351-355

Chapter 351: Riku's Goal 

Porlyusica arrived at the infirmary and used her healing magic on Laxus. Honestly, with Laxus’s physical condition, he’d recover just fine even without magic, but why not use it when it’s available? No need to be shy with Porlyusica. 

“How’d you end up like this?” Porlyusica asked, frowning. She was genuinely surprised by his injuries. What the heck happened? 

The old lady lived in a forest cabin on the outskirts of Magnolia, pretty much cut off from the world. She hadn’t caught wind of the mess at the Fairy Tail guild, not even the activation of Fairy Law. She was completely out of the loop. 

“Ahem, just a little disagreement,” Makarov said awkwardly. It wasn’t exactly something he could brag about. Laxus causing a ruckus in the guild like that? As guild master, Makarov couldn’t dodge the blame. 

“Laxus, that kid…” Porlyusica sighed, piecing things together. She’d been tied to Fairy Tail for ages and was old friends with Makarov from their younger days. She knew Laxus well enough, having watched him grow up.  

But she didn’t say much more. Human squabbles? She couldn’t care less. Where there are people, there’s conflict—it’s just the rotten nature of humanity. That’s why she didn’t like humans, and she never hid that fact. 

“Yep, still can’t stand humans,” she muttered, turning to leave. Makarov just gave a helpless shrug. There was no arguing with her. 

Meanwhile, Laxus, freshly healed, was already coming to. Porlyusica’s healing magic was no joke—it worked like a charm, snapping him back to health in no time. He overheard her comment but didn’t react, still lost in a daze, wrestling with his inner turmoil. 

“The Sky Dragon Grandeeney from Edolas… that healing magic of the skies is really something,” Riku said, standing at the infirmary door and looking at Porlyusica. He’d just dropped her biggest secret like it was nothing. 

Yep, the Porlyusica in front of them wasn’t the Earthland Grandeeney, the Sky Dragon. She was using Sky Magic, but she was actually from the parallel world of Edolas—a counterpart to the Sky Dragon Grandeeney. 

In the Fairy Tail world, there’s this whole parallel-world setup. The world Riku’s in is called Earthland, and the other one’s Edolas. In Earthland, everyone has a counterpart in Edolas with the same appearance and name but different personalities, roles, and fates. 

“Who are you?” Porlyusica asked, eyeing Riku without much change in her expression. Her identity wasn’t some dark secret. Being from another world wasn’t exactly rare in Fairy Tail. 

“Meet Riku, a new friend who just joined the guild,” Makarov said, introducing him. He’d already suspected Riku might be from another world, and this just confirmed it. While Riku’s exact origins were still a mystery, he clearly knew a ton about Edolas—enough to spot Porlyusica as the Sky Dragon from there. 

“Fairy Tail really lets anyone join, huh?” Porlyusica quipped, not exactly mocking but genuinely impressed. The guild was full of people with murky backstories, and she had to admit, Makarov’s big heart as guild master was something else.  

You had to give it to Fairy Tail—despite its wild mix of members, the guild’s vibe was always great. No major disasters, just the occasional smashed-up property, which was no big deal for a guild like this. 

“The unknown and adventure—that’s what Fairy Tail is all about,” Makarov said, his mood heavy. He wasn’t in the mood for his usual antics, still mulling over what punishment to give Laxus. What Laxus did couldn’t just be swept under the rug; Makarov had to make things right for the guild. 

The guild was always pretty laid-back, with loose rules, but some lines you just don’t cross. Hurting your comrades? Makarov wouldn’t stand for it, even if it was his own grandson. Even if no one was seriously hurt, using Fairy Law on everyone wasn’t something you could just explain away. 

Makarov had made up his mind: Laxus needed a lesson, and the guild needed to see his resolve. 

“So, why’d you stop me?” Porlyusica asked Riku, curious. There was something off about this guy—not quite human. If she had to describe it, it was like the oppressive aura of a dragon in human form. 

Her Sky Magic was all about manipulating airflow, making her senses razor-sharp. She could feel something strange about Riku, something most humans wouldn’t notice but she picked up on instantly. 

“I’m interested in your healing magic,” Riku said bluntly. The Sky Dragon’s healing magic was seriously impressive—great for detoxing, healing wounds, curing diseases, you name it. It was basically a cure-all spell. 

“Huh?” Porlyusica was taken aback. This was the first time anyone in Fairy Tail showed interest in her magic. Most of the guild was obsessed with fighting, not learning healing spells. 

If someone actually wanted to learn, she wouldn’t mind teaching. It’d save her the trouble of coming to the guild every time someone got banged up. “This magic isn’t for just anyone. It takes a ton of magic power,” she warned. 

Riku waved it off. “Big magic consumption? Not a problem.” 

He knew about a certain treasure hidden in Fairy Tail’s basement: Fairy Heart, also known as Lumen Histoire. It was a magical artifact way more OP than even the guild’s three super spells. Fairy Heart was the crystallized body—specifically the heart—of the first guild master, Mavis Vermillion, created by Precht Gaebolg. 

Precht, one of Fairy Tail’s four founding members and its second guild master, was a genius among geniuses. Alongside Mavis, Yuri Dreyar (Makarov’s dad), and Warrod Sequen (one of the Ten Wizard Saints), they built the guild. But Mavis and Precht were on another level when it came to magic. Fairy Heart was so brilliant, even Zeref, the immortal dark wizard, was floored by it. 

With Fairy Heart—basically an infinite magic power cheat code—casting any spell in the Fairy Tail world was a breeze. It could even grant eternal youth. Precht later made a lesser version, Demon Heart, which still let him live forever with insane magic power. 

Only Precht and Makarov knew about Fairy Heart. When Precht left to wander the world and pursue the source of magic, he passed the guild master title to Makarov, entrusting him with the secret. Makarov kept it locked away, knowing its exposure would spark chaos—everyone would want a piece of that power. 

Riku figured getting his hands on Fairy Heart might take some work. Worst case, he’d pull out his ultimate move: “Yo, I found this!”  

“I can teach you,” Porlyusica said, unaware of Riku’s scheming. She was fine with him learning her healing magic. 

“Great, but… how do you even use magic in this world?” Riku’s next question threw her for a loop. Wait, was this guy starting from zero? 

“Where the heck are you from?” Porlyusica asked, exasperated. Even Edolas had magic, similar to Earthland. Was Riku from some totally bizarre world? 

“Let’s start with sensing magic power,” she said with a sigh, already dreading the hassle. But if Riku learned her magic, maybe she wouldn’t have to keep running to the guild. She’d tough it out. 

“Wait a sec, Makarov, why don’t you teach him the basics first?” she suggested, realizing Makarov could handle the newbie stuff before she taught Riku the Sky Dragon’s healing magic. 

“Sure thing,” Makarov agreed. The guild could use a healer, and Riku wanting to learn was a win. 

“Deal!” Porlyusica nodded, satisfied, and headed back to her forest cabin. 

“When do we start?” Riku asked Makarov, who looked weighed down by worry. 

“After I deal with Laxus,” Makarov replied, his resolve firm. 

“Let him go cool off outside. It’ll do him good. Laxus isn’t a bad kid—he’ll figure things out. People need to face external pressures, expectations, and their own hearts to accept who they really are,” Riku said to the grandfather-grandson duo. 

Laxus looked lost, clearly guessing his punishment. His grandpa wasn’t the type to play favorites—Makarov had even kicked out Laxus’s dad, Ivan, from the guild. 

“Focus on recovering for now. We’ll announce the decision once you’re healed,” Makarov said. He cared for his grandson but wouldn’t bend the rules. Still, he’d at least let Laxus heal up first. 

Chapter 352: Exile 

“Magic power exists in everything between heaven and earth, cycling through all things. That’s where a mage’s power comes from,” Makarov explained to Riku, laying out the basics of magic. 

The old man tackled Riku’s question first. Even though Riku came from another world—a world where magic power had vanished—that didn’t stop him from using magic in Earthland. As long as he lived in this world, he’d naturally interact with the ever-present magic power in nature. 

“Think of magic power like a special kind of gas,” Makarov continued. “It’s inside our bodies and all around us in nature. But not everyone can tap into it to cast spells. You need a strong mind and sharp focus to even sense magic power, let alone channel it in harmony with the natural world.” 

Makarov wagged his head, speaking with a serious tone. Magic was all about talent, tied to every aspect of a person. It came from the heart, from deep desires and dreams. The so-called Mahō Kakusei (magic awakening) stemmed from a power buried in the soul—mystical, idealistic, and hard to put into words. It was something you had to feel for yourself, a matter of chance and destiny. 

But even without a dramatic Mahō Kakusei, there were standard ways to learn and practice magic. As long as you could clear the first hurdle—sensing magic power—you could study magic and make a living with it. Mahō Kakusei was about unlocking a unique talent, not about awakening magic power itself. You could still have magic power without it. 

Makarov was confident Riku wouldn’t struggle with this step. A powerhouse like him surely had the mental focus and strength to sense magic power without issue. 

After teaching Riku the basics of meditation, Makarov wrapped up the lesson. His teaching style was simple: the master opens the door, but the student walks the path. Magic was deeply tied to one’s heart, and Makarov—and the Fairy Tail guild—embraced that philosophy wholeheartedly. 

After the lesson, Riku meditated on his own and easily sensed the magic power. Earthland was brimming with it, and once he found the trick, it wasn’t hard to pick up. Of course, the real challenge was finding that trick. Those without talent might never sense magic power, no matter how hard they tried. 

For those with less natural talent, their compatibility with the world’s magic power was weaker. Their bodies produced magic power slowly, and casting spells was a struggle. At best, they could handle support roles—fighting was out of the question. 

Riku, naturally, was at the top tier of talent. His mastery over his own body let him quickly harness magic power through meditation. It flowed from its source like a steady stream. 

His World Poison ability further boosted his connection to the world’s rules, making his harmony with nature exceptionally high. Riku could feel it—tiny specks of magic power flickering as they entered his body from the outside, forming a rushing current that swirled into a vortex at his core. All the magic power in his body was drawn from this vortex. 

This was the source of magic power in the body: absorbed, used, depleted, and restored in a constant cycle. 

Riku knew that later, he could even develop a Second Magic Source using time magic, creating another vortex in his body to massively boost his magic capacity and recovery speed. It was like doubling his magic power with a cheat code. 

Ur’s daughter, Ultear, wielded time magic that was borderline overpowered. Not only could she create a Second Magic Source, but she could rewind the entire world by a minute, fully reviving the main cast with full health. Ultear’s Lost Time Magic came at the cost of her life to pull off something as wild as rewinding the world, but it still made Riku jealous. 

For Ultear, that kind of magic cost her life. But for Riku? It might just be a drop in the bucket. Her life and his weren’t on the same level—what was a massive cost for her might be trivial for him. 

Though he’d only been in the Fairy Tail world for a short time, Riku was already eyeing a list of powers to pursue. The magic here was incredibly diverse—some spells were insanely powerful, others had wild mechanics. There was so much to explore. 

For the next few days, Riku stayed at the Fairy Tail guild. One awkward detail? The guild didn’t have a men’s dorm. The guys all rented their own places, so Riku had to crash in the guildhall’s guest rooms, meant for visitors from out of town. 

Fairy Tail did have a women’s dorm nearby, and there used to be a men’s dorm too. But the guys were so reckless—constantly wrecking the place—that the guild gave up on rebuilding it. They just told the guys to rent their own houses. Keeping them together was like housing a bunch of walking time bombs. 

“Riku, I found you a place to stay!” Mirajane said from the guild’s front counter, smiling at Riku as he sipped coffee. 

She was in a great mood, thanks to Riku’s help with her workload. The maid puppets he’d created were bustling around the guildhall, handling basic tasks. Before, it was just Mirajane and Laki handling everything, and when Laki went on missions, Mirajane was swamped. Riku’s puppets had lightened her load considerably. 

“Thanks, Mira,” Riku said, giving her a thumbs-up. He’d been buried in magic books, studying the world’s magic, and had left some chores to Mirajane. In return, he’d helped her out too—a fair trade. 

The maid puppets took care of basic guildhall services, easing Mirajane’s stress. To be fair, the guild’s usual workload wasn’t that heavy, or they wouldn’t have left it all to Mirajane in the first place. 

“No problem! How’s your magic studying going?” Mirajane asked, leaning over curiously to peek at the book in Riku’s hands. It was about Make Magic. Her eyes widened slightly—hadn’t he been reading about a different type yesterday? Was he still searching for the right magic? 

“It’s going alright. Magic’s not too tough,” Riku replied casually, flipping through the book. In the Fairy Tail world, learning magic had a low barrier to entry. Magic tools and books were everywhere. As long as you had talent and money, you could learn without needing to join a specific “sect” or guild. 

That said, a major guild like Fairy Tail had way more resources and access to diverse magics, plus mentors who used the same types. And let’s not forget—the guild’s founder, Mavis Vermillion, was a magical genius. 

Mavis had read nearly every magic book on the continent and was mentored by the Black Wizard Zeref himself. She was a true master of all magic types, which made Fairy Tail’s library a goldmine. Riku had been diving into it for days, scanning every book into his mind from day one. By now, he’d digitized them all—he didn’t even need the physical books anymore. Holding one was just for show, and honestly, he kind of enjoyed the vibe. 

“You’re already a powerhouse, so picking up magic basics must be a breeze,” Mirajane said, not surprised. Riku might be new to magic, but he had his own unique power system. Mastering one system made learning another easier, especially with his knack for elemental control, which gave him a head start with Make Magic. 

Mirajane had been shocked to learn Riku’s abilities weren’t magic at all—he came from a world without magic power, operating on a completely different system than Earthland’s. 

“Laxus, what are you doing here?”  

Their chat was interrupted by a commotion at the door. Laxus walked in, stirring up the guild. His public humiliation last time had given everyone a glimpse of his true heart, but years of bad impressions didn’t vanish overnight. Most members still gave him cold looks. 

“Where’s the old man?” Laxus asked calmly, ignoring the crowd’s reactions. His chill demeanor threw everyone off. Was this really Laxus? Where was his usual arrogance? He looked like he’d seen through the world’s illusions. 

“Man, is social death that powerful?” Mirajane whispered to Riku with a giggle. Having grown up in Fairy Tail, she knew Laxus pretty well. 

Laxus, still bandaged but moving fine, walked straight into the guildhall. His injuries didn’t seem to bother him much anymore. 

“Laxus, you’ve got some nerve showing your face to the Guild Master!” someone shouted. Not everyone was ready to forgive him. Sure, he’d held back during his stunt, claiming he didn’t want to hurt anyone, but could that really erase what he’d done? Using Fairy Law on the guild wasn’t exactly a prank. 

Actions spoke louder than intentions, didn’t they? 

Laxus stayed silent, not snapping back like he used to. He just waited quietly. 

“I’ll get the Guild Master,” Mirajane said, unable to watch any longer. If Laxus was truly ready to change and return to his old self, that’d be a win for Fairy Tail. 

“Laxus…” Makarov appeared in the guildhall with Mirajane, his face a mix of emotions as he looked at his grandson. 

Laxus pressed his lips together, his own expression heavy. But he’d prepared himself for this moment. 

“Laxus, you know what you’ve done, don’t you?” Makarov said, steeling himself to announce his final decision. Some lines couldn’t be crossed. 

“A guild is a place for work, sure, but it’s also where comrades gather. It’s a home for kids with nowhere else to go—a home for everyone in the guild. It doesn’t belong to just one person. Not me, not you.” 

Makarov’s tone was stern, addressing not just Laxus but the whole guild. Freedom was his management style, but unity and family were the heart of Fairy Tail. 

“A guild is built on the trust and bonds of its members—bonds stronger than anything else. Laxus, you broke that trust. You endangered the lives of your guildmates. That’s unforgivable.” 

Makarov’s words were final, and the guild members tensed. A judgment like this was rare in Fairy Tail. Sure, they brawled all the time, and this could’ve been brushed off as a fight gone too far—an apology and done, especially since it was the Guild Master’s grandson. But Makarov wasn’t letting it slide. He was handling this seriously. 

“I know,” Laxus said, clenching his fists but owning his mistake. 

“I just wanted to make the guild stronger,” he added, his voice awkward, almost tsundere. His idea of kicking out the “weak” was less about cruelty and more about protecting them. Why let them take dangerous jobs and get hurt when they could find safer work elsewhere? 

“You’re such a clumsy guy,” Makarov said softly. “Try relaxing a bit. You’ll see things you couldn’t before, hear things you missed. Life gets happier that way. For me, seeing you grow is enough. You don’t need to be the strongest or the smartest—just stay full of energy and keep moving forward.” 

Makarov’s voice was heavy with farewell, and Laxus trembled, unable to speak. 

“Laxus, your punishment is exile from the guild.” 

Makarov raised his hand, delivering his final verdict. The guildhall erupted in shock. No one expected Makarov to actually banish Laxus. 

“Man, the old man’s got it rough,” Riku muttered, shaking his head. Family matters were always messy. Makarov was a great Guild Master, but he’d stumbled with his son and now his grandson. His son had been exiled long ago, and now Laxus was following the same path. At least there was still hope for Laxus. 

Chapter 353: The Newcomer 

Laxus’s expulsion shocked everyone in the guild, but no one was more stunned than the three members of the Thunder God Tribe.  

“Why?!” Evergreen exclaimed, her expression over-the-top. She could barely process it. Her long brown hair flowed as she stood there in her green dress, adorned with fairy-wing-like accessories and holding a fan, looking straight out of a fairy tale. 

Evergreen’s magic was petrification, thanks to her Stone-Eyes Magic, which could turn anything she looked at to stone. It was seriously powerful, so she usually wore her Magic-Sealing Glasses to keep it in check and avoid hurting others. This fierce Magic Eye user joined Fairy Tail purely because of the guild’s name—she was a total fairy fanatic, convinced they existed like in storybooks. 

Her loyalty to the guild wasn’t super strong. She joined the Thunder God Tribe for two reasons: her strength and lone-wolf vibe fit their vibe perfectly, and she was drawn to Laxus’s raw power and rebellious streak. So, when Laxus, the Thunder God himself, got kicked out of Fairy Tail, Evergreen was quick to voice her frustration. 

“It didn’t even cause that much—” she started, but Laxus cut her off before she could finish. 

“Enough. I accept the punishment. My mistakes are mine to own,” he said firmly.  

Even though Laxus didn’t hang out much with the Thunder God Tribe, he respected them in his own way. He didn’t want his mess dragging them down or getting them ostracized in the guild. 

“Gramps, take care of yourself. Thanks for everything,” Laxus said to Makarov, who had turned away, his shoulders trembling—definitely shedding a few tears. 

“Let’s go,” Makarov said, trying to sound composed, though his voice betrayed him. 

Laxus didn’t hesitate. He turned and walked out. Evergreen, Bickslow, and Freed followed, their faces heavy with reluctance. 

At the guild’s entrance, Laxus waved them off with a rare attempt at comfort. “Go back. We’ll see each other again.”  

The Thunder God Tribe wasn’t used to this softer side of Laxus—it was like he’d really changed. They stopped in their tracks. Despite their independent streak, they’d grown used to guild life. Plus, they knew Laxus wouldn’t let them follow him. 

“We’ll see you again,” Freed muttered, convinced it would happen. Laxus would return to Fairy Tail. 

“Good thing Natsu and the others aren’t here, or this would’ve been a bigger mess,” Mirajane whispered to Riku. Natsu had been ready to throw hands with Laxus during the chaos, but if he heard about the expulsion, he’d probably be the first to protest. 

In Natsu’s mind, Laxus was a key guildmate, a friend he grew up with. Sure, Laxus screwed up, but Natsu wouldn’t just “abandon” him—he’d want to help him change for the better. 

“You’re not wrong. Sounds like something that hotheaded dummy would do,” Riku said with a grin. Natsu was a simple guy, all about loyalty, not overthinking things. He saw Laxus as a friend and wouldn’t support kicking him out, never mind how others felt. 

Makarov’s decision was for the good of the guild—it kept everyone united and upheld its values. Keeping Laxus around would’ve caused more harm than good. For Laxus himself, stepping away to cool off was probably the best move. 

Makarov had slipped away by now, probably too embarrassed to let anyone see him crying. How else could he maintain his guild master swagger? Everyone understood and left him be. Today’s events had only tightened the guild’s bond—no one, not even an S-Class mage or the guild master’s grandson, could cross the guild’s底线 (bottom line). 

Laxus’s departure didn’t slow the guild down. Sure, they lost an S-Class mage, but most jobs didn’t need one, and Fairy Tail’s A-Class mages were no pushovers. Any one of them could pass as S-Class in another guild—that’s the kind of depth Fairy Tail had. 

Boom! “I’m back!”  

The guild doors flew open as Natsu burst in, Happy flying beside him. Behind them trailed a blonde girl in a blue-and-white sailor-style outfit, a total newbie by the look of her. 

“Yo, Natsu! Wrecked another big one, huh?” someone shouted. The guild erupted in laughter. Word of Natsu trashing half a port had beaten him back to the guild. 

Wham! Natsu launched a flying kick, sending a guildmate sprawling. The blonde girl froze, dumbfounded by the chaos. 

“Natsu! What the hell?!” the guy yelped, equally confused. But Natsu was already charging, fuming. 

“That Fire Dragon tip you gave me was fake!” Natsu roared. He’d gone on this mission chasing a lead about the Fire Dragon King Igneel, who taught him his Dragon Slayer Magic. It was a bust, and now he was stuck with a pile of debt for wrecking half the port. 

“It was just a rumor! I told you it might not be legit!” the guy shot back. The two started brawling, trading words and fists. It wasn’t serious—just their usual roughhousing—but to an outsider, it looked a bit much. 

The fight quickly spiraled, with food, plates, and random stuff flying everywhere, dragging half the guild into the chaos. The blonde girl stood in the hall, her image of Fairy Tail completely shattered. This was the legendary guild? 

“Natsu! You’re back! Let’s fight!” Gray popped up, wearing nothing but his underwear, ready to throw down. The blonde girl just stared, speechless. Was there a single normal person in this place?! 

Then a hulking guy with white hair and a scary face stepped in. “It’s broad daylight, and you’re all acting like kids,” he growled. 

It was Mirajane’s younger brother, Elfman, who looked old enough to be her dad despite his actual age. 

“Finally, someone normal!” the blonde girl thought, hoping he’d calm things down. No one was even noticing her, the newbie! 

“Real men settle things with their fists!” Elfman bellowed, crushing her hopes. Nope, not normal either. She was losing it. 

Elsewhere, Loke was flirting with two women, Cana was chugging from a massive barrel of booze, and Riku sat calmly at the bar, unfazed by the madness. 

“Hey, you a newbie?” Mirajane asked, approaching with a tray and eyeing the girl curiously. The blonde was dragging a suitcase, looking totally lost—definitely her first time here. 

“Mirajane! The real deal!” the girl gasped, her eyes sparkling. Fairy Tail’s “poster girl” Mirajane was famous, a total beauty. 

“Shouldn’t we stop them?!” the girl asked, still shocked. This was not the Fairy Tail she’d imagined. 

“Nah, it’s just another day around here,” Mirajane said, setting down her tray. It held… something that could barely be called food, more like a chaotic mess. 

“Thanks, Mira,” Riku said, grabbing a chunk of iron and taking a bite. His weird eating habits weren’t even that strange in Fairy Tail. 

“What’s your name?” Riku asked, eyeing the blonde. No doubt about it—this was Lucy Heartfilia, the heroine. 

“I’m Lucy,” she said, leaving out her last name. Her father, Jude Heartfilia, founded the Heartfilia Konzern, making her family filthy rich. But that meant nothing to her—she and her dad didn’t get along, and she’d run away from home. 

“Aaagh! I’m getting pissed!” Lucy barely finished introducing herself when the chaos escalated. Gray was prepping his magic, hands clasped. Natsu’s fists were blazing with flames. Elfman’s arm was covered in rock-like armor. 

“Aren’t we gonna stop this?! They’re using magic!” Lucy cried, horrified. If they went all out, would the guild hall even survive? She’d seen Natsu’s destructive power firsthand—half a dock obliterated. This building didn’t look that sturdy. 

Whoosh! Riku glanced at the crowd, and a chilling killing intent spread out, shutting everyone down instantly. The rowdy guildmates froze. 

“Wanna fight? Fight me,” Riku said, chewing his iron chunk calmly. Everyone exchanged looks, silent—except Natsu. 

“Hah! Bring it, Riku! Let’s settle this!” Natsu shouted, flames flaring as he challenged Riku. Gray sidestepped, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire. 

Thud! Before Riku could respond, a giant foot slammed down, flattening Natsu. He hit the floor hard. 

“Huh?!” Lucy’s eyes widened. That was Fire Dragon Natsu! What kind of monster was this?! She looked up to see a faceless giant. 

“Master, you’re here,” Mirajane said, cool as ever. With Riku around, these troublemakers couldn’t cause too much chaos. Riku’s strength was well-known—he could keep the guild in check.  

Mirajane also noticed something else: Riku had a natural aura that made people instinctively respect and follow him. It wasn’t Charm Magic—it was just who he was. 

“Master?!” Lucy gaped at the giant, then watched as Makarov shrank back to his usual tiny, kind-old-man self. 

“Oh? A newbie?” Makarov said, noticing Lucy. She yelped a reflexive “Yes!”—the giant’s presence was overwhelming. 

“Nice to meet you,” Makarov said with a smile, back to his normal size. 

“So… small… The Master?” Lucy stammered, staring at the knee-high old man. This was Fairy Tail’s guild master? The legendary Ten Wizard Saint? 

“That’s right, this is Master Makarov,” Mirajane said, introducing him. Makarov turned to Riku, annoyed. 

“Riku, you’re here and didn’t stop this nonsense?” he grumbled. He’d only stepped out for a bit, and the guild was already on the verge of being torn apart! 

“Huh? Stop them? Isn’t this just the guild’s usual routine?” Riku replied casually, sipping coffee and swallowing his iron chunk. Lucy gulped, terrified. This guy was nuts! And this was normal for the guild?! 

Despite her proper upbringing, Lucy Heartfilia was a natural tsukkomi—totally different from the other Lucy Riku knew. 

“Routine?! No way!” Makarov huffed, then ignored Riku to launch into a speech about guild unity. He dramatically burned a stack of complaints from the Magic Council, showing everyone what “bad leadership breeds bad behavior” looks like. 

If the Magic Council saw this, they’d be fuming, but they were powerless against Fairy Tail’s antics. 

Chapter 354: Everyone Has a Story 

Click. 

The magic stamp pressed onto the back of Lucy’s hand, leaving a pink “Fairy Tail” emblem on her right hand. 

“There you go! You’re officially part of Fairy Tail now!” Mirajane said with a warm smile. 

Lucy had successfully joined the Fairy Tail guild. 

“Thanks, Mira!” Lucy beamed, staring at the emblem on her hand. Everything had been so much simpler than she’d expected—she was actually a member of Fairy Tail now! 

“What kind of magic does Lucy use?” Mirajane asked, her curiosity piqued. For someone to earn Natsu’s approval was surprising, to say the least. 

Lucy had come to the guild with Natsu, who was her sponsor for joining. It was the first time Natsu had ever recommended someone to the guild. 

“Oh, I use Celestial Spirit Magic!” Lucy said proudly. She’d loved Celestial Spirit Magic ever since she was a kid. 

“A Celestial Spirit Mage? That’s pretty rare,” Mirajane said, her eyes widening. Celestial Spirit Magic was indeed uncommon, being an ancient form of magic. 

More importantly, it was a Holder-type magic. Without Celestial Spirit Keys, a Celestial Spirit Mage couldn’t summon spirits. Each spirit had its own summoning key, divided into Silver Keys and Gold Keys. Gold Keys were extremely rare, with only twelve corresponding to the Zodiac signs, while multiple Silver Keys could exist. 

However, having a key wasn’t enough to use Celestial Spirit Magic. A mage had to form a contract with the spirit, discussing the summoning conditions in detail and adhering to the contract’s terms. Spirits had their own independent personalities, and if you couldn’t come to an agreement, even having a key was useless. 

Once a contract was made, only the contracted mage could summon that spirit. Even if someone else got hold of a contracted key, they couldn’t use it unless the contract was broken or the mage died. 

Celestial Spirits were unique beings living in the Celestial Spirit World, ruled by the Celestial Spirit King. Time in the Celestial Spirit World moved differently—one day there equaled three months in the human world. Normally, humans couldn’t breathe in the Celestial Spirit World and weren’t allowed to enter. 

Likewise, spirits couldn’t freely appear in the human world, though some could use their own magic to open a gate with a key, which required immense power. 

Riku’s gaze drifted to a man in the guild hall flirting with some girls—Loke, or rather, Leo. This guy was none other than Leo, the leader of the Zodiac spirits, the Lion. Fairy Tail was truly a guild of hidden talents, with all sorts of wild backgrounds. 

“Lucy, you might want to keep an eye on Loke. Could be a fun surprise,” Riku said with a grin, deciding to give Leo the Lion a little nudge. The Leo spirit wasn’t in great shape. He was stuck in the human world after messing up, and his gate back to the Celestial Spirit World was closed. Lucy could be his key to returning. 

“Huh? That guy?” Lucy’s expression soured. She didn’t have a great impression of Loke. Why would she want to pay attention to that flirty guy? What kind of surprise could he possibly offer? Judging by how smoothly he chatted up girls, Lucy just wanted to steer clear to avoid trouble. 

Mirajane gave Riku a puzzled look. Since when did Riku enjoy playing matchmaker? 

“No, no, not like that,” Riku chuckled. “Let’s make a bet. I bet Loke will avoid you. Wanna take it?” 

Riku smiled helplessly. Some things lost their charm if explained outright. Lucy needed to discover this herself and show her true colors—that’s how bonds were formed. 

As a Celestial Spirit Mage, Lucy was more than qualified—she was exceptional. Her attitude toward spirits was enough to make any spirit willingly form a contract with her. 

Even Leo, the Lion, was no exception. He’d ended up in this mess because he couldn’t stand his previous contractor’s attitude toward spirits. Lucy was practically the perfect match for him. 

“No way! Lucy’s so pretty and has a great figure. Loke wouldn’t avoid her,” Mirajane said, shaking her head. Even as a girl, she had to admit Lucy was stunning. With Loke’s personality, he wouldn’t bother guild girls, but if Lucy approached him, there’s no way he’d dodge her. 

“Is this some kind of reverse psychology?” Lucy asked, eyeing Riku suspiciously. She wondered if Riku was Loke’s wingman, trying to goad her into something. 

Riku was at a loss for words. First impressions were hard to shake, and Lucy clearly had a bad one of Loke. 

“Just watch,” Riku said, clearing his throat before shouting, “Lucy, you’re a Celestial Spirit Mage?!” 

His loud voice drew everyone’s attention, including Loke’s. Loke visibly tensed, his expression turning unnatural, completely different from the surprised looks of others. 

Mirajane and Lucy, who’d been watching Loke, both caught his odd reaction and were stunned. 

“So it’s because of her Celestial Spirit Mage status? But why would Loke react to that?” Mirajane mused, realizing Loke wasn’t avoiding Lucy specifically but Celestial Spirit Mages in general. Loke’s background had always been a bit mysterious in the guild. 

“Yeah, why is that?” Lucy’s expression shifted. If she’d wanted to avoid Loke before, now she was curious. Anything related to Celestial Spirits was something she couldn’t ignore. 

“You’ll have to find that out yourself,” Riku said, sipping his coffee with a cryptic smile, fully piquing Lucy’s interest. “I said there might be a surprise—a big one.” 

“Lucy’s a Celestial Spirit Mage? That’s so rare!” other guild members began to chatter. Celestial Spirit Mages were indeed a rare breed, not just in the Fiore Kingdom but across the entire Ishgar continent. Though Celestial Spirit Keys had existed for ages, their users were few and far between. 

“What spirits does Lucy have?” someone asked, curious to see her in action, but the conversation was cut short. A kid burst into the guild and started arguing with the guild master, Makarov. 

“Master, hasn’t my dad come back yet?” a black-haired boy asked anxiously, drawing everyone’s attention, including Lucy’s. Loke took the chance to slip away quietly—he really didn’t want to deal with a Celestial Spirit Mage. 

“Romeo, don’t make a fuss. If you’re a mage’s son, you should trust your dad and wait for him to come back,” Makarov said, sipping his beer. Instead of comforting Romeo Conbolt, he told him to go home and wait. 

“But he said he’d be back in three days, and it’s been a week already!” Romeo’s voice trembled with worry. Of course he trusted his dad, but this was different! 

“I recall he went to work on Mt. Hakobe, right?” Makarov said, though his casual tone didn’t match the concern in his heart. He wouldn’t remember the mission location so clearly otherwise. 

“It’s not even that far! There’s no way it should take this long! Please, send someone to find him!” Romeo pleaded, his whole reason for coming to the guild. 

“Romeo, your father is a mage! There’s no one in this guild who can’t handle their own business. Go home and drink your milk!” Makarov set down his mug and scolded Romeo, not indulging the kid one bit. 

“Idiot!” Romeo snapped, punching Makarov square in the nose before running off in tears. Makarov didn’t dodge or get mad at the kid’s outburst. 

“That child…” Makarov sighed. He actually loved kids and usually didn’t act all high and mighty around them. The kids in Magnolia looked up to Fairy Tail with admiration. 

Thud! 

Over at the mission board, Natsu slammed a job request back onto it with a bit too much force, grabbed his bag, and stormed out without a word. 

“Hey, Natsu! That kid…” someone called after him. 

“Master, isn’t this a bit harsh?” another guild member said. 

“That guy’s such a headache.” 

“He’s probably off to find Macao. Doing that will just hurt Macao’s pride. Have some faith in him, man!” 

Everyone could guess what Natsu was up to. His straightforward personality was no secret—he wore his emotions on his sleeve. 

“Let him go. Everyone walks their own path based on their heart, not someone else’s decision,” Makarov said, not stopping Natsu and sticking to his hands-off approach. 

“Uh…” Lucy was a bit confused. While Makarov’s strictness seemed harsh, it also felt reasonable. Mages were responsible for their own missions. If someone randomly stepped in to help, it might not be appreciated. Plus, mission rewards were tied to money, so interfering could make things awkward. 

Natsu’s reaction did seem a bit over the top. While other guild members were worried, most trusted Macao Conbolt to handle his own business. After all, Macao was a veteran. In a guild full of youngsters, he and Wakaba Mine, both in their mid-thirties, were practically the “old uncles” of Fairy Tail. 

“Lucy, you coming?” Riku asked, snapping her out of her thoughts. Flustered, she scrambled to follow but struggled with her luggage. 

“Leave it to me. The guild has a girls’ dorm, and I’ll get you settled,” Mirajane said kindly, taking Lucy’s suitcase. Lucy was touched by Mirajane’s warmth, unaware that Mirajane used to be a tough-as-nails big sister type, transformed by her own past experiences. Everyone in Fairy Tail had their own stories and scars. 

Outside Magnolia, on a speeding carriage, Natsu was sprawled out, practically unconscious, a stark contrast to his earlier energy. Lucy wasn’t used to seeing him like this. 

“Dragon Slayers are like that. You gain something, you lose something,” Riku said with a chuckle. Motion sickness was one of the side effects of Dragon Slayer Magic, along with the risk of dragonification. The latter wasn’t usually noticeable, but motion sickness was a real pain, especially for mages who traveled for missions. 

“Why’d you two tag along?” Natsu managed to ask, barely holding it together. 

“Not important. Actually, I might have a way to fix your motion sickness,” Riku said. He hadn’t come for Macao—he wasn’t close to the guy. He was here for Natsu and Lucy, the main characters who held a lot of value to him. 

“Really?!” Natsu perked up, only to immediately lean out the window and retch. It was a pitiful sight. 

“Your motion sickness comes from the Dragon Slayer Magic messing with your semicircular canals when you took on dragon power,” Riku explained. For him, it was an easy fix—replace the damaged canals. 

“Huh?” Natsu blinked, dumbfounded. Just replace them? 

“Yup, just a small surgery,” Riku confirmed. With his skills, swapping out Natsu’s semicircular canals would be a breeze. 

“Please, Riku-nii! Do the surgery!” Natsu exclaimed, only to start vomiting again. Lucy facepalmed—this guy never learned. 

Chapter 355: Lucy’s Awakening 

The plan to operate on Natsu didn’t happen right away, as Hakobe Mountain wasn’t too far off. 

It didn’t take long for the group to reach Hakobe Mountain. 

“The carriage can’t go any further; the road ahead is blocked!” the driver shouted. 

The three opened the door, and Lucy was instantly shocked. Outside, a blizzard was raging! 

No wonder she’d been feeling chilly. The carriage’s insulation and soundproofing were so good they hadn’t noticed the storm outside—they just thought it got colder as they climbed the mountain. 

“It’s summer, isn’t it?! Even if we’re on a mountain, a blizzard like this is way too extreme!” Lucy exclaimed, perfectly playing her role as the group’s complainer. She huddled up, shivering, her scalp numb from the cold. Dressed lightly for summer, she was no match for this freezing weather. 

The three got out, and the driver immediately sped off. If it weren’t for Fairy Tail guild members, he wouldn’t have made this trip at all. This wasn’t about money—it was about survival. 

Hakobe Mountain was infamous for its monsters. No one dared come near. Rumor had it even Fairy Tail’s mages, sent to exterminate the beasts, hadn’t made it out. And now, here was Fairy Tail, sending people to find their missing comrades! 

“In a world brimming with magic, this kind of thing isn’t that strange, right?” Riku said, quickly accepting the situation. Sure, the mountain wasn’t that high, and it wasn’t far from the city, so a blizzard in summer was a bit hard to swallow. But tie it to magic, and suddenly it all made sense. 

“Who told you to dress so lightly?” Natsu, ever the blunt guy, threw out casually. Without waiting, he started marching toward the peak. 

“Hey! Wait up! And what’s that supposed to mean? You’re not exactly bundled up either!” Lucy, half-frozen, couldn’t help but snap back. Natsu and Riku were in summer clothes too! 

Unfortunately for her, Natsu and Riku weren’t fazed by the cold. They trekked through the blizzard like it was nothing, and even Happy, flying above, looked completely at ease. 

“Why am I the only one suffering?!” Lucy wailed. The contrast was unfair—three people and one cat, and she was the only one struggling?! 

Without hesitation, she pulled out a silver key. “Open, Gate of the Clock! Horologium!” 

This caught Natsu and Happy’s attention—they’d never seen Celestial Spirit magic before. As the gate opened, a giant clock appeared, taller than a person, with arms, a head, and a lively, expressive face that could talk. 

The moment Horologium appeared, it tucked Lucy inside itself—or rather, into the space where the clock face would be. She curled up behind the glass, looking out, the insulation so good her voice couldn’t be heard. 

“She says it’s too cold and she’s staying in here instead of climbing,” Horologium relayed, clearly hearing Lucy’s words from inside. 

“Really? Well, be careful. This mountain’s crawling with monsters. If you run into one, you’d better run fast,” Riku said with a grin, though his words made Lucy’s face pale. 

“Yeah, Riku’s right. Macao came here to take out those monsters, and they’ve been attacking people all over,” Natsu added, making Lucy’s expression even grimmer. Staying here alone sounded dangerous! 

“Here, take some clothes,” Riku said, deciding not to tease her further. He pulled out some thick clothing from his “Shadow Realm,” which seemed to have everything. 

Pop! 

“Awesome!” Lucy emerged from Horologium, grabbing the clothes. No way was she staying behind alone now. 

“Let’s go!” Bundled up, Lucy felt alive again, hurrying to keep pace with Natsu and Riku. She knew her limits—she wasn’t a fighter like them, not by a long shot. 

“Macao!” Natsu and Happy started shouting as they walked, bold as ever. Knowing the mountain was full of monsters, they were practically daring the beasts to show up. 

Lucy, worried but caught up in the moment, joined in. Despite her rich-girl background, she didn’t have the typical spoiled attitude. 

Roar! 

Sure enough, they didn’t find Macao first—a monster appeared instead. 

A black-and-white ape-like creature, a Vulcan named Haken, leaped out, pounding its chest with a ferocious glare. But when it spotted Lucy, its expression shifted to a creepy, leering grin. 

“What’s with this monkey?!” Lucy immediately sensed something off. Was this a normal monkey? 

“Where’s Macao?!” Natsu, ignoring the monkey’s weird vibe, charged forward, ready to fight. 

“Hey! Asking a monkey isn’t gonna help!” Lucy sighed, exasperated. Natsu was such a blockhead, trying to talk to a monkey. 

“Men bad! Women good!” the Vulcan replied, its words completely off-topic. 

“It can talk?!” Lucy gasped, once again proving she was the newbie of the magic world. 

Whoosh! 

The Vulcan leaped toward Lucy, ignoring Natsu’s taunts. Despite its size, it was agile, catching Natsu off guard with its speed. 

Boom! 

But in an instant, the Vulcan was down, slammed into the ground by a single punch from Riku. 

“Wow!” Lucy couldn’t help but shout. She’d heard Riku was strong, but seeing it firsthand was unreal. She hadn’t even caught his movement—just a blink, and the monkey was out! 

“Riku-bro! You knocked it out! How are we supposed to find Macao now?!” Natsu groaned, frustrated. They’d finally found something that could talk, and now it was lights out. 

“No need to look. Macao’s right here,” Riku said with a smile, pointing at the Vulcan. A flash of light shimmered, and the monkey’s form vanished, revealing a man. 

“Macao!” Natsu and Happy rushed over, shocked, checking on him. 

“Macao’s a monkey?!” Lucy blurted, totally confused. 

“Of course not. It’s Takeover magic. The Vulcan possessed him,” Happy explained to the clueless Lucy. Now it clicked—Macao had been defeated and taken over by the Vulcan. 

“Macao! Wake up! You can’t die! Romeo’s waiting for you!” Natsu shouted, leaning over Macao, who was covered in wounds, clearly from a fierce fight before the possession. 

Hearing Romeo’s name, Macao stirred, slowly opening his eyes despite his injuries. 

“Macao!” Natsu and Happy cheered, overjoyed. Macao, a veteran of Fairy Tail, had watched Natsu grow up, and their bond ran deep. No wonder Natsu was so worked up. 

“Natsu, Happy… even Riku’s here?” Macao muttered, scanning the group. He didn’t recognize Lucy. 

“Man, this is embarrassing. I only took out nineteen of them before the twentieth got me. I can’t face Romeo like this,” Macao said with a bitter smile, feeling he’d let the guild down. 

“Don’t say that, Macao! We’re nakama! And nineteen is already amazing! Vulcans are tough!” Natsu shot back. Haken Vulcans were no small fry—some guilds might get wiped out facing twenty of them. 

“If that’s not enough, we can take out more and finish the job,” Riku added, prompting everyone to look at him. Macao was in no shape to keep fighting. 

“I’ll heal him. Forgot? I learned healing magic,” Riku said, rolling his eyes. Everyone remembered him as a powerhouse, but he’d studied healing under Porlyusica. 

“Oh, right!” Natsu, Happy, and Macao all lit up, suddenly remembering. Riku’s strength—easily defeating Laxus—had overshadowed everything else. Some even wondered if Gildarts, the guild’s strongest, could keep his title against Riku. 

Buzz! 

Riku shook his head and channeled his magic, replicating Porlyusica’s healing spell effortlessly. Thanks to his “World Poison” trait, the world adapted to him, not the other way around. In a magic-rich world like this, his affinity was maxed out, making him a natural at learning magic. Even Master Makarov had compared him to the First Master, a prodigy who mastered all magic with ease. 

Buzz! 

Macao’s wounds healed rapidly under the spell’s glow. The magic was intense, consuming a ton of mana—practically a cheat code, like a portable healing fountain. 

Riku mused that Porlyusica’s magic wasn’t Dragon Slayer magic, despite her being Edolas’ Grandeeney. She was human, not a dragon, and Edolas had no Dragon Slayer magic. When Wendy, the Sky Dragon Slayer, later joined Fairy Tail, Porlyusica couldn’t teach her much, only passing on a few Dragon Slayer techniques from Grandeeney’s telepathic guidance. 

“Feeling like a new man! Thanks, Riku!” Macao stood, half-healed and full of energy, thanking Riku warmly. He didn’t want to be carried back to the guild in disgrace, especially in front of Romeo or his old buddies. 

“So, we keep hunting monsters?” Lucy asked timidly, raising her hand. She wanted to head back but was too scared to go alone. 

“Of course! Vulcans are pure pests, no good to the world. They’ve hurt too many people—we have to wipe them out!” Macao said firmly. If he’d been too injured, he’d have left, but with Riku and Natsu here, he wasn’t backing down. 

“I’m fired up!” Natsu roared, flames literally sparking from his head. 

“It’s for the greater good,” Riku nodded. Fairy Tail’s members had a strong sense of duty. Macao’s mission was for far fewer than twenty Vulcans, but he’d kept going, knowing each one he killed could save a life. 

“Fine…” Lucy sighed, swept up in the group’s enthusiasm. Fairy Tail was different, special in a way that stirred something in her. 

(End of Chapter)