It's X774. Four years have passed since I first arrived in this world—four years since I found my way to Fairy Tail. Back then, I was just a stranger in an unfamiliar land, an outsider with no magic in a world ruled by it. Now, I stand as one of its strongest members, a man feared and respected in equal measure. A lot has changed since then, but some things remain constant—like the way this guild always finds room for more.
Ur and her two students, Gray and Lyon, joined Fairy Tail last year. After our fight with Deliora—where they nearly died—she brought the kids to personally thank me at the guild. It was supposed to be a short visit, but by the end of the day, after seeing what Fairy Tail was like, she made a decision. They would stay. Not just as guests, but as part of the family.
The fight had been a wake-up call. Ur was strong—an S-Class mage, a force of nature—but even she realized that Gray and Lyon needed more than just training. They needed friends, a place to belong, somewhere they could be kids instead of just students preparing for battle. After settling things back home, they returned—not as wanderers, but as guild members.
And yet, every time I see Ur happy here, a weight settles in my chest. Because I know something she doesn't.
Ultear is alive.
Not because of rumors or clues—I remember. I was an otaku before I came here, a Fairy Tail fan who knew exactly how things were supposed to go. Ultear didn't die. She was taken, manipulated into believing she was abandoned.
How do I tell Ur that? That her daughter is alive but walking a dark path? I don't know yet.
Anyways, Lyon took it the hardest. He still idolizes Ur, still chases the impossible goal of surpassing her. Gray, meanwhile, is adapting better—though he'd rather freeze solid than admit it. Either way, the two are here now, thrown into the madness that is Fairy Tail, whether they like it or not.
Alma rolled her eyes. "You say that like you're not part of the zoo."
I let out a chuckle, pushing off the counter. "Please, I'm more like the researcher studying these rare and exotic creatures." I gestured toward Gray, who was now in a heated argument with Lyon—probably over something stupid. "Take this specimen, for example. Grayus Fullbusterus. A fascinating creature, known for its inability to keep clothes on and its natural rivalry with the Lyon Vastia species."
Alma gave me a flat look. "And what does that make me?"
I grinned. "The zookeeper, obviously."
Alma snorted. "Right. So that makes you what? The annoying researcher who won't stay in his cage?"
I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice just enough that only she could hear. "Nah. I'm the rare find—the kind of treasure the zookeeper stumbles upon and doesn't even realize how valuable it is until it's already in her hands."
Her lips parted slightly, but she quickly masked it with a smirk. "Oh? And what exactly makes you so valuable?"
I reached up, tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, letting my fingers linger just a second longer than necessary. "Well, for one, I'm completely irreplaceable." My voice dropped to a teasing whisper. "And if I remember correctly… the zookeeper did decide to keep me."
For a moment, she just looked at me, the usual sharpness in her gaze softening. Then, with a quiet hum, she leaned in—just close enough that I could feel the warmth of her breath against my skin. "Maybe," she murmured, eyes flicking to my lips before meeting mine again. "But don't get cocky. Rare finds still have to prove they're worth keeping."
I grinned, tilting my head slightly. "Oh, trust me. I plan on making sure you never even think about letting me go."
It's been more than a year since I asked Alma to live with me, and somehow, every single day since then has only made me more sure of one thing—I couldn't ask for more.
I used to think relationships were supposed to settle over time, that the excitement would fade into routine. But with Alma? It's like every day, we find a new way to challenge each other, to push each other, to make each other better. She keeps me grounded when my recklessness gets out of hand, and I remind her that sometimes, it's okay to let loose and take risks. We balance each other, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't love every second of it.
That balance extends beyond just us—we've both been training, growing stronger in our own ways. I've been pushing my limits with Enhancement Magic, figuring out how far I can take my physical abilities without relying on my inventory. Meanwhile, Alma has been making real progress with her Rune Magic and Archive Magic. She's not S-Class—not yet—but she's come a long way from just being the guild receptionist. She can hold her own now, and every time I see her using those spells, proving to herself and everyone else that she belongs in this world of mages, I can't help but feel proud.
A sudden crash shook the guild hall, followed by Cana's unmistakable voice shouting, "DAD, YOU IDIOT!"
I turned just in time to see Gildarts rubbing the back of his head sheepishly, surrounded by the remains of what was once a perfectly good table. Cana stood in front of him, arms crossed, foot tapping in pure eight-year-old fury.
"I swear, you break everything you touch!" she huffed.
Gildarts chuckled, crouching down to her level. "Hey, in my defense, that table was kinda weak."
Cana shot him a deadpan look. "No, you're just ridiculously strong!"
Alma leaned over and muttered, "It's kind of hilarious watching an eight-year-old scold Gildarts of all people."
I smirked. "Yeah, but you gotta admit, he's completely whipped."
Gildarts turned to us, looking betrayed. "Hey! I am not whipped!"
Cana immediately jabbed a finger at his face. "Then stop trying to bribe me with candy every time you break something!"
Gildarts flinched. "...Okay, but in my defense—"
"No defenses! You owe me a new table!"
I crossed my arms, watching the scene unfold with pure amusement. Thanks to my little intervention, Gildarts had known the truth about Cana for a while now, and to say he was making up for lost time would be an understatement. The man had gone full-on doting dad mode—when he wasn't accidentally destroying everything in his path, that is.
"Should we help him?" Alma asked.
I shook my head, grinning. "Nah. This is way too entertaining."
Cana let out a dramatic sigh, rubbing her temples like a tiny adult dealing with an impossible coworker. "I can't believe you're my dad."
Gildarts gasped, clutching his chest like she'd just stabbed him. "Ouch, kiddo. That one actually hurt."
She rolled her eyes. "Good. Now, since you broke another table, you have to fix it."
Gildarts blinked. "Uh… I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm not exactly the 'fixing' type." He gestured vaguely at the debris around them. "Breaking stuff is kinda my thing."
Cana pointed at him accusingly. "Then learn how to not break things!"
The entire guild was watching now, most of them barely holding in laughter. Even Makarov was sitting back in his chair, amused by the exchange.
Gildarts let out a deep sigh, standing up and rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, alright. You win, kiddo. I'll—uh—figure something out." He turned to Makarov with a hopeful look. "Hey, Master, got any extra tables lying around?"
Makarov took a long sip of his drink before shaking his head. "Nope."
Gildarts turned back to Cana with a sheepish grin. "Looks like we're outta luck—"
"Oh no," Cana cut him off, grabbing his wrist and dragging him toward the exit. "We're going to buy a new one. Together."
Gildarts paled. "Wait, what?"
"You're paying, obviously."
As they disappeared out the door, I let out a low whistle. "She's got him completely wrapped around her little finger."
Alma smirked. "Well, she is his daughter."
I chuckled, shaking my head. "And she's definitely gonna be a handful when she grows up."
Just as I was about to grab a drink, another commotion broke out—this time from the usual suspects.
"Gray, Lyon! How many times do I have to tell you to stop stripping?!" Ur's voice rang through the guild hall.
I turned just in time to see Gray standing there, once again completely shirtless, blinking like he had no idea how it happened. Lyon, beside him, was in the same state—his vest mysteriously missing.
Gray scratched his head. "Huh? When did that happen?"
Lyon sighed dramatically. "You have got to be kidding me."
Ur planted her hands on her hips, looking thoroughly unimpressed. "Seriously, do you two even notice when your clothes disappear?"
Lyon groaned. "It's his bad habit! I just get caught up in it!"
"Oh, so it's my fault now?" Gray shot back.
"Yes!"
As the two descended into a pointless argument, Ur ran a hand through her hair in exasperation. "I swear, I trained two future exhibitionists."
Then, Gray and Lyon stopped, looked at her, and—almost in sync—pointed straight at her.
"You're one to talk!" Gray huffed. "You barely wear anything either!"
"Yeah!" Lyon crossed his arms. "How are we the problem when you're always walking around like that?"
The entire guild went dead silent.
Ur blinked. Then, she glanced down at herself—tank top, shorts, not a care in the world.
"…And?" she said, completely unbothered.
That was all it took. Every guy in the guild suddenly found a very strong interest in whatever was happening on Ur's side of the room. Drinks were paused mid-sip. Macao and Wakaba looked like they had just discovered the meaning of life. Even Laxus, the little punk, turned red but tried to act like he wasn't looking.
Alma sighed beside me. "Here we go again."
But then, something unexpected happened.
Gildarts—who had just walked back in with Cana—paused, blinked, and let out a deep sigh. Instead of his usual antics, he immediately turned Cana around. "Nope. Too young for this."
Cana kicked him. "Hey!"
"Trust me, kiddo," Gildarts muttered, shaking his head. "You're better off not understanding this nonsense."
That caught my attention. Before, Gildarts would've been leading the charge in ogling. But ever since Cana came into his life, he'd changed—became more… aware, especially when it came to women. He still had his usual carefree attitude, but the way he carried himself now was different. More respectful, more responsible. The guy had gone from "womanizer" to "overprotective dad" practically overnight.
Meanwhile, Ur, completely unfazed by the attention, stretched her arms. "I don't see the problem. You two are just overreacting."
Gray and Lyon groaned in unison.
Macao, still staring, muttered, "No complaints here."
Alma elbowed me. "You're not staring, are you?"
I smirked. "Please, babe. I have taste—" I paused, watching Macao nearly fall out of his seat. "—but I will be charging those idiots for drool cleanup."
Gildarts, still leading Cana away, grumbled, "And this is why I don't let you hang around these guys too much."
My thoughts drifted to the other kids.
The kids from the Tower of Heaven had been adapting well to their new lives in Magnolia. It had been a year since I pulled them out of that nightmare, and while scars like theirs didn't heal overnight, they were finally getting the chance to be actual kids. No chains, no fear—just normal, everyday guild chaos.
Rob had taken them under his wing, acting as their guardian. The guy was old, but his patience was unreal, and the kids treated him like the grandpa they never had. That said, raising a bunch of traumatized orphans in this guild was a challenge on its own. Fairy Tail wasn't exactly a quiet, peaceful place—hell, just yesterday, Wally almost got launched into the ceiling because he accidentally triggered one of Laxus' lightning sparks.
Of course, I did what I could to help, mostly by covering some of the living costs. Nothing too obvious—I didn't want them feeling like they owed me or anything. Just a little extra to keep them comfortable and to make sure Rob didn't have to worry about feeding six kids and himself.
Speaking of which, I spotted the group at one of the tables, mid-argument.
"Give it back, Sho!" Erza's voice rang out, stern as ever.
Sho, grinning like a little gremlin, held something behind his back. "Nuh-uh! Not until you admit I'm the better fighter!"
"That is not happening," Erza deadpanned, arms crossed.
I raised an eyebrow as I walked over. "Alright, what's the situation?"
Rob, sitting nearby with a cup of tea, sighed. "Sho took Erza's last strawberry cake."
I blinked. "Oh. Oh, he's dead then."
Sure enough, Erza's eye twitched. "You have three seconds to give it back."
Sho gasped dramatically. "B-But, Erza! Haven't you heard? Sharing is caring!"
"One."
"Think about the starving children out there!"
"Two."
Sho panicked, shoving the plate toward me. "Aiden! Help me out!"
I smirked and took a step back. "Nah, I like living."
"THREE!"
Before Sho could react, Erza lunged, and the next thing I knew, he was on the ground, twitching, while Erza reclaimed her cake with all the grace of a conquering warlord.
Milliana cheered. "Yay, Erza wins again!"
Wally adjusted his sunglasses. "As expected."
Simon just shook his head. "You should really stop trying, Sho."
Rob chuckled. "Ah, youth."
I clapped a hand on Sho's shoulder. "Tough break, buddy. Should've known better than to mess with the Cake Queen."
Sho groaned from the floor. "I regret everything…"
Jellal, sitting quietly beside Rob, just sighed. "Idiots."
I smirked. Yeah, they were a handful, but they were our handful. And for the first time in a long time, these kids had a place where they could just be kids.
And Laxus!
Laxus had always been strong, but now? The kid was an absolute monster. Between eating the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and getting implanted with a Lightning Dragon God Lacrima, he was basically a walking thunderstorm. If he sneezed too hard, I was pretty sure half the town would lose power—if we even had electricity in the first place.
He didn't just get stronger, though. Laxus, in all his 13-year-old wisdom, had somehow declared himself the leader of the little training group I had going on with Erza, Jellal, and Simon. And honestly? No one even questioned it. Probably because he was the oldest and also because he looked like he would electrocute anyone who disagreed.
We trained together a few times a week, working on combat skills, endurance, and magic control. Erza was a natural warrior, Jellal had insane magic potential, and Simon was the quiet powerhouse, soaking everything in like a sponge.
Of course, that didn't mean training went smoothly.
"Alright, today's focus is endurance," I announced, stretching my arms. "You're all gonna spar—"
"Under my command," Laxus cut in, arms crossed.
I sighed. "Laxus—"
"Look, Aiden, I am the oldest. So naturally, I should be the one leading our group."
Jellal blinked. "Our group?"
"Yeah, my elite squad."
Simon looked skeptical. "You just made that up."
"Doesn't make it less true," Laxus shot back.
Erza scoffed, adjusting her stance. "Fine. If you're our 'leader,' then you fight Aiden first."
Laxus paused. "…I feel like this is a trap."
"It is," Jellal and Simon said in unison.
Meanwhile, from the side, a tiny voice piped up.
"I wanna train too!"
I turned to see Kagura, hands on her hips, looking up at me with all the determination of a six-year-old who thought she could take on the world.
I sighed. "No."
Kagura pouted. "Why not? I'm strong too!"
"You're six, Kagura. You still think naps are optional."
"I never nap!"
"Exactly my point," I muttered.
She stomped her foot. "I'll prove it! I challenge you, Aiden!"
Laxus grinned. "Oh, I like this kid."
I rubbed my temples. "Look, maybe when you're a bit older, alright? Right now, focus on, I don't know, not dying when Erza inevitably drags you into one of her fights."
Erza frowned. "I would never do that!"
"Erza, you dragged Sho into a fight over cake this morning."
"That was different. That was important."
Jellal sighed. "Idiots. All of you."
I smirked. Yeah, training might have been chaotic, but at the end of the day? These kids were getting stronger. And as much as I teased Laxus, he really did take protecting them seriously. Even if he was a cocky little gremlin about it.
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