Chapter 2 : Mist in Magnolia
Magnolia bustled with life. Cobblestone streets curled like a lazy ribbon through a city alive with chatter, clinking glass, and the occasional magical misfire. Shops spilled over with trinkets, herbs, and wares Kael had only glimpsed in fantasy illustrations. His pale aqua eyes sparkled beneath soft lavender bangs as he stepped lightly, the tiny bell at his ankle chiming with every elegant stride.
"Okay… first step to blending in," he muttered to himself, fanning his face with his ornate weapon and speaking aloud like it was normal. "Don't act like a confused reincarnated anime protagonist."
He paused.
"…Oops."
A couple nearby stared. He offered a bright, guileless smile.
"New to town," he chirped.
They moved on a little faster.
Kael didn't mind. He was already used to being stared at the mist that followed his steps like a perfume, the soft flutter of his fan, and the oddly placed guild mark on his lower back didn't exactly scream normal. Still, he was a member now. Fairy Tail. The Fairy Tail. Just… not quite the one from his memories.
The real Fairy Tail felt louder, rougher… messier. And more alive.
Makarov had welcomed him with open arms literally. Kael hadn't expected to be scooped up by a tiny, muscular old man yelling, "A new brat! Good, we're running low!" before stamping the guild mark on him like a shopkeeper claiming a deal.
The building had smelled like pinewood and smoke and something suspiciously like alcohol. It had been warm. Comforting.
Now, with some errands to run and curiosity biting at his heels, Kael wandered town with a pouch of borrowed jewel, some mission flyers, and the vague hope of finding shampoo that didn't come in a keg-sized container.
"Excuse me," Kael stopped at a vendor's stall, delicately picking up a bottle of violet-colored soap. "Does this… work for fluffy hair?"
The woman blinked. "Uh. Sure. You… with Fairy Tail?"
He nodded, fanning himself.
She snorted. "Figures. You all show up, explode something, and buy hair products. Standard."
Kael grinned. "I haven't exploded anything. Yet."
As he turned, a passing child pointed and said, "Mom! That guy's got sparkles around him!"
"That's called style," Kael murmured with mock solemnity. "You'll learn when you're older."
He wandered into the quieter side of Magnolia, where alleyways darkened and odd smells drifted. Here, the world didn't feel like anime panels or tropes. It felt like something alive. Real. The sky was softer here, and the stones under his sandals felt colder.
He ducked into a shadowed alcove and let out a slow breath. Mist coiled faintly around his feet. It came unbidden, never thick enough to raise alarms, but always dancing drawn from his presence like a sigh. His fan opened with a snap, the polished metal edges catching light.
"Still not used to this," he whispered. "Still feels like I'm waiting for a 'skip ad' button to appear…"
A distant crash echoed.
Kael blinked.
A man sprinted past, covered in feathers.
"THERE YOU ARE!" shouted a woman with a crossbow.
"…I'll pretend I didn't see that," Kael said, stepping aside politely as another person leapt over a crate yelling something about "revenge for the pigeon incident."
He smiled. "Magnolia is… eventful."
Back near the central square, he bought a warm melon pastry, nearly cried at how good it tasted, and briefly considered marrying it. Then a passing man knocked into him, making his fan snap closed out of habit.
"Watch it," the man grunted.
Kael blinked, tilting his head. "I would, but I wasn't carrying a mirror."
The man scowled. "What?"
Kael gave him an innocent look. "Nothing. Have a peaceful day, stranger."
The man stomped off, muttering about "weird mages."
Kael hummed and walked on, bell chiming softly.
---
By late afternoon, the clouds had shifted, and Kael had filled his pouch with spices, bath oil, two candy apples, and a suspiciously cheap ring that might be cursed.
Returning to Fairy Tail's guild hall, he opened the heavy doors and paused.
Familiar laughter rose from within. Mugs clinked. Fire crackled.
His pale eyes softened. It wasn't the anime guild he remembered. It was better. Messier. Louder. Warmer. And for once… it was his.
Kael stepped inside with a dancer's grace, mist curling in his wake like silk.
Author's Note :
Ah yes, the classic "I'm new but pretending I totally belong here" arc. 😌✨
Kael is now officially part of Fairy Tail (yes, with paperwork… probably), and we get to see him doing very important guild things like buying shampoo, being confused by chaotic citizens, and flirting with melon bread. As one does.
I wanted this chapter to be a lighthearted stroll through Magnolia part awkward reincarnated slice-of-life, part "why is this city on fire again?" With Kael's graceful chaos and misty elegance, even a walk through town becomes an event. The bell? Strategic. The flirting? Calculated. The fan? A fashion statement and a weapon.
We're still building his rhythm in this world, and it'll be a slow, charming adaptation as he gets used to life here. Expect more slice-of-chaos with magic sparkles in upcoming chapters. Oh, and the ring might definitely be cursed. Who knows?
Thanks for reading, and remember if your sandals have bells on them, you have the moral high ground. 💅🔔
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