"Who's this guy?" Shane's instincts screamed; his fingers stayed tight on the bowstring.
The redhead sighed at Shane's still-on-a-hair-trigger posture and picked his ear with his pinky. "Gildarts. I'm the mage here to fix this mess."
He even leaned toward the hole and called into the tavern, "Anyone inside, step out. I'm not great at pulling punches—things might get messy."
As he turned his head, Shane caught several fresh claw marks on the man's neck.
Mm? Woman—or cat?
A name tickled his memory. Gildarts… He was sure he'd heard it somewhere.
He watched a moment longer—open expression, no guile—and thumped the roof planks with his bow arm. "Erza! Stop! Change of plans—get up here!"
Clairvoyance told him enough: the man's power was unfathomable.
Strong—very strong. So strong that Shane couldn't be sure he could win.
"At least for now, he's not acting hostile…" he thought.
No answer from below—only louder crashes and howls.
Shane frowned and peeked down through the hole.
Inside, greenish mutants had piled into a mound, burying Erza from sight. Then—
"Haaaah!"
A clear shout—and a visible wave of mana detonated outward!
Glaring light blasted from Erza's center. The heap of mutants scattered like leaves in a gale, slamming into walls and tables, and a clear ring opened in the chaos.
Erza stood in the center, breathing a little hard, clothes dusty and askew, but posture tall with half a table leg in hand. Mana still curled around her—like a Valkyrie on a battlefield.
"Tsk tsk. She's getting scary," Shane thought, impressed.
"Ab-so-lute-ly not letting you off," came the chill of a stare. Even at a distance, he could practically hear her grinding her teeth at him.
His heart skipped—no idea what he'd done this time. He schooled his face and called down, "There's an exit. I'll scout it!"
He hopped back lightly and dropped to the gap Gildarts had smashed.
Just in case, he kept the release off and the bow leveled at the redhead.
Gildarts studied him with interest, feeling that warm, sunlike mana thrumming off the boy.
"Gentle and warm, yet blazing like sunlight… kids these days," he mused, rubbing his chin. Then he spread his hands to ease the mood. "Relax, kid."
He tugged his travel-stained cloak aside, showing the blue emblem branded over his left chest—a winged fairy.
"As you can see," he said, a little proud, "I'm Fairy Tail." Then, as if remembering, he hastily added, "A Legal Guild!"
"Fairy Tail… Gildarts…" Shane flash-searched the names.
Right—the tavern talk at the inn. A mage with absurd power and a casual streak that left streets and villages in ruins in his wake…
Shane's guard went up another notch; he edged a half step back.
Gildarts watched him retreat, pride freezing on his face, emotions tangling.
What the hell has the guild been up to? Our rep's so trashed even a solid citizen like me gets side-eyed?
Erza vaulted up through the hole and landed steady.
She stared around at the darkness like a skin over space, then leveled a hard glare at Shane.
Shane had no idea why she was mad now, but he prided himself on his EQ—so he smoothed it over, introducing Gildarts and easing the air.
What a mature man I am, he thought, nodding to himself.
"Wait!" Erza fixed on Gildarts, eyes widening. "Isn't this the drunk from the tavern—the one pawing at some woman?"
She swung to Shane. "He's Fairy Tail? Same guild as Grandpa Rob?"
That did ring a bell.
Before the baths—when he and Erza and Noel were "drinking"… juice—there had been a scene. He'd just been too focused on the hot spring to check faces.
He quietly drew Erza closer by the hand.
Her words hit Gildarts like little knives, right in the "guild reputation." He swore he heard something inside crack again.
"That was… normal flirting! Socializing! You know?" He flushed, hand to his chest, defensive voice pitching up. "How was I supposed to know her boyfriend was right there? And—"
He jabbed a finger at his face. "Onii-san is 37, okay? Prime of life! Peak charm!"
Then, not quite reassured: "Fairy Tail really is a legal guild."
Shane and Erza's synced look—pure skepticism—and the identical half-step back hit harder than any words.
Gildarts stared at the two impermeable kids and deflated. He rubbed his brow and dropped it.
Arguing with children—pointless. Work first.
He sighed; the lazy air vanished. His gaze sharpened; oppressive mana bled off him like heat. "I'm starting."
"You two, get outside."
~~~
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