Chapter 284: Homeless
"Hmm, the one participating today? She's a very powerful girl."
Erza Scarlet leaned back against the park bench, the cool night air of Crocus brushing against her skin.
The distant sounds of the festival were muted here, replaced by the chirping of crickets and the rustle of leaves.
"She is," Millianna nodded, her cat-like hood twitching with her movements. "She's Simon's younger sister."
"What?!"
Erza was taken aback; her eyes widened in genuine shock. The name struck a chord deep within her heart, resonating with memories of the Tower of Heaven—pain, slavery, rebellion, and ultimately, redemption. She hadn't expected that Kagura Mikazuchi, the stoic ace of Mermaid Heel, was actually Simon's flesh and blood.
"Simon's... sister?" Erza repeated, her voice softening.
"Yes. They were separated when we were taken to the Tower," Millianna explained, kicking her legs slightly. "She's been looking for him for a long time."
"Then I'm truly happy for Simon! Being able to reunite with family is the best thing!"
After her initial shock, a wave of warmth washed over Erza. In another life, perhaps Simon might have perished in the chaos of the Tower, sacrificing himself for her. But in this reality, thanks to the intervention of a certain unpredictable Mage, Simon was alive. He was safe.
"I heard he opened a restaurant near your guild?" Erza asked, a gentle smile gracing her lips.
"He did! And it's doing really well!" Millianna beamed. "I'm so happy to see that you're all safe and sound, Millianna! And Wally and Sho, too."
"Me too, Er-chan!" Millianna lunged forward, glomping onto Erza in a tight hug. "I missed you so much! Meow!"
Erza returned the embrace, patting the girl's head. "Why didn't you come over sooner? Don't you know I've been thinking about you guys?! We were frozen for seven years... I worried about what happened to you all."
Erza spoke to Millianna with a slightly reproachful tone, though her eyes were affectionate.
Millianna chuckled, pulling back and scratching her cheek with a finger. "Heehee, I originally planned to reveal myself only when we won, as a surprise for you and everyone."
Speaking of winning, Erza's expression shifted. The warmth remained, but the steel of the Titania returned to her gaze.
"The winners will be Fairy Tail," Erza stated with absolute conviction. "Even if you are my former comrade, I won't back down on this. We have something we must prove."
"You're still the same as before, so serious whenever winning or losing is involved," Millianna sighed, though she didn't seem surprised. She looked up at the moon, her expression turning thoughtful. "But Kagura from our guild is indeed very powerful. She's never even drawn her sword, Archenemy, in battle."
"That's for sure," Millianna continued, her voice dropping a register. "If she gets serious, she might even be stronger than Er-chan... though she certainly can't compare to that monster, Ren!"
A visible shiver ran through Millianna as she said the name. To the rest of the world, Ren was a handsome, if mysterious, powerhouse of Fairy Tail. But to those who had witnessed his true nature during the Tower of Heaven incident and the battle on Tenrou Island, he was something else entirely.
Millianna knew Ren was a monster; he was one seven years ago, dominating foes with a casual flick of his wrist. And now, even after a seven-year gap where he should have fallen behind, he seemed to have ascended to a realm that defied logic. Seeing the Susanoo—that spectral avatar of destruction—he used in his fight against Jura Neekis yesterday, she really didn't know how anyone could defeat such a being. It wasn't magic; it was a calamity.
"Haha!"
Erza couldn't help but laugh seeing Millianna's troubled expression. "A monster, is he?"
"Don't laugh! It's scary!" Millianna pouted.
"I know," Erza admitted, her eyes twinkling. She knew Ren better than Millianna did. She knew the depths of his power, the strange, alien abilities he wielded that weren't quite Magic as Fiore understood it. Ren was indeed the most headache-inducing existence; if she were his opponent, she wouldn't have any way to deal with him either. He was their trump card, their shield, and occasionally, their biggest chaotic element.
Afterward, Erza and Millianna found a quiet corner of the park to chat further, catching up on seven years of lost time, discussing the whereabouts of their friends, and enjoying a moment of peace before the storm of the final battles.
Fairy Tail Team Inn
The atmosphere inside the Honeybone lodgings was rowdy. The smell of ale and grilled meat permeated the air as the guild celebrated another successful day. Natsu was breathing fire, Gray was half-naked, and Elfman was shouting about manliness.
Amidst the chaos, Marcus turned away from the door, cupping his hands around his mouth.
"Lucy! Someone's looking for you!"
"Me?"
Lucy Heartfilia looked up from her notebook, where she had been jotting down observations about the day's matches. She was stunned for a moment. She hadn't expected anyone to look for her, as she didn't have many acquaintances in Crocus outside the guild.
"Who could it be at this hour?" she wondered aloud, standing up and smoothing out her skirt.
Curious, Lucy went to the entrance hall. Standing outside the door, clutching a bag as if it were a lifeline, was a girl with short, silver-white hair.
"Eh? It's you!"
The visitor was Yukino Agria, the Celestial Spirit Mage who had represented Sabertooth in the Grand Magic Games earlier that day. She looked completely different from the confident mage who had challenged Kagura. Her eyes were red and puffy, her shoulders slumped, and she wore a plain cloak instead of her guild uniform.
As a fellow Celestial Spirit Mage, Lucy naturally had a deep impression of her. There were so few of them left.
"Miss Yukino?"
"Miss Lucy..." Yukino's voice was trembling. "Could we... could we find a secluded place to talk?"
Lucy sensed the distress radiating from the girl. "Of course. Come to my room. It's quieter there."
Lucy led Yukino up the stairs, away from the noise of the guild's party, and into her room. She closed the door, shutting out the raucous laughter downstairs.
"Please, sit down," Lucy offered a chair. "What do you want to see me about?"
Lucy asked point-blank, though gently. She didn't have much of an opinion of Sabertooth, neither good nor bad. It was just that she had met Sting and Rogue on her first day in Crocus, and their disparagement of Fairy Tail—calling them "Old News"—had made her a bit unhappy. But Yukino seemed different.
Yukino sat down, placing her bag on her lap. She took a deep, shaky breath, as if steeling herself for something painful. Then, she reached into her pocket.
"I'm sorry to intrude so late at night, but I have a request," Yukino said, her voice barely a whisper. "Miss Lucy, please accept these."
She placed two golden keys on the wooden table. They glinted in the lamplight—the keys to the Paired Fish and the Heavenly Scales.
"The keys to Pisces and Libra. I hope to entrust these two keys to you, Miss Lucy."
"Eh?"
Lucy was a bit dazed, staring at the golden treasures. "Why? Aren't you a Celestial Spirit Mage too? I can't accept these."
Although Lucy's dream was to collect all the Zodiac keys, she didn't want to acquire them through such means. A Celestial Spirit Mage signs a contract with a Celestial Spirit, which means they are partners who share life and death. It wasn't something to be traded or given away lightly. It was a bond of the soul.
"I decided from the first day I saw you," Yukino explained, looking at Lucy with sad, earnest eyes. "I decided that I would give these keys to you when the tournament ended."
"But the tournament isn't over yet, is it?" Lucy argued, confused. "It's only the second day; there are still three days of competition left. You need them to fight."
Yukino shook her head slowly, a bitter smile touching her lips. "My tournament is already over. Lady Minerva will most likely take my place. This way, the strongest five who changed Sabertooth will be gathered. I... I am no longer needed."
"Weren't you part of the strongest five?" Lucy asked.
Yukino shook her head vigorously. "How could that be?! Someone like me is just a newcomer. I was only filling in for Lady Minerva while she was away on a job. I was never truly one of them."
"But even so, there's no need to entrust your Celestial Spirits to me! You're also a Celestial Spirit Mage..." Lucy tried to push the keys back. "They are your friends, aren't they?"
"Precisely because of that," Yukino interrupted, her voice gaining a desperate edge. "If they can fight under a more excellent Celestial Spirit Mage like Miss Lucy, it should be happier for the spirits. I... I am not worthy of them. I failed them today."
Lucy quickly waved her hands. "No, no, no, I'm not that excellent! I lost my match too, remember?"
"You already possess ten of the twelve Zodiac keys," Yukino pointed out, her gaze intense. "If you add these two, you will have all twelve keys. You will be able to open the door that changes the world."
"The door that changes the world?"
Lucy looked puzzled. A chill ran down her spine at the phrase.
"That's a very old legend, and I don't understand its full meaning either," Yukino admitted. "But perhaps you've noticed that in these past few years, the number of Celestial Spirit Mages has plummeted. The Zentopia Incident happened recently as well. It's possible that we are the only Celestial Spirit Mages left in Fiore. You are someone loved by the spirits and who cherishes them; you are the one who should hold all twelve keys and move forward with them. Destiny chose you, Miss Lucy."
Lucy looked at the keys—Pisces, the mother and son fish, and Libra, the balancer. She could feel their magic, warm and inviting. But she also felt Yukino's pain.
After thinking for a moment, Lucy replied firmly, "I'm sorry, but I still can't accept them."
Yukino looked at Lucy in surprise. To a Celestial Spirit Mage, the Zodiac keys were a massive temptation, and gathering all twelve was a dream for every one of them. Yet Lucy had chosen to refuse such a temptation without hesitation.
Lucy explained, her expression softening into a gentle smile. "Celestial Spirit Magic is a magic of bonds and trust. It's not just a simple matter of changing owners or collecting items. Celestial Spirits sign contracts with us because they trust us. This contract isn't one-way; it's mutual. Neither side can betray the other. If I took them now, while you are in this state, I would be betraying the very essence of that magic."
Yukino stared at her, her eyes widening. She saw the sincerity in Lucy's face, the genuine love for the spirits.
Yukino smiled, a tear escaping her eye. "Miss Lucy truly does love Celestial Spirits."
Lucy felt a bit embarrassed by Yukino's praise. She scratched her cheek. "It's nothing much! By the way, you don't look very well. Did something happen? You said your tournament is over, but..." Lucy leaned forward, concern etched on her face. "If you need any help, you can tell me."
Hearing Lucy's kind words, the dam finally broke. Tears began to fall uncontrollably from Yukino's eyes, dripping onto her clasped hands.
"Ugh... hic..."
This immediately sent Lucy into a panic. "What... what's wrong? Why are you crying?!" It made it look as if she were the one bullying her guest. "Did I say something wrong?"
"I... I have nowhere to go anymore..." Yukino sobbed, her voice cracking with the weight of her despair.
"What do you mean?"
Yukino looked up, her face stained with tears, her expression one of utter brokenness.
"I had always looked up to Sabertooth and finally joined last year," she choked out. "I thought it was a place of strength and glory. But I can never go back. Just for one failure... just for losing to Lady Kagura... I was kicked out."
"Kicked out?" Lucy whispered.
"The Master... Jiemma..." Yukino shuddered violently. "He made me strip naked in front of a large crowd... in front of the whole guild. He called me trash. And then... he forced me to erase my own Guild Mark with my own hands..."
Yukino clutched her abdomen, where the mark of the tiger used to be. "I'm so humiliated... I have no guild, no home... I am nothing."
"What?!"
Lucy's eyes widened in disbelief, and then narrowed in pure, unadulterated rage. The air in the room grew heavy with her anger.
"Kicked out of the guild just for one failure?! That's too much! How can a guild like that exist!" Lucy slammed her hand on the table, standing up.
"Aren't everyone in the guild comrades? Even if a mistake is made, some punishment should suffice. Being expelled from the guild is an option reserved for massive transgressions, like the Battle of Fairy Tail caused by Laxus, where he actually endangered the lives of his family!"
Losing a match—what kind of mistake is that? Matches naturally have winners and losers. Kagura was an incredibly strong opponent; losing to her was no shame.
For them to push the blame for coming in last place onto a girl, to humiliate her so vilely... it was simply too much. It was unforgivable.