"Phoenix! You must remember! You carry a dream in your heart! A goal for which you are willing to dedicate your entire life. Your dream is to conquer the world! Your goal is to reach the peak! Don't hesitate, and don't have a single regret! In life, these are inevitable experiences. No matter how perilous the path ahead, or how despair-inducing the hardships along the way, you must never abandon your dream! Until the very last spark of life fades, you only need to remember that no matter if your path is right or if you've strayed, on this isolated island, there is one person who will always pray for you..."
Mavis's shoulders trembled slightly, and she slowly turned her head. Mavis's delicate, fair face was already covered in tears.
"Vivia Milio... This is the surname I am most proud of. When I bestowed this surname upon you, you became my closest family. Phoenix, promise me! Even if it's just for this surname, you must protect yourself well, and you must never let your heart fall into darkness! You must... never become a regret!"
"..."
Phoenix stared blankly at Mavis, who was clearly different from her usual playful self, a hint of surprise in his eyes. He was touched by Mavis's final concern, and reaching out his right hand to point at his chest, Phoenix firmly promised, "Don't worry, Mavis!! Just for the tears you shed for me at this moment, I will never step into darkness in this life!"
"Wuwu~~ Who... who's crying!! I'm not crying... Mmm mmm~~"
Tears welled in Mavis's eyes. Mavis reached out and haphazardly wiped them away, then sniffled as she looked at Phoenix, who was ready to leave, saying, "You still remember, don't you? I am the First Guild Master of Fairy Tail in Magnolia Town, Fiore Kingdom. If it's on your way when you go out, go see my guild. It should be a very lively guild, very suitable for you. If... if it doesn't satisfy you, I hope you can lend a hand if my guild ever encounters trouble in the future."
"Mm! I'm really looking forward to it!"
Because those who part will forever remember the face of their farewell, Phoenix gave Mavis his biggest smile when he answered her.
And Mavis, having finished all her instructions, returned a brilliant smile of her own.
"I will forever cherish this last smile in my heart. Mavis, goodbye!"
"Mm, bye-bye..."
A gentle breeze blew, and Phoenix's figure completely vanished from Mavis's sight.
Staring at the empty air before her, Mavis sat cross-legged on the bed, her gaze fixed on the door, as if hoping to see Phoenix suddenly appear and startle her.
However... this prank seemed destined never to happen.
After more than half an hour, Mavis's body trembled, and her solidified form instantly became ethereal.
At that moment, Mavis realized that her connection with Phoenix was severed. Without Phoenix's magic supply, the effect of maintaining her physical form also disappeared.
"You truly have left!"
Her emerald eyes dimmed for a moment, but in the end, Mavis forcibly suppressed all her sorrowful emotions.
Her head drooped weakly, and Mavis, hugging her knees, quietly let her thoughts drift.
Time slipped away silently. The sun rose from one end of the horizon and set on the other.
Night fell, stars twinkled. But in the wooden house now shrouded in darkness, an unspeakable sadness permeated the air.
When Mavis regained consciousness, she, as a ghost, unusually felt a chill.
At this time, no one would hold her tightly and embrace her to sleep anymore.
At this moment, no one would let her scold him and never let go.
Plop!
A clear tear fell, wetting Mavis's cheek, and making her truly realize the cold reality.
"You're crying, Mavis."
Suddenly, just as the void in Mavis's heart grew larger, a gentle whisper sounded in Mavis's ear. Hearing this incredibly familiar voice, Mavis's eyes instantly gleamed with a hint of brilliance and disbelief.
"Phi... Fini-chan?"
"Mm, it's your Fini-chan, Mavis. I'm back, so please, don't cry anymore, okay?"
Reaching out, Phoenix gently wiped away the tears from Mavis's eyes, and kneeling before Mavis, he gently comforted her.
Mavis opened her tear-filled eyes, looking at the figure before her that didn't seem illusory. Mavis was overjoyed, but still couldn't help but ask:
"Why... why did you come back?"
"Because I was worried about you! Look, I just left for a little while, and you're already hiding here crying. If I really left, there would be no one to comfort you."
Phoenix laughed playfully, a hint of pity in his eyes.
Making such a fairy-like girl cry, that in itself must be a sin!
"I... I wasn't crying at all—!"
It was a repeat of the morning, but this time, the crying was mixed with a hint of elusive joy, so Phoenix let Mavis vent without saying a word.
"...I won't go with you."
After a while, Mavis's face became serious as she replied.
"Mm, I know."
Phoenix already knew this answer, so he nodded slightly.
"Then you still..."
"I've decided to stay."
Before Mavis could finish, Phoenix stated his decision.
"Stay?"
"Yes! Stay here, with you."
"...It's not worth it... Wuwah!!"
Just as Mavis was about to retort, she felt a tightening around her waist, and her entire body was hugged tightly by Phoenix.
Thump!
Hugging Mavis, he fell backward. After rolling once on the bed, Phoenix held Mavis in his arms, his eyes slightly narrowed as he gazed at the night sky outside the window.
A crescent moon sat solitarily in the sky.
"If I stood at the peak of this world without you by my side, wouldn't it be incredibly lonely?"
"I won't leave, you know. And don't think that just because of this, I'll be moved and go with you."
"Hey, hey, what nonsense are you saying? I'm not forcing you to leave, you know."
Withdrawing his gaze, Phoenix looked at Mavis's pretty face nestled in his arms and couldn't help but reach out and pinch Mavis's cheek.
Soft and tender, a very pleasant sensation.
"Wuwahwah~ You... what are you doing!! You're too presumptuous!"
"Haha~ Because Mavis is too cute, you see." Phoenix laughed as if it were obvious, then his expression became serious, "I'm staying! Staying here with you. Even if I lose my dream because of it, I'm willing!"
"..."
Mavis didn't say anything, just buried her head deeply in Phoenix's chest.
"...How can you... how can you give up your dream so casually!"
"Hmm, why is that, I wonder? Or perhaps, I never had the right to possess this dream! More than it, I want to cherish the person by my side who I should cherish the most."
"Phoenix..."
"Fini-chan, actually. I've heard it for years, I'm used to it."
"Fini-chan, are you serious? Don't worry, even if you're lying to me, I'm still very happy."
Mavis already knew if Phoenix was sincere the moment she saw him. However, in order to make Phoenix let go of this place and pursue his dream, Mavis chose to pretend not to notice.
"Time will prove everything."
Phoenix smiled mysteriously, changed his position, and pulled Mavis a little tighter against his chest. Phoenix quickly closed his eyes.
"Sleep! I used up too much energy running around today, I'm a bit tired."
"..."
Looking at the weariness around Phoenix's brows, Mavis could imagine that he must have expended a great deal of power to cross the sea, but for her sake, he turned back halfway.
"What an... idiot!"
...July 7, Year 774, Sunny.
More than a month had slipped by again.
This... "Fini-chan, let's go outside!"
Mavis's voice came from afar.
"Tomorrow, then. I'm resting today, so I'll just keep you company."
Under a large tree, Phoenix replied lazily, his hands clasped behind his head.
"It's not for training."
Mavis arrived under the tree with a gust of wind, sitting beside Phoenix with a serious expression.
"Then what is it?"
"Outside, outside! We're going to the outside world."
"The outside world?" Phoenix opened his eyes, his large, emerald eyes staring unblinkingly at Mavis. Seeing that Mavis wasn't joking, Phoenix's brows furrowed slightly, "That's not a funny joke. Since I've decided to stay, I won't have any regrets. So, please don't say things like that again."
Thinking Mavis felt guilty, Phoenix got up from the ground and walked behind Mavis, embracing her, his chin resting on Mavis's shoulder.
"This is enough, Mavis. In my heart, you are as important as the world."