Gradually, time went by, and the year X777 arrived. The guild was bustling as usual, filled with the loud laughter, flying tables, and constant cheering of the members.
Thanks to the strict training over the past year, everyone in the younger generation had changed completely. Erza and Mira were now much stronger and faster, and their rivalry had become the most entertaining daily show in the guild. They couldn't spend five minutes in the same room without staring each other down or starting a massive brawl, which always forced the other members to run for cover. Erza was proud that she could finally make Kira step back in their spars, while Mira was working harder than ever to master her Take Over magic with the help of Akira's clone. Neither of them wanted to lose to the other.
Many young members also began to join Fairy Tail, making the guild more lively. These kids, although not as strong as Erza and Mira yet, were still great talents that made Makarov very happy.
Especially that girl named Levi. In this whole guild, apart from Akira, she was one of the few people who would actively go to the library to learn. This made Makarov so happy that he even made a room for her in the library to read books. Heaven knows how many years he had been waiting for someone studious like Levi to appear in the guild. In this guild, there were too many muscle-brains. Levi was tucked away safely in her new library room, completely lost in her world of books, happy to have a quiet place to read far away from the noisy people throwing chairs across the hall.
Sometimes Makarov even worried about what would happen to these kids if something happened to him.
As Makarov was smiling and drinking his beer at the bar, the heavy front doors of the guild hall were suddenly kicked open.
The person who came to the guild was none other than Akira. When everyone saw it was him, the atmosphere suddenly became subtle.
It had been more than half a year since the bloody storm swept over the dark world. However, while the outside world was confused, the people who stayed at the guild had started to notice what was really happening.
Every time Akira went out, news of another destroyed dark guild would quickly follow. At first, the members of the guild didn't notice anything wrong because Akira only told everyone he was going on a secret quest. But as time went on, his frequent trips caught everyone's attention. The older members especially noticed that the cold killing intent around Akira became stronger every time he came back. Even though he tried to hide it deep under his clothes, the faint smell of blood and the heavy aura of a true killer were impossible to completely mask.
And every time, Master and Sera would have gloomy faces as they watched Akira leave on this secret mission. They knew exactly what kind of burden he was carrying, but they couldn't stop him.
"Welcome back, Akira," Makarov said softly, setting his beer mug down. His eyes held a deep look of worry, but he forced a small smile onto his face.
Akira nodded lightly to the Master. The heavy, cold aura around him slowly pulled back into his body, fading away until he looked like a normal person again. He walked over to the bar and sat down right next to Kira, who handed him a fresh cup of juice with a relaxed smile.
"Rough trip?" Kira asked quietly.
"Just the usual," Akira replied, his voice calm and low.
Seeing the scary aura disappear, the rest of the guild hall instantly let out a huge breath they didn't even know they were holding. The tense silence broke, and the loud, rowdy atmosphere came rushing right back.
Feeling a familiar atmosphere, Akira felt his shoulders relax. He took a slow sip of the juice Kira handed him, letting the warmth of the guild wash away the lingering coldness from his latest mission.
For a moment, the blood, the dark guilds, and the council's frantic schemes felt worlds away. He now only wants to enjoy this rare peace with his family.
However, his peaceful rest didn't last long, as his communication slip began to vibrate. Taking out a jade slip, Akira skillfully operated it as if using a mobile phone. This communication slip was something Akira created with the help of Great Sage, upgrading the existing communication crystal. He called this jade slip, taking the jade slips seen in cultivation novels as a reference.
Looking at his jade slip, his expression turned serious. Because the one who is contacting him is Layla. And remembering what year it is, Akira couldn't help but get serious.
He tapped the glowing surface of the jade slip, sending a thread of magic into it to connect the call. Layla's face appeared in a small, glowing projection above the slip.
"Hello, Akira, it has been a long time since we last contacted each other." Layla's voice came as a gentle smile appeared on her face.
" Yes, Lady Layla, it has been a long time. " Akira spoke as he observed Layla's expression. Good, it seems her health is still good.
"I am glad to see you are well," Akira added, his voice dropping to a quiet, respectful tone. "But for you to contact me using the jade slip today... Is there something important you want to tell me?"
Layla's smile softened, but the look in her eyes turned deeply serious. She glanced slightly to the side, looking at the massive, ancient structure standing behind her in the quiet room.
"You always were too sharp, Akira," Layla said with a gentle sigh. "Yes, unfortunately, there is something important I want your help with"
Akira's grip on the jade slip tightened slightly. " Oh, what could that be? If it is anything I can help with, I will definitely help you " Akira said as he tried to keep his expression calm.
"Thank you, Akira. I knew I could count on you," Layla said, her voice filled with gratitude. She looked back at the screen, her expression turning incredibly solemn. "This matter is of utmost importance, and it concerns a journey to the Western Continent."
Akira's eyes narrowed slightly behind his mask. The Western Continent? That was the home of the Alvarez Empire.
"The Western Continent..." Akira repeated quietly, ensuring his voice didn't carry across the noisy guild hall. "That is quite a distance, Lady Layla. May I ask what exactly needs to be done there?"
Layla shook her head gently, a look of caution flashing across her pale features. "I cannot explain the full details over the communication slip, Akira. But let me tell you, this quest is very important to me."
She paused, looking at him with deep trust. "If you are willing to take on this request, please come to the Heartfilia mansion as soon as possible. I will explain everything to you in person and prepare you for what lies ahead."
"I understand," Akira replied without hesitation. He more or less knew why Layla wanted him to go there. "I will head over to your estate immediately, Lady Layla."
"Thank you, Akira. I will be waiting for you," Layla said softly before the glowing projection faded away, leaving the jade slip dark in his hand.
Akira stood up from his bar stool, the sudden movement drawing a sharp glance from Kira and a questioning look from Makarov.
"Master, I have an urgent matter to attend to, so I need to leave for the Heartfilia mansion right away." Akira said, and after hesitation, he added, "And this quest may take a bit of time. And you guys may not be able to contact me for a while."
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