In the Fairy Tail guild, like any other day of the week, friendship was in the air a fraternity where affection was shown through a massive brawl. You could punch the first face you came across, and the other person, far from taking it personally, would strike back, starting a dance of kicks and punches throughout the entire guild.
Alex, sitting at the bar, and Cana, who was beside him, were having a casual chat. Mirajane arrived with Alex's food on a tray. "Here is your meal, enjoy."
Alex began to eat while Mirajane looked at Cana. "What brings you to the bar, Cana? Usually, you're drinking over there," Mirajane said, pointing to a table where a fight was breaking out.
Cana looked over to where Mirajane pointed and rolled her eyes. "Your question actually offends me, Mirajane. If I had stayed there, I'd already be fighting them or knocked out in some corner."
Mirajane covered her mouth as she let out a small giggle. "That's true. When it comes to a fight, those idiots aren't delicate at all… they should learn more from Alex, who is so calm."
Alex, who was happily eating, heard his name mentioned. "Well, I don't really have the energy to play with them; besides, I just started my training."
"If I joined the fight, I'd definitely get knocked out by any of them, so I'd rather stay away from the chaos," Alex said as he continued eating.
Mirajane looked at Alex and smiled. "So, you're the type who doesn't have much energy…" she said, her eyes drifting toward Alex's lower half. "Men like that aren't very popular with the ladies."
Cana, who was listening, spat out her beer. Alex choked slightly on his food. The double entendre had caught them completely off guard.
Seeing their reactions, Mirajane laughed. Ever since she heard about his "problems" from Erza and showed her that adult magazine, she had been hoping to catch some gossip about the two of them. Neither said a word, even though the change was obvious.
The boy no longer looked like a panda, and Erza gave off a much more feminine vibe than before. She wondered if they had already crossed the line. As a woman, she was curious, but since neither of them would speak, she had to drop hints to read their expressions.
The atmosphere became a bit awkward, so Cana broke the ice by asking Alex, "How's your training going? I heard you've already awakened your magic."
Alex silently thanked Cana for changing the subject. "It's going well so far. I've been training my body physically every day, and I just started with magic, but I've already mastered a very useful lifesaver. Watch!"
Alex grabbed the knife he was using to cut his meat and stabbed it into his own hand without the slightest hesitation. Both girls gasped.
"Are you crazy? Why would you do something like that?" Mirajane cried.
"Quick, let's go to the infirmary! Why did you do something so reckless?" Cana added.
Alex left the knife lodged in his left hand, and with his right, he waved it from side to side as if dismissing their concern.
"Relax. I did this to show you how broken my magic is." Pulling the knife out, Alex let his magic circulate over the wound. Seconds later, his hand looked as if it had never been injured; there was no trace of blood, no scar nothing.
"What the hell was that?" Cana said, her face completely stunned. Her mind was playing tricks on her; she had clearly seen him stab his hand. And now, the wound was gone.
Mirajane was just as surprised. They had seen all kinds of magic, but for a wound to vanish like that must be some kind of illusion or something far more complex.
Alex enjoyed the sight of the surprised women; any man likes to show off in front of beauties, and he was no exception.
"As you can see, my magic is a bit special. Let's keep this between us if possible… or at least, don't let it leave the guild," Alex said seriously, giving weight to the importance of his power.
Both girls nodded. As Fairy Tail wizards, they knew what to say and what not to say, especially regarding a guildmate's magic.
"Alright, we promise not to say anything… now talk! What kind of trick was that?" Cana asked impatiently.
"Well, I call this magic All Fiction. It can negate the reality of something that has happened, erasing facts, states, and conditions. Imagine a book where it's written that I pierced my hand with a knife; by using my magic, I erase the part where I get stabbed, rewriting reality."
After Alex described his magic, both girls looked at the black-haired youth and thought: "Monster."
The guild had another absurdly powerful guy like Gildarts. This was good news for Fairy Tail; the stronger the members, the more prestige the guild had, and the better-paying missions they would get.
"Wow, so the guy Erza rescued is actually strong. Who would've thought? One day you arrive with a high fever, and a week later you awaken such powerful magic," Mirajane said.
Cana, meanwhile, was already making plans in her head. She had tried to pass the S-Class wizard promotion exam three times in a row without success.
Being summer, there was still half a year before the next S-Class exam. Erza, Mirajane, Laxus, and Mystogan were the last to become S-Class wizards. She was the only one who had failed so many times, using alcohol to numb her depression and lost confidence.
But if the new guy… if Alex could be her partner for the S-Class exam, she might finally succeed. To get him to help, she would have to convince him, whatever the cost.
Mirajane noticed the glint in Cana's eyes; the look she was giving Alex was far too obvious. It seemed she had found a new source of entertainment.
Mira smiled at what the future might hold. If she wanted things to be entertaining, she would have to guide them to take a certain shape. Otherwise, she would just ask him, and he'd probably agree without a second thought.
Alex, without knowing it, was already the subject of a conspiracy just for talking about his magic. His desire to show off a little would lead him even further astray than Erza already had.