Everit was silent, but there was a slight curve at the corner of his mouth.
He was considering Emily's request seriously.
He didn't give an immediate answer because this was something that required careful thought.
Emily's magic was quite unique, similar to his, but not quite the same. She had some foundational skills, but that was just the start.
The key to her magic was its adaptability, but what exactly it would become was unknown. The saying goes, "A master can guide you, but the journey is your own."
Emily had a talent for deception magic, but it had many variables—her state of mind, the purpose of her studies, the direction her magic might take, and, most importantly, the truth she sought to portray.
Her magic might end up vastly different from Everit's, or even entirely unique. Just as Gray and Leo's ice magic differed despite being taught by the same mentor, Ur.
Everit's adoptive father practiced a form of deception magic that used words to influence perception, creating subtle effects that caused a sense of disorientation.
His performances were a blend of skill and magic, making him capable of tricks that would be difficult for other magicians without the same combination of talent and practice.
Everit's grandfather had a different approach. He loved food and used deception magic to affect people's taste, turning simple meals into gourmet delights.
He was a man of high moral standards who never pretended to be a chef to mislead people. This same diversity could be expected in Emily's magic.
Everit couldn't guarantee that Emily's magic would resemble his. If her path took her in a different direction, she would have to hone her skills on her own.
Deception magic is tricky. Without the right mindset and dedication, it's easy to waste time and achieve little progress. It demands a lot of creativity and mental agility to truly master it.
Everit's thoughts returned to the present.
"I'll think about it carefully," he said.
Emily nodded eagerly. "Okay!" she replied, clearly thrilled.
The journey continued smoothly without incident. Laxus had received Everit's message and had drawn the battle away from the entrance.
As Everit "observed," he noticed that Laxus was dominating the fight. It wasn't surprising, given the disparity between the Lightning Mage and the Lightning Dragon Slayer.
The courtyard battle had just concluded when Erza and others saw Everit carrying Emily on his back, leading a crowd out of the area. They looked a bit puzzled, wondering what had transpired.
Everit said, "The situation is complicated. I'll explain in more detail later. For now, here's the gist—"
"The people down there are all bad guys. Just punch them."
"Got it!" Natsu immediately clenched both fists and launched himself forward, punching hard into the fray.
"Lucy, Juvia, take Emily and the others to meet Ikaruga and wait for further instructions," Everit directed.
"Understood." Lucy and Juvia nodded.
"This is a communication crystal to reach Ryder. It doesn't have much magic left, so just use it for emergencies," Everit said, handing them a card that transformed into a glowing crystal.
"Got it." Lucy hugged Emily while Juvia took the crystal.
"Lucy, you've gotten stronger," Happy remarked, noticing how easily Lucy lifted Emily.
"Shut up!" Lucy snapped, her voice a mix of annoyance and amusement.
She could definitely feel her strength increasing, but she wasn't thrilled about the idea of turning into a muscle-bound warrior.
"I don't want to end up like one of those super muscular women!" she groaned inwardly.
"Good luck, Brother Everit!" Emily cheered, pumping her tiny fists.
"Thanks," Everit replied, patting her on the head. He then glanced at Erza, Gray, and Natsu. "Alright, let's move."
"Right!" they replied in unison, ready for action.
Suddenly, a loud 'click' echoed across the area—the distinct sound of a camera's shutter.
Everyone turned to look at Everit, who was holding a camera he had seemingly pulled from nowhere.
"My bad," he chuckled, holding up the camera. "I thought this was a good moment for a group shot."
"..."
A photo instantly printed from the camera, capturing the team's surprised expressions.
The scene opens on a bright and sunny day, but the battlefield is littered with debris and chaos.
Erza stands at the center, her expression resolute as she plants her left foot firmly on the ground. To her left is Gray, who scratches the back of his head with a confident smile. To her right, Natsu has his hands clenched into fists, and they are ablaze with flames.
Behind them, partially obscured by Erza's shoulder, stands Everit, who adjusts his glasses with a gentle smile.
Despite the disarray, everyone in the group shares a common focus—they are all looking intently in the same direction.
Erza remains silent, but her eyes convey a mixture of love and appreciation.
"Looks awesome!" Natsu shouts with enthusiasm.
"Not too shabby," Gray adds with a grin.
"Hey, Mr. Everit, can you make a copy of that photo? I want to buy one!" Juvia calls out.
"Erza looks so cool!" Lucy comments.
"Brother Everit, you look great!" Emily adds.
"Everit, why didn't you take a picture of me?" Happy grumbles, the only one who seems a bit upset.
"Alright, everyone, let's go," Everit says, putting away the photograph.
Outside the Ahhanita town, a strange group of individuals gathers at the edge of a magical barrier. Their attire is odd, their movements unconventional, and their overall appearance is quite creative.
"Why is there a barrier here?" one of them asks.
"Isn't it better this way?" another responds.
"Don't break the barrier—it's the only thing keeping that notorious trickster from escaping," someone else says.
"Hey, Knight of Honor, can you open the barrier for us?" another person asks.
"Of course."
The train was screeching to a halt—the brakes howled as the train driver, a seasoned professional, quickly reacted to the sight of a massive obstruction ahead.
He applied the brakes hard to avoid a potential disaster, causing the entire train to shudder and jolt. Some passengers were thrown off balance, stumbling and bumping into one another.
A few people sustained minor injuries from the sudden stop, but the train crew immediately stepped in to calm everyone down, explaining what had happened to keep things from escalating.
In one of the central cars, among the seats in the middle row, sat two strikingly beautiful women.
The first, a white-haired beauty, maintained a calm and gentle demeanor. Seated beside her, near the aisle, was a woman who looked like she might have just stepped out of an elven legend—graceful but with a certain fierceness in her eyes.
After a few minutes, the train stopped completely. Many passengers chose to disembark for various reasons, resulting in an emptier carriage.
That's when a confident-looking man with neatly styled blond hair and an expensive watch on his wrist strolled down the aisle. He stopped at the row where the two women were seated, reaching into his bag to pull out some cash.
He approached two women sitting in the opposite row with children, offering them money. "Excuse me, ladies," he said with a polite smile, "would you mind changing seats?"
The two women eagerly took the money and moved without hesitation—they knew what the man was up to, but they weren't about to turn down free cash.
The man sat down opposite the two beautiful women and introduced himself with a smirk. "Hello, ladies. My name is Jason, and I'm a businessman."
Mirajane glanced at Tiffany, who stayed silent, then she smiled politely but firmly. "I'm sorry, but we're not interested in conversation. Please leave us alone."
Jason wasn't deterred. "Why not? It's not unusual to strike up a conversation, is it? I'm just trying to make some new friends. Sure, I'm interested because you two are stunning, but I genuinely want to get to know you."
With a sudden bang, Tiffany slammed her fist down on the table, her eyes icy as she glared at Jason.
"I don't like humans much. Don't push your luck."
Jason's smile wavered, but he tried to keep his cool. "Whoa, easy there! What's this about 'humans'? Wait a second—you've got those long ears and that flawless face. Are you... an elf?"
****
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