Chapter 71: We Are Mages
"This is incredible! Absolutely incredible!" Rabian, the theater director, was practically bouncing with excitement. After managing this theater for so many years, he'd never witnessed anything like this level of popularity.
Erza stood there with a dazed expression, her cheeks slightly flushed. As someone who'd secretly dreamed of performing on stage, she'd always been interested in acting.
But going from a complete newcomer to a nationally beloved idol with hordes of fans overnight? The whiplash was too much. She still hadn't fully processed what was happening.
"Lucky…" Levy and Lucy watched the crowds with mixed feelings. At least Levy had played the magical fairy godmother, while Natsu and Gray had been cast as the wicked stepsisters—wait, stepbrothers? Either way, all three had gotten relatively decent roles compared to Lucy's performance as the old mother.
Natsu and Gray remained blissfully unbothered by the whole affair, but Lucy was suffering. "We need to do another play! A better one! Right now!"
Dino decided they'd perform three shows daily while using their remaining time to rehearse the next script.
The next production was Snow White. Thanks to their previous experience, rehearsals went much smoother, and they were ready to perform just two days later.
Word spread that a new play was coming, and the crowds became even more intense. Erza took on the role of the cold-hearted Evil Queen—essentially playing herself, but with a crown. Her natural regal bearing and intimidating presence made half the audience want to kneel before her.
The special effects were, of course, essential. When Erza's Queen demanded to know who was the fairest in the land, Gray conjured an enormous, ornate magic mirror from ice. Droy then wove intricate vine patterns across its surface, making it appear ancient and mystical—a genuine magic mirror.
Every woman in the audience immediately wanted one for herself. Glass slippers had flown off the shelves after Cinderella; now magic mirrors would clearly be the next must-have item.
Creating a mirror that could answer preset questions was child's play in a world filled with magic. Imagine asking your magic mirror who the fairest of them all was every morning and hearing your own name!
When the final curtain fell, thunderous applause erupted throughout the theater. Levy's innocent, sweet, and pitiful Snow White had captured everyone's hearts.
This time Lucy played the Prince—a significant improvement from the harsh reviews of her elderly mother role. Originally, Dino was supposed to play the Prince, but when everyone remembered the script included a kissing scene, he was immediately voted out and reassigned to play the King instead.
Despite Erza playing the villainous Queen, by the story's end, she'd somehow become more popular than Levy, the actual protagonist. Her final scene had simply been too powerful.
This performance cemented it—she was devastatingly beautiful even while being wickedly cruel. That dangerous, thorny rose appeal was irresistible. As the saying went, even death beneath a peony was romantic.
The Magic Theater Troupe's fame exploded beyond Onibas City, spreading to surrounding towns. Photos appeared in newspapers across Fiore.
When Makarov arrived at the guild hall one morning, he found an unusual number of members clustered together, chattering excitedly. "What's everyone discussing? Why's half the guild huddled over there?"
Mirajane smiled and handed him a newspaper. "Master, look! Erza and the others are famous!"
"Erza? She's already famous as Fairy Tail's S-Class mage." Erza's title as the 'Titania, Queen of the Fairies' wasn't just for show—she was well-known throughout the magical community. "Did she destroy something spectacular again?"
He already knew that Dino had left town with Erza, Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Levy several days ago. When those troublemakers assembled, property damage usually followed.
Mirajane's smile turned mysterious. "No, she became famous for something completely different this time."
Makarov glanced at the newspaper and nearly choked on his morning drink. "Pfffft! What in the world?!"
"Haha! Master, Erza's a famous actress and celebrity now!" Macao said with a grin. "The line for her autograph supposedly stretches around the block!"
Wakaba nodded enthusiastically. "When little Erza gets back, I'm getting several autographs first. I heard they're selling for serious money!"
"Erza? Acting? You're sure we're talking about the same Erza?" Makarov stared at the newspaper photo in disbelief.
Mirajane explained, "There shouldn't be any mistake. I'm the one who introduced them to this job, though it was originally just for magic special effects support. Who knew they'd actually end up performing and becoming stars? Apparently tickets are extremely expensive now."
"Master, we were just discussing whether we should go watch," someone else chimed in. "It's only about an hour to Onibas by train."
Makarov found himself tempted. After enduring hours of scolding from the Magic Council branch in Magnolia about the guild's latest damages, and with their guild hall still under reconstruction, watching a stage play sounded like a nice break.
"Alright! Let's go see what this is all about!"
"YEAH!" A group of about a dozen members rushed toward the train station, bound for Onibas City.
Only upon arrival did they understand what "massive popularity" truly meant. The situation was far more sensational than they'd imagined—tickets were completely sold out. The prices made even Makarov's wallet weep.
Fortunately, they spotted Salusuk working the ticket booth. Through some guild connections and the back entrance, the dozen members slipped inside the theater.
"Master! And everyone from the guild! What are you doing here?" Dino and the others looked shocked when Makarov suddenly appeared backstage.
"We came to see you perform! But we didn't expect you'd be so popular that tickets would be sold out. Your fame has spread all the way to Magnolia!" Makarov laughed. "This is the backstage area? Is there anything we can help with?"
"Actually, yes! We could really use some extra hands!"
Soon, the stage play began. The first performance was "Cinderella." Within minutes, Makarov and the other Fairy Tail members understood exactly why Erza had become so famous. They instantly became her fans.
The second show was "Snow White," where Levy won everyone over with her performance, though Erza still commanded the most attention.
Then came the third performance—"The Little Mermaid," with Lucy as the protagonist. Thanks to Master Makarov's Transformation Magic, Lucy's mermaid tail problem was perfectly solved. The tragic love story was absolutely captivating.
The inevitable heartbreaking ending moved many in the audience to tears, and the crowd's enthusiasm reached a fever pitch.
Erza's Cinderella represented the fairy tale romance every girl yearned for.
Levy's Snow White was the most endearing and sympathetic.
Lucy's Mermaid Princess left the deepest emotional impact.
"Waaahhh! It's so sad!" Makarov openly sobbed, tears streaming down his face. For all his years and wisdom, he was a complete softie.
"Master! The performance ended ages ago and you're still crying!"
"Sniff… Because I'm so moved!"
Dino sighed. "Master, you can be moved later. We should head back now or we'll miss the last train today."
At that moment, the troupe director noticed Dino and the others packing their belongings and preparing to leave.
He hurried over anxiously. "Wait, you're leaving? The troupe has only just gained momentum! You're all stars now—if you stay, I can guarantee you'll become famous across multiple countries. You could be international celebrities!"
Dino raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Maybe that's true, but it doesn't concern us. After all, we're not actors—we're mages of Fairy Tail."
Erza and the others nodded in agreement with the director. They'd already decided this would be their final performance before returning home. Meeting the Master here just meant they could all travel back together.
"You have the scripts now. If you hire some professional actors, they'll definitely perform even better than us amateurs."
"Thanks for taking care of us these past few days—we genuinely had fun. I won't charge any copyright fees. Just make sure to credit the source properly."
With that, Dino turned and walked away with the rest of Fairy Tail, casually waving goodbye over his shoulder.
After hearing Dino's words, the theater director felt a weight lift from his chest. He bowed deeply, expressing his sincere gratitude to them.
"You brat! I never knew you had such talent!" On the journey back, Makarov and the others discovered that all the scripts had been written by Dino. They found it absolutely incredible.
Dino rolled his eyes. "I've got plenty of talents you don't know about."