Chapter 36

Master Makarov sighed exasperated. This council meeting wasn't going anywhere. It had been nearly a month and they still hadn't reached a solution. He missed the boisterousness of his guild despite the fact they wouldn't let him retire. He needed to get the S class trials back in order too. This year he was letting Mira observe the younger generation and report back to him. He was no longer as young as he used to be and the war had taken a toll on him. As he started to slow up he was handing duties off to some of the guild members to take care of. Mira it was writing reports on how missions went. Macao was handling most of the paperwork with Wakaba setting it up. They were nowhere near S class quality and they knew they had reached past their prime. They still went on smaller missions, but stuck mostly around the town. They still wanted to be in the guild and not retire from it, so he had them working as assistants.

"I propose we do this then since currently we're going nowhere."

Makarov looked up at the current chairman.

"I propose we put this meeting on hold either till something happens involving Acnologia, or until the situation with the guilds changes enough that we can make a move against him."

"Agreed." The council members said clearly frustrated at the situation.

"Guild masters. This meeting will be put on hold. The current situation doesn't allow for anyone to make a move against Acnologia without serious repercussions. For the time being we ask you return and strengthen your guilds till they are stabilized and the kingdom of Fiore is no longer in disarray. We will call another meeting on this matter when the situation changes for the better and something can be done on this matter."

The guild masters bowed and walked out of the council meeting chamber. Sting walked alongside Makarov stretching tired muscles. When they excited the room the light dragon slayer spoke.

"Finally! I thought it would never end."

"True, now I just need to go back to my guild and discipline Natsu for that repeat incident."

"Repeat incident?"

"That idiot read a spell that was on the request board again out loud. This time luckily he was the only one affected this time."

"Hahahaha…he didn't learn after doing something that stupid once?" Sting laughed. "That's Natsu's legendary stupidity for you."

Makarov smiled at him. "True. Ah, by the way I heard from Mira that he and Lucy apparently got drunk after they returned from the ruins and the next day they started dating. Mira mainly called to gripe about how getting them drunk was doing them a favor, but they pranked her, Canna, Gajeel and Levy for it then went on a weeklong mission together with Happy."

"Wait, so Natsu and the blond he's usually with are a thing now?"

"Yep."

"Geeze, almost thought he didn't have that in him."

"Feel free to drop by the guild and tease him about it, but we are going through the S class trials when I return so you might want to wait a few weeks.

"Ahhh, now that I think about it it's that time of year again. How long does your S trials last?"

"The longest is about a week, but this year I'm going to try to make it quicker and put a few wizards through as S class wizards. When we were trapped on Tenrou Island no S class wizard trial were held in seven years, and we haven't held any trials since. It's only fair that we make it so more pass though this time if they pass."

"How many are you putting through."

"I'm thinking of having the trial participants' team up this year then when the groups get narrowed down to six people top three become S class."

"So three then?"

"Yep."

"Who do you think will make it this year?"

"Natsu, Gray, and Lucy if they all make the list. Though if Gajeel gets in it will be a tossup between him, Lucy, and Gray."

"So it's guaranteed that Natsu would be S class."

"You kidding? That kid defeated Acnologia, and Zerif in battle. Our current SS class wizard Guildarts couldn't even put a scratch on Acnologia alone. If he doesn't manage to pass I'll dance naked on the guild stage."

"Hold it old man, don't do anything that crazy."

Makarov chuckled at the slayer's response.