Chapter 71

Today, Aidan packed his things and arrived at the guild again, this time possibly the last for the coming years. The mood was not so hot ...

Stopping at the very entrance, the guy looked up and thoughtfully examined the signboard "Fairy Tail"

"I have some kind of bad feeling ... Maybe the weather ..." - paying attention to the cloudy skies, the guy sighed quietly, straightened his small backpack and entered the guild.

The familiar warm atmosphere immediately enveloped him:

"I'll miss..."

- Ha ha! Eid, come to us! - Natsu shouted, beckoning to a lonely table, there was only he and Happy. Kitty smiled and waved at Aidan. It might seem that Happy did not like him, but in reality everything is not so, Natsu's friends, his friends too! Plus, Aidan always had a tasty fish.

Taking out a couple of dried pieces of red fish meat from his pocket, the guy treated the cat and sat down opposite. Looking around, he quickly noticed a beautiful face nearby:

- Mira, - he smiled at his friend, to which he received only a slight grin, after which the girl turned away sharply.

- Are you going? Natsu asked immediately.

- Yeah, on the evening flight.

Dragneel was about to say something when Lisanna joined the table with Cana.

"Hi," Lisanna smiled, winking at Happy.

- Are you ready yet? - With a sad smile asked Kana: - I heard that Wendy threw a real scandal here yesterday.

Lisanna immediately giggled and shook her head.

- Not true. We were just practicing, and then Adie came. She just showed all the skill of her magic!

- And you call me that now? The guy asked in surprise.

The girl giggled:

- Well, Kane can!

After a short conversation, evening came. Aidan said goodbye to his sad friends and everyone in the guild raised their toast. Natsu and Happy shed tears, Gray just laughed at these two and held out his hand to his comrade.

- Good luck.

- And you ... I'll see you again.

After that, Cana put Aidan in a long hug. All he could was to answer her with the same warmth. After whispering a couple of parting words to her ...

- I'll miss...

Meeting with a surprised look, he just grinned and hugged her again.

After too embarrassing handshake from Erza, which was too strange, Aidan broke down and hugged her. Then he thought that he would never be released ... Erza grabbed with all her strength, as if trying to say something, but she continued to be silent. Only when he whispered something in her ear, she let him go in embarrassment.

"Still, she is beautiful when she smiles ..."

In the end, being caught off guard by Mira's gaze, Aidan nodded slightly to her, to which for the first time in his life he received a response in the form of a warm smile. She turned out to be incredibly charming. Not at all that mocking or malevolent, but pure and sincere ... Then he realized that it was not in vain. To become stronger to protect the most important and save the most precious, that is the calling of the Fairy Tail Wizard! All he needed was to know that everything was fine with them. The price of three years does not mean anything, even ten years of travel will be worth it!

Finally, Aidan left the guild, arriving at Magnolia Station. He already knew that Wendy should arrive in time for the train, but, as it turned out, she was already here. She was waiting for him on a bench, sheltered from the rain near the station.

- Brother! - she immediately noticed him and, jumping straight through the puddles, ran up and hugged him. Aidan didn't even know what that happy and sad smile had turned out to be. Even the first time, the goodbye was not so difficult. It's amazing how Gildarts handled ... That's what the elder wizard means. Even if it was a short breakup, it was still not easy. Only, perhaps, one Master gave Aidan a pendel and advised him not to die on the road. An old man's real concern!

While he was hugging his sister, Charlie deftly flew up and sat on his shoulder, purring she gently rubbed against the guy's face.

- Ha, I'm not leaving forever. Only three years, no more.

- Just?! - Charlie was indignant: - I am not even a year old, and you are leaving me ...

"Uh-huh," Wendy nodded. "I'll be a grown-up then! How am I without my brother ...

Back under the awning, Aidan sat down on the bench, sat Wendy on his lap, and Charlie continued to press against his face. Only in private could she allow herself to be so close to him.

- I understand. But do you remember I talked about my sister?

Wendy nodded softly, to which Aidan replied:

- I need to get stronger, as much as possible. I don't want to be a weakling unable to protect my family. Do you understand me?

- Uh-huh, - Wendy nodded sadly, - Wendy understands ...

- Well, if so, - smiling, the guy took out two small boxes from his pocket and handed the blue Wendy, and the pink Charlie.

- This is my little gift to you, before leaving. Promise to train and watch each other. If anything, contact the Master, Erza or Mira and Kana, they will help you in everything. Also, do not forget to look after the house, I left a part of my savings to the Master, you just need to tell him about it. He will not let you down, some of the money is still at home, I showed Charlie.

The kitty nodded sadly.

After a long speech, Wendy and Charlie were already in tears, at the same moment the train was leaving the station. Finally Aidan got up, gently stroked his two kitties and kissed each on the forehead. They cried sadly and continued to hold his clothes, but, nevertheless, he broke free, smiled bitterly and waved to them:

- I'll be back. - without further ado, he got into the carriage and almost immediately the train departed.

The drops continued to scatter non-stop on the ground. Time passed more and more slowly. The deafening sound of the rain pressed into my chest. Drops ran down the windows, Aidan waved to his little cats, and they waved back through tears, smiling. Finally, the train disappeared.

Left alone in the endless downpour, Wendy and Charlie finally couldn't help crying. Their cry for a moment overshadowed the gloomy silence. The rain, as if succumbing to their emotions, intensified. Nearby, the silhouette of a girl emerged from the shadows. Mirajane sighed sadly and walked slowly towards the couple.

This is how the day ended. Having experienced happiness, warmth and bitterness of separation, Aidan disappeared, heading to another part of the country ...