After exiting the ruins, Blake had given a concise, professional report to the town head, assuring him that the malevolent energy was cleared and the temple was no longer cursed. He collected his fee and made his way to Magnolia the next day.
His return was, as always, met with a mix of cheers and friendly jeers.
"Look who it is! Our little S-Class vagrant!" Wakaba called from his usual table.
"Blake! You're back!" Cana shouted, abandoning her card game to run and give him a hug, which he returned with a fond ruffle of her hair.
He spent a full week in Magnolia, re-acclimating to the guild's unique brand of chaos. His days were spent in a comfortable routine.
Mornings were for training—his spars with Laxus, a clash of Haki-infused steel against Dragon Slayer lightning that forced the guild members to watch from a safe distance.
He helped Gray refine his Rokushiki and his duels with Erza and giving her some training. He showed her the basics of swordmanship and the art of cutting steel.
In the afternoons, he spent time with Cana, Gray, Erza, and the other kids from the Tower. He had become an unofficial leader to the entire group, from Rob's kids to his own teammates.
He'd listen to Jellal's theories on magic, watch Milliana's cat-tricks, and even help Cobra refine his senses. He was building a family.
But beneath the fun, Blake's mind was on a deadline. It was 20th December X776. The Ophiuchus key in his pack was a constant, heavy reminder. July 7th, X777, was looming. The day Layla Heartfilia was fated to die.
He had to intervene.
After his week of rest, Blake packed a bag—not with armor or supplies, but with his finest (and only) formal shirt, his designs, and the 13th key. He left the guild quietly, his destination one of the richest estates in Fiore.
He arrived at the Heartfilia Mansion two days later. It was less a house and more a small, walled kingdom, an opulent display of 'old money' that made the guild hall look like a woodshed. He walked to the massive, wrought-iron gates and addressed the uniformed guard.
"My name is Blake Corvus, S-Class Mage of Fairy Tail. I am here to meet Lady Layla Heartfilia."
The guard looked down his nose at Blake. "Lady Layla is not accepting visitors—"
"Tell her," Blake interrupted, his voice calm but absolute, "that I have a Gold Celestial Key I wish to discuss with her. And tell her I am selling it."
The guard, taken aback by the boy's S-Class aura and the sheer impossibility of the claim, stammered and ran to the communication lacrima.
Inside the mansion, Layla Heartfilia was in a state of quiet, refined panic. The deadline was approaching. The Eclipse Gate had to be opened on the 7th, and she was the only one who could do it.
She had already sent a quest to every guild in Fiore, begging, borrowing, or renting any Zodiac key to complete her set. She had 11 of the 12 keys assembled. But the 12th key, Aquarius, was with her loyal maid Grammi, who was now completely unreachable.
Layla had no way to contact her and no time to retrieve the key herself. She was facing an impossible choice: fail her ancestral duty, or perform the ritual with an incomplete set, using her own life force to fill the gap—a choice that would certainly kill her.
A servant burst into her study, bowing frantically. "My lady! A boy is at the gate! He... he's from Fairy Tail, he says he's S-Class... and he says he has a gold key he wants to give you!"
Layla's blood ran cold. Fairy Tail? A gold key? It couldn't be Aquarius. She already knew Grammi had the Aquarius key. Was this a cruel joke? A con artist? Or... was it something else?
"He says he's selling it, my lady! He wishes to discuss it!"
She didn't care. Any lead, any hope, was worth pursuing. She rushed from her study, her long dress sweeping through the marble halls, her heart pounding with a desperate, fragile hope.
She burst onto the front steps just as the guards, recognizing Blake's unyielding pressure, had let him into the courtyard.
Once Layla saw Blake, she paused. His presence was immense, deep, and quiet, like a sleeping lion. He was, without a doubt, S-Class.
"You are the one?" Layla asked, her voice trembling slightly. "Who are you? And are you speaking the truth? Do you have a Zodiac key?"
"My name is Blake Corvus, Lady Layla Heartfilia," Blake nodded. "Yes, I am. And yes, I have it."
"My... my family is missing a specific key," Layla pressed, her hands clasped tightly. "The Water-Bearer, Aquarius. Is that the one you hold?"
"No," Blake said simply.
Layla's heart sank. A cruel joke, then.
"...But I believe the key I have may be of even greater interest to a collector such as yourself. If I can show you the key?"
He reached into his pack and pulled out the ornate Gold key with a snake coiled around it. He held it out.
Layla's eyes widened. She recognized the emblem instantly. It was the 13th sign. The Serpent Bearer. The lost key.
"Ophiuchus..." she whispered, her mind reeling. This was not a replacement for Aquarius, but it was a Zodiac key of immense power. A key thought lost to time. She had no idea if it would work in the ritual, but its power was undeniable. It was a miracle.
"Thank you," she said, her voice filled with a sudden, renewed hope. She looked at him, her business sense returning. "What do you want in return for the key? Name your price. Jewels, land... anything."
Blake sheathed the key, but didn't hand it over. "I'm here to trade. I have some business ideas, and I am looking for a partner with vision. And capital. I want to ask if you are interested in investing in it."
Layla was stunned. She had expected a plea for money, not a business proposition from a child. But this child had just offered her a potential lifeline. Hearing his request, Layla nodded crisply. "Agreed. I will hear your proposal."
Blake smiled and held out the key. "Then this is a show of good faith."
Layla took the key, her fingers closing around the cold metal, thanking him profusely. The key was hers. The first half of the deal was done.
"Please," she said, her composure fully returned. "Come inside."
She invites him inside to have a drink, where they can discuss this business idea.
They moved inside, the opulence of the Heartfilia mansion on full display. Servants, moving silently, were pouring them tea and bringing snacks as they sat in a lavish parlor overlooking the gardens.
"Now, Blake-san," Layla began, "about this idea..."
Before she could finish, the parlor doors burst open, and a tiny, blonde whirlwind of energy ran in. It was a young Lucy Heartfilia, perhaps seven or eight years old, her face set in a pout.
"Mommy! Father said I can't go to town! I want to go out of the estate for shopping!"
When Layla heard her, she didn't scold, but her voice was firm. "Lucy, there is a guest here. Introduce yourself."
Lucy froze, just now noticing Blake. She gave a quick, awkward curtsy. "My name is Lucy Heartfilia. I apologize for ignoring you." Then she turned right back to her mother. "Now, can I go? Please?"
Layla sighed, a look of fond exasperation on her face. She called the butler. "Spetto, please take her shopping in town. Get her whatever she needs."
Hearing that, Lucy got excited, squealed with joy, and left the room as quickly as she had entered.
Once she was gone, Layla turned back to Blake. "My apologies. She is... energetic. Now, you were saying. What is your business idea?"
Blake sipped his tea. "It's simple, Lady Layla. I'm a mage. I travel. And I find the current methods of transport... inefficient. Trains are a hassle; they only go where the tracks are. Magical carriages are slow and have to be stopped after a certain distance, as a mage cannot channel his magic into the vehicle throughout the journey. I have an idea for a new type of magic vehicle."
Layla leaned forward, intrigued.
"We have vehicles now, yes," Blake continued, "but they are magically inefficient and expensive. My idea is to create a line of personal transports that use interchangeable, high-capacity Mana Storage Crystals as fuel."
He pulled a journal from his bag and flipped it open, revealing several, surprisingly detailed sketches.
"I have designs," he said, spreading a sheaf of diagrams on the table.
He started with the basic needs, showing designs of the Honda Civic, Mazda, and Volkswagen Golf GTI. "For everyday city driving, errands, or a small family, we have the Hatchback—compact, fuel-efficient, and easy to park. It's practical; the whole back opens for groceries or luggage."
He slid that page aside. Then he shows the Audi Q8, Range Rover, and Mercedes-Benz G-Class. "Then, for those who need more space, something rugged for rougher roads, or a commanding view of traffic, the SUV. A Utility Vehicle—versatile for both urban life and adventures."
"Now, for enjoyment," a grin touched his lips as he presented the next drawing. Audi R8 Spyder, Jaguar F-Type, and Porsche 911 "The Convertible. Pure, unadulterated joy. Top down, sun on your face—it's not about utility; it's about the experience."
He tapped the last passenger few van designs. "And finally, these are pure utility; customizable for either a large family transport or a mobile workshop. It's a box on wheels designed to carry volume."
He shifted focus to heavier transport. "We also have the backbone of commerce and public transit. Robust, powerful designs. The Buses—seating dozens, reliable transit for the masses, connecting villages, towns, and cities efficiently. And the Trucks—the heavy lifters. Flatbeds, box trailers, tankers—these move the cargo that keeps the money flowing, from raw materials to finished goods."
He then pulled out the last page, a stark contrast to the preceding bulk—a sleek drawing dominated by two wheels and a powerful engine. His voice dropped slightly, full of enthusiasm.
"But these," he said, tapping the drawing of Royal Enfield GT 650 and Triumph Bonneville, "These are a new concept in personal transport."
He leaned closer, his excitement palpable. "Forget four wheels. This is all about speed, efficiency, and unmatched freedom. It's lightweight, it sips fuel, and it cuts through congestion. It's designed for the individual, or two people at most, to travel further and faster than ever before."
I've been missing my car... which I had in my previous life. I know the concept, I know what it needs to do, and I can give suggestions on the 'what' and 'how'. But I'm not a professional, not an engineer. I don't know the full process of making the car. All I need to do is hire professionals to take care of everything.
Layla stared at the designs, her mind not seeing vehicle designs, but an economic revolution. The Heartfilia consortium built its fortune on trade routes.
Blake was proposing to own the routes and the vehicles that ran them. It would make railroads obsolete.
Layla, seeing the merit in it, agreed immediately. "This is... visionary, Blake-san. The potential is limitless. I will fund the entire project. R&D, manufacturing, everything."
She looked at him, her eyes sharp. "I propose a 50-50 split in profits. You are the inventor, I am the investor. An equal partnership."
To which Blake agrees. He held out his hand. "50/50. You have a deal."
They shook on it. Layla was invigorated. This was a challenge she could sink her teeth into, a welcome distraction from the looming dread of the Eclipse Gate.
"Cornell!" she called. The butler appeared. "Fetch a contract paper and ink. Now."
They made the contract then and there, a simple but iron-clad agreement outlining the 50/50 split on "Heartfilia-Corvus Magical Transports."
Then she told him she would handle the next steps. "I will send messages to the best magical engineers in Fiore. We'll set up a private R&D lab in the mansion grounds itself. I will send the message to the Fairy Tail guild after I recruit the professionals required for the job. You've given me a great gift today, Blake-san. Two, in fact."
Blake nodded, his mission complete. He had potentially saved Layla's life, secured a future fortune, and, most importantly, taken the first step toward getting his motorcycle.
"Thank you for the tea, Lady Layla," Blake said, nodding as he took his leave.
He walked out of the opulent mansion, a 13-year-old S-Class mage who had just altered the fate of the Heartfilia family and the future of transportation in Fiore, all before lunch.