Chapter 24: Chapter 24 : Dark Guild!
Kyros let out a sigh of relief as Natsu departed.
Macao was the first opponent Kyros defeated in the Fairy Tail guild, yet Kyros held a favorable impression of him.
Despite his initial impression, Kyros found Macao to be quite amiable. On ordinary days, Macao exuded no sense of airs; he enjoyed cracking jokes and had a penchant for jesting. He was incredibly easygoing, devoid of any pretentiousness.
It was only through their interactions that Kyros realized Macao was just like them, having been raised in the Fairy Tail guild since childhood.
Seven years had passed since Kyros's arrival in this world, and while many memories of Fairy Tail had faded, he still vividly remembered Macao's unwavering loyalty to the guild during its darkest hours. Macao stood by Fairy Tail even at the cost of his own dignity, a testament to his profound love and dedication to the guild.
Such loyalty commanded respect, independent of one's strength. Macao epitomized a true Fairy Tail member, someone who cherished the guild above all else, even above life itself.
"Natsu... what's wrong with him? He just..."
Lucy's confusion regarding Natsu's sudden departure was palpable.
"It's because Natsu is akin to Romeo," Mira interjected.
"Romeo?" Lucy questioned.
Mira elaborated, "He's reminiscent of Romeo's experience. Natsu's father also went away and never returned."
"Although his father was actually his adoptive father, he was still a dragon."
"A dragon?! Natsu was raised by dragons?! How is that possible..." Lucy exclaimed, astonished. Dragons were legendary creatures, shrouded in mystery and said to possess the power to decimate entire nations. None had ever been seen.
"When Natsu was young, a dragon found him in the forest. That dragon taught him everything—from language and culture to magic. But one day, it vanished from Natsu's sight."
"So... that was Igneel..." Lucy's recollection of her conversation with Natsu the previous day suddenly clicked. The fire dragon Natsu had been searching for was none other than Igneel.
"Natsu has always longed to reunite with Igneel; it's rather endearing."
"We... wizards of Fairy Tail... we all carry... pain and sorrow, and I'm no exception..."
Kyros heard Mira's words and understood that she was reminiscing about Lisanna once again. Two years prior, Mira had attained the rank of S-class wizard and embarked on a mission with her brother, Elfman, and sister, Lisanna.
Together, they successfully vanquished the Beastmaster. However, during the process of sealing the Beastmaster's soul, Elfman, though successful, struggled to control the power, leading to unforeseen consequences.
The Beastmaster had taken control of consciousness. In their bid to defeat the Beastmaster, Mira and Lisanna drained their magic power. Unfortunately, Lisanna was overwhelmed and vanished.
The presumption of Lisanna's demise lingered until Kyros returned to the guild, having spent years wandering. Learning the news shook him, but he harbored doubts, recalling Lisanna's presence after the incident and snippets of her storyline.
In truth, Lisanna hadn't perished; she had unwittingly traversed to another world, her memories of the precise events faded. Desiring to converse with Mira about this, Kyros found himself thwarted by the impossibility of crossing worlds. He resolved to retrieve Lisanna when the opportunity arose, intending to preempt the original narrative. His motives ran deep.
The following evening, Natsu and Lucy escorted Macao back to the guild, his injuries severe. After reassuring the guild of his safety, Macao retired to recuperate at home.
A week flitted by swiftly.
Kyros's routine settled into daily guild life: conversing with Mira, indulging in meals and drinks, and occasionally engaging in card games with fellow guildmates. He savored the tranquility, akin to that of a contented retiree.
"Ah... 'Bracelet for magical detection,' 'Spell to lift cursed afflictions,' 'Astrological readings for matters of the heart?!' 'Exorcising demons from volcanic eruptions?!'"
"Quite the assortment of quests," Lucy mused as she scrutinized the quest board, her first thorough examination since joining the guild. Initially coerced by Natsu into forming a team, she had found herself unpaid after completing tasks, essentially toiling in vain.
Now faced with the looming threat of eviction due to unpaid rent, Lucy sought a job that balanced safety and sustenance.
Mira chimed in, "If you have any quests in mind, feel free to let me know! The guild master is currently absent."
"Really?" Lucy's realization dawned belatedly; Makarov, usually seated behind the counter, was absent, with Kyros occupying the spot in front of Mira.
"Due to a scheduled meeting, he's currently unavailable."
"A scheduled meeting?"
"Guild leaders from various regions convene for meetings and submit regular reports."
"The ten most authoritative council members in the magic world have affiliations with governments across different nations and are tasked with upholding order throughout the magical world. This body also presides over the judgment of rogue mages."
"Beneath them are the guild masters, tasked with disseminating the council's decisions, facilitating communication among guilds in different regions, and overseeing us. It's safe to say it's quite a demanding role."
"Huh? I had no idea. There's still communication between the guilds." Lucy, being a newcomer, was entirely unaware of this.
"Inter-guild communication is paramount. Ignoring it could lead to... undesirable consequences."
Natsu whispered ominously into Lucy's ear.
"Hey, hey, hey!!" Lucy shrieked in terror.
Natsu, pleased with his prank's success, chuckled mischievously. "Haha! What are you so scared of, huh?"
"Ugh!! You scared me out of my wits!!" Lucy's heart was still racing from the fright.
"Cowardly Lucy, or should I say, Chicken Lucy."
"Don't just make up nicknames!!"
Mira smiled gently and added, "However, the threat of 'dark mages' does indeed exist. Guilds not allied with this coalition are collectively referred to as Dark Guilds."
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