Hargeon Port, January, Light Snow.
Tiny snowflakes, like ethereal spirits, drifted lightly, briefly resting on Lucy's golden hair before melting into glistening dewdrops.
She instinctively pulled her white, plush cloak, embroidered with subtle patterns, tighter around herself. This expensive garment swayed gently in the cold wind, its silver-threaded embroidery shimmering faintly in the snowy light.
Looking up at the magic item shop hidden at the street corner, the faded wooden sign bore the ancient script,'Stardust Gate.' Traces of golden paint still clung to the edges of the letters, appearing especially mysterious in the falling snow.
'This is it...' Lucy murmured softly, her slender fingers unconsciously caressing the Celestial Spirit key ring at her waist, the metal clinking with a crisp sound.
She took a deep breath, the cold air, mixed with the unique salty scent of the harbor, filling her nostrils. 'The place guided by the Southern Cross Celestial Spirit, I hope it won't disappoint me.'
As she pushed open the heavy oak door, the brass bell above the lintel chimed a clear 'ding-a-ling,' like some mysterious welcoming ceremony.
The shop was dimly lit, with only a few antique bronze oil lamps casting a warm, orange glow, illuminating the tiny dust motes suspended in the air.
The scent of sandalwood intertwined with old parchment, making one feel as if they had stepped into an ancient magical library.
Lucy's boot heels tapped on the aged wooden floor, producing a dull echo.
Behind the counter, a middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed, salt-and-pepper beard slowly looked up.
He wore gold-rimmed spectacles, and behind the lenses, his eyes gleamed with the shrewdness characteristic of a merchant in the lamplight.
When he clearly saw the visitor, the corners of his wrinkled eyes curved slightly upward, revealing a perfectly modulated smile.
'Welcome, young lady,' the owner's voice was low and gentle, with a slight hoarseness, as if from years of tobacco smoke. 'On this snowy afternoon, how may I assist you?'
Lucy lightly flicked the snow-dusted hem of her cloak, the snowflakes tracing a graceful arc in the air before dissolving.
She walked directly to the counter, her finger tapping lightly on the polished mahogany surface: 'I'm here to buy a Celestial Spirit key.'
The owner's eyebrows rose slightly, and a hint of surprise flickered in his eyes behind the lenses: 'Oh?'
He slowly took off his glasses, wiping the lenses with a silk handkerchief. 'Celestial Spirit keys are not common, especially...' He deliberately drew out the last word, and when he put his glasses back on, his gaze became sharp, '...the valuable ones.'
Lucy met his gaze, and firm light shimmered in her azure eyes.
She took out a uniquely shaped key from her waist, gently shaking it in the lamplight: 'The Southern Cross Celestial Spirit told me you have what I'm looking for here.'
The owner's gaze lingered on the key for a moment, and the smile at the corner of his mouth deepened:'So that's it...'
He turned and walked towards the row of antique cabinets behind him, inlaid with intricate patterns. His thin fingers paused at the top drawer, and he softly chanted an obscure incantation.
The drawer slid open silently, and he took out a small box covered in black velvet, with a star pattern embroidered in silver thread on its lid.
The moment the box opened, a soft silver light spilled out.
Inside lay a uniquely shaped key. The key's handle was meticulously carved into the shape of a charming little dog, with two tiny blue sapphires embedded in its eyes, sparkling with a lively glow in the lamplight.
'The Canis Minor Celestial Spirit key,' the owner's voice held a hint of pride. He gently stroked the key's surface with his gloved hand. 'Legend says it's a pet Celestial Spirit created by ancient gods to keep Canis Major from feeling lonely.'
He looked up, observing Lucy's reaction. 'While its combat power isn't strong, it's an extremely rare treasure in the collector's world, highly favored by young lords and ladies of royalty and nobility.'
Lucy leaned in to observe, her golden hair falling over the box.
She could clearly see every exquisite carved detail on the key, and even smell the faint magical aura emanating from the metal.
She nodded, a knowing smile playing on her lips: 'Indeed, it's rare.'
Without the slightest hesitation, Lucy took out a gold-embossed checkbook from her cloak's inner pocket, the quill pen scratching softly as it moved across the paper.
She wrote down the amount of one hundred thousand, then elegantly pushed the check towards the owner: 'I'll take it.'
The owner took the check, his thumb caressing the gold-embossed edge, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: 'A decisive customer.'
He carefully placed the Canis Minor key into a velvet pouch embroidered with astrological patterns and handed it to Lucy.
Lucy took the bag, her fingertips feeling the shape of the key beneath the fabric.
She didn't leave immediately, but instead leaned forward, resting her hands on the counter.
This movement made the Heartfilia family crest on her chest—a golden iris brooch inlaid with a sapphire—sparkle in the lamplight.
'But, owner...' Her voice suddenly dropped, carrying an undeniable firmness, 'I didn't come here today for this pet Celestial Spirit with no combat power.'
The owner's smile froze on his face, and his eyes behind the lenses narrowed slightly.
The shop suddenly became exceptionally quiet, even the crackling of the oil lamps was clearly audible.
'Canis Minor is here with you,' Lucy said, word by word, each syllable like a heavy hammer, 'then the Canis Major Celestial Spirit key should also be here, shouldn't it?'
The air seemed to solidify.
The owner pushed up his glasses, the cold reflection from the lenses obscuring the change in his expression.
He turned, pretending to tidy the items on the counter, his fingers trembling imperceptibly: 'I'm sorry, miss, I don't have the Canis Major Celestial Spirit here.'
Lucy chuckled softly, taking out another key from her waist—the Aquarius key, glowing with a cold blue light in the lamplight.
She gently placed the key on the counter, the metal clinking crisply against the wood: 'It seems I need to repeat myself.'
Her voice was still gentle, yet carried an irresistible power, 'I want the Canis Major Celestial Spirit key you have, the one also known as'Sirius,' the Celestial Spirit key with combat power close to that of the Zodiac Celestial Spirits.'
She opened her checkbook again, the sound of the quill scratching on the paper exceptionally jarring in the silent shop: 'I offer three million.'
The owner's Adam's apple bobbed, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
He was silent for a moment, looking at the Aquarius key in Lucy's hand, then finally let out a long sigh: 'You certainly know a lot...'
He turned and walked towards a wall in the back of the shop, covered with ancient oil paintings, stopping in front of the third painting depicting an astrological chart.
His fingers fumbled along the edge of the frame, pressing a hidden mechanism.
The wall slid open silently, revealing a hidden compartment inlaid with a complex magic circle.
The owner softly chanted an incantation, and the patterns of the magic circle lit up with blue light in sequence.
The moment the compartment opened, a fierce wave of magical power swept through the entire shop, making the flames of the oil lamps flicker.
He took a silver box from the compartment, a roaring wolf's head carved on its lid. The moment the box opened, Lucy's breath caught in her throat -
Inside, a completely silver-white key lay quietly. The key's handle was sculpted into the shape of a wolf howling at the sky, with two blood-red gemstones embedded in its eyes, glinting dangerously in the dim shop.
Strange magical patterns flowed across the key's surface, pulsating slightly as if alive.
'Sirius Celestial Spirit key,' the owner's voice became exceptionally serious, each word seemingly squeezed through his teeth. 'Five million, no negotiation.'
A triumphant smile played on Lucy's lips. She unhesitatingly wrote down the amount, then firmly signed 'Lucy Heartfilia, Heartfilia Merchant Guild Heiress' in the signature space.
The sound of the pen scratching across the paper was exceptionally clear in the silent shop.
The owner took the check, and when he saw the surname so famous in the magic world, his pupils contracted sharply: 'Heartfilia...' His voice held a hint of awe, 'The Fiore Kingdom's Celestial Spirit Mage family, continuous for four hundred years.'
He looked up, re-examining the golden-haired girl before him, his gaze lingering on the family crest on her chest and the key ring at her waist:'So that's how it is.'
He solemnly handed the key to Lucy. The moment of transfer, the key suddenly emitted a faint hum, as if responding to its new owner's call.
Lucy felt a powerful wave of magic flow through her fingertips and throughout her body, making her shiver involuntarily.
'Sirius is in your hands,' the owner's voice held a hint of relief, 'it should not be disgraced.'
Lucy held the key up to her eyes, the silver light reflecting on her delicate face.
The key warmed slightly in her hand, seemingly adapting to its new owner's magical fluctuations.
'It certainly won't.'
Her voice was soft, yet filled with determination.
Just then, a sudden commotion erupted outside the shop.
Through the display window, people could be seen running in a panic.
Faintly, someone could be heard shouting: 'Fire Dragon! It's Lord Fire Dragon! Fairy Tail's Fire Mage!'
Hearing the name 'Fairy Tail,' Lucy's eyes instantly lit up.
She quickly hung the Sirius key in the most prominent position on her waist, then politely nodded to the owner: 'I'll take my leave.'
The moment she pushed open the shop door, the dazzling sunlight made her squint.
The snow had stopped at some point, and the winter sun shone on the wet streets, reflecting a kaleidoscope of colors.
The crowd surged like a tide towards the Hargeon Port, interspersed with exclamations and the sounds of fire explosions.
Lucy flicked her cloak, her golden hair shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight.
She unhesitatingly followed the crowd towards the center of the commotion, the newly acquired keys at her waist clinking softly with her steps, producing a pleasant metallic sound.
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