The night at the Fairy Tail guild was more alive than usual. The chandeliers swayed gently from the rhythmic stomping of boots and the pounding of tables, casting dancing shadows against the old wooden walls. The aroma of ale, warm food, and a hint of pipe smoke filled the air—a chaos that felt… like home to them all.
Amidst the ruckus, the door to the second floor creaked open.
Heavy yet casual footsteps echoed down the wooden stairs. Gildarts Clive had finally returned to the first floor. His orange hair was messy, and his long coat looked battered from his long journey. Yet, his expression remained the same—slightly dazed, slightly relaxed, as if the world never truly bothered him.
He sat at the bar with a fluid motion, like someone who had done it a thousand times.
"Welcome back!" Macao shouted, hoisting his mug. "Yo," Gildarts replied shortly, accepting a drink without looking at who gave it to him.
He took a slow sip. But before he could even savor it— "TELL US ABOUT THE MISSION!!" Several members swarmed him instantly, faces full of enthusiasm. "It was an S-Class mission, right?!" "What did you fight?! A Dragon?!" "How could it be a Dragon? They've been extinct for ages!" "How many cities got flattened?!"
Gildarts stopped drinking. He raised an eyebrow and scratched his cheek. "Hmm... it was ordinary."
Silence. A few people blinked. "...Huh?" "Yeah... just walked around, met some dark guilds, then finished." "THAT IS NOT ORDINARY, YOU IDIOT!!"
Laughter exploded. Tables were slapped. Someone nearly choked on their drink. Gildarts' eyes moved slowly, observing how the guild had changed. Then, his gaze stopped. In the corner, two children sat with Macao and Wakaba. One leaned back casually in his chair, feet on the table, laughing and looking completely at ease. The other sat more properly, holding a few cards, shuffling them softly.
"Hmm?" Gildarts narrowed his eyes. "Since when did we start taking in kids?"
Makarov, standing beside him, smiled thinly. "New members." Gildarts raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?" "The boy is Ren. The girl, Cana."
Gildarts looked closer, tilting his head as if trying to read something invisible. "Their auras are strange," he muttered. Makarov chuckled. "Especially the boy's." He took a sip of his drink. "He fought Laxus Dreyar."
Gildarts froze. His glass stopped mid-air. "...What?" Makarov's smile widened. "And it was a draw."
A heartbeat of silence. Then— "HAHAHAHA!!" Gildarts' laughter roared through the hall. He slammed the table so hard the glasses rattled. "Seriously?! Laxus?!"
He turned toward Laxus, who was leaning against a pillar nearby, hands in his pockets. "Oi! Laxus!" Gildarts barked. "You lost to a rookie?!"
The guild erupted. "WOOO!!" "TELL HIM!" Laxus looked over slowly, his brow furrowed, tiny sparks of yellow electricity flickering around his body. "I wasn't being serious," he replied flatly.
The members immediately jeered. "LIAR!" "YOU WERE BEATEN BLACK AND BLUE!" "I SAW IT MYSELF!" Macao pointed dramatically. Wakaba added through a puff of smoke, "And you backed off while lying on the ground."
Laxus huffed. "That was... strategy." "A LOSING STRATEGY?!"
Laughter broke out again. But amidst the noise, Makarov and Gildarts shared a look. A small smile played on both their faces. Laxus, who usually stood cold and distant, was now in the middle of the banter. He didn't leave, and that was enough.
Laxus finally stepped forward, his eyes meeting Gildarts'. "Since you're back, I want to challenge you to a duel." Lightning began to crackle around him. Gildarts just smiled. "Hmm? A challenge?" "Yes." "Now?" Laxus nodded. But Gildarts shook his head. "Tomorrow. I just got home. Give me time to drink first."
Laxus clicked his tongue. "Fine. But don't run away." Gildarts smirked. "I never run from a fight."
It didn't take long for the guild to turn into a betting arena. Tables were covered in jewels, bottles, and even jackets. "How long will Laxus last?!" "Ten minutes!" "Five!" "Three minutes!" "Two minutes and he's a hero!"
Ren sat casually, one leg crossed over the other. He watched Gildarts from a distance. "I'm in," he said suddenly. Macao leaned in. "How much?" Ren looked at Gildarts, then Laxus. "...One minute."
"HAH?!" "That's way too fast!" Ren only offered a thin smile. Cana, sitting beside him, looked at him softly. "...That fast?" Ren didn't answer directly. Cana looked down, her hands tight around her cards. In her heart, she felt a strange, heavy knot.
The Next Day: Behind the Guild
The training ground was a vast stretch of earth marked by old cracks. A large circle of guild members had formed. In the center, Laxus stood tall, electricity roaring. Opposite him, Gildarts stood relaxed, one hand in his pocket.
Ren stood in the front of the crowd, focused. Cana stood beside him, clutching her cards. "...Be careful..." she whispered. It wasn't clear who she was talking to.
Makarov stepped forward. "Begin!"
In an instant—BOOM!!! Lightning struck. Laxus moved. Fast. Without hesitation. A full-power assault. But Gildarts simply took a step. One step. His hand went up. CRACK. A strange sound, like something being pulverized. The lightning shattered and vanished. Laxus's eyes bulged. "...What?"
Before he could react, Gildarts was in front of him. One punch. DUUM!! The ground shattered. Dust billowed. And Laxus... fell.
Silence. No one moved. Only the sound of the wind. Ren narrowed his eyes. "...One move." Macao dropped his glass. "It's... over?" Wakaba exhaled. "...Monster."
Cana covered her mouth. Is that... my father's power?
In the center of the arena, Laxus lay on the ground. Conscious, but unable to stand. Gildarts scratched his head. "Hmm... sorry. Habit."
"CRAZY!!!" "THAT WAS TOO FAST!!" "NOT EVEN A MINUTE!!" The crowd exploded.
Ren remained silent. His eyes were still on Gildarts, analyzing, trying to feel that "ordinary" aura again. "...Interesting."
He stepped forward, walking straight into the arena. The noise died down as everyone turned to look. "Oi, Ren?" Ren stopped in the middle of the field. His gaze was locked on Gildarts. "One more fight."
The guild went deathly silent. "Is he serious?!" "This kid is insane!"
Gildarts raised an eyebrow. "Kid, what's your name?" "Ren Chicle. Just call me Ren. New member."
Gildarts stared at him for a few seconds, trying to read the boy. Then, he grinned. "...Interesting. Alright. I accept."
The crowd erupted once more. "WOOOO!!!" Cana gripped her cards tighter. "...Ren..." But Ren didn't look back. His eyes were only for the legend standing before him.