"Lyon?"
Lamia Scale had arrived with five members, but the first person Gray spotted in the group was the white-haired man.
Although their relationship had always been prickly, Lyon was still his senior disciple.
Lyon's eyes lit up when he saw Gray alive and well, though he naturally refused to show his happiness openly. Instead, he smirked and called out, "That's pathetic, I heard you nearly got yourself killed. Don't tell me you've already forgotten all the Magic Ur drilled into you?"
"You bastard…" Gray's temper immediately flared, though his self-mocking laugh followed right after. "That's the first thing you say when you see me again? Whatever. I heard you guys helped out a lot, thanks."
"Hmph, no need for thanks, I, " Lyon lowered his eyes and smirked smugly. But when he looked up again, his gaze landed on Juvia.
His face flushed red, and in the blink of an eye he was standing in front of her, grasping her shoulders with sudden intensity. "This must be love at first sight!"
"Eh?" Juvia froze in place, blinking rapidly. "You're… Master Gray's senior disciple?"
Lucy tilted her head, bewildered. "Why does this look so familiar…? Isn't this exactly how Juvia usually acts around Gray?"
Gray sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "Ah, this is such a pain."
Mira clapped her hands together with a grin, not even bothering to greet the visitors properly. "Oh, how exciting! A love triangle!"
"So this is the type of guy your senior disciple is, huh," Rhodes said with genuine curiosity, eager to see how Gray would dig himself out of this.
The five members of Lamia Scale clearly weren't strangers to Fairy Tail after years of visits. They made themselves comfortable quickly, Lyon pestering Juvia and Gray, Toby and Yuka chatting up Natsu and Happy, while Sherry started talking enthusiastically with Lucy.
Jura, however, calmly made his way to the counter.
Rhodes figured he was looking for the Guild Master, so he reached out and half-dragged the drunk Makarov over. Macao, still serving as acting Guild Master, followed as well.
Resting his staff against the counter, Jura greeted them warmly. "Guild Master Makarov, Saint Rhodes, Miss Mirajane, it has been a long time. And greetings to you as well, Mr. Macao."
Makarov casually raised his mug. "Long time no see. Care for a drink?"
Macao and Mira returned his smile, while Rhodes hesitated slightly at the title Jura had used for him. Then, with a faint chuckle, he asked, "I'm a 'Saint' now, am I?"
"Of course," Jura said with his usual calm smile. "Saint Rhodes is one of the Ten Wizard Saints, officially recognized by the Council."
Rhodes arched a brow. "Really? But I was presumed dead before any official appointment was finalized. Weren't my rights removed from the list?"
Jura glanced at Macao.
Macao quickly explained, "While the Council was still verifying your status, they had already prepared your Ten Wizard Saint medal and robes. They've been sealed in the Guild's vault all this time. When the obituary was published a month after your disappearance, they still referred to you as 'the newly promoted Ten Wizard Saint, Rhodes.'"
Hearing that, Rhodes felt a wave of relief. At the very least, the Council hadn't erased him so easily.
"Though it comes late, congratulations on your promotion," Jura said sincerely. "With you, Fairy Tail has the greatest number of Wizard Saints of any guild," He stopped himself there. The truth was obvious: although their roster was unparalleled, the core of Fairy Tail had been missing for six long years.
Rhodes, noticing the flicker of regret in Jura's tone, decided to change the subject. "By the way, I haven't asked yet, who holds the title of strongest guild in Fiore now? Is it Lamia Scale?"
He only knew for certain that it wasn't Fairy Tail anymore. From what his comrades had told him, if not for the existence of newer, weaker guilds filling the bottom, Fairy Tail might have ranked embarrassingly low.
Jura smiled gently. "No, it isn't Lamia Scale. Our guild currently holds second place. The top spot belongs to a guild called Sabertooth, they've risen to prominence in recent years and become very popular."
"Sabertooth?" Rhodes, Mira, and Makarov exchanged puzzled looks. They remembered it as a small, almost obscure guild.
Mira tilted her head. "Is there really someone in Sabertooth stronger than you, Mr. Jura?"
Jura remained calm as ever. "There is always someone stronger, and always a higher sky above."
His modest words made it impossible for Rhodes to judge. Jura was forever humble, never one to boast. Macao, however, understood the situation and explained, "It's not quite like that. The way guilds are ranked has changed a lot since you were gone."
He went on. "In the past, guild rankings were loose, based on reputation, completed missions, or influence. But now, popularity and strength are judged differently. The most important standard is one thing above all else: the Grand Magic Games."
Macao spoke the words with a grimace, then continued, "This is a grand tournament that began after your disappearance. It's sponsored by the Royal Family and has become Fiore's greatest annual festival of magic. Guilds from all over the kingdom enter, and champions are chosen through a series of contests."
He sighed. "The results of the Games decide guild rankings. The higher a guild places, the more prestige, and the more client requests, it receives."
Rhodes finally understood. 'So basically… the Olympics for wizards?' He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "No, if it's just Fiore, then more like the National Games."
Makarov stroked his beard, frowning in thought. "Hmm. That does sound familiar…"
Rhodes blinked, realizing. "Guild Master, this was discussed years ago in the Allied Guilds' meetings, remember? You actually remembered!" His grin widened; maybe those tedious meeting minutes he had taken back then weren't for nothing after all.
Embarrassed by the compliment, Makarov quickly changed the subject. "So… you lost to Sabertooth in this tournament?"
Jura only smiled without answering.
Before Macao could explain further, Lyon had already wandered over, cutting in. "Of course not. Lamia Scale placed second, but Mr. Jura didn't even participate."
In truth, Lyon himself hadn't competed either, but he was far more concerned with defending Jura's reputation. His own pride could be discussed with Gray later. To Lyon, Jura's dignity was paramount, even Makarov, another Wizard Saint, should not underestimate him.
"I see," Rhodes nodded. "That makes sense. What about Blue Pegasus? Where did they place?"
"Fourth," Lyon replied smoothly.
"Oh?" Rhodes raised an eyebrow. "Then third place must be Mermaid Heel, or maybe Quatro Cerebro?"
Lyon shook his head. "No… third place belongs to the leader of the so-called new-wave guilds, Twilight Ogre."
"!"