Opening Eyes
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When I opened my eyes again, I was met with sunlight.
'The mine has disappeared.'
I realized it immediately. And once I looked around—as I had expected—Macao, Wakaba, and the others who had vanished earlier were all lying on the ground. Unconscious.
"What—what happened?" a voice called out behind me.
I'd already sensed them.
Juno and Reiss. The two Rune Knights.
"Some kind of ancient magic puzzle," I said. "It said something about the Tarot and the Moon."
Of course, I didn't reveal any major details. The Council was… not exactly trustworthy.
Juno nodded silently, while Reiss rushed over to check on the unconscious miners and guards.
My eyes landed on the third Rune Knight—the one who had gone missing earlier. He was here too, unconscious but breathing.
"So…" I turned to Juno. "Are you two giving me the reward, or…?"
He shook his head.
"No. Once we report back to the Council, they'll send your reward to Fairy Tail."
I gave a short nod and walked over to Macao and Wakaba. I knelt beside them, checking their Magic Power signatures.
Stable. Just unconscious.
There was a known method to awaken unconscious wizards—injecting them with a small amount of your own Magic Power.
I did just that, and, as expected, their eyes flew open.
'They sure have good instincts.'
"Rise and shine, sleeping princesses," I smirked, copying Wakaba's usual jab.
"What the fuck…?" they both muttered, blinking rapidly.
Then their eyes met, and they burst into grins, dapping each other up.
"I saved your asses," I said casually.
I didn't. Not really.But that's something only I knew.
After a few blinks, their memories returned—and they both looked at me with grateful eyes.
"Thank you, Shanks."
"Thanks, brat."
I shrugged. "It's alright."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Reiss and Juno helping the miners awaken one by one.
They dusted themselves off, still looking a bit dazed. Macao groaned as he stretched, joints popping.
"Ugh… I feel like I got hit by a train," he muttered.
"Same," Wakaba added, squinting at the morning light. "What even was that?"
I shrugged, keeping my tone light. "Some kind of ancient spell. Looked like a defensive trap from the old times. I just had to dispel it."
They exchanged a glance.
"You dispelled it?" Macao raised an eyebrow.
I nodded. "Yeah. Took a bit of effort, but nothing too crazy."
Wakaba lit a fresh cigar—where the hell did he even keep those?—and exhaled, watching the smoke rise.
"Man… we're getting too old for this crap."
"You say that every time," Macao chuckled.
Wakaba grinned. "And every time, I mean it."
They didn't push the topic. Probably assumed it was just another weird-ass mission. We had those all the time in Fairy Tail.
But the truth sat heavy in my chest.
Tarots…The Moon…The Tower…All of it was way bigger than some "ancient spell."
And I couldn't shake that voice.
Descendant of Tower.
I clenched my fist quietly. My hand still tingled from the Conqueror's Haki—still new, still raw. I had a lot to figure out.
But now wasn't the time.
"We heading back?" I asked, standing up.
Macao cracked his neck. "Hell yeah. I need a drink after this."
"Same," Wakaba said with a grin. "And if some hot chick is behind the bar, even better."
I rolled my eyes. "You're hopeless."
But I was smiling too.
Whatever that thing inside the mine was… it let me go.
Before we left, we turned back to where Juno and Reiss stood, still busy managing the miners who were slowly regaining consciousness. Reiss was crouched down, checking pulses and casting basic healing spells, while Juno was scribbling something on a clipboard—probably the mission report.
"Oi!" Macao called out. "Thanks for the backup."
Juno glanced up. "We didn't really do much."
"Still," Wakaba added, giving a small wave. "It was good having someone competent around for once."
Reiss stood up, brushing dust from her knees. "The council would want a full debrief. Expect someone to show up at Fairy Tail soon."
"Noted," I replied, keeping my tone even.
Juno walked over, giving me a long, quiet look. "You're not going to tell us everything, are you?"
I tilted my head. "Some magic is better left buried."
He sighed and nodded. "I figured. Just… stay sharp."
"I always am."
With that, we turned and began our walk back toward the path that led to the village. The sun was already high now, casting long shadows behind us.
"Man," Wakaba said as we walked, "next time I take a mission, remind me not to go underground."
"Next time you take a mission," Macao snorted, "you better let someone else do the thinking."
I laughed lightly, shaking my head.
Beneath the surface, the mine was gone. Sealed? Erased? I didn't know.
My head hurt. I could feel the new power inside me.
The forest trail was quiet, save for the crunch of our footsteps and the occasional rustle of leaves overhead. The aftermath of the mine still clung to the back of my mind, but Macao and Wakaba were already back to their usual selves.
Wakaba stretched with a loud groan. "Man, that was one hell of a mission. I'm not gonna lie—being in a coma might've been the most relaxing part."
"Speak for yourself," Macao replied. "I had a dream I was drowning in beer and couldn't drink any of it. A nightmare, if you ask me."
I shook my head with a smile.
We arrived in Lupinus by late afternoon, the town small and sleepy as ever. The streets were lined with old brick buildings and bustling markets, though it was less crowded than usual.
"There's the station," I said, pointing toward the modest building ahead.
As we headed for the train, Macao stopped in front of a fruit stall, tossing a few jewels to the vendor for some skewered berries. He handed one to me. "Try this. They've got this weird sweet-sour kick. Gildarts used to love 'em."
That made me pause. "You knew my father well, huh?"
Wakaba lit a cigar and leaned against the station fence. "Of course we did. Idiot's been part of the guild longer than we've been in our twenties."
"Guy was a legend back in our early years," Macao added. "Broke half the guild hall on our first week. Makarov nearly tore his ears off."
"He flirted with every single waitress at the guild too." Wakaba smirked. "Legend for the wrong reasons sometimes."
"He ever talked about family?" I asked casually.
Macao looked at me, something knowing in his eyes, but he just shrugged. "Gildarts always kept quiet about serious stuff. Never once mentioned having a kid-No to mention two. But knowing him… wouldn't surprise me if he didn't even know."
Wakaba tapped his cigar. "Rumor has it he's heading back to Magnolia soon."
That made my heart skip for a second. "How soon?"
"Few weeks, maybe less," Wakaba replied. "Council's sending out notices. Apparently, he's got something big to report."
Great.
I tried not to let it show on my face.
We boarded the train just as the last call echoed across the station. Inside, it was surprisingly quiet—just a few merchants and travelers dotted around. We found a booth near the back, sliding into our seats. The train whistled, then jerked forward.
As the forest blurred past the windows, Wakaba closed his eyes and leaned back.
"You ever think about what you'd be doing if you weren't a mage?" Macao asked suddenly, staring out the window.
I glanced at him. "You mean like a regular job?"
"Yeah. Like barkeep or carpenter. Hell, maybe a tailor."
Wakaba grunted. "I'd open a bar. No rules. Just booze and good music. You?"
"…Maybe a fighter," I said, almost to myself.
"Of course," Macao laughed. "That body ain't made for accounting."
We laughed a little. Even in this strange, chaotic world, there were moments like these. Moments that felt human.
We talked about stupid things—the worst missions we'd taken, the craziest drunks at the guild, how Wakaba once got turned into a dog for a week. Stories. Shared warmth. And through it all, I couldn't help but feel a little closer to them.
Even if I hadn't told them the truth… they were becoming more than just guildmates.
They were becoming something like family.
And as the train sped toward Magnolia, I felt something stir in my chest.
Anticipation… and dread.
Gildarts was coming back.
And whether I was ready or not, so was the truth.
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Author's Note: The decision has been made on what will happen. I won't be telling what the decision is. For that there are advance chapters, but I think I just wrote the best chapter in pat_reon.
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