After Mirajane's little outburst, things slowly began to settle back into their usual rhythm inside the Fairy Tail hall. Guild members gradually returned to their tables and picked up their daily tasks, though an uneasy tension lingered in the air.
Everyone was going out of their way to avoid Mirajane. Currently stationed behind the counter, the white-haired take-over mage wiped down glasses in complete, chilling silence—entirely devoid of her trademark gentle smile. That icy aura made even the roughest veterans shudder. Nobody dared approach the bar, terrified that a single wrong word might trigger another terrifying episode.
Not far from the counter, Lisanna sharply turned and punched Elfman right in the side of his head.
"Ow! What was that for, Lisanna?!" Elfman yelled, rubbing his freshly bruised temple with a scowl.
"See that?" Lisanna whispered harshly, pointing an accusing finger toward their terrifyingly quiet older sister. "Look at her! This is entirely your fault."
Elfman blinked, looking genuinely bewildered as he threw his hands up in defense. "What?! How is this my fault?! A real man takes responsibility for his own actions, but I didn't do anything wrong! All I did was ask her why she spent the night at his house!"
Lisanna pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a long, exhausted sigh. "You really are hopeless, aren't you? There is a time and a place for your 'manly' interrogation, Elfman, and loud mouthings in front of the entire guild is definitely not it."
"I was just curious!" Elfman grumbled under his breath, muttering something about sisterly privacy as he slumped into his seat.
Lucy, who was sitting across from them, glanced nervously over her shoulder at Mirajane before leaning in closer to Lisanna. "Hey... should we maybe go talk to her? She really doesn't look good. I've never seen Mira-san look so... menacing."
Lisanna shook her head quickly, waving her hands in front of her. "Trust me, Lucy, I don't think that's a good idea right now. When Mira gets like this, it's best to give her space. We should just leave her alone for a few hours. I'm sure she'll calm down and get back to being her normal, cheerful self soon."
Lucy bit her lip, her eyes darting back to the counter where Mirajane was practically glowing with a dark, suffocating aura. "Still... I can't help but wonder. Did something actually happen between them? For her to get this mad over a simple question seems a bit extreme, don't you think?"
"Well, if you really want my opinion..."
The sudden voice made Lucy jump. Cana walked over, holding a full barrel of liquor under her arm. She had wisely abandoned her usual spot at the bar to escape Mira's terrifying glare and was now commandeering a seat at their table.
Cana set the barrel down with a heavy thud, popped the cork, and took a long, generous sip straight from the rim. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, a sly, teasing grin spread across her face.
"What else do you expect?" Cana drawled playfully. "What usually happens when a young man and a young woman spend an entire night alone under the same roof? Things get... complicated."
A collective gasp echoed around the table. Lucy's face instantly flushed a bright, burning red. "C-Cana! Don't just say things like that out loud!"
Next to them, Wendy's eyes widened in innocent confusion, her cheeks dusting over with pink. Before the young sky dragon slayer could even process the implication, Carla leaped up from the table and slammed her paws firmly over Wendy's ears.
"Honestly, Cana! Have you no shame?!" Carla scolded furiously, glaring at the card mage. "There are children present! Keep your scandalous theories to yourself!"
"Oh, come on, Carla, I'm just stating the obvious," Cana chuckled, leaning back in her chair with an amused smirk. She opened her mouth to add even more fuel to the fire, her eyes glinting with mischief. "I mean, if you think about how Mira reacted, they must have—"
"That is quite enough, Cana."
Erza's stern, authoritative voice sliced through the chatter like a re-quipped blade. She walked up to the table, her arms crossed over her chest and her expression dead serious.
"Spreading baseless rumors and prying into our comrades' personal lives is unbecoming of Fairy Tail mages," Erza declared firmly. "Mirajane deserves her privacy, regardless of whatever transpired."
Cana rolled her eyes, the playful spark vanishing as she let out a lazy sigh. "Fine, fine. Take all the fun out of it, Why don't you."
With a shrug, Cana lost interest in the conversation, leaning back against the bench and returning to her barrel, leaving the rest of the table in a tense, flustered silence.
However, despite her strict lecture, Erza's eyes subtly shifted toward the counter where Mirajane stood. Beneath her stoic exterior, Erza's mind was racing.
Those two spent the night together... Erza thought to herself, her brows furrowing slightly as a wave of uncharacteristic unease washed over her. Could something truly have happened between them? Did they spend those hours arguing, training, or... could Cana actually be onto something?
The more Erza thought about it, picturing the two of them alone in that house, the more her chest began to feel strangely constricted. Her heart grew tight, a heavy, unfamiliar knot forming in her stomach. She didn't know why she was reacting this way, but she absolutely didn't like the feeling. It was frustrating and entirely illogical.
She squeezed her arms tighter across her chest, forcing her expression to remain impassive, refusing to let any of this strange, uncomfortable emotion show on her face.
Lucy, however, noticed the brief flicker of hesitation in Erza's eyes and the slight clenching of her jaw. "Erza... you're thinking about it too, aren't you?"
"I am merely reflecting on the importance of comradeship and boundaries," Erza replied instantly, her voice a little too stiff, her back ramrod straight.
"Riiight," Lucy murmured, exchanging a wary look with Lisanna while Mirajane continued her silent, menacing vigil at the bar.
Just then, the heavy front doors of the guild hall swung open with a slow creak. Every single head snapped toward the entrance.
Rudra lazily ambled into the hall, his hands shoved deep into his coat pockets. He paused at the threshold, letting out a loud, jaw-cracking yawn as his eyes swept over the room. Finding the entire guild staring back at him in dead, suffocating silence, he simply blinked, completely unfazed by the sudden spotlight.
Without offering a word to the frozen crowd, Rudra turned and made his way toward the bar counter. Makarov sat perched atop the wood, his eyes closed, holding a warm cup of tea in both hands. The Guild Master opened one eye as the approaching footsteps drew near, looking up as Rudra came to a halt in front of him.
"Master," Rudra greeted softly.
Makarov offered a warm, gentle expression. "Welcome home, my boy."
Rudra hesitated for a fraction of a second, a flicker of rare uncertainty passing over his face before he inclined his head. The surrounding mages, who were still watching his every move in eerie quiet, shared confused glances at the unusual sight.
"Master," Rudra spoke up, his voice carrying clearly over the still room. "I'd like to apologize for the attack that happened last month because of me."
Makarov waved a dismissive hand, his expression softening. "It's alright, my boy. You don't need to apologize for that."
Rudra opened his mouth to say something more, but a boisterous voice cut him off from across the hall.
"You really don't need to apologize for a damn thing, Rudra!" Macao shouted, leaning back in his chair with a grin.
"Yeah, don't worry about it!" Wakaba chimed in, taking a puff from his pipe. "We aren't holding any grudges against you. Besides, technically speaking, you're the one who saved our asses!"
A sudden wave of agreement rippled through the guild hall, with various members calling out for him to forget about it, telling him it was water under the bridge.
Listening to the chorus of voices, a small, subtle smile touched the corner of Rudra's lips. "Good. Glad we got that out of the way."
Then, his demeanor shifted instantly.
Rudra raised his head, his gaze turning razor-sharp as he looked around the room, making sure every single person was looking him directly in the eye. When he spoke next, his voice dropped into an icy, unyielding register that chilled the air in the room.
"Next time anyone comes looking for me... don't pull any of that bullshit you pulled last time. Just tell them wherever the hell I am. Understood?"
The cheerful noise evaporated instantly.
A tense beat passed before Kinana took a hesitant step forward, shaking her head. "We... we can't do that, Rudra. You're a member of Fairy Tail, and we don't betray our own. Isn't that right, Master?"
Makarov didn't answer right away. He kept his eyes closed, remaining completely silent.
Rudra turned his gaze slowly onto Kinana. "And look what happened last time you guys tried to stand your ground," he said coldly.
Several mages flinched at the harsh reminder.
"All of you were about to get wiped off the map if I hadn't arrived when I did," Rudra continued, his tone devoid of warmth. "So do me a favor, and don't try to play the hero on my account. Got it?"
Kinana looked anxiously toward Makarov, seeking some form of intervention. The old Guild Master finally let out a heavy, solemn sigh.
"Do what Rudra says," Makarov instructed quietly.
A wave of reluctant nods swept through the crowd, the reality of the situation settling heavy on their shoulders.
The moment he got his confirmation, the terrifying pressure radiating off Rudra dissolved in a flash. A wide, bright smile spread across his face as he clapped his hands together with a sharp crack.
"Anyway! Today's your lucky day," Rudra announced cheerfully, his tone flipping standard protocol completely on its head. "Since everything that happened was technically my fault, I'll let you ask me any three questions, and I'll answer them honestly. Who's first?"
Laki immediately raised her hand, her glasses flashing under the sunlight. "Who were those people who attacked the guild?"
Rudra didn't even hesitate. "A bunch of mentally retarded weirdos with a tree and fruit fetish."
Laki blinked, her hand freezing in the air. "A bunch of... who now?"
"Next," Rudra said flatly, ignoring her completely.
Lucy cautiously raised her hand, her voice hesitant as she asked, "What... what happened to the people who took you?"
"Dead," Rudra replied nonchalantly, taking his hands out of his pockets. "Every single one of them."
A violent, collective silence seized the guild hall once again.
Dozens of mages stood frozen, a singular, terrified thought echoing through everyone's minds: We couldn't even put a scratch on a single one of those monsters... and he's standing there casually telling us he slaughtered every last one?
"NEXT!" Rudra shouted, his loud voice snapping everyone violently out of their stunned stupor.
Elfman raised his fist, stepping forward with a stern, unyielding glare. "I want to ask a question."
Rudra looked over at him, his tone instantly slumping into utter boredom. "Sure, whatever. What do you wanna ask?"
Elfman crossed his arms over his broad chest. "Why was my sister at your house yesterday?"
The entire guild froze in place. Eyes darted toward Elfman in absolute disbelief, practically screaming a collective thought: Is his brain actually functioning?! Out of all the things you could ask about, you ask THAT?!
CRACK.
The sound of shattering glass echoed sharply from behind the bar. Everyone whipped their heads toward the source. Mirajane was standing perfectly still, a crushed glass cup dripping juice from her bare hand. She was staring directly at Elfman, her eyes locked into a terrifying, murderous glare that promised absolute devastation.
Rudra noticed the terrifying aura radiating off Mira as well, but he simply brushed it off with an indifferent shrug.
"Well, that's the third and final question," Rudra said, turning back to Elfman. "Are you sure you want to stick with that one?"
Elfman gave a firm, resolute nod. "Yes."
"Don't know," Rudra stated plainly. "Ask your sister why she was there."
Before Elfman could even process the non-answer, Rudra clapped his hands together one last time. "Alright, the three questions are over! No more Q&A."
Without waiting for another word or reaction, Rudra turned on his heel and began sauntering toward his usual, quiet table in the corner of the guild.
He pulled out a heavy wooden chair and dropped into it, leaning his back against the wall. Closing his eyes, he let the chaotic hum of Fairy Tail blur into background noise, finally finding a moment of calm.
About half an hour passed as he rested in silence.
A tall bottle of alcohol was set down firmly on the tabletop in front of him, the light clink of glass breaking his quiet reverie.
Rudra blinked and looked up, coming face-to-face with Mirajane. She was standing right beside his table, a polite, pristine smile resting on her face.
Rudra let out an annoyed sigh. "You again?"
"Yup. Me," Mira replied smoothly. She reached into her tray and placed a second bottle right next to the first with a quiet clink. "Here. These are on the house."
Rudra eyed the liquid through the glass, then reached out, popped the cork off the first bottle, and took a large, heavy gulp. Swallowing, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and looked up at her again. She hadn't moved an inch.
"Do you need something from me?" Rudra asked, taking another slow sip. "If not, can you leave? I'd like to enjoy this in peace."
Mira's smile faltered slightly. She lowered her gaze, staring down at the grain of the wooden table for a brief second. "I've been thinking about the conversation we had this morning."
Rudra tilted his head back, his eyes fixed on her. "And what about it?"
Taking a deep breath, Mira lifted her head and stared directly into his eyes, her usual bubbly persona melting away to reveal genuine, heavy earnestness.
"First off... I would like to apologize," Mira said, her voice carrying across the quiet room. "I'm so sorry for what happened back then. Because of me—because I fainted and spoke without thinking—some of the Fairy Tail members held a grudge against you and treated you like an enemy. It was completely our fault."
As her words echoed through the hall, a heavy, suffocating silence fell over the entire guild.
"Mira! What are you doing?!" Elfman suddenly shouted from across the room, standing up from his bench. "Why are you apologizing to him?! A real man doesn't make a sister—"
Mira whipped her head around, her eyes locking onto her brother with a terrifying, razor-sharp glare. "Elfman. Shut up, sit down, and do not ruin this!"
Elfman flinched, opening his mouth to protest, but before he could utter another word, Lisanna jumped up and delivered a swift, solid punch straight to his ribs.
"Elfman, sit down!" Lisanna hissed in a fierce whisper.
Grumbling under his breath and rubbing his side, Elfman reluctantly sank back into his bench.
Satisfied, Mira turned back to Rudra. He hadn't said a single word. He just sat there, swirling the alcohol in his bottle, watching her with an unreadable expression.
The silence stretched on, heavy and pressing. Mira's heart hammered against her ribs. Seeing that he wasn't responding, she slowly began to bend her knees, intent on bowing low—even kneeling if she had to—to show her absolute sincerity.
Just as her knees were about to touch the floor, Rudra's voice broke the quiet.
"Apology accepted."
Mira froze mid-motion. She slowly blinked and looked back up at him.
Rudra set his bottle down on the table, leaning forward slightly. Mira straightened herself up, took a small, nervous breath, and extended her right hand out toward him.
"Let's... let's start over," she offered softly, a nervous yet genuine glint in her eyes. "My name is Mirajane."
A small, genuine smile broke across Rudra's usually stoic face—a rare, warm expression that instantly softened his sharp features.
He reached out and took her hand, giving it a firm, brief shake. "Rudra. Rudra Sparda. Nice to meet you."
The moment the name Sparda left his lips, a wave of sharp gasps rippled through the female members of the guild. Several girls who had read the books about the legendary Dark Knight Sparda last month immediately whipped their heads around, their eyes wide as they stared at him in utter shock.
Mira, however, barely registered their reactions. She was completely frozen, staring down at Rudra. Seeing him smile at her for the very first time sent a sudden, violent throb through her chest. Heat rushed straight to her cheeks, burning red against her pale skin.
"N-Nice to meet you as well!" she stammered out rapidly, pulling her hand back like she had been burned.
Without another second's delay, Mira turned on her heel and practically fled back toward the safety of the bar counter, her footsteps rushed and uneven.
Rudra watched her retreat in complete confusion, raising an eyebrow at how fast she had scampered off. He shook his head, muttered a low "Weirdo" under his breath, and brushed it off, returning to his bottle to enjoy his drink in peace.
Meanwhile, behind the counter, Mirajane's mood had done a complete 180-degree turn from the gloomy dark cloud that had hung over her all morning.
A bright, radiant smile was plastered across her face. As she wiped down clean glasses, she found herself letting out soft, involuntary giggles, her cheeks still dusted with a warm pink hue. Every few minutes, while humming a light tune, her gaze would wander subtly across the hall, stealing quick, glowing glances at the corner table where Rudra sat quietly drinking.
Just like that, peace returned to the guild.
The tense, heavy atmosphere that had gripped Fairy Tail all morning because of Mira slowly evaporated into thin air. Cross-hall murmurs softened into familiar laughter, clinking beer mugs, and the usual chaotic energy of the guild hall.