The days in Magnolia passed by peacefully. Alma and I settled into a routine that felt as natural as breathing. Mornings started early, Alma would prepare breakfast while I checked through my usual set of tasks.
Alma living with me was something neither of us had expected to feel so... right. Her presence was comforting, her laughter filling the space of our home with warmth. We spent evenings cooking together, talking about everything and nothing, simply enjoying each other's company. I couldn't help but feel how much calmer my life had become with her by my side.
I still did jobs here and there, though they were much less frequent now. My reputation had settled into more of a legend than a necessity. The missions were quick—bounties, recovery tasks, the occasional negotiation with other guilds. But no matter how much work I took on, I always came back to Alma.
One afternoon, I found myself sitting in the guild hall, finishing a report for a job I'd just completed. The familiar hum of voices and clinking glasses surrounded me. Laxus and the other kids were hanging around, and it was clear that they had gotten used to seeing Alma and me together. But they always had their own ways of reacting.
Laxus, now eleven but still acting like a brat sometimes, spotted us and smirked. He leaned against one of the tables, arms crossed, giving me a look of mock disapproval. "So, you two are really doing this, huh?"
I glanced at Alma, who was sitting beside me. Her face flushed a bit, though she wore a small smile. "Doing what?" I asked, feigning innocence.
Laxus raised an eyebrow. "Living together. I mean, you two are always together now. You really gonna make that your permanent thing?" He cracked a grin.
Alma rolled her eyes and nudged me lightly. "He's been like this for days," she muttered under her breath.
I chuckled, looking over at Laxus. "I think you might be jealous, Laxus."
Laxus snorted. "Me? Jealous? Nah, just curious how much longer you're gonna keep this up before you get tired of her."
Alma's teasing tone matched mine as she leaned forward. "Are you saying you don't think we're a good match, Laxus?"
Laxus stared at her for a moment, then shook his head with an exaggerated sigh. "Nah, I just wanted to make sure you weren't both insane. But looks like you're good... for now."
"Nice to know you approve," I said with a wink.
The younger members of the guild, including the always-curious Cana, watched with interest. Cana, still new to Fairy Tail, loved listening in on the older members' conversations. She walked up to me and tugged at the hem of my shirt. "Are you really going to live with Alma forever?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
I looked down at her, a soft smile spreading across my face. "You want to know if we're gonna get married too, huh?" I asked, giving her a playful wink.
Cana scrunched her face, thinking it over. "Yeah. I mean, you two act like you've been together forever. It makes sense."
Alma's face turned even redder, and she cleared her throat. "Cana, don't go putting ideas in his head."
I grinned, teasing her. "It's alright, Alma. I think we're already halfway there."
Cana tilted her head, unsure of how much of the conversation was serious. "So, you guys are gonna have kids someday?"
The room went silent for a second, and then I couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Kids?!"
Alma's face was now the color of a ripe tomato. "Cana, not helping."
Laxus let out a bark of laughter from across the room, clearly enjoying the sight of Alma being flustered. "Oh, this is gold! Imagine you two with kids. Aiden, you'll be the worst dad."
I grinned at Laxus, keeping the teasing lighthearted. "Maybe, but I think I'd do alright. You never know until you try."
Alma, now almost hiding behind me in embarrassment, shot a small glare at Laxus. "I'm not having this conversation with you all."
The other kids were giggling, though it was clear none of them were really making fun of us. They were just enjoying the lightheartedness of it all.
After the laughter died down, Laxus stretched and shook his head. "Nah, I'm just messing with you. But seriously, you two are... good together. It's nice to see you both happy."
Alma finally gave Laxus a small smile, clearly relieved by his words. "Thanks, Laxus."
I put an arm around Alma's shoulders, smiling at both of them. "It's been pretty great, yeah."
As the banter continued, I realized that life—though quieter than before—had finally found its balance. And as long as Alma and I were together, I didn't need anything else.
—
As Alma and I walked through the guild's door, I spotted Erza, Jellal, and Simon sitting at one of the tables. They were all deep in conversation, though their attention shifted when they saw us.
Erza stood up first, her bright eyes focused on us. "Aiden, Alma," she greeted, her voice warm but with that unmistakable determination she always carried. Despite being just nine, she had an aura of maturity about her.
Jellal and Simon followed her lead, both giving us a small but genuine smile. "We wanted to talk to you," Jellal said, his usually quiet voice a bit more eager than usual.
"What's going on?" I asked, tilting my head slightly. I could feel something was up.
Simon, who normally said little, spoke up next. "We were wondering if you could train us."
My eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Train you? You guys want me to train you?"
Erza nodded, her expression serious. "We've been practicing on our own, but we know we still have a long way to go. We thought… we thought you could help us. You've been through so much, Aiden, and we've seen how strong you are. We want to be stronger too."
Jellal added, "We know we still have a lot to learn, and we could use your guidance."
I glanced over at Alma, who stood beside me, her arms crossed with a small, amused smile on her face. "So, you three are asking me for training?" I let out a small chuckle. "That's a first. Are you sure you're ready for it?"
Simon gave a determined nod. "We've seen how much you can do. We want to learn."
Erza's eyes narrowed slightly, her competitive nature coming through even at her young age. "We're serious about this. We wouldn't ask if we didn't think we could keep up."
I smiled at her response. "I like the enthusiasm. But let me make it clear: training with me won't be easy. I'm not going to go easy on you just because you're kids."
Alma chuckled beside me. "Aiden's not the kind of guy to go easy on anyone."
I shot her a grin before turning back to the kids. "Alright, fine. But if you're going to train with me, it starts tomorrow morning. Be at my place at 8 a.m. sharp."
Erza gave a small but firm salute. "We'll be there."
Jellal and Simon both nodded in unison, their faces serious but full of determination. "Thank you," Jellal said quietly.
As they got ready to leave, Simon looked up at me with a bit of uncertainty, but mostly excitement. "We won't disappoint you, Aiden."
I smiled back at him. "I'm looking forward to it. Just remember, if you want to train with me, you'll need to push yourselves. No backing out."
After they left, Alma turned to me with a raised eyebrow. "Do you really think they're ready for this?"
I gave a small chuckle and ran a hand through my hair. "They asked for it, didn't they? They're probably more ready than they think. But tomorrow will be the real test."
She grinned at me. "You're gonna be tough on them, huh?"
I smirked. "They'll thank me for it in the end. Or at least, I hope they do."
—-
The next morning came quickly. I was up early, already preparing for the training session with Erza, Jellal, and Simon. As much as I loved the quiet of mornings in Magnolia, today had a different vibe. The kids were counting on me to help them grow stronger, and I had a few ideas in mind that I hoped would push them without overwhelming them.
Alma and I made a quick breakfast, and as we finished eating, I heard a knock on the door. When I opened it, the three kids were standing there, all looking eager but also a bit nervous.
Laxus was grumpy as usual
The sun hung low over Magnolia as the kids gathered in front of my house, all eager to start their training. Erza, Jellal, and Simon were still just nine years old, but they had raw potential. Even at this age, I could see the kind of strength they could develop. Laxus, now eleven, had been training with me for a while, and I had to admit, he was already a lot stronger than the others. But I wasn't about to let him coast. Everyone was getting pushed today.
Alma had made breakfast earlier, and as I finished my meal, I glanced at the kids standing before me. They were ready, but I knew this wasn't going to be easy.
"You all ready?" I asked, crossing my arms.
Erza immediately nodded, her face full of determination. "Ready, Aiden! I won't disappoint you!"
Jellal and Simon were a bit quieter, but I could see the eagerness in their eyes. They wanted to get stronger. That was enough for me.
Laxus, leaning against the tree, let out a small grunt. "Let's just get this over with."
I chuckled. "Trust me, Laxus, you won't be bored today. You're all going to work harder than you ever have."
I summoned the gravity rings from my Celestial Inventory and tossed them to the kids. The moment the rings connected to their skin, I could see the weight hit them. They staggered, trying to adjust.
"What the—?!" Jellal gasped, trying to steady himself.
Erza gritted her teeth but stayed firm. "I can handle this."
I gave them a nod. "You're going to wear these for the first part of the training. The gravity will increase gradually, but it's all about endurance. Don't try to fight it. Work with it."
They each struggled for a few moments, but soon enough, they adjusted, their bodies growing used to the added pressure.
"Good. Keep going," I said, watching as they moved into their first set of exercises: push-ups, squats, and lunges. They didn't have much of a choice but to push through. The gravity would make it harder, but it would make them stronger in the end.
Laxus had the gravity rings on too, but he was already way ahead of them, moving with ease.
"You're not getting a free pass today, Laxus," I called out to him. "You're coming with me."
Laxus gave me a lazy look but followed me to the side yard where I'd set up a training course. "What are we doing?"
"You're going to work on your agility and precision," I said, gesturing toward the wooden dummies and obstacles. "I want you to clear the course, but this time, no raw power. Focus on control. Speed. Technique."
Laxus raised an eyebrow. "You're kidding. I've been training with you for a while now. I know how to handle myself."
I grinned. "You think so? Prove it."
He started the course with a grunt, jumping over an obstacle, slicing through a dummy with a sharp strike. He moved quickly, but I could tell he was relying too much on strength. His strikes were wild.
"You're pushing too hard," I called out. "Control your strikes. Don't overextend."
He shot me a glare but kept moving, trying to refine his technique. I watched him for a while, making sure he wasn't just rushing through it. Every move needed to be precise. Laxus might have been strong, but he needed more than just raw power. He needed focus.
The others were still working through their gravity exercises. Erza was struggling, but I could see she wasn't giving up. Jellal was doing okay, but Simon was a bit behind, still trying to adjust to the extra weight.
"You've got this, Jellal. Just breathe," I called to him. He gave me a nod, sweat dripping from his brow.
"You can do it, Simon," I said as I caught his eye. "Control your breathing, don't rush. Pace yourself."
I could see the determination in their eyes, and it made me proud. They were pushing themselves, just like I knew they would. But the thing was, they were only kids.
They had the potential to be pillars of Fairy Tail in the future, but that wasn't going to come without hard work.
I wanted them to understand what it meant to truly be a part of this guild.
—-
I walked through the guild hall, there was a tension in the air, a weight pressing down that I couldn't quite place.
Makarov was at his usual spot, sitting at the large table with his hands clasped in front of him. But the usual warmth in his expression was gone—replaced by something grim. Serious. I stepped up to the table, knowing this wasn't going to be a casual chat.
"Morning, Master," I said, watching his face carefully. "You called for me?"
Makarov glanced up, his sharp eyes locking onto mine. He gave a slow nod. "Aiden, I'm glad you're here."
I raised an eyebrow. "Sounds serious. What's going on?"
He exhaled heavily, then leaned back in his chair, but his gaze remained intense. "We've got a problem. A big one."
I crossed my arms. "Go on."
Makarov was quiet for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. Then, he spoke.
"It's Deliora."
The name hit like a hammer.
Deliora.
So, it had finally shown up. About time.
I tilted my head slightly. "So, it's confirmed?"
Makarov nodded. "It entered Fiore last night. The Rune Knights are powerless against it. We've received multiple requests for help, but…" He exhaled sharply. "This isn't a fight just anyone can handle."
I nodded. "Alright."
Makarov blinked. "That easy?"
I shrugged. "I'll take care of it."
He seemed ready to say something else, but in the end, he just nodded. He knew me well enough by now—there was no point in questioning it.
As I walked through Magnolia, my mind wasn't on Deliora.
That beast was already dead. It just didn't know it yet.
No, my focus was on what came next.
Ur. Gray. Lyon.
This was supposed to be the moment that shaped their futures. Deliora would come, Lyon would be reckless, Ur would step in, and Gray would be left behind—scarred, grieving, and forever chasing the ghosts of his past.
But that wasn't happening.
Ur wasn't dying.
Gray wasn't losing everything.
Lyon wasn't going to spend the rest of his life chasing an impossible dream.
I would make sure of it.
Deliora was just an obstacle in the way of what truly mattered. And I had no intention of letting it take what it wasn't meant to.
This time, things would be different
—----------
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