The wind carried a faint chill as the group stepped off the beaten path, boots crunching against the uneven dirt road. Natsu Dragneel stretched his arms wide, yawning with a grin that seemed far too relaxed for the task ahead.
"Man, it's been forever since we went on a proper request together!" he said, his voice crackling with the same fiery energy that always seemed to follow him.
Happy fluttered lazily beside him, wings beating softly.
"Aye, sir! But don't forget, we're here for serious business. Weird magic stuff, remember?"
Lucy Heartfilia adjusted the strap of her celestial key pouch, her brows furrowing. She glanced at the rolling hills ahead, where the tiny roofs of the remote village poked through the mist.
"Strange magic disturbances," she corrected, her tone careful. "The villagers said crops are withering overnight, animals are getting restless, and some people are falling sick. That doesn't sound like something to take lightly."
Gray Fullbuster, walking a step behind, gave her a side-eye and stuffed his hands into his pockets.
"Of course, flame brain here is probably thinking it's all just some warm-up exercise."
Natsu whipped around, pointing at him with a fiery glare.
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"It means," Gray replied evenly, his shoulders rolling in a lazy shrug, "you always rush in without thinking. Last time you almost flattened half a tavern."
Lucy sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead. She didn't even want to remember that.
Happy tilted his head, smirking mischievously.
"But it was fun, though."
Lucy groaned.
"Not for the tavern owner."
As their bickering filled the air, the atmosphere around them seemed to shift. The closer they drew to the village, the heavier the silence became. Birds that should've been singing in the trees were nowhere to be heard. Even the wind seemed reluctant to stir the tall grass.
Lucy hugged her arms, her steps slowing.
'This place… it feels wrong. Like the air itself is watching us.'
Natsu, oblivious or simply unconcerned, cracked his knuckles with a grin.
"Heh. Whatever it is, I'll burn it down."
Gray groaned.
"That's exactly what I was talking about, idiot."
The first houses came into view, simple, wooden structures with cracked shutters and moss creeping up their sides. Villagers lingered at their doors, whispering to each other with nervous eyes that darted toward the newcomers. When they spotted Natsu's pink hair and the guild insignias, a wave of relief seemed to ripple through the tense air.
A hunched elder stepped forward, leaning on a crooked staff. His eyes, clouded with fatigue, studied the four mages.
"You must be from Fairy Tail," he rasped, his voice brittle as parchment. "Thank the heavens… we were beginning to lose hope."
Lucy stepped ahead, bowing her head politely.
"Yes, sir. We came as soon as we got your request. Could you tell us more about what's been happening here?"
The elder's lips trembled, and his hands tightened on the staff. "It started a month ago. The earth soured overnight. Livestock refuse to eat. Some villagers wake with strange marks on their skin, marks that burn and twist, as if cursed. At night, we hear whispers in the wind, voices that aren't human."
Lucy felt her throat tighten at the words. She glanced at Natsu and Gray, who for once weren't arguing. Even Happy had stopped flapping his wings, hovering still in the air.
"Voices, huh?" Natsu muttered, eyes narrowing. His usual reckless fire dimmed into something sharper. Focused. "Sounds like dark magic."
Gray nodded grimly. "I thought the same thing. We'll need to keep our guard up. This isn't going to be some easy job."
Lucy could feel her heartbeat quicken. She fiddled with the keys at her waist, the cool metal brushing against her fingers, grounding her.
'Dark magic… if that's what this is, we're walking into something dangerous. But… that's why we're here. To protect them.'
Natsu stepped forward, his grin returning, though it didn't quite reach his eyes this time.
"Don't worry, old man. We'll take care of this. No curse, no creepy whisper-thing, nothing's gonna scare Fairy Tail."
The elder's gaze softened, but worry still lingered in his eyes.
*****
The day had begun with promise. The villagers had welcomed Fairy Tail warmly, offering smiles and gratitude, their relief at the guild's arrival palpable. It should have been a simple mission briefing at the mayor's residence. Calm. Professional. Maybe even dignified.
But this was Fairy Tail.
And Natsu Dragneel didn't do "calm" or "professional."
The mayor's house was a wide, polished building with wooden beams and walls that had clearly been standing for decades. Inside, everything gleamed with care, the kind of place built to last, to show authority and respect. Lucy Heartfilia admired the neat rows of bookshelves, the carefully arranged furniture, and the portraits of stern-faced ancestors staring down from the walls.
"Such a lovely home," she said, clasping her hands behind her back. "It has such a refined atmosphere."
"Yeah, yeah," Natsu muttered, stretching his arms above his head. "Let's just hear what the guy has to say so we can get to the fun part."
Gray Fullbuster leaned casually against the wall, smirking.
"By 'fun part' you mean fighting, right?"
"Obviously!" Natsu shot back, fire sparking in his grin.
Lucy groaned. She already knew where this was heading.
Happy, hovering lazily in the air, wagged his tail.
"Aye, sir! Fighting is the fun part."
The mayor, a plump, balding man with a dignified mustache, cleared his throat nervously.
"I… appreciate your enthusiasm, but please, contain yourselves. The disturbances in the village are delicate matters. We must handle this carefully."
Natsu puffed up his chest.
"No problem! Leave it to me."
Lucy's stomach dropped. She had heard that line too many times before.
The mayor gestured toward the far end of the room where a magical lamp flickered strangely, its glow pulsing like a heartbeat.
"This lamp was enchanted to provide steady light for generations. But lately… it reacts violently, sparking whenever the disturbances worsen. It's one of the reasons we believe dark magic is at work."
Natsu strode up to the lamp with far too much interest. He bent close, eyes gleaming as though he were examining prey.
"So this little thing's acting up, huh? Easy fix."
Lucy's eyes widened.
"Natsu—wait—don't touch—"
Too late.
He placed his hand against the lamp as though sheer stubbornness would solve the problem. Flames leaked through his palm, licking around the edges of the object. The lamp sputtered, then flared violently, glowing brighter and brighter.
"Uh, Natsu…" Gray's voice sharpened, though he still sounded more amused than alarmed. "What exactly are you trying to do?"
"Fix it with fire!" Natsu said, grin wide, sweat gleaming on his brow as the lamp buzzed louder, trembling on the table. "Fire makes everything better!"
The lamp emitted a shrill, piercing whine, like a kettle screaming to burst.
Lucy's heart lurched. She lunged forward.
"Natsu, stop! You're making it worse!"
But her warning was drowned by the deafening BOOM.