Chapter 7: Chains and Chaos
The return trip from the photoshoot was far less glamorous than the preparation. Menma, Mira, and a few props were loaded into a sturdy carriage, rolling through a dense forest on the outskirts of Magnolia. The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the trees.
"You're awfully quiet," Mira noted from beside him, brushing a loose strand of silver hair behind her ear.
"I am observing," Menma replied simply. "The forest is active. Energy readings suggest… potential threats."
Mira rolled her eyes. "You're like a walking paranoia machine. Relax a little, will you?"
Before he could answer, a faint shimmer in the air caught his attention — subtle, almost imperceptible. Menma's hand twitched toward the chains at his belt. He could summon them at will, manipulating them as extensions of his body.
"Menma… what is it?" Mira asked, sensing his shift in posture.
"Prepare yourself," he said quietly. "We're not alone."
From the shadows, figures emerged — a Phantom Lord side branch, rogue members seeking easy plunder. They grinned, confident in their numbers.
Menma didn't hesitate. With a flick of his wrist, shimmering Chain Magic erupted from his hands, snakes of metal wrapping around the attackers' weapons and limbs, disarming and immobilizing them without serious injury. Wood sprouted from the ground beneath them, tangling and restraining their movements.
Mira gasped, her eyes wide, both awed and concerned. "Menma… that's incredible!"
"Do not worry," he said calmly. "They are dangerous, but not irredeemable. Restraint first. Lethal only if necessary."
Humor Amidst Tension
Despite the battle, Menma couldn't suppress a faint smile at the absurdity of some of the attackers' antics. One rogue tripped over a wooden root, sending a bag of stolen goods flying — which Natsu, if he had been there, would have dramatically thrown after. Happy would have laughed uncontrollably.
Mira couldn't help but chuckle softly. "You're not just strong… you're ridiculously efficient at making them look foolish."
Menma's chains tightened gently, keeping all threats contained. "Efficiency and restraint often coincide."
Within minutes, the forest was quiet again. The rogues, tangled in chains and roots, had no choice but to retreat, muttering angrily under their breath.
Mira exhaled, leaning back against the carriage. "I guess… we're lucky you were here."
Menma allowed himself a faint smile. "Luck is merely preparation meeting opportunity."
She tilted her head, teasing lightly. "And your chains are… ridiculously impressive. I'd almost call you showy, but somehow it works."
Evening Calm
By the time they returned to Magnolia, the sun had dipped below the horizon. The forest was quiet, serene, yet Menma remained vigilant, scanning subtle magical residues in the air.
Mira walked beside him, her earlier teasing softened. "Menma… thanks. Really. For everything today."
"You're welcome," he replied calmly, though the faint warmth in his eyes betrayed the depth of care he felt. "Your safety is… important."
Mira's smile returned, genuine and soft. "You really are something else, you know that?"
Menma allowed himself a quiet chuckle. "I try."
The carriage rolled into the city, shadows lengthening across the cobblestones. Menma's mind drifted briefly to the future — Phantom Lord, rogue guilds, unstable magic. Danger was always near. But he would face it. With restraint, precision, and the quiet power of the Masked Warden, he would protect the people who could not protect themselves.
And Mira? She had seen just a fraction of his abilities today. Yet she would never know the full extent — and perhaps, it was better that way.