The train continued its journey for hours, cutting through landscapes that changed gradually—from absolute desert to more arid regions and, later, to dry fields dotted with small villages.
When it finally slowed and came to a stop, night had already fallen…
Natsu stepped off the carriage without haste.
The city he would use as his final stop before heading to his "mission" was called Valenridge. It was about six days of walking from Rosenfeld, his ultimate destination, where he would carry out what he had come to do.
Valenridge was neither very large nor small; it was a medium-sized city, visibly more prosperous than Karsel.
Its buildings were elegant, constructed of dark stone and treated wood, with sloped roofs and magical lanterns attached to low posts that cast a soft, yellowish light over the packed-earth streets. The night air was cool, permeated by the distant smell of burning firewood and freshly prepared food. The station was smaller than the one in Karsel, yet well organized. Some travelers dispersed quickly, while carts waited outside, giving the city a constant sense of movement…
Natsu observed everything for a few seconds before deciding to move forward and look for a place to have dinner. Using his sharp sense of smell, he followed the strongest scent and soon found a simple diner located near the station.
The place was small, with few wooden tables and a counter worn from constant use. Even so, it was full, filled with a variety of people talking loudly about all sorts of topics.
Natsu sat down, ordered food from the waiter who came to serve him without delay, and ate in silence when the meal was brought. When he finished, he felt his body respond better, with the fatigue from the journey pushed to the background.
Before leaving, he asked for information.
Valenridge had several inns, but one in particular was mentioned more than once.
The Crimson Lion Inn.
The name was far from subtle, and the building lived up to its reputation. It stood on a higher street, away from the bustle of the station. It was a spacious two-story construction with thick columns supporting the front veranda. A crest featuring the head of a lion carved in varnished wood adorned the entrance, illuminated by stable magical lanterns.
Inside, the atmosphere was even better.
The main hall was clean, warm, and quiet. The wooden floor creaked slightly underfoot, thick rugs covered the walkways, and the pleasant scent of herbs and perfumed oil filled the air. It wasn't extravagant luxury, but clearly well above average.
Natsu requested a room for the night without discussing the price.
The room was spacious, with a comfortable bed, a side table, a reinforced wardrobe, and a large window overlooking the main road. The attached bathroom had water heated by magic and simple purification runes embedded in the walls—a detail that revealed care and investment.
After locking the door, he set his belongings aside and sat on the floor.
He simply crossed his legs, closed his eyes, and activated [Stellar Transformation], beginning to cultivate his "internal energies" for the rest of the night.
The night passed that way.
When the sun rose, Natsu slowly opened his eyes.
His body felt light and rested, despite not having slept at all. He stretched without ceremony, feeling his muscles and joints respond naturally. Then he stood up, took a quick bath, and dressed in simple clothes: black sweatpants and a tight black cropped top that clearly outlined his muscles. The white scarf was placed in its usual spot.
After leaving the inn and exiting the city heading west, he took a deep breath.
The road stretched ahead, wide and well-marked, leading toward the city located on the border between Ishgar and Alakitasia. Rosenfeld was still far away, but that didn't bother him. Walking six days was nothing. On the contrary, it was convenient, since he could train along the way. That was precisely why he had dismissed the idea of continuing by train to reach his destination faster…
Without looking back, Natsu began to walk.
The sun rose slowly in the sky and, with every step, Valenridge fell further behind.
The six days that followed passed without any noteworthy incidents.
Every day began the same way.
Even before the sun fully appeared on the horizon, he was already awake. Without any ceremony, he activated intense gravity around his own body through the powers of his Akuma no Mi and began training. The exercises were meticulously customized, focused on working every muscle, the result of knowledge and experience gained from various great martial arts masters and legendary figures.
The crushing weight forced muscles, bones, and tendons to continuously adapt. Sweat poured freely, soaking his body, only to be almost instantly evaporated by his fire powers. Thanks to his near-instant regeneration, his body was destroyed and rebuilt over and over, enduring loads that would normally be impossible for him to sustain for long periods—thus, his body grew stronger rapidly.
Only then did he resume walking.
Still under the influence of that intense gravity, he advanced along the road for hours. Every step was heavy, every kilometer was conquered by force, yet the landscape continued to pass, slow and steady around him. The sun climbed gradually in the sky as he pressed forward, and when noon finally arrived, Natsu paused the journey to eat lunch.
The meal was always simple yet nutritious, and he also drank plenty of water.
After eating, he sought a quiet spot, sat down, and entered cultivation.
[Stellar Transformation] was activated without fanfare.
Two hours passed that way, in absolute silence, while his mind remained stable and focused.
When he opened his eyes, he was already ready for the next stage.
During the afternoon, Natsu dedicated himself entirely to movement techniques, further refining [Shundo] and [Koku Shundo]. By combining both, he was able to cover in just a few minutes a distance that would normally take an entire afternoon of walking. After completing that intense displacement while refining his techniques, he turned his attention to the [T-Command] and [Time Arc] magics, creating new spells and honing his control over each of them. He had neglected both in the past, but he knew their potential was far too vast to continue being wasted…
At night, after finding a safe place to rest, came the most intense part of the day. He trained his [Dragon Slayer Magic]. Then he focused on the Akuma no Mi, exploring every acquired ability, testing limits, combinations, and practical applications. Haki came next, constantly pressured and refined, both defensively and offensively.
Only when his body finally demanded rest did he lie down.
Sleep came quickly and deeply.
And the next day, everything repeated.
That was how the week passed.
However, at the end of the sixth day, Natsu realized something simple but inevitable. The intense rhythm, combined with absolute focus on training, caused him to cover less distance than he had initially calculated.
He was one day behind.
When the seventh dawn appeared on the horizon, Rosenfeld was already in sight. He had finally arrived at the location of his mission!
…
Rosenfeld rose imposingly on the horizon, and it was much larger than Natsu had imagined.
Compared to Magnolia, Rosenfeld was gigantic—perhaps two or three times the size of the town where he had grown up—with districts stretching across gentle hills and coastal plains, delimited by tall walls of reinforced stone inscribed with faintly glowing defensive runes under the morning sun. Watchtowers punctuated the perimeter, and flags from various merchant guilds and smaller nations fluttered in the salty wind coming from the sea.
What caught the eye the most, however, was the port.
It occupied almost the entire eastern coast of the city, a curved embrace of dark wooden docks and polished stone that stretched for kilometers. Dozens of ships were anchored there simultaneously: heavy cargo galleons from Alakitasia to the west, with red and gold sails bearing the crest of the Alvarez Empire; sleeker, more agile vessels from the north, from Guiltina, with prows carved into mythical beasts and reinforced hulls to face turbulent seas; and, mixed among them all, the merchant ships of Ishgar—more varied, from Fiore to Pergrande—carrying spices, magical fabrics, and exotic artifacts…
Seagulls circled in noisy flocks above the masts, fighting over food scraps thrown by the sailors.
According to what he knew, although several other cities also had ports capable of reaching Guiltina and Alakitasia, Rosenfeld was one of the main port cities. It always ranked among the top three options for those crossing the vast ocean and entering Ishgar from the east.
Departing from Alakitasia in the west, the crossing took about ten days by ship under normal conditions—long enough for merchants to make fortunes or lose everything in onboard bets. From Guiltina in the north, the routes were shorter but equally dangerous due to cold currents and residual magical storms.
In Rosenfeld, those three currents met. Trade flourished, merchant guilds competed for control of warehouses, and valuable information changed hands faster than gold itself.
Natsu stopped at the top of a low hill on the main road descending into the city. His eyes swept over the panorama: the bustling port like a living anthill, the wide streets leading from the docks to the commercial center, tall multi-story buildings with balconies full of magical plants that bloomed even in the salty air. In the background lay the open sea, a deep blue that faded into the horizon, where tiny ships still approached slowly.
"Finally here…" he thought, adjusting the white scarf around his neck. "The mission truly begins now…"
Without further delay, he began descending the slope with firm steps, blending into the flow of travelers entering the city. Carts passed loaded with barrels and crates, merchants shouted offers, and a group of mages in port guild uniforms used levitation spells to unload a giant ship docked at the main pier.
Natsu was in no hurry.
First, he needed to locate the local trade association responsible for the request, as he required detailed information about everything. He had the feeling that this mission would not be as simple as it first appeared. Moreover, he needed to find out who currently controlled the port and which routes to Alakitasia were still safe—since, after completing the mission, he intended to head to the Alvarez Empire for personal reasons.
Natsu let those thoughts dissipate.
Strategic analysis, future plans, and conjectures about Alvarez were pushed to the back of his mind. That would come later. For now, there were clear priorities, and the first was reliable information.
He descended the slope and entered Rosenfeld proper.
The flow of people was intense but organized. Wide streets paved with light-colored stone blocks led from the port to the inner districts, while secondary roads branched off toward warehouses, markets, and residential zones.
Natsu advanced without hesitation.
It didn't take long to find what he was looking for.
The Rosenfeld Commercial Association building dominated an entire square near the central port district. It was an imposing structure of white stone and dark basalt, with three visible floors and a partially exposed basement. Wide columns supported the front façade, and runic symbols were engraved above the entrances, indicating protection against magical espionage, eavesdropping, and direct attacks. Flags hung from the sides, each representing an affiliated merchant guild or important trade route: Ishgar, Guiltina, Alakitasia.
Natsu climbed the steps calmly.
Two guards automatically blocked his path. They wore armor and maintained the rigid posture of men who had dealt with enough trouble not to underestimate anyone.
"Identification and reason for visit…" one said, direct.
Natsu wasn't bothered. He reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and pulled out the mission document, still sealed with the Fairy Tail mark and the official stamp of the Magic Council.
"My name is Natsu Dragneel and I'm a mage from Fairy Tail. I came to take the job posted by the Commercial Association…"
The guard's eyes quickly scanned the paper.
The effect was immediate.
Their posture changed. The expression became more cautious, less authoritarian. The second guard stepped closer to verify as well, and both exchanged a brief glance before one of them appeared quite focused, finger pressed to his temple—"mental communication magic"? That was the only thing Natsu thought could explain it…
"Understood…" the first replied, returning the document. "A representative from the association has already been informed of your arrival. You may enter. Third floor. Smaller meeting room, east wing…"
Natsu nodded and walked past them.
The interior of the building was even busier than the outside, but in a controlled way. Scribes rushed with stacks of documents, magical maps floated above stone tables, and communication crystals emitted constant murmurs on different frequencies. The smell of parchment, magical ink, and heated metal filled the air…
He climbed the stairs without hurry, ignoring curious glances here and there.
On the third floor, the east wing was quieter.
A long corridor, thick carpets muffling footsteps, reinforced doors bearing symbols of confidentiality. He stopped in front of the indicated room, knocked once, and entered upon hearing permission.
The room was spacious but not overly large. An oval table occupied the center, surrounded by dark wooden chairs. Detailed maps of sea and land routes covered one wall, while another displayed caravan records, cargo lists, and recent loss reports.
There were three people inside.
Two men and one woman.
All wore formal high-ranking merchant attire, yet none of them looked fragile. Magical rings, discreet amulets, and a latent tension hung in the air—the kind of caution that only appears when the problem has already surpassed the "commercial" level.
The woman, seated at the head of the table, spoke first.
"You must be Natsu Dragneel from Fairy Tail…" she said, appraising him carefully. "We appreciate you accepting the request. I confess we weren't expecting someone… of your caliber…"
___________________________
(A/N: Did you enjoy the chapter? Then you should know that over on my Patreon you can read up to chapters ahead for just 5USD! And yes—for that price, you also get full access to all of my content. That's right: cheaper than a snack… and with way more drama, action, and guaranteed emotional damage.
The link is right below. See you there!
My Patreon: patreon.com/Adam_Kadmon
Thank you so much for your support — you make all of this worthwhile.)