January 1, X776 — Magnolia.
Six years had passed since Raizel first opened his eyes in the world of Earthland.
To him, these years sometimes felt like a vivid, extended dream.
But as he stood on the balcony of Makarov's house, watching the first sunrise of the new year, he knew it didn't matter.
Even if it was a dream, he intended to dream it until the very end.
He had been fortunate.
His Take Over magic had blossomed beyond his wildest expectations, and his growth rate had even surprised the Master.
He hadn't fought a Wizard Saint yet, but regular S-Class Mages from other guilds were no longer a threat to him.
Perhaps Fairy Tail's standards for S-Class were just absurdly high, skewing his perspective.
'But I can't slack off,' Raizel thought, tightening his grip on the railing.
'August. Irene. Zeref. Acnologia. They are mountains I still have to climb.'
He looked down at the quiet street.
He had changed fate for Ur, Ultear, and Erza.
Ur was alive, teaching her disciples and raising her daughter.
Ultear was free from the darkness of Grimoire Heart, spending her life atoning through kindness rather than sacrifice.
And Erza... she was safe.
Her eyes were whole, her spirit unbroken.
She didn't know the pain of the Tower of Heaven, the loss of Simon, or the betrayal of Jellal.
'Quality over quantity,' Raizel mused. 'I couldn't save everyone in the Tower, but I saved the core.'
Erza was still the Titania—disciplined, talented, and slightly terrifying when angry.
Gray and Lyon were already terrified of her.
Kagura too, had found a home, channeling her obsession into the sword rather than revenge.
And Laxus... well, Laxus was still a work in progress.
He hadn't fully developed his rebellious "I'm not Makarov's grandson" complex yet, likely because he now had peers like Raizel to keep him grounded.
'I absolutely must live a safe and peaceful life here,' Raizel vowed to the rising sun.
'Absolutely!'
...
January 4, X776.
Laxus returned from a long mission, covered in dust and smelling of ozone.
He barely had time to unpack before Makarov sat him down for "The Talk."
"It's time you boys stood on your own two feet," Makarov declared, sipping tea. "You're adults now. Get out of my house."
Laxus remained surprisingly calm. He simply nodded, agreeing that it was time.
"Here," Laxus tossed a small tin to Raizel.
"Oolong tea?" Raizel raised an eyebrow.
"Rare commodity from a merchant I saved," Laxus grunted, looking away. "Thought you'd like it."
It was a small gesture, but for the emotionally constipated Lightning Dragon Slayer, it spoke volumes.
...
January 7, X776.
Life returned to its rhythm.
Ur took Ultear, Erza, Cana, and Kagura on a girls' trip to the coast, leaving Raizel to enjoy a few days of solitude.
He spent his time strolling through Magnolia, enjoying the winter air.
When they returned, the group gathered in the Eastern Forest for lunch.
"I need to buy a house," Raizel announced between bites of a sandwich. "After that, we can start taking jobs again."
"Buy a house? Are you moving out?" Ultear blinked in surprise. "Why so sudden? Did the Master kick you out?"
"Basically," Raizel chuckled. "Gramps insisted. He said Laxus and I are too old to be mooching off him. Laxus is looking for a place near the cathedral, but I want something quieter."
"Erza, want to come along to help him look?" Ultear turned to the redhead.
Erza nodded vigorously. "Of course. Choosing a fortress is a serious matter."
"It's a house, Erza, not a fortress," Raizel sighed. "But yes, I'd appreciate the help."
"Where do you want to move?"
"I don't really want to live in the city center," Raizel explained. "I plan to live near the outskirts, close to the East Forest. Preferably with a yard. I want to grow vegetables."
"Farming?" Erza tilted her head, genuinely puzzled. "Your hobbies are getting stranger. First fishing, now farming. Are you retiring at 15?"
"It's called cultivating inner peace," Raizel defended himself.
"Whatever," Ultear laughed. "Let's go to the real estate agency this afternoon. We can settle it in one day."
The afternoon was spent touring properties with an overly enthusiastic agent named Stan.
The first house was a cozy cottage near the river.
"The lighting is terrible," Ultear shook her head immediately. "Too much shade. My plants would die."
"You don't have plants," Raizel pointed out. "I might get some tough."
...
The second house, a modern brick building.
"Too far from the water," Erza critiqued. "If there's a fire, we'd be in trouble."
...
The third house, a sturdy wooden lodge.
"Wouldn't this place be in the direct path of Gildarts Mode?" Raizel asked, looking at the map.
The agent sweated.
"Ah... well... insurance covers accidental crushing..."
"Pass."
In the end, Raizel chose a two-story villa on the edge of town.
It had an indoor area of about 200 square meters, a spacious living room, and a wrap-around porch.
Crucially, it had a large backyard enclosed by a simple wooden fence.
It wasn't cheap, but the location was perfect—quiet, close to the forest for training, and safely out of Gildarts' destruction zone.
"I'll take it," Raizel told the agent, handing over a heavy bag of Jewels.
He had saved almost everything from his S-Class missions over the year.
"Congratulations on your new home, Mr. Bael!"
After finalizing the paperwork, Raizel hired a renovation company on the spot.
"I want the kitchen redone, the floors polished, and the furniture replaced. Make it cozy."
...
That evening, they held a celebration at a local restaurant.
"So, you're officially a homeowner," Ultear toasted with her juice glass. "Feeling grown up?"
"Feeling broke," Raizel joked. "But it's nice to have my own space."
"When do you plan to start taking on missions again?" Erza asked, cutting into her steak. "My armor is getting rusty."
"Would you like to keep an eye on the renovations first?" Ultear asked.
"No need," Raizel shook his head. "I can ask Ur or Gramps to check in on the workers. They'll probably enjoy bossing people around."
"Then how about the day after tomorrow?" Erza suggested, her eyes lighting up. "We've rested long enough."
"Sounds good," Ultear nodded.
"Day after tomorrow it is," Raizel gave a thumbs up.
...
Two Days Later.
The team gathered at the train station.
Erza was hauling her massive cart of luggage (mostly cake and armor polish), while Raizel and Ultear traveled light with just backpacks.
This time they took on a task that could basically be said to have no reward.
It was discovered and proposed by Erza.
This task had been posted on the mission board since before the New Year, and the first stop of this mission journey was here.