Once everything settled down, Mirajane returned to Ken, cradling the soul of Satan in her arms.
Ken nodded slightly, his gaze turning toward the exit, ready to leave, when a faint voice whispered in his ear.
"Mira, did you hear that?"
Mirajane paused, confused. "It sounds like... the cry of a baby? It's coming from where Ares Dreadfall appeared just now!"
Ken, sensing something unusual, grabbed Mirajane's arm. With a flick of his wrist, the wings of the Storm Dragon unfurled, and they shot up toward the second floor.
The second floor was in stark contrast to the chaos below. Unlike the mess of the main hall, Ares Dreadfall's room was surprisingly orderly.
If one hadn't seen the twisted nature of its former inhabitant, they might have mistaken it for the home of a refined gentleman.
The faint cry grew louder as they approached the bed at the far end of the room. Mirajane's eyes widened as she finally heard it.
When they got closer, they saw a small baby girl, still in her infancy, crying softly in the cradle.
"Hey~" The baby, noticing Ken and Mirajane, stretched out her tiny hand and flailed it in the air before bursting into more cries.
Mirajane, instinctively, reached down and cradled the infant in her arms, rocking her gently to try and soothe the child.
Ken looked down at the baby and spoke softly, his eyes reflecting the gravity of the situation. "Perhaps she's another child taken from Gruk Village... but before she could be cursed and have her spiritual power absorbed..."
Mirajane, her face softening with empathy, added, "She's lucky to have escaped the Evil Spirit Temple. We're the ones who found her, despite Ares Dreadfall's interference."
"But why does she keep crying? I can't seem to calm her down..." Mirajane's voice tinged with worry.
Ken thought for a moment, then said, "Maybe she's hungry? Those people in the Evil Spirit Temple didn't seem too concerned about babies."
Mirajane's face paled at the suggestion, and her eyes widened in panic.
"What should I do? I haven't taken care of a child this young in so long..." she fretted, her mind racing back to when she last took care of Lisanna as a baby.
Ken, noticing Mirajane's growing anxiety, glanced over at her in thought. His eyes briefly landed on her figure before he broke the silence.
"How about… you feed her?" he suggested, his voice casual yet thoughtful.
Mirajane blinked in confusion. "What?"
It wasn't until her gaze met Ken's that she understood what he meant, and her cheeks flushed a deep shade of red.
"How could I do something like that... No, do you want to take a peek?" she stammered.
Ken immediately denied it, raising his hands in defense. "What!? I'm not trying to take advantage of the situation! Besides, it's not like I didn't see you when I rescued you from Evergreen during the guild civil war..."
"Ah?" Mirajane's face turned an even deeper shade of red at the unexpected reminder.
Ken, realizing he might have dug himself into a hole, quickly cleared his throat. "Ahem, forget that part! How about this: You hold her for now, and I'll go find something edible in the kitchen."
With a relieved sigh, Ken darted toward the back hall with the same speed he used to dash into battle.
As he walked through the hallway, he cast a glance behind him to see that Mirajane wasn't following. He sighed in relief and began searching the kitchen.
"Onions, garlic, ketchup..." Ken muttered to himself as he sorted through the cluttered counter. "What's this...?"
His fingers brushed against a glass bottle filled with a white liquid.
"Is this milk?" Ken's expression brightened.
He grabbed the bottle, but then paused for a moment. Unscrewing the cap, he took a quick swig. "Bah, bah, bah... Fortunately, it's still good."
He quickly returned to the main hall, the bottle of milk in hand. As he entered, he found Mirajane had finally managed to calm the baby girl. The infant, now content, lay peacefully in Mirajane's arms, eyes fluttering closed.
Mirajane's voice was soft and tender. "Shall we take her back to Fairy Tail?"
Ken nodded casually, but his tone held a hint of fondness. "Of course we have to. We can't leave her here. And... you seem to be showing a little..."
Mirajane raised an eyebrow. "A little what?"
Ken, suddenly realizing his mistake, paused, then finished with a teasing smirk, "A little glow of motherhood."
Mirajane's face turned red again, and she shot him a playful glare. "Ken!"
The baby's gentle snoring filled the silence between them, and slowly, Mirajane's embarrassment faded as she looked down at the child in her arms. She spoke softly, almost to herself, "Could you give her a name?"
Ken thought for a moment. Without hesitation, the name slipped from his lips.
"Mina."
"Mina Strauss." Ken looked at the baby, smiling. "From now on, she'll be part of your family—your and Elfman's family."
Mirajane paused, her eyes filled with emotion as she looked at Ken. A wave of gratitude seemed to wash over her, and she gave him a small but meaningful smile.
"Thank you, Ken..." she whispered.
After everything had settled, they finally set out for their return journey to Fairy Tail.
The mission had been completed, and the immediate danger was lifted. But the burden of loss still lingered.
Mirajane, holding little Mina, activated the Soul of Satan once more, her wings lifting them both toward Magnolia.
As they soared over the hills they had crossed before, Mirajane's pace slowed. She looked back toward the village, her expression tinged with nostalgia.
Seeing her somber mood, Ken also folded his wings, landing gently on the hilltop. "Do you want to go back and take a look one last time?" he asked softly.
Mirajane nodded, a faint sorrow in her eyes. "This is probably the last time I'll come back to Gruk Village."
The once peaceful village of Gerak now lay in ruins, consumed by fire with no survivors in sight. In time, the place would be lost to history.
Ken sighed, understanding the heaviness in her heart, and followed her as she made her way toward the northwest side of the village.
After ten minutes of flying, they arrived at the corner of the village where Mirajane had once lived. Ken's expression softened as he saw her hesitate in front of what had once been her home.
Mirajane expected the house to be reduced to rubble, but surprisingly, the building stood there, unchanged from her memories.
With its short eaves and narrow passage, it didn't seem large enough for three children to live in. But somehow, amidst the destruction, it had remained untouched.
Mirajane stared at the house, disbelief in her eyes. "How is this even possible... the house is still here?"
Ken, standing beside her, smiled faintly. "Maybe it's just too old and dilapidated for the Evil Spirit Temple to bother with. They probably thought it was abandoned when they attacked."
He then activated his Iron Dragon magic and sliced through the overgrown weeds with ease, clearing the path to the front door.
(Next Chapter: A New Chapter)