue.

"Where did you get this?" she asked him.

"I got it from an old beggar woman. She said I was the only person the ring would fit."

"Are you certain? She claimed it would fit no one else?"

"That's what she said."

Her gaze returned to the ring.

"It can't be. Truly, it can't." She examined each detail of the ring, matching it against her perfect memory. Everything aligned. "But it is. You have the Ring of Zeref."

"The ring of who?"

"Zeref. The greatest wizard who ever lived. Once an all-powerful and immortal being of benevolence and wisdom, he forsook both power and immortality for the love of a mortal woman. When he relinquished his magic, he divided it into sacred objects, bestowing them upon his chosen five. To prevent such power from falling into the wrong hands, he cast a special seal: any unworthy user would be imprisoned for eternity unless freed by Zeref himself or one of his descendants."

"Interesting story. What does this have to do with the ring?"

"This ring is the only means of finding a descendant of Zeref. If it fits you, it means his blood flows through your veins, and you are the only one who can retrieve the lamp."

The fortune teller gestured for Natsu to sit at her table, snapping her fingers to transform her trinkets into tarot cards. She flipped one over, revealing an old oil lamp.

"Don't be deceived by its ordinary appearance. Like many things, it's not the exterior that matters, but what lies within," she explained, turning over another card depicting a dark cave. "This lamp has been locked away in an ancient cave that opens only every seventh day of every seventh month, on the night of the seventh full moon."

"What's with all the sevens?" Natsu asked, puzzled.

"I don't know, I make the rules; I just interpret them. But soon, you'll have the chance to enter without fear and retrieve the lamp, which will grant you—"

"Wait! Time out! Does any of this explain why my cat talks?"

"Oh, right... Well, your cat isn't really talking. You can just understand him. One of the ring's abilities is that it allows you to hear the voices of animals perfectly."

"Really?" Natsu glanced at the ring. "What else can it do?"

"Just a few minor things: understanding animals, making your body fireproof, controlling flames, and seeing in the dark."

"Minor? Really?"

"Compared to what lies within the lamp? Absolutely. The lamp is the greatest treasure in all of Lazan City. If you enter the cave, claim it, and free the—"

"Hold on! I may not be the sharpest sword in the royal armory, but from what I've heard in stories, ancient caves with treasures are usually guarded or booby-trapped."

"Booby-trapped? No. But it may or may not be guarded by a dragon."

"And you think I should venture down there? Into a dragon-guarded cave?"

"Well... yes."

"Lady, I want to eat, not be eaten."

"But you don't understand! This is the ultimate treasure! Compared to the lamp, a pharaoh's tomb is a pauper's grave. A sultan's fortune is mere lunch money!"

"I don't care. No treasure is worth dying for," Natsu replied. "Thanks for explaining why I can hear my cat and for assuring me I'm still sane. That's all I wanted to know. See you around."

"Please! You have to—"

"Sorry, but a poor life is better than no life."

Natsu and Happy left the tent, while the fortune teller hurried after them, desperately trying to change the mind of Zeref's descendant.

"But it's not just about the treasure! The lamp contains—"

Unfortunately, she lost them in the bustling crowd of shoppers. When she could no longer see them or figure out where they had gone, her heart sank.

"A prisoner," she sighed. "The lamp contains a prisoner, and you're the only one who can help him."

...

The oasis, a lush haven in the heart of the desert, thrived thanks to a fresh water source that served both the natural springs and the city's water supply. While the underground aquifer catered to the needs of the entire population, the springs were exclusively reserved for the royal family. It was the only place outside the city walls that Lucy was allowed to visit. A camel transported her to the oasis, where her handmaids quickly set up tarps to shield her from view. Meanwhile, palace guards stood watch, their vigilant eyes scanning for any potential threats rather than indulging in the temptation to gaze at the princess.

As Lucy immersed herself in the cool waters of the springs, the weight of years spent in a stifling palace life began to dissolve. With her handmaids gently shampooing her hair and massaging her body with fragrant oils, she momentarily forgot her worries. The delightful scents and soothing sensations felt like a slice of paradise. Wouldn't it be wonderful if she could experience this bliss forever?

"Feeling better, Princess?" Aries asked as she rinsed Lucy's body.

"Much," Lucy sighed. "You're right; I really needed this."

"Absolutely," Aquarius agreed. "There's nothing like a soak in fresh spring water to make you feel like a new woman."

"Shall we return to the palace now?" Aries inquired.

"Not yet. I want to spend some quiet time alone, lying in the sun by the river."

"As you wish."

After her soak, the handmaidens dressed her in robes and led her to the riverbank. She closed her eyes, soaking in the sun's warm rays. When she began to feel too hot, she approached the water and dipped her toes in to cool off. She watched the carp, trout, catfish, and bullheads swim by, while ducks floated serenely on the surface and frogs hopped from lily pad to lily pad. Suddenly, a tiny frog slipped and landed on her feet. Instead of screaming like any other princess might, she laughed and smiled, gently cradling the little green creature in her hands.

"Hello, little friend. Have you come to keep a lonely princess company?" she asked, her voice gentle. "Don't be afraid; I won't harm you or keep you as a pet. You belong here."

She dipped her hand into the water, letting the frog swim away.

"What a lucky creature," she thought. "His life is so simple and fleeting, yet he is free to live it as he wishes. I would gladly trade the opulence of a long princess's life for the brief freedom of a wetland creature."

Suddenly, she heard rustling in the tall reeds by the river—something with curious eyes watching her intently.

"Who's there?" Lucy called, quickly withdrawing her feet from the water and drawing a dagger from her robe belt. "I warn you, a man who dares to spy on a princess as she bathes is punishable by death."

Silence followed, and the eyes vanished into the grass. She heard a splash; whatever had been lurking in the river was swimming away. But Lucy refused to let what she believed to be a peeping tom escape unpunished.

"Oh no, you don't! Take this, you pervert!"

She grabbed a nearby stone and hurled it at the large figure she spotted diving into the water.

"Ow!"

A feminine voice cried out, and Lucy realized she had struck a girl—perhaps a peasant bathing in the river.

"Oh my God! I am so sorry!" Lucy rushed toward the reeds.

She parted the reeds and discovered a blue-haired, fair-skinned maiden trembling with fear, clutching something that was now bleeding. To Lucy's astonishment, it wasn't feet that her stone had injured—it was the fins of a real, live mermaid.