In the northern continent, a small town lay blanketed in snow and ice year-round.
At the central square, Ur sat in front of a fruit stall, idly turning an apple in her hand before taking a crisp bite.
"I was really shocked when I first came here," she said, gazing at the neat rows of buildings and the bustling crowd. "I never imagined this place would become so prosperous."
"Two years ago, they opened a railway line through town," the freckled fruit seller replied with a warm smile. "It's much easier to get here now, so of course we've got more tourists and adventurers passing through."
Her eyes softened as she looked at her old friend. "But compared to that, the best thing is… you're free from that frozen state, Ur ." Tears of joy welled up, and she dabbed at them quickly.
Ur knew all too well the trouble and danger that something as unbelievable as her "resurrection" could cause for Chase. So she told the outside world that it had taken her ten long years to overcome the side effects of Absolute Freeze and regain her body.
Given her reputation as a master of Ice-Make magic, the explanation was just believable enough. And claiming it required ten years would also deter any reckless wizard from attempting the forbidden spell.
"Hahaha, I can only say I was extremely lucky… and too stubborn to die," Ur said with a sheepish smile, though deep in her eyes there was quiet gratitude.
If not for meeting Chase, she would never have seen Gray and Lyon as grown men… nor met her "resurrected" daughter.
It was a pity, though, that she hadn't been able to take revenge on Brain, the man who deceived her and used Ultear as an experimental subject. The Magic Development Research Institute where it all began was now nothing more than a ruin.
"By the way, Ur , you said you've met those two little guys, Gray and Lyon. How are they doing now?" the fruit seller asked with a smile.
Thanks to the railway, even in this remote northern town she sometimes caught news of Fairy Tail though she wasn't certain if the troublemaker named Gray was the same boy she remembered. As for Lyon, she'd heard nothing.
"Gray's with Fairy Tail," Ur said. "And Lyon… looks like he's planning to join Lamia Scale."
She propped her chin on one hand, her voice turning into a half-complaint. "Gray's fine… but Lyon? That guy's completely forgotten what I taught him!"
The fruit seller blinked. "What exactly did you teach?"
"To strip down so your body can better feel the natural environment and the magic in the air."
"Uh…" The fruit seller's smile froze in place, unsure how to respond.
…That didn't sound like such a good habit.
She didn't really understand the world of wizards, so the fruit seller could only give an awkward smile before steering the conversation elsewhere. "They're both famous guilds. What about you, Ur ? What are your plans next?"
"If nothing unexpected happens, I'll return to Ishgar in a few days. After all, the children are all there."
Ur 's eyes glimmered as she looked down at the apple in her hand. Her voice grew more serious. "Besides, the magic level over there is much higher than here in Iceberg."
She had always been deeply devoted to the study of magic the kind of person who could work day and night without stopping to eat.
Now, after a blank decade, she was certain the magic system had grown richer, more advanced. It would take a great deal of time and effort to study and master it all.
Even setting aside her personal curiosity, she had another reason. If she couldn't keep up with the times, how could she hope to protect Gray, Lyon, and Ultear?
The fruit seller could only sigh at her friend's determined expression. "Is that so?" She looked a little disappointed, but if Ur had already decided, she would support her no matter what.
"Then I wish you success but you'd better keep in touch!"
"Of course. And if I have time, I'll bring those two brats over so they can get some real-world experience."
"Really? Then remember to bring them here for a fruit feast!"
"No problem!"
Magnolia
The gentle morning sunlight broke through thin clouds, spilling over the bustling Fairy Tail construction site.
Inside the fenced-off area, right in front of the temporary bar, a wooden board and a neat row of tables and chairs had been set up.
After all, this was a wizard guild and there was no way Fairy Tail's members could just spend all day hauling bricks at a construction site.
After a few days of adjustments, commissions had reopened that very morning. Members could now take jobs and work in the temporary space just like before.
At the bar, Lucy sat chatting with Mira.
"Sister Mira, won't this delay the construction of the new guild?"
Lucy glanced over her shoulder at the scene around them: Makao and Wakaba were grinning like fools over some photos of pretty girls; Cana was drinking straight from a barrel while reading the secret manual Ches had given her, insisting it counted as training; and Jet and Droy were locked in a tug-of-war trying to get Levy to accept the breakfast they'd brought.
"Lucy, if you're really that curious, I can ask the Master to put you on brick-moving duty at the construction site," Mira said sweetly, already fishing out the magic communication crystal to call Makarov.
"Wait, wait! Sister Mira, that's not what I meant!" Lucy yelped, waving her hands in a panic.
Lucy froze in panic, frantically waving her hands to stop Mira.
She had only been speaking casually if she was actually sent to the construction site to move bricks, her life would be over!
"Oh, what a shame," Mira said with a mischievous smile. "The daily pay is 10,000 J."
"10,000 J?!" Lucy's eyes sparkled instantly. "Why have I never heard about this before?!"
For a split second, the thought of taking the job seriously tempted her.
"This is a privilege reserved for guild members," Mira explained, resting her cheek in one hand. "I heard from the Master that someone anonymously donated 1 billion J for the reconstruction of the guild. He's negotiating with the construction company to get us the best materials and the best workers."
"What?! One billion?!"
Lucy's reaction was even more over-the-top than Makarov's had been her eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"When I heard the news, even I was shocked," Mira continued, her eyes glinting as they shifted slyly toward Lucy. "I only saw the reports and the complaint notices before… but I really have no idea who could be capable of something like this. I'm so curious."
In the Kingdom of Fiore, there weren't many who could pull out that kind of money all at once let alone give it away with no request for fame or reward.
And in the guild, the only person known to have ties to that level of wealth was Lucy, the daughter of the Heartfilia family.
Coupled with what Natsu, Gray, and the others had mentioned yesterday about Jude being "a surprisingly approachable man," the identity of the anonymous donor seemed almost too obvious.
Lucy lowered her gaze to the polished wood of the bar, deep in thought.
Could it really be… him? No, that was impossible.
And yet…
Even if she tried to deny it, Lucy wasn't so dense that she couldn't see the glaring possibility.
....
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