Just then, a gentle, calm male voice broke the tense silence.
"Having a cautious heart is a good thing. It can keep you safe from a lot of dangers."
Before Mirajane could look up to see who was speaking, something soft, fluffy, and warm suddenly dropped from the sky, landing lightly in her arms!
"Ah!" Mirajane nearly yelped, her first instinct to toss the unknown thing away.
"Meow~"
A soft, sweet cat's meow, like tiny paws gently scratching at her heart, stopped her cold.
Her body froze, her movements halting instantly.
She glanced down—and saw a tiny black kitten, its body sleek and dark, with eyes like two glowing golden gems, curled up on her demon arm, the one covered in purple beads that even she hated to touch!
What made her heart nearly stop was that this little black kitten showed no fear or urge to flee. Instead, it nuzzled its soft, warm head against her cold, grotesque, almost lifeless demon arm, rubbing gently again and again.
"Meow~" Another tender call, full of trust and affection.
The soft, warm sensation and the kitten's unreserved closeness hit Mirajane like a bolt of warm lightning, shattering the icy walls she'd built around her heart.
A rush of indescribable warmth and bittersweet emotion surged to her nose, stinging her eyes. In that moment, her heart felt utterly melted by this tiny life.
"So… so cute…" she murmured, her voice trembling with a softness she hadn't even noticed herself.
"But if you're too cautious…" the gentle male voice spoke again, carrying a reassuring smile, "you might miss out on some beautiful sights."
Mirajane snapped her head up, following the voice. At the doorway stood a black-haired young man smiling at her. Then, a soft green magic circle glowed beneath his feet!
Buzz!
Green light spread outward like ripples of water, moving at an astonishing speed!
"Watch out!" Mirajane's pupils shrank, mistaking it for an attack. Instinctively, she pulled Lisanna and Elfman tightly into her arms, shielding them with her body and squeezing her eyes shut, bracing for impact.
But the expected pain or blow never came. Instead, a strange, sweet fragrance tickled her nose.
Cautiously, she cracked her eyes open.
The sight before her stole her breath away.
"What… what is this?!"
The worn-out wooden floor beneath her feet had transformed into soft, lush green grass!
Scattered across the grass were countless tiny flowers glowing with a gentle fluorescence, their petals shimmering with dreamlike, ever-changing rainbow hues!
Looking up, the leaky, dilapidated roof was gone, replaced by a vast, crystal-clear blue sky! Fluffy white clouds, like cotton candy, drifted lazily overhead.
The bare walls and corners of the room had vanished, now overtaken by vibrant, flower-laden bushes that curved naturally into lively arches and floral corridors.
Countless radiant flowers—roses, lilies, daisies, hyacinths—bloomed in full splendor, each vying for attention!
Everywhere she looked was a dreamy ocean of flowers and greenery!
A gentle breeze swept through, carrying an intoxicating floral scent. It playfully tugged at Mirajane's hood, revealing her pale but strikingly delicate face.
Everyone was stunned, as if they'd been whisked into a fairy-tale wonderland.
Almost without thinking, Mirajane took a few steps forward. Hesitantly, she reached out, her fingertips brushing a vibrant red rose nearby.
The cool, tender texture felt so real. She brought her fingers to her nose, inhaling the rose's distinct, rich fragrance that lingered.
She took a small step back, her wide eyes filled with pure awe and disbelief.
"Are these… could they actually be real?!"
Roger strolled forward with a warm grin, gracefully plucking a pure white lily from a nearby bush.
"Why don't you try it? Pick a flower you like and tuck it into your hair."
Mirajane hesitated, still unsure, her gaze lingering on the sea of flowers.
But Lisanna couldn't hold back her excitement. Her eyes sparkled as she squealed, "Wow! I want this pink one!"
She darted to the bush, carefully picking a vibrant pink rose and tucking it into her white hair.
The moment the flower was secured—
Buzz!
The pink rose burst into a soft, radiant glow!
Pop!
With a light sound, the glow shattered into countless tiny petals, swirling around Lisanna like dreamy stardust!
"My clothes! My clothes are glowing!!" Lisanna cried out in delight, instinctively closing her eyes.
The light grew brighter, enveloping her small frame. A faint rustle like fabric shifting sounded, and then the glow faded.
Lisanna peeked open her eyes and looked down at herself.
"WOW!! My clothes! They're made of petals now!!!" she shrieked, her voice brimming with joy.
Her plain dress had transformed into an elegant gown made of countless layered pink petals!
The skirt flared out, dreamy and full, like a blooming rose.
On her shoulders, two lifelike, delicate pink-and-white roses served as stunning accents.
"It's so pretty!!" Lisanna's face flushed with excitement. She carefully lifted the layered petal skirt, spinning lightly like a joyful butterfly, petals fluttering around her.
"Haha! Mira-nee, look! Look at me!!"
She stopped spinning, striking a cute pose with her hands on her hips, her smile brighter than ever. "I'm a flower fairy now!! This magic is so cool!!!"
"Magic…?" Mirajane stared, dazed, at the scene before her, at the radiant, unshadowed smile on her sister's face—a smile she hadn't seen in so long. For a moment, she couldn't process it.
"Yep!" Lisanna bounced back to Mirajane's side, hands clasped behind her back, her sparkling eyes gazing up at her sister.
"Big brother Roger and big sister Erza are like the heroes from storybooks who use magic to beat bad guys!"
"This amazing garden, my pretty dress—it's all gotta be big brother Roger's magic! He even made tons of yummy food like this before!!"
Lisanna suddenly gasped, realizing she'd forgotten something important. "Oh, right! Mira-nee, big sister Erza told me!"
"She said you're not possessed by a demon! You've awakened magic! A really awesome kind of magic tied to demons!"
"You're not a monster—you're a hero with magic, too!!!"
"Me? Magic? I… I'm someone with magic?" The revelation hit Mirajane like a thunderbolt, exploding in her mind!
She stood frozen, her face a mix of confusion and disbelief. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that the hideous arm that brought her so much pain, seen as a curse, could actually be… the kind of magic found only in storybooks?!