The morning sun rose over Magnolia, casting a shimmering, golden path across the surface of Lake Sciliora. The water was calm, a stark contrast to the chaotic energy that usually defined the lives of the mages who lived near it. The birds were singing, the dew was fresh on the grass, and the air smelled of pine and possibility.
It was a perfect morning. Or, at least, it would have been, if not for the very specific, rhythmic complaints breaking the silence of the forest path.
Blake and Cana are seen walking towards the guild hall.
From a distance, they looked like the picture of romantic domesticity. They were close together, moving at a leisurely pace. But up close, the dynamic was a little more... complicated.
We can see Cana slightly limping. Every step she took with her right leg elicited a small wince; her usually confident, swaggering gait was replaced by a tender, careful shuffle. She was leaning heavily into Blake's side, her arm looped through his, but she wasn't just leaning for affection; she was using him as a human crutch.
And she was letting him know exactly why.
"Unbelievable," she muttered, her voice raspy with sleep and irritation, though a small, satisfied smirk played on her lips. She poked Blake hard in the ribs. "You're a monster. You know that? An absolute beast."
Blake, walking with his usual easy, long-legged stride, slowed down to match her pace. "Cana..."
"No, don't you 'Cana' me," she grumbled, shifting her weight and hissing a breath through her teeth. She looked up at him, her brown eyes narrowing playfully. "I can't seem to satiate you, no matter how many times I try, I always fall unconscious."
She let out a dramatic sigh, throwing her free hand up to her forehead. "I'm going to need a wheelchair. Or a healing spell. Or maybe just a new set of hips. You've ruined me, Blake Corvus."
Hearing that, Blake sheepishly rubs the back of his head. A distinct flush of red crept up his neck, visible even against his tanned skin. For all his power, for all his stoic combat ability, Cana's unfiltered commentary on their nightlife always managed to break his composure.
"I... well," Blake stammered slightly, looking anywhere but at her teasing face. "You weren't exactly telling me to stop, Cana. In fact, if I recall correctly—"
"Details, details," she interrupted, waving him off. She stumbled slightly over a tree root.
Blake reacted instantly. He stopped, his expression shifting from embarrassment to care. He stepped in closer, removing her arm from his elbow and sliding his arm firmly around her waist. He pulled her flush against him, taking a significant portion of her weight onto his own frame.
"I've got you," he said softly.
He helps her walk towards the guild hall with a hand around her waist, helping her walk. The grumbling stopped immediately. Cana leaned into him, melting into his side, her head resting on his shoulder. The limp became less of a hindrance and more of an excuse to be as close to him as physically possible.
"Better?" he asked.
"Much," she hummed.
They continued down the path, the banter softening into a comfortable silence as the spires of the Cardia Cathedral and the massive structure of the Fairy Tail guild hall came into view.
As they approached the guild, the familiar sound of chaos—shouting, crashing furniture, and explosion magic—drifted out to greet them. Blake pushed the heavy double doors open with his free hand, guiding Cana through the threshold.
The guild was in full swing. Natsu was currently trying to wrestle a table. Gray was looking for his underwear. Macao and Wakaba were already drinking. It was home.
Then, once inside, they go to the bar table.
Blake sat at the bar, leaning his elbows on the bar table. Mirajane, the guild's heart and soul, was there in an instant, her smile bright and knowing.
"Good morning, you two," Mira chimed. "You look... lively."
"Morning, Mira," Blake said. "The usual for me. And... maybe some water and a light breakfast for Cana?"
"Ale," Cana corrected immediately. "Heavy one."
"Water," Blake insisted firmly.
Mira giggled, pouring a mug of ale for Blake and a large glass of ice water for Cana. "Coming right up."
As Blake took his first sip, letting the cool liquid wash away the dust of the walk, he scanned the guild hall. His eyes landed on a small table near the window, where a familiar blue-haired girl was sitting with a white cat, looking over a request flyer.
Then he sees Wendy.
The young Sky Dragon Slayer looked much more settled than she had the day before. She wasn't cowering; she was engaged in conversation with Carla, looking thoughtful.
Blake tapped Cana's hand, signaling he'd be right back, and walked over to the table.
"Wendy," he greeted, his deep voice gentle.
Wendy jumped slightly, then looked up, her face breaking into a wide, sunny beam. "Blake-san! Good morning!"
"Morning," Blake smiled, leaning against a nearby pillar. "How was the night in Fairy Hills. Was the room okay? Not too noisy?"
Hearing that, Wendy says she had a good sleep. "It was wonderful! It's so big compared to the tents at... at home. But it's really cozy!" Her eyes sparkled. "And Erza was helping me there. She came by last night with extra blankets and showed me how the lacrima-shower works. She even helped me unpack my clothes!"
Erza, the terrifying Titania, is playing the doting big sister. It fit, in a way. Erza had a soft spot for cute things, and Wendy was arguably the cutest thing in the guild.
Hearing that, Blake nods. "That's good. Erza takes care of her own. If you need anything—furniture, books, anything—you just let me know, okay?"
"I will! Thank you, Blake-san!"
He looked back at the young girl. Then Blake asks Wendy, "What will you be doing today. Are you taking a day to explore Magnolia?"
Wendy shook her head, her expression turning serious and determined. "Natsu-san and Gray-san invited me! They said they could use a support mage for a mission."
Blake chuckled. Team Natsu was dragging the new kid along immediately. It was the best way to learn, he supposed. Trial by fire. Or in this case, trial by Natsu.
Hearing that, Blake nods. "Just stay behind Erza. And if Natsu tries to do something stupid, don't be afraid to cast a support spell on... well, on Erza, so she can hit him harder."
Wendy giggled. "I'll do my best!"
As Wendy ran off to join Natsu and Lucy by the request board, Blake turned his attention back to the woman beside him.
Cana, who was sitting nearby, had finished her water and was looking at him with a contemplative expression. She was drumming her fingers on the bar top. The guild was loud, frantic, and full of people.
"Hey," she said, tugging on his sleeve.
"Yeah?"
"I'm bored," she stated flatly.
"You're bored? We've been here ten minutes."
"Not that kind of bored," she said, leaning in close so only he could hear. "I mean... I love the guild. I do. But look at them." She gestured to the brawling masses. "It's the same old thing. And everyone keeps staring at us, whispering about Gildarts or making kissing faces."
She rested her chin on her hand. "Let's go on a quest, I mean a real quest. Just the two of us."
Blake looked at her. He saw the wanderlust in her eyes. He knew that feeling well. After the intensity of the Oracion Seis battle, and the emotional high of their relationship going public, the idea of just sitting around waiting for the next crisis didn't sit right.
"You want to get out of town," Blake deduced.
"I want a vacation," she corrected. "But a paid one. With you."
Hearing that, Blake agrees. A slow smile spread across his face. "I think that sounds like the best idea I've heard all week. You pick the job. I'll drive."
Cana beamed, the lingering soreness in her legs apparently forgotten as she hopped off the stool. Then, Cana goes to the quest board. She scanned the high-paying regular jobs. She was looking for a quest where they could have fun and a long quest.
She flipped through the flyers.
Subjugation of a Sea King? Too wet.
Escort mission for a Noble? Too boring.
Guarding a shipment of gold? Too much paperwork.
Her eyes landed on a parchment that had gathered a bit of dust. It wasn't a combat mission. It was an exploration and retrieval mission.
QUEST: Recovery of the Moon-Bloom Orchid.
LOCATION: The Deep Forests of the Continent of Giltena.
DIFFICULTY: A-Rank (Due to travel distance and environmental hazards).
REWARD: 2,500,000 Jewels.
"Giltena..." Cana mused. It was the northern continent. Far away. It would require a ferry crossing, mountain driving, and camping. It was perfect. She slammed the paper down on the bar in front of Blake.
"This one," she declared triumphantly. "The Moon-Bloom Orchid. It only blooms under a specific lunar phase in the mountains of Giltena. It's rare, it's valuable, and it's really, really far away."
Blake picked up the paper, scanning the details. "Giltena, huh? That's a solid three-day drive just to get to the coast, then the ferry, then the trek into the mountains."
"Exactly," Cana grinned. "Just you, me, the open roads. No guild masters yelling, no dark guilds trying to end the world. Just an adventure."
Blake agrees to go on a quest with her. "Sold. Pack your bags, Cana. We're going on a road trip."
They took the request paper to the Master. Makarov was currently trying to stop Natsu from setting fire to a new rug.
"Master!" Blake called out.
Makarov looked up, relieved for the distraction. "Blake! Cana! What is it?"
"We're taking this one," Blake said, handing him the request.
Makarov squinted at the paper. "Giltena? That's a long journey. Are you sure? You just got back from the Oracion Seis incident."
"That's exactly why we're going," Cana said. "We need some air. And the pay is good."
Makarov looked at the two of them. He saw the bond between them, stronger than ever. He saw the need for them to have their own space, away from the pressures of the guild and the looming shadow of Gildarts (whenever he might return).
"Very well," after getting the quest agreed by Makarov. He stamped the paper. "Go. Have fun. And try to bring back a souvenir for an old man, eh?"
"Will do, Master," Blake nodded.
They left the guild hall, the noise fading behind them as they walked toward Blake's mansion to pack. An hour later, they stood in Blake's underground garage.
The dark green Lamborghini Urus sat under the magical lights, gleaming and predatory. It was fully fueled with a high-capacity Mana Crystal, tuned up, and ready.
Blake opened the trunk, and they threw in their travel bags—clothes, supplies, and in Cana's case, a magically preserved crate of her favorite vintage wines.
Cana slides into the plush leather passenger seat. She stretched her legs out, sighing happily at the comfort.
Blake walked around to the driver's side. He slid in, the seat molding to his frame. He placed his hands on the wheel, feeling the hum of the car as he engaged the ignition rune. The engine roared to life, a deep, throaty growl that echoed in the garage.
He looked over at Cana. She put on a pair of sunglasses, leaned back, and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Drive," she commanded.
Then, after getting the quest agreed by Makarov, they both get into Blake's car and start their journey.
The garage door opened, and the Urus shot out into the sunlight. Blake navigated through the streets of Magnolia, the engine purring. They passed the guild hall one last time, seeing Natsu and Gray fighting in the street. Blake honked the horn once—a deep, loud blast—waving as they sped past.
They hit the outskirts of the town, the road opening up before them. The trees blurred into a green streak. Blake pressed the accelerator, and the car surged forward, eating up the miles.
Magnolia disappeared in the rearview mirror. Ahead of them lay the horizon, a new continent, and the freedom of the open road.