The next morning, Alma was back to her usual self, the spark in her eyes returning.
Hopefully.
"You know your disciples are already waiting for you," she said, barely hiding the amusement in her voice.
I raised an eyebrow. "Disciples? Seriously? That makes me feel so old now."
Alma chuckled, leaning back in her chair, her arms crossed. "Well, they are your students, besides those kids look up to you. You know."
I smiled. Yeah they do..
—
I strolled onto the training grounds, hands in my pockets, exuding my usual air of nonchalance. Across from me, Laxus, Erza, Jellal, and Simon stood ready, their eyes sharp with focus.
"You all look so serious," I remarked, stretching lazily. "Training's supposed to be fun, you know."
I clapped my hands, drawing their attention. "Alright, team. Let's get started."
Laxus smirked. "About time, old man."
I raised an eyebrow. "Old man? I'm not that much older than you."
Erza stepped forward, her expression serious. "What's the plan for today?"
I smirked.
With a snap of my fingers, NIMO activated, it released high-speed projectiles, weaving unpredictably through the air.
"You could have given us a warning!" They screamed.
"Eh.. No fun in that."
Erza, relying on pure instinct, moved with quick footwork, dodging the projectiles with bursts of speed. She had no armor, no sword, just her body and raw reflexes.
Jellal tried to fly using Meteor, but the anti-magic fields I activated forced him to combine aerial dodges with quick footwork on the ground.
Simon barely moved, sidestepping just enough to avoid the shots, focusing on conserving energy and maintaining precision.
Laxus didn't dodge at all, letting the projectiles pass harmlessly through his crackling lightning form.
Laxus grinned. "Why dodge when I don't have to?"
I sighed and snapped my fingers.
The ground shifted. Black iron laced with seastone spikes erupted, and NIMO's projectiles changed, moving heavier and faster.
One of the projectiles clipped Laxus' jaw. He staggered back, hand instinctively going to his face.
"What the hell…?"
Another shot barreled toward him. Confident it would pass through, Laxus dispersed into lightning—but the projectile still hit. Hard.
Laxus stumbled, "Hey!"
Laxus scowled, frustration flickering in his eyes.
This wasn't the first time it had happened. Ever since he gained his Logia powers, he'd grown even more cocky, more convinced that nothing could touch him.
His arrogance had grown with his power, and I'd always been there to remind him that nothing was invincible—not even him.
"Lesson learned, I hope?" I asked, my voice almost teasing.
Laxus's scowl more.
I turned my attention to Jellal.
Even though he was only ten, the potential in him was undeniable.
He was a fast learner, absorbing everything he could from the library I gave them access to. His mastery over Heavenly Body Magic was already impressive, and given his talent, I had no doubt he'd surpass anyone who had mastered it before him.
"Your growth is impressive, Jellal," I said as he continued to focus, the air around him vibrating with energy. "But don't let it get to your head, though I think you already know that"
He looked at me, sweat already beading on his forehead, but his expression was calm. "I understand."
I gave a small nod. "Good. I have high hopes for you."
Jellal squared his shoulders, his stance sharpening.
I watched him closely. His raw magic was immense, more than most could dream of at his age. But what impressed me wasn't just the power—it was his understanding of it.
"That's the way," I said, giving him a rare smile. "Keep it up, and you'll be stronger than anyone can imagine."
Jellal's eyes gleamed with quiet determination as he continued to practice, now more focused than ever. He may have been young, but I knew he would grow to be a force to be reckoned with.
I shifted my attention to Simon, surrounded by the ever-shifting tendrils of his darkness magic.
Darkness magic could be tricky. Unstable if not controlled.
His movements were fluid, his shadows twisting and shifting, forming into shapes that seemed to take on a life of their own. But it wasn't perfect. Not yet.
"Not bad, Simon," I called, watching as a dark tendril shot forward and struck an illusionary target. The impact left a dark ripple in the air, but the magic dissipated too quickly.
Simon glanced at me, a slight frown on his face. "I'm still trying to control it better."
"You're doing fine," I said, stepping closer. "But you need to stop thinking of your magic as just darkness. It's not just the shadows themselves you need to control. It's the flow of the energy behind them. You're trying to bend it too rigidly, too quickly."
Simon nodded, but I could see the confusion in his eyes.
"You've got great potential," I continued. "But you need to refine your approach. The key to darkness magic is control. Shape it, and let it adapt to you. It's like an extension of your body, not just a power you wield. Focus on the flow, not just the shapes."
Simon hesitated before he attempted to shape another tendril of shadow. It wasn't perfect—still a little too rigid—but it held its form a little longer than the last one.
"Better," I said, offering him a small nod of approval.
I kept quiet for a moment, my thoughts turning inward. When he grows older, I'd make sure to give him an upgrade.
Lastly, I watched Erza from a distance as she prepared for the next round of training. Her stance was firm, eyes sharp, and her expression unwavering. There was something about her that always fascinated me—the way she could stand tall in the face of any challenge, without hesitation or doubt. It wasn't just her strength. It was her spirit.
That was what made her one of my favorite characters in the Fairy Tail anime.
If I were to truly help her, I had to do more than just push her physically. She needed something... extra. Something that would give her the edge she didn't even know she was missing.
I smiled to myself, a plan forming in my mind. I would tailor a personalized armory, armors and weapons designed specifically for her—tailored to her strengths, to her fighting style.
"Alright," I said, smirking as I stretched out my arms. "Round two."
Everyone looked at me like I'd just kicked their dog.
Yeah, that's the look. Murder in their eyes. Adorable.
"Relax," I added, hands up. "No magic this time."
I could practically hear them thinking, You really are a pain.
By the end of the day, they'd gotten a little stronger—not a massive leap, but enough progress for me to feel like I wasn't wasting my time. One step at a time, right?
—
That afternoon, Master Makarov called me into his office for a "talk." I wasn't sure what it was about, but the look on his face when I walked in said this wasn't going to be a casual chat about the weather.
"Sit down, Aiden," he said, gesturing to the chair across from him.
Makarov sighed deeply before speaking, his voice steady but heavy. "I've been thinking... I'm getting older. I don't have the energy I used to. And, well, I've been considering the future of Fairy Tail."
I raised an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. "And?"
"I think it's time for the next generation to step up. I've been thinking about you, Aiden. You've got the strength, the experience, and let's be honest, enough chaotic energy to keep this guild alive." He paused, looking me dead in the eye. "I want to make you the next Guild Master."
I blinked.
"Wait, me?" I sat forward. "You're serious?"
Makarov nodded. "You've been a part of this guild longer than some of its veterans. You've trained the new generation. You've fought for us, protected us—and you understand the guild's heart."
"Yeah, but…" I trailed off, suddenly feeling the weight of it.
I rubbed the back of my neck, avoiding his eyes. "I won't lie, it's an honor. A huge one. But.."
He gave me a look, the kind that said go on.
But…
I wasn't planning to stay here forever.
Not in Earthland. Not in this reality.
I couldn't just say that. Not yet
"Can I think about it?"
Makarov nodded, leaning back in his chair with that tired but understanding look
"Of course. I know this is a big thing. This isn't something you decide overnight."
I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.
He watched me for a beat, then smiled. "I asked you because I trust you. You've led without the title for a long time now. The guild looks up to you."
I forced a smile, gave him a nod, then left his office
I stepped outside, the sunset painting the guild in soft golds and oranges.
Everyone was out in the courtyard—laughing, training, being loud and dramatic like always.
Laxus was arguing with Kagura over something dumb, probably involving snacks or explosions. Erza was lecturing Cana and Simon, who were fighting over what looked like... one chicken wing? Jellal and Kagura were meditating under a tree. Alma waved at me from across the yard, dragging Ultear toward the food tables.
This mess was home. Somehow, without me realizing it, it became mine.
And that's the problem, isn't it?
Because one day, I'll leave, together with Alma.
To explore.
To enjoy.
To live.
—----------
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