"Tell me about Fairy Tail." August skipped the pleasantries, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.
August possessed magic capable of hearing the voices of the heart, but he chose not to use it.
Such power was best used sparingly; the thoughts of men were often dark, and true sincerity was a rare gem.
"Guild life is ordinary, but happy," Ultear shared her genuine thoughts. "We make a ruckus, take on jobs, and train together."
"Hmm... Fairy Tail is the best guild in the world!" Erza felt the same as Ultear, but phrased it with her characteristic conviction.
"Hahaha, that is good to hear." August's reaction surprised Raizel. The old man burst into hearty laughter, leaning on his staff with one hand while stroking his beard with the other.
'Mother would be happy to know that, wouldn't she? I would love to see Mother's smile...'
August didn't dwell on the thought, merely content in the knowledge that since her guild was so wonderful, she must be happy.
He was also impressed; these children possessed remarkable magical power for such a tender age.
"How old are you?" Having received a satisfactory answer about the guild, August asked only one question regarding the trio.
"Fifteen." "Eleven." "Ten."
Raizel, Erza, and Ultear answered in order.
'Eleven years old? 'August's gaze lingered on Erza.
He was certain now—this was Irene's daughter. Irene had joined Alvarez around that time.
He kept this to himself since Irene never spoke of her past.
"August-sama, I would like to make a deal with you."
Seeing August's surprisingly amiable demeanor, Raizel took the initiative.
"Oh?" August's eyes held a hint of surprise.
Since this boy knew his name, he likely knew of his strength, which explained the respectful attitude.
Yet, he hadn't expected the boy to dare propose a bargain with him.
Raizel stated his request first. "I need you to help me find a woman in the Western Continent. Her name is Grammi. She has green hair and is a Celestial Spirit Mage."
"And the condition? Why should I help you find her?" August waited to see what terms the boy could possibly offer.
Finding someone in the Western Continent was a trivial task for the Magic King.
What Raizel was about to say was practically a death sentence for him.
He took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and spoke in the calmest tone he could muster.
"Tenrou Island. Mavis."
As those words reached August's ears, his eyes suddenly narrowed sharply like a hawk spotting prey.
BOOM.
Terrifying magic power erupted from his body, a pillar of energy shooting straight into the sky.
Erza and Ultear widened their eyes, looking up—it felt as though the heavens themselves had been torn asunder.
August had restrained the output; he was kind to children and spared Erza and Ultear the weight of his aura.
However, he let the pressure bear down directly on Raizel.
He didn't intend to kill the boy, but he demanded an answer.
Raizel withstood the overwhelming pressure, sensing no killing intent on it.
Suddenly, the pressure vanished.
August had withdrawn his power.
"I demand an explanation." August's voice was calm, yet it left no room for argument.
"Wait here for me," Raizel said, standing up.
He pressed down on the shoulders of the girls, who were about to rise with him, then turned his gaze to August.
"Shall we speak elsewhere?"
"No, we're coming with you!" Erza and Ultear had always obeyed Raizel, but they couldn't let him walk away alone with this monster.
"There is no danger. He doesn't intend to kill me. We just have matters to discuss that you cannot hear." Raizel looked into their eyes, his expression firm. "If he wanted to kill us, we would already be dead."
"Can you guarantee it?" Ultear and Erza's faces were tense, their brows furrowed in worry.
Raizel's earlier terror was still fresh in their minds.
"Yes, I guarantee it." Raizel's eyes were sincere and clear.
August watched the exchange quietly.
"Alright. Please." Raizel turned to face the Magic King.
August said nothing.
He tapped his staff lightly on the ground, and in an instant, both he and Raizel vanished from before Erza and Ultear's eyes.
'Who was that exactly? And why did Raizel mention the First Master?' Ultear frowned, deeply puzzled.
...
High Above in the Sky
"I have cast a soundproofing barrier. Additionally, I can now determine whether your words are lies. Speak."
"Fairy Tail's First Master, Mavis... due to her immense magical power, her consciousness did not dissipate after death," Raizel began, his voice steady. "No, it would be more accurate to say she currently exists in a state between life and death. Her magical power and consciousness have merged to form a spirit body. Only Fairy Tail members bearing the Guild Mark can see her."
"Continue." August used his magic to verify the truth.
He was astonished to find Raizel was speaking honestly, but this wasn't the answer he sought.
"I know that you are the son of Mavis and Zeref."
"Hahaha... Hahahaahahahahahaahaha"
August suddenly laughed and just laugh.
He laughed for a long time.
He didn't know how Raizel had discovered this secret, but a strange sense of relief washed over him.
Finally, someone knew of his existence!
Precht probably never imagined the child had survived.
August closed his eyes, and right there in front of Raizel, tears streamed down the old man's weathered face.
Raizel remained silent, though he was internally sweating.
He suspected August might silence him to keep the secret.
Seeing the mighty Pillar of the Empire, the Magic King, shedding tears was a sight few mortals would survive witnessing.
Finally, August opened his eyes.
"Do you wish to see the First Master?" Raizel asked softly. "With your power, you should be able to see her even without the Guild Mark."
Raizel assumed August knew Jacob's magic—seeing a spirit without the Guild Mark would be effortless for him.
Raizel would simply take him there; whether August chose to reveal himself was his own choice.
Raizel felt a pang of sympathy for the Magic King.
Zeref could never acknowledge August—if he felt love, the Curse of Ankhseram would kill the boy.
But Mavis was different.
She was a spirit body; the Curse's contradictions wouldn't apply to August.
As long as her consciousness didn't merge with her main body beneath the Guild (Lumen Histoire), it was safe.
"Very well," August said, his voice thick with emotion. "But before that, I intend to fulfill my promise to you."
He truly wanted to see her, even if he could never call out to her.
He tapped his magic staff again, and the two reappeared beside the table on the ground.
"Raizel!"
Ultear and Erza exclaimed the moment he returned, circling him to check for injuries.
Seeing he was unharmed, they finally patted their chests and breathed a sigh of relief.
"I told you I was fine. No need to worry."
"The woman you mentioned is named Grammi, she has green hair, and lives in the Western Continent, correct?" August asked calmly, having composed himself.
"Yes."
Raizel was curious to see how August would find a single person on a massive continent.
In the blink of an eye, countless glowing geometric screens appeared floating in the air beside August, accompanied by a massive, detailed holographic map of the Alvarez Empire.
Data streamed rapidly through the screens, moving faster than the eye could track.
Raizel, Erza, and Ultear watched the dense flurry of information until they felt dizzy.
"Found her."
Raizel didn't time it, but he estimated it took less than ten seconds.
August enlarged one of the images—it showed a small wooden cabin.
Sitting in front of it was a woman with tied-up green hair, alongside a little girl who shared her hair color.
Raizel's mouth twitched.
'That was absurdly fast... its just too unbelievable.'
"That's her." Raizel suppressed his astonishment and nodded.
"Stand steady." August nodded.
He tapped his magic staff on the ground, and a complex magic circle illuminated the earth beneath the four of them.