The massive wooden doors of the Fairy Tail guild swung open slowly, spilling warm light onto the cobblestone streets of Magnolia as twilight began to settle. The usual roar of laughter, the clinking of mugs, and the sound of endless banter immediately greeted anyone who dared step inside.
Ren walked in with his hands casually stuffed in his pockets. Behind him, young Cana followed hesitantly. She gripped the hem of Ren's shirt so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her steps were small, almost silent, as if she were terrified of drawing the attention of the rowdy mages inside. Her white dog padded alongside her, nose twitching at the air but staying glued to its master's heels.
To Cana, this place was too much. Too loud. Too alive. The smell of roasted meat, spilled ale, and sweat mingled together, making her chest feel tight. She looked down, then stole a glance at Ren, searching for some semblance of safety.
A Typical Fairy Tail Welcome
"Oh! Look who decided to show up!"
A loud voice boomed through the hall. Macao raised his mug high, his face flushed from drink, a wide grin plastered on his face.
"Ren, you're back! And you brought a kid with you?"
"Hmm?" Wakaba exhaled a cloud of pipe smoke, his eyes narrowing playfully. "Ren... don't tell me you're introducing this little girl as your girlfriend?"
"HAHAHA!"
Laughter erupted throughout the room. Several members began to crowd around, their curiosity piqued. Ren simply shrugged his shoulders with a deadpan expression.
"Hardly. Who brings a kid home and calls them a girlfriend? My type is a gentle older sister with big breasts."
"Hahaha! You've got excellent taste, kid!" Wakaba barked between laughs.
"So, who is she then?" another member asked, pointing toward Cana.
Ren glanced sideways. Cana immediately looked down, her grip on his shirt tightening. Ren let out a small sigh and patted her head gently. "Relax. They're just noisy; they won't bite."
Cana didn't answer, but her grip loosened just a fraction. Ren offered a thin smile and began walking toward the bar, where someone far more important was perched.
The Name of the Strongest
Master Makarov sat atop the bar counter, watching over his guild with a look of paternal warmth. When his eyes landed on Ren and the small figure beside him, his brow twitched upward.
"Ren, you've returned safely. Good," he said.
Ren stopped in front of the bar and raised a hand in greeting. "Yo, Master. Everything went smoothly."
Makarov studied Cana for a moment before looking back at Ren. "You brought a guest?"
"You could say that." Ren noticed Cana gulping nervously at the sight of the old man. To ease her tension, Ren cut straight to the point. "Master... I wanted to ask something."
"Hmm?" Makarov folded his arms. "What is it?"
"Is there a member here named Gildarts?"
Makarov's eyes narrowed instantly. "Why do you ask about him?"
"I heard some locals talking about him," Ren lied smoothly. "But I've never seen anyone by that name around the guild."
Makarov nodded slowly. "Gildarts Clive... is one of the strongest wizards in this guild. Perhaps in all of Fiore. He is an S-Class Mage. He uses Crush Magic—anything he touches can be reduced to dust... even things that shouldn't be touchable. Right now, he's away on an S-Class mission."
Ren went silent, genuinely surprised. An S-Class mission...
Beside him, Cana's hands began to tremble. That name. Those details. It was all becoming too real.
"He's rarely at the guild; he prefers to wander," Makarov continued, his gaze softening. "He goes on long, grueling missions. But one thing is certain: He always comes back."
A Spark and a Secret
Ren glanced at Cana and saw her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. He turned back to the Master, deciding to shift the mood.
"I see... Incredible. I thought the only strong person here was the Master."
"Are you looking down on me too, Ren?" Macao asked with a half-annoyed, half-amused grin.
"Well," Ren replied coolly, "aside from Laxus and the Master, everyone else here feels... uninspiring."
The comment acted like a match in a powder keg. The surrounding members roared in mock outrage and lunged at Ren. A chaotic, friendly brawl broke out—Ren weaving through punches and using his rubbery movements to frustrate his "brothers." It wasn't a fight of malice, but the roughhousing of a family.
Makarov finally stepped in, growing giant-sized for a split second to roar for order when they started breaking the furniture. Once the dust settled and Ren sat back at the bar, his clothes slightly disheveled, he took a drink and looked at Makarov again.
"So, when will Gildarts be back, Master?"
Makarov crossed his arms. "Mmm. Maybe soon, maybe not. He's been gone a long time. Why the interest?"
Ren felt a tug on his sleeve. He looked down and met Cana's eyes. They were pleading—begging him not to say anything about her search. Ren paused. His mind worked faster than the conversation, reading the sheer terror in her gaze. He understood; she wasn't ready to face the truth yet.
Ren let out a light, airy laugh. "Oh, that? I'm just curious to see how strong he really is. If I get the chance, I'd like to challenge him."
Makarov raised an eyebrow. He knew Ren wasn't being entirely truthful, but he saw no reason to press the boy. "Hmph... is that so?"
The Master then turned his attention to Cana, his voice turning incredibly soft. "And what about you, little lady? What is your name?"
Cana flinched. "I-I..." She gripped Ren's shirt again. "My name is Cana Alberona." Her voice was small but clear. "I have nowhere else to go. I want to join Fairy Tail."
She didn't mention her father. She didn't mention her search. She looked at the floor and whispered, "Please... let me join."
Welcome Home
Makarov stared at her for a few seconds. The silence felt heavy. Then, a small, warm smile spread across his face. He hopped down from the bar and placed a tiny hand on Cana's head.
"In 그at case... welcome."
Cana froze, her eyes widening.
"To Fairy Tail," Makarov said. "Here, you have a place to return to, and a new family to call your own."
Cana's eyes welled up. "...Thank you..."
Makarov jumped back onto the table and bellowed at the top of his lungs, "A NEW MEMBER!!! TIME TO PARTY!"
"WOOOO!!!"
The guild exploded. Food was brought out, music started playing, and mugs were raised high. "CHEERS!"
In the middle of the chaos, Cana stood still. She watched people laughing, saw someone clap a friend on the back, and watched as members shared their meals. For the first time, her chest felt warm. She wasn't alone anymore.
Ren stood beside her, hands in his pockets, watching her with a sharp eye. He saw the small change in her expression—the way the tension left her shoulders. He leaned back and let out a faint, satisfied smile.