Words like promise and bond were truly beautiful. For young people, having those in their youth was how it should be.
If one couldn't even have those at this age, then their life was truly a failure.
How could a person live their life consumed by jealousy and suspicion? Such a life was simply unbearable.
This child was truly interesting. There was no excess emotion in his eyes, only sincerity that made people trust him.
He seemed like a promising seedling. Having an alchemist join the guild would surely help it grow stronger. But Makarov's biggest worry now was whether Mond would be angry.
Coming to an alchemy workshop to "poach" someone… No, it was the boy himself who asked. How could that be considered poaching?
"I'll agree to this for now. If you ever feel ready, come to Magnolia and find me. A talented child like you—I would never refuse you joining the guild." Makarov said.
He kept his face calm, but inside, he was delighted. Another talented seedling, and one who wanted to join Fairy Tail. It was perfect.
And an alchemist, no less. Alchemists were incredibly valuable, requiring both magical talent and the ability to perceive the world's true nature.
Not everyone possessed such ability; only those with exceptional talent did. Alchemy was a high-level form of magic.
A young, talented child like this joining the guild would become a significant strength for Fairy Tail.
Just then, the door swung open, revealing a large sack so stuffed it looked ready to burst.
"Noel, help me with these, will you? Hauling all these materials is exhausting." Mond complained.
"Coming, Master." Noel said, moving to help unload the materials.
Makarov's arm suddenly expanded, taking the heavy sack and easily carrying it to the basement storage.
So this is magic… used in such a practical way. Such a small body, yet so much strength. Magic truly is fascinating. Noel thought.
"Old friend, so you're here!" Mond said, spotting Makarov. "How was Noel's hospitality? I hope he didn't do anything rude."
Mond's tone held a hint of irritation. Hospitality was a matter of etiquette and principle, and he would not tolerate lapses in that regard.
"This child is wonderful, and he was very considerate." Makarov said with a smile. "You're lucky to have found such a talented kid at your age."
"Talented? He's just a bit smarter than most, nothing as exaggerated as you make it sound." Mond waved off the compliment.
"Um, Master… about the alchemy experiment…" Noel began hesitantly, worried he might get scolded for the materials consumed during the experiment.
"Report, then. Tell me what you learned from this experiment. I didn't expect too much, but I'm hoping for some surprises." Mond said with mild curiosity.
He hadn't checked the lab yet, but seeing no signs of explosions was already a good sign.
"I broke some glassware during the experiment and used up all the energy in a magic stone. The product I made was incomplete." Noel confessed.
"You used a magic stone?" Mond exclaimed, shocked.
"Nothing went wrong, did it?" he asked quickly, concern in his eyes.
Magic stones, while useful in the lab, were dangerous due to their unstable energy. Even B-rank alchemists could cause explosions if they mishandled them, let alone a beginner.
He had never taught Noel how to draw a magic circle either. If something had gone wrong, it would have been a disaster, even if everything appeared fine now.
If any leftover energy remained in the circle, it could still be dangerous.
"No, nothing happened. Setting up the magic circle was pretty straightforward, and placing the stone felt natural. Everything went smoothly." Noel quickly explained.
Mond rushed into the alchemy lab, eyes darting around, noting the two cups of tea on the table.
This kid actually served tea in the lab? But then again, Mond had never told him it wasn't allowed.
Alchemy labs were private spaces, and outsiders were typically not allowed in, unless the lab's owner permitted it.
Makarov was trustworthy, so letting him in was fine. Besides, an outsider wouldn't understand alchemy's complexities anyway.
Though both fell under the category of magic, the principles differed greatly. There was no need to worry about leaks of knowledge.
Mond inspected the magic circle on the table. It was hard to describe, but while it was somewhat overcomplicated, its effectiveness was undeniable.
It managed energy well, preventing the magic stone's power from accumulating dangerously, and there was none of the explosion risk he had feared.
"Why would you do something so dangerous? I only wanted you to perform a simple experiment to get a feel for it, not to dive in so deeply!"
"Do you know how worried I was from the moment I walked in, fearing something might have happened to you?" Mond's voice trembled as he pulled Noel into a hug, like a helpless child.
"I've finally found something like family again. Do you really want me to lose it so soon?" Mond pleaded.
"I didn't know it was dangerous. I just thought it was interesting, so I did it. And nothing happened. Everything went fine, didn't it?" Noel replied, though inside, his emotions were churning. He hadn't realized his actions would cause such a reaction.
"Next time you want to try something like this, if I'm not there with you, you are not allowed to do it alone." Mond said sternly.
It was the first time Noel had seen this side of Mond. Maybe it really was that dangerous, even though he felt he had handled it well. Still, he had to admit that Mond was right.
From the door, Makarov peeked in, then quietly closed it again.
Scenes like this… they aren't for me to watch. This is a moment of family, something private.
If only my grandson could be this open, Makarov thought. He's obedient, yes, but so shy around others.
Laxus is a good kid, but why can't he be more cheerful? He's always cooped up at home because of his health. He should get out and talk to people more.
He's so talented and ambitious, which is good, but he's also such a handful. Maybe I should bring him here to meet Mond. Perhaps he and Noel would become friends.
And maybe my grandson could learn a thing or two from someone else's child for once.