Bab 74: Options for Marin
Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Magnolia.
August, x780.
A little more than an hour had passed since Alfonzo, Cana, and Erza burst into the master bedroom after hearing Marin's scream. In that time, Marin had calmed down enough for her normal form to return. On top of that, her hair turned to a pure blonde color while her eyes turned dark brown.
Now, with Marin out of her costume and wearing a pair of shorts and a t-shirt Elicia lent her, she along with Elicia, Cana, and Erza, was sitting around the dining room table while Alfonzo was in the kitchen cooking dinner for them.
"You know, it would be nice if one of you knew how to cook." Alfonzo said from the kitchen.
"Wow, so you were using your magic subconsciously this whole time?" Cana asked, consciously ignoring Alfonzo's statement. "And from what I could tell, you awakened your [Disguise Magic] Naturally."
"[Disguise Magic]?" Marin asked while tilting her head cutely. "So, that's what it's called."
"Yeah, it's pretty rare, too." Elicia said. "At least, that's what I heard from Fonzie."
"I just get back from an S-Class quest, and this is how I'm treated." Alfonzo muttered. "They're just ignoring me."
"Alfonzo, would you like my assistance?" Erza said, standing from her seat while clenching her right fist in front of her chest.
"Nah, it's okay." Alfonzo replied as he dredged a chicken thigh through a combination of breadcrumbs and his special blend of seasoning. "You know I like to cook. So, it's really not a big deal."
While Erza sat down with a slightly disappointed look on her face, Marin glanced into the kitchen, finding Alfonzo's existence more intriguing as time went by.
'So, let me get this straight…' Marin thought to herself. 'He's super-hot, really strong, and he can cook? He's like perfect husband material. Now I can see why Elicia and Cana are so into him. It looks like Erza has a crush, too.'
"Anyway, Cana's right from what I can tell." Elicia said, smiling at Marin. "You've been using your magic power subconsciously. I mean, look at your hair and eyes."
"Honestly, I never noticed." Marin said while scratching her head awkwardly. "I don't really spend too much time looking at myself. So, when I did, I thought those colors were natural."
"What about when you do your make up?" Cana asked curiously. "Didn't you ever find it strange?"
"Actually, I don't wear make up most of the time." Marin replied. "When I do, it's just a little blush or some lip gloss."
After that statement, Elicia, Cana, and even Erza, to a much lesser degree, looked at Marin with envy in their gazes.
"That's so not fair." Elicia said with a pout. "I spend so much time putting on make up to look good for Fonzie."
"I know what you mean." Cana added. "Half the time I spend getting ready…"
"Half?" Alfonzo chimed in from the kitchen.
"… is spent on my hair and makeup." Cana continued, once again ignoring Alfonzo's comment.
"So, now that you know about your magic, what will you do?" Erza asked calmly.
"I don't know." Marin replied while shaking her head gently. "I mean, I guess I'd like to learn how to use my magic better. Turning into anyone I want would be pretty sweet."
"Yes." Erza replied with a nod. "But you must be careful not to let that kind of power consume you. Magic like that could be an instrument for many evil deeds."
"I don't think you have to worry about that, Erza." Elicia cut in with a smile. "Marin is a good girl. She would never do anything bad with her magic."
Lightly blushing at the complement, Marin returned Elicia's smile with a bright smile of her own.
"But learning how to use your magic would be a good idea." Cana said. "It would really freak people out if you just changed in front of a normal person."
"Cana's right." Alfonzo said as he started frying the chicken he had been coating in breadcrumbs. "Besides, if the wrong people found out about Marin's magic, she could be in danger."
"You mean dark guilds?" Elicia asked, her smile fading away.
"Well, not just dark guilds." Alfonzo replied. "Anyone with evil intentions and enough resources to force her into something."
With that, the girls fell silent. Although Elicia, Cana, and Erza were aware of the possibility Alfonzo mentioned, they did not want to think about it. Marin, on the other hand, was scared by the implication.
"Yeah, I guess that's true." Erza said, breaking the heavy silence. "You should definitely be careful from now on."
"But… What should I do?" Marin asked, having never thought she would find herself in a dangerous situation.
"Well, you should probably join a guild." Cana said. "That way, people would be less likely to target you or your family to get to you."
Although Marin thought that Cana's suggestion was a good one, she was still apprehensive.
"But don't wizards fight a lot?" Marin asked, clearly not thrilled about the idea of fighting.
"Well, that's true." Elicia replied. "A lot of quests involve fighting in some way. But there are a lot of quests where fighting is unnecessary, too."
"Yes, there are investigation and infiltration missions that do not require you to engage in combat." Erza added. "And with your magic, infiltration would be perfect for you."
"Still, it would be better to know some way to defend yourself." Alfonzo said, walking toward the dining room table with a plate filled with savory smelling pieces of golden-brown fried chicken."
"OMG! That smells so~~~ good." Marin said, her thoughts immediately pulled away from the serious conversation once she smelled the chicken up close.
"If you think it smells good, just wait 'til you taste it." Elicia said excitedly with her eyes glued to the chicken in Alfonzo's hands.
A moment later, Alfonzo arrive next to the table. Then, he placed the plate in a position where everyone could reach. He then slapped the back of Elicia's hand, who immediately tried to reach for a drumstick.
"Not so fast, Lici." Alfonzo said while wagging his finger in Elicia's direction. "At least wait until I bring out the sides."
Alfonzo then turned around and returned to the kitchen. A few moments later, he came back carrying five plates and levitating two pans, one filled with baked macaroni and cheese and the other filled with mixed vegetables. Then, after putting the pans on the table and distributing a plate to everyone, he gave the signal for everyone to get some food.
Once everyone made a plate for themselves, they quickly dug into the food.
"Mmm~~!" Marin moaned after taking her first bite of the chicken.
Immediately after realizing what she had done, Marin blushed all the way up to the tips of her ears. Meanwhile, everyone else simply gazed on with amusement. By now, seeing people who had never tried Alfonzo's cooking take their first bite had become a form of enjoyment for the members of Fairy Tail.
The serious conversation, however, was forced to stop for the time being. With such good food in front of everyone, no one was in the mood to talk about such a serious topic. So, until they were all full, not much conversation happened at the dinner table.
"Ugh… I'm stuffed." Marin said, patting her slightly bulging belly.
"That's what she said." Alfonzo said with a smirk, causing Marin to lightly blush while Elicia, Cana, and Erza simply rolled their eyes.
"But seriously." Marin continued, shaking off her slight embarrassment. "How are you not fat when you live with him? If I ate like that every day, I'd be round as a ball."
"You learn to control yourself over time." Cana said. Then, she smirked as she looked at Erza. "Unless you're Erza."
"There is no problem." Erza replied, not even reddening slightly. "Though I tend to overindulge in strawberry shortcake, it's nothing an intense training session cannot overcome. Also, I do not live here."
"Yeah, some good exercise always takes care of the excess." Elicia said while licking her lips as she smiled seductively at Alfonzo.
While Erza looked on with interest and Cana with a hint of envy, Marin was shocked that Elicia made that insinuation so blatantly. Meanwhile, Alfonzo only rolled his eyes.
"Lici, mind the time and place." Alfonzo said calmly. "We have a guest."
"Oh… *Cough* Right." Elicia replied, exchanging her seductive smile for her usual smile. "Anyway, are you staying the nigh, Erza?"
"I had not considered it yet." Erza replied.
"Well, it's still coming down pretty hard." Alfonzo said, looking out of a window. "So, I think you should stay here for the night. I mean, there's no sense in trekking through the rain, right?"
"Is that okay?" Erza asked. "I do not wish to be a bother."
"Of course it's okay." Elicia replied. "You're welcome to spend the night whenever you like. In fact, if the others weren't out on quests, I'd invite them all to have a slumber party."
"I knew she was gonna say that." Cana said with a smile before taking a swig from a bottle of wine.
'They get along so well.' Marin thought to herself as she watched the interactions of the four Fairy Tail wizards. 'I mean, I have some good friends that I'd spend the night with and have slumber parties with. But they seem like their more than friends. It's like they're family.'
Deciding to discuss Marin's options for the future tomorrow with Makarov, Alfonzo, Elicia, Cana, and Erza showed her around the rest of the mansion, ending their tour in the game room. Then, after playing for a few hours, the girls went upstairs to have a little girl time, while Alfonzo went into the master bedroom and fell asleep immediately after getting cleaned up.
The next morning, Alfonzo woke up bright and early before leaving the house shortly afterward. Since he had been gone for a week, he knew that the ruffians in the guild would go crazy if he made them wait for his cooking any longer than necessary.
Meanwhile, the girls slept in a bit longer before also preparing themselves and heading to the guild hall. And while they walked, they chatted happily.
"I've been meaning to ask this since I saw Alfonzo's magic vehicle." Marin said as the four girls walked on the road leading to the guild hall. "But where did you get those magic vehicles? They're nothing like the ones I've seen in Hargeon."
"Oh, Fonzie made them." Elicia replied with a smile.
"Huh?" Marin exclaimed in confusion, her feet coming to a stop. "He… made them?"
"Yeah, A few years ago." Elicia replied with a nod. "His magic makes things like that really easy."
Hearing that, Marin froze with her mouth slightly agape.
"Holy crap!" Marin Exclaimed after coming out of her stupor. "He's a strong wizard, he cooks, he's hot, and now he makes magic vehicles?"
"He makes all sorts of magic items." Cana interjected. "Not just magic vehicles."
"And he has a patten on the new magic engines." Erza added to the explanation.
Once again, Marin froze. The new information was way more than she expected. A moment later, however, she was able to break out of her stupor again.
"No wonder he's like a harem protagonist in the novels I've read!" Marin said, continuing from where she left off.
While Elicia smiled happily at Marin's assessment, Cana frowned slightly, not thrilled with the thought of Alfonzo having more girlfriends. Erza on the other hand, wore a contemplative expression. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the girls, Alfonzo quickly turned away from the ingredients he was preparing, covered his mouth and nose with a towel, before he sneezed.
Eventually, the group of girls reached the guild. Then, they immediately approached Makarov and Elicia explained Marin's situation.
"The girls are right, Child." Makarov said after Elicia's explanation finished. "It would be best if you joined a guild. That way, you would be in the least amount of danger."
"But…" Marin replied, hesitating to agree. "What about my dad? I don't know if he would be okay with that."
"Yes, I understand." Makarov said while stroking his mustache. "Being a wizard is a dangerous occupation, after all. And I doubt there are many non-wizarding parents who would like to see their child doing something so dangerous."
"But it could be even more dangerous if she---" Elicia said, before she was interrupted.
"Stay calm, Elicia." Makarov said in a grandfatherly tone. "I am well aware of the risks if Marin were to remain a regular civilian. So, if becoming a wizard is what you would like, I would be willing to speak with your father, Marin."
"Really?" Marin asked with her eyes wide open.
"Of course." Makarov replied with a nod. "If becoming a wizard is truly what you wish, I would hate to see such a talented young lady like you lose the opportunity to develop their potential."
"That's great. Marin said happily. "Then, I'll try to bring my dad to Magnolia when he gets back from his business trip."
"Very well." Makarov replied, once again stroking his mustache. "I will be available whenever you find the time to visit."
With that, Elicia, Cana, and Erza surrounded Marin excitedly as they left for the usual table, not before ordering their breakfast, though. Meanwhile, Makarov's smile widened.
'Hahaha!' Makarov laughed internally. 'If everything goes well, Fairy Tail will have another talented wizard in its ranks.'
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