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Chapter 524 - Farewell

The guild hall was bursting with energy until nightfall, and even after the rain stopped, no one was in a hurry to leave.

Just as things began to calm down and the usual roughhousing was about to resume, a golden firework shot into the night sky outside the window.

Whoosh...bang!

Like a starter's pistol, that single golden streak was followed by a cascade of dazzling lights. Thousands of colorful fireworks launched from the outskirts of Magnolia, blooming like stars across the dark sky.

From every direction, they lit up in brilliant hues, red, blue, green, gold, drawing shimmering arcs above the city.

The display grew more intricate, more radiant, and began inching its way toward the heart of Magnolia… toward the Fairy Tail guild.

The raucous hall fell into a hush of excitement. Members rushed to windows, climbed the rooftops, or poured into the streets, their faces bathed in flickering, colorful light.

From the outside, it looked like a mess of scattered people, but at the center of it all was one bond: Fairy Tail.

The fireworks approached, closing the distance between the city and the guild, between the people and their protectors. Eventually, the crowd spotted figures in the distance, the citizens of Magnolia. They had been the ones launching the fireworks.

And just when it seemed the show had ended, a final round of lights burst forth.

Exceeds rose into the sky, each holding glowing lights in their paws. At lower altitudes, they danced like sparkling comets. At higher altitudes, they floated like golden fireflies.

They spun and soared before forming a shape high above.

In the center of the sky, outlined in glowing starlight;

The Fairy Tail emblem.

Cheers exploded from below. Music began. Singing followed. Someone started dancing. Platters of food appeared, drinks flowed, and laughter echoed down every street.

That night, Magnolia threw its biggest celebration in years.

For many citizens, being transformed into magic crystals and cast into another world had felt like a brush with death.

Now, they needed this, needed to eat, drink, shout, and dance. To remind themselves that they had survived. That they were still alive.

And so they did.

That night, the line between Fairy Tail and Magnolia blurred.

The entire city became Fairy Tail.

And Fairy Tail became the entire city.

...

Morning came.

As expected, the guild hall was a disaster.

Unlike usual, however, so was the rest of Magnolia.

Rhodes woke to find Mira nestled against him, with Elfman as their backrest. Lisanna was curled up in Mira's arms, sleeping peacefully.

All around them, bodies were sprawled across the floor, atop tables, tucked into corners. A few were even hanging from the walls, it wasn't clear whether they were passed out or just had very strange sleep habits.

As sunlight streamed in through the broken windows and dusted the floorboards, people began to stir.

For once, Erza didn't start cracking down on the mess.

Because several Exceeds had arrived at the guild that morning.

Queen Shagotte stood at the front, accompanied by the Four Elders, Nichiya, Nadi, and Happy's parents.

They had come to speak with her.

"Leaving already?" Erza asked softly.

Rhodes gently pulled a blanket over the Strauss siblings and walked over, joining the conversation.

"Won't you stay a few more days?" he asked. "You're welcome to remain in Magnolia."

The Kingdom of Fiore had virtually no laws restricting foreigners or outsiders.

Alzack and Bisca were immigrants from the Western Continent.

Erza had escaped from the Tower of Heaven, once imprisoned in the distant kingdom of Caelum.

Gray wandered in from a remote country in the East.

Happy, Carla, and even Porlyusica were beings from another world altogether, and Rhodes' own origins were entirely unknown.

But as long as one did not break the law, no one asked questions. In Fiore, identity mattered far less than character.

If the Exceeds wished to settle in a quiet village on the outskirts of Magnolia, no one would object.

But Shagotte gently shook her head. "As much as we'd love to settle peacefully… we still have our mission."

"My husband and I were lucky to find Happy," said Marl, placing a paw on her chest. "But there are many children still lost. Their parents are worried sick."

"The world is a big place," Erza said thoughtfully. "It won't be easy to find them all… but, perhaps a magician's help could make things easier?"

"Thank you, kind Miss Erza~" said Nichiya, suddenly leaning in with his signature dramatic flair. "Such a lovely scent you have today…"

Erza's face instantly stiffened. A vein popped on her forehead as she took a quick step back, and ducked behind Rhodes for cover.

Meanwhile, Mira, still fast asleep, frowned briefly at the noise, then shifted and hugged Lisanna tighter. Her expression softened again, returning to calm.

After everything she had endured, the battles, the grief, the joy, her spirit was exhausted. At long last, she had found peace. And so, she slept on.

"We'll manage," Nadi declared, waving one stubby arm like a lucky cat charm. "With the Queen's power and all of us working together, we'll find them."

"Then… I wish you all the best," Erza replied stiffly, still slightly shaken from Nichiya's unsolicited affection.

Rhodes looked toward Wendy and Carla, who sat nestled together in the sunlight.

Then, turning to Shagotte, he asked, "What about Carla?"

Shagotte's gaze darted away. "Wh-what about her?"

"Happy has already reunited with his parents," said Rhodes plainly, "but Carla hasn't even called you 'mother' yet."

Shagotte's composure faltered.

"She… Her mother made many mistakes," she murmured. "And she believes she doesn't deserve to reunite with her daughter… not until all the children have been found."

"That's not fair to Carla," Erza interjected, her voice firm. Her eyes softened slightly, perhaps recalling Gildarts and Cana. "She's just a child. A mother doesn't need to be 'worthy' to reunite with her daughter. Just being there matters."

Shagotte hesitated, visibly shaken.

"No excuses," Rhodes added quietly. "You should at least say goodbye properly. Hug her. Call her name. That much, you can do."

He remembered what Mira had told Cana the day before.

'We're mages. We never know what tomorrow will bring. If something happens, and there's no time to say the things you should've said… you'll regret it forever.'

With that, Rhodes summoned a pot and ladle from his Re-equip magic.

CLANG!!

The crash echoed like thunder through the quiet guild hall.

"Ughh—"

"Who the heck?!"

"So loud!"

One by one, the bleary-eyed mages groaned, stretching and squinting in the morning light, grumbling at the rude awakening.

Ignoring the daggers they were shooting him with, Rhodes calmly stashed away the cookware and walked over to Carla.

Still half-asleep, the white Exceed blinked at him. Before she could ask anything, he gently lifted her and tucked her into Shagotte's arms.

"Mmm… warm…" Carla murmured instinctively, eyes still shut. She leaned into the embrace without thinking.

Then, as consciousness returned, her eyes flew open.

She stiffened and blushed, trying to lean away.

But Shagotte reflexively held her close, her arms trembling, tears springing to her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Carla," she whispered, her voice breaking.

Carla froze.

And then… slowly, her body relaxed. She didn't push away.

No other words were needed.

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