Mira suggested, "Since we're also looking for Natsu, why not take a seat at the guild?"
Wendy asked eagerly, "Can we?"
Rhode also wanted to ask if the guild could still accommodate guests.
"Of course, no problem." Mira had confidence in everyone's repair skills.
Wendy and Carla followed Mira through the guild doors. Carla tried to keep a straight face, but was clearly just as curious as Wendy.
It was their first time visiting another Mages' Guild as guests.
"Wow~ Is this Fairy… Tail?" Wendy's excitement quickly faded, replaced by fear, "What's going on here?"
Carla was also shocked, "Did you encounter an attack, or an earthquake? Tornado?"
The guild tavern was in chaos, nearly everyone inside was injured, with strange patterns painted on their faces, looking quite terrifying.
"Oh, it's not that serious." Mira waved to the inside, "Is everyone feeling better?"
Laki was leading a group of girls cleaning up, while others were busying themselves fixing walls, counters, and stairs.
Laki waved, "Welcome back, Sister Mira, we broke a lot of dishes this time."
"We've already bought new tableware."
"Mira! Who's that adorable kid, a client? I want to take on her task!"
"She's a guest from afar, Nicky, focus on your own work first."
Rhode shouted, "Hey, didn't any of you wash your faces before working? You're scaring our guests."
Wakaba yelled angrily, "Damn you, Rhode! Why are we fixing the guild while only you get to go shopping with Mira?"
"Because I wasn't involved in the brawl." Rhode patted the River Crab stopped at the entrance, "Quickly, someone help move these things!"
Elfman was the first to put things down and help carry what his sister bought.
Gray tossed the wooden hammer at Natsu's feet, sick of fixing the same spot with this idiot.
The three of them moved the goods to the kitchen. Mira was already serving tea to Wendy and Carla.
The counter gained a starry-eyed Hapi staring at Carla.
Gray couldn't help but ask, "Who is that kid anyway?"
Elfman said, "And that female Hapi! Manly men!"
"Said to be mages from the Cat Transformation Inn, here to see me and Natsu." Rhode said, "Have you guys heard of the Cat Transformation Inn?"
They both shook their heads, apparently it's not a well-known guild.
Rhode arranged everything, dragging Natsu to the counter, "Here he is, the 'Fire Dragon.'"
"Huh?" Natsu hadn't fully recovered, but was in much better spirits, "Where's the Fire Dragon? Where's Igneru?"
Rhode said, "'Fire Dragon' is your nickname. Haven't you heard it before?"
"Oh~" Natsu slumped down, boringly poking at the water cup Mira placed in front of him.
But upon hearing Wendy's name, he stared at her for quite a while.
Rhode was surprised to notice that Natsu might be thinking.
"Hey, staring at people like that is very rude." Carla pointed to Hapi, "You too, tomcat, what have you been doing since earlier?"
Hapi opened his little green package he's been carrying, "Carla, want some fish?"
His little package always had a fish in it, and he would eat at least one a day before replacing it with a fresh one.
"Hmph!" Carla looked disdainful.
Hapi squatted in the corner.
Rhode nodded secretly, always curious whether Hapi would eventually like people or prefer she-cats, today finally he got an answer.
"Wendy, Wendy… feels like I've heard of her before, but also feels unfamiliar…"
Natsu tapped his head, "Mira, Rhode, can you help me think?"
Mira chuckled, "Hmm, I might not be able to help."
"I have an idea, if it's amnesia, just need to hit your head with a stick." Rhode said, "I'll find Erza to help you 'think'."
"I see!" Natsu smacked his palm as if realizing something, then quickly came to his senses, "…Are you trying to kill me?!"
Such situations where someone suddenly feels familiar weren't unusual, there's even a phrase for it – 'as if we've known each other at first sight.'
So Rhode didn't think too much at first, just like now when he looked at Wendy and felt a little familiar.
"Huh? Wait a minute, I've also seen Wendy somewhere, is it a photo or portrait or something."
No, neither, it was on the dormitory poster!
Wendy, this child should be a member of the protagonist group!
Rhode suddenly realized, looking at Wendy with a gaze less vigilant, more friendly.
"Wendy, are you sure they're the ones you're looking for?" Carla felt Natsu and Rhode one was an idiot and the other a friend of an idiot.
"Don't joke around." Mira interrupted the duo, then asked, "Why are you looking for them, Wendy?"
Wendy cautiously asked, "Um… Natsu, are you a Dragon Slayer Mage?"
Natsu nodded, "Yes, a Fire Dragon Slayer Mage."
"Actually, I'm also a Dragon Slayer Mage, a Sky Dragon Slayer Mage."
"What?" The three of them were taken aback.
Dragon Slayer Magic is a type of Ancient Magic, and also classified as Lost Magic.
Lost Magic is named such because the methods of learning these magics are nearly extinct, very few people can practice them.
Encountering Natsu, someone who uses Dragon Slayer Magic, was already extremely rare.
Now here suddenly emerged Wendy, an 11-year-old child, it was truly surprising.
But for Natsu, it was more than just a surprise: "Wendy, where did you learn Dragon Slayer Magic?!"
"It was The Sky Dragon Grandeeney who taught me, Grandeeney is a real dragon, she adopted me." Wendy said, "What about you, Natsu?"
"Same here! The one who taught me magic was the Fire Dragon Igneel! I was adopted by Igneel, too!" Natsu was now ecstatic, it felt like finding a kindred spirit.
Before, whenever he talked about Igneel, people would always tell him that dragons were extinct, impossible to find.
Now finally meeting someone who also learned magic from a dragon!
Wendy was equally pleased, in fact, since her first meeting with Natsu, she felt a kinship.
"Wendy, can you take me to see Grandeeney? Does she know where Igneel is?"
Wendy's joyful expression dimmed, "Grandeeney has been missing for 6 years, she suddenly vanished 6 years ago on July 7th."
Carla continued for Wendy, "This is also why Wendy came to find you, she also wants to ask if you've heard any news about dragons."
"Igneel too, 6 years ago, on July 7th X777, suddenly left me without a word."
Natsu calmed down, thinking about that annoying old bastard who vanished silently.
"How can this be?" Wendy had a bad feeling earlier, but was still a bit disappointed when it was confirmed.
"Why was it precisely on X777 July 7th? Like it was planned," Mira said, "Maybe there's a connection between Igneel and Grandeeney."
"Was that day a special day?"
Rhode searched his knowledge and history, but it seemed there wasn't any special festival or major event.
Since confirming Wendy was a future ally, Rhode was willing to think a bit more for her.
Carla looked at Rhode, "If there are no other leads, then it's up to you, the third person here with a dragon connection."
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