Rain poured steadily over the streets of Magnolia Town.
Pitter-patter… drip, drip, drip.
Under a blue umbrella, Juvia slipped quietly down an alleyway, making sure no one from Fairy Tail saw her. She stopped in front of a small, suspicious-looking potion shop and pushed open the creaking door.
"Oh-ho… so, you wish for someone to fall in love with you, do you?" The shopkeeper's grin was sly, almost predatory. "Well, you've come to the right place. I do have something for that."
A flash of lightning illuminated the room, followed by a deep crack of thunder.
"I… I just want him to notice me," Juvia said earnestly, her voice trembling with both hope and desperation. "That would be enough for Juvia."
"Hmm… for that level of desire, yes… I've got just the thing!" The shopkeeper rummaged through a cluttered shelf and then set a small glass bottle on the counter with a dramatic thunk.
Inside was a shimmering, suspiciously pink liquid.
"What is this…?"
"This," the shopkeeper said proudly, "is a Love Focus Elixir—a magic potion that will make your target's eyes burn with passion for you! No refunds. Sixty thousand Jewels!" He raised six fingers, smirking.
"T-that's really expensive…" Juvia's heart wavered as she stared at the bottle.
Sensing her hesitation, the shopkeeper leaned in, voice dripping with persuasion. "Oh, but this one's guaranteed to work. They sell out fast, you know. Miss this, and you'll never find another like it!"
"Guaranteed…?" Juvia's eyes widened, her thoughts already running wild. The image of Gray's handsome, stoic face flashed through her mind, and that was all it took to solidify her resolve.
"I'll take it! At full price!" she declared passionately, clutching the bottle close.
As she stepped out into the rain, her cheeks flushed pink. "Drip, drip… Gray-sama, Juvia will make you see her, no matter what."
Behind her, the shopkeeper chuckled as he stuffed a heavy bag of coins into his coat. "Heh… finally made enough to skip town." He started packing his belongings, ready to disappear before anyone realized he was a fraud.
The Next Morning — Fairy Tail Guild Hall
Sunlight streamed through the windows of the guild hall, bright and cheerful—completely at odds with yesterday's rain.
"Ugh, most of the guild's out on jobs today. So boring…" Lucy sighed, her chin resting on the table. Only Mira, Erza, and a handful of others were around. Kael and Laxus had left the day before on a secret mission assigned by the Master.
The fact that Makarov had sent two S-Class wizards at once made everyone curious—it had to be serious. But the old man wasn't talking, no matter how much they asked.
"You could go do some work yourself, Lucy," Mira suggested with a smile.
"I would—but Natsu doesn't want to take a job! Mira, do you know why?"
Lucy puffed her cheeks in frustration, slumping even lower.
Mira chuckled, polishing a glass. "No idea. But he looks like he's having the time of his life dancing over there. You know you don't have to wait for him, right?"
"Yeah, but we're a team," Lucy sighed. "I can't just ditch him…"
Mira leaned over the counter, voice teasing. "You and Natsu are like a couple, you know. You really do look cute together. I think he might even like you!"
"Wha—WHAT!?" Lucy's face went bright red as she whipped her head toward Natsu.
There he was, in the middle of the guild hall, dancing wildly with Happy.
"I shake! I shake!" Natsu chanted as the guild burst out laughing.
"Ahahaha! Look at him go!"
Lucy groaned. "Yeah… maybe not my type after all."
"Alright, Natsu, enough! We need to take a job already!" Gray snapped, approaching him.
"Put your clothes back on first, Gray!" Erza scolded sharply. "And Natsu—have you fried your brain with all that fire magic!?"
The two troublemakers froze under her glare. The entire guild could feel the pressure rising—Erza Scarlet was about to explode.
"Let them have some fun, Erza. Everyone needs to unwind sometimes," Kael's calm voice echoed in her mind's memory—though he wasn't there.
"Yeah!" Happy cheered. "Aye, sir!"
The laughter and chaos only grew louder as Natsu and Happy continued their bizarre table dance.
Lucy buried her face in her hands. "Nope. I can't do this."
"Aw, come on, Lucy," Mira giggled. "I still think you two are perfect together."
Lucy turned away, muttering—but her heart skipped a beat despite herself.
Meanwhile, outside the guild, Juvia was crouched behind a stone pillar, her umbrella trembling slightly in her hands.
"There he is… Gray-sama…" she whispered, watching him intently from afar.
Her cheeks flushed as she imagined his cool, sculpted face. "Ahh… his gaze… so intense…"
Her hands were shaking so badly she nearly dropped the potion bottle. "O-oh no… I spilled it again!"
Another failed attempt. The potion never even made it out of the bottle.
Elsewhere — In a Ruined Fortress
Kael and Laxus stood in the middle of a smoking battlefield, surrounded by unconscious members of a dark guild.
"Laxus," Kael said, crouching to check one of the fallen mages, "you really didn't hold back this time. We can't question them if they're all fried to a crisp."
"Tch. It was just a small thunder drop," Laxus replied dismissively, folding his arms.
Kael sighed. "Forget it. There are plenty more dark guilds to deal with. We'll get answers from the next one."
"The Master said the Oración Seis have been unusually active lately," Laxus said. "That's got the other dark guilds moving too."
"Exactly. All the more reason to wipe them out while we can." Laxus's eyes gleamed with disdain as he looked at the charred battlefield.
Kael stretched, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, before we do that, how about grabbing something to eat? I passed a great-looking BBQ place on the way here."
"…You're unbelievable."
"Hey, priorities. You can't fight dark guilds on an empty stomach."
Laxus rolled his eyes, but followed.
Kael smiled faintly. He already knew what was coming—this was the beginning of the Oración Seis arc.
Meanwhile — Aboard the Grimoire Heart Airship
In the shadowy chamber of the Dark Guild Grimoire Heart, Ultear knelt before her master.
"Master Hades, the Oración Seis have begun their operation," she reported. "But it seems they've encountered two powerful opponents already. How should we proceed?"
"Let them be," Hades replied coolly from the darkness. "There are always meddlers in this world. Better they destroy each other."
He leaned forward, a sinister smile curling beneath his beard. "While they're distracted, we will move closer to uncovering the key to Zeref's seal."
"Yes, Master. That would be ideal," Ultear said, bowing her head.
But as she turned away, the smirk faded from her face. A flicker of worry crossed her eyes.
"Kael… Gray…" she whispered under her breath.