Three months.
Ninety days.
For Hoshino Arashi, this had been the closest thing to life he had experienced across both of his existences.
Morning sunlight pierced through the mist, scattering across the river beside Magnolia Town in ripples of gold. Sitting on the terrace of his new home, Arashi let the breeze brush across his face. The warmth of the coffee cup in his hand released a deep, rich aroma.
He was no longer the lone wolf, constantly tense, wandering through the shadows.
Fairy Tail—known throughout Fiore as the "den of troublemakers"—had accepted him in its own rough but genuine way.
In the afternoons, he'd drink with Cana, listening to her half-drunken tales and ancient myths. At dusk, he'd spar with Natsu and Gray on the training field, collapsing onto the ground together in laughter after exhausting battles. Sometimes late at night, he'd chat with Lucy and Levy about Celestial Spirits and forgotten runes.
The noise, the chaos, the unreserved trust—all of it slowly filled the emptiness in his heart.
He didn't have to be alone anymore.
That single thought brought a peace his soul had never known.
Using the generous payment from the "Black Sails" incident, he had bought a modest house by the riverside. A place to return to—a real home.
Comfort, however, had not dulled his vigilance.
The new power he'd gained, the Mark of Shadows, was fully absorbed. The cold, serpentine energy now slept deep in his consciousness, ready to obey. Yet he disliked its feel—the source leaned too close to chaos and darkness. Unless absolutely necessary, he would never call upon it.
His true bottleneck lay elsewhere—within the foundation of his strength: the power of the Sky Dragon.
That vast, stellar force could only be channeled crudely through his mortal body. Every time he unleashed it, it felt as though his flesh wielded a colossal sword forged from the stars—devastating to the enemy, but equally punishing to himself.
He had tried many times to compress and refine that power, to forge it into a new Magic Inscription unique to him.
Each attempt failed.
The power of the Sky Dragon was too proud, too immense. It refused to be confined by any mortal medium. His body was its only vessel.
There was but one path forward—
He needed a legendary material capable of resonating with the energy of the stars. Only such a core could serve as the framework to tame the wild force and etch it into stable form.
Such an item would never be found in Magnolia's shops.
It could only exist in forgotten ruins or perilous lands untouched by human feet.
Setting down his cup, Arashi rose, gazing toward the direction of Fairy Tail's guildhall.
It was time to stretch his limbs again.
The guildhall was as lively as ever.
Natsu and Gray's daily brawl once again marked the start of morning—ice and fire colliding midair, drawing cheers and laughter from everyone around.
Arashi moved through the chaos straight toward the towering mission board on the first floor.
Three months had passed since he last stood here.
The board was covered in layers of requests—new and old, fine parchment and plain paper, all stacked together.
"Lost pet cat 'Hana,' black tail, reward: 5,000 J."
He glanced once. Too easy.
"Emergency subjugation of bandits in Pumpkin Hill. Reward: 70,000 J."
Bandits. Not worth the time.
"Seeking skilled mage as bodyguard for Viscount Frederic's ballroom event. Reward: 100,000 J."
No interest.
His gaze moved upward—toward the area cordoned off by a crimson rope.
The A-Rank section.
There were far fewer jobs there, each parchment radiating an ancient aura. Faint magical traces lingered around them, hinting that every location they pointed to was dangerous.
This was his target.
Only missions of that difficulty could lead to the rare materials or ancient ruins he sought.
As he studied the faded handwriting, a steady set of footsteps stopped beside him.
"Looking for a mission, Arashi?"
He turned and saw a familiar scarlet figure.
Erza Scarlet.
Today she wore her iconic Heart Kreuz Armor, its silver plates glinting beneath the guild's light, contrasting vividly with her fiery crimson hair.
Since that moonlit duel months ago, their bond had deepened—not merely comrades, but warriors who respected each other. They often trained and discussed combat and magic flow, sharpening one another through every exchange.
"Yeah," Arashi said, eyes still scanning the board. "I've hit a bottleneck. I need some rare materials."
He didn't bother hiding it.
"I might have to go somewhere remote… or dangerous."
"Perfect," Erza replied, voice carrying unmistakable fire.
"I was planning to take a mission myself."
Her gaze shifted from the board to him. In her crimson eyes burned something pure—a flame called battlelust.
"To be honest," she said evenly, "I've seen your power once, but I've never witnessed how a true Dragon Slayer fights in the field."
The air between them seemed to tighten.
After a brief pause, her tone turned solemn, her eyes steady, holding a glint of unspoken anticipation.
It was a formal request.
"So… would you team up with me? I want to see your real strength—with my own eyes."
Arashi raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised.
The Fairy Queen herself—known for her independence and leadership—was asking to form a team.
Then he understood.
That look in her eyes wasn't curiosity. It was hunger—for challenge, for battle, for truth in strength.
She wanted to see—not a spar, but a real fight, the kind that pressed life against death.
He chuckled softly and shook his head, the heaviness in his chest lightened by her straightforward energy.
Travelling with someone strong, dependable—and easy on the eyes—was no hardship.
"Of course," he said, smiling.
"My honor."
At his answer, Erza's usually stern face broke into a radiant smile, pure and genuine. Like melting ice, it stilled the noise of the hall for a heartbeat.
Their eyes turned back to the A-Rank board.
And then—Arashi saw it.
A parchment tucked into the corner, edges yellowed and curling with age. The writing was in an archaic hand, black ink carrying the weight of time.
A-Rank Request: Investigate and purify the magical disturbance in the Mist Forest.
Client: The Guardians of the Forest.
Reward: 7,000,000 J and a fragment of Tear of the Stars.
Tear of the Stars.
The moment his eyes caught those four words, Arashi's pupils contracted to needle points.
The world fell silent.
The chatter, the laughter, even Natsu and Gray's brawl—all faded into nothing.
Only those four words echoed in his mind.
That's it.
The key to forging his new magic inscription—the legendary material capable of resonating with the power of the stars.
Without hesitation, he reached out.
His fingertips brushed the parchment—cold and rough to the touch.
A heartbeat later, he tore it down.
Rrrip—
The quiet sound marked the beginning of his next journey.
(End of Chapter)
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