Time passed quickly. Before Noah realized it, more than ten days had gone by at Roubaul's side. It was now over a month since July 7, X777.
One day, while Noah was in the middle of discussing magic with Roubaul, they both suddenly stopped and turned in the same direction at once.
"Did you feel that, Noah?"
"I did. A very unusual magic has appeared over there. I'll go and take a look."
"Be careful. Magic that rare is never simple."
"I'll be careful."
With that, Noah vanished from the spot, instantly moving toward the source of the strange power.
He lifted his head to the sky. The source of the magic was up there.
There was nothing visible at first glance, but Noah could sense something peculiar brewing within the clouds, forming slowly and deliberately.
He lowered his gaze toward the ground. At the base of the cloud's position lay a small village.
The villagers seemed completely unaware of what was gathering above their heads. They went about their daily routines in peace, the air filled with the calm rhythm of rural life.
For their safety, Noah immediately set up a protective barrier around the entire village, shielding it from harm.
Then he cast several detection spells, probing into the strange magic.
Soon, the mass of magical energy began to shift, moving according to a distinct pattern. Noah realized it was coalescing into a spell.
From the outside, one could see the clouds within a wide range slowly circling a central point in the sky.
Testing the forming spell further, Noah discovered it was still in its infancy. It would take a long time to fully materialize.
The magic bore the signature of time and space. Its exact effect was still unclear, but its direction was fixed pointing straight down at the village below. Whatever it was, it wasn't good.
Not willing to risk the villagers' lives, Noah disrupted the spell at once.
The half-formed magic collapsed, its energy dispersing instantly. The swirling clouds broke apart, scattering to reveal a clear blue sky.
The oppressive feeling vanished, and Noah's spirit lifted with the sight of sunlight flooding down.
He lingered for a while, making sure the disturbance was truly gone, before removing the protective barrier from around the village.
Throughout the entire ordeal, none of the villagers realized how close they had come to disaster. They continued their simple routines, unaware that a looming threat had been erased in silence.
When Noah returned to Roubaul's side, he found a young man there, about the same age as himself, speaking urgently to the old master.
"Please… please take this child in!"
The youth had striking blue hair, dark eyes, and a crimson tattoo etched near his right eye. His clothes were sturdy, fit for long travels, and he carried a large pack on his back. In his arms, he held a small girl with dark blue hair, no more than five years old, sleeping peacefully.
Roubaul opened his mouth to reply, but his eyes caught sight of Noah arriving. He changed his words.
"Would you take her in instead, Noah? You know my circumstances. I'm not suited to care for a child."
"Of course I'll take her in!"
A warm, genuine smile lit Noah's face. Seeing it, Roubaul seemed to understand something unspoken. His expression softened, as if Noah's actions these past weeks had finally made sense.
The blue-haired boy, however, startled at Noah's sudden appearance. He tightened his hold on the girl, his eyes wary and sharp, and instinctively took two steps back.
However, once he saw Noah and Roubaul talking and laughing together, the boy's tension eased slightly. He turned to Noah and asked hesitantly:
"Excuse me… who are you?"
Noah lifted his right hand, showing the guild emblem stamped proudly on its back.
"My name is Noah. I'm a Fairy Tail wizard, and a friend of Grandpa Roubaul.
What about you? What's your name?"
"My name is Jellal. Please… take this child in. If she stays with me, she'll be in danger."
As he spoke, he shifted the little girl in his arms slightly upward. Seeing his struggle, Noah cast a soft gravity spell, causing the child to float gently into the air.
Jellal let go, and the girl drifted weightlessly before them. His eyes flashed with envy at the effortless display of magic, but his expression quickly hardened again. Looking firmly at Noah, he said nothing more.
"All right," Noah answered. "I'll take this little sister in. But tell me why is it dangerous for her to stay with you?"
Jellal's face darkened. His voice grew quiet.
"There's something I must do. It's dangerous, and I can't let her get dragged into it."
"If it's so dangerous, do you still intend to go through with it?"
"I have to. It's my responsibility."
Noah studied him closely. Though his expression carried shadows, his eyes burned with conviction.
"Will what you're doing put innocent people at risk?"
"Of course not. What I want is to protect more innocent lives!"
At those words, Jellal's features brightened. He met Noah's gaze head-on, resolute and unflinching. Noah smiled at the sight.
"Then why not join Fairy Tail my guild? It could help you accomplish what you're trying to do."
Jellal blinked in surprise, his expression puzzled. Noah continued:
"I've met people like you before. People who carry burdens heavier than anyone knows."
Jellal stiffened at once, retreating a few steps, suspicion flashing in his eyes. Roubaul, standing nearby, arched an eyebrow at Noah's words but held his tongue.
Noah raised his hand, motioning calmly.
"Relax. The one I'm talking about is an elder of my guild. That's why I've looked into these things and gained some understanding.
Just now, you and I stood very close, and my perception is sharp. That's why I could sense your situation. Others won't notice it, so you don't need to worry too much.
From your expression, I can tell you came here with purpose. If you want help, come to Fairy Tail.
You don't need to decide now. Look into our guild yourself. Once you've seen it, you'll make your own judgment."
Hearing this, Jellal finally allowed himself to relax a little.
He had only just arrived in this place when he was suddenly noticed. Naturally, he'd been alarmed. But now he realized it wasn't common only that the boy before him was far too sharp and strong.
Seeing him calm down, Noah added:
"I'll take this little sister back to Fairy Tail and have her join us. You can visit her there anytime. Our guild is in Magnolia."