The cold wind bit through the air, biting sharply at Cael's exposed skin as he walked through the guildhall's front doors. It had been a peaceful day—well, peaceful for Fairy Tail—but something hung in the air, a subtle shift that had Cael looking over his shoulder every few minutes. It was as if the world itself was waiting for something.
Mira, wiping down the bar with a cloth, didn't seem as unsettled as he felt. Her usual warmth was there, but there was something different about her demeanor, like she too was sensing the storm coming. A quiet unease lingered around her, an edge to her movements.
"Is something wrong?" Cael asked, his voice cutting through the low murmur of the guildhall. His hands were stuffed into the pockets of his jacket, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
She paused, lifting her gaze from the counter to meet his eyes. The calmness in her expression faltered for a brief moment, replaced by a flicker of concern. "The guild's been getting strange requests lately. Disturbances up north... near the mountains."
Cael frowned. He hadn't heard of anything particularly unusual from the northern regions of Fiore. "Disturbances?" He repeated, stepping closer to the bar.
"Reports of unnatural storms," Mira continued, her eyes now distant as she spoke. "Strong gusts of wind, heavy snow… The usual weather anomalies. But it's been getting worse. There are rumors…" She hesitated, glancing around as if to ensure no one else was listening. "Rumors that it's a mage behind it. Someone with power over ice."
Cael's interest piqued. A mage with control over ice magic… He'd faced many enemies in his time, but ice magic was something that always felt like an unyielding force—an element that could freeze you in place, both physically and mentally.
"Someone who's doing more than just messing with the weather?" Cael asked.
Mira nodded, her gaze narrowing slightly. "People have gone missing. Entire villages near the mountains have been wiped out. The mages at Sabertooth have looked into it, but it's beyond their abilities. We've heard about it from some of the other guilds too."
Cael crossed his arms, leaning against the bar. The more he listened, the more his thoughts raced. "Do we know who's responsible?"
There was a long pause before Mira spoke again, her voice lower now. "There's a name. Lyon Vastia. A former member of Sabertooth. He's rumored to have control over ice magic like no other. The stories are… chilling."
"Former member?" Cael raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What happened to him?"
"I don't know the details," Mira said, her voice tinged with hesitation. "But he was once a promising wizard. They say he had a brilliant future with Sabertooth, but something happened, and he left. Now… rumors say he's the one behind these storms. And if it's true, we need to stop him."
Cael felt the weight of her words settle over him. A mage who could control ice like no one else? And someone with a history that involved betrayal or some kind of falling out with Sabertooth?
"So what's the plan?" Cael asked, his voice steady, despite the growing sense of unease within him.
"We need to investigate," Mira said, looking up at him with determination. "It could be dangerous. We're still gathering information, but we'll need to prepare."
Cael nodded. He wasn't one to back down from a challenge. But this one was different. He'd heard of Lyon before—his name had carried with it both admiration and fear. The idea of facing someone who had mastered ice magic to such an extent was daunting.
Just then, the door to the guildhall swung open with a sharp gust of wind. Natsu, Gray, and Lucy walked in, their usual boisterous selves, chatting and laughing. But when they saw Mira's serious expression, their mood shifted. They were quick to pick up on the tension in the air.
"What's going on?" Lucy asked, glancing between Mira and Cael.
"We have a problem," Mira replied, her voice now carrying the weight of the situation. "The guild's been getting reports of a mage causing trouble up north. We're going to investigate."
"Up north? What kind of trouble?" Gray asked, his face growing serious.
"Disturbances in the weather," Mira answered. "People have gone missing, entire villages destroyed. And there's a mage named Lyon Vastia behind it all."
The mention of Lyon's name immediately drew the attention of the three guild members. Natsu's grin faltered for a brief moment, and Gray's eyes narrowed. They knew exactly who Lyon was.
"Wait, isn't that the guy who used to be with Sabertooth?" Natsu asked, his voice now quieter than usual.
"That's the one," Mira confirmed. "We need to go up there and figure out what's going on. It could be dangerous."
Lucy exchanged a look with Natsu, then turned back to Mira. "So, are we heading out now?"
"Not yet," Mira replied. "We're still gathering information. But we'll be heading out soon. I want everyone prepared."
Cael stood in silence for a moment, his thoughts racing. There were a lot of unanswered questions. Who was Lyon Vastia really? What had caused him to leave Sabertooth? And, more importantly, why had he started attacking innocent villages with his ice magic?
"I'll go," Cael said, breaking the silence. His voice was calm, but there was a firm resolve behind it.
Mira looked at him, her expression unreadable for a brief moment. "Are you sure?"
Cael nodded. "If Lyon's truly responsible for all this, then we need to stop him."
"Then it's settled," Mira said with a firm nod. "We leave in the morning."
The atmosphere in the guild had shifted. The usual boisterous chatter had been replaced by the soft hum of preparation. Members were gathering supplies, sharpening weapons, and readying themselves for the journey. But beneath all the activity, Cael could sense the unease that had settled in everyone's hearts. Lyon Vastia wasn't just any mage. If the rumors were true, then they were about to face one of the most dangerous opponents they had ever encountered.
Later that night, as Cael sat by the window, looking out over the snow-covered streets, Mira joined him quietly. The two of them sat in companionable silence for a while, the only sound being the faint crackle of the fire in the hearth.
"Mira…" Cael finally spoke, his voice softer than usual. "You've changed since I joined the guild. I can see it. You've become more… yourself."
Mira didn't say anything at first. She just stared at the fire, her expression contemplative. "We all change, Cael. And you're no different."
Cael wasn't sure how to respond. There was so much about himself he didn't understand yet. But one thing was clear—he had found a place here, in this guild. It was a strange feeling, one he hadn't known he needed until now.
"I don't know who I am," Cael admitted quietly. "But… I think I'm starting to figure it out."
Mira smiled, the weight in her expression easing slightly. "We'll figure it out together."
The morning came all too soon. Cael stood ready at the guildhall's entrance, a simple pack slung over his shoulder. His dark violet eyes were focused on the snowy horizon, and he could feel the weight of the upcoming journey pressing down on him. The cold of the mountains felt like a distant threat, and the promise of battle ahead was even more so.
With his thoughts still swirling, he turned to join the others. The guild had become his home—his place to belong—and he wasn't about to let that go without a fight.