"Well then… that's settled. Let's head back to the village and lift the curse on the villagers!"
With things wrapped up here, it was time to tackle the next task. Kira waved to the group, ready to move out.
"But how do we do it? Their transformation is because of the Moon Drip's influence, right?" Gray and the others turned to Lyon, hoping he had some ideas.
"I don't know!" Lyon turned away, avoiding their gazes. "We've never even seen those villagers, and their story doesn't add up. You do realize we've been under the Moon Drip's light too…"
Kira cut him off with a grin. "I've got it all figured out, no need to explain! Let's go!"
As he turned to leave, he noticed Ultear had vanished without a trace.
Before heading out, Gray looked back at Lyon. "You… should join a guild. You might find a way to get stronger. And honestly… having comrades? It's a pretty great thing."
From a distance, Kira's voice chimed in, "Yeah, yeah! If you can't surpass Ur, you can always try to top me!"
"…"
Kira and the others left, leaving only Lyon, his few followers, and the shattered remains of Deliora behind. The ice that once encased Ur had melted into water, slowly trickling toward the sea.
Lyon gazed at the ocean, a wave of emotions washing over him.
After ten years of relentless pursuit, everything had come to a sudden halt. A pang of melancholy and uncertainty crept into his heart. Where would he go now? What was next?
"Seeing Gray grow like this… you'd be proud, wouldn't you, Ur?"
[Of course!]
Lyon froze. "!!!"
He whipped around, but there was nothing unusual behind him. Was it his imagination? Or was Ur watching this moment too?
After a long silence, a relieved smile spread across Lyon's face. "Comrades… a guild, huh?"
…
On the road, Loke asked Kira, "So, you've figured out what's causing the villagers' changes?"
"Yup," Kira replied. "The gas from the Moon Drip formed a purple film hanging over Galuna Island, messing with the villagers' memories. All we need to do is break that film, and they'll be back to normal."
The trio looked up at the sky. "But… it's so high up! You can't even tell how far it is!"
"Heh heh heh, this is where my magic weapon comes in!" Kira said, practically bouncing with excitement. "Let me tell you, my gear is strong! Not only does it pack a punch, but it's got insane range. One shot, and that film's history."
Back in the village, it was Kira's time to shine.
"Great wizards, when are you going to destroy the moon and break the curse?" a villager asked.
Gray and the others shifted awkwardly, about to explain. "Uh… well, actually…"
"Right now!" Kira cut in decisively. "Forgot already? These folks won't believe the truth even if we tell them, so let's just get it done. Sure, they're the ones who issued the job, but we're the wizards who decide how to handle it!"
He continued, "A lot of times, clients are swayed by ignorance, stubbornness, or superstition. But we can't let that cloud our judgment. We've got to think for ourselves, figure out the root of the problem, and decide the best course of action. We're the professionals here, not them!"
The trio nodded, half-understanding but trusting his lead.
Man, Kira thought, they're only a year or two younger than me, but these kids raised in cozy guild families can't compare to a guy like me, who's been adventuring with mercenary squads since I was a kid!
The villagers, hearing Kira's confidence, lit up with joy. "That's amazing! The curse will finally be lifted!"
"Thank you so much! But… how are you going to do it?"
Heh, you think destroying the moon sounds easy? Kira smirked inwardly but kept his cool. "Leave it all to me."
Glancing at the purple film in the sky, he turned to Cana. "Oh, by the way, I promised to show you the power of that card set. Keep your eyes peeled!"
That piqued their curiosity, especially Cana's.
All along the journey, Kira had been hyping up his cards like a master salesman. Now they'd finally see if they lived up to the hype.
Cana knew a thing or two about Kira's magic items. She'd been using his cards for years, and they were undeniably powerful—but also ridiculously expensive. As she put it: Buy early, go broke early. Buy late, regret it later.
Kira's magic shop, run by the famed "Sage" of the wizarding world, raked in profits that were almost unimaginable. His finely crafted magic weapons were like real estate—prices skyrocketed, and every year they sold for absurd amounts. Not just in Fiore, but in neighboring countries too. Magic guilds, adventurer guilds, and bounty guilds all treasured the weapons, armor, and items from "Hope's Hut." Their scarcity only made them more coveted.
So when Kira had claimed at the guild that "those cards were made for Cana," she didn't buy it for a second. Everyone knew his items sold like hotcakes.
Kira strode to an open clearing, pulling out his pre-prepared card. He looked skyward, card in hand, ready to go.
Striking a ridiculously cool pose for the villagers, he flashed a grin. "Watch closely—this is an attack that'll shatter the sky itself!"
"WHOA!" The villagers cheered, buzzing with anticipation.
Loke, Gray, and Cana fixed their eyes on the card in Kira's hand.
Silence…
Waiting…
A full minute passed with Kira still holding his dramatic card-in-the-air pose…
"What the heck are you doing?!" the trio shouted in unison.
Kira's eyes narrowed, and he let out a soft, "Here it comes!"
"Huh?"
More silence… more waiting…
"Just do it already!"
"You're killing me here!"
"Hold me back, or I'm gonna punch him!"
The villagers, though nervous, were more patient. They grabbed the trio, worried they'd interrupt Kira's "moon-shattering" moment. "Please, calm down, wizards! He must be finding the perfect angle for his spell! Don't disturb him!"
Kira, as if making a grand decision, shouted, "This is the one!"
"Go, Moon-Shatter Cannon!"
He flung the card skyward with force. It shot toward the moon like an arrow!
"So you were just thinking of a cool name?!" the group groaned in unison.
The card gleamed with blinding white light as energy surged around it, whipping up a fierce wind. Sand and stones flew, and the crowd struggled to stay grounded. Lighter villagers even felt like they might float away.