A/N : Saturday update ! A little calm and relaxed chapter, developping a bit more relationships.
Enjoy !
The early sun rose over Magnolia, birds chirping to the awakening city. As Kalen entered the guild hall, a few members were already packing and preparing for the day. Wendy and Carla were helping Mira with lunch, Gray and Natsu were bickering as usual, and Lucy was with Juvia and Erza, getting everything ready.
"Looks like you are all working hard for this," Kalen said, sitting down at the counter.
"Indeed," Mira smiled. "Many members have other plans, so we need to make sure we've got everything we need for the day."
"So only Natsu, Lucy, Gray, Juvia, Erza, you, Wendy, Amy, and I are coming?"
"Yes, that's right. We're finishing lunch preparations. Kalen, would you mind buying what we need for tonight?" she asked.
"Sure thing, Mira. Gray!" Kalen yelled, getting his attention, Natsu's fist printed on his cheek. "Come and help me, we're going out for groceries."
"Sorry, Natsu, seems like Kalen is scared of buying a few drinks alone," Gray smirked, dodging the incoming stool Kalen threw at him.
As the two headed out, the morning air was fresh. Magnolia was already busy, with shops opening and people starting their day. Gray walked beside Kalen, a hint of excitement in his usual calm demeanor.
"Do you think we'll need extra stuff for Natsu? You know how he eats," Gray said.
Kalen nodded. "Better safe than sorry. Let's grab a few extra snacks and drinks. And maybe some ice packs for when you two start fighting again."
They made their way through the market, picking up various items. The vendors greeted them warmly, familiar with Fairy Tail members. They loaded up on snacks, drinks, and special treats Mira had requested.
"Hey, any most wanted drinks for tonight? I'm in a party mood," Gray asked as they waited for a vendor to pack up their purchases.
"Sure, I mean at this point let's make the most out of it," Kalen smirked.
Gray grinned, giving him a friendly nudge. "That's the spirit."
As they continued shopping, they picked out a variety of drinks, making sure to grab everyone's favorites.
"Looks like we're all set," Gray said, hefting his bag over his shoulder. "Hey, did nothing really happen the other night? With Amy, I mean."
"Oh boy, you're on it again," Kalen deadpanned. "No, nothing happened, Gray. We really just talked and had our dance."
"Had your dance, huh?" Gray smirked, knowing full well, having seen the entire thing.
"I was an idiot, happy now? I should've asked her during the celebration, and I didn't. Now it's settled, so yeah, that's done," Kalen shot back, feeling a bit annoyed.
"Maybe tonight's the night," Gray teased even more, getting closer to Kalen.
Kalen smirked back, "Oh, you mean for Juvia and yourself?" He walked away, winning by KO, leaving Gray open-mouthed with nothing to say.
As they returned to the guild with their bags full of goodies, the morning sun fully illuminated the busy streets of Magnolia. Amy came over, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Did you get everything?"
"Yep, all set," Kalen replied, handing her a bag with her favorite snacks.
She smiled brightly. "Great! I can't wait to hit the beach. It's going to be so much fun!"
"Yeah, it will be," Kalen agreed. "Let's just make sure we don't destroy it."
Erza clapped her hands, gathering everyone's attention. "Alright, everyone! Let's get moving. We've got a beach to enjoy!" With a cheer, they headed out, ready for a day of sun, sand, and a bit of Fairy Tail chaos.
Stepping onto the sandy beach, Kalen shielded his eyes from the bright sun. Natsu was the first to sprint towards the water, shouting, "Last one in is a rotten egg!" Lucy laughed and chased after him, closely followed by Wendy and Carla.
Gray set down his bag and stretched, looking over at Kalen. "Ready for a day of no responsibilities?"
Kalen grinned. "Tell me about it."
They found a nice spot near the water, and everyone started laying out towels and setting up umbrellas. Mira and Erza quickly took charge of setting up the picnic area, arranging the food and drinks they had brought. Juvia and Gray were already bickering playfully about who had the better spot. Kalen's eyes landed on Amy, wearing a beautiful white bikini.
He sprinted towards the water, feeling the sand give way beneath his feet. The cool waves crashed over his legs as he reached the shore, and he plunged into the refreshing water. The others soon followed, the beach echoing with their laughter and shouts of excitement.
As the day went on, they played games, swam, and enjoyed the delicious food Mira and Wendy had prepared. Gray and Kalen teamed up for a game of beach volleyball, taking on Natsu and Lucy.
"Nice try, Flame Brain!" Gray taunted as he spiked the ball over the net.
Natsu grinned, his competitive spirit blazing. "We'll see about that, Ice Princess!"
The girls, tanning on the beach, watched with amusement. "Gray-sama is so athletic," said Juvia with a blush.
"Juvia, you say that even when Gray is fully clothed," Wendy remarked, sweating a little.
"I mean, she's not wrong. Those guys have some serious bodies," smiled Erza, adjusting her position to get more sun.
Mira leaned closer to Amy, a teasing glint in her eye. "And Kalen too, don't you think, Amy?"
Amy pouted, her cheeks slightly pink. "Yeah..."
"Oh, come on, girl. You can't even take your eyes off him," smirked Mira.
Amy opened her mouth to retort but was interrupted by gasps from the girls. The volleyball match had escalated into a full-blown magic power showdown. Natsu, engulfed in flames, slammed the ball down with such force it looked like a meteor. Gray countered by creating ice walls to block the ball or freezing the sand to make them slip. Kalen had pulled out Ray, his katana, smashing the ball with solar-enhanced strikes.
"And there they go... I was wondering when that would happen," said Amy, exasperated but smiling.
Erza stood up, hands on her hips. "Alright, boys, that's enough! We came here to relax, not destroy the beach!"
Natsu laughed, letting the flames die down. "Sorry, Erza! Got a little carried away."
Gray smirked, his ice melting away. "Just trying to keep things interesting."
Kalen sheathed Ray, grinning. "Guess we got a bit too competitive."
Amy walked over, shaking her head but smiling. "You guys are impossible."
Mira chuckled. "Well, it wouldn't be a Fairy Tail outing without some magic chaos."
After a while, Kalen sat down under an umbrella, panting. Gray and Natsu swiftly followed up. "I'm completely washed. Talk about relaxation," he whined. But the fire and ice mages were already asleep, so he decided to do the same.
Suddenly, Kalen was woken up, gasping for air, sitting up abruptly. He was completely soaked, and it took a moment to understand what had happened. As he looked around, trying to get his bearings, he spotted Amy and Wendy rolling on the sand, laughing hysterically, a bucket in their hands.
"Seriously?" Kalen groaned, shaking water from his hair.
Amy managed to catch her breath enough to respond. "You should have seen your face, Kalen!" she laughed, her bright green eyes sparkling with mischief.
Wendy giggled, wiping tears from her eyes. "We couldn't resist. You looked so peaceful!"
Gray stirred, grumbling as he woke up. "What's going on?" he mumbled, wiping sleep from his eyes.
Natsu blinked awake, instantly alert. "Who needs a fire to dry off?" he asked, flames flickering around his fists.
"Easy, Flame Brain," Kalen deadpanned. "You got me. Just watch your backs—I'll get my revenge." he said, glaring at the girls.
Kalen got up, stretching, having enjoyed his little nap. The sun was still high, leaving more time before their little party tonight. Natsu immediately joined Lucy in the water, playing—or rather slamming—her in the waves.
They spent the next few hours swimming, playing games, and simply enjoying the day, before gathering up when the sun was starting to set.
"Right, Natsu, please be useful and light the fire up. That's mainly why we took you with us," said Gray, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Natsu flinched at his words. "At least I'm useful around here," he growled, headbutting the ice mage, earning a collective sigh from the group.
"Alright, break it up, you two," Erza said sternly, stepping between them. "Let's get this fire going and enjoy the rest of the evening."
Natsu grumbled but complied, igniting the bonfire with a flick of his wrist. The flames roared to life, casting a warm light that pushed back the encroaching darkness. They all settled around the fire, the crackling flames adding to the cozy atmosphere.
"Alright, time for some drinks, Kal'!" Gray grinned, sitting down next to him.
"Great, the party demons are with us tonight" muttered Amy, watching both of them grin, their eyes filled with determination.
They started passing around the drinks, toasting to their day at the beach. "Here's to not destroying the beach today," Kalen said, raising his bottle, eliciting a round of laughter.
"Yeah, that's a first," Natsu added, clinking his bottle with Kalen's.
Gray and Kalen started a competition to see how many drinks each could handle.
Amy shook her head, smiling. "You two are impossible. But I wouldn't have it any other way."
The drinks flowed as the night grew livelier. Natsu and Lucy were arguing over who was the better swimmer, and Wendy and Carla looked on with amused expressions.
Erza and Mira were sharing stories, their laughter ringing out every now and then. "I'm glad we did this," Mira said. "We needed a day like today."
Erza nodded. "Absolutely. It's good to take a break together. Maybe we should play a little game?"
"A game?" Wendy repeated.
"Yes, maybe something like truth or dare?" Erza suggested, a mischievous glint in her eye.
Natsu's ears perked up at the mention of a game. "Truth or dare? I'm in!"
Lucy rolled her eyes but smiled. "This should be interesting."
They all gathered closer around the fire, the flickering flames casting playful shadows on their faces. Erza took charge, as usual. "Alright, I'll start. Natsu, truth or dare?"
Natsu grinned confidently. "Dare, of course!"
Erza smirked. "I dare you to mimic Gray's ice magic stance without using any magic."
Natsu's eyes widened with excitement. "Easy!" He stood up and struck a pose, dramatically mimicking Gray's ice magic stance. Everyone burst into laughter at Natsu's exaggerated impression.
Gray rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his smile. "Alright, you got me, hot head. Your turn, Natsu."
Natsu looked around, his gaze landing on Lucy. "Okay, Luce, truth or dare?"
Lucy sighed, knowing she was next. "Truth."
Natsu's grin widened. "What's the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you on a job?"
Lucy blushed, thinking back. "Oh, that's easy. Remember the time we were supposed to retrieve that enchanted harp? I ended up tripping over it and falling into a fountain in front of the client. I was soaked and had to give the rest of the briefing dripping wet."
Everyone laughed, picturing the scene. Lucy laughed along, shaking her head. "It was so embarrassing, but at least we completed the job."
Lucy turned to Amy with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Alright, Amy, truth or dare?"
Amy met Lucy's gaze, ready for the challenge. "Dare."
Lucy smirked, leaning in. "I dare you to sit between Kalen's legs until the end of the party."
Amy's eyes widened in surprise, her cheeks turning pink. She glanced at Kalen, then back at Lucy, who was grinning triumphantly. She moved over and settled herself between his legs, leaning back slightly against him. Kalen could feel the warmth of her body, and his heart skipped a beat, leaving his arms along his own body.
"Okay, next question" he stammered, earning a smirk from Mira and Lucy, bumping fists.
The game went on when Amy whispered to him, "You know you can move your arms?"
"Y-yeah but.." before he could finish, Amy grabbed his hands, pulling his arms over her. "That's better," she simply said, as Kalen wrapped his arms around her lightly, making sure she was comfortable.
Drinks were flowing, everyone laughing as the night slowly fell. Wendy was starting to doze off, snuggling in front of Amy, her head resting on her legs, while Amy softly brushed her hair.
"Lucy, think you could summon Lyra? I would love a little music," asked Erza.
"Of course!" beamed the celestial mage, tossing a key in the air before catching it, summoning Lyra.
A soft melody filled the air, making everyone relax, close their eyes, and enjoy. Amy snuggled up a bit more against Kalen, resting her head against his chest. Gray was leaning back on his hands, enjoying the relaxing song, Juvia sitting not far from him. Lucy's head was resting on Natsu's shoulder, Erza and Mira also taking in the beautiful notes.
Gray broke the silence with a content sigh. "This is nice. We should do this more often."
Natsu nodded, a rare peaceful look on his face. "Yeah, it's good to just relax."
Erza, who was usually so intense, looked completely at ease. "We should make this a tradition."
As the music played on, Kalen felt Amy shift slightly against him, getting more comfortable. Before long, it was just a few of them left awake, staring into the dying embers of the bonfire. Kalen looked around, noticing that Lucy, Erza, Mira, and Juvia were all asleep.
Gray and Natsu were silently busy with their respective girls, even Gray accepting Juvia to snuggle up next to him.
"To Fairy Tail," Kalen said, raising his drink one last time.
"To Fairy Tail," they swiftly followed up with a grin, before they all drifted off into a peaceful night.
Waking up, the night was still draped across the sky. Looking at the moon, Kalen guessed he still had around an hour before the sun would start to peak out. He got up carefully, trying not to wake Amy and Wendy. Sneaking out of the peaceful and still-asleep camp, he walked along the beach next to the water. Once far enough, he pulled out his daggers.
"Activate, Nyx," he whispered.
He looked at them for a while, before pulling one up, aligning it with the fading moon. "Still don't want to talk to me, Nyx?" Kalen asked, not expecting any answer.
Sitting down, he used his free time to train his moon power before the sun would take over the sky. Crossing both daggers, he gathered and then released magical energy into them, trying to control the flow.
The beach was quiet except for the gentle lapping of waves, creating a serene backdrop for his training. The daggers pulsed with a soft glow as Kalen channeled his magic, focusing on maintaining a steady stream of energy. Taking deep breaths, he synchronized them with the rhythm of the waves. The quiet solitude allowed him to focus entirely on his connection with Nyx.
As the first hints of dawn began to appear on the horizon, he felt a subtle shift in the daggers. Kalen faintly smiled, watching his blades glitch out. "See ya, Nyx. Looks like it's Ray's time..." At his words, the daggers disappeared, leaving space for Ray to appear.
"Same for you, I'm guessing. Nothing to say?" Kalen asked, once again not waiting for an answer.
Ray glimmered in the early light, its presence a familiar comfort. He stood there for a moment, feeling the weight of the sword in his hand, the transition from night to day mirrored in his magic. With a steady breath, he began training the same way he did with Nyx.
Kalen gasped as he felt a hand on his shoulder, turning around to notice Lucy by his side. "Hey Kal, up early?"
He sighed in relief. "Yeah, actually, it was still nighttime when I woke up. I was just training magic flow with Ray and Nyx."
"Ray and Nyx... We don't know much about them, do we?" Lucy said, her gaze fixed on his katana.
"Not really... Even I don't know how I got them, same goes for this ring." Kalen raised his right hand, showing her the ring that always seemed to have a mysterious connection to his weapons.
Lucy looked at it thoughtfully. "There's so much about our magic and artifacts that we don't understand. But that's part of the journey, right? Discovering more about ourselves and our powers?"
Kalen nodded, appreciating her perspective. "Yeah, you're right. It's just... sometimes I wish I had more answers."
She smiled softly, her eyes reflecting the early morning light. "You'll find them. We all will, eventually."
She squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "Anytime, Kalen. Now, how about we head back and see if anyone else is awake? I could use some breakfast."
He chuckled, sheathing Ray. "Sounds like a plan."
As they walked back to the camp, the sun fully broke over the horizon, bathing the beach in golden light. The others were beginning to stir, stretching and yawning as they woke up.
"Morning, everyone," Lucy called out cheerfully.
A chorus of sleepy greetings responded, and soon the camp was bustling with activity as they prepared breakfast and got ready for their trip back to the guild.
A/N : Done ! I hope you enjoyed it, I always like writing those kind of chapters. Sometimes it's good keeping it far from action. Next few chapters will lean towards a little developpement for our characters. Let me know if you like it so far !
Until then, see ya !
.Ney.
Enjoy !