[City of Magnolia]
Makarov Dreyar, Guild master of Fairy Tail and Wizard Saint of Ishgar found himself facing the greatest challenge of his life today…
"I don't understand," Gildarts said, staring at the piece of paper before him.
Makarov sighed
"Read it again."
Makarov was at his usual spot, on top of the meal hall's counter, his arms crossed and eyes closed.
Around him he could hear the guild going about as usual for a Wednesday morning. Mages, men and women both, went about eating, drinking, fighting, and taking the occasional job.
Then a sound broke through to Makarov's ears.
He twitched and a single eye cracked open.
It seemed Ivan could no longer hold back his laughter as it ripped through the guild hall and he fell to the ground in both pain and laughter.
Gildarts whirled on him his face red with anger "BASTARD, SHUT UP!"
Ivan's laughter grew.
Makarov sighed, again...
"Leave him alone Ivan, Gildarts read the question."
Gildarts returned to his paper his face still showing trace of his previous anger.
"If ethernano is the source of a mages power, after it enters a mages magical container what does it become?"
Makarov looked at him, "Ok. Now I want you to think back to my previous words from this morning when we went out to the practice grounds."
Gildarts put his paper down and his eyebrows creased as he began to think back. "...from this morning..." he muttered
Gildarts eyes moved down to his paper then back to Makarov's eyes.
Makarov face lit up in anticipation.
"Magical power?"
Makarov's heart nearly skipped a beat as he jumped up, "YES! Perfect! Wonderful job Gildarts!"
"Finally." Ivan muttered
Gildarts shot him a glare, "Not all of us are genius bastard!"
Ivan rolled his eyes, "You don't have to be a genius to understand the question, oaf," Ivan cleared his throat and continued, "You know that mages use magical power to cast spells, and that ethernano is involved somehow. However, we don't just use ethernano to cast spell, we use are own...I guess willpower would be the best term. Is that right gramps?" Ivan looked over to Makarov for an answer.
And Makarov looked at Ivan with...pride?
The old man was beaming with pride as he looked at his son.
'For Ivan to be only sixteen and talking about a concept that even some older mages failed to completely understand'
Well Makarov could see the seeds of a future S-class mage already starting to bloom.
Makarov cleared his throat, "Willpower would not be the term I would use, instead passion or one's drive, would be a more apt term. Willpower might be a tad bit confusing and accidently convey the idea that mages can make their spells stronger just by willing it, that is not the case for most magics."
Makarov paused as glanced over at Gildart's who seemed to be completely absorbed into his words, Ivan too.
A smile spread across his lips.
"But there are some though. Right?" Ivan asked
Makarov nodded, "Yes, there are some magics that are more..." he paused as he thought for the proper word, "Intrinsic, more connected to a mage's very being, their soul, then other magics are at the start. However, if you use said magic long enough you can still develop a strong connection to it and make it, so your passion is felt."
"But it will take longer than magics that already have that intrinsic connection to a mages soul." Ivan added
Makarov nodded "You are both right and wrong, if I was to let's say have...ice dragon slayer magic while you regular ice make magic, at the start my magic would be much stronger than yours for a variety of reasons. Not only could I eat your magic and resist your magic, but my own magic would have a much stronger connection to me. My passion would convey far easier than yours could at the time."
Ivan nodded and responded "However, years go by and if I really and I mean really train, while you're just slacking off."
"Then you could very well beat me in a battle." Makarov added
"But doesn't that mean your magic is simply just better than mine? How was I wrong earlier? My point was proven was it not? I could never beat you in a fair fight, only if you didn't train and I did would I have an advantage."
Makarov chuckled "You were wrong because you tried to make magic make sense," he looked at Ivan with a smug smile "You're assuming that something will happen because it logically makes sense, will it take longer? It may or may not. Never once did I say that you would be unable to beat me, I just said it would be hard."
Ivan looked at him with a frown. "Either way it sounds like some magics are just broken and unfair."
Makarov laughed "You have no idea how true that may be."
Ivan grumbled to himself as he stared off into the air.
Gildarts head moved between the two, "So can you guys just tell me what magic is the best and the fastest way I can become an S-class wizard?" he asked
Makarov laugh became louder.
Ivan rolled his eyes before waking Gildarts behind the back, "You're not even a wizard yet oaf, wait until we actually start leaning real magic than ask that question." Ivan muttered
Gildarts growled at him, then he turned to Makarov.
"When are we going to learn real magic gramps? I mean I know we just started learning all the basics on paper, but maybe you can speed up the process?
Makarov raised an eyebrow, "You want me to speed up your training?"
Gildarts paled, "Well like the practical stuff."
Ivan was about to respond before Makarov raised a hand.
Makarov contemplated for a moment; these brats were still only sixteen. Sure, both of them had ridiculous potential, it had been a main reason for why he had let them reek chaos around the guild for all these years. Let them have fun before whipping them into shape. But still, he wasn't sure if he wanted to send them out into the world just yet, yes there were mages out there around their age already learning magic and taking jobs. But these two were...
He looked at the two teens in front of him, remembering all the memories he had with them. Eating competitions that had ended with all three on the floor sleeping, drinking games that resulted in fights, and... moments where he would teach them and see glimpses of their future selves.
His head was telling him, don't let these two go.
Don't to teach them magic.
They were his brats after all; he would protect them with his life. So, what if they run around and cause chaos, let them, he wanted them to grow old and happy, give him grandchildren to watch over and then...then what.
Makarov stopped listening to his head. He listened to what his heart was saying, and it said to let them live.
"Ok, brats" Makarov took in a deep breath, "Tomorrow morning we begin your training, real training."
Ivan's eyebrows rose.
Gildarts began to grin.
"However."
Makarov looked closely at the two bra-.
No, his two children.
"This will not be like any training I've done before," He cleared his throat "Most of our family came to us as mages, though there are a few that have had the privilege of training under my supervision. You two will not just be under my supervision, instead you will be my students."
Gildarts cocked his head, "What? I'm confused, what does that mean." he asked
Ivan also looked a little lost.
Makarov smiled "It means you won't just be taking suggestions from me."
Ivan nodded "So you'll be instructing us?"
Makarov chuckled "Yes and more, I'll be instructing you on everything you do, training you into the ground, cramming all the magical knowledge I have into your heads, and making sure you won't give are family a bad name while you're out taking jobs."
Gildarts and Ivan both paled.
Makarov just kept on laughing.
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AUTHOR THOUGHTS BELOW!--