Night had fully fallen over Magnolia, and the guild hall was a chaotic mess once again after Erza had gone to talk to the master in another room. The laughter of guild members filled every corner. Despite the mess, the energy of Fairy Tail made it feel alive rather than unkempt.
Astro found himself invited to a table full of young guild members by a girl with only a bikini as top, Astro hoped that it was a bikini, not an underwear. He didn't refuse, though he only nursed a small drink in front of him.
"Haha! I knew you were going to win! Seriously, thanks to you, I made a killing this time!" Cana exclaimed, finishing off a barrel-sized drink in one gulp and slamming it down with a satisfied thump.
Astro blinked, although he saw this spectacle from a distance before but still slightly taken aback by her boisterous energy.
"I should've bet on you too… I ended up losing a ton of money this round," said a woman with short lilac hair with glasses, sipping from her cup. Astro remembered her vaguely—she was the Wood Make wizard Loke had mentioned earlier.
"Astro is a real man!" called a white-haired, muscular boy, grinning broadly. At first, Astro had assumed this guy was older than him, but he realized the boy was roughly the same age as Natsu and Cana. The white hair stood out against his tanned skin, giving him a slightly striking appearance.
Astro cleared his throat, deciding it was a good time to introduce himself properly. "Well… I don't think we've really met yet. I'm Astro Blackmist. I come from… let's just say a very faraway country."
"Oh! Me too! I'm Alzack Connel. I'm from a country in the west," said a brown-haired young man with deep green eyes, his tone casual but friendly. "I've got to say, traveling across this continent has gotten way easier with all these new trains—they really make life convenient."
Astro nodded, smiling politely. "That does sound convenient. Makes exploring a lot less stressful, I imagine."
Astro rarely took the trains on his journey to fairy tail. He wanted to see the outside world more and get used to living in this world with his magic first before arriving at the fairy tail.
"Are… those guns?" Astro said as he pointed toward Alzack's waist, where a pair of sleek revolvers gleamed under the dim light.
"Yep! Magic revolvers," Alzack said, his eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. "I channel my magic through them to fire special magic bullets. Want to take a closer look?"
Astro's curiosity piqued instantly. He had to admit—this world's technology was… interestingly inconsistent. Magic clearly filled the gaps. People didn't need gunpowder or black powder to fire a gun; instead, with some simple mechanics and magic, magic bullets can be fired from these revolvers.
And of course, it was needed to be a good shooter too, to use these guns effectively.
"So, are there any other kinds of guns you can buy here?" Astro asked, leaning in to inspect the revolvers, running his fingers over the polished metal.
Alzack's grin grew even wider, practically sparkling. "Oh, you can get all sorts of stuff—rifles, sniper rifles, cannons, bazookas and even some weird experimental stuff."
Although it seemed concerning to hear, Astro wasn't even a bit afraid of hearing such weapons existed here too.. Standard magic bullets posed little threat to a strong wizard. Being powerful wasn't just about magic—it was about body, attack force, and sheer durability. And special physiques like Devil Slayer or Dragon Slayer types? Forget it. Most of them could probably tank a cannon shot without flinching without even much training.
"Real men don't need guns! All you need is your fists!" a confident voice declared. The white-haired boy, chest puffed out, was already flexing, and Alzack's grin faltered.
"Hey! That's… Hey!" Alzack started, clearly ready to argue, but before the debate could escalate, Astro stepped in.
"Uh… are you related to Mira, by chance?" he asked, curious. Not only did they share the same white hair, but their light blue eyes also reminded him of a clear summer sky.
Elfman's face brightened, and he nodded. "Yeah! I'm her younger brother—Elfman Strauss."
Astro gave him an appraising look. Not at him being the brother of Mira but for the boy's muscles, they weren't just big—they were sculpted from obvious hard training. He wondered silently how many hours Elfman must have spent in rigorous workouts just to reach that level of physical strength.
"What kind of magic do you use?" Astro asked, curiosity sparkling in his eyes. He couldn't help but wonder if Elfman's muscles were partly enhanced by some sort of magic.
In this world, every wizard had their own preferred type of magic. Some relied on tools or holders—cards, guns, or enchanted items—to channel their power. Others specialized in "maker" magic, shaping wood, ice, fire, or other materials into weapons and constructs. Then there were those who manipulated elemental forces directly, like Loke with his light-based magic. And of course, some wielded pure body-changing magic, altering their forms at will, like Master Makarov, who could shrink to a tiny size or grow into a giant in an instant.
There were countless other unique magic types that didn't fit neatly into any category. But one thing was almost universal: most wizards dedicated their lives to mastering a single form of magic. Astro was no exception. His Sky Devil Slayer magic was his chosen path, and while he intended to pick up some convenient minor magics, he avoided branching into other combat magics. Doing so would disrupt his style and leave openings for enemies to exploit.
Elfman hesitated for a moment, his voice quiet but steady. "I use Take Over Magic: Beast Soul."
Before Astro could ask further, Elfman's right hand transformed, the fingers elongating into sharp, striped claws, forming the unmistakable paw of a tiger. Astro leaned closer, his eyes wide with curiosity.
"Uh… can I… touch it?" he asked politely, careful not to seem intrusive.
Elfman raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised, but nodded without hesitation.
Astro reached out, feeling the textured warmth and subtle strength in the transformed hand. It truly felt alive, as if it could rip through steel at any second..
"This is… fascinating," Astro muttered. In a close range battle, most wizards, even with stronger magic would fall into disadvantage while fighting against such brute power.
"Well, it's my turn next," Laki announced, her eyes sparkling as she looked at everyone showing off their magic.
Astro leaned back slightly, curious to see what she would do.
"Wood Make—Cup of Unspoken Feelings!" Laki shouted with a flourish, placing one fist in the palm of her other hand. In an instant, a wooden mug materialized. Well… sort of a wooden mug.
Astro blinked. That name… he understood why Loke said she had a unique naming sense. But the mug also had spikes outside. In fact, the whole outside part is covered by spikes. Astro raised an eyebrow. Is this a new way to prevent drinking? He doubted it would work on everyone though—he'd already noticed Cana somehow finishing another barrel while he had been talking to the others.
"I have to admit," Astro said, tilting his head, "maker magic is really convenient. Honestly, if being a wizard doesn't suit you, you could always start a business."
Laki grinned, tapping her wooden creation with a finger. "Oh, I do have a business. If you're ever interested in wooden items… you can find me at my shop on Fridays."
She handed him a card. Astro took it, squinting at the name printed in fancy lettering: Laki's Endless Halfway of Shame.
He tilted his head to read the rest of the card. Beneath the shop's name was a list of what she sold. Mostly… torture devices.
Astro's gaze drifted to the spiked mug sitting innocently on the table. He muttered in his mind, 'Yeah… I'm going to pass on visiting this shop. No offense, Laki, but that's not exactly my cup of tea.'
Still, he couldn't help but admire her skill. Despite the terrifyingly unconventional theme of her products, the craftsmanship was undeniable.
Astro tilted his head back to Cana, . "So… what type of magic do you use, exactly?"
He ran through possibilities in his mind. It could be some kind of sensing magic… or maybe something to do with divination. That would explain how Cana could be so confident in betting on him against Natsu.
Cana smiled slyly, holding a deck of cards in her hand. "I use Card Magic. Each card has a different effect, depending on which one I use."
Astro's brow arched. Ah, so divination-type holder magic… makes sense. He watched her carefully, curious to see how it worked in practice.
Without hesitation, Cana drew a single card from her deck, flipped her wrist, and sent it spinning into the air above them. "Blazing Card!" she shouted.
The card exploded midair, sending a small but sharp burst of flame cascading around the table.
Interesting… so it's a holder-type magic, like Alzack's revolvers. But unlike magic bullets, which rely mostly on lethality, card magic seems far more versatile. He could see the appeal—quick, adaptable, and able to produce various effects in a wide range of situations.
Cana winked at him as she shuffled another card. "See? Cards aren't just for gambling. They can be deadly in the right hands."
Astro did not deny it, everybody here had interesting magics.
Astro leaned back slightly, curiosity sparkling in his eyes. "So… you guys all seem pretty strong. Does Fairy Tail have other members our age who are as strong as you guys or more?"
He tapped his chin thoughtfully. 'I've only seen a few of the main protagonists so far… Natsu and Erza of course, and I heard about Gray from him. But what about the rest? Did I join Fairy Tail before some big story even started?'
Cana glanced at Elfman secretly, who had gone a little quiet and seemed to be staring at his drink. Astro noticed the subtle shift in mood at the table—it had gone a touch gloomy.
After a brief pause, Cana raised her hand and started counting on her fingers. "Hmm… if we're talking about strong ones, there are quite a few. But the most notable and popular ones are Levy, Jet, and Droy—they formed a team called Shadow Gear."
Astro's eyes brightened. "Levy… I think Mira mentioned her once. She said Levy loves reading books, right?"
Cana giggled, nodding. "Yeah, that's her! She's super smart, and… cute too."
Laki chimed in, her tone casual but informative. "There's also Gray. He's an Ice-Make wizard and—he's Natsu's rival. They are always looking for an excuse to fight each other.."
Then Elfman spoke up quietly, his voice carrying a bit of weight. "And there's a newer guy, Mystogan. Not much is known about him yet, but… Master said he is very young and he takes on some very dangerous tasks from what sis told us."
"Is he one of the S-Class mages?" Astro asked, curiosity lighting up his features.
"No," Erza replied instead as she arrived at their table, her voice quite calm, "Mystogan joined just before Loke. No one has ever seen his face. Every time he arrives, he puts the entire guild to sleep. It's said that only the Master knows what he looks like."
Astro quickly made way for Erza to sit, intrigued. No one has seen him? Not even other S-Class mages?
Studying her expression, he couldn't help but ask, "Did he manage to make you fall asleep too?"
Erza sounded a bit depressed. "Yes… I've never managed to avoid it. Though, in a serious battle, I could probably find a way to resist, so don't assume I'm weaker than him."
Astro nodded, impressed. He knew she wasn't bluffing. Even he could probably counter it without using Sky Magic..
He leaned forward, genuinely curious. "Then who are the other current S-Class mages in the guild?"
Erza's tone was a bit neutral . "Laxus and Gildarts.."
But Astro noted the subtle edge in her mention of Laxus, a flicker of irritation that she tried to hide. Cana, meanwhile, froze mid-sip at Gildarts' name, only to resume drinking moments later.
"Talking about Laxus," Elfman picked up the conversation, "he has a team of strong people as well, but they act more like… followers of Laxus than actual guild members. We don't know them well; all we know is that they're strong enough to handle S-Class missions alongside him."
Astro listened carefully, letting the names settle in his mind: Mystogan, Laxus, Glidarts… they all sound like formidable wizards.
"Wait… you mean I can actually go on an S-Class mission as long as a S-Class wizard takes the job with me?" Astro asked, a flicker of excitement in his eyes. He remembered Mira's warning about how dangerous those jobs could be, but instead of fear, he felt eager curiosity. He wants to see what a real S-Class mission is like.
Elfman hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes… you can go," he said, though it seemed like he wanted to add more but held back.
Astro turned his gaze to Erza, sensing she already understood what he was thinking. Erza let out a quiet sigh, a mixture of exasperation and resignation in her tone.
"You should really get used to the regular missions first… that's what I'd like to say," she began, "but…"
She cut off, reaching for a job poster on her skirt pocket and handing it to him.
"I want to take you and Levy to a S class job with me, Here's the job request poster."
"What Levy is going on a S class job?". Cana exclaimed upon hearing it, depressed a bit.
Astro glanced at it quickly and looked at the bottom first to see who requested the job "Interesting… a council member posted this job?"
Erza nodded. "Yes. They want us to investigate a temple on an abandoned island and also to make the island habitable again."
Astro skimmed the description. "Seems simple enough… but are there any other details? Is there some need for my specific magic for this job?"
Erza's eyes flickered with approval at how quickly he picked up on it. "You're quick to catch on," she said, a smile brushing her lips. She then guided him to a quiet corner beside the bar, where only Mira and Master Makarov were lingering.
Master Makarov leaned forward, peering over his spectacles. "Did you read the job description carefully?"
Astro nodded, lowering himself into a chair. "I did… but why do you need me for this?"
Makarov looked at the loud guild hall to make sure no one was listening before speaking. "It's because this job is too suspicious. And only you have the ability in our guild right now to make sure everyone else in the job can stay safe."
Astro frowned slightly, reviewing the poster again. "What type of danger are we talking about?"
Makarov paused, his expression serious as he leaned back slightly in his chair as he gave more details about the job. " We lost contact with the island people a few years ago, and it's now surrounded by extremely strong wind currents. Later, a few brave sailors tried to get close, but the nearer they approached, the sicker they became. So they turned back before reaching it, but most died midway in the sea. And only one sailor managed to return—barely alive, on his deathbed. He shared what he could about the island before passing away. Since then, the place has been considered off-limits."
Astro frowned, glancing at the island pictured faintly on the job poster. "If it's in the middle of the sea and has been like this for over some years already, why does the council suddenly want us to investigate? It doesn't seem like it's causing any trouble, does it?"
Erza and Mira exchanged a glance and fell silent for a moment. The master finally spoke up, her voice calm but precise. " The council member who posted this job doesn't exactly have the best relationship with us. And yet, he's specifically requesting our guild. It's probably the council—or that particular member's way of undermining us. So, they can claim our guild is useless. That's likely why they're pushing this job. Originally, I was going to ignore it entirely, but with your wind magic and healing abilities, Astro, it should be manageable to at least get onto the island. Erza can handle most of the actual dangers there, and Levy—if she agrees—can investigate the island while you two provide protection."
Makarov turned his gaze to Astro, his eyes sharp and expectant. "So… Do you want to take this job?"
Astro studied the poster again. The island was little more than a shadow in the picture, almost unrecognizable, surrounded by swirling white foam and mist. Seems like a challenge… but interesting.
"Sure," he replied after a moment of thought. "From what I've heard, Levy isn't in the guild right now, but if she accepts the job, I don't mind taking it too." Astro also wants to see how Erza works on a mission like this—an S-Class mage in action—and to gauge the difference between her abilities and his.
He paused, letting his eyes drift over the faint image of the island. It might take some time for Levy to return anyway, so I'll have plenty of time to rest and prepare before the mission.