"Can I... meet your Celestial Spirit King?"
After much contemplation, Marco ultimately decided to speak directly with the source.
"You can see him if you can summon him." Leo's response came as a matter of course.
"Don't spout useless nonsense. If I could, why would I be asking you?"
Marco glared at Leo with clear threatening intent—after all, he currently held Leo's lifeline in his grasp.
'Hehehe... You wouldn't want the Aries to suffer, would you?'
That was essentially the message conveyed by Marco's gaze.
"Uh... Let me think."
Under Marco's glare, Leo immediately became docile, his face twisting into a pained expression.
"I can help you by asking him." Leo spoke up—he certainly didn't have the authority to make decisions on behalf of the Celestial Spirit King.
"When can you go back?" Marco's expression turned odd, clearly finding Leo's suggestion unreliable.
Given that Leo was currently locked in a struggle with Karen—and knowing Karen's temperament—Marco doubted Leo would be returning to the Celestial Spirit World anytime soon.
"..."
Leo fell silent.
He himself wasn't sure when this battle would end.
"I'll ask another Celestial Spirit then."
Marco shook his head and decided to seek out his two students.
After all, he wasn't short on Celestial Spirit Mages here.
"Can I go now?" Leo stood up again, desperate to escape this "devil's" presence.
He didn't want to spend another second here.
"Go ahead." Marco also rose, having finished his inquiries, and prepared to leave.
Leo exhaled deeply in relief.
He left the café with Marco, then immediately bolted out of sight the moment they stepped outside.
"Something tells me... this won't end so simply."
Watching Leo's fleeing figure, Marco had a premonition.
Karen and Leo were simply incompatible.
Even if nothing happened this time, trouble was inevitable in the future.
Before heading home, Marco stopped by Makarov's place—partly to chat with the old man, and partly to inform him about Leo's situation.
"I'll mention it to Bob."
Makarov noted it down, though there wasn't much they could do beyond giving a heads-up.
"The Blue Pegasus members left early precisely because of that Karen."
Marco pointed out.
As Karen's guild master, Bob was surely aware of the situation.
"Every guild has its own troublesome affairs." Makarov chuckled helplessly.
It wasn't just Fairy Tail that had its share of problematic youths.
"I'd say our comrades are far better than Karen." Marco disagreed.
He refused to equate their guildmates' issues with someone like Karen.
For instance, both his students—also Celestial Spirit Mages—got along splendidly with their spirits.
"By the way Gramps, do you know anything about the Celestial Spirit King?"
After discussing Leo and Karen, Marco turned to Makarov for answers.
An elder at home was like a treasure trove of wisdom—whenever Marco encountered something unfamiliar, his first instinct was to consult the old man.
"The Celestial Spirit King? Not much, just heard the title."
This time, however, even Makarov was stumped.
He knew little about this mysterious Celestial Spirit King and had never interacted with him.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?" Makarov asked with concern, knowing that Marco wouldn't bring up the Celestial Spirit King without reason.
"Nothing for now, just preparing for possible troubles ahead." Marco shook his head, choosing not to elaborate further.
He hadn't figured this matter out yet—he wasn't even sure whether the Celestial Spirit King was friend or foe.
Since Makarov wasn't familiar with related affairs, there was no need to burden him with it.
Marco would find a way to handle it himself.
After chatting a while longer with Makarov, Marco didn't stay overnight but returned to Fairy Home instead.
Standing at the doorway, Makarov sighed as he watched Marco's departing figure.
"The children really have all grown up."
Sometimes, Makarov felt conflicted.
He wanted to spread his wings and shelter all the children, yet he also wanted them to grow and learn to soar on their own.
When the children were under his protection, he worried they wouldn't mature.
When they began to fly independently, he feared they might fall hard from great heights—always fretting over something.
With a bitter smile and a shake of his head, Makarov closed the door and returned to his room.
The children would grow up eventually, and he too would grow old one day.
So it was better to let them spread their wings early, while he still had the strength to catch them if they fell.
....
The next day, the examinations continued as usual, with the arena's atmosphere remaining electric as everyone anticipated the upcoming matches.
The first battle—Erza vs. Hisui—was particularly awaited.
Erza, who had bulldozed through the competition with terrifying, unstoppable force, versus Hisui who had advanced effortlessly.
Though Hisui had been called extremely lucky with her matchups, even sparking some debate, her status as Marco's apprentice still commanded respect.
After all, she was that Marco's Student!
Now facing Erza, whom many already saw as having "champion potential," everyone would finally get a chance to witness Hisui's true capabilities.
"Do your best."
Before the match, Marco gave Hisui some encouragement.
Though he'd provided her with the "Lyra Constellation Armor" as a safety net, Marco didn't believe the girl could actually defeat Erza.
It couldn't be helped—whether in combat experience or natural talent, Hisui still fell short of Erza.
These things couldn't be forced.
"Yes! I won't disappoint you, Master!" Hisui nodded earnestly.
Her goal now was to compete with spirit!
To follow Mirajane's example—even in defeat, she would go down standing!
"The first match: Erza Scarlet vs. Hisui E. Fiore!"
.....
Standing in the arena, Marco announced the two contestants' names, immediately drawing surprised murmurs from the Mages.
The name "Hisui E. Fiore" was simply too extraordinary.
As Mages from the Kingdom of Fiore, they all understood the significance of that name.
"Hisui... is she from the royal family? Could she be a princess?!"
The Mages buzzed with shocked speculation.
A royalty and Marco Student —Hisui's identity was truly remarkable.
Either status alone would have been astonishing, let alone both combined.
"What's going on? Why are they so surprised?"
In the waiting area of Fairy Tail, Natsu turned to Gray beside him with a puzzled expression.
Hisui had always concealed her identity within the guild.
Everyone only knew her family was quite wealthy and that she was very close with Lucy's family.
As for her status as a royal family member and princess, none of Fairy Tail's members were aware—only Lucy knew the truth.
"Hisui... is actually the princess of the Fiore Kingdom?" Gray also looked shocked, clearly never having considered such a possibility.
"Oh, so she's a princess." Natsu scratched his head, showing little reaction.
A princess was just a princess—no way a princess could defeat Erza.
"Natsu, what's a princess?" Happy, perched on Natsu's shoulder, asked curiously.
"I know this! It's the king's daughter!"
Natsu raised a finger and answered quickly, looking quite proud.
"Wow! Natsu knows so much! Amazing!"
Happy immediately responded, genuinely praising Natsu.
"..."
Gray stood nearby with a constipated expression, hesitating to speak.
He felt Marco and Erza had been neglecting Happy's education lately.
If Happy kept fooling around with Natsu, this cat would be ruined!
Compared to Wendy's Carla, Happy seemed like his brain was half-developed—or not developed at all.
"It's all Natsu's influence." Gray concluded.
It wasn't Happy's fault—it was entirely Natsu's.
"Are you badmouthing me?! I heard that!" Natsu turned to Gray, pointing an accusatory finger, his face full of anger.
Before the matches below could even begin, these two were already on the verge of starting their own fight in the waiting area.
Thwack!
Marco suddenly appeared between them, giving each a slyre flick on the forehead, sending them crouching in pain.
"Behave." Marco scolded them.
Natsu and Gray could only clutch their heads and nod obediently, putting some distance between themselves.
"Marco, why did Hisui suddenly reveal she's a princess?" Gray asked, genuinely puzzled.
Hisui had always hidden her identity—why announce it now?
"She thinks she's ready—that she's strong enough to protect herself now." Marco answered, his tone tinged with emotion, as if watching a child grow up.
The reason Marco had revealed Hisui's identity was because she had requested it herself, believing she now had the strength to venture out into the world.
"Hisui really has gotten a lot stronger since she first arrived." Gray nodded.
Compared to when she first joined Fairy Tail, her abilities were now on a completely different level.
In Gray's eyes, even learning just a fraction of magic under Marco's guidance was enough to make waves in the magical world.
Having trained under Marco since childhood and endured his rigorous drills, Gray had absolute confidence in Marco's power.
Gray himself had always coveted the 'Diamond Dust Punch' and kept a close eye on the progress of Marco's two student.
When Lucy inherited the "Cygnus" legacy and began training in the "Diamond Dust Punch," he had been quite envious.
It's a shame Lucy is progressing a bit slowly, and even when using the same "Diamond Dust Punch," her technique is clearly incomparable to Marco's.
But this seems quite normal, after all, they're both apprentices.
Hisui's "Lyra Celestial Spirit Magic" isn't as powerful as when Marco uses it either.