The train ride back to Magnolia was a strange blend of chaos and quiet.
Chaos, because Natsu was rolling on the floor groaning from motion sickness, Happy fluttering beside him trying to cheer him up. Gray was smirking smugly at every pained groan, only to get elbowed in the ribs by Lucy when he pushed it too far. Erza, for once, sat silently, hands folded on her lap, her stern eyes fixed on the passing countryside.
And quiet, because I hadn't said a word since Oshibana.
I sat at the corner seat, notebook open, pretending to jot down observations of the mission. In truth, I was scribbling ideas in blocky diagrams—schematics of bunkers, warding systems, and defense grids. Bedrock fortresses beneath Magnolia. Potion-brewing factories hidden under Fairy Tail.
I kept drawing because if I stopped, I might meet Erza's eyes. And I already knew she was watching me.
It happened sooner than I expected.
Halfway through the trip, Erza finally spoke. Her tone wasn't loud, but it cut through the air sharper than any blade.
"Arashi. Back at Oshibana."
The others stopped bickering, sensing the shift in atmosphere.
Erza leaned forward slightly, her crimson gaze fixed on me. "That magic you used—it wasn't Dragon Slayer magic. Nor was it any form of Requip, Holder, or Caster magic I've ever seen."
I closed my notebook slowly. "You noticed."
"Of course I noticed," she said flatly. "You nullified Erigor's wind magic completely. Even Council-grade sealing mages would struggle to do that. And yet, you—" her eyes narrowed—"you fought as if you had prepared for him specifically."
The train rumbled on the tracks, but the silence in our cabin was deafening.
Natsu groaned from the floor. "Tch… don't care what he did. He beat up Erigor good! That's all that matters."
Gray crossed his arms. "Yeah, but Titania's right. You don't pull something like that out of nowhere."
Lucy fidgeted. "Um… Arashi, you don't have to answer if you don't want to, but… you are kind of a mystery."
All their eyes were on me now.
I chuckled lightly, but it sounded hollow even to me. "Let's just say… I've got access to tools most people don't. Tools designed for building… but I've found they work just as well for protecting."
"Tools?" Erza repeated, voice still sharp.
"Yeah. Call it a… system." I gave a casual shrug, closing my notebook. "Does it matter? Fairy Tail is safe, and that's all I care about."
For a long moment, Erza said nothing. Her eyes bored into me, searching, dissecting. Then she leaned back in her seat, armor faintly clinking.
"It matters," she said quietly, "because if you carry such power, others will notice too. Enemies stronger than Erigor. Enemies who won't hesitate to tear Fairy Tail apart to obtain it."
Her words weren't a threat. They were a warning.
And she was right.
When we finally reached Magnolia, the guild hall greeted us like a storm of laughter and cheers. Makarov raised his mug in celebration, Cana handed me a drink I didn't touch, and Mirajane gave me one of those bright smiles that made the whole hall glow warmer.
For the others, it was victory. For me, it was another reminder.
[System Notification: Questline Update]New Arc: Galuna IslandThreat Detected: Demon Sealed in Moonlight TempleEstimated Danger Level: CatastrophicTime Until Awakening: 14 Days
I blinked, the glowing words burning in my vision even as the guild roared around me. Fourteen days. That was all the time left before a demon from Zeref's books threatened the world.
I forced a smile when Natsu threw an arm around my shoulder, dragging me into their celebration.
But deep down, I already knew.
This peace wouldn't last.