"Ahhhh~!" With a scream, a glowing golden object streaked across the sky, crashing into a clearing by the river in the forest and leaving a crater.
"Ouch, ouch~ that really hurts!" Kael gritted his teeth and frowned, rubbing his sore body left and right. He pushed himself up from the pit, blinking in confusion as he surveyed his surroundings.
Trees stretched in every direction, with only a slow river cutting through. Other than the rustling leaves, there was nothing unusual. A gentle breeze stirred, and a leaf drifted onto Kael's face, snapping him slightly back to focus.
"What the…? Where am I? Shouldn't I be at my apartment, watching that adventure anime? And where exactly is here? Damn it!"
Earlier that day, Kael had been at home after work, watching anime on his computer sitting across from the window while slurping on some instant noodles, eyes glued to the screen as the shady old man in the show tried to capture the protagonist's gang at lightning speed. He hadn't noticed the lightning bolt that suddenly struck through his window with a deafening boom.
It was only then that Kael realized souls might really exist. He felt himself rising gently, warmth surrounding him, his mind in a daze. A soft, jade-like fingertip tapped the back of his forehead, and his body uncontrollably plummeted backward at breakneck speed, a gentle, ethereal voice echoing in his ears:
"I am the Goddess of Light. My apologies for the mishap. To make it up to you, I grant you a golden ability. Go and live well in another world!"
A tiny figure in Kael's heart stomped and yelled in frustration, but his body was already moving toward the riverbank. It was then that he got a full view of his new self.
Running his hand over his face, he felt smooth, youthful skin. Short, messy golden hair framed bright, sharp eyes and a straight, defined nose, exuding undeniable charm. He looked about thirteen.
"What is happening? My body is smaller, and what kind of world is this? The Goddess doesn't even give instructions, no golden ability guide… how am I supposed to live?"
Though Kael mentally scolded the Goddess for being unreliable, he had already started moving. Following the river, he ran toward a distant open area. A breeze fluttered his clothing as he heard shouts, laughter, and the clatter of merchants' carts. Children chased each other through narrow alleyways, weaving past homes, and merchants moved their neatly packed goods into and out of town.
Kael looked at the bustling town, touched his body—he had nothing but the clothes on his back—and clenched his teeth. Fixing his gaze on the road leading into town, he ran forward, silently resolving to start anew in this world and live life to the fullest.
Half a month later, Kael stood across the street, looking up at a tall building adorned with a fluttering Fairy Tail flag. His journey so far had finally brought him here, and a wide grin spread across his face.
This was his favorite world—Aslant, a land brimming with magic.
Half a month ago, a merchant had informed Kael that he was in an ordinary town in the Kingdom of Fiore. That's when he realized he had arrived in the world of Fairy Tail.
On the way, he had joined several merchant caravans, helping them with tasks to earn food, and finally, after persevering, he had reached Magnolia.
As Kael approached the guild's entrance, a blast of ice shot out, freezing him solid before he could react.
"Sorry! I didn't mean to freeze you!"
A small black-haired boy, shirtless with a noticeable bump on his head from a previous mishap, looked apologetic as he addressed Kael. Kael, wrapped in a blanket and sipping hot tea, realized it was fine—the ice was made in play by the boy, and being young, the chill was not strong enough to hurt him.
"Hahaha, Gray, you're so clumsy. Still trying to act cool? Got hit by Erza, huh?" Laughter erupted from nearby guild members, teasing Gray.
"It's okay. You're Gray, right? I'm Kael. Back in my hometown, we say 'no fight, no friendship,' so I guess we're officially acquainted today. Don't worry about it."
Kael gently placed a hand on Gray's shoulder, smiling at the slightly guilty boy.
"Mm-hmm!" Gray replied faintly, still looking a little down, ignoring the teasing around him.
Just then, a pair of large hands reached down to ruffle Gray's head.
"All right, little rascal, go play. Grandpa will chat with this young man."
A short old man, sitting cross-legged atop a table, retracted his gigantification magic, sipping his drink leisurely. Kael looked at this tiny, glowing figure with hair only on the sides and back of his head—of course, it was none other than Makarov Dreyar, the third-generation master of Fairy Tail.
"Are you here for a job or to join the guild?"
"I want to join Fairy Tail! I want to become the strongest mage. I heard there's a mage in this guild who can crush magic itself. I want to be just as strong, so please allow me to join, Master!" Kael said with determination and hope shining in his eyes.
Makarov, seeing the confident, bright young boy before him, wanted to agree immediately but remained responsible and asked whether Kael could actually use magic.
"Show me your magic. Only a mage can join the guild."
A gentle, ethereal voice echoed in Kael's mind:
"Magic: Holy Light. Little one, your golden ability grants you all the powers of that perverted old man you watched—but transformed into magic in this world. The rest… you'll discover for yourself."
"Goddess of Light, are you there?" Kael asked.
…
"Seems it's just a voice message, no direct communication," he thought. After a moment of reflection, Kael calmed himself and focused on the warm energy flowing through him.
As he connected with the light, he realized he truly possessed all the abilities of that perverted old man from Adventure King—currently at only 30% power, but unlocking 20% more each year. This gave him peace of mind.
As Kael felt the energy, his body radiated warm, sacred light from within, dispersing the darkness around him. His magic filled the entire guild hall; injured members noticed their wounds healing, and minor injuries began to scab over.
The commotion and astonishment drew Kael's attention back. The light gradually dimmed as he looked at the cheering guild members around him.
"Such a small child with so much magic? And it's Holy Light, with healing effects! Hahaha, he can join the guild." Makarov thought, impressed at how Kael's magic resembled the guild's three Great Magical Arts—warm and powerful.
"Now, what color do you want for your guild emblem, and where should it go?" Makarov asked, holding the seal in one hand and a cup in the other.
"Right hand, back of the hand. Golden."
"Good, raise your hand." A flash from the seal's base, and a bright Fairy Tail emblem appeared on Kael's hand.
Gray, excited by the new member, tried to jump on Kael but was punched into the floor, rubbing his head in pain.
"Put your clothes back on, idiot!" Erza shouted, fists clenched.
"Hello, I'm Kael. Nice to meet you, Erza. Transformation Magic—welcome to the guild." Kael smiled at Erza, impressed by the chaotic but lively atmosphere.
Gray quickly recovered, skating on ice tracks created with his magic, challenging Kael to a duel. Erza scowled, ready to explode, while Gray bounced around, obliviously using magic to grab Kael's attention.
Kael stood between them, hands waving nervously, gently trying to calm both of them. The guild watched eagerly, waiting for Erza to lose her temper.
Makarov, seeing the lively scene, raised his cup: "Everyone, let's celebrate the new family member! Drink together!" He downed his cup in one gulp.
"Oh—hooray!" everyone cheered, clinking cups, slinging arms over shoulders, laughing and playing, filling the guild with warmth.
Makarov took a big gulp, glancing at the scene with a smile. This is family! he thought.