The guild hall was louder than usual the next morning. Tables were shifted. Jobs were being snapped off the board like candy wrappers in a windstorm. The usual chaos ensued: Natsu fighting with Gray, Cana arm-wrestling Elfman (and winning), and Erza sitting quietly at her table with a slice of cake, eyes flicking up now and then toward the new guy.
Shinra.
He sat alone for once, a thick book in his hand—*A Beginner's Guide to Magic Systems in Fiore*. He turned the pages slowly, occasionally murmuring a thought to himself while chewing on a stick of pocky he'd "mysteriously" acquired from Mira's stash.
He didn't need the book. Not really.
He already knew what magic could do here—what the people around him were capable of. But that didn't mean he wanted to skip the process of learning the *why* and *how* of their world. Knowing from a distance wasn't the same as *living* it.
Besides, reading made him look harmless.
That helped.
"Hey, new guy!"
Shinra looked up lazily, blinking once.
Natsu Dragneel stood there grinning, his scarf fluttering a little with each excited breath. Happy hovered just above his shoulder, wings flapping softly.
"You're not gonna just sit around reading all day, are ya?" Natsu said, jabbing a thumb toward the job board. "You are strong! I can smell a beast on you. Let's go smash something!"
Shinra tilted his head. "Tempting offer. Details?"
Lucy appeared beside Natsu with a smile, holding up a job flier. "Small town west of here. A group of bandits using explosive magic have taken over a granary. Town can't get its food supply out."
"Low pay," Natsu added. "But lots of stuff to punch."
"...I'm sold," Shinra said, sliding his book away and hopping off the stool. "Team bonding through violence. How very Fairy Tail."
---
A Few Hours Later — On the Road..
"So what kind of magic you use?" Lucy asked, walking beside him down the dirt path as the afternoon sun bathed the trees in amber.
"How do I say..." Shinra replied with a slight smile. "It's… different from what you'd call standard magic here. Think of it as strong pressure and manipulation on an atomic level."
Lucy blinked. "...That doesn't help at all. Though sounds powerful. "
"Don't worry," Happy chimed in. "Natsu doesn't get it either."
"I understood the strong part," Natsu said proudly, cracking his knuckles. "That's all I need."
Shinra chuckled, eyes half-lidded behind his shades. "Its not as flashy as yours, so 'll leave the firework show to you, then."
---
The Bandit Hideout...
The granary stood at the edge of a ravine, partly buried beneath wild vines and a crumbling rock face. Explosive scorch marks were scattered across the field outside. Townspeople had evacuated.
The bandits, a gang of five rogue mages, emerged from within—laughing, tossing glowing magic orbs in the air like toys.
The largest one stepped forward. "Who the hell are you supposed to be?"
"Delivery boys," Natsu said, already charging forward. "Delivering pain!"
The fight began fast. Lucy summoned Virgo. Natsu roared into combat, fists blazing. Happy zipped through the air, yelling encouragement. Dust and fire blurred across the field.
Shinra?
He didn't move at first. He simply *watched*.
His arms were crossed. His lips were slightly parted. His body relaxed. As if measuring… limits.
Then, one of the bandits broke formation, flanking Lucy from the right.
Without a word, Shinra vanished.
The air *twisted* for a split second—barely visible to the normal eye—and then he was there, standing between the attacker and Lucy, one hand raised lazily.
The bandit's punch stopped mid-air—literally. It hovered an inch from Shinra's face, frozen in space.
"What…?" the man breathed, struggling against an invisible wall.
Shinra pushed his shades up with one finger.
"That's close enough."
And then, with a gentle flick of his wrist—**Blue**.
The bandit was *yanked* backward by a force he couldn't see, thrown across the field into a stack of crates. He groaned and didn't get up.
Shinra exhaled and turned his head. "All yours, Natsu."
"YEAH!!" Natsu screamed, his foot slamming into another mage midair.
It ended quickly after that.
---
That Evening — Back at the Guild...
The sun had barely set when the team returned, bandits tied up, reward earned, and bruises proudly displayed.
The guild roared with approval.
"I like this guy!" Elfman declared, clapping Shinra on the back (and almost bouncing off him from the sheer resistance of *Infinity*).
"He's got style,thats what I heard from Lucy." Cana said with a wink.
Lucy nodded. "We worked really well together."
Natsu pouted. "He didn't even punch anyone!"
"He didn't have to," Gray said from across the room. "He's not a brute like you, Flame Brain."
"What did you say, you Stripper! Wanna fight!?" Natsu yelled.
Erza had been watching the whole time from her table, chin resting on her gloved hand. Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully, but not in suspicion—in curiosity. Analysis. She had seen his footwork, his presence, his stillness.
Mirajane leaned on the bar again, setting down a new drink beside Shinra.
"I can tell your magic is pretty unique and strong, though I'm confused when Natsu told me that tou didn't domuch during the mission" she asked softly.
He took the drink with a smile. "I like letting others shine first."
Mira laughed. "That's an interesting way to say that you are lazy. But I bet you are gonna be a fun."
"Hopefully more fun than dangerous."
"Who says they can't be both?"
Their eyes met again.
Shinra smiled.