Alex Weiss was in a semi-conscious state, sensing the voice of a young woman who seemed to be trying to help him.
But help me with what? Alex wondered, struggling to recall what had happened to him. Slowly, the memories began to resurface.
He had grown up with his parents and two younger siblings. They were a relatively happy family; their house wasn't grand, but it had enough space for everyone to have their own room.
Everything was going well until, at the age of 17 while other teenagers were dreaming of the future Alex had to bury both of his parents. He became the pillar of support for his younger siblings, sacrificing his own studies and dreams to work double shifts.
His life became a weary routine of exhaustion, yet he did it all with a smile because he loved his family.
Unfortunately, the world's cruelty soon caught up with him. He fell victim to a conspiracy at work; an envious colleague framed him for a theft he didn't commit just to steal his position. With no income and a tarnished reputation, the tragedy escalated. His own siblings, influenced by bad company and greedy for the house's inheritance, turned their backs on him and threw him onto the street.
Despite having every reason to hate, Alex didn't seek revenge. He simply felt empty. He walked through the city like a ghost, feeling as though nothing he did mattered anymore. It was in that moment of ultimate despair that his "end" arrived.
Seeing a young girl cross the street without looking as a speeding vehicle approached, Alex didn't hesitate. In a final flash of the kindness the world had tried to strip away, he lunged to push her out of the way. The impact was dull and dark.
In the space between life and death, a divine voice recognized his sacrifice. "You have lived for others, and they took everything from you. I will give you a second chance in a different world. Consider this a gift for being a kind soul who cared for his family without asking for anything in return. It is your turn to be on the other side of the coin; by my divine will, you shall be cared for and loved, regardless of the person you become in the future."
Alex thought, In short, I'll be loved and cared for by everyone?
The divine voice replied, "No. Only one person will care for you unconditionally. I cannot make you loved by everyone, for that would only bring you suffering over time. So, enjoy your second life, forget the pain you endured, and start anew. As a bonus, I shall give you a very valuable gift so you can protect yourself. Good luck!"
Alex sank back into the darkness, letting himself go. He didn't know if life after death truly existed, or if the voice he heard was real or merely a figment of his imagination.
- - - - -
In the Kingdom of Fiore, within the city of Magnolia and the walls of the Fairy Tail guild, Erza, Master Makarov, and the ill-tempered healer Porlyusica were gathered.
With a voice heavy with grief, Erza recounted the carnage at the village. She explained that the pack was no ordinary one; it was led by a mutated Alpha wolf. While these creatures weren't overwhelmingly strong on their own, they possessed the tactical ability to command the rest. Erza confessed that during the heat of battle, she noticed more wolves arriving from the direction of the village, but in her combat frenzy, she dismissed it and continued cutting down her enemies.
Upon hearing the story, Makarov and Porlyusica immediately understood the root of the disaster: the villagers had withheld crucial information. By hiding the existence of the Alpha and the true nature of the threat to save money, a request that should have been A-Rank or S-Rank was erroneously listed as B-rank .
"It is not your fault, my daughter," Makarov said, trying to console her. "Tragedies like this happen when clients lie to reduce costs. Sometimes mages suffer because they lack the strength; other times, as in this case, the client pays the price for their own deception. The village was responsible for its own fate, Erza."
Porlyusica could not hide her contempt for the late village chief. To her, it was the perfect example of why she hated dealing with humans: the stupidity and greed of omitting details to the Magic Council brought nothing but death. This disdain was precisely what kept her isolated in her house in the woods.
However, Erza shook her head, unable to forgive herself. She blamed herself for not verifying the client's information before setting out. As an S-Class mage, her arrogance had led her to believe that simply charging at the pack would suffice. She felt guilty for her carelessness, for assuming the town would be safe while she fought alone. To Erza, the true cause of the tragedy wasn't the money, but her own Pride in believing she could carry everything on her shoulders alone.
"Uuuugh!!"
Alex was waking up. His entire body ached for some reason, but his head felt as though someone had been hammering at it. "Where am I? What happened to me?" Alex asked in a low voice, as if speaking even a few words required a monumental effort.
Seeing the youth wake up, Erza moved in close, invading his personal space. "Don't worry, you're safe now. You have no injuries, but you had a very high fever; you were unconscious for four days."
Alex heard a voice very close to him. Opening his eyes, he saw the beautiful face of a young woman with crimson hair. "Who are you? Who am I? Why is it so hard to remember?" Several questions tumbled from the boy lying in bed.
As if answering his questions, fragmented memories began to flood Alex's mind, intensifying the pain until it became unbearable, causing him to black out once more. "Uuuuh!!" was the only sound he made before losing consciousness again.
Seeing him collapse, Erza grew worried. "Hey! Are you okay? Does it hurt somewhere? Answer me!" She began to press her hands firmly onto Alex's shoulders.
Porlyusica, seeing the young mage shaking the unconscious patient, dealt Erza a sharp blow to the head. "Don't pressure him, you silly girl!"
"He just fainted again. He likely has a bit of amnesia; sometimes the brain suppresses traumatic memories as a form of self-preservation. He might not remember certain things when he wakes up again. You must treat him gently to avoid causing further trauma."
Seeing that the boy Erza brought was out of danger, Porlyusica had no further business at the guild. She turned to leave the infirmary. "My work is done. Now it's up to you—whether you care for him or leave him somewhere isn't my problem. I'm leaving, Makarov. You know the price for the medical treatment."
Makarov sighed. She was an old friend of many years, but she never changed. Erza was not in a good mental state, and Porlyusica was still blunt with her. "Yes... thank you for coming to the guild to help in an emergency. Give this note to Mirajane so she can give you your payment." Porlyusica snatched the note and marched out.
A silence fell between Erza and the Guild Master. "Erza, you also need to rest. You haven't slept enough."
Erza nodded; she felt her body reaching its limit. "Before I sleep, Master, can you do me a favor?"
"What do you need?" Makarov asked.
"I feel responsible, so I am going to look after him until he recovers. But we can't stay in the guild's infirmary forever. Could you help me find a house? Something big enough for two people would be fine," Erza said, her voice leaving no room for objection.
Makarov knew how stubborn his "children" could be, so he accepted her self-imposed burden. "Very well. I'll ask Mirajane to help me find a place for two..."
"Thank you, Master,"
Erza said."Then I shall take my leave as well. Remember to get enough rest," Makarov added.
As he walked toward the exit, before closing the door, he saw Erza climb onto the bed where the young man lay, as if fearing something bad might happen if she wasn't close to him. Makarov could only sigh; there was nothing he could do at that moment, but seeing Erza in that state deeply concerned him. Only time could heal such trauma, so he left them alone in the infirmary.