In order to meet that person, Noah first researched the location of her home.
Her family was renowned throughout the Kingdom of Fiore. Their legacy stretched back nearly 400 years, existing alongside the kingdom itself. Finding the location of their estate was not difficult.
However, Noah had no direct connection with her or her family. Because of this, he had written to them well in advance to request a meeting, allowing time for them to prepare or at least to confirm his identity.
A few days earlier, Noah had received a reply, agreeing to the meeting.
So, on this day, Noah dressed in a black suit, boarded a train to his destination, and from there crossed over a mountain path.
From atop the mountain, he could see the sprawling complex below, resembling a small town. At the entrance stood a fountain, and from it stretched a broad avenue wide enough for several carriages side by side.
Buildings lined both sides of the avenue, and at the end rose a grand mansion. Outside the avenue, the grounds were carpeted in well-kept grass and gardens, carefully planted with vibrant flowers and greenery. Every detail revealed the care of skilled hands.
All of this belonged to the family Noah had come to visit.
Of course, it was only natural. A family with more than four centuries of history, as long as it avoided decline, would naturally accumulate wealth and influence far beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
The current head of the family was known as a master of business, steadily expanding the Heartfilia fortune until they had become one of the wealthiest families in all of Fiore.
At the gate, a servant was already waiting. When he saw Noah approach, he hurried over. Clearly, he had seen Noah's picture beforehand.
"Excuse me, are you Mr. Noah Fryar?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Welcome, sir, to the Heartfilia estate. I am a servant of the family. My masters have been waiting for you in the parlor. Please, follow me."
"Alright."
Noah followed the servant down the avenue, quietly admiring the elegant buildings on either side, each a testament to the family's centuries of culture and heritage.
When they reached the grand mansion at the end, the servant led Noah inside, through a wide hall, and up to the second floor.
The corridor upstairs was lined with statues at regular intervals, with a painting placed between every two. Each piece was different, but all radiated wealth and refinement, displaying the family's deep background.
Finally, the servant stopped before a tall set of double doors, pushed them open, and gestured for Noah to enter.
Inside was a large, sunlit living room. Opposite the entrance stretched a row of tall windows, the curtains drawn back so that warm morning light spilled in, filling the room with a gentle glow.
The walls were simply but elegantly decorated, giving the space a sense of both refinement and comfort.
Near the windows stood a table with two long sofas placed on either side. Seated on the sofa to the right were a man and a woman. The moment they saw Noah being led in, they stood quickly to greet him.
The man was tall and middle-aged, with keen dark eyes and sleek blond hair, trimmed neatly to match his well-groomed beard. He wore an expensive, tailored brown suit that added to his stately air.
The woman beside him was strikingly beautiful, with bright, intelligent eyes. Her long golden hair was styled with a ruffled headband, with two locks falling gracefully over her chest. She wore a pink off-the-shoulder dress trimmed with white lace, her figure elegant yet warm.
These were the very people Noah had come to meet Layla Heartfilia and her husband, Jude Heartfilia.
"Welcome to the Heartfilia family," Jude said with dignified courtesy. "I am Jude Heartfilia."
"And I am Layla Heartfilia," the woman added with a gentle smile. "Welcome to our home."
"I'm Noah Flair, an S-Class wizard from Fairy Tail. Sorry to trouble you by visiting on such short notice." After speaking, Noah raised his right hand, showing the Fairy Tail emblem on its back.
Once everyone was seated, the servant served tea before quietly leaving the room. Noah didn't waste time on pleasantries and went straight to the point.
"I'm sure you're both confused as to why I came here so suddenly. I also imagine you took the time to look into me beforehand."
Seeing Noah skip over the usual business-like flattery that merchants often indulged in, Jude appreciated his directness and replied bluntly,
"I am indeed curious. You're a Fairy Tail wizard. You became S-Class at only eight years old. Last year, at ten, you assisted the Magic Council in defeating the Black Magic Cult. Then you helped expose and suppress the Magic Development Bureau, and there are even suspicions that you singlehandedly defeated Deliora.
Although my wife was once a wizard, she has long since left that life behind. We haven't had dealings with wizards in years. So why would a mage of your level come to us?"
Jude truly couldn't understand. When he first heard Noah was requesting a meeting, he had investigated thoroughly. To his shock, the person requesting an audience was still a boy but his achievements and strength were staggering for his age.
At first, Jude thought someone as powerful as Noah might have come to blackmail them. But Fairy Tail was a legitimate guild with a long-standing history and strong reputation. Even so, Jude could not shake his doubts as he looked at the young wizard before him.
"You're right to be cautious," Noah admitted. "But there's a special matter involved here. Our guild shares a hidden connection with the Heartfilia family. More precisely, it has to do with something that has been passed down through your bloodline."
Jude frowned, not understanding. But when he glanced toward Layla and saw the thoughtful expression on her face, he realized Noah was speaking the truth there was indeed something in the Heartfilia family's legacy.
"What do you mean by what has been passed down in our family?" Layla asked softly.
"To show my sincerity, let me first tell you what I know," Noah replied. "Your ancestors left behind a mission for their descendants: to gather the twelve Zodiac Keys in order to open a special gate. This must be done in an age of abundant magic, and at the time of a lunar eclipse. That, at least, is the essence of it."
"This… this matches the records written in the book passed down in our family," Layla said, her hand rising to cover her mouth, her face full of shock. "How did you come to know this?"
"I can't reveal my source," Noah said firmly, though his expression was calm and sincere. "All I can say is that I am here to help you open that gate. The age of abundant magic it is now."
"Are you saying," Layla asked slowly, "that we can open the gate in this era, and finally end the mission entrusted to the Heartfilia family?
I've always doubted the accuracy of the records in our family's book, and I've even considered whether the gate could truly be opened.
But tell me what do you base your certainty on?"
...
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