The trees formed a tunnel of foliage above them, holding back the morning light. The rustle of leaves accompanied the steady crunch of their steps on the damp ground.Erza walked beside the silent boy. Law, he had said his name was. He looked a little older than her, with black hair and piercing golden-yellow eyes. Faint dark circles shadowed his gaze, as if he carried the weight of sleepless nights. His clothes were in pitiful condition, worn to the threads, hastily patched here and there. The only thing that truly stood out — the only thing in good condition — was that peculiar fur hat, in a Nordic style, which he wore proudly on his head. A strange, almost out-of-place accessory, yet one he seemed to enjoy wearing.She lowered her eyes for a moment, brows slightly furrowed.I didn't expect to meet someone so kind. Not after everything I've been through.Her hand drifted unconsciously to the eyepatch covering her right eye. Beneath the fabric, she still felt a dull ache — much lighter than before, but still present.Yet it was nothing compared to the pain she carried deep in her heart.
The Tower of Heaven… The name alone was enough to send a shiver down her neck.She saw again the cold stone walls, the chains, the screams, the sleepless nights. Children reduced to the state of slaves, their eyes hollow. The rare smiles that had existed there were the ones she had forced herself to provoke, just to remember what it felt like to hope. But hope had been ripped away by the crack of whips and by deprivation.Erza took a deep breath, her eyes fixed on the branches swaying above her.I didn't even get to say goodbye to them… Simon, Millianna, Shô…A lump formed in her throat. She swallowed her emotions, as she always had. This was neither the place nor the time. She had to keep moving. She had to survive.
But then… why had this boy, whom she didn't even know, reached out to her?Why had he taken the time to treat her wounds, to warm her, and even to give her clothes?He hadn't even looked at her like a stranger.Just… like a person.
She turned her head toward him. He still wasn't speaking, but his eyes were sharp, attentive to the smallest details of the forest. Silent, but present. He has this strange aura. As if he's carrying an invisible burden too. Something heavy. She allowed herself a faint, almost imperceptible smile."Thank you," she murmured, barely audibly.
The road to Magnolia was long and fraught with obstacles. They got lost more than once, wandering aimlessly through uncertain paths, asking countless passersby for directions.But despite the detours, the exhaustion, and the obstacles, the two children eventually reached their destination. It took them almost a month on foot and on the back of several traveling merchant caravans to get there.
The silhouette of Magnolia finally emerged between the thinning trees. The great wooden gate stood before them. It was a prosperous yet bustling merchant city, with red-tiled roofs and cobblestone streets, filled with the constant hum of markets, laughter, and hurried footsteps.Erza paused at the edge of the path. Her heart tightened — not from fear, but from apprehension. A part of her wanted to turn back, to disappear once again into the forest.But then a hand gently rested on her shoulder.
Law, still silent, looked at her. Not with pity. Not with judgment. Just with that strange calm that seemed to say: "You can go. You're not alone."So she nodded, and they stepped through the gate.
The city's bustle enveloped them instantly. The scent of spices, warm bread, and fresh leather filled the air. Children ran through the streets, their clear laughter clashing violently with the muffled screams that still echoed in Erza's memory.They passed a fountain, a blacksmith, a shop with brightly colored fabrics. Everything was alive. Vibrant.
"Do you know where you want to go?" she finally asked, her voice a little hoarse from so much silence.
"I'm planning to go to Fairy Tail," Law replied in a calm yet determined tone.
Erza froze, eyes wide."Fairy Tail? You too?"He nodded without hesitation."My brother… he used to be part of it. Before he… disappeared. He talked about it often. It was like… a dream for him. A place where you could be free. Strong. Where you could make friends, companions… even a family."His voice remained steady, but for a moment, a veil of sadness passed through his gaze.
Erza looked at him silently. That name — Fairy Tail — she had kept it like a promise, a light at the end of the road. A destination she had been moving toward, like a hope.She had never imagined that this strange boy, who had fallen into her life out of nowhere, was walking toward the same place as she was.
Throughout the journey, despite the many conversations they had shared, he had never spoken of their origins, nor truly of their destination, other than that they were both heading to Magnolia. Learning now where he was going surprised her more than she would have thought."Me too," she said softly. "I'm going there."
Law turned his head toward her, surprised in turn.It was an improbable meeting — two lost people crossing paths by chance, heading toward the same refuge without even knowing it."Fairy Tail, huh?" Law murmured, almost to himself. His eyes shone with a strange light, a mix of hope and resignation. "Maybe that's where it all really begins… after all."Erza nodded. She didn't have the words to express what she felt, but part of her was reassured to be going to the same place as Law.
They crossed Magnolia's streets, weaving through the crowd that barely noticed them, absorbed in their daily lives. A few curious glances turned their way, likely because of their worn, tattered clothes, which made them look like vagabonds — which, in a sense, they were.They finally stopped in front of the old Fairy Tail guildhall. The building, though marked by the passage of years, gave off a strange impression. Memories seemed to seep from its walls. Law stared at it, his gaze as unwavering as Erza's.
"This is it?" he asked, his voice carrying a trace of doubt — but also hope.She remembered the guild's emblem that Grandpa Rob had shown her, visible all over the building.
They pushed the door open together, ready to discover what awaited them.
Inside, the guild was alive with its many members. It was a true tavern — loud and bustling — where laughter and conversation mingled with the clink of glasses and the scraping of chairs.The noise dulled slightly as soon as they stepped through the large wooden doors.It wasn't complete silence — far from it. The conversations continued, but in hushed tones. Glances were exchanged across tables. Whispers passed from mouth to mouth, carried by a wave of curiosity.
— "Who are those two?"— "Where did they come from?"— "Did you see their clothes? They look like they've just walked off a battlefield…"
Erza felt the weight of their stares like needles on her skin. But she wasn't afraid anymore. Not now. She walked straight ahead, even if her steps were heavy with fatigue. Beside her, Law remained impassive, eyes fixed forward.
They slowly made their way to the counter at the back of the room, where an old man sat alone, as if he had always been there.Small, his back slightly hunched, he wore a simple, relaxed white shirt, bearing in the center the black emblem of Fairy Tail, proudly displayed. Over it, he had thrown on a slightly worn orange sweatshirt. His outfit was completed by matching orange shorts — practical and light, ideal for movement. But what truly caught the eye was his striped orange-and-blue jester's hat, both strange and unique.
He said nothing.He didn't even turn his head toward them when they stopped in front of him.
Erza hesitated, surprised by the strange aura this old man radiated. He seemed almost… too calm. As if he already knew why they were there.She took a breath."Excuse me," she said, bowing her head slightly. "We're looking for the Master of Fairy Tail."
The old man took a long puff from his pipe, then slowly exhaled the smoke. It rose lazily before dissolving into the ambient noise."And why would two kids in rags want to meet the master of a guild?" he asked, his tone calm, almost amused.
Law stepped forward. His voice was steady but firm:"Because we have nowhere else to go."
The old man finally looked at them. He observed them silently for a long moment. Then the corner of his mouth lifted into a half-smile."Hm. Sometimes, that's all it takes."
He stood up from the counter, brushed himself off, then extended a hand toward them."I'm Makarov Dreyar. Master of Fairy Tail."
Erza felt her breath catch for a second. She exchanged a quick glance with Law. They hadn't been mistaken. This was the place.Makarov studied them a moment longer, then slowly nodded."Are you hungry? Or do you want to talk about your situation first?"
In the minutes that followed their arrival, the two young mages briefly explained their situation to Makarov. Their account was concise, almost guarded — they spoke of the main events of their journey, enough to justify their presence in Magnolia and their wish to join the guild. Yet they deliberately left out certain details, keeping the darkest parts of their past to themselves, as if the words themselves were still too heavy to bear.
After listening to their story, fragmented as it was, Makarov let a flicker of emotion cross his face. His expression, usually jovial and serene, took on an unusual gravity. His eyes clouded slightly, as if the children's words had stirred a painful echo within him. It lasted only a heartbeat, a fleeting expression, but strong enough to betray a genuine pang. The old master was not just moved — he was shaken, even if he tried not to show it.
That day, he had just learned of the loss of an old friend… and of a young man he had watched grow up within the guild, almost like a son.
It had been three years since Rosinante had left the guild, simply saying he was "going to travel the continent." At the time, no one had truly understood his motives, but Makarov had seen the truth behind the silences. Rosinante had been seeking to connect with people, to help without expecting anything in return — an ideal he pursued with rare sincerity.
Since his departure, he had sent little news. Only one letter had reached the guild, carefully written in his hand. In it, he explained that he had taken in an orphan he had saved under circumstances he did not detail. He spoke of this boy with tenderness, as of a child with rare potential who wanted to become a great doctor — one he wished to guide… to love like a brother. The letter, though sparse in words, overflowed with deep affection.
Makarov had kept that message carefully. He had read it many times, hoping that one day Rosinante would walk through the guild's doors with that very orphan by his side.But that day would never come.