Chapter Text
Late afternoon sunlight spilled across Magnolia's streets.
The city had finally settled back into its familiar rhythm.
Shopkeepers called out to passing customers. Children chased one another through narrow streets. The lingering decorations from Fantasia still fluttered overhead, their bright colors swaying gently in the summer breeze.
Makarov chose to walk.
He could have accepted one of the council's carriages back to Fairy Tail, but after hours spent discussing dark guilds, ancient magic, and worst-case scenarios, he found the city's ordinary bustle far more welcome.
"Afternoon, Master!"
He lifted his cane in greeting.
"And to you."
A florist bowed as he passed.
A pair of children waved enthusiastically.
Someone offered him roasted chestnuts. He politely declined.
His thoughts, however, remained elsewhere.
The Oración Seis.
Even among the Baram Alliance, they had earned an infamous reputation. Six members. Six monsters.
An alliance of guilds was the obvious answer.
The difficult part was deciding who would represent Fairy Tail.
Erza was a certainty.
Steady. Experienced. Respected.
Natsu...
Makarov sighed to himself.
Power was never the issue. Cooperation, however...
Gray balanced him out well enough.
Lucy had grown tremendously since joining.
Happy was inseparable from Natsu, making his inclusion almost automatic.
That left one final place.
His gaze drifted skyward.
"...Jin."
The old man stroked his chin.
Strong enough? Certainly.
Ready?
That question lingered.
Wrathful was no ordinary power.
The boy had only begun learning how to reach it without allowing it to consume him.
Still, if this mission unfolded the way the guild masters feared, Fairy Tail would need every capable hand it possessed.
His thoughts faded as a familiar building came into view.
Jin's apartment building.
Just outside, a broad-shouldered middle-aged man swept the front steps with slow, practiced motions.
He looked up.
Recognition spread across his face.
"Well now..."
A grin tugged at his lips.
"If it ain't the old Master himself."
Makarov chuckled.
"Aldrik."
The broom rested against the wall.
"Been a while."
"It surely has."
The two shook hands.
"Still walkin' everywhere, I see."
"My legs still work."
"Hah. Even after givin' us all that scare with yer heart?"
Makarov barked a laugh.
"Your tongue certainly hasn't dulled."
"Wouldn't be me if it had."
A small table sat beneath the apartment's sunshade. Aldrik motioned toward it.
"Got a minute, Master? Pull up a chair."
"I suppose I do."
The two settled into opposite chairs.
For a moment, neither spoke. They simply watched Magnolia continue around them.
"Town's finally settled down again," Aldrik said.
Makarov nodded.
"...For now."
Aldrik studied him.
"Lemme guess. Guild business?"
"The sort I hope never becomes city business."
"Hm."
Neither elaborated. Neither needed to.
Eventually Makarov smiled.
"You've done well here."
Aldrik glanced toward the apartment.
"Been blessed with good tenants."
"I wasn't talking about the building."
The landlord rubbed the back of his neck.
"Ah... reckon I got lucky."
"No."
Makarov shook his head.
"You worked for it."
Silence settled between them again.
Then Aldrik grinned.
"Still sweet-talkin' youngsters into joinin' Fairy Tail?"
"I've never stopped."
"Didn't think ya would."
Makarov leaned back.
"I've been thinking lately."
"Oh?"
"I don't believe I ever properly apologized."
Aldrik frowned.
"Whatever fer?"
Makarov sighed.
"For forgetting... when you left Fairy Tail.
The landlord blinked.
"I remembered that you left," he continued, "but not why."
Recognition slowly crossed Aldrik's face.
Then he let out a quiet chuckle.
"Master..."
He waved a hand.
"That was, what... ten years back? Ya had near a hundred young'uns runnin' circles 'round the guild."
Makarov lowered his eyes.
"Even so. I should have remembered every one."
Aldrik's smile softened.
"My wife passed bringin' Alfred into the world."
"I remember that much."
Aldrik looked toward the apartment again.
"I couldn't keep takin' jobs after that. Little fella needed his pa more'n Fairy Tail did."
"No shame in that."
"Never figured there was."
The two exchanged a quiet smile.
"Fairy Tail gave me more'n I could ever ask fer."
Aldrik folded his arms.
"Then life asked me to build somethin' else."
Makarov nodded.
"You're still family."
"Always will be."
The old guild master tilted his head.
"Speaking of family..."
His gaze drifted toward the upper floors.
"Does Jin know?"
Aldrik laughed outright.
"Not a clue."
"You never told him?"
He leaned back.
"Nope. Figured it'd be more fun if he found out later."
He scratched his beard.
"...Well, maybe not fun."
His smile became thoughtful.
"When the lad came lookin' fer a place to stay... I saw that Fairy Tail mark on his armor."
"And?"
"I reckoned any young'un the old Master took in deserved a fair chance."
Makarov smiled beneath his mustache.
"So that's why you accepted him so quickly."
"Didn't think the poor lad could haggle to save his life."
The old guild master laughed.
"You've gotten soft."
"Nah."
Aldrik shrugged.
"Just older."
"Worse."
"He'll hear the story someday."
"But not yet?"
Aldrik slowly shook his head.
"The lad's finally found someplace he belongs. Ain't no sense loadin' more onto his shoulders while he's sortin' himself out."
Makarov followed his gaze.
"...That's a story for another day."
"Aye."
The apartment door burst open.
"Pa!"
A blur shot across the walkway.
Alfred nearly slid across the stone before catching himself.
His eyes went wide.
"Holy smokes!"
He froze.
"G-Guild Master Makarov!"
Makarov chuckled.
"Good afternoon, Alfred."
The boy bowed so quickly he almost lost his balance.
"Sir! F-Fantasia was the coolest thing ever!"
"Our parade?"
"Yes, sir!"
He threw both arms into the air.
"The fireworks! The floats! Mister Elfman turnin' into that giant beast! It was amazin'!"
He barely stopped to breathe.
"A-And Mister Jin!"
"Oh?"
"Mister Jin an' Miss Erza!"
He mimed swinging a sword.
"That sword dance was incredible! They looked like they knew what the other was gonna do before they even moved!"
Makarov looked pleasantly surprised.
"So I've heard."
"I wanna learn ta fight like that someday!"
"I'm afraid that kind of fighting requires quite a bit of practice."
Alfred puffed out his chest.
"I don't mind! I'll practice every day!"
Then he looked around.
"Oh!"
"Speakin' o' Mister Jin..."
He glanced toward the apartment.
"What's he up to?"
Makarov opened his mouth.
A low tremor rippled beneath their feet.
The cups on the table rattled.
Then—
BOOM.
A pulse of golden light flared beyond Magnolia's rooftops.
Another followed.
The air itself hummed.
Alfred stared.
"...Whoa."
Aldrik sighed through his nose.
"Lad's been at that for a while, eh?"
Makarov watched another burst of yellow light bloom above the guild.
His expression held equal parts amusement and concern.
"...Jin is rather busy at the moment."
Another pulse rolled across the city.
The old guild master rose, tapping his cane once against the stone.
"I suppose I'd better go see how many walls are still standing."
Aldrik laughed.
"Tell 'im ta leave enough o' the guild standin' fer supper."
"I'll make no promises."
Makarov smiled.
He gave Alfred a gentle pat on the head before continuing toward the guild hall.
The open field behind Fairy Tail had become something of an unofficial training ground.
Grass had long since given way to packed earth, pitted with craters from years of magic and sparring.
Late afternoon sunlight stretched across the clearing.
Jin stood at its center.
His feet dug into the ground.
Across from him, Gajeel rolled his shoulders before planting himself in a low stance.
"So?" the Iron Dragon Slayer grunted. "You gonna stand there all day, or we doin' this?"
Jin drew a slow breath.
"...Right."
He lowered his center of gravity.
Golden ki seeped from beneath his boots, stirring loose dust around him.
To one side of the field, Levy stood beside Jet and Droy with a notebook tucked beneath her arm. Elfman remained near the edge of the clearing, arms folded, eyes fixed entirely on Jin. Cana lounged atop an overturned barrel with a mug already in hand.
Unlike everyone else, she looked completely relaxed.
"Come on," Gajeel muttered. "Don't force it."
Jin's breathing slowed. The aura around him brightened.
Ki surged, wind swept outward.
Dust spiraled around Jin's boots as the yellow aura climbed higher.
His muscles tightened. His jaw clenched.
A low growl escaped his throat.Low.Barely audible.
Gajeel immediately shifted his footing.
"There it is..."
The aura burst upward.
Jin's black eyes flashed yellow.
For an instant they glowed brilliantly beneath lowered brows.
The pressure across the clearing doubled.
Jet instinctively stepped back.
"...He's getting closer."
Droy swallowed.
"...Yeah."
Jin's shoulders rose sharply.
Another growl.
Longer this time.
"Grrr..."
The sound no longer sounded entirely human.
His breathing became ragged.
Golden ki whipped wildly around him.
His hair began to rise.
"Jin!"
Elfman's voice cut across the field.
The Saiyan didn't answer.
His teeth bared.
"GRAAA—"
Elfman moved.
"Stop!"
One step. Then another.
He planted himself directly in front of Jin.
"Look at me!"
The growling faltered.
"You know who you are!"
Jin's glowing eyes lifted. The aura flickered violently.
"You hear me?!"
Another breath.
"You don't need to fight yourself. Stand down."
Silence.
Jin's breathing hitched.
Then... The aura collapsed.
Golden light dissolved into drifting sparks.
His eyes faded back to black.
He stumbled forward slightly before catching himself with a hand against his knee.
"...Hah... Hah..."
His breathing remained heavy.
Nobody moved.
After several long seconds, Gajeel finally straightened.
"Close one."
Levy released the breath she'd been holding.
Jet slumped.
"I thought he was a goner that time."
"So did I," Droy admitted.
Elfman rested a hand on Jin's shoulder.
"You alright?"
Jin nodded once before looking up.
"Yeah, but... What did I do wrong?"
No frustration. No excuses.
Just quiet determination.
Gajeel snorted.
"You started growlin' again."
Jin blinked.
"I did?"
Gajeel folded his arms.
"The second your eyes changed, you stopped thinkin'."
Jin lowered his head.
"I... I didn't even notice."
The Iron Dragon Slayer shrugged.
"That's the problem. One second you're you."
He pointed toward Jin.
"The next?"
He jerked his thumb over his shoulder.
"You're that thing that thrashed Laxus."
Silence settled.
Jin didn't argue.
Elfman spoke instead.
"Look... I don't know anything about how you Saiyans work."
Jin looked toward him.
"But..."
The large mage smiled.
"When I was learning Take Over..."
He glanced at his own hand.
"...I spent too much time trying to suppress the beast."
His hand slowly closed into a fist.
"The more I fought it... the harder it fought back."
Jin listened carefully.
"So instead... I remembered who I wanted to protect."
Gajeel rolled his eyes.
Elfman looked him in the eye.
"My big sis. My guild. My family."
His expression softened.
"A real man never forgets where he comes from, no matter how strong he gets."
Jin remained quiet for several moments.
Then he bowed his head.
"Thank you, Elfman. I'll remember that."
Levy clapped her hands together.
"Break time!"
Jet stretched immediately.
"My legs were getting sore just watching."
"You weren't doing anything," Droy pointed out.
"Emotional support counts."
Cana chuckled into her drink.
Elfman glanced toward the guild hall.
"Anyway, I should head inside. I heard Mira's giving a lecture about the Baram Alliance later."
He looked back at Jin.
"Don't push yourself too hard."
"I won't."
Elfman smiled before heading toward the guild hall.
Gajeel wandered in the opposite direction.
He yanked a loose steel beam from a pile of construction materials near the fence and bit into it with a loud crunch.
Levy laughed.
"I still don't think I'll ever get used to seeing that."
"Me neither," Jin admitted.
The Saiyan joined the others beneath the shade of a nearby tree.
Cana slid another mug across the barrel toward him.
He politely pushed it back.
"I'll pass."
"Worth a shot."
She took another drink herself.
"So."
She looked him over.
"How long's this gonna take?"
Jin rubbed the back of his neck.
"I... don't know. I only discovered this a little over a month ago."
He looked down at his hands.
"I spent eight years training... and none of that prepared me for this."
He flexed his fingers.
"It would be unreasonable to expect mastery overnight."
Cana nodded.
"Fair enough."
"Besides, you didn't learn your Card Magic in a day, did you?"
She laughed.
"Definitely not."
Jet leaned forward.
"I actually think you've improved."
"Yeah," Droy agreed. "You stopped yourself."
Jin shook his head.
"Elfman stopped me."
Levy smiled warmly.
"But you listened. You heard him."
That gave him pause.
"...I suppose I did."
After a moment, he looked toward her.
"Can I ask you something?"
Levy nodded.
"Of course."
"...Is Gajeel really the best person to help me with this?"
Levy answered without hesitation.
"I think so."
Jin looked genuinely puzzled.
She smiled, and continued.
"He knows what it's like to hurt people because you lose sight of yourself."
Her eyes drifted toward the Iron Dragon Slayer, who continued happily chewing through solid steel.
"He understands better than anyone how hard it is to leave that version of yourself behind."
Jin followed her gaze.
Gajeel noticed.
"...What?"
"Nothing."
"Hmph."
Another loud crunch echoed across the field.
The corners of Jin's mouth lifted.
"Uh... right. Thanks."
Levy smiled.
"Anytime."
The sun had begun dipping toward the horizon. Long shadows stretched across the training ground.
Jin stood.
"I think... I'll meditate for a while. See if what Elfman said helps."
Cana raised her mug.
"Don't stay out too late."
"I won't."
With a small burst of ki, Jin lifted from the ground.
He gave the group a small nod before shooting into the evening sky. The golden trail behind him disappeared over Magnolia's rooftops.
Gajeel watched until he vanished, spitting out the last piece of metal.
"...Kid's makin' real progress."
Jet blinked.
"Really?"
Gajeel shrugged.
"If he can pull himself back from the edge..."
He smirked.
"...he's already stronger than he was two weeks ago."
Levy smiled as she watched the empty sky.
"...He'll get there."
No one disagreed.
Warm water washed away layers of dirt and sweat.
Jin stood beneath the shower with one hand against the tiled wall, letting the steady stream drum against the back of his neck.
"...Work-life balance..."
Mirajane's gentle smile surfaced in his mind.
You can't spend every waking hour training, Jin. You'll burn yourself out before you ever reach your goal.
He let out a quiet sigh.
"...I'm trying."
The words disappeared beneath the sound of running water.
Elfman's advice followed soon after.
A real man never forgets where he comes from... no matter how strong he gets!
Jin closed his eyes.
"I understand what he meant... I just don't know how to do it."
He could reach Wrathful now.
He no longer needed desperation or mortal danger to force the transformation.
But every time his eyes turned gold, the instincts followed.
The anger.
The urge to fight until nothing remained.
He shook his head.
"There has to be something I'm missing..."
A few minutes later he shut off the water.
After drying himself, he wrapped a towel around his waist and another around his shoulders before walking back toward his room, rubbing damp hair with one hand.
His dark brown tail swayed freely behind him, no longer hidden beneath his clothes.
"Maybe... meditation first. Then dinner. Then sleep."
A normal evening. That was what Mirajane wanted him to have.
He pushed open his bedroom door.
Silence.
Jin blinked.
Natsu lay flat on the floor with his hands behind his head. Happy floated lazily near the ceiling.
Gray had somehow made himself comfortable across Jin's bed with one arm behind his head.
Lucy stood awkwardly beside the desk with Plue in her arms.
Erza examined the Saiyan armor displayed on its stand, hands folded behind her back as though inspecting a museum exhibit.
Five heads turned simultaneously.
Natsu grinned.
"Oh, hey, Jin!"
"Welcome back!" Happy chirped.
Gray lifted one hand.
"Yo."
Lucy squeaked.
"A-ah!"
She immediately spun around, face bright red.
"S-sorry!"
Happy pointed immediately.
"Your tail's all puffed up!"
Jin looked over his shoulder.
"...Please pretend you didn't notice."
Only Erza remained completely composed.
"Good evening, Jin."
Jin stared.
His tail stiffened so abruptly it nearly stood straight behind him.
Very slowly, he stepped backward until only half his face remained visible from behind the doorway.
"What... are all of you doing in my room?"
Happy tilted his head.
"You left the door open."
"And... you just strolled inside?"
"Yep!"
"But... why?"
Natsu looked genuinely confused.
"'Cause nobody was here."
Gray nodded.
"We figured we'd wait for you."
Lucy buried her face in Plue.
"I told them this was a terrible idea, and of course they didn't listen..."
Plue merely wiggled.
"Puun."
Jin pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You do realize people generally don't enter someone else's room without asking?"
Natsu scratched his cheek.
"What? We weren't gonna steal anything."
Happy nodded enthusiastically.
"Aye! And if someone tried to rob you, we'd be here to beat 'em up!"
Jin sighed deeply.
"That... isn't the point."
Gray laughed.
"You'll get used to it. This isn't the first time we've snuck in here after all."
Lucy lowered Plue just enough to glare at him.
"You can't just say that like it's normal! Even if it's Jin!"
She looked at Jin apologetically.
"For what it's worth... this happens to me all the time."
Jin stared.
"Really?"
Lucy nodded with the exhausted expression of someone who had accepted her fate long ago.
"Unfortunately."
He looked between her... and Natsu... and Happy...
"I suddenly understand you a lot better," he muttered.
Erza finally turned away from the armor stand.
"Apologies for the intrusion, but we came because we have something important to discuss."
"Important enough to barge into my room while I was in the shower?"
"Yes."
Jin blinked.
"And... You don't see anything strange about this situation?"
Erza continued as though nothing unusual had happened. Her tone shifted, becoming sharper. More formal.
"The master has an assignment that concerns a dark guild: the Oración Seis."
Jin's amusement faded.
"The Oración Seis?" he repeated.
"He specifically ordered the six of us for this task."
Jin studied her face.
She wasn't joking. She didn't seem the least bit embarrassed by his current state.
Only urgency.
"I see."
He rubbed the back of his neck as his tail twitched impatiently behind him.
"But... Could you at least..."
He glanced down at the towel around his waist.
"...wait outside for two minutes?"
Natsu shrugged.
"Sure."
Gray stood.
"No problem."
Lucy practically sprinted toward the hallway.
"Finally!"
Happy floated after them.
"C'mon, Plue!"
"Puuun!"
Erza walked past Jin without another word.
Once everyone had stepped into the hallway, Jin slipped inside and slammed the door.
Click.
Outside, Natsu laughed.
"Think he'll be long?"
Gray folded his arms.
"Nah."
"He dresses faster than you."
"Hey!"
A minute later the door opened again.
Though still shirtless, Jin now wore loose jogging pants, and had mostly dried his hair.
His tail was once again hidden beneath his clothes, restoring the composed appearance everyone at Fairy Tail knew.
He stepped aside.
"Alright. Get in."
The group reentered.
Jin took one last glance down the hallway before quietly closing the door behind them.
Whatever had brought them here... it was serious.
Jin sat cross-legged on the floor while the others gathered around his small apartment.
Natsu leaned against the wall with his arms folded, already looking impatient, while Happy floated lazily overhead.
Gray occupied the same spot on Jin's bed as before, while Lucy sat beside the window, Plue resting comfortably in her lap.
Erza stood before them, hands clasped behind her back.
"...and that is the situation before us."
Jin nodded slowly.
"So... the guild masters reached this decision together."
Erza's expression remained composed.
"The recent increase in activity from the Oración Seis has become too great to ignore. Rather than acting independently, the guild masters agreed that cooperation offers the highest probability of success."
Jin rested an elbow on one knee.
"So, who's part of this alliance?"
Erza raised one finger.
"Fairy Tail."
A second.
"Blue Pegasus."
A third.
"Lamia Scale."
A fourth.
"And Cait Shelter."
Jin's expression changed almost imperceptibly.
"What...?"
He glanced away.
"But that's..."
A blue-haired girl flashed through his mind, arms overflowing with shopping bags.
A white cat, just like Happy, hovering protectively beside her.
He frowned.
"No," he whispered to himself. "They wouldn't send a kid for something like this."
"...Jin?" Lucy called.
He blinked.
"Hm?"
She tilted her head.
"You're muttering to yourself. What’s up?"
Jin rubbed the back of his neck.
"Oh... Sorry."
Gray raised an eyebrow.
"You know someone from those guilds?"
Jin hesitated.
"...Sort of."
The image lingered in his mind for another moment before he shook his head.
"It's probably nothing, though. Just could've sworn I'd heard of it somewhere."
He let the thought go and turned back to Erza.
"What else should I know about the Oración Seis?"
She answered without hesitation.
"They're one of the guilds comprising the Baram Alliance."
"The Baram Alliance?" Jin repeated.
"The three strongest dark guilds in Fiore alongside Grimoire Heart and Tartaros," Erza explained. "The majority of lesser dark guilds ultimately answer to one of those three."
Jin frowned thoughtfully.
"So... does that mean Eisenwald—"
"Affiliated with them?" Gray interrupted, smirking. "Yeah, they were under the Oración Seis. Small world, huh?"
Jin leaned back slightly.
"Erigor..."
The name left his mouth almost absentmindedly.
He hadn't thought about the former wind mage in months. None of them have.
The last time they'd met, Erigor had willingly surrendered to the Rune Knights after witnessing the Lullaby's true horror.
Jin wondered where he was now.
If prison had changed him... or if he'd remained exactly the same.
The room fell quiet for a moment.
Erza resumed.
"This is Fairy Tail's first operation alongside other legal guilds."
She looked at each of them in turn.
"Our conduct reflects directly upon the guild, so while completing the mission is our highest priority, building trust with our allies is equally important."
She looked directly at Natsu.
"So don't just go challenging everybody to a fight."
The Dragon Slayer groaned.
Jin couldn't suppress a small smile. He looked back toward Erza.
"So, when do we leave?"
"Immediately."
Jin blinked.
"...Immediately?" he repeated.
"Yes," Erza answered. "We're only here to collect you."
Silence.
"But... you could've told me that in the first place."
Erza nodded once.
"We're on a tight schedule, and my luggage is already downstairs."
"...Your luggage?"
"Yes."
Curious, Jin walked toward the balcony doors.
He slid them open. Then looked down.
A massive wooden wagon sat parked directly in front of the apartment building.
Towering stacks of trunks, crates, weapon cases, blankets, cookware, tents, and enough supplies to survive a month-long expedition were secured beneath thick ropes.
The wagon occupied nearly half the street.
Two merchants struggled to guide their carts around it. A family carrying groceries squeezed past one wheel.
One elderly man simply stood there, staring at it with complete disbelief before deciding to walk around the entire block.
Happy floated beside Jin.
"Looks like Erza's stuff is causing another traffic jam!"
Gray scratched the back of his head.
"Funny..."
"What's funny?" Jin asked.
"Well, if we're supposedly in such a hurry, somebody still insisted we take the time to wait for you..."
His grin widened.
"...It's almost like she mi—"
Erza looked at him.
Gray immediately looked away.
"...I'm gonna stop talking now."
He quietly stepped back toward the bed.
Jin rested a hand over his face.
"...Positive rapport begins here."
Erza blinked.
"...Hm?"
He pointed toward the street below.
"I don't think inconveniencing half of Magnolia before we've even left is the best first impression."
She followed his finger.
Several pedestrians were currently navigating around the wagon like water flowing around a boulder.
"...Oh," she muttered.
For the first time that evening, Erza looked genuinely embarrassed.
"Curses. I hadn't noticed."
She immediately turned toward the door.
"I'll go and move it."
Before anyone could respond, she disappeared into the hallway.
Seconds later, they heard hurried footsteps racing down the stairs.
Lucy looked out from the balcony.
"...At least she fixed it immediately."
"If she's wrong, she'll own it," Gray said with a shrug. "Otherwise..."
Natsu stretched.
"Can we go now?"
"Almost."
Jin walked toward his wardrobe.
"I'll need to change again."
Happy grinned.
"We promise not to sneak back in this time!"
"I'd appreciate that."
The room emptied once more. The door clicked shut behind them.
Silence settled over the apartment.
Jin changed into a skintight jumpsuit before crossing to the armor stand tucked neatly into the corner.
His father's battered Saiyan armor rested there, polished despite the scars left from the Tower of Heaven.
At its base sat his family photo.
His father, his mother, and a much younger version of himself between them.
He stood there quietly for several seconds.
Then rested one hand lightly against the armor's breastplate, right over the emblem.
"I'll be back."
His eyes drifted to the photograph.
"I promise."
He let the words linger for a moment before turning toward the door.
Duty called once again. And Fairy Tail was already waiting.
The purple boar snorted as it trotted steadily along the country road.
Its hooves clopped against the packed dirt, pulling Fairy Tail's carriage toward Clover beneath a cloudless morning sky.
Happy sat proudly at the reins.
"Aye! Full speed ahead!"
The boar ignored him completely and maintained the same leisurely pace.
Behind him, Natsu lay sprawled across one of the benches. His complexion had turned an alarming shade of green.
"...Kill me..."
Happy glanced back.
"We're almost there!"
"You've said that... five times..."
Gray rested one arm on the carriage railing.
"You've been dying since we left Magnolia."
"I am dying..."
Lucy sighed.
"You say that every trip."
"I mean it... this time..."
Nobody believed him.
Jin looked past them, watching the countryside roll by.
Fields stretched across the horizon. A windmill slowly turned in the distance.
The scenery felt strangely familiar.
"...This is the same road."
"Hm?" Lucy asked.
"The one we took going home from Clover."
Lucy followed his gaze.
"You noticed too, huh?"
Gray smiled faintly.
"The first time we traveled together, you barely talked."
Happy nodded vigorously.
"Aye! You spent half the trip staring outside!"
Lucy laughed.
"And the brooding!"
Jin thought back.
Back then... everything had felt uncertain.
He hadn't trusted anyone. Hadn't even considered Fairy Tail home.
Now he found himself traveling the very same road with the same people.
The difference was almost difficult to believe.
"Time sure flies," Gray said, folding his arms.
Silence settled comfortably between them.
Only the carriage wheels and the boar's footsteps filled the air.
Eventually Jin spoke.
"But... I'm still not sure I'm ready."
Lucy looked over.
"For what?"
His fingers rested unconsciously against his forearm.
"I can reach it Wrathful now."
He paused.
"But every time I do... it still feels like I'm standing at the edge of a cliff."
No one answered immediately.
Gray broke the silence first.
"You've made progress."
"I almost lost control again yesterday."
"But you didn't. That's the important part."
Jin looked unconvinced.
"I still needed Elfman to stop me."
"Because that's what training partners are for."
Gray leaned back.
"Sometimes you don't get to finish training before the real fight starts."
He looked toward the road ahead.
"The rest... you just learn out there."
Jin considered the words.
Lucy nodded.
"I think everyone's been there."
She smiled sheepishly.
"I definitely wasn't ready for half the things we've been through."
Happy floated upside down above them.
"And you barely survived!"
Lucy shot him a look.
"Barely?"
"You heard me!"
Even Natsu managed to raise one thumb from where he lay.
"...You'll... be... fine..."
Then his arm flopped lifelessly back onto the floor.
Gray smirked.
"See? Even Motion Sickness over there believes in you."
A small smile finally appeared on Jin's face.
"...Thanks."
Across from him, Erza suddenly blinked.
"Oh. I nearly forgot."
Everyone looked over.
"Speaking of positive rapport..."
A ripple of light surrounded her.
Her hand disappeared into the space created by Requip.
When it emerged again...
She held a familiar-looking set of armor.
White chestplate. Yellow shoulder guards. Segmented waist armor.
Jin stared.
"But... isn't that..."
Erza held it toward him.
"I commissioned this some time after the Harvest Festival."
His eyes widened.
"For... me?"
She nodded simply.
"You've continued wearing your father's armor despite its condition. I thought it was time you had something you could fight in without worrying too much."
Jin carefully accepted it.
His fingers traced the smooth plating.
Flexible. Light.
Almost identical to the battle armor that the Saiyan elite used to wear.
Only cleaner. Modernized.
"...This..."
He looked up.
"You remembered."
"You seemed comfortable wearing Saiyan armor, so I asked Heart Kreuz to make another."
Lucy nearly choked.
"H-Heart Kreuz?!"
Gray looked between Erza and the armor.
"Wait... that Heart Kreuz?"
Happy's ears perked up.
"Oh?"
Lucy leaned closer to Gray and lowered her voice.
"But it's practically a women's brand!"
Gray blinked.
"...Wait."
He looked from Erza... to the armor... then to Jin.
"You commissioned custom Saiyan armor from Heart Kreuz."
Lucy slowly nodded.
"That's... exactly what she did."
Happy gasped dramatically.
"Aye! So you really li—"
Gray slapped a hand over Happy's mouth before the cat could finish.
"Mmph!"
"Keep driving, cat," Gray hissed.
Erza looked between them.
"...Is something wrong?"
"Nope," Gray answered immediately.
Lucy smiled much too innocently.
"Not at all."
Happy continued making muffled noises beneath Gray's hand.
Erza tilted her head. She seemed genuinely puzzled before returning her attention to Jin.
"Anyway, try it on."
He slipped the armor over his suit, the flexible material adjusting naturally around his frame.
He rolled one shoulder. Then the other.
It didn't restrict his movement in the slightest.
It almost felt... natural.
"It's... perfect."
For just a moment, he thought of his father's battered armor resting back in his apartment.
Scarred by battles that had ended long before Jin ever understood them.
It wasn't replacing his father's armor.
It was letting it rest.
He looked back at Erza.
"Thank you. Truly."
She smiled faintly.
"You're welcome."
The carriage rounded one final bend.
Happy pointed ahead.
"We're here!"
The towering pink palace came into view beyond the trees. Its extravagant architecture stood out against the surrounding forest like it belonged somewhere else entirely.
"So the palace is also Blue Pegasus' guild hall?" Lucy asked.
"It certainly doesn't lack confidence," Gray muttered. “But nope. I think they still have their own guild hall.”
Natsu immediately sprang upright.
"...LAND!"
Before anyone could stop him, he launched himself out of the carriage and hit the ground face-first.
"...Worth it..."
Happy landed beside him.
"Come on, Natsu!"
Jin adjusted the new armor as he stepped down from the carriage.
Fashioned after the battle armor of elite Saiyan warriors, it consisted of a white chestplate with yellow shoulder, waist, and abdominal guards worn over a fitted dark jumpsuit.
The familiar white boots from his old battle suit remained, the last surviving piece of his original equipment.
Sunlight glinted across the polished plates as he looked toward the palace ahead. Around him, the others began walking toward the entrance.
Far behind them, Natsu had only just managed to stand, wobbling past the carriage ride as he staggered several paces behind the group.
The moment they stepped inside, they were greeted by a sprawling entrance hall worthy of a palace.
Towering pillars stretched toward a coffered ceiling high overhead, while a grand staircase rose proudly from the center of the room toward an elegant mezzanine.
Mirrored Pegasus statues stood guard beside the staircase, and heart-shaped motifs adorned nearly every wall, pillar, and doorway. Plush furnishings occupied one corner of the hall, making the headquarters feel less like a wizard guild and more like the residence of royalty.
"It looks like a castle," Lucy agreed.
Happy floated higher, taking everything in.
"Aye! Even the walls are fancy."
Jin slowly turned in place.
Everything gleamed. Every detail had clearly been designed to impress visitors.
"...It's quiet," Erza observed. "Too quiet. It doesn't look like anyone's here."
The group spread out naturally, taking a few moments to look around.
Natsu, meanwhile, stumbled toward the nearest pillar before sliding down until he was sitting against it.
"...Just tell me when we get there..."
Happy blinked. He looked around the hall.
"Okay... We're here."
Natsu groaned louder.
Lucy laughed.
"I guess we're the first ones here, huh?"
"No."
Jin's voice was calm.
He stood near the center of the hall, eyes fixed toward the staircase.
"We're not."
The room suddenly echoed with the sharp crash of cymbals.
"Yes! They're here at last!"
"At last!"
Music erupted from somewhere above.
Three sharply dressed men descended the grand staircase in perfect rhythm, each carrying a pair of gleaming cymbals while singing in flawless harmony.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"Hello!"
"Hello!"
"Fairy Tail!"
"Fairy Tail!"
"Wizards!"
The melody echoed beautifully through the palace hall.
Each step matched the beat. Each pose looked carefully rehearsed.
By the time they reached the bottom, the trio tossed their cymbals aside simultaneously, spun once, and struck identical poses.
One extended an arm dramatically.
"We..."
"...are..."
"...the..."
All three smiled.
"TRIMENS!"
Silence.
Happy blinked.
"Uh... Neat."
The tallest stepped forward first.
Messy brown-blond hair framed a handsome face, and confidence radiated from every movement.
"Hundred Nights—Hibiki."
Beside him stood the shortest of the three. Blond hair rested neatly in a bowl cut, his youthful features making him appear younger than the others.
"Holy Night—Eve."
Finally, the third member stepped forward. Dark skin and long black hair tied into a ponytail, with loose strands framing his face.
"Still Night—Ren."
Lucy gasped.
"No way..."
Her eyes sparkled.
"It's really them!"
Gray glanced sideways.
"...Who?"
Lucy stared at him in disbelief.
"You've never heard of the Trimens?"
Gray shrugged, looking back toward the trio.
"Should I have?"
"They're Blue Pegasus' elite team!"
She pointed excitedly.
"Hibiki's always in the top three of Sorcerer Weekly's Most Eligible Wizard Bachelors!"
Jin tilted his head.
"What's that even mean?"
Lucy froze.
"...Never mind."
Jin accepted that answer with a nod before stepping forward.
He offered a respectful bow.
"My name is Jin. On behalf of Fairy Tail, allow me to—"
He stopped.
The Trimens had already walked past him.
As though he hadn't spoken at all.
"What the—?"
All three surrounded Erza almost instantly.
Hibiki clasped his hands together. He smiled warmly.
"So the legendary Titania truly exists. The stories didn't do your beauty justice."
Eve immediately knelt.
"It is an honor to meet you, Miss Titania."
Meanwhile—
Ren somehow appeared behind Erza.
"If you'll come with us for just a moment..."
Before anyone could react—
The three moved with astonishing speed.
A plush couch appeared seemingly from nowhere.
Hibiki gently guided Erza toward it.
Eve hurried over carrying an ice bucket with an expensive-looking bottle.
"Wine?"
"No, thank you."
"Cake?"
"No."
"Tea?"
"I'm quite alright."
"Coffee?"
"No."
Gray scratched his cheek.
"...Do they always greet people like this?"
Before anyone answered—
Ren vanished again.
Lucy suddenly squeaked.
"W-Wha—?!"
Ren had slipped behind her and wrapped an arm lightly around her waist, pulling her closer.
"My..."
He smiled.
"...you're adorable."
Lucy turned crimson.
"L-Let go!"
Even Gray frowned.
"...Alright."
He folded his arms.
"Now that's pushin' it."
Jin inhaled slowly.
Very slowly.
Then—
"Excuse me!"
His voice carried clearly through the hall.
The room fell silent.
The Trimens looked over together.
Ren released Lucy immediately.
"Something wrong?"
Jin took another breath.
His expression remained polite.
Mostly.
"I was attempting to introduce myself."
Silence.
"You ignored me."
Nobody answered.
His eyes moved between all three of them.
"We'll soon be relying on each other in battle. A proper greeting doesn't seem like too much to ask."
Ren tilted his head.
"But..."
He gestured toward himself.
"We already introduced ourselves. Were you not paying attention?"
Gray quietly rubbed his forehead.
"...Can't really blame him."
Erza rose from the couch.
"I'm sorry."
Everyone turned toward her.
She gave the Trimens a respectful bow.
"This is Jin's first time working alongside another guild."
Her expression softened.
"Please forgive the misunderstanding. He simply hoped to become acquainted in a more... traditional manner."
Hibiki blinked.
Then laughed softly.
"I see."
He walked over to Jin.
"My apologies."
He smiled.
"Perhaps we weren't what you were expecting."
The slight emphasis earned the faintest twitch from Jin's brow.
"Let's start over, shall we?"
Hibiki extended a hand.
"Hibiki Lates."
Jin looked at the offered hand for a moment before taking it.
His grip was firm.
"Jin. I'm looking forward to working with Blue Pegasus."
"The feeling's mutual."
The handshake ended.
The atmosphere immediately relaxed.
Hibiki gestured toward the hall.
"As of now, Fairy Tail and Blue Pegasus are the only ones here. The representatives of the other guilds should be here shortly.
Jin's curiosity lingered.
"I only count three of you."
He glanced around.
"Are you the only representatives Blue Pegasus sent?"
A smooth, unfamiliar voice echoed from somewhere deeper within the palace.
"Oh my..."
It carried effortlessly across the hall.
"Did you truly believe Blue Pegasus would send only three beautiful men to represent us?"
Every head turned toward the voice.
A figure descended the grand staircase at an unhurried pace.
He was... considerably shorter than Jin expected.
Broad-shouldered and stout, the man wore an immaculate white suit tailored to perfection. A blue rose rested neatly in his breast pocket.
His orange hair rose in carefully sculpted waves, and as he stepped farther into the light, his face came fully into view.
He had a broad, rectangular jaw, pronounced cheekbones, and an unusually large, gleaming nose that seemed to sparkle almost as brightly as the glittering aura surrounding him.
It wasn't just his clothes.
He sparkled.
Literally.
"Please forgive them," the man said smoothly. "They simply cannot help themselves when confronted by such radiant ladies."
He smiled toward Erza and Lucy before glancing at the trio.
"My dear Trimens. Please give our guests room to breathe."
"Yes, Ichiya, sir!" Ren answered immediately.
"As you command!" Hibiki added.
"At once!" Eve finished.
The three regrouped at the foot of the staircase with military precision.
"...Ichiya..." Erza muttered. "Oh, dear."
Jin looked over.
She was trembling.
Not with anger.
With dread.
He had seen Erza face Jellal without flinching.
He had challenged Jose alongside her.
This was the first time he had ever seen genuine fear cross her face.
Ichiya spread his arms dramatically.
"It has indeed been far too long, Miss Scarlet."
Before anyone could react, he planted one foot atop the staircase railing.
"A destined reunion!"
Then slid all the way down.
The Trimens immediately joined in.
"A destined reunion!"
"A destined reunion!"
"A destined reunion!"
"Oh, yes! Oh, yes! Oh, yes!"
Halfway through, he flipped gracefully through the air before landing in a flawless pose at the bottom.
Another dazzling smile.
"Do not fret, for I am here!"
Jin stared.
"...What?"
Lucy leaned toward Gray.
"Is he always like this?"
Gray scratched his cheek.
"God, I hope not."
Ichiya continued making his rounds.
"Miss Scarlet."
A slight bow.
"Miss Lucy."
Another bow.
Then he stopped before Gray and Natsu.
"...And..."
He frowned thoughtfully.
"You two are..."
Gray sighed.
"We're also from Fairy Tail, by the way."
Ichiya nodded as though that answered everything.
"Excellent."
Jin, meanwhile, couldn't take his eyes off Erza. She still hadn't relaxed.
He stepped beside her.
"Do you two have... history?"
Erza didn't even look at him.
"...Not the good kind."
She lowered her voice.
"Jin, whatever happens..."
A pause.
"...do not believe any kind of nonsense he spouts."
"Even if he's probably strong?"
"...Especially then."
Jin slowly nodded.
"Right."
He stepped forward.
"Greetings. I'm Jin."
Ichiya turned.
"Ah."
He smiled politely.
"Pleasure."
Then—
"Sniff..."
The room fell silent.
"...Sniff..."
Ichiya walked directly past Jin.
"Sniff, sniff..."
He spun once. Twice.
He stopped dramatically, then pointed finger guns directly at Erza and Lucy.
"A wonderfully sweet parfum!"
Lucy instinctively stepped backward. She shivered.
"Uh… That's creepy."
Gray folded his arms.
"Yeah, I've been wondering..."
He stepped forward.
"...Are the four of you always like this?"
Ren raised an eyebrow.
"Like what?"
Gray gestured broadly.
"Whatever this is."
Eve blinked.
"What? We're simply welcoming our allies."
"Looks more like harassing them."
Hibiki smiled politely.
"Our intentions are pure. If you don't like it, feel free to leave."
Gray looked unconvinced.
"You call grabbing girls you've never met 'pure'?"
Ren shrugged.
"They didn't seem to mind."
Lucy immediately pointed at herself.
"Hello?! I very much minded!"
Gray nodded once. He looked back toward Blue Pegasus.
"We're here on serious business, you know. So quit playing playboy wannabe and keep your hands off our girls. Is that clear?!"
Silence.
Ichiya nodded.
"Crystal."
He pointed toward the entrance.
"You may leave now."
Gray's eyebrow twitched.
"Excuse me?"
Ren folded his arms.
"Funny."
He glanced toward Jin.
"At least your friend managed to show some respect."
Eve nodded.
"But you... not so much."
Gray scoffed. He cracked his knuckles.
"I was giving you the benefit of the doubt. Starting to think that was a mistake."
Ren grinned.
"Is that a challenge?"
"We're more than capable ourselves," Eve added.
Natsu suddenly sprang to his feet.
"A fight?!"
Happy gasped.
"He's back!"
"I'M IN! LEMME AT 'EM!"
Erza stepped between both groups.
"Everyone, enough."
For one brief moment, it looked as though the tension might finally ease.
"Calm yourselves this instant—"
Ichiya vanished.
A gust of scented air swept through the hall.
"My sweet honey!" Ichiya's voice echoed.
Erza froze. She shuddered.
Ichiya had somehow appeared directly behind her.
"Miss Scarlet..."
He leaned in and sniffed.
"I have never forgotten your parfum. Still so magnificent—"
He never finished.
A sharp burst of air echoed through the hall.
Jin vanished and reappeared between them so quickly the floor cracked beneath his boots.
Ichiya's eyes widened.
"Oh, my—!"
His feet left the ground.
Jin had grabbed him by the front of his immaculate suit and lifted him effortlessly into the air.
The sparkle around Ichiya suddenly felt much less majestic.
"Meeeeeen—!"
Jin's eyes flashed yellow.
"Whatever little respect I had left for Blue Pegasus has just gone out the window!"
The Trimens reacted instantly.
"We just literally shook on it!" Hibiki yelled. "Get your hands off of Sir Ichiya!"
Gray stepped directly into his path.
"Not until you clowns learn some boundaries!"
Ren and Eve readied themselves.
Natsu grinned, joining Gray's side.
"Now we're talking! Bring it on!"
Lucy threw herself between both guilds.
"Guys! Stop this! Now!"
Erza hurried to Jin's side.
"Jin. Put him down."
He didn't look away from Ichiya.
"They crossed the line."
"I know."
"And he keeps sniffing you."
"I know."
Jin tightened his grip slightly.
"Then why?!"
Erza fell silent. For a moment.
Then she placed a hand gently on his forearm.
"You cannot let your emotions control you. Not after everything you've been working toward?"
The words landed.
His eyes flickered toward hers.
Silence.
Jin exhaled slowly.
"Gray," she called.
"...What?"
"Stand down. Both of you."
Gray clicked his tongue.
"...Fine."
"You too, Natsu."
"But—"
"Now."
"Aww."
Both immediately lowered their stances.
Erza looked back at Jin.
"Look, as much as..."
She paused.
"...I would personally enjoy doing exactly what you're doing..."
Jin blinked.
"Wait... you would?"
A faint twitch crossed her eyebrow.
"Very much."
Lucy stared.
"...Really?"
"But this is neither the time nor the place."
Jin looked at Ichiya again.
Then nodded once.
He brought Ichiya down to eye level.
"Call your boys off."
Ichiya adjusted his tie despite hanging several feet above the floor.
"The ladies… are correct."
He looked toward the Trimens.
"Stand down, my friends."
Immediately.
"Yes, Ichiya, sir."
The three relaxed.
Lucy sighed in relief.
Jin held Ichiya another second, then lowered him gently onto the floor.
Ichiya dusted off his jacket, straightened his collar, and adjusted his rose.
Then looked back at Jin.
"Fascinating."
He sniffed.
"You possess quite a unique parfum yourself. Are you...?"
Jin narrowed his eyes.
"Stay away from me. Stay away from Erza. Stay away from everyone on this team."
He paused.
"...And if you so much as—"
His nose twitched.
Gray frowned.
"...Jin?"
Jin ignored it.
"—look at them again, I'll—"
His nose twitched harder.
He pinched it.
"...I'll... Hh... Hh... HAH-CHOO!"
The sneeze echoed through the palace.
Every head jerked toward him.
Silence settled over the hall.
Fairy Tail stared.
Blue Pegasus stared.
Even Ichiya blinked.
"Did..."
Happy tilted his head.
"...did Jin just sneeze?"
Ichiya smiled warmly, fanning the Saiyan with a hand.
"Oh, bless you, my boy. And my sincerest apologies."
He bowed his head.
"Perhaps my parfum was too overwhelming. I shall endeavor to use less next time."
Jin rubbed at his nose.
"No. You should just stay away from me."
Ren tilted his head.
"...Wait."
Eve blinked.
"Is he... allergic?"
Hibiki placed a hand on his chin.
"To strong fragrances, it seems."
Lucy stared at Jin.
"Since when are you allergic to perfume?"
Gray looked equally bewildered.
"Yeah, you've survived Laxus' lightning... and perfume's what gets you?"
Jin blinked.
"...I guess so?"
"Then how'd we never notice? Have you ever done laundry?"
Jin thought about it.
"I... usually use unscented soap."
Gray stared for another second.
"That's... oddly specific."
Jin shrugged.
"Strong fragrances always bothered me."
He glanced at Ichiya.
"Eventually... my body developed the same opinion."
A small laugh escaped Erza before she could stop it.
She immediately covered her mouth.
Everyone turned.
Erza straightened.
"Pardon me."
Her expression returned to its usual composure almost immediately.
Jin stared at her.
"Did you just laugh at me?"
Erza glanced away.
"...Perhaps a little."
Lucy blinked.
"You heard that, right?"
Gray pointed.
"I saw it too."
Erza looked away.
"You saw nothing."
Gray looked at Lucy.
Lucy nodded once.
"...She definitely laughed."
Happy floated up beside Jin.
"Looks like your nose is backwards!"
Natsu nodded enthusiastically, pointing at himself.
"And my nose still comes out on top!"
Then he pointed at Jin.
"Yours loses to simple perfume!"
Happy laughed.
"The mighty Jin's greatest weakness! Fancy soap!"
Jin pinched the bridge of his nose.
"...I'm surrounded by children."
Then—
The palace doors slowly swung open.
A familiar voice echoed through the grand hall.
"How... disappointing."
The hall fell quiet.
Every head turned toward the palace entrance.
Standing there was a young man with silver hair and a confident smile. A long white coat trimmed with fur hung over a crimson tunic.
Gray's eyes widened.
"Lyon?!"
Across the hall, Lyon smiled.
"So we meet again, Gray."
For a heartbeat, neither moved.
Then Gray stepped forward. Lyon matched him with a step of his own.
Around them, everyone exchanged puzzled looks.
Natsu's face brightened.
"No way!" Natsu grinned. "You actually joined a guild! That's awesome!"
Lyon finally acknowledged everyone else with a brief glance before returning his attention to Gray.
"It seems you've kept yourself busy."
Gray folded his arms.
"You too."
Jin watched the exchange carefully. Neither looked particularly angry.
If anything, it reminded him of the way he and Natsu looked at one another before a spar.
Hostile. Competitive. Comfortably so.
Hibiki glanced between them.
"You know one another?"
Gray didn't take his eyes off Lyon.
"We've got history."
Lyon chuckled.
"An unfortunate amount."
Before anyone could ask further—
Lucy yelped.
"Wah!"
The royal carpet beneath her feet suddenly writhed like a living creature.
It curled around her ankles before spiraling upward, lifting her just enough to steal her balance.
"Hey! What the—?!"
She stumbled free as the carpet gracefully unfurled across the floor again.
"Wait... I know that magic!"
"My, my."
A familiar feminine voice answered.
"And you would be right."
The enchanted carpet twisted once more.
A young woman stepped gracefully from within it as though emerging from water.
Long pink hair flowed freely over her shoulders, replacing the elaborate hairstyle Lucy remembered. A pink dress with black trim swayed gently as she curtsied.
Lucy blinked.
"Sherry?!"
Sherry beamed.
"The very same."
She clasped both hands dramatically over her heart.
"But please..."
Her eyes sparkled.
"...do forget who I was."
Lucy tilted her head.
"...What?"
"I have been reborn!"
Sherry spun once, dress fluttering around her.
"Through the magnificent power of love!"
Silence.
Lucy stared.
"...You're still weird."
Sherry gasped theatrically.
"How cruel!"
Gray barely spared them a glance. His attention remained fixed on Lyon.
"So."
He cracked his knuckles.
"Didn't think you'd end up in Lamia Scale."
Lyon smiled.
"And I've become much stronger since Galuna. This time..."
A cold breeze swept through the hall.
"...I'll defeat you."
Frost gathered around Gray's hand.
"Wanna bet?"
Lyon's smile widened.
Turquoise ice crystallized around Lyon's fingertips in response.
"Good. I was afraid you'd gotten soft."
Jin instinctively shifted his weight.
There it was.
Not hatred.
Respect sharpened into rivalry.
He understood it immediately.
Unfortunately...
The rest of the hall was unraveling again.
"My sweet honey..."
Somehow...
Ichiya was already beside Erza again.
Jin sighed.
He stepped sideways just as Ichiya leaned forward. Once again, Jin occupied the space between them.
"What did I just say?!"
The Trimens immediately tensed.
Ren frowned.
"You've got something against our master?"
"I've got something against personal boundaries."
Erza quietly rested a hand on the hilt of her sword.
Across the room, Sherry pointed dramatically at Lucy.
"You!"
Lucy pointed right back.
"What did I do?!"
"I could never love you!"
"Yeah?! Well neither could I!"
Meanwhile—
Natsu's eyes practically glowed.
He looked left. Then right. Then left again.
"Finally!"
He grinned.
"I'm ready to fight too!"
The palace suddenly erupted into overlapping voices.
Blue Pegasus. Fairy Tail. Lamia Scale.
Everyone talking over everyone else.
"Let's go, Lyon!"
"Gladly!"
"Stay away from me!"
"Sniff, sniff..."
"Back off!"
"I could never love you!"
"The feeling's mutual!"
"FIGHT! FIGHT! FI—"
CLACK.
A wooden staff struck the marble floor.
The sound echoed through the enormous hall like thunder.
"ENOUGH!"
Instantly—
Gray stopped. Lyon lowered his hand.
Jin froze. Ichiya straightened.
Lucy and Sherry fell silent. Natsu blinked.
Every eye turned toward the entrance.
Standing there was a man whose presence alone seemed to quiet the room.
He was a tall, powerfully built man with a bald head, dark markings above his eyes, and the bearing of a seasoned warrior. A striped mantle hung over his bare chest, while fur-lined, tribal-inspired garments and weathered armguards completed the look of a wandering monk more than a wizard.
The man surveyed the hall calmly, his staff resting against the polished floor.
"We gather here for one purpose: to stand together against the Oración Seis. Let us not become our own first enemy."
Lyon lowered the ice around his hand without complaint.
"Of course, Jura."
Sherry folded her arms with an exaggerated sigh before walking back to his side.
Across the hall, Ren, Eve, and Hibiki likewise relaxed. Ichiya straightened his suit.
Jin slowly unclenched his fist.
Erza finally lowered her sword.
"...Iron Rock Jura."
The giant inclined his head politely.
"Miss Titania."
Jin glanced toward Erza.
"You know him?"
Erza nodded.
"He's Lamia Scale's strongest wizard."
There was unmistakable respect in her voice.
"And one of Fiore's Ten Wizard Saints."
Jin looked back at Jura.
"...I can tell."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Jura's eyes shifted.
They landed directly on him.
For a brief moment, nothing happened.
At least... to everyone else.
Jin suddenly felt the air grow heavier.
Not physically.
Something deeper.
His instincts reacted before his mind did.
A faint pulse of ki rose instinctively from within him.
Not enough to be seen—just enough to answer.
Jura continued looking at him.
Calm. Patient. Measuring.
Jin swallowed. Sweat gathered along his brow.
"..."
The invisible pressure shifted.
Not threatening.
Testing.
Asking a question without words.
Jin answered with another careful rise in his own ki.
Then... it vanished—as though it had never existed.
Jin quietly exhaled.
He hadn't even realized he'd been holding his breath.
Erza looked at him.
"Jin? Are you alright?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he continued looking at Jura.
"...You're..."
He let out another slow breath.
"...strong."
Several heads turned toward him.
Gray frowned.
"Huh?"
Lucy blinked.
"What just happened?"
Natsu looked between the two.
"Did I miss something?"
Happy tilted his head.
"I think we all did?"
Jura simply smiled.
"You honor me with your words, but strength is merely another tool."
His gaze remained gentle.
"I believe the same could be said of you."
Jin blinked.
"...Me?"
Jura nodded once.
"You possess remarkable discipline. I can tell you are no ordinary warrior."
"I..."
Heat crept into Jin's face.
"Um... thank you."
He wasn't entirely convinced he deserved the compliment.
Still... the knot in his chest eased.
If someone like Jura was standing beside them, perhaps this mission wasn't as hopeless as he'd feared.
The tension gradually melted away.
Sherry, however, ruined it almost immediately.
She folded her arms proudly.
"Hmph."
She gestured toward her guildmates.
"So Fairy Tail needed five representatives."
She motioned toward Blue Pegasus.
"They brought four."
Then toward herself.
"At least Lamia Scale only required three."
Lucy raised an eyebrow.
"...What's your point?"
"The point," Sherry said dramatically, "is quality over quantity."
Happy floated upward.
"Hey!"
He pointed at himself.
"You forgot me!"
Lucy crossed her arms.
"We're not leaving anybody behind. The six of us are a team."
"How touching."
Jura chuckled softly before looking around the hall.
"It appears..."
He counted quietly.
"...only one guild remains."
Ichiya suddenly raised a finger.
"Ah, but I do have one concern."
Everyone looked toward him.
Lucy tilted her head.
"About Cait Shelter?"
Ichiya nodded.
"They informed us beforehand that only one representative would be attending."
He paused.
Silence.
Gray frowned.
"Wait... just one?!"
"That's absurd," Lyon said bluntly. "The Oración Seis aren't some backwater dark guild."
Lucy looked around.
"If they're only sending one person, then how strong is this guy supposed to be?!"
Sherry shrugged.
"They're either incredibly brave or incredibly foolish. And if you ask me—"
"WAH!"
THUD!
Everyone turned.
The palace doors had opened.
A small figure lay face-down just inside the entrance.
"...Ow..."
The girl slowly pushed herself upright, brushing dust from her legs before nervously looking around the enormous hall.
Long blue hair framed a timid face.
She bowed quickly.
"I-I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to arrive so late... or fall."
She straightened again.
"I'm here from the Cait Shelter guild. My name's Wendy, and it's so nice to meet all of you!"
Silence.
Lucy's eyes widened.
"...She's a kid?!"
Gray rubbed the back of his neck.
"...Seriously?"
Natsu tilted his head.
"Wendy..."
Most of the room stared with open curiosity.
Only one person had gone completely still.
Jin's eyes widened.
His breath caught.
"...Wendy?"
The girl's head snapped toward him.
For a split second...
She simply stared.
"Huh?"
She rubbed her eyes.
"Wait a minute..."
Then her own eyes widened just as much.
"Jin?! Is that really you?!"
She pointed at him.
"W-What are you doing here?!"
Jin took an instinctive step forward and pointed right back without thinking.
"What am I doing here? What are you doing here?!"
His voice rose before he could stop it.
"And why would Cait Shelter send you?!"
The room fell silent once again. They simply stood there. Staring at one another.
Fairy Tail looked at Jin. Blue Pegasus looked at Wendy. Lamia Scale looked between the two.
The alliance meeting had only just begun, yet somehow every eye in the room had shifted from the Oración Seis...
…to the two people staring at one another across the hall.