The moment I stepped out of the Fairy Tail guild hall, the echoes of laughter, clinking mugs, and the endless bickering of mages slowly faded behind me.
A faint smile lingered on my face as I glanced over my shoulder one last time before turning toward the streets of Magnolia.
The city had already embraced the night.
Warm lanterns illuminated the cobblestone roads in soft amber hues, casting long shadows beneath passing carriages and the occasional wandering mage.
Restaurants spilled cheerful conversations onto the streets, their windows glowing with welcoming light.
The sweet aroma of freshly baked bread mingled with the smoky scent of grilled meat from roadside stalls, while musicians played lively tunes in the town square, drawing crowds that laughed and danced without a care in the world.
Magnolia’s nightlife possessed a charm unlike any other.
It wasn’t loud enough to drown out one’s thoughts, nor quiet enough to feel lonely.
It was simply…
alive.
For a brief moment, I slowed my pace, taking in the scenery.
So this is Magnolia at night…
It was beautiful.
As tempting as it was to wander through the bustling streets a little longer, I resisted the urge.
The clock tower in the distance had already chimed past eight.
That realization alone was enough to pull me back to reality.
Mother and Father were waiting.
I had promised them I wouldn’t stay out too late, especially on my very first day as a guild member.
The last thing I wanted was to make them worry.
“…Better hurry.”
My leisurely stroll quickly became a brisk walk, and before long, I was practically jogging through the familiar road leading toward home.
Soon, the silhouette of our estate appeared beyond the trees.
“There it is…”
Without wasting another second, I hurried through the front gate and into the courtyard.
The servants who happened to be outside merely smiled knowingly as I rushed past them, too focused on reaching the front door to exchange more than a quick greeting.
I quietly opened the door and stepped inside.
The warm glow of the living room greeted me immediately.
Mother and Father were exactly where I expected them to be, seated together as they talked over tea.
Their conversation came to a stop the moment they noticed me entering.
There was no point trying to sneak upstairs.
I straightened my posture before giving a respectful bow.
“I’m home.”
Mother’s eyes shifted from me to the large clock mounted on the wall.
“…You’re late.”
Her tone wasn’t angry.
Just calm.
Disappointed…
perhaps.
Father, meanwhile, remained silent.
He simply folded his arms and looked at me with his usual composed expression.
Somehow, I already knew he had guessed there was a reason for my tardiness.
An awkward smile escaped my lips.
“Sorry…”
I scratched my cheek before explaining everything from the beginning.
I told them about my very first quest, how unexpectedly well it had gone, the guild’s celebration afterward, and…
the little banquet I ended up paying for after earning my first reward.
By the time I finished, Mother let out a long sigh.
Rather…
The sigh of a parent who had expected something like this to happen eventually.
“Honestly…” she muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“I suppose this is still better than your father disappearing on a ‘meeting’ and coming home the following day.”
Father gave a small cough, deliberately looking away.
“…That happened only a few times.”
Mother shot him a flat stare.
“A few?”
“…”
He wisely chose not to continue.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
The tense atmosphere dissolved almost instantly.
Mother eventually shook her head before looking back at me.
“Just be more mindful of the time next time.”
“I will.” I lowered my head sincerely.
“I’m sorry for making you worry.”
She smiled softly, accepting the apology without another word.
A brief silence settled over the room before Father leaned back in his chair.
“So…” A faint grin appeared beneath his beard.
“How was it?”
“My first day?”
“The guild.”
I paused for a moment, recalling everything that had happened since morning, the noisy entrance, the ridiculous fights that seemed to erupt every few minutes, the strange yet welcoming faces, the celebration after the quest…
Then I smiled.
“It’s… lively.”
Father chuckled quietly.
“I figured.”
“There’s always some kind of chaos happening,” I continued.
“People are arguing one minute and laughing together the next. It honestly feels less like a guild and more like one giant family.”
I folded my arms thoughtfully.
“…Actually, it reminds me a little of us.”
Father raised an eyebrow.
“Except…” I smiled sheepishly.
“They’re a lot rowdier.”
For a second…
The room fell silent.
Then Father burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahaha! That’s Fairy Tail for you!”
Even Mother couldn’t suppress the small smile forming on her face.
“I suppose that sounds about right.”
We spent a little while longer talking about my first day—about the quest, the people I had met, and the guild itself.
It wasn’t anything particularly extraordinary, but there was something comforting about simply sharing the day’s events with them.
Eventually, I stretched my arms and let out a quiet yawn.
“I’m going to head upstairs.”
Mother tilted her head.
“there is dinner ready for you.”
“I already ate at the guild,” I replied with a sheepish grin.
Father laughed again.
“So they stuffed you already, did they?”
“More or less.”
Mother simply shook her head with an amused smile.
“Very well. Get some rest.”
“You’ve had quite the first day,” Father added.
“Tomorrow’s another adventure.”
“I know.”
I bowed lightly toward them once more.
“Good night, Mother. Good night, Father.”
“Good night.”
“Sleep well.”
With their gentle voices following me, I made my way upstairs.
The sounds of the living room gradually faded behind me, replaced by the comforting silence of home.
As I reached my room and quietly closed the door behind me, I couldn’t help but let out a long, satisfied breath.
My first day as a Fairy Tail mage had finally come to an end.
And somehow…
It already felt like the beginning of something unforgettable.
The following morning began much like the last.
Before the first rays of sunlight had fully chased away the morning mist, I was already outside, going through the same modest exercise routine I had started yesterday.
Stretching, a short jog around the estate, basic bodyweight training, and a few breathing exercises to steady my rhythm.
Nothing excessive—this body was still only eight years old—but consistency mattered more than intensity.
Every drop of sweat shed today was another brick laid for the future.
By the time I finished, the cool morning air had already given way to the comforting aroma of breakfast drifting from the manor.
After washing up, I headed to the dining room where Mother and Father were already waiting.
Unlike their usual relaxed appearance, both of them were dressed for travel.
Father wore a dark coat over his formal attire, while Mother had exchanged her elegant dress for a practical traveling outfit, complete with gloves and a wide-brimmed hat resting neatly on the table beside her.
Several packed bags had already been carried outside by the servants, making it obvious this wasn’t a simple outing.
As I took my seat, Father cleared his throat.
“We’ll be leaving for the capital shortly,” he said.
“There are matters that require our personal attention. We likely won’t return for about a week.”
“A whole week?” I repeated, blinking.
Mother smiled warmly, though I could hear the faint concern hidden beneath it.
“I’m afraid so. Which means you’ll be looking after yourself while we’re away.”
She reached over and gently straightened the collar of my shirt, just as she always did.
“Be careful whenever you’re outside. Don’t stay out too late, and make sure you’re home before sunset.”
“And if anything unexpected happens,” Father continued in his usual calm voice, “go to Master Makarov immediately. He’ll have a way to contact us as quickly as possible.”
Mother nodded in agreement.
“And don’t try to solve everything by yourself. Promise us.”
Looking at the genuine worry in their eyes, I couldn’t help but smile.
“I promise. I’ll be careful.”
Although, mentally speaking, I was far older than either of them could possibly imagine, I understood their concern.
To them, I was simply their eight-year-old son.
It would have been stranger if they weren’t worried about leaving me behind.
Breakfast passed peacefully after that, filled with ordinary conversation that somehow felt a little more precious knowing they’d be gone for several days.
Just as I was about to step toward the front door, Father suddenly paused, his brows knitting together as if an old memory had surfaced.
“…Ah.”
He lightly slapped his forehead.
“I almost forgot. I was supposed to give this to you yesterday.”
Without another word, he turned on his heel and headed back upstairs, his footsteps echoing through the quiet house.
A few moments later, he returned carrying a small sling bag.
It looked surprisingly ordinary.
Crafted from dark brown leather with sturdy stitching around its edges, the bag was only large enough to fit a few books.
There were no extravagant decorations, no gleaming gemstones, nor ornate embroidery befitting a noble household.
At first glance, it was simply a well-made travel bag.
Yet the faint silver runes woven into the seams shimmered for the briefest moment whenever sunlight touched them, hinting that it was anything but ordinary.
Father held it out toward me.
“This is for you.”
I accepted it with both hands, feeling its surprisingly light weight.
“It contains a Spatial Rune Array,” Father explained.
“The storage inside is roughly four square meters. Think of it as a room hidden within the bag.”
My eyes widened.
“A… storage artifact?”
Father gave a small nod.
“It can only store non-living materials. Living creatures cannot enter the space, nor should anyone attempt to force them inside.”
He tapped the side of the bag with his finger.
“And before you ask, time continues to flow normally within the storage. Food won’t remain fresh forever. Meat will spoil. Fruits will rot. Anything perishable should only be stored for short periods.”
“So it’s not frozen in time…”
“Exactly.”
He continued his explanation with the patience of a teacher giving a lesson to a new apprentice.
“The weight of whatever you store will not burden you while it remains inside. Whether you carry a single book or several hundred kilograms of metal, the bag itself will feel almost the same.”
For a moment, my imagination ran wild.
An entire library…
Weapons…
Building materials…
Even boulders.
Then Father immediately shattered my fantasy.
“But don’t misunderstand.”
His tone grew firm.
“The weight doesn’t disappear.
It merely remains inside the storage.
The moment you take something out…” he folded his arms, “…you’ll have to lift it with your own strength.”
“…Right.”
“So unless you enjoy crushing your own feet with a giant rock, think before storing absurdly heavy objects.”
“…I’ll remember that.”
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Father’s lips before he gave another nod.
“One last thing.”
He extended his hand, and crimson lines of light spread across his palm.
Countless runes intertwined into an intricate geometric pattern, circles within circles rotating in opposite directions.
Symbols I had never seen before linked together like gears in a clock, each one glowing with a soft crimson radiance.
The magic circle hovered silently in the air, releasing only the faintest ripple of mana.
A contract formation.
I looked up.
“This will bind the storage to you. Once the contract is complete, only you will be able to access its contents.”
“…Only me?”
“And me,” Father corrected with a calm smile.
“As the creator of the artifact, I retain administrative authority. Aside from that, no one else can open it, even if they steal the bag.”
That certainly eased my worries.
I pricked the tip of my finger with a small needle.
A tiny bead of crimson welled up before falling onto the center of the glowing rune circle.
The instant the blood touched the formation, every rune burst into brilliant light.
The countless symbols spun faster and faster before collapsing inward like a blooming flower folding upon itself.
A gentle pulse of mana washed over my hand.
Then…
Silence.
The magic circle vanished without leaving behind even a trace.
Father examined the bag for a brief moment before giving a satisfied nod.
“All done.”
“…That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
I blinked.
Somehow, I had expected a grand ritual or an explosion of magical light.
Instead, it ended so simply that it almost felt anticlimactic.
Even so, as I looked down at the modest sling bag resting in my hands, I couldn’t hide the smile spreading across my face.
A spatial storage artifact.
Something adventurers, merchants, and even experienced mages would gladly spend a fortune to obtain.
And now…
It belonged to me.
“Thank you, Father.”
I bowed my head sincerely.
“This is an incredible gift.”
Father simply waved his hand dismissively, though the faint smile on his face betrayed his satisfaction.
Before I could say another word, I turned toward Mother.
“…And thank you, Mother.”
She tilted her head.
“For what?”
“I have a feeling this was your idea.”
A gentle laugh escaped her lips.
“I merely suggested that a young traveler shouldn’t have to carry everything on his back.”
So I had been right.
I smiled.
“Then thank you.”
Mother stepped forward, placing a warm hand atop my head before leaning down to press a soft kiss against my forehead.
“My little boy is growing up so quickly.”
A faint warmth spread across my face that had nothing to do with embarrassment.
“…I’ll treasure it.”
Once the moment passed, I knelt beside the bag and began packing for the journey.
The opening looked far too small to fit my belongings, yet the moment my long staff touched the mouth of the bag, it slipped inside as though disappearing into calm water.
No resistance.
No sound.
Simply…
gone.
I couldn’t help but stare.
“…That’s still going to take some getting used to.”
Chuckling quietly to myself, I continued packing.
One by one, each item vanished effortlessly into the hidden space, leaving the sling bag no heavier than before.
When I finally slung it over my shoulder, it felt as though I were carrying almost nothing at all.
The bag was light.
Yet somehow…
It carried the weight of my parents’ trust, their concern, and their silent wish for my safe return.
Once everything was prepared, we climbed aboard the family’s horse-drawn carriage.
The wheels rolled steadily along the familiar country road, the rhythmic clatter mixing with the occasional chirping of birds perched atop the trees.
Golden fields swayed gently beneath the summer breeze, while Magnolia gradually grew larger on the horizon with every passing minute.
Since the railway station leading to the capital was located on the southeastern side of Magnolia, our paths happened to overlap for most of the journey.
The city was already beginning to stir when we arrived.
Shopkeepers were opening their stores, children ran through the streets laughing, and merchants busily arranged their goods beneath colorful awnings.
Magnolia was as lively as ever, carrying an energy that seemed to brighten even the morning air.
Rather than taking me all the way to Fairy Tail, Father had the carriage stop near Kardia Cathedral.
The magnificent white cathedral stood proudly atop its hill, its towering spires reaching toward the blue sky as sunlight reflected brilliantly across its polished stone walls.
From here, Fairy Tail was only a short walk away.
The coachman climbed down to open the carriage door.
I stepped onto the cobblestone road before turning back toward my parents.
Mother leaned out of the window, offering one last gentle smile.
“Take care of yourself.”
“And remember what we said,” Father added.
“Don’t lose track of time.”
“I know,” I replied with a small laugh.
“I’ll be fine.”
After giving them one last reassuring nod, I raised a hand.
“Have a safe trip.”
Mother waved back enthusiastically, while Father returned a dignified nod.
The horses let out a soft snort before the carriage lurched forward once more, its wheels echoing across the stone streets as it disappeared into Magnolia’s bustling traffic.
I stood there for a few moments, watching until the carriage vanished from sight.
“…Well then.”
Turning away from the cathedral, I adjusted the strap of the small bag slung over my shoulder.
With a week of freedom ahead of me, there was only one place worth heading.
Fairy Tail.
.
.
.
.
<Hey!
New Author here!
i just want to tell anyone who is reading this, thank you for taking a little time for reading my creation, this is just a little hobby for me.
hope you enjoy it and any comment, suggestion and opinion don’t be shy to tell me.
just be kind as much as possible that’s it thank you and i hope you have a nice day!>