Journal Entry
It's been about three months since Yukino and I joined Lamia Scale.
A lot has happened. Enough that I figured it'd be good to write it all down—if only to organize my own thoughts.
Not long after we officially joined, the guild threw together a massive feast. Apparently, that's Lamia Scale's way of welcoming new members. The entire guild showed up, and what was supposed to be a simple dinner turned into a full-blown gathering.
Everyone introduced themselves. We talked, ate, laughed. Overall it was a good time.
Yukino especially seemed to enjoy it.
At first, she stayed close to me—as expected—but as the night went on, she slowly opened up. Guild members spoke to her gently, included her in conversations, and made it clear she was welcome too. By the end of the night, she was smiling freely, without that constant tension she used to carry.
Seeing that alone made joining this guild worth it.
After that, I made sure to find us a place to live.
A two-bedroom apartment—not too far from the guild hall.
…Which completely wiped out my money.
I went flat out broke almost instantly.
Because of that, I didn't really have the luxury of easing into guild life. I started taking quests right away. Taking mid-tier jobs, which mostly consisted of monster hunting.
I made sure Yukino stayed at the guild while I was gone. She's too young to go on missions, and there was no way I was taking risks with her safety. Thankfully, Lamia Scale has no shortage of people willing to keep an eye on her, and she seems comfortable there now.
Although she still doesn't like me leaving.
My first quest went smoothly.
Too smoothly, actually.
Because I was new, the guild insisted I be accompanied by a senior member. I didn't argue—it made sense. Still, the quest itself was handled without much difficulty. Once it was over and the report was submitted, Ooba gave me permission to take quests solo.
And I won't lie—that was a relief.
I don't hate working with others, but I function better alone. Fewer variables. More control.
But after that quest, something interesting happened.
People in the guild started treating me differently.
Not dramatically—but there was more respect. More acknowledgement. Fewer doubtful looks. I didn't mind it. If anything, it meant they trusted me, and trust goes a long way in a place like this.
As for my magic…
I've kept up my personal training routine. On top of that, I've added something new: maintaining Ken for thirty minutes every day.
It's exhausting—but effective.
Keeping my mana constantly active has drastically improved my control. I'm wasting less magic per spell, my output is more consistent, and I can feel the difference when casting under pressure. It's like tightening loose screws I didn't even realize were there before.
I've also been thinking more deeply about my ice magic.
Not just how to use it—but what it can be.
Ice isn't just "cold stuff."
It's a state of matter. A manipulation of heat—or rather, the lack of it.
If I can edit certain properties of my ice—density, brittleness, conductivity—I could drastically expand what I'm capable of. I've even been trying to figure out how to partially or fully convert my body into ice, similar to how Aokiji does it back in One Piece.
There's also heat transfer.
If I can pull heat from the environment more efficiently, that means faster freezing, stronger constructs, and potentially influencing the weather itself. Juvia's magic in the earlier seasons already proves that elemental mages can affect atmospheric conditions—rain, humidity, pressure.
In theory, ice magic should be able to do something similar.
Snowstorms. Sudden temperature drops. Localized freezing fronts.
If I can pull even a fraction of that off someday, combat would become faster—and safer.
Which really matters.
Because getting hurt sucks.
A lot.
So I've decided to put more focus on physical training too.
Strength, endurance, reflexes. I've also been working on hand-to-hand combat more seriously. Magic is great, but it's not always reliable—especially when mana runs low or things get too close.
I'm also considering learning swordsmanship.
As the more versatile I am, the better prepared I'll be.
All of this—training, planning, pushing myself—it's not about ambition or glory.
I just want to live in peace and have a good time.
With the people I care about.
And if getting stronger is the price for that…then I'll gladly pay it.
End of entry.
—
Third Person POV
The forest was quiet—unnaturally so.
Birds had long since scattered, and even the wind seemed hesitant to pass through the area, as if instinct itself had decided that whatever was happening here was not something to interrupt.
At the center of a small clearing, Lyon lay prone against the earth.
His hands were planted firmly into the dirt, fingers digging in for traction. His arms trembled violently as sweat dripped from his brow, darkening the soil beneath him. Resting squarely on his back was a massive boulder—jagged, uneven, and unmistakably heavy. It pressed down on him like the weight of the world itself.
"Forty-five…" Lyon muttered through clenched teeth.
His expression was tight, jaw locked as his arms bent and straightened with painstaking effort. Each push-up was slow. Controlled. Painfully deliberate.
"Forty-six…"
His muscles screamed in protest, shoulders burning as veins stood out along his arms and neck. His breathing was labored now, each inhale sharp and each exhale forced.
"Forty-seven…"
The ground beneath him cracked slightly as he pushed himself back up, his form still clean despite the strain. Sweat rolled down the side of his face, dripping from his chin.
"Forty-eight…"
His arms shook harder now. His vision blurred for just a moment, but he blinked it away, teeth grinding as he refused to slow down.
"Forty-nine…"
The final rep felt impossible.
His arms bent again—slowly, painfully—until his chest hovered just above the dirt. Every muscle in his body screamed at him to stop. To drop. To give in.
"…Fifty!"
With a sharp grunt, Lyon completed the last push-up and immediately twisted his body, forcing the boulder off his back with a burst of raw effort. The rock rolled aside with a dull thud, carving a shallow trench into the ground as it came to a stop.
Lyon collapsed flat onto his back.
He lay there staring up at the sky above, chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. His arms felt like lead. His entire body buzzed with exhaustion, muscles tight and overstimulated from the abuse he'd put them through.
For several long moments, he didn't move.
Just breathed.
Eventually, with a low groan, Lyon rolled onto his side and forced himself upright. His movements were slow and stiff, but deliberate. He staggered slightly as he stood, then made his way toward a nearby bag resting against a tree.
He reached inside and pulled out a water bottle.
Without thinking, he activated his magic.
A thin layer of frost formed around the bottle almost instantly, cooling the contents inside. Lyon twisted the cap off and took a long, deep drink, the cold water soothing his dry throat as he drank greedily.
That was when the forest shifted.
Branches rustled to his left.
From between the trees emerged a familiar—and irritating—figure.
A Forest Vulcan.
The creature stepped into the clearing, its hulking form hunched forward as it stared at Lyon with beady eyes. After a moment, it puffed out its chest and spoke in a thick, stupid tone.
"This Vulcan forest," it declared proudly. "Human not welcome here."
Lyon didn't respond.
He didn't even look surprised.
He simply continued drinking from his water bottle, eyes lazily shifting toward the Vulcan as if it were little more than background noise. His calm, indifferent stare seemed to confuse the creature for a brief moment.
Then it got angry.
With a loud roar, the Vulcan charged.
It raised both arms high above its head, intending to bring them crashing down and crush Lyon where he stood.
Lyon finished his drink.
He capped the bottle, lowered it, and stepped forward.
POW!
That was all it took.
His fist collided with the Vulcan's torso with a dull boom, and the creature was sent flying backward as if struck by a cannon. Its body smashed through trees and vanished into the forest, leaving behind a trail of broken trunks and shattered branches.
Silence returned.
Lyon looked down at his hand.
"…Tch."
He flexed his fingers once, irritation flashing across his face.
"Damn it, I did it again," he muttered to himself, disappointment clear in his tone. "I keep using mana without thinking."
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I was hoping to see how far I could send it without magic…"
After a brief stretch—rolling his shoulders, flexing his arms, working out the stiffness—Lyon packed his things back into his bag. With one last glance around the ruined clearing, he turned and began walking out of the forest.
"Still," he said aloud, a faint smirk tugging at his lips, "pretty good training session today."
Once Lyon was gone, the full extent of the damage became clear.
Craters littered the clearing. Massive boulders lay shattered into fragments. Several trees had been uprooted or snapped clean in half, their remains scattered across the forest floor.
And somewhere far off in the distance, a Forest Vulcan lay embedded in the earth—very much reconsidering its life choices.
The forest slowly settled.
And Lyon continued forward, acting as if nothing happened.
—
Lyon's POV
A few moments later...
The walk back to the guild was quiet—thankfully so.
As I made my way down the familiar road leading into Margaret Town, my mind drifted back to training. The physical side of things was improving, but not as efficiently as I wanted. Raw strength alone wasn't enough. I needed better endurance cycles, smarter load distribution, maybe alternating resistance days with mobility-focused sessions—
Thud!
"Big brother!"
The impact nearly knocked the thoughts straight out of my head.
The moment I stepped into the guild hall, a familiar blur launched itself at me. I barely had time to react before Yukino tackled me around the waist, her arms wrapping tightly as she pressed her face against my chest.
I caught her on instinct, steadying us both without even thinking about it.
A gentle smile tugged at my lips.
"Hey Yukino," I said calmly. "Was everything good while I was gone?"
She nodded enthusiastically, still clinging to me as if I was a pillow. After a moment, she pulled back just enough to look up at me, her eyes bright.
"Are you done training for today?"
"Yeah," I replied. "All finished."
Her face lit up instantly.
"Really? That means you'll stay with me today, right?"
"Mm-hm."
That was all it took.
"Yay!" she cheered, hugging me again even tighter.
I heard a few amused chuckles around the guild hall. When I glanced up, several guild members were watching the scene with warm, fond expressions. Some smiled. While others looked quietly entertained.
After the moment passed and Yukino finally loosened her grip—though she still held onto my sleeve—I guided her over to the woman who'd been watching over her while I was gone.
"Thank you for looking after her," I said politely. "I really appreciate it, Mrs. Lily."
The woman—Lily—was in her early thirties, with kind eyes and a calm demeanor that made her easy to trust. She waved a hand dismissively, smiling.
"Oh, it was no trouble at all," she said. "Yukino is always delightful to have around."
Yukino immediately shrank back a little, hiding halfway behind me while peeking out shyly.
"Th-thank you…" she said softly.
Lily chuckled at the reaction, and I couldn't help but let out a small laugh myself.
"She behaves well," I added lightly.
"She really does," Lily replied. "You're doing a good job."
Those words stuck with me more than I expected.
We said our goodbyes after that, waving to Lily and the nearby guild members as we headed toward the exit. Several of them waved back, some calling out casual farewells.
Once outside, Yukino slipped her arm around mine, clinging to it with visible excitement as we began walking.
She looked up at me, already eager to talk.
As we continue down the road, falling into conversation as the day continues on.
—
Third Person POV
By the time the afternoon rolled in, the day had already been filled to the brim.
Lyon and Yukino spent their time wandering through Margaret Town together, drifting from one place to another with no real schedule. They browsed small shops, lingered near market stalls, and laughed over things that didn't matter. Lyon bought clothes—mostly for Yukino, despite her repeated insistence that she didn't need so many—along with a few little accessories he thought would suit her. She treasured every single one.
They shared pastries from a corner shop, powdered sugar dusting their fingers as they sat together and talked. For a while, the world felt simple.
When the sun began to dip lower in the sky, the two could be seen walking back toward their apartment.
"…and then the shopkeeper said I could keep the ribbon for free!" Yukino finished happily.
Lyon listened quietly, a light, content smile resting on his face
"That was nice of him," he replied warmly.
They continued like that for a few steps.
Then Yukino glanced up at him.
"Big brother… are you gonna be with me tomorrow too?"
Lyon's steps slowed—just slightly.
He winced inwardly before answering, already knowing how this would go.
"Sorry, I have a quest tomorrow," he admitted reluctantly. "It starts early, but I probably won't be back until the afternoon."
Yukino's steps slowed.
"Oh…" she murmured.
Her gaze dropped to the ground, shoulders slumping ever so slightly.
Lyon noticed immediately.
A quiet ache settled in his chest as he stopped walking and gently brushed a hand over her head.
"I know you don't like it when I go," he said softly. "But I have to. That's how we're able to keep having days like today."
Yukino nodded, understanding the words—even if they didn't make the feeling go away.
"I know…" she said quietly. "I just…get scared. Every time you go, I worry something bad will happen to you."
That was all it took.
Lyon pulled her into a warm, gentle hug, one arm wrapping around her as she pressed into his chest. He continued brushing her hair, slow and reassuring.
"Nothing's going to happen to me," he said calmly. "After all… I promised I'd always be there for you."
Her grip tightened slightly before she relaxed, the tension slowly leaving her body.
They stayed like that for a moment longer, until the quiet settled again.
When they finally pulled apart, Lyon straightened and tilted his head slightly, a familiar spark returning to his eyes.
"Now then," he said casually. "How about a red velvet cake for dessert after dinner?"
Yukino froze—then her eyes lit up.
"Really?!"
"Really."
"Yay!" she cheered, instantly clinging to his arm again.
With the mood restored, the two made a quick stop at a nearby bakery, the warm scent of sweets greeting them as they stepped inside. Moments later, they continued home together, side by side while carrying the fresh cake in hand.
As for now, this moment of peace was all that mattered to the duo.
—
Far from the warmth of Margaret Town, deep within a cavern untouched by light, a very different scene unfolded.
The cave was vast and suffocating, its jagged walls swallowing sound as if the darkness itself wished to remain undisturbed. Near its center stood several iron cages, packed tightly with people huddled together in fear. Men and Women—clutched one another, whispers of prayer trembling from their lips.
A short distance away, a group of figures lingered in the shadows.
Their expressions were cruel, eyes sharp with greed and indifference as they watched their captives. Each of them carried the unmistakable air of criminals—people long past caring about the suffering of others.
Among them stood one man who commanded the space without a single word.
He was massive, broader and taller than the rest, his presence oppressive. The shadows of the cave swallowed nearly all of him, obscuring his features entirely. Only two things could be clearly seen—his eyes, glinting faintly with cold intent, and the dull orange ember of a cigar burning between his fingers.
In his other hand, he held a list.
He scanned it slowly, methodically, checking and verifying each entry with unsettling calm.
One of the men approached him cautiously and bowed his head.
"Master," he said respectfully. "Are we ready to begin the operation?"
The larger man didn't answer right away.
He took another slow drag from his cigar, eyes never leaving the list. Smoke curled lazily into the stale air as a grin slowly spread across his face.
"Yes," he finally said.
Lowering the list, he turned his gaze toward the man who had spoken, his eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction.
"Prepare the transport," he ordered. "The day we enjoy all the luxuries of life—without consequence—is almost upon us."
A wave of laughter rippled through the group, dark and cruel, echoing against the cavern walls.
The man let out a low chuckle of his own.
"And there will be no one," he added coldly, "to stop us."
The laughter grew louder as the cave seemed to close in around them.