"In short, both that Black Dragon and I have inherited part of this god's power." Ankh explained his connection to the Black Dragon to Gildarts, carefully hiding his true identity with his words.
Gildarts was naturally shocked.
He asked in disbelief, "There really are gods in this world? No wonder that Black Dragon is so terrifyingly powerful..."
"In a way, divine power is only half the reason for Acnologia's invincibility. Even without it, he would still be a natural disaster for humanity." Ankh spread his hands and gave a wry smile.
"Such an enemy... I do not even want to imagine what would happen if we truly became his enemies." Gildarts frowned, his expression turning very gloomy.
But soon, his face relaxed again. "But fortunately, Ankh, you have also inherited that god's power, haven't you? I believe you will definitely be able to defeat that Black Dragon in the future!"
Seeing Gildarts like this, Ankh could not help but laugh.
"You are really open-minded, believing what I said so quickly."
"If I cannot trust my guildmates, who can I trust?" Gildarts smiled confidently and sighed. "Besides, this is what makes being a guild Mage interesting—constantly gaining new knowledge during adventures and constantly changing how you see the world."
"Just like when Natsu told me about dragons, I only half-believed him too, hahahaha!"
"Speaking of which, did you know that the dragon who raised Natsu has been found?" Ankh took the opportunity to ask.
Gildarts looked confused.
Ankh immediately told Gildarts about Igneel hiding inside Natsu's body.
Gildarts spoke with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"After all the years Natsu spent searching for that dragon, it turns out he has been by his side all along? Didn't the kid get angry when he found out?"
Ankh shook his head and smiled. "He felt nothing but joy. And after learning the news about Igneel, the guy seems even more motivated. He is training harder than before."
"That is a good thing indeed. This year's S-Class Mage exam is approaching soon. I hope the kid can achieve his wish."
"He is still far from ready..." Ankh did not say much else about the matter.
Fairy Tail's S-Class Mages were different from those in other guilds.
Even the weakest S-Class here could easily defeat the ace mages of other guilds.
For example, Gajeel had once been the Ace mage of Phantom Lord, yet at Fairy Tail, he only qualified as an A-Class.
But Fairy Tail's current S-Class roster was actually already full.
If they promoted more, they would have to lower the standards.
This would result in a large batch of new S-Class mages appearing in the guild.
However...
The Guild Master probably would not do that.
It would not help Natsu and the others grow.
Even if it meant no one passed the exam, the Guild Master would firmly stick to the principle of "rather have no one pass than accept someone who is not ready."
"Speaking of which, do you know Cana? She has wanted to become an S-Class Mage for many years," Ankh asked carefully while watching Gildarts' expression.
"Cana?" Gildarts laughed. "She is a lovely girl. But to become S-Class... she is still lacking a bit, isn't she?"
"Though I can tell she has great potential inside her. It should only take a few more years for her to achieve her wish."
Gildarts' tone was as gentle as ever.
When dealing with the children in the guild, unlike the grandfatherly Makarov, Gildarts often acted like a kind father.
He offered more praise than punishment.
But his tone clearly showed he still did not see Cana any differently from the other children.
Ankh needed to make Gildarts understand that there was one child who truly longed for her father's care.
"Do you know why Cana wants to become S-Class so badly?" Ankh asked.
Gildarts shook his head, looking like he wanted to hear more.
Ankh began speaking slowly, as if telling a story. "When Cana was very young, her father disappeared. Her mother, who was gravely ill and on her deathbed, told Cana that her father was a very powerful mage."
"Later, to find her father, Cana came to Fairy Tail and became the youngest member at that time. And she did meet that powerful mage—who was her father."
Hearing this, Gildarts said thoughtfully, "So Cana's father is a mage from our guild? How come I have never heard her mention it?"
Ankh glanced at him and explained, "Because they never acknowledged each other."
"Huh?"
Ignoring this thick-headed man, Ankh continued.
"Cana came to the guild, and that man was very kind to her too. But... she saw how much her father was loved and admired by everyone in the guild. Because of that, she hesitated to tell him who she was..."
Gildarts' pupils suddenly shrank, as if he had just realized something.
Ankh continued on his own. "Because of his missions, that man rarely appeared in the guild. His return dates were uncertain, and his whereabouts were unknown. He only showed up at the guild once every few years."
"Young Cana slowly taught herself card divination magic just so she could get news about her father."
"She was very talented. Every fortune she told was extremely accurate. She could always guess when the man would return to the guild before anyone else did."
"But whenever she saw her father return, confidently greeting the members and playing with the children, Cana would always shrink back in fear. She did not even dare to speak when the man actively approached her."
Ankh noticed that Gildarts' hands, which were resting on the table, seemed to be trembling slightly.
"And so, Cana learned to drown her sorrows in alcohol from a young age. Even though she acts tough on the outside, she is truly a sensitive child at heart."
"That is why she wanted to become S-Class. She wanted to become the most dazzling presence among the children, to become someone closer to her father. Most of all, she wanted to become a source of pride recognized by him—not just some insignificant little girl."
Ankh gazed seriously at Gildarts.
Watching the man's face fall into shadows, Ankh spoke in a low voice, "I know that becoming S-Class before confessing the truth is still just an excuse for Cana. She is only using this method to build her courage and find confidence. She hopes it might increase the chances of her father accepting her as his daughter."
"She still feels unworthy of being his child. But if family ties require that kind of proof, how much warmth can there truly be?"
Gildarts remained silent for a long time.
Ankh could not see the expression on his face after he lowered his head, but the choked quality in Gildarts' voice when he finally spoke completely gave away his emotions.
"She... Cana... is my child..."
Ankh breathed a sigh of relief.
He could not tell whether Gildarts' words were a question or a statement, but he continued anyway.
"If you do not believe me, Cana told me her mother's name was..."
"Cornelia."
Gildarts covered his face with both hands.
His voice trembled as he spoke the name, cutting off Ankh's words.
A slow smile spread across Ankh's face.
He patted Gildarts' shoulder sincerely and said softly, "She needs you."
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