"This is the basement of Fairy Tail Guild, right? Isn't it usually a warehouse? Has it become a temporary hall now?"
Happy hovered in the air, glancing around at the familiar space.
"Yes, everyone is taking missions here for now," Mira replied with a nod as she led the way.
"We've never gotten along with Phantom Lord, but this time they've gone too far!"
The moment they stepped inside, loud arguments filled the hall.
"We have to fight back!"
"Calm down. Our opponent is Phantom Lord. We should wait for the Master's decision!"
"How are we supposed to stay quiet? This is our home! Those Phantom Lord bastards crossed the line!"
"Yo, you're back!"
Makarov Dreyar sat on a wooden barrel, a bottle in hand, his eyes half-lidded as he greeted Erza Scarlet and the others.
"Master."
Lucy looked at him, a trace of frustration in her expression.
"We're back," Gray said, his face dark and mood sour.
"Grandpa, why are you still drinking?" Natsu Dragneel clenched his fists, anger clear in his voice. "Our guild…"
"Yo, Lucy. How was the job? Did it go well?" Makarov cut him off, turning his attention to Lucy instead.
"Oh… it was fine." Lucy hesitated, confused by his reaction.
"Master, do you even understand what's happening right now?" Erza's voice was firm, her expression serious.
"Grandpa, the guild was destroyed by the enemy!" Natsu shouted, his patience gone.
"Alright, that's enough. There's no need to make a scene," Makarov said calmly, taking another drink.
"Those idiots from Phantom Lord only attacked an empty guild. I don't see what they have to be proud of," he added with a dismissive wave.
"Empty?" Erza asked.
"It happened at night," Mira explained. "No one was inside."
"So no one was hurt…" Erza let out a quiet breath of relief.
"That's right."
"We don't need to concern ourselves with cowards who rely on sneak attacks. Just ignore them," Makarov said, his tone turning serious as he looked at Natsu and the others.
Bang!
Natsu slammed his fist into a table, shattering it instantly.
"I don't accept that! If I don't go and wipe them out, I won't be able to calm down!"
"That's enough. Drop this matter. Take missions from here until the upstairs is repaired," Makarov said, his tone firm.
"Grandpa, why?" Natsu asked, frustration written all over his face.
"Natsu, there is no why. This ends here."
Makarov's expression hardened. Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked out of the hall.
"Why…" Natsu muttered, clenching his fists tightly.
"Natsu, the Master feels the same way," Mira said gently, watching Makarov leave. "But direct conflict between guilds is forbidden by the Council. He has to think about everyone."
"What are we afraid of? They started this!" Natsu snapped.
"Natsu, just relax," Lucy said, trying to calm him down.
"If the Master says so, then we follow it," Erza added, her voice steady but heavy.
"Even you, Erza…"
"That's enough."
…
Night fell, wrapping everything in silence.
Moonlight spilled across the road as tree shadows swayed gently in the breeze.
Lucy walked alone, holding her Celestial Spirit Plue, her expression weighed down by the events of the day.
"What a long day…"
"You can say that again."
The sudden voice made her jump.
Startled, she quickly stepped back and stared at the group in front of her.
"Erza? Natsu? Gray? Happy? Why are you all here?"
"Aye!"
"Since the guild is wrecked, we decided to stay at Ares's villa for the night," Erza said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"The place is huge. He won't mind," Gray added casually.
"Natsu, cheer up! We're staying over tonight!" Happy said, trying to lift Natsu's spirits.
"…Oh." Natsu responded weakly, still clearly bothered.
Under the soft glow of the moon, the group made their way down the road together.
High above them, from the top of a building, a young boy watched silently.
It was Lucien.
The Phantom Lord incident was approaching, and there was no way he would miss it.
Lucien narrowed his eyes as he observed them. Right now, they were nothing more than walking sources of value. Still, he held himself back.
Fairy Heart was what mattered.
If he could get his hands on that infinite source of magic, he might finally break free from the Odin Curse. Then he would not have to restrain himself anymore.
Besides, he had already been back in Magnolia for a few days and had yet to find any reincarnators.
Except for Ares.
That alone made things complicated.
…
Not long after, Lucy and the others arrived at the villa.
The entire place was dark.
"Ares went to bed this early?" Natsu asked loudly.
"Idiot, lower your voice!" Lucy quickly covered his mouth, her tone urgent.
"That guy hates being disturbed when he's sleeping. If he's asleep this early, then he's either exhausted or in a terrible mood. Normally, he'd still be in the living room reading and drinking coffee."
"I didn't know you paid that much attention to him," Erza said, giving Lucy a curious look.
"I only know his bad habits," Lucy replied with a pout. "If it weren't for the free utilities and my rent situation, I wouldn't stay here. I do work for it, you know."
"Quiet."
Moving carefully, the group approached the door like a group of thieves. Lucy pulled out a key, and with a soft click, the door opened.
A faint light glowed inside the living room.
Unbeknownst to them, someone was already aware of their presence.
"You even have a key?" Erza asked once they stepped inside.
"Of course. I live here, and I work part-time as a maid," Lucy said, rolling her eyes.
She grabbed Natsu before he could cause trouble and whispered, "We're heading to the third floor. Stay quiet. If we wake him up, you'll regret it."
"That bad? Does Ares actually eat people?" Happy asked nervously, his fur standing on end. "He doesn't eat cats, right? I don't taste good…"
"It's just a figure of speech! Now follow me."
Carefully, they made their way upstairs.
"Lucy… your room is huge," Erza said, her eyes widening as the lights came on.
The others were just as stunned.
The room was spacious, complete with a private bookshelf, a bathroom, and a balcony filled with plants. Beyond it, under the moonlight, a shimmering lake stretched into the distance.