"That's right. This place is indeed no longer enough for Phoenix to continue growing, and I have already arranged everything for him."
Grandeeney looked at Mavis, nodding in approval. Among the three, Mavis was the most intelligent, and the only one Grandeeney dared not underestimate. After all, Mavis was from the chaotic era of the last century and was considered a direct disciple of the Dark Mage Zeref. Especially hearing that she single-handedly founded a guild that is still famous today, Grandeeney held quite a bit of admiration for her. Not to mention anything else, simply existing in this world as a ghost already represented formidable strength. However, it was also because of this that Grandeeney always unconsciously overlooked Mavis in her care for the three, focusing primarily on Wendy and Phoenix. Fortunately, Mavis didn't mind, which made Grandeeney feel a little better.
"Although it's sudden, I hope you can understand. Strength is the foundation of future survival. Without powerful strength, you will eventually be eliminated by history. Many, many disasters will occur in the future of this world. As long as Zeref and Acnologia are still around, there will be no true hope in this world!"
Grandeeney gently stroked Phoenix's soft golden hair with her giant claw.
"Phoenix, you are a miraculous boy, an incredible existence, and can be called the hope of the future. Your future may bear much unbearable sadness and pain, but no matter what, never give up hope."
"...I will! No matter what happens, as long as I think of you, of Mavis, of Wendy, my heart will be filled with a kind of warmth. Your existence is the source of my existence!"
Phoenix nodded affirmatively, not even noticing his tears falling.
"Mavis..." Turning her gaze to Mavis, Grandeeney's tone carried a hint of guilt, "Since you came here, I haven't taught you anything, and asking you for anything, I don't seem to have the qualifications."
"If it's about Fini, then there's no problem at all," Mavis giggled, "I know what you're worried about, but don't worry, with me by his side, he won't go astray."
"Then I'm truly relieved."
Nodding, Grandeeney let out a long sigh of relief.
After giving all the necessary instructions, Grandeeney told the two the location of Igneel. Regarding Igneel's personality and abilities, she said nothing, simply telling them he was a fire dragon.
With their departure imminent, Grandeeney likely knew this might be their last meeting, and she didn't know when they would meet again. So, Grandeeney asked Phoenix if there was anything he wanted, hoping to leave them something as a gift.
"Hmm, a gift... Oh, Grandeeney, do you know about the aurora bead?"
"aurora bead?"
Grandeeney seemed to have no idea what an aurora bead was. It was likely that she, who didn't interact much with the human world, wasn't familiar with these things named by humans.
"Yes, its original name is snow glazed bead. It's about the size of a fist, a white, transparent bead found in the extremely cold regions of the north. But the aurora bead is a bit different; inside the bead, it's said to emit beautiful auroras, with colorful auroras constantly changing hues."
"White... transparent... north... very cold... aurora..."
As if remembering something, Grandeeney made a sweeping motion in the air with her right claw.
Clatter, clatter~
A pile of white, transparent beads rolled onto the ground, and among them, there were indeed aurora beads emitting auroral colors.
"See if there's anything you want in here. Take them all!"
"Aurora... aurora bead!! Wow!!"
Mavis excitedly pounced on them, clutching an aurora bead tightly with both hands, refusing to let go.
"aurora bead! My aurora bead!! Wah wah, I finally have an aurora bead!"
"It's not yours yet."
Phoenix couldn't help but retort.
"I don't care! Anyway, it's already mine! Hehehe~ aurora bead, my aurora bead~ Finally got it, I'm so happy~"
Looking at Mavis, who held the aurora bead like a child, overflowing with affection, a hint of happiness also appeared on Phoenix's face.
"And she says she's not a loli. Doesn't this look just like a child who found a treasure?"
Shaking his head helplessly, Phoenix picked up another aurora bead from the pile of snow glazed beads and handed it to Mavis, saying, "Here, if you want it so much, take this one too."
"No!!"
Mavis glanced at it indifferently and continued to giggle with her own aurora bead.
"Huh? Don't you really like aurora beads?"
"I do like them, but I only need one. More are useless."
"Uh... Isn't more better?"
Phoenix didn't understand this time. If she liked them, she should collect as many as possible.
"It's not like that, Fini-chan~" Pressing the aurora bead against her cheek, the colorful aurora illuminated Mavis's face, making it extraordinarily radiant.
"It's precisely because I like it that I can only take one. Only rare things are most cherished, and only when you have just one can you truly experience the joy. I'm already very happy with one, so let the remaining joy be for others!"
"..."
Phoenix was stunned by her words. He lowered his head, looking at the aurora bead in his hand, and seemed to vaguely understand something in his heart.
"Wendy!"
Turning his head, Phoenix waved to Wendy, who was standing by, eagerly staring at the pile of beads on the ground. What a lovely child; even though she liked them so much, she didn't dare to touch them without permission.
"Hmm, what is it, Fini-nii?"
Wendy ran to Phoenix, her gaze lingering on the aurora bead for a moment before immediately moving away. Although she really liked the beautiful and cute bead, Wendy felt an urge to cry whenever she thought that Phoenix and Mavis were about to leave her.
"Hehe, don't be sad, Wendy. We'll meet again someday. Here, this bead is for you. Consider it a gift from me. Well, although Grandeeney just gave it to me, I hope you don't mind."
Taking Wendy's hand, Phoenix placed the aurora bead into her palm. Because the bead was still a bit large for Wendy, after Phoenix let go, Wendy quickly lifted her other hand and held the bead in her arms with both hands.
"Eh eh eh—no, Fini-nii, this is a gift from Grandeeney to you, how can I accept it?"
As Wendy was about to return the bead to Phoenix, but how could Phoenix possibly accept it?
Reaching out, he pushed the offered aurora bead back into Wendy's arms. Phoenix ruffled Wendy's short blue hair and said as a matter of course, "Wendy, you have an engagement with me, you know, so you are my fiancée, my future bride. Since you are my fiancée, then my things are naturally your things, so just accept it with a clear conscience!"
"Is... is that how it is?"
Wendy's face turned crimson. Because the aurora bead was truly too beautiful, and Wendy really liked it very much, especially since Phoenix had personally given it to her, Wendy cherished it even more.
"Yes, that's exactly how it is."
Watching Phoenix quickly placate Wendy, a large drop of cold sweat unexpectedly appeared on Grandeeney's head.
She had a feeling that this boy truly had the potential to be a playboy.
"Hey Grandeeney, where did you collect all these snow glazed beads?"
Phoenix roughly counted about three hundred snow glazed beads on the ground. He searched carefully again and incredibly found another aurora bead. One was enough for Mavis, and Wendy was also smiling happily, hugging the one Phoenix gave her. The remaining one certainly couldn't be given back to Grandeeney, or he would definitely be scorned to death, so Phoenix put the last one into his pocket.
"Oh, speaking of that, I still have some memories. I remember it was over a hundred years ago, I was passing through the north once, and because it was very cold, I planned to fly over quickly, but unexpectedly, I found many sparkling things below. Because it was very strange, I picked up all these beads, and for that, I even searched through the entire mountain range."
At this point, Grandeeney looked proud, as if she had done something incredibly remarkable.
Click, click, click—
A stiff sound of old machinery turning entered Phoenix's ears. He turned his head and saw Mavis, who had originally been overjoyed at getting the aurora bead, staring stiffly at the pile of snow glazed beads.
"So... so..."
Tears slowly welled up in Mavis's eyes. Seeing Mavis, whose eyes were misty with tears, Phoenix walked over and embraced her, gently patting her pink back to comfort her, "Cry! I understand!"
"Wuwu~~ I'm not crying, I won't cry, wuwu~ My... my aurora bead!!"