Chapter 7: First mission

**First Mission**

[The Veil of Silence]

"Suigetsu, you're truly amazing to be able to take down Laxus..."

While I'm leisurely eating snacks from the guild, a figure of my age, with brown hair, suddenly plops down beside me, striking up a conversation. This is none other than my biological sister, Cana. I can't help but stare at her blankly, my mind racing as I try to figure out how to handle this.

To be completely honest, in my previous life, I constantly fought with my older sister. The resentment I harbored for her ran so deep that I often entertained the thought of ending her life. Yet, despite the venomous hatred, I could never sever the bond between us—not entirely. It became a part of me, woven into the fabric of my growth. Maybe it was because we shared such an intimate bond when we were younger?

Was that really the root of it? I wonder. When I think about it, I realize how irrational my feelings are. It's not like I truly *hate* her. No, it was more about the weight of her accomplishments and the expectations placed on both of us—expectations that seemed to shadow my every move. It was those comparisons, those constant reminders of how I was never quite enough, that fueled my resentment.

Now, my situation feels undeniably ironic.

A sigh escapes me as I push those thoughts aside and turn my attention back to Cana. I'm not about to reveal my true identity to her just yet—nor do I plan to secretly watch over her, protecting her from the shadows.

The truth is, my feelings from my past life still cling to me, and the fact remains: we were never close. I'm certainly not about to start caring about her now. In my past life, I once wished for the world to be engulfed in flames, to watch it all burn. Yet, here, in this strange new world, I don't feel that need—*not yet*, at least.

So, I focus on the present, pushing my past aside, as I consider how best to handle her in this moment.

I pushed the thoughts that swirled in my mind to the darkest corners, locking them away where they couldn't disrupt me. Without sparing Cana even a fleeting glance, I allowed my words to cut through the air with cold precision.

"If you're hoping to gain any insight from me on how to grow stronger, you might as well give up now. I can't stand girls. Especially ugly ones like you..." I let the words linger.

I couldn't resist borrowing Marin's biting words, delivering them with an almost cruel flair. "You're not qualified. Not qualified at all."

Still refusing to meet her gaze, I lazily extended my index finger, tapping her forehead with just enough force to nudge her backward—almost as if dismissing her very existence.

"Uhm..."

I could see it in her eyes, the way they shimmered with the threat of tears, a near-palpable quiver in the air. It wasn't hard to tell—I had a knack for it. Making kids cry? It was practically an art form for me. And I didn't stop there. Oh no, I'd go as far as swiping their snacks if the mood struck me.

Just as Cana opened her mouth, ready to say something, a voice sliced through the air, full of righteous indignation. "Hey, you're going too far!"

The self-proclaimed hero? None other than Gray Fullbuster.

I raised an eyebrow and shot him a glance, unamused. "What, are you going to play the hero now? Maybe you should put on some clothes first."

"Ah!? When—"

I tuned out his blabbering, my attention shifting back to Cana. Her eyes were still glistening with unshed tears, though she was doing her best to hold them back, her small hands tightly clasped over her chest as if trying to protect herself from whatever emotions threatened to escape.

*Huh. First time I've seen someone fight back like this…*

Before I could ponder it further, Gray's voice returned, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Hey, don't ignore me!"

I sighed. Of course, this wasn't going to end well.

"Are you asking for a fight? Do you want me to cast Tsukuyomi on you?"

I take a bite on his provocation, not that I'm going to cast it. I'm quite strict when it comes to rules. Now that I join Fairy Tail, at least I will abide, although not completely, little by little. Facing my threat, Gray unknowingly took a step back.

"What's wrong with getting scared?"

"!?"

Perhaps he couldn't stand my provocation; he took a fighting stance where he clutched his hand and put it on his palm. It's his stance to cast his favorite magic, Ice Make...

I'm not to be outdone; I stretch my left hand and throw a backhand, hitting his face. I didn't apply much force, but it's enough to send him flying and become a laughingstock of the guild.

"Are you asking for a fight? Do you want me to cast Tsukuyomi on you?"

I took the bait, not that I had any intention of actually using it. I was the type to follow rules—at least, mostly. Now that I was part of Fairy Tail, I'd at least try to keep in line, though I wasn't above bending the rules a bit when the moment called for it.

My threat hung in the air, and Gray, perhaps unknowingly, took a step back, his posture faltering for just a moment.

"What's wrong with getting scared?" I pressed, a taunting edge to my voice.

"!?"

That seemed to be the last straw. He couldn't stand the provocation. With a sudden shift, he adopted his signature fighting stance, one hand clenched tightly, ready to unleash his Ice Make magic.

I wasn't about to be outdone. Without a second thought, I stretched my left hand and, in one fluid motion, threw a backhand slap to his face. It wasn't a powerful strike, but it was more than enough to send him sprawling back, a foolish grin spreading across my face as I watched him fly through the air.

Oh, this was going to make for great entertainment in the guild.

"Hahaha, Gray got defeated!"

"Of course, Suigetsu even took down Laxus; Gray didn't stand a chance."

"Hey, kids, no fighting inside the guild!"

Makarov's voice rang out, sharp and reprimanding. He'd watched the entire exchange with a mix of disbelief and annoyance. But his words? They went in one ear and straight out the other.

I wasn't some naïve nine-year-old who'd just been scolded for the first time. This wasn't anything.

Once he was done with his usual blabbering, I tuned him out and turned my attention to the quest board, scanning the posted missions.

The majority of the jobs were high-paying, but the money didn't interest me. I already had more than enough. I'd made my fortune by raiding dark guilds—taking not just their gold, but their magic books as well. Sure, it was a small haul compared to some, but the sheer volume of loot was more than enough to keep me satisfied for a long time.

"Let's see… I guess I'll take this one."

A simple D-rank quest. Help an old lady chop wood. A laughably easy task. I could already hear the whispers—why would I bother with a measly D-rank when I could be out completing A or even S-rank missions?

The thing is, hunting dark guilds had never been about the rewards. It was a form of entertainment for me—spreading fear and terror wherever I went. It was also my way of slowly getting accustomed to the reality of this world, the reality of killing.

I'd already taken plenty of lives—dark guilds, mercenaries, whoever crossed my path—but those were just the start. What I had witnessed in their operations was only the tip of the iceberg. I needed to prepare myself for the worst, mentally and emotionally, for the day I'd encounter something far worse than I could imagine.

In a way, I was like a player taking side quests to level up before diving into the real challenges of the main story. It wasn't about the destination; it was about building the strength and resolve to face whatever would come next.

When it comes to S-class missions, no matter how strong you are, your life is always on the line. At any moment, the tides can turn, and death can strike without warning. And then there are the SS-rank missions, the 10-year and even 100-year tasks, which begin as mere low-level quests but evolve into trials that push you beyond the brink. If you take a wrong step early on, you could skip over crucial lessons—valuable experiences that shape the path ahead.

I know this all too well. After being isolated for 10,000 years and wandering alone for the last three, I've had my fair share of lessons. Most of my interactions with society have been limited to ordering food, asking for directions, or gathering rumors about dark guilds. I've never truly integrated myself into it.

Skipping the fundamentals? I've seen the cost of that firsthand. It's something you can't ignore if you want to survive this world.

I picked up the commission, my fingers brushing over the paper, before heading toward President Makarov. His gaze tracked my every movement, sharp and knowing. Perhaps he understood my intent, but there was something in the air—something that made me think he had his own plans brewing, something I wouldn't enjoy.

"President, I'm going to take this quest." I presented the D-rank mission I'd just chosen, my voice calm but purposeful.

Makarov studied both the quest and me with a weighty silence, his eyes scanning for something deeper. Finally, he nodded his approval.

"Go ahead. Just... be careful on your way."

I nodded in return, the words settling in my mind. With a brief glance back at the guild, I turned and walked out, feeling the cool air of the outside world hit my face. Another step in the quiet, solitary journey I had chosen.