Chapter 33 — Home Again
POV: Elior
Our last morning in Lunaris arrived far too quickly.
I woke up to sunlight coming through the window and found Luna sleeping peacefully at the foot of my bed.
Cana was already awake.
"Brother El, are we leaving today?"
"Yeah."
She looked toward the window.
"I liked Lunaris."
"Me too."
Erza was quietly packing her things.
She looked at me.
"Brother, do we have everything?"
I checked my spatial ring.
"The ingredients are there. Guild Master Bob's letter is safe. Nothing's missing."
Luna gave a small "Kyuu."
"Exactly."
We went downstairs for breakfast one last time.
The innkeeper smiled when she saw us.
"Heading home?"
I nodded.
"Back to Magnolia."
"Have a safe journey."
"Thank you."
After breakfast, we collected our belongings and left the inn.
The streets of Lunaris were already busy.
For a moment, I found myself wishing we had another day.
Cana seemed to have the same thought.
"Can we come back someday?"
"Probably."
"Promise?"
I smiled.
"Promise."
Erza looked back at the city as we walked toward the station.
"I liked it here."
"You did?"
She nodded.
"There were many interesting places."
"Maybe next time we'll stay longer."
Her face brightened.
"Really?"
"Really."
Soon, we reached Lunaris Station.
The platform was already crowded with travelers.
Our train was waiting.
Cana looked at it.
"Back to Magnolia."
"Yep."
She sighed dramatically.
"I guess I'll survive."
I laughed.
"You survived three days without buying everything you saw."
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
"I showed restraint."
Erza looked at the bags Cana was carrying.
"That's not restraint."
Cana looked offended.
"You're supposed to support me."
"I support Brother."
"Traitor."
We boarded the train and found our seats.
This time, Erza immediately took the window seat.
Cana looked at her.
"Hey."
Erza smiled.
"I got here first."
Cana stared at her for a moment.
Then she laughed.
"Fine."
I sat across from them with Luna on my lap.
The train whistle sounded.
A moment later, the train began moving.
Lunaris slowly disappeared behind us.
Cana watched through the window.
"Bye, Lunaris."
Erza waved quietly.
I leaned back.
The return journey felt different.
The first trip had been filled with curiosity.
Everything had been new.
Now, I knew what to expect.
The train rocked gently as we traveled south.
Cana eventually fell asleep against the window.
Erza stayed awake for a while, watching the scenery.
Luna curled up on my lap.
I looked outside.
The northern landscape gradually changed.
The air became warmer.
The mountains became less prominent.
The forests looked more familiar.
We stopped at several stations along the way.
At one station, Cana woke up just long enough to buy snacks before falling asleep again.
I stared at her.
"How does she do that?"
Erza shrugged.
"She's Cana."
"Fair."
Hours passed.
Eventually, the familiar scenery around Magnolia came into view.
I recognized the distant hills.
Then the rooftops.
Then the station.
"We're almost there."
Cana immediately woke up.
"We're here?"
"Almost."
She looked out the window.
"I can see Magnolia!"
Erza leaned closer to the glass.
Her eyes brightened.
"Home."
That single word made me smile.
The train slowed as it entered the station.
When it finally stopped, we stepped onto the platform.
The familiar sounds of Magnolia immediately surrounded us.
It felt good.
Really good.
Cana stretched.
"Finally."
Erza smiled.
Luna sniffed the air.
"Kyuu."
"You missed home too?"
She nodded her little head.
We walked out of the station together.
Magnolia felt smaller after Lunaris.
But somehow, it felt better.
We knew these streets.
We knew the people.
And somewhere nearby was the guild.
Our guild.
Fairy Tail.
As we approached, we could already hear the noise.
Someone was shouting.
Something crashed.
Then another voice yelled.
I stopped.
Cana stopped.
Erza stopped.
We looked at each other.
I smiled.
"Yep."
Cana grinned.
"Home."
We opened the guild doors.
The usual chaos greeted us immediately.
Makarov was sitting at the counter.
Several guild members were arguing over something.
Someone was laughing loudly.
A chair was overturned.
I smiled.
I hadn't realized how much I'd missed this.
"EL!"
Makarov looked over.
"You're back!"
We walked inside.
"We're back."
Cana immediately ran toward the guild members.
"We went to Lunaris!"
Erza followed her.
"We brought things back."
Makarov looked at me.
"Did you deliver the letter?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
"And?"
I pulled the sealed reply from my ring.
"Master Bob gave me this for you."
Makarov accepted it.
"Good."
He broke the seal and began reading.
I stood nearby.
Makarov's expression changed slightly as he read.
When he finished, he folded the letter.
"Well done."
"Thanks."
He looked at the three of us.
"So? How was Lunaris?"
Cana immediately started talking.
"It was great! There were so many shops, and there was this amazing candy store, and—"
"She bought half of it," I interrupted.
"I did not!"
Erza smiled.
"She did."
"You're both against me."
Makarov laughed.
"And you, Erza?"
She thought for a moment.
"I liked the city."
Then she added,
"And the strawberry cake was good."
Makarov chuckled.
"I see."
He looked at me.
"And you?"
I thought about it.
"It was fun."
Then I remembered Ichiya.
I shuddered.
"…Mostly."
Makarov raised an eyebrow.
"Mostly?"
Cana started laughing.
"You should've seen Brother El at Blue Pegasus!"
I immediately knew where this was going.
"Cana."
"He met someone."
"Don't."
"Someone named Ichiya."
Makarov paused.
Then he laughed.
"Ah."
"You know him?"
"Unfortunately."
I stared at him.
"You could've warned me."
Makarov laughed even harder.
"I didn't think it was necessary."
"It was extremely necessary."
Erza giggled.
Luna gave a tiny "Kyuu."
"Even Luna agrees."
Makarov shook his head.
"I'm glad you survived."
"Me too."
I reached into my ring and retrieved the ingredients we'd collected.
"I also got everything Irene asked for."
Makarov looked at the supplies.
"Good."
"We should take these home."
"Of course."
We said goodbye to Makarov for the moment and left the guild with Cana, Erza, and Luna.
The walk home was short.
As soon as we reached the villa, the front door opened.
Irene was already waiting.
"Welcome home."
Erza immediately ran to her.
"Mother!"
Irene smiled and hugged her.
Cana followed.
"Hi, Aunt."
"Welcome back, Cana."
Luna ran around their feet.
"Kyuu!"
I handed Irene the ingredients.
"Here."
She looked through them.
"You found everything?"
"Almost everything."
I explained which ingredients we'd found and which ones were unavailable.
Irene smiled.
"Good work."
Then she looked at me carefully.
"How was the trip?"
I smiled.
"It was fun."
Cana suddenly spoke from behind me.
"Except for Ichiya."
Irene looked confused.
"Ichiya?"
I sighed.
"Long story."
Erza giggled.
Irene raised an eyebrow.
"I see."
I looked toward the kitchen.
"Can we have something sweet?"
Irene smiled.
"Of course."
Cana cheered.
Erza smiled.
Luna wagged her tail.
I looked around our home.
After several days away, everything felt exactly as it should.
Lunaris had been fun.
The journey had been an adventure.
But coming back here reminded me of something simple.
There was nowhere else I'd rather return to.
This was home.
Fairy Tail was home.
And somehow, I had a feeling our little trip wouldn't be the last time we'd leave Magnolia together.