Not long after, Gray and Loke also emerged from the cave.
Everyone quickly gathered around to congratulate them.
"Master Gray~" Juvia's voice rang out with affection.
Lisanna quickly tugged at her sleeve. "Calm down, Juvia. Remember, we're still opponents right now."
"You passed too, Juvia." Gray gave her a warm smile. "As expected of you. But next time, I won't go easy on you."
"Won't… let go of me?"
In Juvia's ears, Gray's words twisted into something entirely different. Her cheeks flushed bright red, and she pressed both hands to her chest, trembling with excitement. "For the rest of my life, he won't let go of me… Juvia~~~"
Lisanna sighed and rubbed her temples. "Ah, she's hopeless. Taking the exam with Juvia is more exhausting than taking it myself."
"By the way, who did you face?" Loke asked casually, curious about the matchups.
When they heard the answers, both he and Gray were stunned.
Juvia and Elfman's groups were understandable, basically evenly matched opponents, and anyone could win.
Rhodes and Wendy defeating Erza was surprising, but still within the realm of possibility given how much Rhodes had grown.
But Natsu and Happy clearing Gildarts's stage… that was something they just could not wrap their heads around.
And Natsu's condition was peculiar to say the least.
"Congratulations on passing the first stage of the exam!"
Everyone turned as Master Makarov's voice carried down from above. Carla was flying beside him, carefully guiding his descent.
"We passed, Carla!" Wendy called out happily.
Carla's eyes softened for a moment, but she quickly masked it with a serious expression. "The partner of an examinee is not allowed to get too friendly with the chief examiner's assistant."
Wendy just grinned from ear to ear, unaffected.
Makarov landed and cleared his throat. "Alright, listen up! A total of five groups passed the first stage. That means it's time for the second exam!"
Everyone straightened, ready to listen carefully.
Happy nudged Natsu, who was still quiet. "Natsu, how long are you going to mope like this?"
Natsu rubbed his face with both hands, then suddenly stood up. "I'm not depressed. I was just thinking."
"Thinking?!" Happy's eyes bulged like the sky was falling. "Natsu actually said he was thinking!"
But Natsu ignored him, his fighting spirit already burning again. "Let's go! I'm definitely going to become an S-Class Mage!"
A voice immediately answered him. "I can't pretend I didn't hear that!"
"Manly Man!"
"Juvia wants to become S-Class with Master Gray!" Juvia declared, puffing up with determination.
The group broke out into another round of chatter and bickering, but Makarov only looked at them with a satisfied smile.
"Alright, quiet down! It's time to announce the rules for the second exam." He waited until everyone's voices faded before continuing.
"As I mentioned before, our guild's First Master, Mavis Vermillion, rests on Tenrou Island. Her grave is located in a very secluded place. The task of the second exam is to find that grave. You will have six hours. I will be waiting for you there. Good luck!"
"Find the First Master's grave?"
Rhodes raised a brow. That sounded far too simple.
If the Master himself said he'd be waiting at the grave, wouldn't it be easiest to just follow him directly?
As if sensing Rhodes's suspicious gaze, Makarov quickly coughed and added, "And following me is strictly prohibited. The exam will officially begin ten minutes from now."
Rhodes sighed and abandoned the idea of cheating. He would have to do this the proper way. Still, with his creatures to aid him, he had a huge advantage in scouting.
Once he was sure he hadn't missed anything, Makarov gave Carla a nod, and the Exceed carried him away from the examinees' sight. He made sure to mask his magic aura and scent as well, so the trial wouldn't simply turn into a game of "track the old man."
Eventually, he arrived at Mavis's grave and sat cross-legged before it, hands on his knees. "Carla, do you think I forgot anything?"
Carla tilted her head thoughtfully. "Not really… except that I haven't eaten lunch."
Makarov's eyes went wide. "That's right! Mira and the others should be finished cooking by now. Could you fly back and bring me a portion?"
Carla huffed and flicked her tail. "No. According to your own rules, if I fly out and return now, someone might spot me. Then the test would turn into 'track Carla,' and that would defeat the point."
"Oh no…" Makarov groaned, patting his empty stomach. He should have eaten before setting off. Now it seemed he'd be fasting for the next six hours.
Back at the cave entrance, the examinees were still digesting the instructions.
"We have to find the First Master's grave."
"What a weird task."
"Rhodes, was it like this last year too?" someone asked.
Since the start time hadn't yet arrived, everyone naturally turned to him. After all, he was the only one here who had experience taking the S-Class Exam before.
"Last year, there was also a mission to find something," Rhodes explained. "But snatching was allowed back then, so it wasn't just about searching. This time feels different. The Master must have something else he wants to test."
The group murmured in thought. Maybe there would be clues scattered across Tenrou Island, testing their ability to investigate. Or maybe it was about prior preparation, rewarding those who had studied the island's history and secrets in advance.
Even Rhodes couldn't guess Makarov's exact intent.
The golden countdown floating in the air finally reached 00:00.
"Time's up!" Natsu practically leapt forward, fists blazing with excitement. "Let's go, Happy!"
"Aye, sir!" Happy flapped after him.
"Manly men can't fall behind!" Elfman bellowed, charging off with Evergreen at his side.
"Let's go too, Loke," Gray called, already moving.
"Juvia wants to be with Master Gray!" Juvia cried, stars sparkling in her eyes.
Lisanna tugged her arm gently and whispered, "You can follow him, but try to do it quietly." Then she turned, waving cheerfully. "Brother-in-law, see you later!"
Rhodes raised a hand in return. "Mm, good luck, everyone."
The group scattered quickly, each pair heading off in different directions guided by nothing more than instinct.
"Brother Rhodes," Wendy asked softly, "what should we do?"
"I think the Master probably left some sort of clue behind," Rhodes mused. "But since I don't have a concrete lead yet, let's start with a wide search."
He clapped his hands, and in a flash of light, creatures poured into existence. Two crabs scuttled off, two clusters of Krugs lumbered forward, two flocks of Raptors took to the skies, and two Grumps bounded away. After them came two groups of Golems, two groups of Wraiths, and four packs of Shadow Wolves, slipping into the treeline like living shadows.
A grand total of forty-two monsters spread out in every direction, their combined movement resembling a great beast tide sweeping across Tenrou Island. The air itself seemed to shudder at the sight.
Finally, Rhodes summoned an Blue Sentinel to stand watch, its presence a wall of reassurance behind them.
Wendy blinked, her mouth slightly open. With so many creatures scouring the island, did she even need to do anything in this round?
But Rhodes turned to her and smiled. "Wendy, point in a direction. Trust your instincts. Where do you think we'll find Carla?"
"Eh?" Wendy tilted her head, thinking hard. After a moment, she raised a hand toward the south. "Um… maybe that way?"
"Alright," Rhodes said without hesitation. "Then that's where we're going."
Wendy blinked again. "Is it really okay to decide so quickly?"
"Of course," Rhodes said easily. "There's no clear goal anyway, so I'll trust your intuition. They say the younger you are, the sharper your instincts."
To him, things like feelings, bonds, and fate all had their own kind of magic. And perhaps Wendy's bond with Carla really could help them find the right path.