"Natsu... are you okay?"
The wide road, fresh air, and the train roaring along tirelessly made for a lively scene.
Natsu was slumped over the table, his face green and his whole body trembling.
He was desperately covering his mouth, looking like he was about to die.
"So dizzy!"
The adorable blue cat, Happy, stood on the table, patting Natsu's big head helplessly.
He spread his paws and sighed, "Aye, Natsu is so useless!"
"Urgh—"
Natsu's eyes were spinning, dazed and confused, but he still managed to argue.
"Shut... urgh... up... It's easy for you to say..."
Happy ignored Natsu's complaint, happily pointing out the window. "Look, Natsu! We're almost at Hargeon!"
Natsu fought back the dizziness, his eyes focusing a little.
"This time, I have to find a clue about Igneel..." he muttered.
Happy gave a big nod.
He pulled a fish with X-shaped eyes from his little green backpack and held it out to Natsu.
"Natsu, here—eat this fish!"
Natsu, looking terrible from motion sickness, opened his mouth.
"I'll eat... ugh..."
Happy shook his head, pulled the fish back, and grinned. "If you won't eat it, then I will! Don't say I didn't share!"
With that, Happy sat cross-legged on the table and started eating the fish with great relish.
Watching the miserable Natsu, he sighed.
"If only Ankh were here. His Celestial Spirit snake is super powerful..."
Natsu forced himself to look slightly more alert, though he still seemed ready to pass out.
"Ankh and Laxus went on that ten-year mission... they've been gone almost two years already..."
Happy quickly finished the fish, right down to the bones.
"Ankh and Laxus really are the guild's top mages. Only they could finish a ten-year mission."
Even in his sorry state, Natsu still talked tough. "I could handle a ten-year mission too... Gildarts even went on a hundred-year mission."
Happy waved a paw dismissively. "No way, Natsu. You definitely couldn't do it."
Natsu's face turned even greener.
Then his head hit the table as he passed out completely.
"Ah! Natsu, we're here, let's go!"
Happy saw the train stopping at the station and excitedly rushed off, curiously looking around the city.
Hargeon was a beautiful port city with great weather, attracting many tourists every year.
The rumor Natsu and Happy had heard was that Natsu's adoptive father, the Fire Dragon Igneel, was going to appear here.
That's why Natsu had dragged Happy along on this trip.
Once off the train, Happy enthusiastically raised his cat paw and cheered.
"We're here, Natsu! Let's go find the Salamander!"
But after his shout, there was no reply.
Puzzled, Happy looked back.
The train's wheels were already turning, picking up speed as it headed into the distance.
A familiar, faint scream could be heard from the departing train.
"Happy—help—ugh..."
"Huh?"
Happy watched the train carry Natsu away, his big head full of confusion...
After a delayed reaction, Happy finally stated the obvious.
"The train left."
While those two were having their troubles, elsewhere in Hargeon, a young girl stood in front of a shop.
"After walking so long, I finally found a magic tool shop."
The girl with shining golden hair wore a bright smile on her face.
She walked happily to the shop entrance, muttering to herself, "Perfect timing, let's see if they have any rare keys..."
"Move aside."
The girl froze for a moment, then quickly turned to look.
What she saw gave her a creepy feeling.
The person behind her was wearing a heavy black robe and a disturbing half-faced demon mask.
'It's the middle of summer... isn't he hot dressed like that?'
Mentally complaining, the girl hurriedly pushed the door open and entered the shop.
Ankh, wearing the mask, felt a flicker of surprise when he saw the golden-haired girl.
'Lucy?'
'Lucy makes her appearance.'
'Since she's here in Hargeon, does that mean Natsu is coming too? It seems the main story is about to begin...'
Ankh followed Lucy into the store.
The shopkeeper, who had been dozing behind the counter, immediately perked up when he saw two customers and greeted them warmly.
Though young, Lucy was quite talkative and soon got into a lively conversation with the shopkeeper.
When Lucy learned this was the only magic shop in Hargeon, she looked very surprised.
But Ankh wasn't surprised at all.
This world wasn't all about magic.
There were many places, like Hargeon, that focused more on fishing, farming, and business.
During his travels, Ankh had even been to places where people didn't know what magic was.
Lucy looked around the shop, disappointed.
None of the magic items really interested her.
The color-changing magic toy the shopkeeper was demonstrating seemed especially useless.
But Ankh, with his sharp eyes, spotted something different.
In an open red box lay a silver key.
A Celestial Spirit Key—if Ankh remembered correctly, it was the key for Canis Minor.
Unfortunately, Canis Minor was just an adorable little spirit, more of a cute pet than a fighter.
Seeing that Lucy hadn't noticed it yet, Ankh decided to give her a little nudge.
"I'll take this for 20,000J," Ankh said.
The shopkeeper's eyes lit up—he loved customers who didn't haggle!
And that key wasn't even worth that much...
"Deal!" the shopkeeper said immediately, afraid Ankh would change his mind.
As Ankh picked up the silver key while Lucy stared in shock!
The Canis Minor Celestial Spirit Key!
'Darn it, how did I miss that?!'
This was a key Lucy really loved.
Canis Minor was an extremely popular pet spirit, way better than any normal dog or cat.
Eager to get the key, Lucy quickly stepped in front of the masked man as he turned to leave.
"Sir... I was also looking at that key. Would you be willing to sell it to me? I'll pay an extra 5,000J!"
Lucy's face flushed slightly.
It felt awkward trying to buy back something someone had just bought.
A faint smile appeared under Ankh's mask.
Without any argument, he simply said, "Deal."
He had only been teasing her anyway—Ankh had no real use for a decorative spirit that couldn't fight.
"Here's your money," Lucy said, paying quite readily.
The shopkeeper watched with wide-eyed, and was secretly impressed.
'When it comes to business, this guy is a pro...'
Without even trying, he'd gotten the girl to offer a higher price herself.
Lucy paid so easily because she genuinely loved Celestial Spirits.
Unlike Ankh, who became a Celestial Spirit Mage because of luck, Lucy was the one who truly cherished them from the heart.
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