Gulp, gulp—
Makarov drained the water from his wooden mug in one go, then leaned back and enjoyed the rare moment of peace.
The guild hall had already closed for the night, and most of Fairy Tail’s members had gone home.
As usual, however, a few hopeless drunks remained sprawled across benches and tables, snoring away.
One of them even had a bubble inflating and deflating beneath his nose with every breath.
Makarov shook his head at the sight.
Step.
Step.
Step…
Two dark figures appeared at the entrance.
Makarov glanced over, sucked in a sharp breath, and felt his heart skip a beat.
Once he recognized them, all the tension drained from his body.
He scratched his head in exasperation.
“You certainly know how to surprise people.
Don’t walk around looking like that so late at night—you’re going to scare someone to death.”
The newcomers were naturally Ron, still carrying his knife, and Cana, who had followed him back while holding Riki in her arms.
The little white dog simply hung out his tongue and wore his usual vacant grin.
Ron nodded, then removed the cumbersome pointed helmet.
The instant it came off, he released a long breath and rubbed one cheek without caring how undignified he looked.
“Whew…
Keeping the same expression for that long was making my face cramp.”
Without the small increase in mental strength he had gained from slaughtering chickens, he doubted he could have maintained Silencer’s stern expression for so many hours.
Cana stared at him.
The moment Ron removed his helmet, it was as though he had turned into a completely different person.
Makarov snorted through his nose.
The boy’s commitment to performance art never failed to give him a headache.
He then smiled kindly at Cana.
“Didn’t you leave earlier, child?
Why have you come back?”
“Um…
well…”
Cana lowered her head, unsure where to begin.
Ron pinched the bridge of his nose and explained for her.
“Master, she seemed to be lost.
It’s dangerous for a girl to wander around alone at night, so I brought her back while I was passing by.”
Cana nodded shyly.
“This is my first time in Magnolia.
The town is so big that I…
got lost.”
“I see.”
Makarov nodded in understanding.
“Then you can stay here tonight.
It’s far too dark outside for you to keep wandering around.”
Cana quickly agreed.
Now that she had somewhere safe to stay, Ron turned to leave.
“Wait.
You’re staying too.”
Ron’s eyes widened.
He pointed at himself, wondering whether he had heard him correctly.
“Yes, you.
And what’s the story with that knife?”
Makarov looked helplessly at the bloodstained butcher knife Ron was still carrying.
Ron raised it to chest level and pointed at the chipped edge.
“I damaged it while slaughtering chickens and tried to compensate the owner.
She said it wasn’t necessary and that I could keep it if I liked.”
Ron tilted his head.
‘Those hand gestures I used should’ve meant that, right?
Maybe I should buy her a new knife tomorrow just in case.’
Cana looked even more confused the longer he spoke.
The difference between Ron with and without the helmet was so dramatic that she had no idea how to react.
Makarov shook his head.
He was worried that Ron might run into danger walking home this late.
More importantly, he wanted to keep the boy indoors before he frightened anyone else.
Looking at Ron reminded Makarov of Laxus, who had become increasingly distant from him, and he sighed.
Why were boys always so difficult?
…
A short while later, Ron and Cana sat with Makarov around a round table, each holding a wooden mug filled with orange juice.
Riki’s leash had been repaired and tied to a nearby pillar.
The dog was already curled up on the floor asleep.
After chatting for a while, Ron yawned.
“Master, sitting around like this is getting a little boring.”
Makarov raised an eyebrow.
“Do you have a better idea?”
Ron smiled and found an old deck of tarot cards that had been gathering dust near the bar.
“Let’s play Old Maid!”
…
Time flew by as they played one round after another.
Some enjoyed themselves far more than others.
Makarov sat devastated in his chair, hugging his knees as he questioned every decision that had led him to this moment.
“Why?
Why do I keep losing to children?”
Nearly every round had ended with Makarov holding the final unmatched card.
Ron wore a smug expression as he mercilessly mocked him.
“You’re still too inexperienced, Master.
Go practice some more.”
Cana watched them bicker, her eyes curving into crescents as she laughed.
Makarov’s fighting spirit soon reignited, and he demanded another round.
Ron and Cana both agreed.
The atmosphere was cheerful, so as Ron drew a card from Cana’s hand, he casually asked, “Cana, now that you’re here, have you thought about joining Fairy Tail?”
Cana paused and fell into thought after drawing her next card.
“Staying here?”
Makarov immediately perked up and nodded.
“That’s right.
If you join Fairy Tail, you won’t need to search for somewhere to live.
The guild can arrange a place in the girls’ dormitory for you.”
Cana discarded a matching pair and lowered her head.
“But I’m not a Mage…”
“Then you can learn magic,” Ron said before she could retreat into doubt.
“Once you become a Fairy Tail Mage, you’ll have every reason to stay here.”
He glanced at the cards in her hands.
“Card Magic might suit you.
You haven’t lost a single round.”
Makarov nodded in agreement.
“Card Magic…
That’s not a bad idea.”
Cana still hesitated.
“Do you think I could really learn magic?”
“You have to believe in yourself,” Ron told her.
“Everything begins in the heart.
“As long as you believe, the future you’re hoping for will eventually come.”
Cana stared at him, and hope began rising within her again.
Her father belonged to this guild.
If she lived nearby, then surely she would find another chance to tell him who she was one day.
“All right.
I’ll try learning magic.”
After saying it, however, another worry surfaced.
What if her father never recognized her?
Makarov was delighted by her answer, but then he looked down at the two cards remaining in his hand and visibly deflated.
Cana casually drew one, leaving him with the Old Maid yet again.
Makarov had lost another round.
“What kind of terrible game is this?!
Again!”
Ron began gathering the cards with a smile.
“No.
I’m bored of it now.”
Watching the two argue like family eased much of the uncertainty in Cana’s heart, and her smile returned.
Eventually, she yawned and lay down on one of the benches, quickly drifting off to sleep.
Makarov looked at her with a fond smile.
“Girls are so much sweeter and more innocent.
Far more adorable than troublesome boys like you.”
He turned toward Ron and shook his head.
“My first priority will be keeping her away from you before you corrupt her.”
Ron merely smiled and said nothing.
‘You’ve never seen what she’s like when she grows up and starts drinking.
One look would destroy that fantasy.’
Then again, who knew what would happen now?
His presence had already changed the story, so the future was no longer certain.
“By the way, Master, is there somewhere more private we can talk?”
Ron swept his gaze around the first-floor hall.
Makarov looked at him curiously.
“What for?”
“I recently found a few spells hidden away at home.
I’ve just learned how to use them, and I’d like you to evaluate them.”
“Oh?”
Makarov raised an eyebrow, his curiosity deepening.
What sort of magic had this child learned that required his personal assessment?