**Chapter 4 — The Cards Behind the Curtain**
*(First-Person / Fairy Tail Style – ~2000 words)*
After spending a while at the guild, listening to Natsu scream about missions and Gray scream back about shirts, I decided it was time to head home.
My real home —
A quiet, two-story house on the outskirts of Magnolia.
Surrounded by forest.
Peaceful.
Quiet.
Hidden.
Exactly what I needed.
I pushed open the door, and the familiar scent of warm wood and new paper hit me. I didn't bother turning on a lamp as I walked in — I knew this place like the back of my hand.
"Alright… let's get to work."
With a flick of my wrist, four cards appeared between my fingers — silver edges gleaming faintly in the dim light.
**Senku Ishigami**
**Orochimaru**
**Artoria Pendragon**
**Yoriichi Tsugikuni**
Four legends — and every one of them summoned by my magic.
I lightly tossed the cards into the air.
"Manifest."
The cards dissolved into shimmering energy —
and four figures materialized before me.
Senku adjusted his white coat immediately, green hair wild as always.
"Heh. Time to make some sci-fi magic, huh?"
Orochimaru smiled too wide.
"Such a marvelous world… so many subjects… so much *potential*…"
I pointed toward the door to the basement.
"You two know what to do. Potions. Medicine. Theory. Don't blow up the house."
Senku gave a thumbs up.
"No promises — science is full of explosions."
Orochimaru let out a low chuckle.
"I'll ensure the explosions are… *controlled*."
Then the two headed down — already arguing about the chemical properties of ether nano and lacrima infusion.
Next —
Artoria.
My knight of chivalry.
She stood proudly, armor shining even in the darkness.
"It is good to see you again, Master."
Beside her, Yoriichi bowed — calm, composed, eyes closed yet seeing everything.
"If it is training you seek, I am honored to instruct you."
I grabbed the strap of my jacket and exhaled.
"Let's go."
---
Behind my house stretched a wide grassy clearing — the perfect training field.
Moonlight poured down like milk, the night air crisp and fresh.
Artoria stepped forward, summoning a pale golden sword — invisible yet unmistakably Excalibur.
"We will focus on your blade form. Your stance still suffers from hesitation."
"Hesitation?" I raised a brow. "From who?"
Yoriichi opened his eyes — burning amber.
"You fear your own potential."
That shut me up fast.
Artoria pointed her sword toward me.
"Your magic grants power equal to your imagination. Power like that… can overwhelm the unprepared. So — let us prepare."
I inhaled deeply.
"Alright. Teach me."
Artoria charged first — elegance and fury in motion.
Her speed wasn't overwhelming — she held back so I could *see* her movements.
Our blades clashed — sparks scattering like fireflies.
"You rely too heavily on your cards!" she admonished.
"A true mage must rely on himself first!"
Yoriichi appeared behind me without a sound — blade drawn from a sheath I hadn't noticed he even had.
I ducked instinctively — his wooden practice sword slicing through air above my head like a whisper of death.
"You must sharpen your instincts," he said gently.
"In a real battle… hesitation kills."
Artoria came again — fast.
Yoriichi from the opposite side — faster.
Pressure mounted from every direction.
But this is what I asked for.
I didn't summon legends to let them carry me.
I summoned them so they could turn **me** into a legend.
Artoria stepped in — heels firm, smooth swing.
I caught the blade on my own.
Boots sliding back through dirt — but I held strong.
"Better," she said proudly.
Yoriichi nodded once — a small approval, but worth more than a thousand compliments.
By the time we finished, sweat drenched my shirt and my muscles screamed in protest — but I felt sharper.
"Good work for today," Artoria said.
Senku's voice carried from the house — faint but excited:
"Orochimaru! Put that vial down! It'll explode!"
And then—
**BOOM.**
I sighed.
I had spoken too soon.
---
A week passed in a blur.
Lucy had settled into the guild life — awkward screaming one second, joyful laughter the next. Classic Fairy Tail newcomer behavior.
I was enjoying a quiet drink at my corner table, Mira smiling as she polished glasses… when the guild doors burst open.
"MASTER! Please!"
It was Romeo.
Tear-filled, desperate.
Childhood fear wrapped in adult responsibilities he wasn't ready for.
"My dad — he hasn't come back from the mission! Please! We have to go find him!"
Makarov's face darkened — not with anger, but heavy, painful wisdom.
"A mage has his pride," Master said gently.
"When we take a job, we follow it through. We don't want others cleaning up our mess."
Romeo's hands clenched. Tears spilled.
"He could be hurt! Or worse!"
Mira bit her lip — Lucy trembled quietly.
Even I felt the weight of Romeo's voice.
But Makarov…
He wasn't refusing out of cruelty.
He was protecting Macao's dignity as a mage.
Before any of us could comfort the kid—
Natsu slammed his fist on the table.
"Screw pride! He's our comrade!"
"AYE!!!" Happy echoed.
Then Natsu grabbed Romeo's hand and stormed toward the exit.
"Come on Lucy! Adventure time!"
"Wah—!? H-Hey wait! I didn't sign up for— AHH!"
The three shot out the door like a trio of idiots.
Makarov stayed calm — but his eyes shifted to me.
"Yuta."
"…Already on it," I said.
Because Fairy Tail doesn't follow rules.
Fairy Tail protects family.
I took out a single card — silver with lightning-like scratches across the surface.
On its face — a masked man with silver hair and a bored eye.
**Kakashi Hatake**
Copy Ninja. Tactical genius.
My reliable shadow.
I flicked the card forward.
"Summon: Kakashi."
He appeared quietly — book in hand, one eye curved in a lazy smile.
"Watch Natsu and his group. Keep them alive."
Kakashi gave a salute.
"Understood. I'll observe from the shadows."
In a flash of lightning — he vanished.
---
I sat back, staring at the guild doors long after they'd gone.
Mira approached with her hands behind her back.
"You sent one of your cards… didn't you?"
"…yeah."
Her smile was soft — and warm enough to melt steel.
"You're always looking out for everyone, you know that?"
I looked away, ears getting embarrassingly warm.
"Don't tell anyone."
She giggled.
"It'll be our secret."
I leaned back into my chair, exhaling slowly.
This world… this guild…
They'd given me a life worth protecting.
And I would.
With every card.
Every breath.
Because Fairy Tail —
is family.
**— To Be Continued**