"Maybe I'm just a little more talented, that's all," Noah said with a small smile. "You don't have to keep comparing yourself to me, Laxus. Just focus on surpassing who you were yesterday."
It was a gentle encouragement, but one Noah knew Laxus needed to hear. He didn't want his rival to lose confidence or feel defeated.
Laxus, ever competitive, scoffed. But his voice carried renewed fire.
"I've known for a long time that you're ridiculously gifted. That's exactly why I set my sights on you. I can't let you leave me in the dust I'm going to catch up and surpass you someday. No way I'm getting outpaced without a fight!"
Noah saw the gleam returning to Laxus's eyes and felt relieved.
"Good," he replied with a confident nod. "But just so you know, I won't be the one getting surpassed."
With that, the two dove back into training, pushing themselves hard in the weight of the gravity field.
Later on, Erza and the others gathered around, curious about the outcome of Noah's recent commission.
"So how'd it go?" Erza asked.
"Met a big sister and a little sister," Noah replied casually, though for some strange reason, a cold chill ran down his back as he spoke.
"A big sister… and a little sister?" Kagura repeated, squinting slightly.
"They're actually mother and daughter," Noah clarified. "I helped them both with their training and recovery. The commission was more about healing than fighting."
He said it all in a matter-of-fact tone, his expression calm, completely unaware that the air around him still felt unnaturally chilly. But as he began describing the Celestial Spirit Magic he had learned from Layla, the cold feeling slowly faded.
Noah scratched his head, puzzled. He couldn't understand why he had felt off earlier but he didn't dwell on it. Instead, he continued sharing what he had learned about the stars, constellations, and the ancient bonds between Celestial Mages and spirits.
His explanation expanded everyone's understanding of Star Magic. They began asking questions, some technical, some philosophical.
"If there's something you don't understand," Noah told them, "check the guild library, ask a teammate, or summon Grandpa Crux he knows tons of stuff. And if even he can't help, then go bug Master Makarov."
Everyone chuckled, and the day soon became a blend of intense physical training, magical theory, and sparring matches to sharpen their combat instincts.
Days passed like this. Then, one morning, Noah packed his belongings, accepted a few new commissions to complete along the way, and said goodbye to Erza, Laxus, and the others.
"Stay safe!" Erza called out.
"Don't forget to bring back souvenirs!" Natsu shouted from somewhere in the background.
With a faint smile, Noah left Magnolia once again.
He completed several minor commissions along the way, but his true destination lay deep within the mountains.
After a long hike, Noah arrived at a remote mountain range. Pulling out a rolled-up scroll, he compared it to the map Master Makarov had helped him compile. After confirming the location, he headed down a narrow path toward his target.
Eventually, Noah came upon a deserted village. Hidden in the folds of the mountains, it was eerily silent. Not a single voice could be heard not even birdsong.
He stepped into the village and began surveying the area.
Most of the houses were made of timber, with roofs covered in thick layers of yellowing thatch. But they had long since fallen into disrepair. Windows were shattered, doors hung crooked or were missing entirely.
He walked past one broken-down house and peered through a gap in the wall. The floor inside was littered with shattered furniture. Tables had collapsed; chairs were splintered. The air was stale and thick with dust.
Spiders had claimed the corners. Insects crawled across the floor. The silence was heavy, almost unnatural.
Noah moved further inward. Most houses he passed had collapsed barrels, broken clay pots, or rotting wooden boards shoved into the corners.
It wasn't until he reached the edge of the village that something caught his eye. One house looked… different.
Its windows were whole. The door was unbroken. Even the clay pot at the doorstep remained upright and undamaged. Compared to the ruin surrounding it, this house felt alive.
Noah approached cautiously. He stopped at the door, lifted his right hand, and knocked gently. Then he lowered his arm and waited.
He already knew someone was inside he could feel the presence.
Sure enough, a few moments later, the door creaked open.
An old man stood there.
The man who opened the door was short and hunched with age. A long white beard flowed down his chest, thick enough to cover his mouth entirely. On both sides of his face, the beard connected with equally thick eyebrows, creating a natural frame for the man's weathered face, leaving only his sharp eyes and narrow nose visible.
A strange tattoo adorned his forehead bright red, with a single dot in the center, flanked by two arched lines that curved like wings.
He wore a ceremonial headdress made of layered feathers. Around his neck hung a heavy necklace strung with enormous fangs. His upper body was bare, save for golden armlets wrapped tightly around his biceps and bandages covering his wrists.
A light cloth, patterned with feathers, was tied at his waist, and he wore loose dark trousers tucked into simple sandals. Everything about him spoke of a distant tribe, ancient and proud.
The old man blinked in surprise as he took in the sight before him: a boy, standing alone on his doorstep, dressed in modern clothing a white short-sleeved sports shirt, black athletic pants, and black sneakers.
In a place so remote, where even birds rarely passed overhead, how had a child arrived?
"Grandpa, do you live here all by yourself?" Noah asked politely. "There's no one else around?"
The old man's voice was low and slightly hoarse. "Yeah, Nabura, what are you doing here again? Did you get lost?"
Noah shook his head. "No, I came here on purpose. I read that somewhere in this region, there's a powerful ancient magic called Nirvana, sealed away long ago. I wanted to see if I could learn more about it."
The old man's eyes sharpened at the word Nirvana, but his expression remained unreadable. His voice dropped to a cautious whisper.
"Nabura... why do you want to find Nirvana? You're not planning to unseal it, are you?"
"No way," Noah said with a faint laugh. "There's always a reason ancient magic gets sealed. Something about it must've been dangerous. I wouldn't go unleashing that on the world. I just want to study it learn what I can."
He paused, then lifted his right hand, showing the emblem on the back the crest of Fairy Tail. "Ah, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name's Noah. I'm a wizard from Fairy Tail."
The old man's gaze lingered on the guild mark for a moment before he nodded thoughtfully.
"I've heard of that guild... a Guild of Light," he murmured. "In that case, let me give you a proper welcome. I'm called Robaul, a descendant of the tribe that created Nirvana. I have some ancient records, passed down through generations. If you truly wish to study Nirvana, I can let you see them."
Noah's face lit up with joy. "Really? Thank you, Grandpa Robaul!"
Robaul studied the boy for a moment longer. He could feel Noah's magic steady, warm, without a hint of malice. The boy's eyes didn't flinch or dart away. That was enough for Robaul to decide: he would allow this young mage to stay, to observe, and maybe even understand the burden Nirvana carried.
Noah, with Robaul's blessing, cleaned out a crumbling house next door and made it his temporary home. Every day, he began with his usual training, then crossed over to Robaul's home to ask questions.
Robaul, at first cautious, started from the very basics. He spoke of ancient civilizations, the first uses of balance magic, and how Nirvana was born from the desire to reverse darkness and light.
To his surprise, Noah grasped concepts quickly not just memorizing facts, but truly understanding the heart of the magic.
After a few days of quiet observation, Robaul was convinced. He saw no greed in the boy's heart, only genuine curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. Noah never once asked how to unseal Nirvana or whether it could be weaponized. He asked what it meant, what it did, and what the consequences had been.
At last, Robaul decided to go deeper. He would teach Noah the truths behind Nirvana not just the theory, but the danger, the burden, and the reason it had been locked away by the ancients.
And so, the true lessons of Nirvana began.
Keep supporting me with you comments and if you like the story please drop a power stone and your support is very much appreciated.
Want to read 40+ chapters ahead , share your fandom thoughts, or just fuel my translation caffeine habit? or if you want to support me please Join me on Patreon here! :
patreon.com/Keep_ItUp
Keep supporting me with you comments and if you like the story please drop a power stone and your support is very much appreciated