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CHAPTER START---
---October 31st, X770, Magnolia…
Sitting at the bar in Fairy Tail's Guildhall, Oberon is playing with a dozen pebbles floating over his hands.
With a thought he has them orbit his hands, then each other, then increases the gravitational pull on one to create a small planetoid, then flips the gravity to pull them away from each other.
He continues controlling them, performing different exercises with them, keeping them hovering over the counter as he eats his food.
"Well you sure are taking your time today," Master Makarov says as he sits on the counter, wearing a colorful costume with a silly hat. "Sure you don't want in? I've got a costume that will fit you."
Oberon looks back at all the people preparing for the Phantasia Parade in just an hour.
"No thanks, I don't like that much attention," Oberon says.
"I thought you just didn't like the silly costumes," Makarov says.
"That too," Oberon sends the pebbles to orbit Makarov as the man gets a beer from the barmaid.
"Are you that bored?" Makarov asks as he drinks his beer. "Usually you'd be out back training, but you're in here looking like a kicked puppy playing with rocks."
"I think I've just, kind of…I don't know," Oberon groans, frowning while slowly eating his food. "Everything just feels the same lately, you know?"
"I see," Makarov rubs his chin thoughtfully. "Well, this was bound to happen sooner or later, it's part of the growing process."
"Really?"
"Oh yes, this is something every Wizard experiences, even Gildarts and me," Makarov says. "Eventually the rate you grow and improve at slows down, and this can be very worrying. But this is all part of the process, the important thing is that you keep pushing past that wall so you can continue growing stronger."
"Uh, Master," Oberon says sheepishly. "That's not the problem."
"Oh, really?"
"No, I'm still getting stronger every day, the problem is all the people I'm fighting," Oberon says.
His words attract the attention of a few nearby Guild members, including Gildarts who is at the other end of the bar with Wakaba.
"Then what is the problem?" Makarov asks.
"It's just, ever since I figured out how my Cosmic Armor works and got comfortable with it…everyone is just so weak," Oberon groans, loudly. "Even that lady who used the Drain Magic, she was so weak. Nobody has been able to challenge me to help me grow, they all just crumble after a few hits.
That Swamp Wyvern was the last real challenge I got and that thing wouldn't be a problem anymore. It just feels like being stuck in a routine. Accept a Job, go meet the client, solve the problem, and catch the next train back to Magnolia. Do you know what I mean?"
The entire Guildhall is silent, looking at Oberon, although he doesn't notice.
"Sorry Oberon, I can't relate to that at all, see I'm actually normal," Makarov says. "But maybe you should simply take a break from going on Jobs every day until one that's a bit more challenging pops up, I'll even keep an eye on the Jobs we get for you."
"Thanks Master, but I'd rather go on Jobs and save money. I never know when I'll run into someone selling a Celestial Gate Key, so I need to make sure I can afford it."
"I know how to solve that problem," Gildarts says, capturing everyone's attention.
"Really?" Oberon asks.
"Yeah. You see, Fiore has most of the strongest Wizard Guilds on the continent, so within the country, we've also got some of the stronger Dark Guilds and Dark Wizards, but other countries generally have stronger Magic Creatures since we've got the most Wizards to keep them under control."
"So I need to get more Jobs from other countries?" Oberon asks.
"Bingo," Gildarts smiles at him. "But since posting a Job in a Wizard Guild costs money, and Jewels are the most valuable currency on the continent, they only really send requests if they have a specific Wizard in mind, a specific S Class Wizard."
"So I need to become S Class," Oberon frowns. "That doesn't help me at all, I'll have to wait years just to get a chance at that."
Master Makarov and Gildarts share an almost impossible-to-notice glance.
"Or just get super famous for being strong," Gildarts says. "That's what worked for me."
"You mentioned on your last Job you actually gave an interview and proper picture to Sorcerer Weekly," Master Makarov says. "Getting people to understand you better can certainly help in this kind of matter, as many Jobs at the S Class level demand trust between client and Wizard, as the client is usually a town, city, or nation."
"So interviews and pictures actually help, but then people will bother me on the street."
Makarov shrugs, "The alternative is your reputation not reaching the people you want it to, so the choice is yours."
"Mmm, I guess you're right, but I'm still not joining the Phantasia Parade."
"Not even once?"
"Nope," Oberon says, ignoring Master Makarov's frown.
"But you'd look so cute in your outfit," Makarov mutters, looking into his beer.
"I have an idea," Wakaba says. "What about just doing what us regular Wizards do and joining a team?"
"A team?" Oberon asks, never really having thought about that option before.
At most, he and Laxus would occasionally team up, or he'd join Wakaba or Macao on Jobs, but that was not often.
"Yeah," Wakaba says. "If you register formally with one of the existing teams or form a new one, clients and other guilds can see you as a package deal. That way they can send you harder Jobs, with better pay."
"That's not a bad option," Makarov says. "But it's important to consider this very carefully, your team should share similar goals and ideals, and your reputations will be tied together, so don't hastily make this decision."
"Hmm," Oberon taps his chin as he considers his options. "The best option would be Gildarts—"
"Never gonna happen," Gildarts says while ordering another drink.
"I figured as much," Oberon sighs. "Plan B would be Laxus, but he probably won't be ok with leaving Fiore for too long since he's trying to be the next Guildmaster, and he needs to be here to train for that…"
The entire guildhall silently observes, waiting in anticipation as Oberon carefully scans the room.
If he joins an existing team, or forms his own, his teammates would have an easier ride to the top of the Wizard world.
They'd have a future S-Class Wizard to pull them along while making them rich and famous.
But to their disappointment, Oberon just slumps his shoulders and turns back to the bar, "Nah, I'm not joining or forming a team."
"Oh, and why not?"
Oberon leans onto the bar, still playing with the pebbles, "They're all pretty weak, and I grow faster so they can't keep up…I don't want to babysit anyone on missions."
Most of the Guild members feel a pang of shame as they couldn't refute the words of a 9-year-old Wizard.
"Well, you could have been nicer about it," Wakabe says while Gildarts is just snickering beside him.
"That's what you kids get for being so complacent," Makarov says with an amused smile. "Don't act disappointed because he doesn't want to carry your dead weight."
"Ok, now you're just being mean," Wakaba says.
"Talent in Magic is hardly fair, but I feel like this is some sort of justice for how relaxed you've all been about your progress," Makarov simply shrugs as everyone gets back to rehearsing.
After a few more minutes of rehearsals, Makarov walks about the counter and observes a coordinated dance performed by some of the ladies in the guild, wearing swaying feathery costumes.
He suddenly perks up and looks toward the door.
"Master?" Gildarts walks over to him.
"We have a guest," Makarov says as the door slowly opens, to reveal a slightly annoyed Alana behind the large door holding a grimoire in her arms.
"Why is your door so big?" She asks while stepping inside, eyes looking around for Oberon.
After a moment she sees everyone just staring at her, and nervously smiles.
"Hi, I'm Alana, my family owns the Magic Shop in town, I came to give Oberon this," She holds out the large book, and everyone gets back to practicing. "Is he here?"
Makarov points up at the ceiling, and she looks up to see Oberon sitting on the ceiling writing in his Magic Journal.
"Hey, Oberon," Gildarts calls out, getting his attention. "Your girlfriend is here."
Oberon gives a confused look before looking around, seeing Alana staring up at him, a slight blush on her cheeks.
"Yes!" Oberon cheers, surprising everyone as he flies down to her.
Alana is unsure how to react, also not used to being teased like that, and the rest of the guild is also surprised by his reaction to Gildarts's words.
Until he reaches out and takes the book from her, flipping through the pages with wide eyes.
"Thanks for bringing this to me, I've been dying to get my hands on this!" Oberon says as he begins hovering in place, legs crossed as he flips through the pages.
Alana isn't sure how to react and everyone else just gives a disappointed sigh, feeling foolish for not expecting him to completely ignore them the moment a new Grimoire appears.
"You're so weird," Alana says.
"You can't be normal and expect exceptional results," Oberon says as he keeps scanning the pages. "Thanks for bringing this to me, I was going to pass by before the shop closed so this saved me a trip."
"Yeah, but don't expect this to be a regular thing," Alana says. "Anyway, when you were heading off to your last mission you said you wouldn't be in the Phantasia Parade, and I figured since I wouldn't be in it either…can we watch it together?"
"Yeah, sure," Oberon says without even sparing her a glance, completely oblivious to how she's playing with her hair or swaying in place. "But wear pants. I like to watch it from the roof."
"Great!" Alana says before backing away slowly. "I'll go tell my grandma, we can meet at the Magic Shop!"
"Sounds great, I'll see you in two hours," Oberon says.
"Yeah, grea—" Alana backs into the front door. "Great, see you then," she says before quickly slipping out of the building.
Oberon silently floats back up to the ceiling, taking notes from this new Gravity Magic Grimoire while ignoring everyone.
Gildarts and Makarov just shake their heads at him.
"So, a genius of Magic, but not that great with girls," Gildarts says. "Or maybe just, indifferent and oblivious to them."
"I guess life is fair after all," Macao says.
Makarov scoffs, "I wouldn't say that if I were you. I can't recall a girl ever coming here to ask you for a date."
Macao grumbles and walks back over to his performance group.
"I kind of have to agree with Macao on this," Gildarts says quietly. "That girl got all dolled up to come see him and he didn't even look at her, maybe I should give him some advice about these things."
"Save that for when he's a bit older, we've still got a few months before he's even 10 years old, the last thing he needs to be thinking about is a girlfriend."
"The only thing he thinks about is Magic," Gildarts says.
"Good, that I can manage," Makarov says. "But another womanizer like you would put me into an even earlier grave."
"Hey! I wasn't that bad."
"The only time you weren't a 'playboy' is when you were with Cornelia, but now you're even worse than before," Makarov says. "Not that I can blame you, being an S-Class Wizard is stressful, but being the Ace of Fairy Tail is infinitely more so."
"The Ace of Fairy Tail," Gildarts muses while looking up at Oberon. "You think he'll have the conviction for it, to cast aside everything else?"
Makarov smiles, "He already does."
END CHAPTER---
Discord: discord .gg /eHuxNeZfyS [Come chat with me]
pat.reon: Keanu_Eugene [Read ahead & support me]
You.tube: @KeanuEugene [Giving away all my writing knowledge]