Disclaimer: I do not own Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail, any work professionally associated with it, nor any pop culture or classical references. All original plots and characters are mine.

In a land far, far away lies the kingdom of Fiore, a small, peaceful nation of 17 million, and a place filled with Magic found in every home, bought and sold in every marketplace. For most, Magic is merely a tool, a mundane part of everyday life. For some, however, Magic is an art, and they've devoted their lives to its practice. These are the wizards. Banded together into magical guilds, they ply their skills in search of fame and fortune. Many such guilds dot the landscape of Fiore. But there is a certain guild in a certain town that soars high above the rest, one from which countless legends have been born. A guild that will no doubt continue to create legends well into the future. Its name...is Fairy Tail.

LAST TIME, on Fairy Adventure: things are getting heavy in Chayote. Between corrupt politicians, rioting citizens, scared Independents, and a lawless jungle, it feels like things are going from bad to worse. Spencer's ready to move on from this chaos, but Nik "Bio-Shock" Dreyar is ready to get into the thick of it. Upon Nik's task force are some strange personalities, but Rick Havok seems to be connected to Mary Jane in an odd way. And if that isn't strange, looks like one of the Dragons Igneel's group is in need of is a barbaric subordinate of Nik's team.

"We aren't on a no man's island anymore, y'know? You're a soldier now, not a barbarian. So what is it this time, Heathen?"

If "Heathen" is this Dragon's code name, I wonder what sort of person they really are. And Spencer, you might want to hurry with your Gordost lessons before Lisa-Jane learns more insults from her uncle Nikolai…

"—and you're sure it's nothing serious?"

Luke ate at the kitchen island with his vegan breakfast of oats, yogurt, cherries, berries, and chia seeds sprinkled atop (and Cullen was kind enough to handle the dishes). His PAL out and his notes in organized chaos, he at least started his day right refreshed and dressed.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Dragneel Residence

Magnolia Town

Fiore, Ishgar

10:03 AM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"No. Sorry," Genius told him, though slightly contrite. "I've been running the calculations and there isn't any sort of sequence or pattern of any sort of significance. Sorry to get your hopes up about what I could do with the files, though."

"Don't worry about it," Luke sighed. "I'm sorry you had extra work to do because of me. Especially when you're going on vacation with your girlfriend."

"She gets it," Genius breezily dismissed. "And it's not a problem. You know work like this is my jam anyway. But it'll be nice going on vacation with my girlfriend. T.A.D.A.S.H.I. will handle my outreaches, so if you need anything—"

"I know, I know. Thanks, Genius." Luke snuck in a mouthful of his breakfast and saw an exhausted Luna trudge down the steps with Icarus. "Where are you and your girlfriend vacationing?"

Genius sounded too excited as he boasted, "Where else do you take your obnoxiously hot girlfriend? We're going to Shamballa together, and she even promised me she'd wear the bikini I got her that goes with her eyes, and I get to be her trophy boyfriend. How lucky is that?"

Luke snickered, both at Genius' giddiness and how Luna came to the island to sprawl out and groan. "I guess you're living the dream then." He patted Luna's back as Cullen pushed her plated breakfast, a little worried (if it was possible for a Shadow to look worried). "Thanks for letting me know, though. And have a good holiday in Shamballa. Enjoy yourself."

"I'm going to finally have my girl in my arms instead of a body pillow—fuck yes I'm going to enjoy myself!"

"Yeah, yeah. Talk to you later." Luke ended the call to give his sister a partially-sympathetic-fully-amused grin. "I warned you Dad's morning conditioning routine would kill you if you didn't go to bed on time, and here you are, half-dead."

Luna moaned again. "I hate him so much," she slurred. "How could he treat me like this? He wouldn't even budge when I used my cutest face."

Luke sweatdropped remembering how close their twitchy father was to caving seeing Luna's adorable face. Yeah, but he was pretty close to breaking if Mom hadn't interrupted. He spooned more of his cherry-berry oatmeal. "Don't be too down. Eat up. We have a long way out to get to The Society and then we're going shopping."

"No. I'm going shopping," Luna muttered as she picked her head up from the counter. "You're going to hide behind me whenever people recognize you."

Luke flushed. "I won't this time!" he weakly countered. "I-I-I'm just not as comfortable with fans yet." And the last fan I met was murdered.

"Well, get used to it and don't use me as a human shield," Luna scolded him through a mouthful. "You're really popular, you know. Haven't you seen those posters of you?"

"Uh…" Luke's eyebrow twitched as he recalled his poster above the late-Kasane's bed. "Yeah… I have…" At a crime scene. He shrugged and putzed around his bowl. "I guess I just don't see it. It's not like I battle as often as Mom and Dad or Nashi or Igneel. I only did all those promos because I had to. And it's not like I have social media—"

"But you should! Look!"

It startled Luke when a Compact was in his face. He plucked it from Luna to see the contest—

DING-DING-DING!

His entire face was red with embarrassment and disbelief. What is this!

A stan Twit account had been pulled up to capture pictures of Luke that others had posted with him or that had been promotional photoshoots for various wizarding events and collaborations. One had come from a gLitch stream where he acted as a guest and was caught in a compromising position with a fellow and very male streamer. Another looked to be taken when he was in the library and the middle of an adorable sneeze.

The last one made him lose his soul. As memory served, he had taken off his glasses to run and his bangs had been brushed back, damp. He lifted the bottom of his shirt to wipe his brow and exposed himself.

This… This was his life now.

While Luke went through an existential crisis, Luna chirped, "You should see how many stan accounts you have on Twit and Insta." She peered to check the account. "They get some really good photos of you. If you posted at all on GuildCafe, they have translations up in, like, fourteen languages."

"B-B-B-But why?" Luke tried to fathom.

Luna shrugged as she stole back her Compact and scrolled. "You're popular," was all she could say. "You look all shy and innocent and angelic, but then people go crazy when you look all intense and everything." She grinned. "Want to know what they call you?"

Luke cringed. "No—"

"A prince amongst men. An Angel in the streets, but a Demon in the—"

"I got it!" Luke held his head in his hands with a full-body flush heating him (and Cullen patted his back in consolation). I'm ruined! Ruined! How did this happen? I was so careful! He bemoaned, Maybe I should stay inside and never show my face again.

"They even ship you with Gale and Misty and have this ship name GaLu for you and—"

"Stop it!" Luke cried, traumatized. "I don't want to hear any more of it, please! Let me keep my virtue, I beg of you!"

Luna giggled, but she decided not to torment her spiraling brother any further. "Honestly, I wonder when Misty's coming home," she pondered. "It's been since December, hasn't it? And he hasn't come home or sent any messages, right?"

Luke sobered at the reminder, honeyed ambers crestfallen. "No," he murmured. "Not a word."

He swirled his breakfast bowl. I know I shouldn't worry too much. I know he can handle himself. But still… There's so much I need to tell him. Like that… His shoulders squared. Like that I'm a Demon now…and that some random person tied me to them.

"Luke?"

He caught the weighty worry on Luna's face and gave her a smile. "I'm sure Sensei will come back when his work is done, so there's nothing to worry about," he fibbed. "Get a move on with your food. Like I said, it's a long way to get to Gloriosa." He ignored Luna's prevailing concern to eat more of his breakfast.

Sensei… He looked at his cherry-berry oatmeal breakfast. If I can't learn from you anymore… Who will I learn from now?

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

"Ame no youna kaze no youna

Dareka no koto jama suru youna

Hito ni nante naritaku wanai kara?

Hare no youna hikari no youna

Dareka no koto teraseru youna

Hito ni naritai!"

nante itai tte dareka no koe ga?

Kikoetara nanda

Nagutte kowashite sayonara DILEMMA!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

CLICK!

Once had Doctor Nice Geonard's office made Luke comfortable, and he meant that. Her relaxed office atmosphere, the way she matched his intelligence, and even the comforting drinks and snacks she provided to quell the nerves all allowed him to feel at ease in her office. But now, he felt awkward sitting across from her.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

The Society

Gloriosa County

Fiore, Ishgar

12:47 PM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"So." Nice already had pulled up his academic file. "Your private instructor has been absent for nearly five months with no contact or estimation of his return. That's natural for a Wizard of his caliber. However, because you are his student, his prolonged absence does affect your academic standing—by which I mean your summer semester."

Just as Luke feared. "Right. I know that."

Nice gave him a long and searching look. "Have you given thought to a summer program?"

"I…" Luke looked down at his lap. "I thought I could do an independent study for the summer—"

"Which we do allow our higher learning students on their graduate degrees or in the capstone of their bachelors or if those students are ranked S-Class if they are a Wizard," Nice admitted kindly. "But unfortunately, Luke, you still have two more years of your bachelor's and you are still not ranked high enough. So I'll have to deny that request."

Luke swallowed. "I know."

Nice sat back to observe him. "I know you're uncomfortable with receiving instruction from anyone else other than Mister Fernandes or your family," she said, quiet. "Is there a reason why you're against the summer program?"

Luke looked up, hopeful. "If I give a reason, can I do an independent study—?"

"Nope!"

Nice sparkled innocence in her smile in contrast to Luke's depressive aura. She doesn't have to sound so happy about it.

He twirled a stray lock from his bangs. What am I supposed to say? That I'm a Demon? That I don't know if I'll lose control? I can't say any of that. Honeyed-ambers downcast. I don't know what to do. I don't want to be in a program and lose control and hurt someone.

Nice clasped her hands together. I've worked with Luke ever since he met the criteria for The Society years ago. Mystogan has always kept him away from the Tower of Learning for his own reasons. But Luke needs to grow separately from Mystogan to advance. I don't want to push him. But this could be an excellent opportunity for him to diverge from Mystogan's teachings.

Her eyes glinted. And perhaps uncover what Mystogan's been hiding from the world—and waiting for him to discover.

"Luke. Have you ever heard of the Tower of Learning?"

He nodded. "Yes. Sensei is a part of the Tower to become a Sorcerer."

"Yes, he is." Nice typed on her DAL. "The Tower of Learning allows promising young Wizards to enroll in their education programs and progress to become Sorcerers as a recognized affiliate of the Magic Council. Being both an S-Class Guild Wizard and a Tower Wizard is uncommon, but it isn't against the rules, whereas accepting an apprentice not within the Tower is against the rules. But Mystogan presented a case that allowed him to teach you without you enrolling in the Tower."

"He did?" Luke frowned. "Why?"

Nice stopped her typing. "I can only speculate, but I'd rather not give you any guesses. You'll have to ask him. But in my personal opinion, I think the Tower will present to you possibilities you hadn't considered."

Upon Luke's unsure look, Nice affirmed, "Luke, you're an intelligent young man and an incredible Wizard. Zen Magic isn't taught anywhere outside monasteries, and you learned it from reading books. You are the only Celestial Mage to receive Star Coins, and, on top of it all, the papers you have published alongside your mentor have granted you international acclaim."

She grinned and teased, "And I suppose it helps you're quite popular."

Luke reddened. "I-I don't mean to be," he mumbled. "I didn't think I was."

"Oh, you very much are. Look."

Luke looked up—

—and he lost his soul seeing a blown-up image of him on a body pillow.

"You're constantly sold out for pillows," Nice said cheerily. "The artists have done such a fantastic job and you can even select different poses!"

I… I want to go home now, Luke whimpered, aghast. "C-Can we not talk about this?"

Nice simpered, eyes soft. "What I mean is, you have a lot more potential than you presume about yourself. The Tower has recognized that for a long time. You could become a Sorcerer under their guidance. I just want to understand what holds you back and if there is anything I can do to make you feel more comfortable about your worth."

Luke opened his mouth only to close it. Head down, he murmured, "No, Professor. It's…nothing."

Nice did not believe that for a moment. "Is everything okay at home? I know…you struggled while Igneel was there, but—"

"No, i-i-it's not—" Luke sighed. "It's not…that. I know I struggled a little, but it's nothing like that."

Honestly, it makes me wish Igneel was home even more. If he had become a Demon, he wouldn't be worrying like this. No. Honeyed-amber glinted remembering how poised and powerful his twin was. He'd…be strong. Not a coward like me.

He knew Nice wanted to answer, so he gave his best one without spilling the truth. "I just… I'm not…confident I'd do well with anyone else right now. There's a lot going on at home. I don't want it to affect people around me. I don't"—his hands clenched—"want to be a burden to anyone else."

Nice hummed. "I understand." She folded her hands on her desk. "Then might I suggest something?"

Luke supposed so. "Okay."

"Don't allow yourself to become a burden."

Luke wrinkled his nose. "I'm…trying not to be?"

Nice chuckled. "What I mean is, you're worried about something personal spilling into your professional career. That's a natural concern—"

"Not like this." Luke looked at his lap. "It's not like this."

"Be that as it may," Nice gently continued, "it is something many people fear from regardless of how moderate or severe it may seem. I have students with mental disabilities in here all the time who are worried their mentor won't want to work with them if they have an outburst. I have Aberrants afraid of discrimination. I have MSL students worried that even with their Minstrish flawless, they'll be attacked for not understanding certain nuances. The list goes on."

Luke licked his lips. "So then… Ho-How do they…? I mean, how do you…? What do you say to them? To help them feel more comfortable?"

"I could say the most comforting things in the world to those students, but it wouldn't take away their fear."

Luke muttered, "This doesn't sound comforting."

"I'm sorry about that," Nice tittered. "But I mean it." She deeply exhaled. "Your fears aren't going to go away because I said something. You have to conquer your fears, not me. And the only thing I can tell you is that, at the Tower of Learning, there are many Wizards there with personal affairs. And no, not everyone is understanding of them. But it's your choice to help people understand you."

"How am I supposed to do that?" Luke questioned, disheartened. "I can't… This isn't something people would understand."

Three beats.

Nice tilted her head only just. "Is this something people would understand or something you don't understand?"

Honeyed-ambers widened. What?

"Your relationship with your issues is your right," Nice assured him. "But it sounds like you still have only a negative founding with what you're going through. If you can't understand your issues themselves, then yes, it'll be hard for people to understand you."

"But there's nothing positive about this," Luke argued.

"Are you sure about that?"

The solemnity in Nice's eye took aback Luke. He had a point to make and lost it quickly.

"There are positive and negatives to every situation," murmured Nice, delicate. "I can't assure you what those positives are, no, but right now, you only see the negative aspects of your situation. Maybe given the severity of it, it does seem like a horrible place to be in. But there can be at least neutral aspects. It's up to you to try and understand your situation in that light."

Still wading in uncertainty, Luke retained his silence.

Nice told him, "The Tower of Learning might not be perfect, but if you wish is to disappear into libraries and study, it's the perfect place to be. The Sorcerers are all ready to welcome you for a summer internship. There, because you are Mystogan's apprentice, you will have access to his personal study and laboratory."

That shocked Luke. "Really?"

Nice nodded. "Yes. Mystogan has no assistants or aides. While he is away, all that he has will be given to you for your own research. That being said, what he is doing for his capstone to become a Sorcerer will be redacted in any files you touch unless he permitted you access. There will be no place in the Tower you can't go and very few you'll have to answer to, which is unheard of for an apprentice."

"What makes me different?" Luke asked, curious.

Nice smiled. "I'm sure the Sorcerers are trying to be as accommodating as they can. I told you, they've wanted to recruit you for a while. Once Mystogan has been confirmed in his absence for a year, you'll have the option to join the Tower. I'm sure the Supremes are hopeful they can sway you this summer if they give you some favoritism."

Luke blinked. This was unexpected. "They…really want to meet me? But I'm not…" He thumbed his wrist. "I'm not really anyone special."

"I'd say you're very special," Nice countered, calm and cryptic. "You have until May first to make your decision. I strongly suggest the Tower of Learning as your summer program, but if you truly don't want to go there, there are other options. Unfortunately"—her smile turned wry—"becoming a TA at Saint Layla's is out of the question, thanks to a certain someone."

Luke snorted. "He knows he's there to teach, right? Not flirt with my sister?"

"Who is to say he won't do both?" Nice laughed at Luke's grumpy look. "A late congratulations are in order for the assignment you and Gale completed last month. From how I heard it, the case was a difficult one."

Kasane's face made Luke sober and sad. "Yeah," he said, soft. "It was. But it was more difficult for the victims because their killer forced them to live disrespected lives for a year and committed another murder to try and hide how he dishonored their deaths. What we did can't be more difficult than them not being able to rest comfortably. And even now, I won't be able to sleep peacefully until I know that person has been fairly tried and punished for everything they've done."

Those victims didn't deserve their lives dragged out like that. He remembered Kasane's peaceful face and the way Sandy and Xiao Nai held so much love and mourning in their eyes. He recalled the pain and anguish behind Elizabeth's eyes. You all deserve to know your deaths were not in vain.

"The way you answered just now…"

Luke blinked up at Nice, confused at the strange smile on her face. "Yes?"

Nice shook her head. "Nothing." But she watched him. He is still a child, by all means. But from how he just sounded… A wider smile. He really is a prince.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure 133

•

Galuna Island

Part I

Conditions

•

ガルナ島

前編

条件

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

BC Towers had peak capacity on a weekend, are you kidding?

Spring holiday brought tourists to Fiore, and BC Towers was one of the famed tourist stops to go to. New restaurants and stores had their grand openings timed perfectly to match the influx of consumers. Gamer's Spot already had overcrowding as people wanted a new game that came out on the MagiSwitch. Top Stop played a US hit as custom-made crop-tops were ordered and a friend group decided on a full-on fashion show to boot. It was hard to find a table in the food court, but a family of 26 made due scrounging up double tables and hoping for the best.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

BC Towers

Fiore, Ishgar

12:47 PM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Coco Dior looked riveted as she helped an enthusiastic Perench couple find their selection. Already, eager shoppers hoping to get a steal from the winter sale and get a head-start on their summer selection overran the store. With popular music playing in the background, a group of teens filmed a dance challenge. A pair of boyfriends was pleased seeing the PRIDE selection for this season and already eyed a few button-down shirts.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is the House of Vionnet, officially open for business. Coco Dior manages this boutique and onboarded some quirky personal shoppers and other workers. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Oh, this is too cute!"

Maybe in another life, Luke would enjoy browsing, but he took comfort in his book as he waited for Luna. The dressing room had a flurry of people going in and out of their cubicles, but he was content sitting in the communal room on one of the plush benches. He broke from his reading passage to smile when Luna came out in a whole new ensemble that resembled a springtime schoolgirl. "It looks great."

"You're just saying that," Luna accused with a pout. "You've said every time I come out."

Luke gave a rueful smile. "Is this where I say you look great in everything?" He laughed when Luna crossed her arms. "I told you I'd buy whatever, but I'm not exactly the best person to give honest advice about this sort of thing."

"Yeah, well, you're better than Igneel," Luna grumbled as she approached one of the full-length mirrors. "All he'd do is compliment me and take pictures like he's paparazzi." It was mortifying how…supportive Igneel had been in praising her (to the point where she died a little when being told how lucky she was having such a doting brother).

Luke chuckled. "I'd bet that be annoying. I always took a step back whenever Mom wanted us all to go shopping. It was a nightmare."

• — • — •

"Don't be such a perv, you creepy old man!"

Luke wisely stayed out of it while his mother tried to keep calm over Natsu and Igneel's arguing over dresses. Instead, he kept reading his book and pretending he did not exist while the feud played out.

"What's wrong with this?" Natsu gnashed as he showed a dress that was much more liberal than most, considering the low-cut bodice and short skirt. "It'd look great on Lucy!"

"Are you blind! Ma deserves something tasteful if we're going to that stupid fancy party!" Igneel proudly showed a much more conservative alternative. "Like this!"

"That makes her look so old," Natsu complained. "And how am I supposed to squeeze in any Lucy-Time if she looks like a granny?"

Igneel butted heads with his father. "Stop being a pervert, you pervert!"

"Stop cockblocking me, you little brat!" Natsu sneered back.

"Pervert!"

"Cockblock!"

"Pervert!"

"Cockblock!"

Lucy smiled through the tick mark twinging her temple. 'I should've never asked them for their opinion.'

• — • — •

Luke had comforted his mother at the time when Natsu and Igneel got into it (and they pretended they had no clue who such ghastly men were when the Guard came around). Why can't I have a normal family?

He blinked when he heard giggles only to flush when two girls seemed to be speaking about him and gave him a flirty wave of their fingers. He sunk his head in his book. I want to go home.

Luna plopped next to him as she tried to gauge if her skirt was an appropriate length. "What are you reading anyway?"

"I'm making my way through some old books Sensei has," Luke told her. "I actually learned a lot about Elves, but there's this Elven Edition that has so much more about them. This segment I'm on talks a lot more about the darker creatures. Shadow Charmers would know more about them, but I just thought…"

Luna caught onto the words Luke dare not speak. "How's training going with Papa?"

"It's…going," Luke lamely answered. He fixed his glasses. "I feel bad. I feel like I'm not really progressing as much in training. I know Dad's doing his best, but…" His gaze fell to his book. "I'm not Igneel."

Luna frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm not a natural." Luke fingered the next page. "Look at him. He was always so confident and sure. Everyone said he had natural raw talent. He just…has so much power. He's the natural and I'm…!" A forced breath. "I'm…not." He gave his sister a glum look. "Sorry. I don't mean to dump this on you—"

"No, no, it's fine," Luna was quick to assure. "I'm just thinking, sorry." She took two beats. "Yeah, Igneel's powerful and you're both smart, but I'd say you're a lot more natural when it comes to magical theory and spell work. And how do you know you're not a natural with…Papa's other side of things?"

"I just feel…" Luke sighed. "I just feel like…I can't reach it—the goal or…or whatever I'm supposed to reach. Dad does things so fluidly. It doesn't take any thought for him to do everything he can. Igneel never had to work this hard. He was a complete natural. And then there's me. I'm always second-guessing and I'm the one who has to study hard and think about everything—"

"What if you didn't think?"

Luke shot his sister a look. "I can't do that."

"How come?" Luna asked him.

Luke worked his mouth. "Well, because…! Because! Th-That's not how it works!"

"Why can't it be how it works?" Luna tucked her hair behind her ears. "Mama always tells me when we train together that our minds are our worst enemy. And I know she tells you that too. It messes a lot with our Magic when we overdo it. So maybe…don't overdo it?"

Luke did not know how to feel about that. "But if I don't think about it, I could hurt someone. You know that." He shook his head. "Never mind, don't worry about it. It's just…not that simple as not thinking about it."

Luna's frown deepened. Luke…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Lalalalalalala lalalalalalala

Lalalalalalala lalalalalalala

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna blinked as she overheard the familiar intro over the speakers.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

You and me in the moonlight

byeol kkot chukje yeollin bam

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luke shot Luna a wary look when she tugged at his arm as she got up. "Lu, no."

"Please…" Luna begged through her smile. "Come on, you know this song. You practiced with Silver and me when we needed a third, remember?"

Luke groaned and half-heartedly tried to resist her cuteness as he set aside his book. "No…" He hung his head as Luna pulled him to his feet. "I hate you so much." Defeated and vaguely amused, he asked her, "Where do we start?"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

If you wanna have some fun

jjapjjalhan gonggicheoreom

i sungane teukbyeolhan

haengbogeul notchiji ma

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna walked playfully reluctant Luke through the pre-chorus dance steps. It helped he smiled a little and Luna giggled when he spun her.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

One, two, three, let's go

jeo uju wiro

naragal deut chumchureo ga Hey

Let's dance the night away

Let's dance the night away (Yeah!)

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

A few that congregated in the communal area of the changing room had gotten out their Compacts to record as Luke and Luna moved to the chorus of the song together in unison. Luke laughed as they cross-stepped together.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

One, two, three, let's go!

jeo bada geonneo deullil deut sori jilleo

Let's dance the night away

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

An Insta livestream already had hearts and smiles as the streamer recorded Luke and Luna moving just as THRICE did (though some comments coming through were a little less appropriate for the situation). A few fellow ONCE stans were mimicking the movements, and even workers had popped in to see all the commotion, only to smile.

"See?" Luna plopped back onto the lush seating with a large beam. "You remembered! And you didn't even have to think about it!"

Luke laughingly sighed as he brushed back his hair. "Okay, yeah, maybe I don't have to think too hard for dancing," he supposed and sat beside her. "But you know what's going on isn't as simple as." His good mood faltered. "You know…it's not something I can just smile off."

"Maybe not," Luna agreed, "but you don't have to frown about it all the time too."

Luke sighed again, shoulders slumping. "Lu, it's not that—"

"Um, excuse me?"

Brother and sister looked up to see a few bold teen girls approach Luke.

"Are you, like…the Luke Dragneel?" one girl asked, eager.

Luke floundered a little. "Ah… Y-Yes?"

"Oh my god, it's him, guys!"

Luke looked like a startled cat when the girls surrounded him and their flirty compliments made him want to crawl under a rock. Wait! No, not this!

He gaped when he saw Luna slip back into her cubicle. Don't leave me alone! Come back here!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

And then…

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna skipped a little as she drank her second milkshake, but she gave her brother a concerned look as they went down the open corridor. "Are you sure you're all right?"

No, poor Luke looked like a traumatized cat with his hair ruffled and clothes wrinkled. But he rasped, "I don't want to talk about it."

He wanted to cringe remembering the horrors of those girls. I think I'd rather take Doctor Andrews over that.

"Hi, cutie." Imaginary Doctor Andrews looked down at him with steamed-up glasses. "I'm not finished with you yet."

Luke slouched, dreary (and Luna patted his back in consolation). I should just stay in my room forever.

"Never thought I'd run into you two."

Luna beamed when she saw— "Cane!"

He smiled when she hugged him. "Hey, beautiful." His ball cap twisted backward and his hoodie looked normal enough, but what set him apart from the crowd was his stark violet eyes and the cards he toyed with in one hand. He nodded at Luke. "I saw you on Instagraph, dude, and Twit. You're trending now."

Why? Luke lamented. Why does this happen to me?

Luna pulled away from Cane to ask, "What brings you here?"

"Nothing, really." Cane bridged his cards and shuffled them again. "I've got a special request this upcoming week, so I'm just wandering until it's time for me to go. What about you two?"

"We're shopping," Luna told him. "And Luke promised to buy me three milkshakes."

Luke raised an eyebrow. "I thought I said two?"

"No, no, you said three," Luna quickly defended.

Luke's eyebrow twitched as he quite easily read how cutely determined Luna looked through her fibbing. She's lucky she's cute.

He feigned agitation as he crossed his arms. "You know, I shouldn't buy you anything more after you left me alone with those girls." He peeked to see Luna nervously sweating it out and decided to take her out of her misery. "But I guess I can let it slide just this once."

Luna hugged his arm. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She snickered to herself. Sucker.

Luke simpered as he watched his little sister. It's so obvious what she's thinking. Sorry, Lu, you're not much of an evil mastermind. He smiled through the pain as he remembered all of Igneel's heists and the tons he had stolen without ever seeing judiciary punishment. That belongs to someone else in the family.

"Mind if I join you guys?" Cane asked.

"Sure!" Luna abandoned Luke to loop arms with Cane. "You know, I, um, haven't eaten yet."

Cane raised an amused eyebrow. "Is that so?"

Luna gave him a serious nod. "Yes. Luke's letting me starve."

So now I'm a horrible brother, Luke thought dryly. I'm so glad you have loyalty.

Cane chuckled. "Well I can't let my favorite chef go hungry, can I?" he teased her. "But what do I get in return?"

Luna's face went flat. "Which ex is it this time?"

"She's just a persistent girl and I never slept with her," Cane said in his defense when Luna scowled at him. "She's been all over me for a while. She just…needs to get the message across that I have a beautiful girlfriend I treat like she's my religion and then the psycho will go away…maybe."

Luna grunted as she let him hold her hand. "You need to pick better girls."

Cane dipped his head and purred, "Is that an offer—?"

"No."

As Luna laid out the ground rules to an amused Cane, Luke trailed behind them, observant and frowning slightly. I know Luna only sees him like he's a good friend, but still…

He tried not to let it worry him. I'll just keep it to myself for now. But still… It's weird seeing him wander alone. Does he really need Luna for something like that? Honeyed-amber narrowed on Cane. Or did he come for something else?

°•°•°•°

The food court might have been busy, but the trio was lucky to have snacked a shelled booth tucked away from all the hustle and bustle. Luna happily ate her second lunch while Luke snacked on the homemade fruit leathers he brought along and Cane played with his deck of cards.

"So." Luna finished her mouthful. "What's the special assignment you're taking?"

"Why?" Cane wiggled his eyebrows. "Want to keep me company?"

Luna deadpanned, "Are you going to buy me more food?"

"Depends," Cane supposed. "Are we sharing a bed?"

"Are you buying me a milkshake?"

"Will you kiss me?"

"Are you buying me kobe steak?"

Luke sweatdropped at Luna's negotiator mode. Why is it a curse in this family to think with our stomachs and not with our heads?

He cleared his throat. "Don't tease Lu, Cane." He meant it as a quip, but he made sure Cane read the firmness in his look. "What's the job?"

Cane smirked, but he let go of pestering Luna. "It's nothing big. I have some intel to work with on unmasking a very elusive source that Master needs." Violets darkened. "It's not going to be an easy job, but I have the right connections underground."

"I see," murmured Luke. He must be talking about the Underground. Sensei told me about that. That's why Master recruited Coeus. I knew Cane had connections, but for him to have it that far deep…

"Are you going to be okay?" Luna worried.

Cane softened. "Yeah, I'll be fine. It's not like it's my first job like this."

Luna frowned, still concerned. "Still, be careful. You should ask Liberty for some Luck."

"Don't worry." Cane revealed a ladybug card. "She refreshed my Lucky Charm, so I'm all set. Mister Justine wasn't too happy about it."

He laughed internally remembering the lethal look on Freed's face as he held his clueless daughter close like a lioness protective of the cub (and James the black cat hissed at Cane all the while with his claws out). Yeah, I could tell if Liberty hadn't been there, I would've been trapped in a rune prison or mauled by that cat.

He caught the lingering fear in Luna's eyes. "Hey, don't worry about it, beautiful," he soothed. "I'll be okay. I've got this." He fanned out his cards to turn them into tarot cards. "And these will help me figure out my strategy."

"The future isn't always set in stone," Luna reminded him, troubled.

Violets narrowed a little, glinting. And you would know all about that, wouldn't you?

Cane gathered his cards to make them disappear. "No, but it can help me out in a bind. And like I said, this isn't the first job I've had to do this for. I'll be okay." He tried to lighten her mood by joking, "But if you're scared, you can always come with me and look pretty."

Fears shattered, Luna rolled her eyes and tended to her food. "I feel bad for whoever becomes your wife."

"Self-pity isn't attractive, beautiful."

SMACK!

Cane laughed off the hit Luna dished to his shoulder as she barked, "Don't even joke like that! I was three when I said I'd marry you! That doesn't even count! I don't want to be cursed with that!" She puffed her cheeks at Cane's chortling. "Hey, stop laughing at me or I'm not cooking for you anymore, you jerk!"

"Ah." Cane grinned down at her. "We wouldn't want that."

Luke tried to keep his expression neutral as he scented the air. He kept his growl to himself when Interest hit his nose. "Why are you really here?" he ended up asking, cold.

Luna frowned at her brother's change of attitude. "Luke—"

"No, it's fine." Cane kept his gaze locked on Luke, unreadable. "He's right. I didn't come here without a reason." He showed his hands were bare one moment, but with a flick of his wrist, he was holding a Magic Card with a door. "I was hoping we could be in a quieter location, but this will do." He cocked his head. "Is that all right?"

"You want to read my fortune," Luke said, tone flat.

"Whether I want to isn't my job to decide," Cane replied as though unbothered. "My cards don't lie, and neither does my gut instinct."

Luke remained unconvinced and on edge. "Sensei doesn't believe in things as fickle as 'gut instinct'."

Cane's violets glinted. "You always believe everything your Sensei tells you?" He might not have smirked, but his words came across that he did. "Maybe he's not the god you think he is."

Luke bristled.

Luna glanced between the pair, uneasy, but she kept her quiet on the matter.

Cane lifted his chin. "I'll take that as a yes." His Magic flared as he let the card float between his hands. The incantation was nonexistent and passersby did not notice the array of Magic clacking at the booth.

The energy pricked Luke's skin. What is he…?

Cane's lips twitched into a slight smirk.

Honeyed amber widened. No—!

SNAP!

The change was instant.

It did not matter that they were in another room. Curtains took up the walls, velveteen and violet, and the circular table clothed in red looked ready for a séance, but Luke did not give a shit when he could not see Luna. He snarled at Cane, "Where is she?"

Cane looked too relaxed for Luke's comfort as he brought out his cards. "She's waiting. She would…interfere with my future reading. But don't worry. By the time we're finished here, it'll seem like she only blinked." He paused. "And your Shadower should be with her. He wasn't able to make the journey."

Luke's hackles rose. "You know about him?"

Cane's quiet smirk was his answer.

Luke kept his teeth to himself and remained as calm as he could. "Where are we?" He looked around, assessing. "Another dimension? Your personal dimension?"

"Correct." Magic still glowed in Cane's eyes as he pressed his hands onto the table. His Magic Circle appeared as three outlines of an eye surrounded a seven-pointed star. But what was unusual about this Magic Circle was how quick Cane's hands moved to rearrange the Magic Circle to his liking. "I don't normally use this room. My…." His jaw clenched. "My…father had his room commissioned for my mom. She passed it to me since she said she doesn't need it as much."

Luke glanced about before focusing on the Magic Circle on the table. "You've never read fortunes in here before?"

"I told you. I don't use this room often." Cane paused briefly before adding a symbol into the sigil. "We're in a public place. Considering how sensitive this fortune will be, this was a necessary evil. I didn't mean to surprise you with it, but I figured you'd appreciate the privacy."

Luke nodded stiffly. "Thank you."

He observed Cane with a predator's eyes. Aunt Cana always said Cane had more power than her when it came to fortune-telling. If that's true and he specifically sought me out, then he might know I'm not human anymore. I can't confirm it if he tries to goad me into saying anything. I should keep my guard up for now.

Cane grinned even as he worked until he finished the sigil. "You know, you have the same look as Mystogan did when he wanted a fortune told." He controlled the sigil into a tinier version to hold in his palm before rubbing his hands together and throwing the Magic across the room to seep into the air. "It's not like he didn't trust me. But he was on edge with me."

That surprised Luke. Sensei came to him for a fortune?

"I can tell you don't believe me," chuckled Cane.

"Well, it's just…" Luke frowned. "No offense, but Sensei always said any sort of foresight was unreliable. When we studied the Mildian culture, he pretty much confirmed Seers and those reliant on Time Magic had no place."

"He's not lying," Cane supposed, completely in his element. "Foresight and Seeing—any sort of ability that relies on the future isn't a sustainable power in the long run. Anyone who worships that power normally goes mad with it or abuses it heavily." He cracked his knuckles. "That's why my grandmother's people—the Roamers—were pretty much killed off. Unlike normal Seers, I guess my family had it pretty good. We could see things on the Red Line."

"'Red Line'?" Luke echoed. "You mean 'fate'?"

Cane nodded. "Yes." His Magic aura pulsed around him as he drew a glowing red line in thin air. "Fate is the pillars in time that won't change no matter what you do. Your destiny is something you can decide."

With a wave of his hands, an intricate series of lines crisscrossed and circled and intersected, all stained different colors of the rainbow. "Destiny is those branches of rivers from the source that can go wherever, which is where most Seers and Soothsayers got their power from. But my mom's side of the family was the less than one percent who could see how destinies intertwined with fate."

He collapsed his drawings into pure Ethernano.

"And you came to me to show me my fate?" Luke questioned, still skeptical.

Cane was not bothered by in. In fact, he was amused Luke did not believe him. "No. And I can't show you anything. I can tell you about your past, your present, and the direction of your future. There's someone else who could show you your pillars of fate. But they're a little undertrained at the moment, so I wouldn't press them."

Luke's brow furrowed. There's someone who could show me my fate? That's possible? "Who—?"

"Are you ready?"

Luke silently fumed. Did he have to interrupt me? He sighed. "All right, fine."

"Good. It wasn't really a question anyway."

TICK!

Luke kept his growl to himself, puffing a cheek. Then why did you ask me!

Cane's eyes burned violet as he laid out his palms. An indecipherable language mumbled from his lips that made the hair thicken and vibrate with overwhelming energy. Luke flinched when he felt his own power respond, humming beneath his skin as though anticipating something, anything. For a few moments, it looked like a ghost possessed Cane as his lips kept moving.

LUB-DUB!

Luke clutched the material over his heart when it throbbed. My chest… It feels like it's burning. He panted steam as an embarrassing pretty pink pinched his cheeks. I feel…weird. He bit down on his bottom lip when his body tingled, warm and insistent and…needy.

LUB-DUB!

Three different Magic Circles appeared with their own central symbol: a horned creature with a six-pointed star, a triangle with a third eye (the Eye of Providence), and a witch's hat. Each produced a themed deck of cards that merged together to shuffle and re-shuffle until satisfied.

LUB-DUB!

Luke shut his eyes when his heartbeat quickened, aggressive. He could feel it deep down when a whimper wanted to bubble up, confused and clingy. He trembled with his fangs sinking harder into his bottom lip, but his powers pressed against his flesh, desperate for something beyond his understanding.

The cards had finished their shuffling and started to arrange themselves out in a 15-card spread with three cards per section. However, the way the cards presented themselves was not always in a straight posture. A few had tilted and one had blatantly crossed another. But when all was said and done, the Magic pressuring the air vanished without a trace and the pulsing aura around Cane reduced into nothing.

Luke released a shaky breath, still flushed and oddly vulnerable. He held onto the table for stability and panted, "What was that?"

Cane examined the cards with a frown. "That was my Magic. Those Spiritless tellers might make you touch their decks, but my cards don't like that. Instead, they basically peer-pressure your Magic to better understand you. Everyone's reactions are different." He looked up and looked too humored for his own good when he caught how red and disoriented Luke looked. "Looks like you got hot and bothered."

"I didn't!" Luke fidgeted and tried to bury his humiliation. "C-Can't you just get on with it?"

But Cane was more than happy to milk this opportunity. "You know, there's no shame in it. It's pretty natural and if you're a virgin, you might've accidentally—"

"I didn't!"

Cane laughed at how mortified and angry Luke looked. How precious. Violets glinted. A Demon who doesn't like lust. Interesting.

His grin broadened. "Don't worry. You still have plenty of time to pop that cherry."

TICK!

Cane snickered internally while Luke glowered at him (and looked like he was plotting Cane's sudden disappearance). He's so easy to tease. He'll have to work on that.

He gestured to his cards. "All right. Are you ready for your reading?"

Luke hesitated. "Is it…?" He swallowed, feeling smaller as he rubbed his wrist with a thumb. "Is it bad?"

Cane lessened his amusement for sincerity. "Let's find out." He looked at the spread. "Normal tellers have to pick a spread, but my cards do it for me. This spread's a little complicated, but so is your situation." He went with the central three cards, each from one of the three decks. "Right now, this is your current state and each of the three decks contributed."

"And which decks would those be?"

Cane lifted three fingers. "You summoned my Apprentice Deck, my Cosmic Deck, and my Black Deck." He pointed at the first card. "Card One came from the Black Deck, so it tells me in your current state." He made sure Luke saw his eyes. "And yes. It tells me you're a Demon like no other." He nodded his head. "Your Highness."

Luke tensed. "Does anyone else know?"

"No, and if you're worried I'll tell anyone, I won't," Cane said swiftly, nipping such fear in the bud. "My mom wouldn't know either. Her powers don't extend as far as mine. There's a lot I know about people. There's a lot of secrets I keep."

Luke read between the lines and felt a little relieved. "Thank you."

Cane nodded. He tapped the card. "As you could guess, my Black Deck is for darker things. Devils, Demons, Curses, Shadow Charmers—that's when they appear. And from my Black Deck, you are a Six of Swords, but you can see it's tilted, which means this entire row has a double meaning behind it But before I get to that, the second card came from my Apprentice deck and brought Death. And the third card came from my Cosmic Deck and gave you the reversed Queen of Cups."

Luke nodded, trying to follow along. "Okay. And that means?"

"I'm sure you could guess." Cane waved his hands so all three cards levitated before them and slowly rotated. "Right now, you've experienced a great change. And in that change, you've had to learn about yourself and deviate from everything you've ever known. You're growing into a foreign power you know frighteningly little of because no one has seen something like you before. You are about to insight a change. But even though you keep pursuing that power, you're also running away from it. You're too afraid and hesitant. You're trying hard to attain this power, but you're neglecting your emotions in doing so. If you don't allow yourself any sort of emotional growth into your power, it'll consume you. But when you allow yourself to grow with your power, you will know a power like no other."

Cane collapsed the cards into one hand. "But you knew that."

Luke swallowed again. "Yes."

Cane blew on the cards to disintegrate them back into Ethernano. "Your psychological state is fairly easy to predict, even without me using my cards." He uplifted another set of three. "I don't need to thoroughly read my cards to know you're currently at war with yourself. You want to make your dad proud of you for overcoming your power and making it your own. And you want to impress your teacher in your studies. But you're so busy trying to meet the invisible expectations that you haven't taken the time with your own expectations."

"I have expectations," Luke defended.

But Cane countered, "Do you have 'expectations' for yourself or do you have fears you never want to come true?"

To that, Luke could not speak against.

Cane waved away the cards. "There are two paths you can take. This first is off the reversed Queen of Cups." He brought up the next set of three. "In this, you summoned two Black Cards—a reversed Eight of Swords and reversed Two of Cups—and a Cosmic upright Tower. In this path, you don't choose proper training. And because of this, you won't be just a prisoner of someone else, but you'll become your own prisoner."

Luke's breath quickened. "But who else is trapping me in this?"

"I can't say." Cane was honest in that. "But you must have an idea."

Luke gripped his wrist. "What else does it say about that person?"

"It's not just a person but a people," Cane continued. "With one person, without control of your abilities, you will become their prisoner. But with a people, without control… The chaos becomes unfathomable and widespread."

'A people'? Does he mean other Demons? Honeyed-ambers darkened. Luna mentioned Aamon said I have influence over other Demons—that I'm different from them—that I could control them. But I still don't understand. And I haven't brought it up to Dad… Luke tucked that away for later and realized Cane was waiting for him. "Please continue."

Cane brushed away the cards back into harmless particles. "This is the alternative path; the good ending, but it's not a happily ever after." He lifted the next three-set of cards—

"Why isn't it a happily ever after?"

Cane raised an eyebrow. "Do you think they exist?"

Luke shook his head. "No."

"And that's why." Cane twirled the three cards. "Happily ever afters don't exist, but endings where you are better off from where you started? Those are the most common path endings. And in this alternative path, you summoned one of each card. You got an Apprentice Seven of Pentacles, a Cosmic Two of Cups, and a Black King of Wands. If you take this path, it won't be easy. You'll struggle and your progress will need constant assessment. However, in doing so, you'll become the prince your people didn't know they needed. And you will become respected and rewarded."

Luke looked at the cards. "But… How? You make that sound so easy. That's what I've been doing, but…" He looked at the table. "It's like I'm progressing and regressing at the same time. I think I'm moving forward, but it's like I'm still in the exact same spot."

Cane dismissed the cards. "Then let's take a look at your destiny and see why that is." He levitated the final three cards. "Right now, you're at some sort of imbalance that you can't control. You can't control who you are, as much as you want to. And you also can't control…"—his gaze seared look—"someone who is…attached to you."

Luke shifted, shoulders hunched. "How much do you know?"

"Not as much as you think," Cane wrote off. "I know that this attachment—relationship—is beyond your control. I can't tell who is attached to you or why they're attached, but it was nothing you willingly chose." He asked in a lower voice, "Do your parents know—?"

"No." Luke grimaced, rubbing his wrist against. "I'm… I'm working on it." He hoped Cane believed that.

I don't want to think about that person who Bonded me to them. They haven't come back for me ever since we came back from Alvarez. I just hope that means they gave up on me. His heart squeezed. I hope it means that.

Cane studied Luke for a long moment, but he did not cross-examine Luke for more information. "As of right now, the perception of Demons isn't something you can control, not in your current state. That's why you're hidden. All these factors contribute to which path you take."

"Obviously, I want to take the better path," Luke muttered. "And I'm doing that—"

"Are you?"

Violet and honeyed-amber clashed in unwelcomed challenge.

Luke refused to bristle, but he was getting there. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

Cane dismissed the last of his cards to lean on the table. "I'm not implying that you're not trying you're best—"

"Aren't you?"

Cane's lips twitched in a flash of amusement. "No, I'm not." His smile fell. "But I am saying that if you want to follow the better path, it'll take a lot more than what you're doing. It'll take something you struggle with—confrontation."

Luke stiffened. "I am confronting it—"

"Not from where I'm standing," Cane cut off. "From what the cards are telling me, you're doing everything to not confront what you have in front of you." He tapped the table. "And you were never a confrontational person growing up either, from what I remember. Isn't that right?"

"Well, I-I—!" Luke tried and failed for a proper retort. "I…!" His stare faltered. "I…didn't think confronting things would make things better," he confessed, tone hushed. "You know what Igneel is like."

"Yeah, I do," conceded Cane. "But that was then and this is now. I get you're used to accepting things the way they are, but the cards don't lie. Confrontation is your friend. Treating it as your enemy won't do you any favors."

Luke pursed his lips, but he offered no rebuttal.

Cane studied him. This will be quite a turn of events for him. I'm curious to see what will win? Will he remain a meek student forever? Or will he finally challenge his teacher? With Mystogan gone, you'd think he would have started asking more questions. But he still remains too much of a blind student. Should I give him a nudge?

His eyes flared with Magic as he grasped an answer. Well now. I guess I go with my gut instinct. "You were offered a position at the Tower of Learning." He cocked his head. "I think you should take it."

Luke went rigid. How did he…? He shook his head. "I still need to think about it. Sensei didn't think it was necessary for me to go there—"

"And you don't wonder why that is?"

Luke did bristle at Cane's tone. "He has a reason for everything," he bit. "I trust Sensei's logic."

"Hmm." Cane rested his mouth against propped clasped hands as he took in the harsh rebuke in Luke's eyes. This won't do. Did I come too late? No, the cards would've reacted earlier if it was necessary. This was the right time.

He said, "I have nothing against Mystogan. After all, he's one of the brightest minds when it comes to theoretical work. He's close to becoming a Sorcerer. That's not an everyday accomplishment. I'm sure he has personal studies he works on. And I'm not saying to turn your back on his teachings."

Violets slightly narrowed. "But you can't tell me you aren't the least bit curious who your 'sensei' is outside of your teacher? You aren't the slightest bit curious about his research that no one knows?"

"Of course I'm curious," Luke growled. "But I also trust Sensei's judgment. It makes sense his capstone and his studies are secrets."

"Maybe," Cane supposed. "But it doesn't make sense how such a brilliant mind capable of so much good can be so cruel to his sister"—violets darkened—"does it now?"

That put Luke at odds. Bambi… The chasm between Mystogan and Ena felt as deep as it was enigmatic. "Well, he…" No, there was no good drummed-up defense for such a callous nature. Sensei rarely spoke to her. But… He rattled his brain. Why didn't he? What did he say to me? The memory feels so fuzzy now…

He admitted aloud, "No, it doesn't make sense, but…" But…there had to be a reason, hadn't there? If I could just remember…

Prickly, he asked, "So you want me to go to the Tower to spy on him?"

"I never said anything like that," Cane reminded. "I'm just saying the Tower is a good opportunity for you." He conjured a regular playing card deck to bridge and shuffle. "Right now, you're playing quite the game."

Cane laid down a card, waved his hand, and turned it over to present the King of Hearts. It startled Luke to see himself with his pink hair on top and a black undercut. He looked regal with his crown and scepter.

"You want to become like your dad. You know you're fate is to become the Demon King. That won't change." Cane snapped his fingers and the card jumped back in with his deck. He shuffled his cards around. "However, if you continue to have sight but no vision and blindly trust those around you…" He popped out a card and gifted it to Luke.

Luke hesitantly turned it over to see—

Honeyed-amber widened. No… This can't be…

"Then you will become the very thing you have feared from the start," Cane said, ominous. "And you'll have yourself to blame."

And Luke looked at the Joker Card that held a feral man with black hair that rolled down his arms and back with mismatched horns coming from his head. But for all his black hair, none of it could hide the malice in those blood-red eyes.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

When Luke and Cane returned, it was as Cane said—not even a second had passed by. No one had noticed they flickered out of existence and popped back, but Luna noticed the somber expression on her brother's face without fail.

"Luke?" Luna touched his hand. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," Luke rasped. "Everything's…" He looked at the Joker Card in his lap. When he flipped it, it revealed his kingly nature, but back on its other side, it showed nothing but an ugly Demon. "Everything's fine, Lu." He forced a smile for her and pocketed the playing card. "Sorry. I was in my head for a moment."

When Luna looked unconvinced, Cane intervened. "And I need to get going and prep for my special assignment." He looked down at Luna and teased her, "How much will it cost me if you tell me you'll miss me?"

"A lot of burgers," Luna decided. "At least you get to do something for spring break. I'm stuck at home while everyone else gets to do something fun."

Cane's grin was positively conspiratorial. "I'm sure you'll have fun, beautiful." He messed with her hair. "You should check your Com soon. And try not to be too hard on Gale. He's going to be very persistent."

Luna huffed and grumbled, "I hate how you do that."

"You're just jealous because you can't do it," Cane jested. Yet, he wanted to add. But you will soon. He got up from the booth to stretch out. "You guys enjoy yourselves." He held out his arms.

Luna did not fall for it. "I don't see an ex around."

Cane leaned down towards her, grinning when she wrinkled her nose. "And I can't ask for a hug just to want one?"

"No. You have to pay me in food," Luna deadpanned. "And I don't come cheap."

"I should protest for better treatment," Cane complained in good humor. "You don't have an issue cuddling with Silver or Gale, but you give me such a sweet cold shoulder."

Luna upturned her nose and hmphed. "Well, maybe if you didn't use me as a shield against all your exes, I'd be more willing to be nice. Why can't you just pick a nice one for once? Is that so hard for you to do?" she nagged. "What's the point of dating all these mean girls?"

"My taste is a little questionable," Cane admitted.

Luna's eye twitched as she remembered his various ex-lovers with a chip on their shoulder and their very strange and crazy personalities. A 'little'?

Cane rolled a lock of her hair. "Would you believe me if I said they're basically poor stand-ins for the girl of my dreams?"

"No." Luna swatted his hand away with no ire backing it. "And I feel sorry for that girl."

Cane hummed. Like I said. Self-pity doesn't look good on you, beautiful. He moved back and noticed Luke's suspicious gaze. He winked. "And don't worry. I won't tell anyone about how you're desperate to pop your cherry."

DING!

Body a complete red, Luke looked mortified as Cane whistled, walking away. Why did I have to react to his powers like that? he lamented. Why me? What did I do to deserve this?

"Luke," Luna piped up, curious. "What does—?"

"I will buy you another milkshake and another lunch if you don't ask me or anyone that question."

"What question would that be, big brother?" Luna radiated saccharine sweetness. "The only question I have is how could I deserve such a kind and generous brother like you!"

Luke held a dreary aura against Luna's glowing aura. I'm concerned how much you'll do anything for food.

He tuned out Luna's sonnets in his honor for his generosity towards the cause (meaning her bottomless stomach) as he fingered the playing card. Confrontation, huh? How am I supposed to do that? He suppressed his sigh. Sensei… What would you say to me right now?

"What? Yeah, sure."

Luke focused to see Luna on her Compact.

"Yeah, I'll come right away," Luna promised, tone gentle. "I'll meet you at your house. Yeah, okay. Bye." She ended the call, troubled. "That was Silver." She gave her brother a look full of fretting. "He sounded upset. He wanted to see if I could come over."

Luke coughed. "Yeah, that's fine."

"But I'm not forgetting the food you promised me."

Luke tiredly chuckled when Luna gave him a look, and he raised his hands in surrender. "Yeah, yeah, I know you won't. Finish up eating and then we can go."

"'Kay!"

Considering Luke had grown up with her, it did not faze him how quickly Luna could eat when determined. Dad would be proud of this. He tipped up his head with his smile exhausted. It's already the weekend. I'll have to go by Sensei's place to sort his mail. I should probably finish editing my final projects for my classes. If Sensei's back this summer, I want to be ready.

"But you can't tell me you aren't the least bit curious who your 'sensei' is outside of your teacher?" Cane's goading violets. "You aren't the slightest bit curious about his research that no one knows? It doesn't make sense how such a brilliant mind capable of so much good can be so cruel to his sister"—violets darkened—"does it now?"

Luke locked his jaw. If I could just remember…

• — • — •

The forced memory was too blurry, like he did not have his glasses on. The red hair belonged to a younger Mystogan—that much he was sure of—but the more he forced himself to enhance the memory, it felt like static buzzed around, and the more the memory rejected him—

Crazed glacial blues. "And what – must – you – do?"

• — • — •

Luke forced himself not to jolt, but his breath came out fast and sharp.

Luna caught on in an instant. "Luke?"

He ran a hand down his face and forced himself to slow his breathing. "I'm fine." He gulped. "I'm… I'm fine." But as he said those words, he did not know if he said them for Luna's benefit or his own.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

And so…

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

It was impressive how much mail you received when you did not open your mailbox for an entire week.

Luke set to the routine task as he came up to Mystogan's front porch to collect all the missed mail. How strangely humorous such a powerful Wizard was still subjected to those coupon papers and needless advertisement cards. No packages came this time around, but the mountain of mail seemed to never end.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Mystogan's House

Magnolia Town

Fiore, Ishgar

3:05 PM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Cullen was gracious enough to hold the mail while Luke unlocked the doors and disarmed the protective enchantments to cross the threshold. He was more meticulous about taking off his shoes first while Cullen had whooshed in to summon the secret door to Mystogan's private sanctum. He sighed a little as he looked around, disappointment weighing down his chest. He's still not back yet…

Cullen came back to him and looked concerned.

Luke gave a half-smile. "I'm okay, Cullen." He slipped on his house slippers. "I just…wish Sensei would come back soon. I feel like he'd have the answers I'm looking for, y'know?"

Cullen cocked his head for a moment before going for Luke's messenger bag. However, rather than help Luke it off, he got out a folder and opened it.

Luke frowned. "What are you…?" He had no time for questions when Cullen forced the open folder into Luke's hands. The packet said all there needed to be with pamphlets for the Tower of Learning. "So you agree about the Tower too, huh?"

Cullen nodded earnestly and nudged the folder.

Luke was more content to close it instead. "I-I don't know." He looked at the empty folder, debating. "Sensei had reasons for me not to enter the Tower, didn't he? To go behind his back like this…" He shook his head. "I couldn't do that. I should wait for him to come back." He tried to put the folder away only for the Shadower to take it away from him. "Cullen!" He groaned when Cullen spirited down the steps to Mystogan's sanctum. "Cullen, come on, we don't have time for this!"

Even so, he followed Cullen down to Mystogan's study. "Cullen!" He was unimpressed how Cullen held the folder hostage near Mystogan's DAL. He held out a hand, expectant. "Cullen, give it back. You know I don't like coming down into Sensei's personal study like this. I'm only here for books, and he's not going to be happy about us being down here regardless when he gets back."

Cullen hesitated.

Luke felt a spark of suspicion. "Cullen?"

Cullen lowered the folder, flighty.

"Cullen." Luke dropped his voice. "What's going on? You're not acting like yourself." To Cullen's merit, he went through the trouble of showing he was nervous, but it still made Luke frown. Honestly, he's been acting stranger and stranger since the murder we solved last month. It's not like he's been acting suspiciously, but he's been…different.

That disheartened him a little. "Is it me?" Now he felt small. "Is it because of what I did back in Deutzia Falls?"

Cullen shook his head before glancing around. He gave Luke his folder before going elsewhere. It did not make sense to Luke when Cullen came back with an odd device, a portable keyboard with an attached little screen. But when Cullen started typing, it clicked when a robotic voice translated.

"I'm sorry," the automated voice called, masculine and jarring. "I didn't mean to deceive you, but circumstances are different."

Luke did not know what to feel. "What…? What do you mean? Cullen, what's going on?" He shook his head with his heart beating fast. "What do you mean you didn't mean to deceive me?" He took a step back. "What did you deceive me about?"

Cullen kept typing. "Please don't worry. I am a friend. And I am a Shadower. I didn't deceive you of that."

"Then what are you talking about?" Luke demanded to know, confused and fearful. He took another step back and took care in gathering his power. "What's going on? You've been acting strange ever since the murder case."

Honeyed-amber widened. No, wait. The case flooded back to him when he remembered the old man and Cullen's reaction. No, it wasn't… He started acting strange when that old man was outside Misses Benson's home.

Cullen kept typing and his text-to-speech device spoke for him: "I don't mean to frighten you. And I am afraid I'm bound to say nothing else until the conditions are met. But the circumstances are different now."

He reached into his stomach—

Luke blinked at the object Cullen pulled out. A…letter? He took a moment to assess when Cullen offered it to him, but once he took it, a familiar warmth hit his fingertips and he looked at his name as the addressee in perfect calligraphy. This is… This is Sensei's handwriting. And this is Sensei's Magic.

He looked up at Cullen. "What is this?"

Cullen typed again. "Mystogan wrote this letter. He prepared it in advance. But I can't say more than that."

Luke looked back at the letter in disbelief. Sensei…wrote me a letter? But why would he…? Did he know he'd be gone for a while? I have so many questions, but…

He speared Cullen with a wary yet understanding look. I know I won't get much more out of Cullen. Even if he's been my friend, he's under Sensei's jurisdiction. And if he's bound with his words, he can't go against that order—not unless Sensei dies.

His gaze fell back to the letter. But this letter… He went to open it…

…but he could not.

His brow scrunched. What is…? He tried again, but the envelope would not budge. Frustration welled up inside him. "What's going on?" He showed Cullen the envelope. "Why isn't it opening? What did you do?"

Cullen shook his head as he typed again. "I can't help anymore. I'm bound to silence. The conditions aren't met. I am sorry."

Luke held his tongue. Getting angry at him won't help anything. It's not his fault he's bound to silence with restrictions. He can't help it. That calmed down his ire, but his puzzlement towards the letter did not go so quickly. But why can't I open it? He adjusted his frames. Cullen said Sensei prepared this for me in advance. But why? He closed his eyes. Did Sensei say anything to me before he left? I just need to remember.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Last December

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Can't I come with you?"

Mystogan could not help the exasperated sigh at being interrupted in his book gathering down in the Fairy Tail Archives. "No. You may not." He flicked his finger for two more books to join him. "My answer won't change because you keep pestering." He gave his apprentice a firm look. "If you have time to complain, perhaps I should give you more work to do."

Luke swallowed nervously and called his mentor's bluff. "Y-You wouldn't do that when you have a job to go on."

Mystogan raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that?" He turned away to let Luke sweat it out and continued his perusal. "I shouldn't be gone long," he noted. "And I expect you not to slack in your studies. Meaning if I return to the same clumsy apprentice, I'll whip you back into shape."

Luke wanted to cry as he remembered how harsh Mystogan's teachings had been early on in his apprenticeship. 'Why is he so cruel to me!' But he kept his mouth shut from his complaints and muttered, "Yes, Sensei." Even with the threat, he trailed after his teacher. "But… Why can't I come with you? You know I won't slow you down. I-I could be really useful—"

"At what?"

"Well…" Luke scrambled for an answer. "I-I could… Well, I make for good defense. And I can help take notes, maybe? I could… I could…" He had an idea. "I could be a great assist! I've done assists on other jobs—!"

"And those were S-Class or lower." Mystogan frowned when he received a tattered book. "You're not even close to prepared for SS-Class missions. I don't need to worry about the mission and watching over a bumbling apprentice."

"Oh." Luke's shoulders slumped and his eyes lowered. "Yes, Sensei."

Mystogan glanced down at his apprentice and softened a little. "That's not to say you won't be ready one day," he murmured. "But that day isn't today. You've been a big help on S-Class jobs. You're steadily improving. Don't forget that."

Luke beamed. "Yes, Sensei."

"Hm." Mystogan went back to scouring for books. "You will stay here and continue your studies," he reiterated as he went down the next aisle. "Because from my understanding of our last Magic Spar, you still had trouble with advanced mental traps." He pushed up his glasses, making the lens glint. "Or have you improved and I can test you again?"

Luke gulped. "N-No, thank you."

"Then you still have more work to do while I'm away," Mystogan alluded. "I'll expect better mental traps by the time I return." Dark oaks sparked. "I look forward to testing them thoroughly."

Luke shivered. 'He can be such a sadist.' He followed when Mystogan kept walking. "How long do you think you'll be gone?"

"I can't give an educated guess," Mystogan remarked. "The nature of the job is sizable and with little to go off of. It could be months to a year at the least."

Luke frowned. "But…what if you're gone for a long time?"

Mystogan stopped.

Luke stopped as well.

Mystogan questioned, "Luke, how long have I been your teacher?"

"Since I was seven," Luke remembered.

"And have I ever done a single thing without thinking it through?"

"No." Luke failed to understand where this was going. "You always have contingency plans on top of contingency plans."

"Precisely." Mystogan turned to face his apprentice with unreadable eyes. "I can't guarantee my return. I've never made such promises to you before, and I'm not going to start now. But when I agreed to take you as my apprentice, I guaranteed you would be my student and you would continue to learn under me. Do you think those are contradictory statements?"

"Um…" Luke thought hard about it—

"The fact that it's taking you this long to answer makes me think I failed as a teacher," Mystogan said dryly.

Luke silently fumed with an angry pout. "Well if you gave me more than two seconds," he grumbled under his breath.

"What was that?"

Luke gulped seeing the intense aura around his teacher. "Nothing, Sensei!" Internally, Chibi-Luke was dying. 'What did I do to deserve this?' He blinked when Mystogan placed a hand on his shoulder. "Sensei?"

"I can't promise my return, but I can promise you'll continue your lessons," Mystogan assured, tone quiet and certain. "It might take a while for them to reach you, given the conditions. But you will learn." Dark oaks spoke of an incomprehensible emotion. "You will learn when the conditions are right."

• — • — •

Luke blinked away the memory. 'Conditions'… And Cullen said the same thing about conditions…

He examined the envelope. Is this what Sensei meant? Cullen can't speak unless the conditions are right. But also… What if I can't open this envelope until the conditions are right? Something must've happened for Cullen to give me this letter before he was supposed to. Some sort of condition was met. But what conditions need to be met for me to open the letter?

He concentrated his power on the envelope. Even though I can confirm Sensei cast a spell on the envelope, I'm not strong enough to reveal what he wrote for the spell. Is this also part of my training?

He jerked his stare back to Cullen. "Is there anything else you can tell me?"

Cullen thought about it before shaking his head.

Luke thinned his lips. I expected as much. Have I triggered anything else since Sensei left? Was Cullen also part of my training? What's the next step I'm supposed to take?

He moved his hand only to realize he had his folder tucked into his arm. An idea struck. Wait…

He maneuvered to slip the envelope into the folder, but he looked at the information on the Tower of Learning. The Tower…

Nice's words. "But Mystogan presented a case that allowed him to teach you without you enrolling in the Tower."

"You were offered a position at the Tower of Learning." Cane cocked his head. "I think you should take it." Violets slightly narrowed. "But you can't tell me you aren't the least bit curious who your 'sensei' is outside of your teacher? You aren't the slightest bit curious about his research that no one knows?"

"Is this my next test?" Luke asked Cullen. "Is this the condition? The Tower of Learning? Is this it?"

Cullen could only give a helpless shrug.

"Yeah, I figured you couldn't tell me." Luke looked back down at the folder. There's so much I don't understand. Why didn't Sensei want me at the Tower? Why did he set these conditions? Why was he never kind to Bambi? And why—his brow furrowed—can't I remember what he said?

He closed the folder. But Sensei did tell me he'd still teach me even when he's away. I should've known. All this time, I might've been meeting conditions without realizing it. Which means I'm falling behind.

His frown deepened. But…what am I supposed to learn? Did he know I was going to become a full Demon before I did? Did he know about all of this? This all feels like these are questions on his test to me. And I have to answer correctly or I won't advance.

His grip tightened on the folder. Sensei… Honeyed-ambers hardened. Just what are you trying to teach me this time?

°•°•°•°

The Guild Master's Quarters had a quiet day ahead. Number Five diligently handled reports with the shackles on her ankles small comforts, even if many saw them as worrisome. Erza had tucked more into her work. Spring meant a new economic cycle had come and the internal finance and accounting department had made sure to send Erza more reports and summaries regarding Fairy Tail's cash reserves and resources. All they needed was her input on where the allocate money and approval for a new budget plan for the training grounds on Tenrou Island.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Fairy Tail Guild Hall

Magnolia Town

Fiore, Ishgar

4:00 PM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

KNOCK-KNOCK!

"Come in," Erza allowed.

Number Five opened the door with a bow of her head. "Pardon us, Master." She widened the door to show an uncomfortable Luke. "He requested to see you." Her unnatural swirling eyes gave something away. "I understand you have work, but this is important."

"It's not that important," Luke renounced. "I-I can leave if you're—"

"No, please, it's fine," Erza welcomed. "Miss Five, thank you. Would you fetch us some tea?"

Number Five nodded. "Yes, Master." She stepped aside for Luke.

Erza chuckled as Luke entered her office like it was a lion's den. "Please have a seat. Excuse the mess. I'm afraid I haven't been fastidious with my upkeep around here."

"Oh, no, i-i-i-it's fine," Luke rushed to assure, scurrying to his seat. He fidgeted. "Um, I-I can leave if you're busy, Master. It's not really important—"

"Luke." Erza softened. "Stay. Please. My work can wait. I'm sure what you have to say can't. And I always have time for my nephew-in-heart." She added, "And for my son's apprentice."

That made Luke sit still, abashed and awkward. "Thank you, Master," he appreciated in a murmur.

Number Five came in with a tea cart. A quiet hung between the trio as she tended to the tea. A strong black was Erza's go-to at this hour, but Luke accepted Number Five's offer of milk and honey. He felt like a child when she stirred it for him and he breathed his thanks. She bowed and silently left the pair of them to their own device.

Luke cupped his teacup, but he did not take a sip with his stomach churning.

Erza, however, was comfortable sipping her tea and watching Luke from over the rim of her cup.

Luke finally broke his silence. "Did…? Do you mean that?"

"Do I mean what?" Erza asked not unkindly.

"You know." He thumbed his cup. "That…I'm welcome here? Alone? A-As… As your son's apprentice, I mean?"

Erza set her teacup down with a thoughtful pause. "The way Mystogan has treated Ena is partly mine to blame," she said. "He made her think strength came from isolation and compartmentalization. It wasn't accidental; it was deliberate. And even when he had a chance to atone, he remained stubborn in his beliefs. I cannot accept that sort of behavior."

Luke nodded, eyes on his tea. "I understand."

Erza knew he meant that. "However, for all his faults, he has taught you like a proper apprentice. So much so that…" She took a breath. "I allowed him to continue being your teacher, even when it was my initial intention to take you away."

"What?" Luke whipped his head up. "Why?"

"At the time, I thought it was best," Erza explained in vague. She would not divulge her reasons to him. "But Mystogan held firm that he would teach you. Even being so young, he refused to back down. And seeing his determination towards you made me rescind my thinking." Browns watched Luke. "You're upset."

"I mean a little, yeah," Luke guessed, still rattled. "You were really going to take me away? Without even asking me what I want?"

"As I said before, I had my reasons—"

"Reason enough to not ask me what I wanted?" Luke flushed when Erza raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to apologize for," assured Erza, not at all offended. "And when this decision was being made, you were still not the legal age of an adult Wizard capable of making your own decisions."

That still did not sit well with Luke. "Did my parents say anything?"

"It was something I consulted them on, yes," Erza carefully spoke. "Did they share my viewpoint? No. Were they concerned? Yes, as any parent should be. But they told me that under Mystogan's care, you flourished. You weren't as timid as you were at home. You and Igneel were at odds thanks to his sporadic temper. Training was difficult for you to feel comfortable with."

The memories made Luke flinch. His thumb circled his wrist. "I-It was a long time ago…"

"Long time ago or not, it happened." Erza clasped her hands when Luke kept his stare averted. "I'm aware the dynamic between you and Igneel changed over the years, but some things remained the same between you two. For a while, I wasn't convinced Mystogan's instruction was doing more to help than harm. So I sat in on one of your lessons with him to confirm it myself."

Luke's eyebrows knitted together as he tried to piece together when she had been to one of his lessons. "But I've never seen you."

"You should know by now I can be discrete," she teased him. Kobichas fondly reminisced. "And your parents were right. The timid boy always hiding in his books looked different under Mystogan's tutelage. You were excited to train and expand your prowess. You weren't as nervous and unsure with yourself as you were when you and Igneel had joint-training sessions. You were confident and inquisitive and inspired."

Luke blushed a little. "Thank you, Master."

Erza simpered. "You deserve those compliments." Her smile faded only a little. "I disagree on every account of Mystogan's treatment of Ena. And I will make no excuses for him, nor should you do the same. I can't understand his reasons. And even if he tried to justify himself, I would never accept it, even though that's more Ena's right than mine. I can only hope that, one day, he will come home to treat Ena with respect. And should he give his reasons, he knows it is Ena's choice of what to do with that sort of explanation."

"I understand," Luke agreed.

"But I can agree with him on your apprenticeship," Erza went on. "He has been—and currently is—teaching you well. I don't doubt that. Just because I'm at odds with my son doesn't mean I'm at odds with you. You're always welcome here. And I will always acknowledge you as a fellow Mage, as family, and as Mystogan's apprentice."

Relief Luke did not realize he needed seeped into his body. "Thank you, Master."

Erza hummed. "Of course. Now." She nodded at him. "What is it you came to ask me?" Her stare flickered for a moment. "I see you didn't bring Cullen with you today."

Luke knew better than to be astonished his Guild Master could sense Cullen's absence, but he admired her for it all the same. "I didn't." He daintily sipped his tea. "Today's been…a difficult sort of day." He peered back up at her. "Did you…know Cullen since Sensei contracted to him?"

"I've known Cullen for a long time," Erza supplied. "If you're worried about him, don't be. He's a trusted friend."

More relief saturated Luke. "Good. That's good. Ah, er, thank you, Master."

Erza tittered. "I'm sure that's not all you came to ask me."

Luke opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again, then closed it again. He attempted organizing his thoughts into concise questions. "I'm… I know my one-on-one isn't until June, but…" He licked his lips. "I guess…I'm confused about everything. On my powers, on…my feelings—even my own memories. I feel like I'm taking an exam I didn't study for."

Erza lifted her cuppa. "Life certainly feels that way."

"But it's not supposed to feel like this," Luke insisted. "I-It's supposed…supposed to…"

Erza finished her sip. "How is it supposed to feel?"

"It's supposed to feel…like it clicks?" Luke guessed, out of his depth. "Like everything should make sense. It shouldn't be this hard or…or frustrating or pointless. I shouldn't be going around in circles for months, right? I should be further than this. I'm supposed to be further than this."

Erza tilted her head. "And why do you think you should be further than this? Did someone say you should be further than you are? Has Natsu ever told you that you should be further than you are?"

Luke wrestled with a response until he breathed, "Well, no, but—"

"And has Mystogan ever spoken to you like that—"

Frustrated, Luke bit, "No, but—!"

"Then why do you think—?"

"Because I'm the Prince!" Luke exploded, so helpless and angry all towards himself. "I-I'm supposed to be this 'Prince'. I'm supposed to follow in my dad's footsteps and do everything he can and I should be able to, but I keep losing control and it's pointless. I should be better at this. Igneel's better at this than me—"

"Is that what you think?"

"That's what I know," Luke countered, bitter. "He's always been a natural talent."

"You're confusing talent with raw power," Erza told him. "Igneel was born with raw and overwhelming power. Fire is an element that Wizards understand little of. Most find it too wild and out of control and combustible, like a bomb. And Igneel's temper certainly fed into those delusions. He was a natural in his raw power. But it took him longer to turn that power into a talent. Whereas you, Luke, have always been talented."

Luke did not believe to for a second, but he gave a graceful murmur, "Thank you, Master."

Erza smiled. "Luke, did you learn something from the special assignment I sent you and Gale on?"

"Only that I don't have any sort of control," Luke muttered. "And that I'm never going to have control."

"That's not the way Gale told it."

That confused Luke. "What do you mean? I was with him when we wrote our joined report—"

"Which I received and it was very thorough—thank you again for your hard work." She leaned forward. "But Gale submitted a separate report, just as you submitted your own report on Gale as I asked you."

Luke could not hold back his wariness. "And what did his report on me say?"

"Outside his complaints of how you preferred books to modern technology?"

Luke flushed, both in annoyance and embarrassment. "I just like books," he defended lamely.

Erza chuckled. "I'm aware. As he is." A beat. "Gale had every reason to not work with you. You know that. He had every reason to be afraid of your powers, given how he was within an inch of his life when he witnessed the full force of your power." She let Luke sink with guilt festering. "And you had every reason to hold resentment towards him given how he unfairly attacked Luna, just as you hold resentment towards Gary for some of his own incidents."

Luke tensed.

"I'm not here to speak to you about your relationship with Gary," Erza assured. "That is between the two of you. But the reason I wanted you both to submit reports about each other was to understand how your relationships improved with each other in both friendship and understanding. And I'd say Gale understands you more than you do about yourself."

"What did he say?" Luke found himself asking.

Erza's eyes twinkled. "Would you like to read it for yourself?"

Luke hemmed and hawed for a few moments. "I-If… If that's okay?"

"I'm sure he won't mind." Erza shifted to her DAL to type and click around.

BEEP!

Luke jolted a little when a screen appeared before him with Gale's report. He glanced at it before looking back at Erza, "Are you sure?"

Erza nodded. "Go on."

Luke swallowed and started reading.

My Report on Luke Dragneel

In this special assignment, my partner and I had to uncover an essential murder mystery involving five initial victims and a mysterious killer with no traces. At first, I hadn't wanted to take the job. Then, I was fine if I could take this mission on my own. But after going through this assignment, there was no partner better than Luke to have, and this mission proved how crucial and admirable his skills are.

To preface, I know he is a Demon—a Demon Prince, to be exact. When Master assigned us both to this mission and was insistent, I started to suspect this case didn't just need our enhanced senses. Luke has always been better at medical sciences and theory, which was a reason he was chosen and one I could believe. But had it not been for Luke's demonic power, we would have never solved this case.

In all honesty, he deserves to be recognized as the sole person to have resolved this string of murders.

I admit I was tentative being around his power. I still remember what happened before. But I've known Luke my whole life. Never once has he treated me with anything less than respect and sincerity. I always knew he was nervous. And I know how much that accident had destroyed his self-confidence in his abilities. I never wanted that for him. I wanted him to be surer of himself. He deserves that.

When his powers started acting up, I was worried, but it wasn't for what I thought. I thought I would be worried he would attack me and, admittedly, I was a little. But when I saw the aftermath of how exhausted and scared he was, I knew he would always be the same person I grew up with. He didn't want to attack people. More than anything, he was looking for a way to be useful.

And he was.

I pushed him for this job. I could see how worried he was, but I saw how much his powers could be helpful if he gave himself a chance. Maybe he doesn't realize how much his powers contributed to everything good on our mission. By relying on his instincts, he pointed us in the right direction that this case involved a Warlock and demonic energy. By using his Necromancy, he gave people who had been killed and forced to live again a chance to find peace and closure. By being a Demon, he overpowered the Warlock responsible for this chaos.

And I respect him for all of that.

His powers did get out of control a little—I admit that. We both still have a lot to learn when it comes to control. But I'm seeing before my eyes how much good Demons can do when they want to help. And I'd be honored to be his partner on another mission.

I'm hopeful this mission gives him more courage and comfortability in his own skin and his own power. I know he's not my king. Mister Dragneel is. But I think Luke will become a respectable and honorable Demon Prince if he gave himself the chance to be. And I'd be just as honored to acknowledge him as "His Highness".

(And, yes, this means I'm fine to partner with him again on a special assignment.)

What to say?

What to think?

Luke scanned the report again before looking up at Erza. "Did he really write this himself? You didn't force him to write this?"

"I might intimidate him some, but I can't force him into writing something like this." Erza gestured to the screen. "That was his true feelings toward you. Someone you hurt in the past recognizes the potential you have inside, Luke, as do we all. We have no deadlines or expectations on when you'll refine that potential. All we want to see is that you make an effort."

"But I am," Luke tried to argue, but it felt weak and uncertain. "I… I'm trying."

"I know you are." But Erza continued: "But are you trying to contain your powers or are you trying to control your powers?"

The obvious choice he wanted to say felt like a lie that he could not force himself to say.

And Erza knew that. "I've sent you a copy of Gale's report. You're making progress, Luke, just not as fast as you would like. It's hard to be patient and lenient with yourself when you've set such high standards. I can't say I understand you. No one thought an Etherious Demon would be as kind-hearted as your father and he was a made-Demon. You were born as such. There's no telling what you can do. But whatever you will do will be as honest and kind and good as you are."

"How do you know that?" Luke questioned, small and timorous.

"Because I have faith in you. As do your parents. And as does my son."

Kobichas and honeyed-ambers held for a meaningful moment.

"Thank you, Master," Luke appreciated thickly. "I mean it. Thank you."

Erza dipped her head, her smile content. "Of course."

Luke felt shy as he asked her, "Could I stay and finish my tea?"

"Of course." Erza's lips twitched. "You know, when Demons appeared, all we thought were they were the enemy with a penchant for bloodlust and chaos. And centuries-worth of history contributed to those stereotypes. But I'm confident that opinion will change one day. Natsu believes it too."

"I mean, he is the Demon King," Luke muttered.

"That's not why he believes opinion will change," Erza told him. "In fact, he believed those stereotypes for quite some time. And he was afraid that he would become those stereotypes."

Luke frowned. "Really? What changed his mind then?"

"You."

Luke blinked, taken aback. "Me?"

"Yes." Erza leaned her cheek on a propped fist. "And you'll continue to change minds." She crossed her legs. "Do you know why princes and princesses are coveted so dearly in kingdoms?"

Luke shook his head. "Why?"

"Because kings and queens may rule their kingdoms, but it is the younger royals with fresh eyes that will guide their kingdoms into a better tomorrow. And when I look at you, I understand all that Natsu sees in you." Erza's smile tendered. "You will make a great king, Your Highness."

Luke bowed his head, ears burning. "I still have a lot to learn. I still don't know where to start, but…" Resolution firmed his eyes. "I just…want to be accepted. I want Dad to be accepted. And people who were Cursed or born with Black Magic—I want them to be accepted too." He huddled a little. "We're people too."

"I know." Erza kept her thoughts to herself. And that is why you were born to be the Demon Prince.

°•°•°•°

Night had fallen and, considering spring had settled in nicely, the air felt warm and comfy. The forest had broken free from winter's constraints to teach new life how to flourish in this world. Fioren fireflies—fireflies capable of Light Magic on their whole beings—popped in and out, communicating in various colors and signaling one another in their pattern language.

Luke had taken to playing A Zhōnguánese Ghost Story with his headset on to do a side-quest with Yuuma.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Dragneel Residence

Magnolia Town

Fiore, Ishgar

11:15 PM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

As Yuuma and Luke had teamed up as an archer-summoner duo respectively and faced against an avaricious mogwai in a town cursed with rain. They had worn her down to unleash her disgusting true form. Because she had consumed multiple hearts, she had three HP bars, but the more Luke and Yuuma pushed her, the more her health decreased.

RAAAAAAAAAAAW!

The mogwai had declined to a critical and chaotic state. In her last act, her tentacles lashed out as she created a mighty storm. But for all her flailing and hissing and snarling, she was no match for Luke and Yuuma's Cultivator avatars. As Yuuma kept her distracted with his spiritual arrows, Luke summoned his moon rabbit, who darted around and created a Purifying Circle.

The mogwai was helpless when trapped in the circle. Luke pressed his keys to bring out his flute and auto-played Song of Repentance. Yuuma made his character ready the gourd to trap the mogwai once she had become a pile of darkness and ooze.

Once the mogwai had been absorbed, the spirit of a kind man in his hanfu showed up and he began to speak in translated Minstrish: "Thank you, kind Cultivator, for setting us free. Please tell our loved ones we shall await the day Báihǔ unites us once again."

The rain cleared, and Luke sat back as his health restored as a bonus and since they completed the side-quest in under three minutes, they both received additional bonuses in their inventory. "That was easy."

Yuuma hummed. "We'll have to go back to the mom we encountered when we came to the village. And then we need to go to the innkeeper. A friend of mine told me the innkeeper has a bonus item, but no one ever returns to her since most people skip her dialogue."

"Okay." Luke moved his avatar and smiled a little hearing noise from Yuuma's end. "Is Kei over?"

"Yes." And Yuuma sounded rightfully annoyed. "His volleyball team decided to go to Akane Beach. For some reason, he decided to bother me during my week of isolation. I'm changing my locks the moment he leaves."

Luke snickered. "You know that won't stop him. You always let him in when he convinces you he left something important behind or he has an issue."

"You should respect your elders."

Luke laughed even more at Yuuma's mutter as their avatars collected their prize from the side-quest: a rare censer. "Are you going to Majesty's study group thing?"

"Yeah." And Yuuma did not sound happy about that either. "She already bought me in-game mods for Drifter, so now I'm in her debt. You have to come too."

"I'll think about it," Luke said in light jest. "I still have some stuff going on this week."

"Your teacher not back yet?"

Luke faltered. "No," he murmured. "He isn't."

Yuuma took a few beats to respond. "I understand you respect your teacher. But you can't always be his student."

Luke gave a mirthless chuckle. "And what does that mean? I still have a lot to learn."

"You do," Yuuma agreed. "But if a student becomes too reliant on the teacher…doesn't that mean the teacher failed in preparing their student for the real world or something?"

Honeyed-ambers widened before softening.

Yuuma was considerably softer as he said, "Just a thought. I need to go before Kei starts ordering too much food he won't finish and I'm stuck with."

"Yeah." Luke cleared his throat. "Good night."

"Later."

Luke thought it was best to save his progress and turn in for the night as well, but Yuuma's words weighed on his mind. A teacher failing the student if they become too dependent… He took off his headset. I just have so many questions for you, Sensei. If you'd just come back…

His gaze lowered to the Joker Card he had sat on his deck. He could be a king or a monster, depending on how he flipped the card. What am I doing wrong? I don't want to turn into a monster, so why can't I go any further than where I am?

He felt a tap on his shoulder and looked to see Cullen. "Hey, Cullen."

Cullen made a series of gestures.

Luke understood. "No, I'm not mad at you," he promised. "I'm just…" He looked back at the calling card. "I'm mad at myself I guess. I keep thinking 'what would Sensei do?' all the time. He's always so calm and collected in the thick of things. And I can't even get a handle on my birthright." His smile lacked much emotion. "Pretty pathetic for a prince, huh?"

Cullen shook his head and patted his shoulder in comfort.

Luke's ears twitched when he heard voices. Ah. Gale should be here then. He sighed when he heard Luna's slight giggles. He's lucky Igneel's not here. He would've gone nuclear if Gale came over. He stretched his arms. It's not like I'm all the approving either. But I can see he's trying.

"Gale, don't!" Luna laughed.

Gale mock-growled. "Then don't be such a cute tease, Blondie."

TICK!

A tick mark thumped against Luke's temple. But he doesn't have to try that hard.

Mind made, he pushed from his desk to peek outside his room. His face went flat seeing how close Luna and Gale had become with Gale cornering Luna against a wall, but Luke kept his cool and cleared his throat.

"O-Oh!" Luna flushed and duck from under Gale's arm. "Sorry. Did we disturb you?"

Luke narrowed his eyes at a too-innocent Gale. "No," he grunted. "But keep your door open when you're both in there." He made sure Gale understood when he said, "I can hear everything."

Gale's eyebrow twitched as he grinned. "Don't be so uptight. I won't dare touch a princess in her own castle, Your Highness." Even as he said that, he pinched Luna's side, which made her yelp and laugh.

Luke felt a headache coming on. "Just keep it down."

"We will," Luna promised, abashed. Whatever Gale whispered in her ear made her playfully shove him away and rush towards her brother to kiss his cheek. "Night!"

Luke smiled and patted her head. "Night." Before Gale could slip past, he called, "Gale, wait."

Luna frowned when Gale stopped, and she looked between her brother and her friend. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, it's fine," Luke soothed. "I just need to talk to him for a second."

Gale murmured to a hesitant Luna, "I'll be there in a minute." He knuckled her cheek. "Wait for me, yeah? Go do what you need to do."

Luna nodded, still frowning, but she disappeared into her room and closed the door behind her.

Luke gestured for Gale to come into his room as he retreated. By the time he sat down, Gale had closed the door with his arms crossed. "What's up?" He cocked his head when Luke struggled to say all he wanted. "If this is about my report, don't worry about it."

Luke's gaze snapped to Gale's in surprise before it faded to understanding. "You read my report too."

"Mm-hmm." Gale nodded and gave a filthy smirk. "If I knew you were such a fanboy, I would've started crushing on a different Dragneel, Your Highness."

All of Luke's good fortune towards Gale soured into distaste. "Glad to see you don't change. Still as vulgar as ever."

Gale guffawed. "Yeah, and you're still a prude nerd." He rubbed the side of his neck. "But I meant what I said in my report," he gruffly murmured, ears a little pink. "You did some good work out there, you know that?"

Luke looked at his lap. "I lost control."

"Yeah, a little, but you got it back," Gale reminded him. "Ran wasn't built in a day. Cut yourself some slack. Sure, you got a little power-trippy at times, but you were able to snap back. And when you put your mind to it and didn't have all those minefields going off in your mind, you didn't lose control for a second."

Unused to Gale's praise, Luke ducked his head. He awkwardly tried to return the favor. "Thanks. Yo-You… You did a good job too out there."

"Don't I know it? You were practically making me out to be a god."

TICK!

Luke maintained his cool against Gale's gloating. I'm the bigger person, he chanted to himself. I'm the bigger person. With only residual annoyance left, he huffed, "I just wanted to thank you for what you said." His agitation faded for guilt. "I know it wasn't easy for you to work with me after everything that happened. But you did anyway. So thank you."

"Like I said"—Gale shoved his hands in his pockets—"it's nothing. I know the type of guy you are, both sober and drunk, remember, Eleven-Shot Lukas?"

Luke flushed. "Please don't tell anyone about that," he beseeched. "I-I wasn't acting like myself—"

"It's chill, I'm fucking with you," Gale chuckled. "Don't worry. I won't confirm all the rumors about how the nerd prince is actual a freak underneath."

Luke wanted to dig his own grave. My virtue, he mourned. It's all gone.

"So, uh…" Gale jerked a thumb behind him. "You mind?"

Luke frowned. "Just like you meant what you said in your report about me, I meant what I said in mine. I do trust you. But she's still my little sister." And, he thought to himself, she could still be recovering from everything done to her in Alvarez if we're not careful.

Gale took Luke's words to heart. "Don't worry. I get it. I understand. And I'm not pushing for anything like that." He raked his hair. "Still have a lot of shit to figure out. I'm not in the right headspace for anything more. And she knows that. She's the same way. Our friendship might be a little weird, but we're trying."

"That's all I ask." Luke's gaze softened. "That you try."

Gale nodded. "And you should too—try, I mean. You want to control your power that much, but you still get all skittish about it. You need to loosen up. Be in your element."

Luke snorted. "That's easy for you to say. You're always in your element. It's not that simple."

"I never said it wasn't, but it doesn't have to be as complicated as you think," Gale pointed out. "I don't know jackshit about Demons or where they hang out." His eyes lit up in glee. "We could try a strip club—"

"Get out."

Gale snickered at how red Luke became. "How in the Hell are you a Demon Prince when you get all squeamish if you even hear the words 'tits', 'ass'—?" He nervously laughed when a demonic aura enshrouded Luke. "Now, now, let's not be like that, Your Majesty."

Luke glowered at him. "Okay, so I'm not exactly a model Demon. Who said Demons have to like"—more red piled on his skin—"physical affairs and skinship?"

Gale muttered under his breath, "Gods, just say 'nudity' and 'fucking'."

Luke colored in both embarrassment and ire. "The point is," he ground out, "I am perfectly happy the way I am without everything you were about to say." He leaned back in his chair. "I'm nothing like my dad. I'm nothing like Demons normally are."

"And who said that's a bad thing?" Gale asked. "From how my shitty old man tells it, Dragons didn't really give a fuck one way or the other about things like friends and family and education. But here I am, caring a lot about people and graduating early. What's so bad about you being a virgin, vegan Demon?"

"I'm a vegetarian," Luke muttered.

Gale scoffed. "Same thing."

"No, it is not the same—!"

"The point is, you don't have to try so hard to be like all the colossal psychopaths we've encountered," Gale said, ignoring the way Luke fumed over being interrupted. "I'm not trying hard to be anything but me. I know damn well Igneel isn't out there trying to be like how other Dragons used to be, even though he is a sadistic arsonist."

Luke understood the concept, but the execution baffled him in the how. "Well… How am I supposed to do that?"

"Hell if I know."

Luke's expression turned frosty. Then why are you preaching to me about this?

Gale grabbed the doorknob. "You should ask your dad, though. That's what I did with my old man. He might be shitty sometimes, but he set me straight about a couple of things."

"I do ask my dad all the time," Luke pointed out. "How is this different?"

Gale gave a one-shouldered shrug. "I don't know. Because you're different."

That took Luke back. "I'm different?"

"Sure." Gale opened the door. "I could always smell how anxious you were when it came to your powers. But you don't smell as anxious anymore. And you don't sound like it either."

"And how do I sound now?"

Gale studied Luke for a moment. "Like you're ready to learn."

Luke blinked. Like I'm ready to learn?

Gale grinned. "Anyway, I'm off to sleep with the princess now that the Dragons are away and her room is going to reek like me tomorrow morning. Ciao, bella!"

SLAM!

TICK!

Luke kept his internal screaming to himself when his door rattled. Don't explode. Don't explode. He ground his teeth when he heard the faint click! of Luna's door closing again. That two-faced, son of a… I should've known he wouldn't stick to his word. He's lucky I'm nice.

Honeyed-amber ricocheted back to the playing card. Luke waved his hand to let the card float in mid-air and rotated. He saw the black-haired horned monster staring at him with bloody reds. The Joker… The card showed the princely version of him with a crown and kind ambers. Or the King…

Darker thoughts bogged him down. I thought I was learning about my powers, but really… I've been trying so hard to not turn into a monster. I don't want to fail Sensei or Dad. I just…want to control my powers. I want to do something good with them. But Demons aren't supposed to be good. We ruin everything.

The Joker stared at him with that sanguineous regard.

But…we don't have to…do we?

The card turned to show the King of Hearts with his gentle honeyed-ambers and bi-colored hair.

The decision felt reckless in Luke's opinion, but he was already dialing his father before he could help it. He did not give his father a second to speak as he asked him, "I want to learn, Dad. I… I want to be a Demon—my version of a Demon."

A long pause.

When his father spoke, his words came out grave and low. "Do you remember the story I told you about Galuna Island?"

— • — • — • —

Starry Sky nemurenai yoru nee aitai yo aitai yo

Kirameita ittousei osaekirenai kimi e no omoi wo

•

Gyutto dakishimete mou hanasanaide

"aishiteru" dake ga zutto kagayaki tsuzukeru

— • — • — • —

No one told her how sick she was—not to her face anyway.

The night servants all bowed and scurried away through the corridors as though fearful if they lingered or spoke to her, they would be at the other end of her wrath. Even the royal advisors and ministers had noticed her snappish behaviors and treaded on tender feet around her, much to her annoyance. But at least the two moons in the flamboyant night-sky did not judge her. Their lunar light of lavender and silvery-blue bathed her and brought out the silver streaks in her hair, not from age but birth.

Guards posted at her chambers, but not even they were strong enough to meet her eyes. What did it matter to her anyway? She slipped into her too-big chambers—

"You've grown weaker."

She did not dare pause for the other woman in her room and went about dismantling the cumbersome headdress she had to wear as king. "What do you want?"

Her companion got to the point. "It's admirable you don't want to approach him. He is, after all, a child. But you need some sort of contact with him if you want to escape the Haze. That disease will consume you, Checkmate. Or shall I say, Your Majesty?"

Checkmate started the burdening task of disrobing from her kingly regalia. "I'm perfectly adequate how things are," she clipped, ignoring the jab. "I will not touch that child. What I'm experiencing is a slight inconvenience, but it does not detract from my work. My kingdom—my people—come first."

A considerable silence fell between them.

Checkmate slowed in the final removal of her jewelry. "Does he fare well? Alone?"

"He does." Her companion dared to sound amused. "And as I have told you before, he remains alone with no intimate interests. Although, it's quite funny how you try not to act envious whenever he and the Scarlet Sage are together. Not long ago, you had your harem to pleasure you and sit pretty on your arm, vying for your attention and affection. Even rumors that you might select them as a consort—"

"And I no longer have them," Checkmate bit in reminder.

Her companion went on: "Yes, but your half is young. It shouldn't be expectant for a growing Demon to be celibate."

Checkmate's entire body went rigid. "Mind your attitude." Words delicate and dangerous. She finished undressing and would thank the night maids later for laying out her slumber wear. It was her fault for snapping at them weeks ago for trying to help her undress and get her into her sleep clothes.

Her companion did not bat an eye of Checkmate changing, but all her laden humor sharpened into sobriety. "I understand you shun human affairs. But that pope—his divinity feels twisted, even if I can't understand the reason for it. His Champions are too alert for me to attempt approaching. I don't think any of your people could go close to Ran, except for White Wolf—"

"And he would rather never touch his half than do me a favor," Checkmate stated, bone-dry. "And considering how obsessed he is with her, that option is a punishment worse than inhumane torture."

Her companion did not make light of the situation at hand. "If you aren't careful, you could lose him. He has worked with you out of necessity. But wolves are protective of their pups."

Checkmate tensed. "I treat the Devil as I do any other—"

"And your advisors think you have him on a leash because they are too narrow-minded to understand being born with Black isn't a death sentence to the Wastes."

Checkmate readied for bed. "Why did you bring this up now?"

"I'm simply reminding you that your half is the very thing your people despise the most, to the point you cast aside all those with a hint of impurity to the Wastes or your districts," her companion commented, flint in her words. She slowly rose to her feet, her cloak pooling around her. "I know you. I know your prejudice. But you can't change him from who he is. I know your plan to collect him. But you're mistaken if you believe he will come quietly and accept your people's brutality against his own."

Checkmate's jaw clenched. "We have been friends for centuries. Don't ruin our friendship over this."

"I'm not bringing us to ruins," her companion said in promise. "But you grow weaker by the day. I'm scared for you. But more than that, I pity you."

"I don't need 'pity'," Checkmate venomously seethed.

"You do," her companion sagely negated. "Because once your half realizes that you have chosen your 'people' over his…he will choose his people over you."

Checkmate did not need to turn around to know her companion vanished. She gripped her dresser as a bout of pain tried to knock her down. Her nails dragged against the wood as she panted. Alone, she could be weak. Alone, she could sweat and tremble, feverish and fatigued. She clutched her nightshirt with her heart fluttering and heavy in her chest. Looking in the mirror, her glamour faded to show the gauntness of her cheeks and the purplish hues tagging her eyes.

I had to save him. He would've been turned into a monster. I couldn't wait. Agony plunged her veins. He's a child, I know. But I couldn't let him turn into something so cruel. A humorless smirk preceded her. And look at me now.

She staggered to her bed to lay down. Sleep came as a pitiful comfort to her these days and took some of the pain away. She watched her hand tremor. I can't go on like this. If I could just see him for a moment… If I could just have one glimpse of him… A bitter chuckle. Look how desperate I've become. I've held hatred towards my father's other half for reducing him into such a mess. And here I am, fated to do the same.

She panted again. You always told me once you met a Heartfilia, you could not look away. I criticized you and faulted you. And now, I'm enduring the same weakness as you, Father. She closed her eyes and tried to keep her breathing steady. I understand now why you were always so desperate to catch a glimpse of her. This is torture. And this is the same torture you endured all those years, isn't it…

She briefly opened her eyes to look at the portrait mounted on her walls of a beautiful man with angular jasper eyes and attracted such strength combined with grace. The portrait had been painted to capture his regality and had done so without fail.

…Lisandrus?

Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance

— • — • — • —

Luke Dragneel – Alan Lee

Genius – Derrick Snow

Luna Dragneel – Brynn Apprill

Nice Geonard – Jad Saxton

Igneel Dragneel – Bryce Papenbrook

Natsu Dragneel – Todd Haberkorn

Cane Alberona-Groh – Clifford Chapin

Mystogan Fernandes – J. Michael Tatum

Erza Fernandes – Colleen Clinkenbeard

Number Five – Melisa Fahn

Yuuma "Yuu" Yamaguchi – Rylan Strachan

Gale Redfox – Greg Cipes

Checkmate – Jeannie Tirado

Companion – Megan Franich

• — • — •

Additional Voices

Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Closing Narrator – Melissa Fahn

— • — • — • —

⌜OPENING SONG

⟪ SAYONARA DILMMA ⟫

Vivid undress

Lyrics by

yu-ya⌟

•

⌜INSERT SONG

⟪ Dance the Night Away ⟫

TWICE

Lyrics & Composed by

휘성(Realslow)

Anne Judith Stokke Wik, Moonshine,

Cazzi Opeia, 오승은, Andreas Baertels⌟

•

⌜ENDING SONG

⟪ Starry ⟫

ClariS

Lyrics by

丸山真由子⌟

•

•

•

•

— • — • — • —

Next time, on Fairy Adventure

•

Episode 134

•

GALUNA ISLAND

PART II

— • — • — • —

•

•

•

•

DO YOU REMEMBER THE STORY?

Chibi-Luna greets her class with a beam. "Good day, class!"

"Good day, Teacher!" her students hello. "What's our Fairy Lesson for the day?"

"Today's lesson is…"—Chibi-Luna reveals her chalkboard to the class with her colored in bubble letters that spell and cute drawings—"about Magic Circles!" She moves to show an example Magic Circle. "Magic Circles are tailored to the Wizard or to the object. But Magic Circles can be manipulated for different sorts of spells. Cane was manipulating his Magic Circle so he could accurately perform his fortune-telling ability."

She shows the pinned pictures she has of Nashi using her Magic Circle to transform. "A lot of Mages consider Magic Circle 'training wheels'. As a Mage develops in their gifts, their Magic Circles reflect changes. But the reason Magic Circles aren't constantly seen is because they only appear for bigger spells to help Mages in their casting by absorbing local Ether. The stronger a Mage becomes, the less likely you are to see their Magic Circle unless they are deliberately showing it to you."

A student raises their hand. "But how can you manipulate a Magic Circle?"

"Writing a sigil is actually a class Wizard students can take if they go to academies, colleges, or universities, but it's an advanced technique," Chibi-Luna educates. "Because Mages can use their power without any sort of restrictions, manipulating their own Magic Circle is a thoughtless process. But creating sigils is advanced and very complex witchcraft. Alchemists and Alkahests are required to take sigil creation courses due to the nature of their Magic, but most Wizards tend to steer clear of it unless they're in a higher education program, like at the Tower. Spiritless Enchanters, however, are mandated to take advanced-level sigil courses."

She points back at her example Magic Circle. "Basic drawn sigils essentially need a trigger in order to work, but it depends on the sigil being created. A Summoner Sigil versus a Magic Circle would require a different trigger, and a Black Summoner Sigil versus a White Summoner Sigil would still require a different trigger. And even if you get all the ingredients correctly, overdoing it on the catalyst could break the circle and create chaos."

She raises a finger. "This is why, if you're trying to manipulate or create a sigil, you should always be with a trusted Wizard or a Spiritless Enchanter."

PIN-PON!

"That's the bell!" Chibi-Luna starts erasing her board. "And now a message from the author!"

「 Luke's perspective of Mystogan differs greatly from how others see him. There will be no justification for how Mystogan treated others. A person's actions are their responsibility and do not deserve to be romanticized. However, his actions deserve an explanation and one that comes later.

I'm excited to explore more of Cane, Cane, and Cornelia's origins as Roamers, which, as you guess, come from the Romani people with a twist. Cornelia's story with Gildarts has been one I always wanted to write about. And Cane's powers and personal arc have been such an interesting time.

If you liked Gale's report on Luke, then I hope you enjoy Luke's report on Gale during Gale's arc.

And if you remember Jang-ta's scary story about the mogwai—the side quest Luke and Yuuma took is the same story he told. And considering Jang-ta is a video game designer to add to his Current Era cover… It was never a coincidence in his choice of "major". And Tesla will be in for a shock.

Have you guessed Checkmate's actual name? Who her father was? Who her companion is? And did you notice how vague both Cullen and Erza are to Cullen's origins?

I'm so far ahead in writing the episodes that it feels odd coming back to revamp older episodes, but all I can give is my excitement for the future. Everything comes full circle. I just need 100 Year Quest to hurry and finish so I can finalize a major plot point or else Fairy Adventure goes from canon-congruent to canon-divergent.

Thank you for your continued support. Let's travel to Galuna Island together, shall we?

明けましておめでとうございます！ 」

Chibi-Luna finishes clearing the board to wave. "See you in the next episode!"