"Phoenix, I want you to take care of Wendy... for her entire life!"
"Her entire... life?"
Phoenix's eyes widened in surprise. That... wouldn't that mean...
"That's right!"
Grandeeney confirmed Phoenix's guess.
"I want to arrange a marriage between you and Wendy. Wendy's future, I will entrust entirely to you."
I'm sorry, Phoenix. Although I don't want to force you, Wendy is too kind and gentle. As a user of Dragon Slayer Magic, she won't be able to remain obscure in the future. Many people will certainly target her. If there isn't someone powerful enough to protect her, her future will be a constant worry. Rather than that, it's better to choose you. Only you, whom I trust, can be responsible for Wendy's entire life.
"..."
Phoenix stared blankly at Grandeeney, and Grandeeney likewise stared at Phoenix. For a moment, neither of them spoke, allowing an eerie silence to gradually dominate the surrounding space.
After a long while—
Phoenix stood up, holding Wendy.
"I accept!"
His strong and forceful voice revealed his powerful will and determination. This moment's promise completely calmed Grandeeney's somewhat anxious heart.
"Fini..."
Mavis's expression changed several times, but in the end, she silently turned her head away.
"I'm sorry!"
Grandeeney felt a pang of guilt.
"Hahaha, there's no need to apologize, Grandeeney. Wendy is so cute, and she'll definitely be very beautiful when she grows up. I'm getting a great deal. The one who should apologize is me, for taking Wendy away from you."
Phoenix's face was beaming with a happy smile, as if he was truly delighted. But Grandeeney knew in her heart that while Phoenix did like Wendy, it wasn't to the point of marriage. Not to mention Wendy was only three years old; as of now, Phoenix's favorite was still Mavis.
"Mavis..."
"Grandeeney, just as Fini said, don't worry too much or feel guilty. I'm a ghost, so it's impossible for Fini and I to be together forever. Wendy is very obedient and sensible; marrying Fini is actually a loss for her."
Mavis looked at Phoenix and Wendy with a beaming smile, her sincere blessings seeming genuine. This made Grandeeney feel even more guilty.
Although she had considered this possibility from the beginning, now that it was actually happening, she couldn't help but feel a little ashamed.
"Fini Big Brother, are you going to take care of me for my entire life?"
Wendy, nestled in Phoenix's arms, raised her head and asked, her cheeks slightly flushed. Although young, she instinctively sensed that this was something that concerned her entire life.
"Yes. For your entire life!"
Phoenix nodded affirmingly.
"A marriage contract... does that mean I'll be Fini Big Brother's bride in the future?"
"Then, Wendy, are you willing to be my bride and let me take care of you for your whole life?"
"I am!"
At this moment, Wendy, who still didn't understand the true meaning of 'wife' but simply took it for granted that they would always be together as they were now, answered loudly.
"..."
Phoenix gave a wry smile and gently stroked Wendy's head. Wendy, in turn, made a comfortable, cat-like expression, let out a contented yawn, then closed her eyes and snuggled against Phoenix's chest, falling into a sweet sleep. Earlier, to heal Phoenix, Wendy had expended a great deal of stamina and magic power. The weariness suddenly overwhelmed her, and Wendy, unable to stay awake, could only fall into a deep slumber.
After Wendy fell asleep, Phoenix had intended to talk to Mavis, but seeing Mavis's lack of interest, he gave up.
Night soon fell. Phoenix and Mavis still went to sleep hand in hand, and Wendy naturally snuggled comfortably in Phoenix's arms. Everything seemed as it was yesterday; the marriage contract between Phoenix and Wendy seemed to have caused no significant impact.
After the three of them had fallen into a deep sleep, Grandeeney, who was watching over them, also slowly closed her eyes and drifted off. However, Grandeeney's consciousness, traversing spatial barriers, arrived at a volcanic region endlessly scorched by raging flames.
"Grandeeney, why have you come here?"
A deep voice emanated from the volcano, and then flames splattered as a giant, crimson dragon stepped out, the entire mountain range seemingly trembling beneath its feet.
"I want you to teach a child."
A ball of light appeared before the giant dragon, and Grandeeney's pleading voice clearly carried through.
Boom!!
"Grandeeney, I know you are very fond of humans! But I've also warned you not to interfere with humans easily!"
The giant dragon raised its foreleg and slammed it down heavily, causing the entire volcano to instantly boil.
"Besides, I already have an heir; I can't continue to teach others!"
"But, he is different!" Seemingly having anticipated that the giant dragon wouldn't agree easily, there was no disappointment in Grandeeney's tone. "I see the potential of humanity in him. With Zeref and the Black Dragon Acnologia as his lifelong goals, he might truly achieve a miracle!"
"Hmm?"
The giant dragon let out a surprised sound and asked uncertainly, "Are you sure he truly understands their power? Are you sure he's not just being impulsive?"
"If you were to see that child with your own eyes, you would understand everything! He is not a human who can be bound by fate; he possesses too many possibilities!"
"..."
The giant dragon fell silent for a moment. In truth, when it asked those questions, the giant dragon's heart had already confirmed the truthfulness, for if this were just a thoughtless remark, Grandeeney would not have spoken so solemnly.
"Why seek me?" After a long silence, the giant dragon retorted, "I don't believe you are unqualified to teach him! I remember you've already adopted a human girl, haven't you? If so, why don't you let him train with her?"
"I don't want to hinder his future! Compared to Sky Dragon Slayer Magic, Fire Dragon Slayer Magic is clearly more suitable for him! Phoenix the Undying, that is his name!"
"Phoenix the Undying? Hahahaha!! Good, let him come! I want to see what kind of human dares to bear the name Phoenix the Undying!! Let me, the Fire Dragon God Igneel, be the trial gate to his future!!"
...The next day, after Phoenix and the two girls woke up and had breakfast with Grandeeney, they inexplicably felt that today was different. In the past, after eating, Grandeeney would immediately slap Phoenix flying, and then subject him to various abuses. Phoenix, who had already prepared to be knocked flying, waited for a long time but saw no action from Grandeeney, which made Phoenix feel a strange sensation.
"Um, aren't you going to slap me flying today?"
Phoenix asked somewhat mischievously, which made a strange look appear in Grandeeney's eyes, as if she had just come back to her senses.
"You haven't been slapped silly, have you?"
"Even if I'm silly, it's all your fault!!" Phoenix roared exasperatedly.
"It's okay, Fini Big Brother, even if Fini Big Brother becomes silly, Wendy won't abandon Fini Big Brother, okay?"
Wendy looked at Phoenix with a pained expression and even stood on her tiptoes to pat Phoenix's head, which instantly brought tears to Phoenix's eyes.
"Wuwu~~ I'm so touched, Wendy. Having you as my wife is truly a blessing from a past life!"
"Giggle giggle~~"
Wendy laughed happily, her bell-like laughter drifting out and inexplicably making people feel much happier.
"Hmph! Damn * * lolicon!"
Mavis grumbled under her breath, but Phoenix heard it.
"You can't say that, Mavis, you're also a loli!"
"I am not a loli!!"
Mavis retorted without hesitation. A loli? She would never admit it, for admitting it would mean she hadn't grown up yet!
"A loli is a loli. Wendy still has a chance to get past her loli shelf life, but you, you can forget about it for this lifetime."
Phoenix stared at Mavis's flat chest and nodded in strong agreement.
Slap!!
"Where are you looking!!"
Mavis, in a fit of angry embarrassment, raised her fist and slammed it hard on Phoenix's head, but Phoenix became even happier.
Mm-hmm, since she can still get angry, it means she's fine now... for the time being, that is.
Grandeeney's gentle gaze lingered on Phoenix and the others. Seeing their harmonious relationship, Grandeeney also felt genuinely happy. However, thinking of her conversation with Igneel last night, Grandeeney took a deep breath and said seriously, "Phoenix, Mavis, you two should leave today!"
"Leave? Grandeeney, what do you mean, 'leave'?"
Yesterday she arranged his marriage to Wendy, and today she wants to kick him out? This change in attitude was too fast.
"Grandeeney, are you going to make Fini Big Brother and Mavis Big Sister leave?"
Wendy raised her tearful, big eyes and looked at Grandeeney with a pleading expression.
"I think it's because this place is no longer enough to improve Fini's strength. Making such a sudden decision, she must have already arranged a path for Fini, right?"
Mavis's expression showed no change, as if she had anticipated this, but a hint of reluctance still inadvertently slipped out.