[7] A New Encounter and Reunion (2)

Chapter 7: A New Encounter and Reunion (2)

The next day.

Mira and I set off again, calmly and as if nothing had happened, with Elfman and Lisanna by our side.

We explained the purpose of our journey to the children and made sure to get their agreement.

It was only right that they knew where we were going, and why.

"It's for Mira-nee, so we want to go too! To that place called Fairy Tail!"

"Y-Yeah… I want to go too!"

"Elfman… Lisanna…"

"Then it's decided. Our destination is set. According to the map, it should take just over two weeks on foot from here to the Kingdom of Fiore. For young ones like you, it might take even longer. If it gets too hard, just let me know. We'll rest right away."

"Okay!"

"I… I'm confident in my stamina, so… I'll be fine…"

"Ciel-nii, we're counting on you."

"Good answer. Then let's get going."

And so, our journey began—heading toward Magnolia, a southern city in the Kingdom of Fiore, home of the Fairy Tail guild.

...

The journey, aside from the long distance, had been going smoothly.

Whenever monsters appeared along the way, I used illusion magic to deceive their senses and let us pass safely.

If there were any creatures who resisted the illusion and attempted to retaliate, I eliminated them without hesitation.

A week passed like that.

Elfman and Lisanna, having gradually built up their stamina, needed fewer and fewer breaks as the days went on.

Still, traveling overnight wasn't feasible, so each evening we searched for a safe place to camp and sleep.

When Elfman and Lisanna fell into deep sleep, that's when Mira finally had time to relax—if only a little.

"Ciel…"

"Can't sleep? You really do turn into a bit of a spoiled child at night."

"Well, you said it yourself, didn't you? That you'd take it all in."

"I did. Come here."

Mira leaned against my back, gazing up at the night sky.

In front of her younger siblings, she always acted composed and mature. But in these quiet moments, she allowed herself to be the young girl she truly was—tired, vulnerable, and in need of comfort.

Bottling everything up inside was never healthy.

And that's why I had decided to accept all of her emotions.

Because we were family.

Just as Pheonixia had once accepted me.

"I wonder how much farther it is to Magnolia."

"Elfman and Lisanna have gotten stronger. If we keep our current pace, we should arrive in about two weeks."

"Two weeks, huh…? So after two weeks, I won't be able to lean on you like this anymore? …I don't like that thought."

"Kuhuhu… If you want to cling to me like this, I'll hold you anytime—so long as no one else is watching."

"…Promise?"

She looked up at me with wide, innocent eyes, almost begging.

For some reason, whenever this little girl asked for something… it stirred something deep in my heart.

...

"Pheonixia… I have a request."

"A request?"

"Would you teach me… your illusion magic?"

"Hmm… to pass on my magic to someone else—"

"Pheonixia, I'm asking you like this—please."

"W-what are you saying?! Of course I'll help you, you're my son! But I'll warn you now—it's going to be really tough! Brutally tough!"

"I've already been worn down from basic physical training. I doubt it can get any worse."

"Then pay the tuition with a kiss! No kiss, no lessons!"

…Was this how Pheonixia used to see me?

The memory of those days with her suddenly resurfaced, and I couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.

Is this what a parent's heart feels like?

Someone like me, who's never had children, never raised a family—had now become a source of support for someone else.

It's the first time I've experienced something like this.

If… someone on Earth had taught me about these things, maybe… just maybe, I wouldn't have clung so desperately to the idea of defying fate, or seeking to overthrow the gods themselves.

"Your back… is so warm, Ciel."

"Sleep peacefully for now. When morning comes, I'll lay you next to Elfman and Lisanna."

"…Thank you… Ciel…"

At last, exhausted, Mira drifted off to sleep—and without realizing it, a soft smile crossed my lips.

So this is what it means to be family… the very thing Pheonixia tried to teach me. Something I had never truly understood, no matter how many times I looked back on my past.

Unconditional love.

The pure desire to give, without expecting anything in return.

And now, in this very moment, I could feel the first signs of that feeling beginning to bloom in my heart.

"…I don't even recognize myself anymore."

As I looked down at the sleeping Mira, I spent the rest of the night lost in thought, wondering where these unfamiliar emotions would eventually lead me.

...

About a month after we left the village, we finally arrived at our destination—Magnolia.

One of the liveliest cities in the Kingdom of Fiore, second only to the capital, Crocus.

This was also where the famous wizard guild, Fairy Tail, known throughout the kingdom, was located.

At long last—we had made it.

"So this is Magnolia…?"

"Wow~! There are so many people!"

"And so much food…!"

"Ciel, Ciel! Can you buy me one of those skewers over there?"

"Of course. I was thinking it's about time we ate something anyway. We ran out of jerky yesterday."

Taking Lisanna, who had eagerly pointed at a food stall, I walked over with her.

"Excuse me, can we get four skewers, please?"

"Oh dear, I'm afraid you just missed them. I sold the last of them to that young lady over there."

The vendor pointed, and I turned my head to see a girl with long braided red hair walking away, her hands full with a bag of freshly bought skewers.

"Cieeeel…! There's no skewers…?"

"Lisanna, someone else got here before us and bought them all. I'll get you something else from a different stall, okay?"

"But… I really wanted a skewer…"

"Yeah, I get it. They did look good…"

Elfman and Lisanna still seemed hung up on the skewers, unable to let go of their cravings.

Even though Mira gently tried to soothe them, I could tell that one more word might set off the tears.

"I'll go talk to her. Wait here for a moment."

"Ciel! You're not allowed to use magic!"

"Fufu… Understood."

After briefly explaining to Mira, I stepped forward and followed after the girl.

"Excuse me, would you mind stopping for a moment?"

"…Hmm?"

The girl seemed to realize I was calling out to her and turned around.

She had a skewer stuffed into her mouth, mumbling something unintelligible as she chewed.

"Is… something the matter?"

After swallowing the mouthful of grilled meat, she looked at me with curiosity and asked in a steady voice.

I spoke gently, explaining the situation and making a polite request.

"It's about those skewers you're holding. We were just about to buy some at the food stall, but they told us you bought the last of them. I'll gladly pay—would you be willing to part with four of them?"

"You don't look like a local. Are you from out of town?"

"Yes. We just arrived a short while ago."

The red-haired girl gave off a strong, confident presence, yet her tone was calm and composed as she spoke.

"I see. If it's your first time here, you have to try those lizard meat skewers—they're a specialty. Alright, four won't hurt. The little ones I bought them for won't complain."

"Thank you very much. I'm truly grateful."

"My name's Erza Scarlet. If you plan on staying in this town or need any help, come find us at Fairy Tail. It's the strongest wizard guild in all of Fiore, and we take on any request—no matter what it is."

As she handed over the skewers and began to turn away, I gently caught her arm.

"Just now… did you say 'Fairy Tail'?"

"I did. Is there a problem?"

"I came here specifically to find Fairy Tail. If it's not too much trouble… would you mind showing me the way?"

By sheer coincidence, the moment we arrived in Magnolia, we encountered a wizard from Fairy Tail.

…

And just like that, by a stroke of luck, we were guided to Fairy Tail by the girl who introduced herself as Erza.

The guild hall was a tall, three-story building.

True to its reputation as one of the most famous guilds in the Kingdom of Fiore, it was large and imposing—slightly aged, perhaps, but grand nonetheless.

However, the inside was… very different from what I had imagined.

"So then, I go slash slash slash! like that, and bam—down he goes!"

"Art… is life! Woooo!!"

"I'm telling you, I'm the number one fire mage around~!"

"Ugh, you all smell like old men."

"Puhahahaha! Eat! Drink! And pass out trying!"

I had expected a mage guild to have a calm, serious, even solemn atmosphere.

But what I saw in front of me was more like a rowdy tavern packed with boisterous people in the middle of a wild feast.

I stood there wide-eyed, momentarily stunned—until Erza spoke to me.

"Welcome to Fairy Tail."

"So… this is Fairy Tail…?"

"A wizard guild…"

"Scary…"

"…Big sis…"

Startled by the rowdy crowd, Elfman and Lisanna quickly hid behind me and Mira.

Shaking off my brief moment of shock, I turned to Erza and asked,

"Excuse me, if it's not too much trouble… I'd like to speak with someone experienced—someone who's well-versed in magic."

"In that case, the Master would be your best bet. Follow me."

Erza led us through the rowdy crowd—still in the middle of their loud celebration—and brought us over to the counter.

There, a middle-aged man in a white long coat was enjoying a drink and conversation with a kindly-looking elderly man.

Erza stepped forward and addressed the elderly man sitting at the counter.

"Master, we have visitors looking for the guild."

"Well, now… It's rare to see Erza bringing someone in herself… But…"

The gentle old man's face suddenly changed the moment his eyes landed on me. His expression hardened, and a sharp, hostile aura radiated from him.

"The children behind you, perhaps, but you… you reek of something dangerous. I've never sensed such a deep, dark presence in a human before. Just who… or what… are you?"

"I'm not someone clean enough to explain myself with pride. But I mean no harm."

"…"

"…"

The old man and I locked eyes, tension thick in the air as we silently measured each other.

Then suddenly—

"I found you! That scent—I knew it! Ciel! It is you!"

A voice broke through the tension. A boy with fierce, sharp eyes and cherry blossom-pink hair came charging toward me. Around his neck was a white scarf with a scaly pattern.

Seeing the boy, I broke eye contact with the Master and looked down to meet him.

"You… are you really Natsu?"

"Of course I am! Don't tell me you forgot my scent?"

"Of course not. That scent… there's no mistaking it. You're definitely Natsu."

"Ciel! It's been forever! Hey, have you seen Igneel anywhere?!"

"…"

By sheer coincidence, I had found one of the five children I had been searching for—Natsu.

Two chance encounters in a single day… What kind of day is this?

As Natsu and I chatted like old friends, the Master, Erza, and Mira all tilted their heads in confusion and asked:

"Natsu, do you know this man?"

"Ciel, you know this kid?"

"Yep! Of course I know him!"

"Yes, we've known each other for quite some time."

"Ciel is a fellow Dragon Slayer, just like me! Actually, he's kinda like my big bro!"

"As he said, while our techniques differ, both Natsu and I are Dragon Slayers—mages who learned magic directly from dragons. He's like a little brother to me."

At our words, the once-rowdy tavern suddenly fell silent. The other wizards, who had been drinking, stared at us in shock before shouting in disbelief.

"A dragon?! Ciel, you never said anything like that before!"

"Did I not? I must've forgotten."

"Natsu! You never mentioned having a big brother!!"

"…Oops. Slipped my mind!"

And so, just as I reached my one-year mark in this future world, I finally reunited with one of the five children I had been searching for—Natsu, right here in Fairy Tail.

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