The familiar warmth of the Fairy Tail guild hall greeted Macao and Romeo as they stepped inside, but for the first time in many months, it carried a different kind of tension.
The usual chatter softened to murmurs as all eyes turned toward their new arrival.
Teresa followed behind them, her silver eyes scanning the wide open space. Wooden beams arched high above, long tables filled the hall, and numerous guild members froze mid-conversation to stare at her.
She walked in full battle gear—her silver armor reflecting the lamplight, white cloak trailing behind her legs, and the broad Claymore sword secured behind her back beneath the cloak. She moved with grace, as if perfectly balanced at all times, every step silent despite the weight of her equipment.
Even for a guild accustomed to strange and powerful individuals, her presence was... unsettling.
Macao gestured casually, trying to keep the mood light. "Everyone, we've got a visitor. This is Teresa."
The members exchanged glances.
Wakaba, seated near the bar, exhaled a slow plume of smoke from his pipe. "She doesn't look like someone who needs protecting."
Reedus peeked over the edge of his sketchpad, eyes wide as he quickly began sketching her armor's intricate designs. "What craftsmanship... I've never seen metalwork like that before."
Nab crossed his arms near the request board, his heavy brows furrowed. "That sword... it's not even enchanted, but I can feel something dangerous about it."
Jet and Droy approached more cautiously, curiosity getting the better of them.
"Hey, uh... you're not from around here, are you?" Jet asked hesitantly.
"No," Teresa answered, her voice soft but clear. "I am not."
"Where exactly are you from?" Droy ventured, his tone gentle but nervous.
Teresa glanced between them. "From a world beyond yours. A place where beings like myself hunted things far worse than what you call 'monsters' here."
Jet blinked. "You mean like dragons? Or demons? We've faced some pretty crazy stuff too."
"Not dragons," she repeated, expression unchanging. "Creatures who were once human. Beasts who devoured their kind."
A cold chill swept through the room at her words.
Wakaba scratched his cheek, smoke curling lazily above him. "Sounds lovely."
Romeo, trying to cut through the awkwardness, spoke up brightly. "We found her in the forest! She was just standing there, like nothing could scare her!"
"She carries herself like a warrior," Nab admitted, though his arms remained folded. "But not like any mage I've seen."
"I am not a mage," Teresa confirmed calmly.
Macao stepped in, keeping his voice light. "Right now, she's just here under our hospitality. She's not looking to join the guild, but she's welcome to stay as long as she likes."
Wakaba chuckled. "As long as she doesn't blow up the bar like Natsu."
Reedus, still sketching, whispered to himself, "Such fine detail... every plate perfectly balanced... and that cloak..." He paused, glancing up. "Your armor is unlike anything we've seen here. Is it enchanted?"
"No," Teresa said. "It is crafted for function, not spectacle."
"Still looks intimidating," Max offered from behind the bar.
Kinana, arranging bottles, peeked up briefly. "But... you don't seem like a bad person."
Teresa tilted her head slightly at that observation. "Intent does not always align with appearance."
Her answer was calm but carried a weight that lingered in the air. The faint smile remained—not warm, not cold—simply... steady.
Romeo, emboldened by her patience, stepped closer. "Do you fight alone?"
"Always," she said softly. "It is safer that way."
The room fell into a thoughtful silence.
Most Fairy Tail mages fought alongside comrades, bonded by friendship, trust, and reckless loyalty. But this woman stood apart. She offered no such openness, no desire for camaraderie. Yet there was no arrogance either. Only a simple fact.
Macao sensed the shift in mood and clapped his hands together. "All right, everyone—give her some space. She's not here for an interrogation."
The guild members slowly returned to their activities, though their glances continued, and whispers barely hushed.