The Water Control spell was the foundation of nearly every water-based magic. Because of that, once Ur had fully mastered it, learning the remaining spells became significantly easier.
It took three full days, but eventually, Ur had successfully learned and could proficiently cast all three foundational spells. It might not sound much, but according to the notes left by his predecessor, someone with S-Class aptitude could use a spell like Water Control on their first try.
Compared to that, Ur's pace was still slow.
As a D-Class Mage, Ur's offensive power was practically nonexistent. Among Ur's three spells, only Water Bullet could be considered offensive. And even then, the most it could do was cause a brief sting, far from fatal.
But that didn't matter.
In a world where magic could be freely traded like any other commodity, power alone wasn't the only standard. Even weak spells could be useful in the right contexts and jobs.
After enjoying one last free meal at the orphanage cafeteria, Ur headed toward the Fairy Tail branch office situated near the orphanage grounds.
While orphans who learned magic were technically free to join any guild of their choosing, Ur never really considered any alternatives.
He had good reasons.
Firstly, joining Fairy Tail meant having a massive narrative advantage. He knew the world, the characters, and the events to come.
But more importantly, he owed his life to Fairy Tail's Guild Master, Makarov, who had taken in the original Ur when no one else would.
Even though Ur suspected that the old man probably wouldn't care about loyalty in such a small matter, his values as someone from modern China wouldn't allow him to be ungrateful. Some things were just a matter of principle.
The Fairy Tail branch at the orphanage was a simple, modest building. Only one staff member was assigned to that location.
After all, children who managed to become mages were rare. Even when it happened, they typically had low potential, so it made no sense to build an elaborate office for a handful of low-potential rookies.
As Ur walked inside, he immediately saw a middle-aged man slouched behind the reception desk. The man was chewing on a pipe, wore a slick pompadour hairstyle, and radiated boredom.
Ur's eyes flickered with recognition.
Though the real-life version looked slightly different from the anime, his distinctive features were unmistakable—especially that ridiculous pompadour, which hadn't gone bald yet.
Wakaba Mine.
A veteran member of Fairy Tail, Wakaba might have been comic relief in the anime, but in reality, he was no pushover, an A-Class Mage with real strength.
"Hey, kid. What do you want?" Wakaba didn't even lift his head at first, only glancing up with lazy curiosity.
Ur bowed politely and replied, "Uncle, I'd like to join the guild."
"Oh?" Wakaba raised an eyebrow. "You've learned magic already?"
His interest was piqued now. He stood up and studied Ur carefully.
"Yes." Ur didn't waste time. He pressed his palms together and cast the Water Shield spell.
A blue magic circle flared to life.
Moments later, a half-meter-wide shield of water formed in front of him.
"Ho... Not bad at all, kid."
There was a rare gleam in Wakaba's eyes.
He had seen his share of rookie mages, but few could cast a spell this fast and this smoothly. In actual combat, casting speed was often more critical than raw power. The faster you could activate your magic, the more likely you were to win.
"What's your name?" Wakaba asked.
"Ur Geld." Ur answered.
It was the name of the original body's owner, and Ur had chosen to keep it.
Wakaba nodded and pulled a thick book from under the counter. With a flick of his fingers, the book glowed, and the pages began flipping rapidly on their own. Eventually, a glowing image was projected into the air.
It was Ur's profile.
The picture came from Ur when he had first entered the orphanage years ago. But he hadn't changed all that much; one could tell it was the same person. A glance confirmed his identity.
Once Wakaba confirmed the match, he smiled warmly at Ur.
"Alright, since you've become a mage and wish to join, then on behalf of Fairy Tail, I welcome you!"
"Thank you."
Ur returned the smile, feeling genuinely pleased.
Normally, outsiders wanting to join a guild would need to pass a combat evaluation. But for orphans raised under the Council's eye, this step was skipped entirely.
Even if their aptitude was poor, at least one thing was guaranteed: they weren't spies from a dark guild. Their loyalty could be trusted absolutely.
In this world, while most guilds admired strength, they didn't discriminate against the weak, especially in Fiore, where most legal guilds upheld a sense of honor and unity.
Fairy Tail was no exception.
"Come on, kid," Wakaba said, stretching. "Let's go stamp your seal. From today on, you're one of us."
Ur quickly snapped out of his thoughts and got up.
Wakaba had noticed how diligently Ur had been training, and that earned him a measure of respect. But the old man couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret in his heart.
He was already in his thirties and had long come to terms with some harsh realities—like his irreversible baldness and his mediocre magical talent.
"D-Class magic potential... damn shame," Wakaba sighed internally.
Even if the guild treated everyone like family, no one was looked down on for being weak.
Strength was still the currency of survival in this world.
And D-Class magic aptitude? It didn't offer much promise.
They walked for nearly half an hour.
Eventually, a massive building came into view. Above its front gates, a flag bearing the winged symbol of Fairy Tail flapped proudly in the morning breeze.
It was the headquarters of Fairy Tail.
Ur had finally arrived.
"This... is where my story begins."