In the year X780, along a forest road on the southern border of the Kingdom of Fiore, the warm breeze of late spring carried the scent of grass and trees, brushing past layers of leaves and scattering dappled light across the ground.
Arlen and Ultear walked side by side on their way back, having just completed an escort mission—guiding a border caravan through a misty forest teeming with magical beasts.
The task hadn't been especially dangerous, but it had still taken a fair amount of effort. Now that it was over, with the burden lifted, both of them felt a rare sense of ease.
Arlen stood tall, his silver-white hair slightly tousled by the wind. Beneath his soft bangs, his eyes were clear and steady. At his waist hung his Tang blade—Alaya. He wore a blue-and-white cross-patterned top with slightly loose trousers, and over it a silver-white cloak. Beneath the fabric on his back, the golden Fairy Tail guild emblem faintly showed.
Beside him, Ultear wore a fitted blue-and-white top paired with slim trousers, outlining her graceful and alluring figure. Blue-and-white shoes adorned her feet, and a light gauze coat of the same color draped over her shoulders. Her long black hair fell smoothly down her back, giving her an elegant and capable air.
"This time, the merchant boss was quite generous," Ultear said softly with a faint smile. "The reward was thirty percent higher than what was listed."
"When we get back, I can buy Mother her favorite honey cakes… and also pick up the desserts Erza has been talking about for so long."
Arlen glanced at her, a slight smile forming at the corner of his lips. "Ur and Erza will definitely be happy. Didn't they say last time that the old shop in Magnolia always sells out of honey cakes?"
He paused, lightly brushing his fingers against the hilt of Alaya.
"But after we return, we'll still need to organize the mission report for the Master. Lately, the guild has been getting more and more requests—he's probably overwhelmed again."
Ever since the S-Class exam at the Dragonspine Mountains, the titles of Fairy Queen Erza and Time Witch Ultear had spread throughout the magic world. Fairy Tail's name once again became widely known, and requests poured in daily, leaving Makarov both pained and delighted.
"The Master is always like that," Ultear said with a gentle smile. "He complains about the trouble, but he still puts his heart into every request."
"Yeah… I think he enjoys it," Arlen said lightly. "Someone who probably feels the same way would be Mavis."
"By the way, Arlen-sama, what are your plans next?" Ultear asked. "Another mission, or resting at the guild for a few days?"
"I'll rest for a bit," Arlen replied after thinking. "We've been taking missions nonstop lately. It's about time for a break. And when Erza and the others return, I can accompany them on the next one."
Arlen's schedule had been packed. Aside from regularly going on missions with Ultear, during breaks he would also go out individually with Erza, Kagura, Mira, and Cana. Occasionally, he would even take missions with Ur.
Somehow, everyone—except the still-young Lisanna—had come up with their own reasons to invite him out alone. Over time, Arlen had simply gotten used to it.
Of course, others like Wakaba were endlessly jealous. Even Makarov and Gildarts couldn't help but tease him about it.
"Mm… it's about time you spent time with the others as well," Ultear nodded gently, her eyes filled with warmth.
The two chatted casually as they made their way toward Fairy Tail's base—Magnolia.
At their current pace, they would arrive in just over a day. By then, they could enjoy cold fruit juice and the delicious meals prepared by Ur and Mira. For Arlen, savoring good food with the people he cared about was the most comforting thing.
But that sense of comfort came to an abrupt halt when the outline of a village appeared ahead.
Not far away lay a small village nestled within the forest. The houses were neatly arranged, and at the entrance stood a weathered wooden sign, barely legible, with the words "Maple Leaf Village."
Under normal circumstances, the village should have been lively—smoke rising from chimneys, children playing in the streets, farmers calling out in the fields, and the sounds of animals filling the air.
But the Maple Leaf Village before them was deathly silent.
No smoke. No sound. Not even the faint presence of any living creature.
It was as if an invisible hand had drained all life from the village, leaving behind only empty houses that looked especially desolate under the warm breeze.
Arlen suddenly stopped.
His previously relaxed expression turned serious in an instant. His golden eyes fixed on the village ahead, and his grip on Alaya tightened unconsciously.
"Something's wrong… it's too quiet."
Ultear's smile vanished just as quickly. She frowned slightly and closed her eyes, using her magic to sense the surroundings. After a moment, she opened them again, her red eyes filled with shock as she looked at Arlen.
"Arlen-sama… I can't sense any life at all. Not humans, not livestock… not even birds. It's like… a dead village."
"A dead village?" Arlen frowned deeply, an ominous feeling rising in his chest. "But from the outside, everything is intact—no signs of fire, flooding, or monster attacks. How could it become like this?"
"We'll know once we take a closer look," Ultear said in a low voice, quickening her pace.
"Be careful," she added. "The magic here feels strange… there's an indescribable distortion."
"Alright."
They exchanged a glance, both seeing the caution in each other's eyes.
As mages of Fairy Tail, protecting others was their duty. Faced with something this bizarre, there was no way they could simply ignore it.
Slowing their steps, they carefully entered Maple Leaf Village.
The dirt road beneath their feet was clean and even. There were no bloodstains, no signs of battle. The houses on both sides were intact, some courtyard gates even left slightly ajar, as if their owners had only stepped out briefly.
But when Arlen pushed open one of the courtyard gates, what he saw made his heart sink.
Clothes hung drying in the yard, still damp, clearly washed not long ago. Inside the house, several dishes sat on the table, along with a half-finished bowl of porridge. The utensils were casually placed, and the stove still retained a trace of warmth. A pot lay overturned nearby.
Everything looked like a home still being lived in—
Except the people were gone.
Meanwhile, Ultear stepped into the inner room. The bed was messy, the blankets unmade. Beside the pillow lay a half-mended piece of clothing, with needles and thread scattered around. A child's doll rested at the foot of the bed, and a wooden toy horse lay in the corner.
Everything seemed completely normal—
And yet, it carried an eerie, bone-chilling sense of wrongness.
"Well?" Arlen asked as he stepped inside.
"They're all gone," Ultear shook her head.
Crouching down, she lightly touched the ground with her fingers, carefully sensing the lingering magic. "No struggle, no resistance… it's as if they were all taken away in the same instant."
Arlen walked to the window and pushed it open, looking out over the entire village.
As far as the eye could see, there was only silence. No figures, no movement—just the wind passing through the empty streets, producing a low, mournful sound like the whispers of restless spirits.
"This wasn't migration… and it wasn't fleeing," Arlen said in a low voice.
"People fleeing wouldn't leave food and clothes behind. And migration wouldn't be this rushed—not even taking basic belongings. This was deliberate… and it was caused by magic."
The two continued through several more houses.
Every single one was exactly the same.
Signs of life everywhere—
Yet not a single person remained.
It was as if time had frozen at a certain moment… and then, in that instant, all life had been completely erased.
—------------------------------
Pat reon Advance Chapters: patreon.com/FicWarden