When Noah opened his eyes, the sight of an unfamiliar ceiling greeted him once again.
Yawning, he stretched. He had stayed up too late reading, but at least he had absorbed quite a bit of knowledge from a book titled *Common Sense of Magic*. Thanks to that, he no longer had to worry about exposing how little he actually knew.
Beside the bed rested another book, *Universal Dark Magic: Amaterasu Style*. This had been Makarov's recommendation the previous night when Noah asked what magic he could learn to improve his combat ability.
"Dark magic," as written in the text, referred to utilizing dark-elemental magic—not to be mistaken with "black magic," which was inherently evil.
The "Amaterasu Style" contained 108 individual spells. Makarov had instructed him to pick only two to study. If he attempted to forcefully learn more, it would harm him instead.
At first Noah assumed the old man was exaggerating, but once he actually flipped through the pages, he understood.
The spellcasting circles of Amaterasu differed completely from ordinary magic circles. They were engraved with dense, intricate **runes**—mystical inscriptions that formed the very foundation of Amaterasu's power.
To activate such spells, one had to **carve runes into the magic circle at the exact moment of casting** using only their magic power. Such precision demanded absolute control over magical energy.
Furthermore, runes embodied the caster's *understanding* of magic. The sheer volume of runes required for the Amaterasu style meant that only someone with an enormous reserve of magical knowledge could hope to succeed.
Immense magical control. Vast magical knowledge. Extraordinary stamina.
These three conditions elevated the Amaterasu style into near-impossible territory. Only those with ridiculous talent could master it.
Even Makarov himself had said that while he understood the theory, he had never practiced it. Only its originator, one of the guild's founders and Fairy Tail's second guild master, **Precht Gelberg**, truly mastered it.
"The second master… really was terrifyingly wise," Noah muttered, flipping through the dense text.
Last night he had only been able to sleep because the intricate theories had exhausted his brain completely. Honestly, hearing that Precht's life's work functioned as a "sleep aid" felt… shameful. But if anyone were to be reprimanded, it would surely be Makarov, who had left such a masterpiece to gather dust in the warehouse.
Still, Precht had long since vanished, wandering the world. Whether he was even alive now was uncertain.
Noah closed the book with a sigh. Mastering Amaterasu-style spells would be nearly impossible for someone like him. His magical theory was pitifully shallow. Even attempting one spell might take years.
"What a pity…"
Unless he received a wish reward like "Encyclopedic Magical Knowledge," he could forget about learning it anytime soon.
[Ding]
[You have a new wish commission. Please check.]
The crisp chime in his mind made his heart race. His pulse quickened. *Could it be…?*
He had completed four wish orders already. Was it finally his turn to have a wish granted in return?
Noah conjured the white pages eagerly. A glowing commission appeared before his eyes.
[Local Prayer Request]
Kana Alberona's beloved "Xiaobai" has passed away. The grieving girl prays for a miracle, begging for Xiaobai not to leave her.
[Reward: Self-mastery of Card Magic]
[Time Limit: 24 hours]
Noah frowned deeply at the request.
It wasn't the coveted magical knowledge he had hoped for—but when he thought of Kana, usually so cheerful, breaking down in tears over the death of a beloved companion, he felt a stab of empathy.
*If Father Faust died, I'd probably be the same…*
Still, could he even help her?
Either way, Kana needed someone right now.
Fortunately, Noah lived near the girls' dormitory and knew where Mira's room was. He knocked, and when Mira appeared in her pajamas, he explained the situation.
"This is urgent. I'm worried Kana might do something drastic in her grief. Will you come with me?"
Mira was puzzled. She had known Kana for years and only knew that her mother had died when Kana was five. She had never heard of other family members, let alone one living with her. But trusting Noah's concern, she led him to Kana's place.
They knocked several times. No answer. Mira called out. Still nothing.
"That's strange. Even if she was drunk last night, with Kana's tolerance, she should be awake by now…"
Her expression suddenly stiffened. *Could it be—!*
She met Noah's eyes. Without hesitation, Mira invoked a fragment of her Satan Soul, summoning a demonic arm to smash the door lock.
The two rushed inside.
Noah expected the room to reek of alcohol, with bottles scattered everywhere. Instead… it was surprisingly clean, adorned with cute decorations more fitting for a little girl than a hardened drinker.
They quickly found Kana in the bedroom.
Curled up in a corner, hugging tightly to her chest, was a stiff little white puppy.
"Kana! Are you alright?"
Mira rushed to her side. When her fingers brushed the unmoving dog, she understood everything.
This was Kana's "relative"—her little dog, Xiaobai.
Kana raised her tear-streaked face. "Mira… Xiaobai, it—Xiaobai, it…"
Her sobs choked her words. She tried in vain to warm the lifeless body in her arms.
When Kana was just a child, her terminally ill mother, fearful of leaving her daughter utterly alone, had bought her a small white puppy. Kana adored him instantly and named him Xiaobai.
Less than a year later, her mother had passed away.
For the next twelve years, Xiaobai stayed faithfully by Kana's side. Even when his limbs grew weak with age, he would still wait by the door every evening for her to come home.
Until last night.
When Kana returned home, there had been no joyful barking. Only the silent, cold body of the dog guarding the entrance, as though waiting one final time for her.
Kana wept bitterly. If only she had come home earlier last night—perhaps she could have seen him alive just one more time…
Mira hugged her trembling friend tightly. She, too, knew the pain of losing parents. But she had always had her siblings to rely on. Kana, meanwhile, had just lost her last family.
"Kana, don't cry. Xiaobai lived to twelve—quite long for a dog. He never suffered illness, only age. That's a blessing. You should be glad for him…"
Kana stayed silent, clutching her pet. Mira sighed softly, preparing to comfort her further—when she noticed Noah staring intensely at the dog.
"Noah?"
"Kana, Mira… can you both confirm Xiaobai is just an ordinary creature?"
"…Eh?" Mira blinked. "Yes. He was a normal dog. Not a magical beast or anything like that."
"I see."
Noah's eyes glimmered. "Kana—if you had the power to bring Xiaobai back, would you?"
"Yes! Anything!" Kana cried, grasping at the faintest glimpse of hope.
Relief washed over Noah. At last, he understood what "Prayer Magic" truly was—not just a transactional commission.
Then there was no reason to hesitate.
He extended his right hand. White light flared, and in it crystallized a card with a magenta sheen—
The **Soul of Resurrection.**
"Kana," Noah said softly, handing it to her, "this is a magic only Card Mages can wield. But the magical energy it requires is immense… I don't know if you can sustain it. Whether Xiaobai returns will depend on you."
Kana took the card with trembling hands. Immediately, the method of using it flowed into her mind, and her heart surged with desperate hope.
*If what Gramps Dolan said is true… If my magic really is as strong as I believe…*
Her eyes hardened with determination. Pouring every drop of magic she had into the card, she cried:
"I target Xiaobai—Soul of Resurrection, activate!"
The card shattered into crimson light, dissolving into a mist that took the form of a gentle woman. Opening her arms, she embraced the little white dog softly.
The next instant—
"Woof!"