As the first light of morning appeared, the entire world was veiled in a thin twilight and the city of Magnolia was no exception.
At this moment, it stood silently and mysteriously upon the land, like a sleeping beauty.
This was especially true for the train station at the city's edge, which was filled with a cool, damp air.
Amidst the tranquility, a massive magic-powered train rested silently on the wide railway tracks.
Its enormous body exuded a heavy, oppressive feeling, yet it also possessed an indescribable air of majesty.
Puffs of white smoke billowed continuously from the front of the train, tumbling upwards before dissipating into the sky...
Ace arrived at the platform on time and immediately spotted Mirajane, who was already waiting there.
With her arms crossed, she leaned against a pillar, her face clearly saying, 'Strangers, keep away.'
Lisanna stood beside her, dressed in light-colored clothes suitable for activity, smiling and waving at Ace.
However, what surprised Ace was the presence of two (or was it three?) other familiar figures on the platform.
"Aye! Ace, are you taking this train too?" Happy flew over, flapping his wings.
"Yo! Ace!" a cheerful but obviously weak voice called out.
Ace turned his head to see Natsu slumped on a bench, his face green and his forehead beaded with sweat, looking like he was about to ascend to the heavens.
What surprised him even more was the person standing next to Natsu, looking somewhat awkward and nervous—it was Elfman!
"What are you all..." Ace looked at Mirajane, confused.
Mirajane snorted in annoyance and turned her face away.
Lisanna quickly explained with a smile, "Elfman and Natsu took on a simple quest to clear out some low-level Magical Beasts on the outskirts of the mountains. It happens to be in the same direction we're going, so we're taking the train together." She gave a helpless smile.
Ace understood.
It seemed the Master's words about "Elfman trying to be independent" were true.
He just didnt expect that for his first step toward "independence," his choice of a temporary teammate would be... Natsu.
Was this really his own choice?
"Wooo—"
The whistle blew a long blast; the train was about to depart.
Everyone boarded the carriage.
Mirajane was the first to walk to a window seat, sitting down without hesitation.
Ace glanced at Natsu, who was already sprawled on the opposite seat and beginning to groan in pain, and without a second thought, sat down next to Lisanna.
Elfman looked at the remaining empty seats and finally had no choice but to sit next to Natsu, his body looking somewhat stiff.
The train started, gradually picking up speed and the scenery outside began to fly backward rapidly.
The moment the train reached a certain speed, Natsu's "disaster" began.
"Ugh... Blergh..." He covered his mouth, his face turning from green to white.
He slid under the seat like a pile of sludge, letting out pained whimpers.
"Natsu! Get a grip!" Happy flew anxiously around his head.
"A... a real man... shouldn't get... motion sickness..." Elfman muttered under his breath as he watched Natsu's miserable state, but his expression grew even more tense as he couldn't think of a way to help.
The atmosphere inside the carriage, meanwhile, became even more peculiar.
Lisanna, with her cheerful personality, quickly struck up a conversation with Ace.
They chatted about everything from the possible details of their mission to amusing anecdotes from the guild, and then to a new dessert shop that had opened in Magnolia.
Her laughter was crisp and pleasant as Ace also relaxed, responding with a smile.
However, Mirajane, sitting next to Lisanna, occasionally pretended to look at the scenery outside.
She seemed to want to join the conversation several times, her lips moving slightly, but she either didn't know what to say or couldn't bring herself to do it.
In the end, she just turned her face further toward the window.
Ace glanced at her cold demeanor, thinking to himself that she really was a girl who wasn't honest with her feelings.
As for Elfman, sitting next to Ace, he was in a completely different state.
He sat bolt upright with his hands on his knees, his eyes occasionally darting toward Ace, who was chatting and laughing with Lisanna, before quickly looking away, appearing as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
He seemed desperate to say something to Ace, this "rival" who had "stimulated" his desire to become stronger—perhaps to ask for advice on how to get stronger, or at least to say hello.
But his introverted nature and the bit of cowardice that still lingered within him prevented him from speaking, leaving him to sit rigidly like a statue.
The journey was quite pleasant.
Ace and Lisanna were having a great time talking.
On the other side was the scene of Natsu's pained groans and Happy's anxious flitting, along with the "awkward zone" formed by Mirajane, who radiated a "leave me alone" aura, and the fidgety Elfman, where the atmosphere was frozen solid.
For some, this journey felt exceptionally long.
A few hours later, the train slowly came to a stop at a small mountain station.
Natsu practically scrambled and crawled off the train, collapsing onto the platform and gasping for air as if he had been reborn.
Happy fanned him from the side.
The others disembarked one by one.
A fresh mountain breeze, carrying the fragrance of pine needles and earth, washed over them.
Mirajane took a deep breath, as if to sweep away the stuffiness from the carriage.
She walked over to Natsu, who had finally recovered, and the still-nervous Elfman.
With her hands on her hips, her expression was stern.
"Listen up, you two!" Her gaze fell mainly on her brother. "Your mission area is in the western valley, clearing out some low-level goblins and venomous hornets. Don't go any deeper! If you run into any trouble, fire a signal flare immediately, understand?" She took out two magic signal flares and forcefully shoved them into Elfman's hands.
"S-Sis, I know," Elfman replied in a small voice, taking the flares.
"And you, Natsu!" Mirajane turned to Natsu. "Go back as soon as you're done! Don't you dare drag my brother into any trouble! If he loses a single hair on his head, I skin you alive!"
"I... I know, Mirajane, you're so naggy..." Natsu waved his hand weakly, but there was still a hint of fear in his eyes.
Watching Mirajane, whose tone was fierce but whose eyes couldn't hide her concern, Ace felt a slight stir in his heart.
This difficult "She-Devil" actually cared deeply for her siblings.
After giving her instructions, Mirajane turned around and said curtly to Ace and Lisanna.
"Let's go. The mountain path to the north." Her expression returned to its usual coldness, but when her gaze swept over Lisanna, a trace of softness inadvertently showed through.
The two small teams parted ways at the station.
Natsu and Elfman headed toward the western valley, while Ace, Mirajane, and Lisanna set foot on the more rugged path leading deep into the eastern mountains.
But suddenly, a group of people in strange attire and holding weapons burst out from the woods, surrounding them.
"Well, well, a few little kids having a picnic, why dont y'all leave your valuables, and we'll spare your lives," the leader said with a loud laugh.
Mirajane snorted coldly, clenching her fists as a powerful magic energy emanated from her body.
"You dare try to rob us?"
The bandits swarmed forward.
Mirajane was the first to charge out, engaging them in a fierce battle.
Not to be outdone, Lisanna used a partial "Cat" Take Over, allowing her to weave nimbly between the bandits, looking for opportunities to strike.
Ace, meanwhile, observed the situation from the side, searching for a flaw in the bandit group.