Chapter 12
Elior POV
It was now 6:15 in the evening.
The Fairy Tail guild hall had become surprisingly quiet.
Most of the members had either left for home or were sprawled across the floor after drinking far more than they could handle.
A few tables were still covered with empty glasses, plates, and the remains of whatever food had been served earlier.
Compared to the chaos from a few hours ago, it almost felt like a completely different place.
I was sitting comfortably on one of the couches with Erza still asleep on my lap.
Laxus was sitting nearby.
And Gramps was behind the bar area, casually cleaning some glasses.
The three of us were pretty much the only ones still awake.
I looked down at Erza's sleeping face.
She looked completely peaceful.
A small smile formed on my face as I gently brushed her hair away from her forehead.
"I had a lot of fun today."
"Me too," Laxus replied.
Gramps simply smiled at us.
There was something oddly peaceful about the moment.
After spending most of the day surrounded by noise, laughter, and chaos, sitting here quietly felt nice.
I looked around the guild hall again.
So this is going to be my new home.
I had expected Fairy Tail to be chaotic.
I had expected fights.
I had expected loud members and ridiculous parties.
What I hadn't expected was how quickly it would start feeling familiar.
Laxus suddenly shifted in his seat.
I glanced toward him.
He looked nervous.
His fingers were fidgeting with each other, and he kept opening his mouth before closing it again.
Eventually, he gathered enough courage to speak.
"Uh…"
I raised an eyebrow.
"What's up?"
"Ar-are we… friends?"
For a moment, I stared at him.
Then—
"Pffft!"
I burst out laughing.
"Hahahahaha!"
Laxus's face immediately turned bright red.
"You bastard!"
He shouted, embarrassed.
That only made me laugh harder.
Even Gramps started chuckling from behind the counter.
"Hohohoho!"
Laxus crossed his arms and looked away.
"I was asking seriously…"
I finally managed to calm down.
"Sorry, sorry."
I wiped the corner of my eye.
"That was just too cute."
"Don't call me cute!"
"Okay, okay."
I grinned.
"But yes. We're friends."
He looked at me again.
There was still a little uncertainty in his eyes.
"Really?"
"Of course."
I paused for a moment before smiling.
"Actually, you're my first friend."
His eyes widened slightly.
"So I'd prefer it if you called me El. Just like the other people close to me."
I glanced toward Gramps.
"And you too, Gramps."
Makarov's smile softened.
"Hohoho. Of course, El."
He put down the glass he was holding.
"I'm glad you consider us close."
I smiled.
"Me too."
I turned toward Laxus.
"Well?"
He was completely silent.
I frowned.
"Laxus?"
His eyes were beginning to water.
I blinked.
"Oye, oye…"
He quickly rubbed his eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing."
A tear rolled down his cheek.
"You're seriously crying?"
"I'm not crying!"
Another tear fell.
"You're definitely crying."
"No, I'm not!"
"Your face says otherwise."
He sniffed.
Then his expression crumbled.
"You're also my first friend."
And suddenly he started bawling.
I stared at him.
What is with this guy?
I couldn't help laughing a little.
"Seriously? You start crying just because I called you my friend?"
Laxus wiped his face with his sleeve.
"It's just…"
He sniffed again.
"I've never really had someone my age I could call a friend."
My smile faded slightly.
I understood.
For all his confidence and future strength, he was still just a kid.
A kid who wanted someone he could spend time with.
Someone who accepted him.
Someone he could trust.
I carefully moved Erza's head from my lap onto the couch.
She shifted slightly but didn't wake up.
I stood and walked over to Laxus.
He looked up at me with surprise.
I pulled a handkerchief from my pocket and gently wiped his tears.
"Men shouldn't be ashamed of showing their emotions."
He stared at me.
I smiled.
"But if you're worried about looking weak…"
I handed him the handkerchief.
"…you can always show that side of yourself in front of me."
Laxus looked at the handkerchief in his hands.
"I'll help you out whenever you need it."
He stared at me for a few seconds.
Then he nodded.
"Hmmm."
He wiped his face.
Then his nose.
I stared at him.
"Hey…"
"What?"
"That's my handkerchief."
"So?"
"Nothing…"
I sighed.
I'll just throw it away later.
Gramps laughed from behind us.
"You two really are something."
I smiled.
"Looks like you're stuck with us now, Gramps."
"Hohoho! I wouldn't have it any other way."
I glanced toward the clock.
It was getting late.
"I guess I should take my leave."
I walked back toward Erza.
She was still sleeping soundly.
I carefully picked her up and placed her on my back.
Her arms instinctively wrapped around my neck.
She didn't even wake up.
Laxus and Gramps accompanied me toward the guild entrance.
"Bye, bro."
I raised my fist toward Laxus.
"See you tomorrow."
He grinned and bumped his fist against mine.
"See you, El."
I turned toward Gramps.
"Bye, Gramps."
"Take care on the way, kid."
"Sure."
I stepped outside with Erza on my back.
The evening air was cool and refreshing.
The streets of Magnolia were beginning to glow beneath the warm light of the setting sun.
I adjusted Erza slightly before continuing toward our meeting point near Kardia Cathedral.
For the first few minutes, everything was quiet.
Then I felt Erza move.
"Hmm…"
She lifted her head groggily.
Her sleepy eyes looked around, trying to understand where she was.
Then she realized she was on my back.
Her arms tightened around my neck.
"Oh. You woke up, sis?"
"Hmm…"
She rested her head against my shoulder.
"Did you like the guild?"
"Hmm."
She nodded sleepily.
"Everyone was very nice to me."
She paused.
"The big sisters also told me lots of things about the guild."
I smiled.
"That's good."
Her voice suddenly became quieter.
"It's just…"
She sniffed.
"I miss everyone back in the town."
I glanced backward slightly.
Erza's eyes were watery.
"Everyone was so nice to us."
Her voice trembled.
"I know we have a better future here…"
She sniffed again.
"But I don't like this feeling."
She hugged me tighter.
"I don't want to separate from anyone ever again."
I was quiet for a moment.
I understood exactly what she meant.
The people in our town had watched us grow up.
They had known us since we were children.
They had treated us like family.
And even though Fairy Tail was now our new home, that didn't mean the old one suddenly stopped mattering.
"Me too, sis."
I smiled gently.
"But it's not like we'll never see them again."
She lifted her head.
"When we grow up, we can always visit."
"Really?"
"Really."
Her expression brightened slightly.
"We'll go back together."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
She rested her head against my shoulder again.
We continued walking in comfortable silence.
The sound of our footsteps echoed softly through the evening streets.
After a few minutes, Erza spoke again.
"Brother…"
"Hmm?"
"You won't leave me, right?"
I stopped walking.
Her voice was quiet.
I looked back at her.
Erza was looking at me with hopeful eyes.
Her eyes were already becoming puffy again.
I turned around slightly and gently touched my forehead against hers.
"Yes."
I looked directly into her eyes.
"I will never leave you."
Her eyes widened.
"No matter how much we grow up…"
I smiled.
"…or whatever problems come into our lives, I'll always be with you."
I gently brushed her hair back.
"You can trust me."
I leaned forward and softly kissed her forehead.
"I promise."
Erza stared at me for a moment.
Then a huge smile appeared on her face.
"I love you, brother."
Her voice was filled with happiness and relief.
She buried her face against my back again and hugged me tightly.
I smiled.
"Love you too, sis."
I said it quietly, just loud enough for her to hear.
Then I turned forward and resumed walking.
The two of us continued toward Kardia Cathedral.
Neither of us knew what the future held.
There would be difficult days.
There would be battles.
There would be things neither of us could possibly predict.
But one thing was certain.
Whatever happened…
We would face it together.