Year X772 — Late Summer
Location: Fairy Tail Guildhall, Magnolia
Age: Ren (7) | Erza (7)
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Fairy Tail was loud even on quiet days.
On this day, it was worse.
The long tables had been pushed aside. Benches scraped against the wooden floor. Guild members gathered in a loose circle, voices overlapping with excitement, disbelief, and barely restrained competitiveness.
"…A practice match?"
"…Against them?"
"…Aren't they still kids?"
Ren stood near the edge of the cleared space, hands tucked into his sleeves, breathing steady.
In.
Out.
> This is supposed to be friendly, he reminded himself.
No overdoing it.
Erza, on the other hand, looked like she was about to explode.
She bounced slightly on her feet, armor already equipped—simple, light, but unmistakably knightly. Her eyes shone.
"…They asked us," she whispered to Ren, barely containing herself. "…That means they're serious."
Ren smiled faintly. "…Or curious."
"…Same thing," she declared.
Makarov sat on the bar counter, pipe in hand, watching them closely. "…This is a practice match," he said loudly. "No killing intent. And if I say stop—"
"We stop," Erza finished immediately.
Ren bowed. "…Understood."
Across from them stood their opponents for the first round.
A tall man with spiky hair crackling faintly with lightning magic.
A broad-shouldered brawler with earth magic etched into his arms.
Neither were weak. Both were seasoned.
The lightning mage smirked. "…Try not to cry, kids."
Erza tilted her head. "…Why would we cry?"
Ren sighed softly.
> Please don't provoke them.
Makarov raised his hand. "…Begin."
---
The air shifted.
Ren inhaled deeply.
Not just air.
Heat brushed his lungs. Light followed his breath inward.
> Sun Breathing—Complete Form.
His heartbeat synchronized with his breathing, magic threading through muscle and bone in perfect circulation. Enchantments layered themselves automatically—strength, stability, perception—so seamless they felt like part of his body.
Beside him—
Erza exhaled.
Cool. Calm. Silver.
> Moon Breathing—Complete Form.
Her presence changed. Not explosive like Ren's—focused, precise, orbiting control rather than outward force. Her stance lowered, blade angled just enough to invite attack.
The guild felt it.
"…What is that," someone muttered.
The lightning mage frowned. "…They didn't cast anything."
They moved.
The earth mage charged, fist slamming into the floor. Stone surged upward like a wave.
Ren stepped forward.
> [Great Sage: Suggestion — Enchant ground-contact point. Redirect force vector upward.]
Ren's foot touched the stone.
The wave split—cleanly—rising harmlessly to either side.
Gasps rippled through the room.
Erza was already gone.
She slid between falling debris, armor shifting mid-motion—lighter greaves, reinforced gauntlets—blade flashing in a crescent arc that stopped an inch from the lightning mage's throat.
She didn't cut.
She could have.
"…Yield?" she asked calmly.
The lightning mage froze, eyes wide.
"…What—what was that speed?"
Ren turned as lightning crackled behind him.
Too late.
A bolt slammed into his back.
Pain flared—
—and vanished.
> [Automatic enchantment reinforcement successful.]
Ren stumbled forward a step, then turned slowly.
"…Are you okay?" he asked genuinely.
The lightning mage stared at him in horror. "…You didn't even flinch."
Ren scratched his cheek. "…I might have over-layered."
Makarov's pipe slipped from his mouth.
"…Stop," the Master said sharply.
The match ended in stunned silence.
---
The second match was worse.
More mages stepped forward.
Fire. Wind. Illusions.
Ren and Erza stood back-to-back, just like their training.
"…Same rhythm?" Erza murmured.
"…Always."
In.
Out.
Sun and Moon overlapped.
Ren's enchantments expanded—not outward, but around them. A shared space. A field of harmony.
> [Great Sage: New phenomenon detected — Cooperative enhancement.]
Erza moved like flowing moonlight, redirecting attacks with minimal effort. Ren supported without thinking—reinforcing her blade at the exact moment of impact, softening blows aimed at him before they landed.
Fire curved away.
Wind lost cohesion.
Illusions shattered the moment Ren noticed them.
Not because of power.
But because of clarity.
"…This isn't fighting," someone whispered. "…It's control."
The match ended with half the guild on the floor, laughing, groaning, or staring at the ceiling in disbelief.
Makarov finally stood.
"…Enough."
Ren's breathing slowed. Magic settled.
Erza blinked, then laughed nervously. "…Did we go too far?"
The Master walked toward them, expression unreadable.
Ren bowed deeply. "…We apologize if—"
Makarov placed a hand on his head.
Then Erza's.
"…You two," he said quietly, "…are monsters."
Ren stiffened.
Erza froze.
Then Makarov smiled—wide, proud, fond.
"…And Fairy Tail takes care of its monsters."
Laughter erupted.
Someone clapped them on the back.
Someone else ruffled Ren's hair.
Erza beamed like the sun itself.
---
Later, the guild settled into its usual chaos.
Food appeared. Drinks flowed. Stories grew exaggerated by the second.
Ren sat on the steps, sipping juice, legs swinging.
> We were seen today.
Not hunted.
Not feared.
Seen.
Erza dropped beside him, armor gone, hair messy. "…That was fun."
He smiled. "…You almost cut that guy."
"…Almost," she agreed proudly. Then quieter—"…You stayed with me."
Ren looked at her. "…I always will."
She nodded, satisfied.
Above them, the Fairy Tail emblem caught the light.
For the first time since Rosemary Village—
Ren felt it.
Not safety.
But belonging.
> [Great Sage: Observation — User has found an external anchor stronger than predictive models.]
Ren smiled faintly.
> Good. I wasn't planning on letting go.
---
End of Chapter 34 ☀️🌙