Arc: The Journey to Fairy Tail
Location: Forest Road & Open Plains
Month / Year: July, X775
Age:
Kaito — 10 years old
Erza Scarlet — 10 years old
Mirajane Strauss — 10 years old
Lysanna Strauss — 8 years old
Elfman Strauss — 9 years old
POV: Mixed (Primary: Erza → Kaito)
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Travel settled into a rhythm faster than Erza expected.
Morning marches.
Midday hunting.
Afternoon training.
Night camps filled with quiet tension and unspoken competition.
Mirajane fit into it like a blade slipped into a sheath—sharp, dangerous, and never fully at rest.
And she never stopped watching Kaito.
---
The first incident happened on the third day.
Mirajane's demon arm flared violently while they were hunting a horned boar. Dark magic surged, wild and aggressive, ripping through the air—
—and stopped.
The space around her arm warped, shimmering faintly, like heat over stone.
The magic snapped inward instead of outward.
Mirajane froze. "…What?"
Kaito didn't even look surprised.
> "Great Sage: Spatial buffering successful.
Localized containment field stabilized."
"I wrapped a thin spatial layer around your arm," he said casually while skinning the boar. "So if it spikes, it folds inward instead of exploding."
Mirajane stared at her arm. "You can do that?"
"Temporary," he replied. "And only because your magic reacts fast. Think of it as… training wheels."
Erza's eyes narrowed. "You didn't do that for me."
Kaito glanced up. "You don't need it."
That answer didn't help.
---
Training intensified after that.
Erza trained like she always had—precise, relentless, brutal with herself.
Mirajane trained like a storm.
She pushed her Take Over harder every day, slamming demon strength into trees, rocks, and occasionally Erza's patience.
"Fight me," Mirajane said one afternoon, demon arm flexing. "You've been staring since morning."
Erza didn't hesitate. "Fine."
They moved to an open clearing.
Kaito sat on a fallen log, chin in his palm. "Rules?"
"No killing," Erza said flatly.
Mirajane smirked. "Try not to cry."
The duel started without warning.
Mirajane lunged first—fast, savage, demon arm tearing through the air.
Erza blocked.
Steel met claw.
The impact cracked the ground.
Mirajane pressed harder, raw strength overwhelming—but Erza didn't retreat.
She moved.
Step. Pivot. Counter.
Years of training with Kaito showed in every motion—tight footwork, perfect timing, no wasted movement.
Mirajane swung wildly again.
Erza slipped inside her guard and struck—once, twice, precise blows to ribs and shoulder.
Mirajane staggered.
"What—?!" She snarled and unleashed more power.
Dark magic surged—
—and folded inward, compressed by the spatial protection.
Mirajane lost balance for half a second.
That was enough.
Erza disarmed her, slammed her into the dirt, blade at her throat.
Silence.
Mirajane lay there, chest heaving, eyes wide.
She laughed.
"…Damn it."
Erza stepped back, breathing steady. "You rely on power. I rely on control."
Mirajane sat up slowly. "…You're stronger."
No excuses. No denial.
Just fact.
---
Later, Mirajane sat alone by the river, fists clenched, demon arm resting uselessly on her knee.
Kaito approached quietly.
"Told you," she muttered. "All that power and still lost."
"You lost the fight," he said calmly. "Not the war."
She looked up. "She's better."
"She's trained longer," he corrected. "And smarter."
Mirajane scoffed. "You really know how to motivate."
He crouched in front of her. "You want to beat her?"
Her eyes burned. "Yes."
"Then stop trying to overpower her," he said. "Outlast her. Adapt. Make your demon listen."
She swallowed. "…And if I can't?"
Kaito smiled—soft, confident.
"Then I'll help you until you can."
Her face heated instantly. "…You say things like that on purpose?"
"Sometimes."
She leaned closer, smirking. "Careful. I might start liking you."
"Already too late," he replied easily.
From across the camp—
Erza watched.
Jaw tight.
Heart irritated.
Very irritated.
---
That night, as they walked beneath the stars, Mirajane walked closer to Kaito than necessary.
"So," she said lightly, "you always travel with scary red-haired girls?"
Erza snapped, "I can hear you."
Mirajane grinned wider. "Good."
Kaito sighed. "This is going to get loud, isn't it?"
Erza crossed her arms. "You're enjoying this."
"…A little," he admitted.
Mirajane laughed.
The road to Fairy Tail stretched ahead—long, dangerous, and full of sparks.
And none of them were backing down.
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End of Chapter 29
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