Rocketing through the sky at breakneck speed, Caelan pulled out the crumpled request flyer and gave it another look.
‘Hmm, why does this setup feel so familiar?’ he thought, narrowing his eyes against the wind.
‘A church…
a demon…’ He stared at the paper in silence.
‘Holy crap.
Mirajane, Elfman, and Lisanna!’ A satisfied smirk crossed his face as he stuffed the flyer back into his pocket.
“Alright, alright.
I guess I’ll forgive the old man for launching me this time.” He shifted his gaze downward, trying to get his bearings.
“Let’s see here…
where exactly did he throw me?” Caelan pulled out a map, squinting as he compared the topography to the sprawling towns blurring past beneath him.
His eyes widened.
“God damn it!
You crazy old man, you threw me in the wrong direction!!” Down in the town below, a little girl pointed excitedly at a brilliant streak of light tearing across the midday sky.
“Mom, look!
A shooting star!” “My goodness,” her mother smiled.
“Quick, sweetie, make a wish.” On the outskirts of that same town, a family was sitting down for a peaceful lunch in their modest home.
“Alright, everyone dig in,” the father said, taking his seat.
His eldest son paused, holding his spoon in midair.
“Dad…
do you feel the ground shaking?” “What nonsense are you on about?” the father scolded.
“Are you drunk at noon?” “Oh, stop it, you two,” the mother sighed, bringing a steaming pot to the table.
“The soup is ready.
Eat before it gets cold.” The moment she set the pot down, the liquid inside began to ripple and slosh violently against the rim.
“See?!” the son cried out, pointing at the bowl.
“I told you it was shaking!
Dad, is it an earthquake?!” High above the clouds, having realized he was flying entirely off course, Caelan channeled his magic.
High-density energy gathered at his fingertip, rapidly compressing into a blindingly bright golden sphere.
“Better dial back the power a bit,” he muttered.
“Cero!” KABOOM—!!!
The massive energy beam shot backward, completely blowing the top off a distant mountain peak.
The sheer recoil instantly killed his forward momentum, bringing him to a dead stop in midair.
Caelan looked at the decapitated mountain and nodded in satisfaction.
“Yep.
I’m billing the property damage for that one straight to the Master.” But while he was busy admiring his handiwork, gravity took over.
He began plummeting straight down.
Inside the house, the father and son were currently bent over, inspecting the table legs to see if they were uneven.
CRASH!
The roof instantly caved in.
A shower of splintered wood and clay tiles exploded outward as a human projectile slammed directly into the center of their dining table, sending soup and dishes flying everywhere.
The three family members froze, their brains completely short-circuiting.
They stared blankly at the steaming crater where their lunch used to be.
“Ugh…” Caelan groaned, rubbing his head as he sat up among the debris.
“I was so busy plotting my revenge against the Master that I completely forgot I was still in the sky.” He blinked, looking up to find the family staring at him with wide, unblinking eyes, paralyzed by sheer shock.
Feeling incredibly awkward, Caelan quickly scrambled to his feet and brushed off his jacket.
“Ahem.
Right.
Fairy Tail will cover all the damages for this.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out a crisp business card, and gently placed it in the father’s trembling hand.
“Here’s my card.
If you’re ever looking to rent property in Magnolia, I’ll give you a ten percent discount.” With a flash of golden light, Caelan vanished from the house.
It took a long moment for the family to finally snap out of their daze.
The father slowly looked down at the business card resting in his palm.
It read: Caelan’s Rentals.
“God damn it!” the father yelled.
“I have never been so speechless in my entire life!” Far away, Caelan grumbled to himself as he sprinted across the countryside.
“That damn old man!” Back in Magnolia, sitting comfortably at the guild bar, Makarov let out a violent sneeze.
“Achoo!
Why do I suddenly feel like someone is trying to stab me in the back?” Evening had fallen by the time Caelan finally arrived.
“Took me all afternoon, but I finally made it,” he sighed, rolling his shoulders.
Strauss Village was eerily quiet.
The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the dirt roads, yet there wasn’t a single person in sight.
“Okay, why is it completely deserted out here?
Is everyone just hiding inside?” Caelan walked up to the nearest house and knocked firmly on the wooden door.
Knock, knock, knock!
“Excuse me, could you open up?” Caelan called out.
“I’m a Mage from Fairy Tail.
I’m here to deal with the demon.” Instantly, a frantic clattering echoed from inside the house.
The door swung open, revealing a terrified but desperate villager.
The man didn’t even greet him; he just leaned out and screamed at the top of his lungs.
“Everyone, come out!
The Mage is here!
He’s here for the demon!!” Doors immediately flew open all down the street.
The once-empty village was suddenly swarming with people pouring out of their homes.
“Is it true?!” “The Lord Mage is finally here!” “Oh, thank goodness!
We’re saved!” “Lord Mage, please!
You have to drive the demon out of our village!” Caelan winced as the chaotic chatter washed over him.
He could already feel a headache coming on.
“Silence!” an elderly voice barked.
The villagers immediately quieted down, parting like the sea to let an old man step forward.
“Greetings, Lord Mage,” the old man said, bowing deeply.
“I am the chief of this village.
We have been desperately awaiting your arrival.
Please, we beg of you…
destroy the demon.” Caelan scanned the crowd.
The sheer terror in the villagers’ eyes the moment the word ‘demon’ was spoken was palpable.
As his gaze swept the perimeter, he caught movement in a distant alleyway.
A little girl with short, striking white hair was peeking out from behind a corner, watching him intently.
The moment they made eye contact, she flinched, pulled her head back, and took off running.
Reaching out with his Observation Haki, Caelan easily locked onto a faint, dark energy signature pulsing in the direction she had fled.
He pointed down the street.
“Your church is that way, right?” “Yes, Lord Mage.
It is,” the chief replied.
“Would you like me to find someone to guide you?” At the mention of acting as a guide, every single villager collectively dropped their heads, staring intensely at their shoes, utterly terrified of being chosen.
Caelan waved them off.
“No need.
I have a pretty good idea of where it is.” Leaving the cowardly crowd behind, Caelan strolled casually through the village, heading straight for the abandoned church.
Outside the dilapidated church, a small silhouette sprinted desperately toward the heavy wooden doors.
“Sister Mira!
Brother Elfman!” Lisanna gasped, out of breath.
“It’s bad!
The Mage is here!!” She burst through the doors.
“The Mage is here!” “Lisanna!” a sharp, scolding voice immediately answered.
“How many times have I told you?
You cannot go wandering around outside by yourself!” “Hehe, I’m sorry, Sis,” Lisanna replied, though her panic quickly returned.
“But that’s not important right now!
A Mage from the guild arrived.
We have to leave.
Now!” Mirajane’s stern expression softened.
She stepped forward, gently rubbing her little sister’s hair with a sad, resigned smile.
“It’s alright,” Mirajane whispered.
“Maybe…
maybe this is just my fate.” She turned to her younger brother.
“Elfman.” “I’m here, Sis.” “You have to take care of Lisanna,” Mirajane instructed, her voice trembling slightly.
“I’ll stay behind and hold off the Mage.
The two of you need to run as far away from here as you can!” “No!” the two siblings cried out in unison.
“We’re not leaving you!
We want to stay together!” “You can’t!” Mirajane yelled, tears brimming in her eyes.
“I’m cursed!
I’m an ominous monster, and I’ll only bring you pain!
Please, just listen to me and go!” “No!
We won’t leave you!” Just as the siblings were clinging to each other in tears, a lazy voice echoed through the vaulted ceiling of the church.
“None of you are going anywhere.” ‘Hmm?’ Caelan paused, a bead of sweat dropping down his temple.
‘Why do I always sound like a villain when I make an entrance?’ Mirajane reacted instantly, shoving Elfman and Lisanna behind her to shield them.
Caelan stepped into the dim light of the church, his eyes landing immediately on Mirajane’s right arm, which was completely transformed into a grotesque, clawed demonic limb.
‘So this is what Mirajane looked like as a kid,’ Caelan thought, genuinely intrigued.
Before Mirajane could launch an attack, Lisanna broke free from her sister’s grip and sprinted directly toward Caelan, throwing her arms out wide to block his path.
“Lisanna!
Come back here!” Mirajane screamed.
Lisanna completely ignored her sister.
She looked up at Caelan, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Lord Mage, please!
I beg you, spare my sister!
She’s just possessed by a demon—she hasn’t hurt a single person!” “Lisanna, get away from him!” Dark, volatile Magic Power erupted from Mirajane’s body, swirling aggressively around her demonic arm.
She glared daggers at Caelan.
“If you lay a single finger on my sister, I will kill you!!” Caelan sighed, scratching the back of his head.
“I haven’t even said a word yet.
Stop making me out to be the bad guy.” He crouched down to eye level with Lisanna and gently ruffled her white hair.
“Relax.
I’m not here to kill any of you.” Lisanna sniffled, her large, tear-filled eyes staring up at him.
“R-really?” “Of course.”