After much thought, Shane truly had no impression of the name "Brain."
Lacking intelligence, he decided to borrow some wisdom from an elder.
He would go ask Master Makarov, one of the "Ten Wizard Saints." With the Master's experience, perhaps he would know something.
---
On the way to the guild, a chill from the riverbank hit their faces.
November was drawing to a close. On the streets of Magnolia, pedestrians' attire had visibly thickened, and their breath condensed into white mist in the cold air.
Shane actually didn't feel cold, but he still habitually rubbed his hands together and exhaled a puff of white air. He subconsciously looked at Erza beside him.
The girl was still wearing a thin dress, her exposed fair shoulders and arms showing no care for the chilly air. Her steps were steady, her expression composed.
This constitution... is almost catching up to mine, right? Shane was secretly surprised.
It seemed that ever since Erza awakened her Magic, not only was her Magic Power growing rapidly, but even her physical fitness was improving at an astonishing speed.
"Is there something on my face?" Sensing the gaze from the person beside her, Erza turned her head somewhat unnaturally, subconsciously tidying the slightly messy scarlet hair at her temples.
Shane shook his head and asked directly, "Erza, have you... become quite strong now?"
For the past month, he had thrown himself almost wholeheartedly into blacksmithing and really hadn't paid much attention to the specific progress of her strength.
His impression of Erza was still in the state when they wiped out Ghoul Spirit. Now that more than a month had passed, with her talent, it was really hard to say what level her strength had grown to.
"Want to have a serious match after a long time?" Erza's competitive spirit was easily ignited by this sentence. Her clear eyes looked straight over without avoiding his gaze, burning brightly.
"Please allow me to refuse." Shane waved his hand without hesitation.
Sparring was fine, but if they really got serious, he would likely be at a disadvantage without using "True Name Release." But using "True Name Release" would be bullying her too much, which was really meaningless.
"I feel that the current me can truly fight a serious Shane."
Even so, Erza, whose interest had been piqued, was relentless.
Not only did she not back down, but she chased half a step closer, the two almost sticking together.
Perhaps because she cared too much, her usually awe-inspiring voice unconsciously softened at this moment, the ending note slightly lighter, like a spoiled child. "Just once, just once!"
Shane was somewhat overwhelmed by her rare attitude and simply quickened his pace, wanting to leave her behind. "Let's talk about it later, later."
"!"
Erza frowned in dissatisfaction and immediately followed closely.
Shane sped up again, and Erza followed without showing weakness. In the end, the two almost sprinted, one after the other, rushing into the gate of the Fairy Tail guild with a gust of wind.
"Yo, you two are really close." Sitting in the corner, Cana, who was playing with cards alone, looked at the two rushing in and couldn't help teasing.
She then looked at Shane, her tone carrying a hint of ridicule. "The busy man actually has time to come to the guild today?"
No wonder her tone carried a bit of sarcasm. Previously, when she and Levy went to find Erza, Shane was obsessed with blacksmithing and didn't even come over to say hello.
Shane knew he was in the wrong, so he could only smile awkwardly and wisely changed the subject. "By the way, is the Master in? I have something to ask him."
"The Master," Cana curled her lip, "Seems to have gone to some regular meeting early in the morning. He probably won't be back until evening."
What bad timing. Shane sighed inwardly. The plan to consult Makarov could only be shelved temporarily.
He was thinking of going to the library to recharge after a long time, studying while waiting for the Master to return. Just then, Macao and Wakaba squeezed in from the door in a hurry.
The two looked a bit wretched, covered in dust, and their Magic Power fluctuations were a bit chaotic. Obviously, they had just returned from completing a commission, and their condition wasn't too good.
But their emotions were unusually excited. After entering the door, they didn't even look aside, rushing straight to the request board.
Whoosh—
The guild gate was left wide open due to their intrusion, and the cold wind from outside poured in, making empty glasses on nearby tables shake slightly.
Although Shane wasn't afraid of cold, being blown directly by the cold wind in a warm room was uncomfortable after all.
He went up to close the door and couldn't help saying to their backs, "You two uncles, at least close the door."
However, the two turned a deaf ear, their attention completely attracted by the same commission on the board. Two heads almost bumped together, neither giving way.
"Bastard Wakaba, you want to fight?"
"Bastard Macao, I saw this first!"
Before the words fell, purple flames and white smoke rose from the two respectively, the atmosphere instantly becoming tense.
Oh? The guild's classic program is staged so soon? Seeing the familiar plot unfold, Shane raised an eyebrow, unable to help sighing with emotion.
But thinking that it was rare for him to come to the guild, he wanted some peace and quiet for a while, so he prepared to go over and break up the fight.
But just as he made a move, Macao and Wakaba surprisingly restrained their Magic Power simultaneously with extreme tacit understanding. The flames and smoke dissipated abruptly.
The two glared at each other, snorted, then each chose another commission form, tore it off, turned around, and left the guild hurriedly again.
Shane widened his eyes, somewhat incredulous.
Unscientific... Was this still the Fairy Tail he knew? They actually each took a step back?
Seeing his face full of surprise, Cana leaned in mysteriously. "Of course, because this period is very special. Everyone has absolutely no time to fight."
"Special? What's special?" Shane asked back strangely, simultaneously looking around the entire guild hall subconsciously.
Looking at it this way, he realized something was indeed wrong.
Usually at this time, the hall should already be full of people drinking, bragging, and making noise. But now the number of people was obviously much less. Occasionally someone came in, they were also walking hurriedly, going straight to the request board, and leaving immediately after selecting a target without staying at all.
This... Shane simply couldn't believe it. He hadn't come for just a month, and the guild atmosphere had become so unfamiliar.
Compared to the guild suddenly becoming serious, he would rather believe that everyone was hypnotized by some strange magic.
"So, what exactly is going on?" Shane cast a confused look at Cana, who obviously knew the inside story.
"Hehe, guess..." Cana smiled smugly, wanting to keep him in suspense as a small revenge for Shane's "neglect" before.
"Because the selection of candidates for the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial is coming up," Erza on the side revealed the answer directly.
"Erza!" Cana stomped her foot in dissatisfaction, but Erza acted as if she didn't hear.
She spent most of her time in the guild these days, so she naturally knew the specific situation.
She explained to Shane in detail, "Every year at this time, the guild holds an assessment for promotion to S-Class Mage.
The Master will screen out members qualified to participate in the assessment based on their recent performance, mission completion, and strength evaluation.
As long as they pass the assessment, they will be recognized as having S-Class strength and officially obtain the status of S-Class Mage."