In the end, Raizel and Ultear decided to travel along the railway line.
Magnolia Station, being the main railway hub, had trains heading to Onibus, Gurnuki, Oshibana, Crocus, Hargeon, Acalypha City, and other places.
Their first stop was Acalypha City, a bustling trade town.
They visited a commercial guild called Love & Lucky.
"See that sign?" Raizel pointed to the guild's signboard, where the 'K' in 'Lucky' had fallen off, spelling 'Lucy.'
"It's a local legend. A merchant named Jude and a celestial mage named Layla met here. When they left to start a life together, Layla was pregnant. They decided if it was a girl, they'd name her Lucy, after that broken sign."
Ultear looked at the sign, amused. "That's a surprisingly romantic story for a broken piece of wood."
They also hiked through the Wais Forest on the outskirts of the city.
Deep within lay a villa owned by Bob, the Guild Master of Blue Pegasus.
Raizel steered clear of it; seeing Bob in his... enthusiastic moods always gave Raizel the creeps.
Raizel led Ultear to a cave deep in the woods, the rumored site of an ancient Nirvit settlement.
"It looks like just a hole in the ground," Ultear remarked, kicking a pebble into the darkness.
"Just checking," Raizel shrugged.
He knew the ancient super-weapon Nirvana was buried somewhere beneath this forest, but he had no intention of digging it up yet.
That was a headache for another day.
Next, they traveled to Onibus Town, famous for its theater district.
They watched a play in the largest theater in Fiore, though Raizel fell asleep halfway through.
To make up for it, they hurried to Agave Land, a massive amusement park.
Ultear screamed—partially in fear, mostly in delight—on the "Soaring Whirlpool" and the "U-shaped Wave Slider."
In the capital, Crocus, they stayed at a luxury hotel with a view of Mercurias, the Royal Palace.
They woke up before dawn to climb the Mount to watch the sunrise.
This mountain would one day host the Grand Magic Games, though for now, it was just a quiet peak.
They spent a few days at the Akane Resort, sunbathing and diving in the crystal-clear ocean.
From the floor-to-ceiling windows of their hotel room, the ocean looked endless.
Finally, to see the Clover Canyon, they took the longest train ride to Clover Town.
"We're going to fly the rest of the way," Raizel announced as the train stopped.
"Take Over: Omegamon."
The white knight materialized, lifting Ultear onto his shoulder.
He sat her on the head of the Grey Sword arm (WarGreymon's head).
"Hold on tight."
From high above, the Clover Canyon looked like a scar on the earth.
It reminded Raizel of the Great Rift Valley from his previous life, but more chaotic.
Countless small fissures branched out from the main crack like the legs of a centipede.
They landed briefly in Clover Town, where the Guild Masters' regular conference was being held.
They ran into Makarov, who was drinking with Goldmine.
After a brief greeting—and Raizel assuring Makarov he hadn't caused any trouble—they moved on.
"Alright," Raizel said as they boarded the final train. "We're heading to our true destination next. Once that's done, we'll return to the guild. It's been almost a month."
....
The Heartfilia Estate.
Upon arriving in the town nearest the Heartfilia lands, Raizel didn't just barge in.
He wrote a formal visiting card, sealed with the Fairy Tail emblem, and had a courier deliver it to the estate.
'To Lord Jude Heartfilia,Raizel Bael and Ultear Milkovich, Mages of Fairy Tail, request an audience.'
"Why the formality?" Ultear asked as they ate dinner at a local inn.
"It gives them time to investigate us," Raizel explained. "If we show up unannounced, they'll be defensive. If they know who we are, they'll be curious. Besides, Jude Heartfilia is a businessman. He respects power and leverage."
...
Raizel was right.
As soon as Jude received the card, he contacted the local information brokers.
Within hours, a dossier was on his desk.
Raizel Bael: Age 13. S-Class Mage of Fairy Tail. Known as "The Knight." Magic: Take Over (Royal Knight). Featured four times in Weekly Sorcerer Magazine as a rising prodigy.
Ultear Milkovich: Age 8. Daughter of the newly appointed Wizard Saint, Ur Milkovich. Magic: Speculated to be Ice-Make.
Jude frowned, tightening his grip on the papers.
"They haven't visited any other consortiums. They even skipped the Royal Palace. Why come to us?"
He looked at the photo of the young boy in armor.
The youngest S-Class Mage in Fiore's history. This wasn't a random visit.
...
The Heartfilia Estate was less a house and more a castle.
It sat on a hill, surrounded by acres of manicured gardens and private forests. It was a display of wealth that rivaled royalty.
"We are Raizel Bael and Ultear Milkovich," Raizel announced to the guards at the iron gate, flashing his Guild Mark.
"Please come in. Master Jude is expecting you," an elderly butler appeared as if by magic, bowing low.
They were led through halls lined with expensive art to a lavish reception room.
A maid served them tea in porcelain cups that probably cost more than Raizel's monthly rent.
"They're making us wait," Ultear whispered, sipping her tea.
"Power play," Raizel whispered back. "Let him have his moment."
Minutes later, the heavy double doors opened.
Jude Heartfilia walked in, looking stern and imposing in a tailored suit.
Beside him walked Layla Heartfilia, a woman of breathtaking beauty and warmth. She held the hand of a small girl.
Lucy Heartfilia.
She was about seven years old, tiny and delicate like a porcelain doll, hiding behind her mother's skirts.
She looked exactly like Layla.
Raizel and Ultear stood up.
"Welcome," Jude said, his voice booming but polite. "I am Jude Heartfilia. This is my wife, Layla, and our daughter, Lucy."
"It is an honor," Raizel bowed slightly. "I am Raizel. This is Ultear."
"We've been hearing mentions of Fairy Tail recently," Jude said, sitting down. "And 'The Knight' Raizel. The youngest S-Class Mage in history."
"You flatter me," Raizel smiled politely. He knew Jude had done his homework.
"I've heard you've been traveling across Fiore for a month," Jude cut straight to the chase, his businessman persona taking over.
"You visited tourist spots, but no other business conglomerates. You didn't visit the Royal Palace in Crocus. Why, then, have you come specifically to the Heartfilia Consortium?"
Jude leaned forward, his eyes sharp. "What business does a mage guild have with a railroad tycoon?"
Raizel set his teacup down with a soft clink.
The sound echoed in the quiet room.
"Pardon my bluntness, Lord Jude," Raizel said, his expression shifting from polite tourist to serious mage.
"We did not come to discuss railroads or business."
He turned his gaze directly to Layla.
"We came to speak with Lady Layla regarding the Eclipse Gate."
The air in the room froze.
Layla's breath hitched.
It was imperceptible to most, but Raizel saw her pupils dilute.
A flash of genuine panic crossed her gentle features before she masked it.
"The... Eclipse Gate?" Layla repeated, her voice steady but strained. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're referring to, young man."
"It is a family matter passed down from your ancestors four hundred years ago," Raizel said calmly, ignoring her denial.
"A gateway that connects points in time."
He leaned forward, locking eyes with her.
"And I am here because I know about the date. July 7th, Year X777."
Layla's hand tightened around Lucy's, her face turning pale.