Rhodes did not try to explain anything for Lucy.
Because honestly… what was he supposed to say?
Should he tell Jude, "Hugging and falling on top of each other is nothing. We've seen your daughter naked more than once."
That would obviously be unacceptable.
So he chose silence. Father and daughter would have to sort it out themselves.
More importantly, he needed a moment to laugh with Mira about it.
After the situation calmed a little, Rhodes told Mira about his conversation with Hyberion. He was halfway through when he noticed Mavis drifting toward them. He quickly called out:
"First Master, about the Fairy Glitter I used today, did you notice anything strange?"
Mavis tilted her head thoughtfully. "You used it very well. Its power was far stronger than I expected."
"That is exactly it," Rhodes said. "Why did it suddenly become so powerful?"
Mavis's little wings fluttered. Her eyes lit up with understanding.
"So that is it. You want my praise?"
She tried her best to put on a mature expression and reached up to pat Rhodes on the head.
"Rhodes performed very well today."
Rhodes: "…"
Such a fairy-like and baffling thought process. Truly worthy of Fairy Tail's First Master.
"I mean the magic power was the same as before," he clarified. "But the destructive force was much greater than usual."
Mavis considered this seriously. "I assumed you had mastered a technique that strengthened the light you gathered. Is that not it?"
Rhodes shook his head. "No technique. Magic on this level is not something I can improve just by wanting to.
"It is already impressive enough that I managed to integrate a few other light-element spells into training. Actually, the Starlight Guardian I used before Fairy Glitter had a similar feeling."
"Starlight?" Mavis repeated.
Rhodes nodded. "Yes. That spell was inspired by Fairy Glitter. I wanted to try channeling only a specific kind of light, sunlight, moonlight, or starlight, for defense.
"But sunlight is too aggressive, and moonlight interferes with spell stability. Only starlight is malleable, easy to control, useful for offense and defense.
"So I ended up developing only a starlight-based defensive spell, with a little offensive potential. Could this be related to the increase in power?"
A voice answered from beside them:
"Perhaps. Because the King said, May the starlight be your friend."
"Loke?" Rhodes asked. "Where did you pop out from this time?"
"For an event as important as the Grand Magic Games, of course I had to be here," Loke said, spreading his hands. "I was even planning to fight for Lucy, but she never summoned me."
He muttered a small complaint, then immediately switched to charm mode.
"Good afternoon, Master Mavis. Good afternoon, Mrs. Mirajane."
"Good afternoon," Mira replied with a smile. Loke was tolerable today.
Mavis remained focused. "What did you mean by that phrase?"
"'May the starlight be your friend' was the Celestial Spirit King's blessing to Rhodes," Loke explained. "You did not know? I told you the King asked me to deliver a thank-you gift."
Rhodes blinked. "That line… was part of the gift?"
"Of course. What else did you think it was?"
"I thought it was just a friendly remark," Rhodes admitted. "Like saying the Spirit Realm would treat me as a friend."
Loke laughed. "Something that obvious does not require a ceremonial statement."
"Then why did you give me a thumbs up when I answered it?"
"You mean when you said, 'I too wish to befriend the starlight'?" Loke mimicked Rhodes perfectly, including tone and expression.
Then he pushed up his glasses and added proudly, "I thought you were expressing goodwill, so I delivered your message to the Celestial Spirit King exactly as you said it."
Rhodes silently cursed in his heart.
It had been awkward. Very awkward.
Mira laughed happily. As long as it was not serious, she always enjoyed teasing her husband.
After laughing, she remembered the serious point. "What exactly is the effect of that blessing?"
"In essence," Loke said, "magic related to starlight or Star Spirits becomes easier to cast and significantly stronger.
"The Celestial Spirit King decided to give you this blessing after learning that your guild had Fairy Glitter. Amazing, right?"
"Great. Wonderful," Rhodes said with a tired smile.
Fortunately, he had not layered additional enhancements today. Otherwise, Jura truly would have suffered.
Overall, it was still a good thing. Rhodes reviewed all the starlight-based spells he had used recently and realized that he had, quite accidentally, become a bit stronger.
He would need to practice these spells again when he had the time. Otherwise, he might end up unfamiliar with their new strength or lose control when the situation required precision.
Loke messed around with the guild for a while, then drifted off. The Fairy Tail girls were too close, too familiar, and too capable of punching him through a wall, so he decided to head out and enjoy the capital's nightlife instead.
After two or three hours of lively celebration, the pub slowly emptied. The contestants still had matches tomorrow, after all, and they needed proper rest.
A half-drunk, half-drowsy Makarov paid the final bill without a hint of pain. After today's performance, thirty million jewels were well within reach.
Teams A and B split up and returned to their respective hotels.
As everyone prepared to take turns showering, Rhodes said, "You all rest. I need to head out for a moment."
Mira asked gently, "Is there something you have not done yet?"
"Yes. Remember the investigation mission?" Rhodes said. "The hollow under the arena felt suspicious. I want to check it quietly."
Laxus offered, "We can come with you."
For a mission involving Zeref, Rhodes appreciated the concern, but he still shook his head. "For this kind of job, fewer people is better."
He set a Gate in the room and handed Warm to Mira. "If the organizers come up with any new strange ideas, contact me. I will come back immediately."
"Be careful," Mira reminded him sternly. Her worry was sincere. Anything involving Zeref was never simple.
"Mm." Rhodes nodded.
Instead of using the door or window, he pressed himself against the wall and slipped straight through it.
This was the phasing magic of a wraith from Twisted Treeline.
The moment he passed through, his body was engulfed in Alchemical Mist, masking his presence completely.
A pair of wings unfurled from his back, and within moments he was gliding high above the arena.
Below, the night-time construction continued at full speed. The efficiency was astonishing.
Not even half a day had passed, yet the enormous crater was nearly filled.
Rhodes eyed the unique tools the workers were using. The construction industry clearly made use of high-grade magic tools as well.
After circling once to scout from above, he descended quietly and slipped into the hollow beneath the arena.
Darkness swallowed everything.
The muffled sounds of construction echoed from above, but Rhodes did not illuminate the area immediately. He walked forward silently, letting his senses adjust.
Soon, his foot stepped on something solid.
A metal rail.
Rhodes paused.
"Is this… a mine?" he wondered.