Among the Fairies
I lounged back, sipping on my orange juice, a picture of nonchalance, while Lucy dashed off with Natsu on her arm, all fired up for her debut quest with the guild. Meanwhile, there I sat, left behind like yesterday's news.
She had the nerve to task me with babysitting our gear while she gallivanted off to chase after coin and apartments, granted that was important job and I could have helped easily, she left me to twiddle my thumbs in boredom. What a backstabber. All she wanted was to cozy up to that fire-breathing lizard-boy.
The moment that Fairy Tail stamp branded her hand, she was outta here, leaving me in the dust with nothing but a shiny golden mark on my hand to keep me company. Hers, of course, was pink. Figures. But enough about that. It was crystal clear where they were headed – straight for Mount Hakabe to play hero and rescue Macao, the elder Fire mage of this guild. And I just did not wanted to argue to tag along so I could follow along Canon events.
Not that I'm bellyaching too hard about it as I couldn't help but sneak a glance at Mira's ample behind, her ass that could send empires to war wiggled, Mira tiptoed, straining her muscles as she wrestled with bottles on the shelves. Damn, sorry Lucy, you got nothing on this ass.
"Nice view, huh?" Makarov chimed in, nursing his booze in a hefty wooden cup, perched on the table a few paces away, his gaze also fixed on the same captivating sight: Mirajane's ass.
"Yeah, it's... uh, quite something," I found myself nodding in agreement before my brain caught up with my mouth. "I mean, I have no idea what you're talking about, old man!"
Makarov's grin widened like he'd uncovered the secret to eternal youth, a look reminiscent of how I felt after solving a particularly tricky puzzle that morning. "Don't sweat it, lad. It's the age when boys becomes men, start noticing girls. Perfectly normal."
"I really don't need relationship advice from you, old-timer! And shouldn't you be off enjoying retirement somewhere?" I shot back, though the truth was, I didn't really mind his company, despite the gruff tone, as he chuckled and took another hearty swig from his cup.
"Ha! You think I haven't tried? But none of young whippersnappers here have what it takes to keep this guild from going completely off the rails," he sighed dramatically, before his eyes twinkled mischievously, refocusing on Mira's derrière, his concerns momentarily forgotten.
If Mira was not adult, I would have become more uncomfortable than I am now by his intense staring and giggling. Look at Lucy like that and you're dead old man!
"That brawl was something else, huh? No one's got all their screws tight around here," I remarked, taking in the chaotic scene we'd stumbled upon.
"Not even me?" Mira spun around, her face set in a pout that could melt the hardest of hearts. But I stood tall in defiance because I know behind that angel's face, the demoness sleeps peacefully.
"Nah, you're as bonkers as the rest of 'em, sweetheart," I reassured her, turning to the old man for backup.
"Absolutely," the old man nodded sagely, dishing out his trademark wisdom. "Don't be fooled by the pretty face. Mira here's got enough craziness to outdo the lot of ya."
And just like that, he earned himself a damp towel to the face, courtesy of Mira, who stood there innocently, as if she hadn't just hurled a projectile at the guild master that nearly sent him sprawling.
"Don't mind the ramblings of an old man," she chimed in sweetly, her smile as disarming as ever. "He's just showing his age."
And there I was, forgetting for a moment that Mira was just as wild as the rest of Fairy Tail in her youth. Damn, she had me wrapped around her finger, and I let myself get swept away. But then again, who could resist her charms? She was the poster child of Fairy Tail and top Model of this kingdom for a reason.
"Alright, kid," the old man began, settling back onto the table, wiping the remnants of Mira's surprise attack from his face as he turned his attention squarely on me. "What kind of magic do you wield? You a Celestial Spirit wizard like your sister?"
Even Mira perked up a bit, leaning against the counter with a newfound curiosity.
"Yeah, I thought you were a non-mage?" piped up the blue-haired girl with the orange headband, flanked by two guys who seemed ready to jump into action at a moment's notice.
"Ah, forgive my lack of manners. I'm Levy, and I dabble in Solid Script magic," she introduced herself, as she wrote light on the empty air, her word materializing in the air before dissipating into a shimmering cascade of light.
"I'm Jet, and I specialize in high-speed magic," the taller one declared, a hint of swagger in his tone as he flexed his muscles.
"And I'm Droy, I've got a knack for Plant magic," the quieter of the two added, his demeanor more subdued.
"Nice to meet you all," I replied, feeling a tad nervous as all eyes turned in my direction. Surrounded by mages, I suddenly found myself at the center of attention in the bustling guild hall.
"How'd you figure out I was a non-mage?" I quizzed Levy, arching an eyebrow and striving to maintain my composure, projecting an air of coolness and confidence.
"Are you kidding me? You and your sister are practically celebrities," she replied matter-of-factly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You two got the most completed quests as independent wizards, half the guilds in the kingdom were clamoring to recruit you two."
"And somehow that numskull Natsu managed to snag you both? Talk about luck," Gray chimed in, his voice cool as ever, his shirt conspicuously absent from his torso.
"Gray! You're half-naked again," the girl with the bikini top chided him, all while hoarding an impressive stash of barrels of booze for herself.
"Oh man, not again," Gray muttered, seemingly unfazed by his lack of attire.
I surveyed the scene with a pensive expression. Levy's words made sense. Lucy and I were indeed well-known, even scoring a few interviews with Sorcerer Weekly for our exploits as young wizard and warrior.
"But I can sense your magic just fine," Makarov interjected, his expression thoughtful.
"I didn't have any magic for the longest time. And honestly, I'm still not sure if what I'm doing qualifies as magic or not," I admitted, seeing no reason to sugarcoat the truth on this matter.
"But check this out," I declared, raising my hand as a golden light radiated from within, illuminating the guild hall like a second sun. Everyone shielded their eyes and peered through their fingers as they witnessed a book materialize in my grasp, a testament to the mysterious power coursing through me.
"A book?" Levy's interest sparked, her glasses glinting as she leaned in closer.
"Re-equip?" murmured the others, their voices blending into a chorus of speculation as the entire guild buzzed with chatter, some even offering me enthusiastic thumbs-up, including a few bespectacled fellows who looked like they belonged in a library.
"It's a Grimoire. My word, it's been ages since I've laid eyes on one," Master Makarov exclaimed, his initial shock quickly giving way to excitement as he gazed at the floating golden tome.
"What makes this book so different from our regular magic tomes in the Library?" Gray inquired, his gaze fixed on the levitating book.
"Grimoires are no ordinary magic books. They're imbued with powerful magic that greatly amplifies the abilities of their owners, allowing them to wield more intricate spells," the master elucidated, his tone filled with wisdom.
"So, it's like holder-type magic? Similar to Loke's ring magic?" the purple-haired girl chimed in, her eyes alight with curiosity. Wasn't she the one with the bootleg Hashirama's wood-controlling powers?
"Not quite. Grimoires tap into the wielder's own magic, but they also serve as repositories for their spells, even those of past owners. Initially, most of the pages are blank, but as the owner grows and evolves, so does the grimoire, recording new spells and abilities along the way," Master Makarov elaborated. Why did that sound like something out of Black Clover? Is this crossover?
"Can I take a closer look?" Levy pleaded, her eyes shimmering with longing.
"You can try, but this particular Grimoire doesn't take kindly to anyone else's touch besides mine," I warned, my expression solemn.
"Ahhh!" Master Makarov theatrically tumbled from the table after he got zapped from my Grimoire in his attempt to reach for the book, only to swiftly regain his composure, dusting off his clothes with practiced nonchalance before addressing us as if nothing had happened.
"Listen up, children. That little zap packed quite the punch," he remarked, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.
"Master, that was reckless!" Mira scolded him, though her expression softened with concern.
"Bah! The book won't harm anyone. It may have some security measures in place, but its aura is one of the purest I've ever felt. It's the antithesis of a cursed item," Makarov dismissed the danger with a wave of his hand.
"But it still won't allow anyone besides me to touch it," I interjected, cradling the book in my arms with a sense of pride.
"It's a well-crafted security spell. Tell me, lad, who did this book belong to before you?" the old man inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"Hmm," I pondered for a moment before responding. "It belonged to an ancient figure, the Great King's advisor and renowned magus of flowers, Merlin." Sorry Merlin, but I'm stealing your shtick here where nobody knows about you. In a way I'm spreading your name in the Multiverse.
The guild fell into a hush, confusion evident on everyone's faces.
"Never heard of him," Cana remarked, her initial interest waning.
"Duh, that's because he's ancient, obviously," Levy interjected, her excitement reignited. "Can you demonstrate some magic from your book, please?"
Enough with the puppy-dog eyes, Levy. Just because you're cute doesn't mean you can use them as a weapon of mass destruction.
Rolling…
You Rolled: Knock [Cultist Simulator] Your affinity to Knock can now be used to temporarily create a magical tunnel that can bypass any lock, door, or barrier. This tunnel operates like an open window through which you can peek into the other side.
Cost: 300CP
Purchase the roll?
Talk about perfect timing. This is like having a skeleton key on steroids. Who needs to pick locks when you can create a whole passage right through them?
But hold on a minute. As tempting as it is to show off this new ability, revealing my knack for bypassing locks might not be the best move right now. I'm still a stranger in this guild, and flaunting the skills of a master thief might raise more suspicion than admiration.
So, if I can't showcase that trick just yet, I've got plenty of other options up my sleeve. With the Staff of Panthalassa and the Weapon wheel at my disposal, I put on a show for the Fairy Tail members, strutting my stuff like a circus performer. Sure, it wasn't anything groundbreaking, but the cheers from the crowd boosted my confidence.
With more practice, I managed to unlock another spell from the staff – just a Mana bolt, but it still looked pretty slick.
Despite not wielding immense magical power at the moment, the guild members seemed to believe in my potential. Master Makarov's words echoed in their minds, reinforcing the idea that my Grimoire held the key to unlocking even greater abilities from Merlin himself.
I just hope any other Merlins out there in the multiverse don't hold a grudge against me for this stunt.
"Hey, that's all well and good for showmanship, but can you handle yourself in a fight?" Gray's question cut through the post-performance chatter, his tone serious despite the lack of a shirt. I raised an eyebrow at the semi-naked guy, sensing genuine curiosity rather than condescension.
"With magic, not quite yet," I admitted, summoning my Celestial bronze armor with a thought. It shimmered with a golden hue before materializing around my body, seamlessly equipping itself. From the Weapon Wheel, my sword materialized in my hand.
"But armed with my sword and clad in this armor, bring me a dragon, and I'll ask you which body part you want," I retorted with a grin, a thirst for battle evident in my expression.
Of course, I wasn't talking about real dragons from ancient legends or the distant future. What people called "dragons" nowadays were nothing more than their weaker cousins, wyverns. The true mystical beings like Igneel and his kin had been in hiding for centuries, their true might all but forgotten by modern society.
"Damn, even if it's not Re-equip, the resemblance is uncanny," Gray muttered to himself, prompting murmurs of agreement from the rest of the guild. "Its eerie how similar you two think."
I let my sword and armor vanish into their own pocket dimensions.
"I'm flattered you're comparing me to the legendary Fairy Queen Titania, but even with all my strength and tricks, if we were to spar, she'd annihilate me," I confessed, crossing my arms thoughtfully as I imagined the hypothetical I wasn't exaggerating. Real S-Class mages were practically gods among men, towering over ordinary wizards like me with their immense power and skill.
"Yeah, I don't doubt that for a second," Cana remarked, finally setting down the empty barrel. How was she not getting drunk? Did she have silver-lined lungs or something?
"So, new kid, got any plans for your first quest?" she inquired.
"Maybe tomorrow or in a few days, why?" I replied.
"Just a heads up, you can't go on solo quests until you've completed at least five quests with guild members. It's a rule, so don't try to argue your way out of it," she explained matter-of-factly. "And don't say "I will be alright,"
"I'll be alright—" I started to say before cutting myself off, startled by how accurately Cana had predicted my response. Maybe those tarot cards weren't total nonsense after all.
"You'll get used to it," Levy chimed in with an optimistic smile, seemingly predicting my thought process.
"So, what's got you so interested, Cana?" I inquired, scooting closer to the drinking girl.
"Volunteering to take me, a young boy, all alone, completely at mercy of big, strong, and experienced mage like you?" I asked suggestively and playfully, a mischievous grin spreading across my face. The entire guild hall fell eerily silent for a moment.
So silent, in fact, that I swear I could hear a pin drop in the distance.
Roll failed, 100CP Banked
Total: 100CP
Cana spewed out her drink, coughing uncontrollably as the entire guild erupted into laughter as if it was the most hilarious thing they heard all day.
"Hahaha!" Master Makarov guffawed, slapping his knees with mirth. "Is that the case, Cana? Shame on you, resorting to preying on young ones now that you couldn't snag a boyfriend?!"
"That might explain it. I swear she was griping in the dorms about still being a virgin," Laki chimed in teasingly, eliciting even more snickers from the crowd.
"Oh my goodness," the old man gasped dramatically. "We'll have to put out a warning to all the lads in Magnolia, for the fierce huntress is on the prowl!"
"Shut up, old man!" Cana screamed, hurling her barrel at him with a blush spreading across her tanned cheeks. Of course, Makarov enlarged his hand with magic, effortlessly catching the projectile.
"And you!" Cana turned her embarrassed glare towards me, shaking her index finger in my direction.
Feigning fear and innocence, I clasped my hands to my chest. "Oh, my purity and innocence of youth, under threat! Please, be gentle," I gasped dramatically, relishing in the flustered expression on Cana's face. She was too easy to tease, and her reactions were just too adorable to resist.
The laughter continued until the wooden doors of the guild hall swung open with a resounding bang!
"His purity belongs to me- no one! I mean, no one!" Lucy's voice cut through the chaos as she stormed into the room, followed by Natsu and Happy, escorting the injured fire mage.
The guild erupted into chaos once again.