On the Train to Casco Town
Onboard a train bound for Casco Town, the rhythmic clatter of wheels on rails filled the air.
"Hey, Kael… have you ever heard of demons? Or seen one?" Kanna asked, propping her head up on her hand, her other hand covering a yawn.
"Demons… huh? Of course I've heard of them, but I've never actually seen one. Though… this time, I guess we'll get a proper look," Kael replied, drifting into thought. He had certainly heard of them—and had even seen some. In his previous world, there were countless pictures of demons online. Not to mention, Kael had also seen the ones Jelf created. And of course, END was now in the guild—something Kael couldn't exactly reveal.
"Hmm… that's your answer? Hah… whatever. Hah… I'm so sleepy, I can't stay awake… wake me when we arrive," Kanna mumbled, unsatisfied with Kael's reply. Soon, she succumbed to sleep, leaning forward on her seat.
As Kael and Kanna stepped into the town, a heavily laden wagon creaked past, the cheerful shouts of its driver carrying through the streets. Crowds thronged the lanes, and colorful goods lined the stalls, glinting under the afternoon sun.
In a side alley, a nimble cat chased drifting leaves, while children played hide-and-seek around a corner.
"It's so lively…" Kanna exhaled deeply, letting the bustling atmosphere wash away her fatigue.
"Let's find the client first, and get a sense of the situation. The client should be…" Kael said, scanning the mission scroll and confirming the direction. He glanced at Kanna, who was still absorbed in the scenery.
"Here's the situation…" Kael recounted after listening to the village elder.
A few years back, a priest had come up the mountain and built a church. Normally, villagers would seek his guidance for anything. But recently, things had changed. When villagers went to the church, the priest was nowhere to be found. All they saw in the shadows of the chapel were a pair of glowing, blood-red eyes—clearly demonic.
"Oh, so this demon hasn't hurt anyone yet?" Kanna asked, clenching her hands in concern.
"A church… a demon?" Kael muttered to himself. The keywords immediately reminded him of a familiar storyline involving three members of Fairy Tail: the future S-rank mage Miraje Strauss, her brother Elfman Strauss—the Beast King—and their sister Lisana Strauss. Kael glanced at the mission scroll: "Exterminate the demon," and the brief description made him sigh wryly.
"It hasn't attacked yet, but sometimes there are roars from the mountain. A few days ago, hunters saw torn-up animal corpses. The mountain is now forbidden; no villagers dare enter. Everyone here is on edge every day, so please… resolve this quickly," the elder explained with a worried expression.
"Kael, Kael…" Kanna called out, seeing him lost in thought.
"What is it? Have you figured something out?"
"No… just some thoughts. Let's head straight up the mountain, then," Kael decided, choosing efficiency over caution.
"Elder! Elder! Something's wrong! Hah… Miraje ran up the mountain on her own. She says she's going to deal with the demon herself!" A villager came rushing, gasping before even reaching them.
"What?"
"That mage… can you go help her quickly?" The elder's voice rose in alarm as he turned to Kael and Kanna.
"Kanna, follow me. I'll go ahead," Kael said, his body glowing with golden light. In a flash, he was off toward the mountaintop.
"Really…" Kanna muttered, frustrated at his solo dash, but knowing Kael's strength, she added a few reminders to the elder.
She drew a card. "Wings of the Wind." Magical wings formed behind her. She pushed off, soaring into the air, leaving the ground in a streak of motion. Her foot occasionally tapped the air to accelerate, clearly demonstrating mastery of the Navy Six Techniques.
"Are all mages this strong?" the villager who had run ahead asked, staring at the cracks in the ground, swallowing nervously.
"For ordinary people, yes. But they have rules—they can't harm civilians, and they can't wage war indiscriminately," the elder replied with a sigh.
"By the way… Miraje's brother and sister—have you kept them safe?" the elder suddenly asked.
"No… I forgot… I—ah! Don't hit me, elder, don't!" The villager stammered as the elder rapped him with a staff.
"Idiot! Of course her brother and sister would chase after her! Go and tell the other villagers to follow the girl's instructions immediately!"
"Got it!" The villager sprinted toward the village.
The elder sighed, looking after Kael and Kanna's departing figures before turning back to the village.
At the Mountaintop
A streak of light shot skyward like a meteor. Kael arrived at the peak, where a magical circle had risen beneath the girl's feet. The priest, transformed by demonic energy, writhed, his eyes alternating between clarity and corruption. He desperately tried to disrupt the magic circle but was flung aside.
Kael extended a hand toward the demon-possessed priest. "Holy Light Magic: Holy Shield." A protective barrier formed around him, both shielding and suppressing the demonic energy. The priest felt his corrupted body slowly healing, tears welling in gratitude as he looked at Kael.
Kael nodded, signaling him to trust the process, and then used Observation Magic to sense the balance between Miraje and the demon's power. If disrupted, the outcome could be catastrophic. Strengthening her was key, and fortunately, the priest's power was limited.
Kael summoned a golden magic circle before him, firing multiple laser-like beams toward a shadowy corner, kicking up smoke.
"Clap, clap, clap," a voice applauded.
"Impressive. I thought I could sneak away. I don't know how you found me, but at your age… not bad at all," said a cloaked figure.
"Onii-chan, it's me, Lisana!" A trembling, childlike voice called out.
"Kael, on the way here, we found these two kids. They said their sister is up there," Kanna said, panting as she carried Lisana in one arm and held Elfman's hand with the other.
"Thanks, Kanna. Bring them to the magic circle. Try to awaken their sister. She must control this power, or she won't be herself," Kael instructed, preparing his defensive spells for both the priest and the magic circle.
"Come, Lisana, Elfman, follow me," Kanna said, running with the children.
"Onii-chan, look at me! I'm Lisana!""Onii-chan, I'm Elfman. What's happening?"
Their worried voices carried in broken sentences.
"Oh, trying to use the power of familial bonds? Hah… according to our guild's experiments, some couldn't resist the power's temptation. They ended up possessed and massacred entire villages. Some could resist briefly, but a slight temptation, and still succumbed. This girl? Accidental… far from enough, hahahaha!" The cloaked figure mocked, covering their mouth with a cruel laugh.
"Guild? Experiments? What do you think human lives are?" Kael muttered, his voice low and bitter.
"What? They're test subjects. Of course, experiments are uncontrollable. Doesn't matter," the figure replied, unconcerned.
Kael felt a surge of rage, his heart hammering, blood boiling. Thinking of innocent villagers already killed, and of others in the same fate, his fury deepened.
"Really… infuriating scum. Ready to see how you and your so-called guild die?" Kael forced his voice calm, eyes cold as death. Golden magic surged around him, cracking the ground beneath his feet.