Morning arrived.
The first rays of sunlight slowly entered through the window, spreading across the room.
For the first time in a long while—
Yaman was sleeping peacefully.
A truly peaceful sleep.
Since the events on his island, he had forgotten what it felt like to rest without fear.
Every night had been filled with memories.
The destruction.
His father's final moments.
The pain.
The power he never wanted.
But this time…
He slept without worry.
Safe.
Calm.
Until—
The sunlight became too bright.
Yaman slowly opened his eyes.
His face immediately twisted in annoyance.
"..."
He stared at the ceiling for a few seconds.
Then sighed.
"Morning already…?"
His first reaction was irritation.
The peaceful sleep he had finally gotten was ruined by the sun itself.
He sat up slowly.
Then looked down at his hands.
The same hands that carried the power of Gehenom.
The same hands that held a power he considered a curse.
Silence.
Yaman slowly turned his head toward the mirror across the room.
He stood up and walked toward it.
For a moment, he simply stared at his reflection.
The black hair.
The tired eyes.
And then—
His gaze stopped.
The scar over his left eye.
His expression darkened.
That scar was a reminder.
A reminder of Zeldaris.
The man who threw him into the volcano.
The moment that changed his entire life.
The moment he met Gehenom.
His hand slowly touched the scar.
"..."
Then his expression softened slightly.
Despite everything—
He remembered his father.
Fernando Ignis.
The man who sacrificed everything to save him.
And even Gehenom…
The being who gave him the strength to survive.
A strength he hated.
Yaman frowned.
The peaceful morning suddenly felt heavier.
He quickly pulled his hand away.
"...Enough."
He took a deep breath.
There was no point ruining a rare peaceful morning.
After changing his clothes, Yaman wore the new outfit provided by Fairy Tail.
Then he left the room.
---
The moment he entered the guild hall—
Chaos greeted him.
People were laughing.
Members were talking loudly.
Some were arguing.
Others were simply enjoying themselves.
Yaman stopped for a moment.
He watched silently.
This was strange.
A guild...
That felt alive.
Not like the dark guilds he knew from his homeland.
Not like the world he came from.
---
Nearby, Gray was talking with Cana.
Until Cana suddenly noticed something.
"Gray."
She pointed.
"Look."
Gray turned.
His eyes followed her gaze.
Yaman had just walked out of the room.
Gray smirked slightly.
"So he finally woke up."
But Yaman ignored them.
He wasn't interested in conversations.
He walked straight toward the guild master.
---
At the counter—
Master Makarov was sitting comfortably.
Drinking beer.
Reading a magazine +18
And laughing loudly.
Yaman stopped in front of him.
"Master."
No response.
"..."
"Master Makarov."
Still nothing.
Yaman's eyebrow twitched.
"Master."
Nothing.
Silence.
Then—
FWOOSH!
A small flame appeared.
The magazine instantly burned.
Makarov froze.
His eyes widened.
"My magazine!!"
He jumped up in shock.
"You little brat!"
"Do you know how much that cost?!"
"That was a rare one!"
Yaman stared at him without emotion.
Then shouted:
"I want real missions!"
The entire guild became quiet.
"I don't want to chase cats!"
"I don't want to help old people!"
"I want real missions!"
"Fighting missions!"
"Missions that actually make me stronger!"
Makarov sighed.
Then smiled slightly.
"Still angry about yesterday's mission?"
Yaman's eye twitched.
"Don't remind me."
Makarov shook his head.
"No."
Yaman froze.
"...What?"
Makarov looked at him seriously.
"You cannot take those kinds of missions yet."
Yaman frowned.
"Explain."
Makarov crossed his arms.
"Children your age are not ready for missions involving serious combat and danger."
"Your missions are supposed to be simple."
"Helping people."
"Learning responsibility."
"Building experience."
"This rule does not apply only to you."
"It applies to everyone your age."
He pointed around.
"Gray."
"Cana."
"Erza."
"All of you."
"You will take the same level of missions."
Yaman clicked his tongue.
Makarov continued.
"When we see that you are ready—"
"Physically."
"And mentally."
"Then you will be allowed to take more dangerous missions."
"That is how this guild works."
Yaman looked away, annoyed.
---
Then—
"Master Makarov."
Everyone turned.
Erza approached.
She placed a report on the desk.
"I'm finished with the mission."
Makarov smiled.
"Excellent work, Erza."
"You continue to impress me."
Erza nodded.
Then immediately picked another request from the board.
"I will take this one."
Makarov looked at it.
Then nodded.
"Approved."
Erza turned and left.
As she passed Yaman—
Their eyes met briefly.
Silence.
A small moment.
Then she continued walking.
---
Makarov looked back at Yaman.
"See?"
"Now stop complaining."
He smiled.
"And move that lazy body of yours."
"Go choose a mission."
Yaman's face darkened.
"You're annoying."
He walked away while muttering insults under his breath.
---
He reached the request board.
After looking through the missions—
One caught his attention.
A simple delivery request.
Helping a merchant transport his goods to his customer
Yaman frowned.
"...Seriously?"
He grabbed the paper anyway.
Then walked back to Makarov.
The guild master read it.
"Good choice."
Yaman looked annoyed.
"Don't say it like I'm a child."
Makarov smiled.
"Because you are."
Yaman clicked his tongue.
After receiving permission—
He left the guild.
His first real day as a Fairy Tail wizard had officially begun.
The morning sun shone brightly over Magnolia as Yaman made his way toward the outskirts of town.
Wearing his new Fairy Tail guild uniform under a dark jacket, a backpack slung over his shoulder, he walked along the dirt path leading down to the valley.
His hands were in his pockets.
His expression remained impassive, as usual.
"...What a great meeting place!"
His tone was sarcastic.
The path finally opened onto a wide valley.
Then—
Laughter echoed around them.
Yaman narrowed his eyes and walked toward the source of the sound.
A few moments later, several trucks appeared.
An old man stood beside them, laughing loudly.
Nearby stood two boys about Yaman's age.
One was laughing so hard he could barely stand.
The other...
was choking.
Yaman walked straight toward them.
The group noticed his arrival immediately.
The old man smiled.
"So, the Fairy Tail wizard has finally arrived."
Yaman didn't reply.
Instead, he looked at the choking boy.
Without hesitation...
Crack!
He hit the boy hard between his shoulder blades.
"Cough!"
The boy spat out the piece of apple stuck in his throat right away before taking a deep breath.
"I-I can breathe..."
He looked at Yaman gratefully.
"Thanks..."
The blond boy next to him burst out laughing again.
"You should have let him go."
"That was hilarious."
The dark-haired boy glared at him.
"Hilarious?"
"You almost killed me, you idiot!"
"And you two were laughing!"
He picked up the apple that had nearly killed him and frowned.
"What kind of apples are these?"
"They're as hard as rock!"
The old merchant laughed proudly.
"They're a special kind."
Yaman sighed softly.
Then he raised his voice.
"Enough."
"If I'm going to do this job..."
"Explain it properly."
The old man straightened up.
"Very well."
"My name is Samuel."
"But everyone calls me Sam."
"You can call me that too."
Yaman nodded slightly.
Sam opened a map.
"Our destination is a city called Illusion City."
"It's beyond Illusion Valley."
He pointed to a long road marked in red.
Yaman took the map.
His eyes calmly scanned every detail.
A long valley.
One way.
At its very end...
The City of Illusions.
He remained silent.
Then...
His eyes narrowed.
...
Something was wrong.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the mission order.
His gaze shifted between the order and the map several times.
Then he looked at Sam.
...Why did you lie?
He was silent.
Sam blinked.
...Lie?
Yaman held up the order.
"The mission says delivery is within Magnolia."
"This map shows a destination outside the city."
His tone remained calm.
But his gaze had grown noticeably colder.
Sam scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"...Uh..."
"Well..."
"The truth is..."
"I had a falling out with the merchant in Magnolia who was supposed to receive these goods."
"So I never delivered them."
"Then I found another buyer."
"In the City of Illusion."
Yaman stared at him.
Without saying a word.
His suspicious gaze alone made Sam nervous.
Suddenly—
A hand was placed on Yaman's shoulder.
"Come on."
"There's no need to be so serious."
The blond boy smiled cheerfully.
"Let's help the old man."
Yaman turned slowly toward the two boys.
After looking at them closely...
The blond one had fair skin, green eyes, and shaggy blond hair.
The other had slightly tanned skin, black hair, and dark eyes.
They were both wearing the same outfit.
On their chests—
The emblem of the Magic Council.
Yaman stared at it for a moment.
"...You're from the Council."
The boys nodded.
"That's right."
"We're trainee officers."
The blond one smiled and extended his hand.
"I'm Eyal."
The dark-haired one followed.
"And I'm James."
Yaman only looked at their hands.
He didn't shake either of theirs.
Instead, his attention returned to Sam.
"I have every right to refuse this request."
"You gave false information."
Sam's face paled instantly.
He clasped his hands together pleadingly.
"Please..."
"My merchandise won't last long."
"If I don't deliver it today, I'll lose everything."
"I'll pay you double."
He fell silent.
Yaman thought for a moment.
Theoretically...
He should have refused.
The request was fraudulent.
But...
This road leads out of Magnolia.
Unknown territory.
A dangerous valley.
That's exactly what he prefers.
A faint smile slowly spread across his face.
"...Expected."
He let out a chuckle.
"Trouble always finds me."
He glanced at Sam.
"...All right."
"I'll accept the mission."