Journal Entry
It's been a week since everything went down in Brookworth. I figured I'd write this down while it's still fresh in my mind, mostly to make sure I don't forget just how insane everything was.
Getting back to Lamia Scale only took a couple of hours with Jura. Not that it felt fast, considering everything I had gone through, but at least the travel was uneventful.
The moment we arrived… Yukino tackled me. Full-on, crying, and completely losing it. I swear, I had to hold her for almost an hour while she ranted on about how scared and worried she'd been. I obviously apologized to her, told her I was okay, and even promised her I wouldn't be away that long without warning her in advance next time, and eventually that calmed her down… but that didn't stop her from sticking to me like glue for the rest of the day.
After calming her down, I went around to give my thanks to the wizards who helped with Brookworth. I even tried to pay them back for all their effort, but every single one of them flat-out refused. They told me it was no problem at all and that helping a fellow guildmate was just what we did. For some reason… hearing that made me happy.
Then there was Mrs. Lily. I didn't expect this, but when I approached her, she hugged me. Straight-up hugged me. She said it was no problem, and that she was just glad I came back alive. But then she scolded me too—for getting hurt, for making everyone worry. She did it in that familial tone that…I don't know, caught me off guard. Honestly, it reminded me of my mom, and it made me even more grateful to her. I apologized again and thanked her, feeling a lot lighter after that.
Of course, the guild master needed my report. I told her everything—the mission, the rescue, the cave, the dark guild. She congratulated me on completing the quest successfully, which was nice… until she remembered I went about it recklessly. And so, naturally, I was punished. Spin magic. Five hours straight. No breaks. Pure torture. Every meal that day… gone. Breakfast, lunch, all of it. I lost my appetite completely for the day.
After surviving that little ordeal, I decided I deserved a break. No quests for me for a while. I figured I'd spend my time with Yukino, making it up to her for leaving her worried for days. Plus, thanks to the mayor's generous reward, I didn't need to worry about money. I could just relax for once.
Honestly? It feels good. Really good. Taking this break, enjoying time with Yukino, appreciating the calm…After everything that happened, I guess I needed it more than I realized
So for as long as I can, I'm going to enjoy it to the fullest.
End of entry.
—
Third Person POV
The Lamia Scale guild hall was calm.
Sunlight filtered in through the tall windows, casting warm patches of light across the stone floor. Lyon sat at one of the tables near the center of the hall, pen in hand, finishing the last few lines of his journal. His expression was relaxed—content in a way that hadn't been possible a week ago.
Beside him, Yukino sat happily, feet lightly swinging as she ate a slice of strawberry cake. Her eyes sparkled with delight as she took another bite, completely at peace.
Lyon closed the journal with a soft thump.
He slipped it into his backpack resting beside the table and leaned back slightly, a calm smile lingering on his face. Turning toward Yukino, he struck up a casual conversation, the two of them chatting easily—about nothing important, and everything at the same time.
For a few peaceful moments, the world felt… normal.
Then—
"WOOOOOOOO!"
The cheer exploded through the guild hall like a shockwave.
Conversations died instantly. Forks froze mid-air. Even Lyon and Yukino flinched as their discussion was cut off, both of them turning toward the source.
The doors to the guild master's office burst open.
Ooba came flying out—literally—spinning wildly in her office chair as it skidded and twirled across the guild hall. The entire room stared in stunned silence as she zipped past tables, narrowly missing a few wizards, laughter echoing behind her.
Lyon blinked.
"…What?"
Ooba spun her way straight to Lyon's table before slamming to a stop. She hopped up, eyes shining, and smashed a magazine onto the tabletop.
"Take a look at this, brat!"
Lyon and Yukino exchanged confused looks before leaning forward.
The cover read Sorcerer's Weekly.
And right there on the front page—
"Wait a second…" Lyon muttered.
Lamia Scale.
The sudden commotion drew in nearby guild members, who crowded around the table, craning their necks to see what had everyone worked up.
Lyon picked up the magazine and flipped it open, eyes widening.
He began reading aloud.
"A quiet town saved by an unexpected hero. Reports from Brookworth confirm that a young, up-and-coming ice wizard from Lamia Scale successfully located and rescued the town's missing citizens from the grasp of an unknown Dark Guild."
The guild hall went dead silent.
"Amazingly, there were zero casualties. Sources state that the young wizard was the primary contributor in dismantling the Dark Guild's operation, allowing reinforcements to secure the area."
Lyon's voice slowed slightly as he continued.
"Little is currently known about this wizard, aside from the fact that he only recently joined Lamia Scale, and seems to have high proficiency when it comes to Ice magic. This raises an interesting question—has Lamia Scale discovered its next rising star?"
The article ended there.
For a few seconds… no one spoke.
Then—
"HAHAHAHA! YES!" Ooba suddenly shouted, spinning in place and striking a ridiculous victory pose. "FINALLY! Front page! FRONT PAGE!"
The spell broke.
The guild erupted.
Cheers, laughter, and excited chatter filled the hall as several wizards turned toward Lyon, clapping him on the back or calling out congratulations.
Lyon snapped out of his daze, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
"H-Haha… thanks."
Before he could say anything else, Yukino wrapped her arms tightly around him, beaming.
"Congratulations Big Brother!" she cheered.
Lyon laughed softly and rested a hand on her head, gently patting her hair.
Ooba finally stopped dancing and pointed straight at him.
"Now that," she declared proudly, "is exactly the kind of attention a Lamia Scale wizard deserves. Be proud of it."
Lyon froze for a moment.
Then… he smiled.
Straightening slightly, determination shining in his eyes, he answered clearly.
"Yes, Master."
Ooba immediately went back to spinning in celebration.
"Alright, everyone! We're feasting today! Front page, baby! We beat Phantom Lord and Fairy Tail!"
Lyon let out a quiet mental sigh.
I thought we were celebrating me completing a life-threatening quest… but sure, that works too.
Despite himself, he smiled.
As the guild erupted into celebration, laughter echoing through the hall, Lyon and Yukino joined in—surrounded by warmth, noise, and a sense of belonging that felt stronger than ever.
—
Across Fiore, the newest issue of Sorcerer's Weekly was being opened with more than a little surprise.
Guild halls buzzed with quiet chatter as wizards skimmed the front page, eyebrows raising when they saw the bold headline featuring Lamia Scale. It wasn't unheard of for lesser-known guilds to get coverage—but the front page? That was usually reserved for powerhouses like Fairy Tail or Phantom Lord. Even Blue Pegasus needed some effort for that kind of spotlight.
So to see Lamia Scale there—known more for its steady reliability than flashy exploits, aside from the rising star Jura Neekis—came as a pleasant shock to many.
Some smiled.
Some nodded in approval.
Others simply reread the article, curious about this "young ice wizard" who had tipped the scales.
—
Fairy Tail Guild Hall — Makarov Dreyar's POV
I took a slow sip of my beer, the foam clinging to my mustache as I lowered the mug and looked back down at the magazine in my hands.
"Huh," I muttered.
Lamia Scale on the front page.
Didn't see that coming.
I skimmed the article again, my expression softening as I read about the rescued townsfolk, the zero casualties… and the kid who'd pulled it off. A young, reckless, Ice wizard.
It was always good to hear when things ended without any problems.
I lifted my mug again, taking another drink, and my gaze drifted off to the side. As I was just in time to see Gray standing in the middle of the guild hall in nothing but his boxers.
"WHY ARE YOU NAKED AGAIN?!" Erza roared, already mid-swing.
"IT'S NOT ON PURPOSE!" Gray yelped as he was promptly launched across the room.
I couldn't help it.
"Hahaha… ice wizards, huh?" I chuckled to myself.
Funny coincidence.
I set the magazine down and leaned back in my chair, a small, satisfied smile forming. I was glad to see Lamia Scale getting the recognition they deserved. Since that meant Fiore as a whole was getting stronger. Meaning the children of the present will have a much brighter future ahead of them.
That said…
A grin tugged at my lips, a bit childish, a bit proud.
Don't get too comfortable, I thought. Fairy Tail's still gonna be number one.
I drained the last of my beer, setting the mug down with a satisfied thump.
After all, friendly competition never hurt anyone.
—
Phantom Lord Headquarters — José Porla's POV
I stared at the magazine in silence.
Then scoffed.
"Tch."
I tossed Sorcerer's Weekly onto my desk, the pages splaying open carelessly.
Lamia Scale.
What a joke.
What was the point of wasting ink on some average guild when Phantom Lord existed? When I existed?
I rose from my chair and stretched lazily, turning toward the massive window overlooking the town. Arms crossed, as I stared out of it, my reflection faintly visible in the glass.
…Still.
Maintaining the top spot has been getting more annoying lately.
Fairy Tail, in particular, was growing far too fast. Their name popped up in papers and magazines almost as often as Phantom Lord now—and the number of powerful wizards in their ranks was increasing at an irritating pace.
I clicked my tongue.
The comparison alone was insulting.
Phantom Lord was superior. Stronger. More refined.
There was no contest.
A prideful grin spread across my face as I dismissed the thought entirely.
Let them grow.
Let them celebrate.
In the end, it didn't matter.
Phantom Lord would always stand at the top.
The Strongest Guild in all of Fiore.
And nothing—no one—was going to change that.
—
Unknown Location — Third Person POV
Far beneath the surface of Fiore, hidden away from the eyes of law-abiding citizens, lay a different kind of marketplace.
Torchlight flickered against rough stone walls, casting long, warped shadows across an underground hall packed with people who lived in the cracks of the world. Independent wizards without guilds. Mercenaries. Bounty hunters. Rogues with too much blood on their hands and not enough questions on their minds.
Low murmurs filled the air—quiet negotiations, clinking glasses, the scrape of boots against stone. Everyone here was looking for the same thing.
Work.
Along the walls, rows upon rows of posters were nailed into wooden boards and stone pillars. Missing persons. Escort requests. Kill orders. Bounties—lots of bounties.
And among them…
One familiar poster stood out.
A young man with sharp eyes and pale blue hair stared back at the room from cheap parchment. The illustration was rough, but recognizable enough. Beneath it, bold lettering read:
WANTED — DEAD OR ALIVE
Several figures paused as they passed it, some scoffing, others narrowing their eyes in interest.
What truly caught their attention, however, was the number scrawled beneath..
160,000 JEWELS
Far higher than it had been before.
A few hunters memorized the face. Others tore off smaller copies to stuff into their coats. Somewhere in the crowd, greedy smiles formed, and calculating eyes gleamed.
Unaware of it all, far above ground, Lyon rested comfortably among friends.
But in the shadows below…
The hunt quietly continued.