After the duel, the guild's energy slowly settled. One by one, the Fairy Tail members began heading back inside, chatting and laughing about the outcome. Some were still arguing over lost bets, others bragging about how they knew Lucky would win from the start. The air was warm and lively, Lucky walked alongside Erza and Gray toward the entrance of the guild. As they stepped inside, the chatter surrounded them, each member returning to their usual table or group. Lucky, still smiling from the spar, turned to Gray and asked curiously, "So… why did you want to fight me, anyway?"
Before Gray could open his mouth, Cana—half-lounging on a table with a drink already in hand—grinned and cut in. "He was testing you. Wanted to see what you were really capable of. Gray's not the type to tag along with people, you know? He usually goes Alone."
Gray's face turned slightly red, and he looked away, scratching his cheek. "I just wanted to know," he muttered.
Lucky laughed. "Well, you got your answer, didn't you?"
Gray glanced over and gave a slight nod. "Yeah. I did."
"So," Lucky continued, "got a mission in mind?"
Gray reached into his back pouch and handed over a mission request. The parchment was slightly worn from being folded multiple times. "B-Rank. Fire-type monster. It's been burning forests and even some villages. Needs to be put down."
Lucky scanned it quickly and gave a confident nod. "Easy."
Just as he turned to invite Erza to join, she spoke first.
"I'll pass," she said softly, arms crossed.
Lucky blinked. "Huh? Why? You're not imposing or anything."
She shook her head. "No. I've gone on too many missions with you lately. I want to do a solo one next."
Lucky opened his mouth to argue, but Erza gave him a quiet, stubborn look that left no room for discussion. He sighed. "Alright, just be careful."
Erza nodded, her expression softening slightly. "You too."
With that, Lucky and Gray made their way to the guild master. Makarov, sitting on a table with a frothy mug in hand, raised an eyebrow as they approached.
"going so soon?" he asked.
"We've got a mission," Lucky said, handing him the parchment.
Makarov looked it over, nodding slowly. "Hmm… fire beast. B-rank. Dangerous, but manageable for Lucky." He pointed west. "Its last sighting was near a village three hours west of here. That should give you a lead."
"Thanks, Master," Lucky said, pocketing the parchment.
As they turned to leave, Lucky had a sudden thought. 'I'll keep the clones active for now. I need more Origin Luck—if I'm going to get that magic-stealing ability, I'll need a lot of it'.
"Give me a few minutes to prep," Gray said, walking toward the dorms.
Lucky blinked. "Didn't you just—?"
Five minutes later, Gray was back. Wearing the exact same outfit.
Lucky stared. "Did you… just take your clothes off and put them back on?"
Gray looked confused. "No?"
"Uh huh," Lucky said, shaking his head with a smile. "You know what, never mind."
As they stepped out of the guild, Lucky noticed Gray heading toward the train station. "Hold up," he said.
With a quick wave of his hand, a massive golden eagle appeared above them, descending majestically. Its radiant feathers shimmered in the sunlight, and it let out a low, commanding screech.
Gray took a step back, mouth slightly agape. "You're gonna fly us?"
Lucky grinned. "Of course. Hop on."
The eagle lowered itself, spreading its wings out to form a ramp-like perch. The two boys climbed on, Gray still looking impressed. "This thing's way cooler than any train."
Once airborne, the wind rushed past them. Gray, overwhelmed by the height and speed, spread his arms out like wings—then immediately lost balance and nearly fell off.
"Whoa!" Lucky lunged and grabbed him by the arm, steadying him. "Hey! Don't go dying before we even fight the monster."
Gray coughed, a little red. "Thanks…"
Lucky chuckled. "Don't mention it."
They flew for a full hour, the vast landscape rolling beneath them—green forests, winding rivers, and distant mountains. Eventually, a town came into view, smoke curling lazily from chimneys.
The golden eagle circled once before descending. Gray hopped off quickly, landing on solid ground with a relieved expression. The eagle stretched its wings once more before folding them and standing tall.
They were immediately greeted by two guards stationed near the town gate. Upon seeing Gray's guild mark, they stood straighter.
"You here for the subjugation mission?"
Lucky nodded. "That's us."
"Right this way," one of them said, leading them through the town and toward a large mansion at the edge of the hill.
The manor was grand but old, its stone walls covered in ivy. A butler greeted them at the door and ushered them into an office. To Lucky's surprise, the mayor was not the chubby, overfed noble he expected, but a thin man with a tired face. His white gloves were slightly wrinkled, and his eyes looked like he hadn't slept in days.
"I'm so glad you're here," the mayor said, his voice shaking. "It's been a nightmare. That thing—whatever it is—it just shows up, burns, kills, then leaves. We can't stop it. The guards are terrified."
Lucky nodded, but something in the man's tone felt off.
Almost as if in a trance, the mayor muttered, "It's like a demon. A creature made only for destruction…"
Lucky tilted his head he didn't hear clearly. "What was that?"
The mayor blinked. "Nothing, nothing."
But beside him, Gray's eyes had narrowed. His fist clenched slowly.
Lucky noticed and placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, whispering, "Hey. You good?"
Gray looked at him, then away. "…Yeah."
Lucky frowned but didn't push it.
"We've tracked its movements," the mayor continued. "There's a pattern. It moves in a wide arc, and if we're right, the next village it'll target is in the southern woodlands, maybe a two-hour walk from here."
"We'll handle it," Lucky said confidently.
With directions given, they exited the manor and stepped back into the street. Lucky turned to Gray again, brows furrowed. "Are you sure you're alright?"
Gray nodded, but his eyes lingered the floor. "Yeah. Just… that guy's words reminded me of something."
Lucky noticed the tension in Gray's clenched fist, the way his eyes lingered on the floor, haunted. Something the mayor said clearly hit a nerve. Lucky wanted to ask, to push, but—
Now wasn't the time.
He stepped closer, voice quiet and calm. "If you ever want to talk, Gray... I'm free."
Gray didn't look at him, but gave a slight nod. It was enough—for now.
Lucky exhaled and glanced toward the fading sunlight. Lives were at stake. Villages were burning. People could die if they delayed.
He made the decision.
Lucky exhaled and glanced toward the sun, which still sat high in the sky but had begun its slow descent. Lives were at stake. Villages were burning. People could die if they delayed.
He made the decision.
"We'll talk later," Lucky said more to himself than anyone. "Right now, we've got a mission."
Gray nodded once, silently falling into step beside him.
They left the mayor's manor behind, heading southward toward the forests along the edge of the territory—toward danger.
The day was still bright, sunbeams filtering through the treetops as they walked along the dirt path that led toward the deeper wilderness. The road wound past rolling hills, thick hedgerows, and distant fields dotted with wildflowers, swaying in the warm breeze.
At a glance, everything looked serene. Tranquil.
But both of them knew it was a lie.
This peace was thin—fragile. Like glass stretched too far.
With every step, Lucky could feel the air shift. The tension beneath the surface. The uneasy silence, the kind that came when even the birds refused to sing. Somewhere ahead, fire had already scorched the land.
Gray remained quiet for most of the walk, and Lucky didn't break the silence. He respected the mood, the weight behind his friend's expression.
But he noticed the small things—how Gray's eyes scanned the trees constantly. How his hands occasionally flexed, ready to summon his ice at a moment's notice.
Lucky's thoughts drifted to the beast. A monster that attacked without reason, destroying everything in its path. Its presence so unnatural that even a seasoned mayor was shaken to the core.
And then there was Gray's reaction—how his entire body had stiffened at the word about what the mayor muttured.
Lucky knew that wasn't just fear, there were regret and anger and even though he didnt hear the mayor it doesn't take a genius to know that the mayor was talking about a demon from Gray reaction.
But again, now wasn't the time.
They'd deal with the past later.
Right now, they had to stop that thing before more people got hurt.