Midnight in Lunaris did not sleep the way other cities did.
The streets glowed faintly under strings of lanterns, shopkeepers shouted as they packed up their wares, and the laughter of drunkards spilled from tavern doors. Even in the darkest hours, the city pulsed with life.
Astro walked the cobbled streets with his hood drawn low, though his eyes wandered. He had visited countless cities before, yet something about Lunaris tugged at him. Perhaps it was the resilience written in its people's smiles—fragile, but unbroken.
At one corner, an elderly man leaned on his cane while a vendor pressed warm bread into his hands, waving away payment. Further down, two guards argued about whose patrol shift was harder, their quarrel earning laughs from passing workers.
Astro's gaze lingered longest on a woman carrying a basket of fruit while her younger brother skipped at her side. The boy's laughter rang out as he tugged her sleeve, pointing at a stray cat darting across the alley. The woman sighed, ruffling his hair with a tired but protective smile.
Astro slowed for a moment, watching them disappear into the crowd. He didn't stop, didn't speak—but the image etched itself into his memory. Something in him whispered that it was scenes like this—ordinary, fleeting, human—that he didn't want to see destroyed.
Adjusting his pace, he turned down the next street. The address he had memorized led him to the modest home of a woman listed in the mayor's documents.
The door opened after his knock. A young woman in her twenties stood there, strands of brown hair loose from a messy bun. Surprise flickered across her face.
"…Wait. You're the one who caught Akiko, right? I heard you sent her back to the church," she said, voice carrying both awe and hesitation.
Astro was surprised for a bit but gave a simple nod.
Her face brightened immediately. She stepped aside. "Then you should come in. I'm Elara."
The interior was modest but warm, faintly scented with fresh bread. Elara set down two clay cups, hesitating when she caught his unreadable expression. Instead of pressing, she smiled and tilted her head.
"Actually… why don't we go outside? You're new here, aren't you? The neighborhood gathers around the square sometimes—you might like it."
Astro almost declined, but something in her tone reminded him of the fleeting warmth he had seen on the streets. He gave a small nod.
The square was alive despite the late hour. Neighbors shared drinks and laughter, their voices carrying through the night. When Elara introduced Astro as the one who saved Akiko, the mood shifted instantly. Hands clapped his shoulder, cups were raised, voices rang out—
"Drink with us, hero!"
"No, over here—this table!"
Astro didn't touch the alcohol, but he stayed. Seated at the edge, he listened quietly as stories flowed around him: old women bickering about the price of fish, children giggling as they tried to sneak sips from their parents' mugs.
Finally, a flushed older man slapped the table, mug raised high.
"Then we owe this young man more than thanks! Tonight—we drink to him!"
The crowd erupted, mugs lifted toward the lantern-lit sky.
"To the stranger with purple eyes!" someone shouted, and the cheer echoed across the square.
The chorus crashed down on Astro like a tide. He didn't lift a cup, but inclined his head in acknowledgment. He wasn't one for praise, yet the warmth of their voices pressed close, almost unfamiliar. For a fleeting moment, he felt a sense of belonging—fragile, but real.
Elara watched him over the rim of her cup, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "You don't drink?" she teased.
Astro's lips tugged faintly. "Not tonight."
The people drank anyway, laughter spilling louder. For a while, FogSerpent and its shadows felt far away.
Astro remained quiet, but the townsfolk's drunken confessions soon revealed more than idle chatter.
A woman leaned in, voice lowered. "We try to help them, you know. The church. The little ones. Not much, but food here, coin there."
Her neighbor nodded. "The mayor can't know. If FogSerpent found out, Kael's place would be ash before dawn."
Astro's gaze sharpened. Now it made sense—their silence in the market, their quickness to involve him with Akiko. Not negligence, but protection. A fragile web of survival, bound by secrecy.
Another townsman sighed, slurring. "After you caught Akiko, we told Kael. It was a relief—knowing you didn't harm her, but instead saved her."
"It's fine," Astro replied simply. "I just did what I wanted to."
The table laughed warmly, letting the topic fade. Astro leaned back, arms crossed, expression softening by a fraction. These people weren't strong in magic or weapons—but they risked themselves piece by piece for children not their own. Quiet strength. Resilient strength.
For the first time that night, he allowed himself the thought: For all its rot, this city still has a heart.
Elara noticed the rare softness on his face. Most would've missed it, but she didn't.
Sliding closer, she murmured, "You look like you'd rather be anywhere else."
Astro blinked, but didn't answer.
She smirked. "Don't worry. They mean well, but they can be a lot." Tilting her head toward her porch, she added, "Come on. You've earned some space."
He followed. Under the lantern glow, she plopped onto the steps and patted the spot beside her. "Better, right?"
Astro stayed standing, but the edge in his posture eased.
Elara studied him, then grinned mischievously. "You're not good with praise, are you? Which means…" She dug into her satchel. "…you need a distraction."
She produced a folded magazine page, holding it out dramatically. "This is my real work. I'm a reporter. Ever heard of Sorcerer Weekly? I wrote this article for last month."
Astro glanced at the magazine pages lazily—and froze. A silver-haired woman smiled radiantly from the photo, a familiar guild mark visible on her body. For the first time all evening, his composure cracked.
The guild mark. The same guild mark his father had in this life had.
The guild mark belonging to Fairy tail.
Elara's grin widened. "Ah. Finally, a reaction."
Astro looked away, but the stillness of his body betrayed him.
"Relax," Elara said with a playful pat on his shoulder. "I'm not teasing too much. Most men your age would've turned red already. And if you're curious…" Her eyes glimmered. "…I've got more inside. Fair warning—some are a little spicy."
Astro blinked, realizing the misunderstanding, but didn't bother correcting her.
By the time laughter faded into yawns, the townsfolk had slumped against tables and doorframes, drunk and content. Elara stretched with a sigh, then helped women guide their children inside. Astro lingered, watching in silence as she carried a boy gently in her arms, her usual boldness softened by care.
When all was quiet, Elara dusted her hands and returned to him, her smile sly again.
"Hey," she said softly, slipping a folded stack into his hands. "From Fiore. The… more popular issues. Consider it a thank-you gift for Akiko. And don't worry—I won't tell."
Astro opened the first page—and froze again. Mirajane's photographs were far more suggestive than the tame cover before. His grip tightened on the paper.
"That's the face I was waiting for," Elara teased, biting back a laugh.
Astro closed the pages with care and slid them into his bag. "It's for information. Fiore. Fairy Tail. Nothing else."
"Mm-hm. Purely academic," Elara said, grinning wide. "Goodnight, hero. Don't… study too hard."
With a pat on his arm, she disappeared inside.
The night quieted. Only the snore of a drunk neighbor and the rustling of leaves remained. Astro leaned against a lamppost, bag at his feet, unmoving as hours slipped by.
When the faint glow of dawn was still hidden, his eyes snapped open. The air had shifted—subtle at first, like the city itself had drawn a breath. The breeze turned heavy, damp, clinging to his skin.
Astro tilted his head, gaze narrowing toward the dark alleys at the edge of the district.
A mage is nearby. A strong one.