The faint morning light dispersed the village's thin mist. At the village entrance, Tike and Wendy waved goodbye to Robaul.
"Grandpa Robaul, Wendy and I will definitely come to see you again when we have time!"
Robaul glanced at the gourmet tree Tike had specifically planted this morning, smiling as he nodded.
"As long as you are willing, this old man welcomes you to come and play anytime."
After a brief farewell, the two children embarked on the road to find the dragon again.
The sun climbed gradually. When the scorching sunlight poured onto the earth, feeling somewhat tired, they stopped under a large tree with lush foliage, sitting back against the trunk to rest a little.
Tike looked up, his gaze passing through the swaying leaves toward the sky, feeling somewhat conflicted.
Searching aimlessly like this, when would they find traces of Grandeeney?
Big Sis Ultear must have returned home by now. He hadn't seen her for a long time either, and he really wanted to return to his sister's side to feel that familiar warmth again.
But what should he say to Wendy?
Thinking of this, a layer of faint distress couldn't help but shroud Tike's brow.
Wendy tilted her head, her big brown eyes gazing at Tike, who was frowning slightly. She leaned closer with concern: "Brother Tike, what's wrong? You seem to have something on your mind since just now."
Tike pursed his lips, a trace of hesitation flashing in his eyes. Only after a moment did he speak somewhat hesitantly: "Um... Wendy, I've been out for almost two months this time... I want to go home for a bit."
Wendy was slightly stunned upon hearing this. Only then did she realize that to find Grandeeney, she had unknowingly taken up so much of Tike's time.
A wave of guilt surged in her heart. The little girl waved her small hands hurriedly, her voice carrying obvious embarrassment: "Ah! So... sorry! It's all my fault for making you accompany me for so long. Go back quickly, don't worry about me."
Seeing Wendy so considerate, Tike breathed a slight sigh of relief and then issued an invitation.
"Wendy, do you want to come with me..." Seemingly feeling the invitation wasn't strong enough, he added immediately, "No, you must come back with me!"
Gazing into Tike's firm and sincere eyes, a warm current rose in Wendy's heart. She nodded gently, not refusing this invitation.
Tike hesitated no more. He extended his hand, a pale blue magical halo appearing in his palm. The gentle light spread rapidly like water ripples, enveloping the two of them.
In the next moment, the light dissipated, and a bustling street came into view.
Feeling that unique vitality in the air, Tike let out a long breath.
"Phew, fortunately, teleported to Magnolia successfully in one go, no need to transfer several times midway like before."
Wendy sized up this unfamiliar town full of life and vitality, her eyes full of novelty: "Brother Tike, where is this?"
"This is the city where I live, Magnolia." Tike revealed a proud smile on his face. "The wizard guild I joined, Fairy Tail, is also here. It's a great place; everyone is very nice, like a big family, giving a particularly comfortable feeling. Wendy, do you want to consider joining too?"
Wendy lowered her head, fingers nervously twisting the corner of her clothes, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum: "Join a guild? But... I feel like I can't do anything well..."
Tike saw Wendy's concern and patted her shoulder gently.
"It doesn't matter; maybe it's like this now, but I can feel amazing potential hidden in your body. You will definitely become an outstanding wizard in the future!"
Tike could sense that Wendy had talents similar to Irene's. Although he didn't like Irene, in terms of strength, he had to admit she was indeed very powerful.
Wendy raised her eyes to meet Tike's trust-filled ones and mustered up a bit of courage.
"Since Brother Tike says so... th... then I'm willing to give it a try!"
"That's the spirit!"
Tike took Wendy's hand, a brilliant smile beaming on his face.
"Let's go; I'll take you to see our guild!"
The two walked together toward the guild. As the distance grew closer, bursts of noisy clamor gradually became clear—"Bang!" "Clang!" crashing sounds, mixed with various shouting, cursing, and unscrupulous laughter, clearly reached their ears.
This commotion was full of vitality and also full of... destructive power.
"Is... is it okay?"
Wendy was frightened by the commotion coming from inside the guild. Her small body couldn't help trembling slightly, gripping Tike's hand tightly.
Tike, on the other hand, was long accustomed to this scene that was practically the background music of the Fairy Tail guild. He smiled and comforted Wendy, explaining in a relaxed tone: "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, this is just the guild's daily routine, considered a special way for everyone to exchange feelings." He paused, then added, "Just stay obediently by my side; I will protect you, don't worry!"
Boom—!
Before his voice fell, the heavy wooden doors of the guild blasted outward. Two figures flew backward from the smoke-filled interior of the guild like cannonballs, slamming heavily onto the street in front of Tike and Wendy with two loud "Thud!" sounds.
One was a black-haired boy stripped to the waist with a dark blue guild mark on his left chest. It was Tike's old acquaintance, the perverted exhibitionist who liked stripping anywhere (crossed out), Ice-Make Wizard Gray Fullbuster.
The other was a boy with salmon-pink hair, wearing a white checkered scarf around his neck that was out of place with the hot weather.
Immediately following out from behind the door was a scarlet-haired knight girl—Erza.
At this moment, Erza's pretty face was covered with heavy killing intent. Those sharp eyes, like a falcon's, locked dead onto Gray and the pink-haired boy who had just crawled up from the ground, looking dusty and disheveled.
"You two! Who exactly stole and ate my strawberry cake!? That was what I specially bought back from Caldia, intending to save for today to enjoy properly!"
Gray raised his hands reflexively, assuming a defensive stance, and defended loudly: "Hey! I just got back to the guild! Who knows what happened to your cake!"
The pink-haired boy beside him, however, recklessly rubbed his nose and shouted with a look of disdain: "Hah? Who would eat the cake of a monster like you! Definitely tastes bad!"
"Still dare to quibble!"
Erza's anger soared to the peak. She placed her hand on the sword hilt at her waist, emitting a suffocating oppression all over her body.
"Looks like neither of you intends to confess! Very well—Hungry! Then! Slash!"
With a sharp "Clang—", Erza drew the longsword at her waist. Fierce sword qi pressed straight toward Gray and the pink-haired boy!
"Waaah!!"
"So dangerous!!"
The two let out startled screams simultaneously, rolling and dodging to both sides in extremely sorry but perilous postures.
Boom!
The sword qi grazed their bodies and slashed heavily onto the ground, leaving a deep sword mark!