A week later, at the Fairy Tail Guild.
The newly renovated hall was bustling with noise, but a hint of heaviness hung in the air; the shadow of Garna Island had not yet completely dispersed.
"Cheers! To Natsu's discharge from the hospital!" Cana raised her wooden mug high.
"Aye! To roasted fish!" Happy squatted at the bar, gnawing on a fish.
In a corner, Natsu, bandaged, vigorously punched the air. "Haha! Fully recovered! Next mission, I'm definitely going to beat an even stronger guy!"
Beside him, Gray, wearing a new shirt (for now), snorted. "First, pay off your debts for wrecking the Guild."
Lucy sat at the bar, sipping juice in small mouthfuls.
The velvet pouch, re-tied tightly at her waist, remained icy cold.
She watched her companions bicker, trying her best to blend into the atmosphere, but deep in her eyes lurked sadness. The coldness at her waist constantly reminded her of loss.
"Ahem!" Makarov's voice rang out. He stood on the bar, his small stature imbued with the Guild Master's authority. "Everyone quiet!"
The Guild instantly fell silent, all eyes focused.
"The Garna Island mission... is complete," Makarov surveyed the crowd. "You all... did very well. You protected your comrades. You protected the island. You are worthy of the name Fairy Tail!" His gaze swept over Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Erza, finally pausing for a moment on Lucy's waist.
"But... the cost... was heavy," Makarov's voice was low. "Christian... the Guild... remembers his sacrifice."
Lucy gripped her juice glass, her knuckles turning white.
"Pain... will pass. But power... cannot stagnate!" Makarov's tone suddenly rose! "To face future challenges! To protect even more important things! The Guild has decided!"
He took a deep breath, his voice booming.
"To initiate the S-Class Mage Promotion Exam!"
"Wow!!!"
The Guild instantly erupted!
"S-Class Exam?!"
"It's finally starting!"
"Who has a chance?"
"Quiet!" Makarov suppressed the clamor. "Time! Three days from now! Location! Tenrou Island! Examiners... will be current S-Class Mages!" His gaze was like lightning. "The list of those eligible to participate in the exam is as follows!"
Everyone's heart was in their throat!
"Mystogan!"
"Elfman!"
"Cana Alberona!"
"Fried Justine!"
"Bickslow!"
"And..." Makarov paused, his gaze fixed. "Erza Scarlet! Natsu Dragneel! Gray Fullbuster! Lucy Heartfilia!"
"Eh?!" Lucy stood up in surprise, spilling her juice! "I... I'm included too?"
"Ha! Awesome!" Natsu's hair burst into flames with excitement! "S-Class! I'm definitely becoming one!"
"Hmph. As expected," Gray's lips curled slightly.
Erza's eyes were sharp, and she stood perfectly straight. "Understood, Guild Master."
"The exam format... is a partner system!" Makarov continued. "Each examinee... must choose a Guild companion... as a partner! To ascend the island together! And pass the trials set by the examiners!"
"Partner?" Natsu looked at Gray, grinning. "Droopy Eyes! We..."
"Don't even think about it!" Gray immediately refused. "Partner with you? The Guild would be wrecked by you before the mission even started!"
"Aye! Lucy, partner with me!" Happy raised his hand.
"No," Erza interrupted, walking over to Lucy. Her crimson hair was tied up, her eyes serious. "Lucy. Your Celestial Spirit Magic... has immense potential. But your experience is still shallow. This exam... is fraught with danger. Will you... partner with me?"
"With... with Erza?!" Lucy was flattered. Looking at Erza's resolute gaze, the coldness at her waist seemed to transmit a hint of warmth. "Of... of course I will! Please guide me!"
"Mm," Erza nodded, her gaze sweeping over Natsu and Gray. "Natsu! Gray! Find your own partners! Remember! The exam is not a game! People can die!"
"Tch! I know!" Natsu pouted. "Mirajane! Partner with me!" He rushed towards the bar.
"Eh? Natsu-kun? This..." Mirajane smiled gently, looking a bit troubled.
"Ice Block Man! Fight me! Whoever wins gets to pick their partner!" Natsu's hair blazed, challenging Gray.
"Afraid of you?!" Gray's Cold Air surged.
The Guild once again descended into Natsu and Gray's exclusive chaos and clamor. Tables and chairs rattled, sparks and ice shards flew everywhere.
Lucy looked at Erza. "Erza-san... thank you..."
"It's my duty," Erza's gaze swept over the cloth pouch at Lucy's waist. "Also... so as not to betray the will of the fallen."
Lucy nodded vigorously, her hand pressing on the cloth pouch. The cold fragments against her lower abdomen seemed to respond.
Late at night, in Lucy's apartment.
Lucy carefully placed the velvet pouch on her bedside table. Moonlight streamed in. The fragments lay quietly, still lifeless.
"Good night... Mr. Christian..." Lucy whispered, turning off the light and going to sleep.
In the darkness, the opening of the velvet pouch was slightly ajar. The dark blue fragments were exposed to the air.
Under the moonlight, on the surface of the fragments, deep within those cracks, that faint blue starlight... seemed a bit brighter than last night? Its range... also seemed to have expanded slightly? The clearer magical power flow in the air... like a trickling stream... was drawn by an invisible force... slowly infusing into the fragments.
Data Core: [Energy extraction... power increase... 0.001%... logical unit fragments... initial recombination...]
Outside the apartment window, in the shadow of the building opposite, a blurry figure, almost merged with the night, stood silently. Its hood obscured its face, its gaze like a tangible force, penetrating the glass, locking onto the cloth pouch on the bedside table. A cold curve formed at the corner of its mouth.
"The Devourer's... fragments... indeed... not completely dead... The plan... needs... to change..."
The figure vanished silently, as if it had never existed.