The stars in the night sky were exceptionally clear and bright. Unlike Earth, there was no Milky Way here, nor were there the tragic love stories of the Qixi Festival.
On the boat, the rhythmic sound of waves slapping against the hull echoed through the air. The sea breeze carried with it the distinctive scent of the ocean. Scattered lights flickered on the distant shore, a sign that Chen Fan and his companions had already sailed quite a distance.
Erza stood at the stern, gazing out into the distance. Her silhouette looked lonely, lost in thoughts unknown to others.
"Hey! Er-chan, what are you looking at? Why aren't you sleeping yet?" Chen Fan called out as he hopped onto the gunwale and sat down.
"Oh... it's nothing." Realizing what he had said, she suddenly snapped. Bang! She delivered a punch to Chen Fan's head and shouted, "What do you mean 'Er-chan'? How many times have I warned you? Why won't you listen?"
"Ah! I'm falling!" Chen Fan shouted, performing a laughably clumsy dive off the boat.
Erza gasped and rushed to the side, leaning over the rail. "Hey! Chen Fan, are you alright?"
"Heh..." Chen Fan was floating horizontally above the sea, hands tucked behind his head. He looked perfectly relaxed, suspended about a meter above the water's surface as he grinned up at her.
Erza let out a long sigh and shot him an exasperated look.
"Haha." Chen Fan laughed as he flew back up to sit beside her. "So, feeling any better?"
"How could I? You're always trying to annoy me," Erza grumbled.
"Am I?"
"Aren't you?" The two began to bicker back and forth.
Nearby, two people were watching the pair. Lucy's eyes were filled with envy, while Simon's gaze was more complex. Envy and longing flickered through his eyes before settling into a quiet look of blessing for Erza.
"Heh..." Erza suddenly chuckled. Seeing her smile, Chen Fan said, "That's more like it. You should smile more, Er-chan. You're much cuter that way."
Erza rolled her eyes again and turned away, finished with his nonsense. Chen Fan rubbed his head and sat in silence beside her.
"Sigh..." A heavy sigh escaped Erza's lips. Chen Fan looked over and saw her eyes clouded with worry, and he felt a prickle of irritation.
"What are you so worried about? Is it the Tower of Heaven? Or... Jellal? If it's the Tower of Heaven, you don't have to worry at all. If I wanted to destroy it, I could do it in an instant." Chen Fan's voice carried a hint of jealousy that even he hadn't fully realized.
Only Erza, being emotionally dense, failed to notice his tone.
Suddenly, Gray's voice rang out from the bow. "Look! What's that?"
Chen Fan stopped heading for the cabin, and Erza sprinted toward the front.
Standing at the bow and looking ahead, they saw a structure in the distance that pierced the clouds. The massive tower stood upon an island, occupying nearly the entire landmass.
"What is that?" Natsu appeared from somewhere, his face deathly pale. As soon as he finished speaking, he hurried back to the side of the boat to vomit.
Gray, Lucy, and Juvia all turned their eyes toward Erza.
Erza gripped her shoulders, trying to stop her body from trembling, but her voice betrayed her. "The Tower of Heaven," she whispered. "Also known as the R-System." She lowered her head.
"So that's the Tower of Heaven?" Gray and the others looked forward with solemn expressions.
Chen Fan watched Erza tremble. Gone was the imposing aura of Titania; she looked like a lost little girl who couldn't find her way home, stirring a deep sense of pity in his heart.
His previous irritation vanished. He walked up behind Erza and placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked back at him, and he gave her a bright, reassuring smile.
Erza didn't hesitate. She threw herself into Chen Fan's arms, her shoulders shaking as she wept. Chen Fan froze for a moment. The others were equally stunned they had never seen Titania in such a state.
After a long pause, Lucy started to step forward, but Gray stopped her. He shook his head and dragged the still-vomiting Natsu toward the cabin. Lucy took one last look at Chen Fan before following them inside.
Simon, too, had vanished. Only Chen Fan and the sobbing Erza were left on the bow.
The sun slowly rose from the sea, casting a soft morning glow over the pair, as if offering a silent blessing.
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