And so, Mavis became publicly known as Lyla's "older sister." She explained that she was only visiting and wouldn't be officially rejoining the guild, a precaution to avoid drawing attention to her true identity.
Makarov and Lyla both agreed without question, and together the three of them left the room.
"Make sure you know what to say out there," Makarov warned Lyla.
"Relax, old man. I've got this," Lyla replied confidently, patting his chest and giving a thumbs-up.
Makarov squinted at him suspiciously, the kind of look that sent a chill down Lyla's spine. "You better not make me regret it."
He was already muttering to himself: First day, the kid takes a book. Second day, disappears. Now he's back bringing me the First Master herself.At this rate, he'll be reviving the entire founder's circle next...
Back in the main hall, Makarov returned to the bar while Lyla and Mavis found a table and ordered some food. Most of the guild members were out on missions, leaving only two familiar faces: Macao and Wakaba.
"Lyla, who's this?" Macao asked as he approached the table.
"I'm Mavis, Lyla's sister. Just came by to visit him today," Mavis said with a gentle smile.
"Oh, Lyla's been doing great here. Don't worry, we've got his back," Wakaba replied kindly.
"I can tell. The guild feels so warm and lively, I'm sure Lyla will grow up happy here. Thank you both," Mavis replied sincerely.
After they ate, Mavis prepared to leave. But just as she stood up, her gaze caught sight of a young boy entering the guild. He looked… strangely familiar. That face reminded her of someone, Yuri.
It was Laxus.
He walked into the guild, casually greeting a few members before making his way toward the bar where Makarov was sitting. Makarov hopped down from the counter, eyes filled with grandfatherly warmth as he watched his grandson approach.
Lyla, on the other hand, was practically trembling with excitement. Without hesitation, he pulled out his camera and snapped a photo. Then, as he watched Laxus reach his grandfather, he took another picture, capturing the scene of the two standing together.
"Is that Makarov's grandson?" Mavis asked.
"Yup," Lyla replied while reviewing the photos he'd just taken.
Mavis gave him a mildly exasperated look. "You really carry that camera around with you all the time?"
Lyla grinned sheepishly. "It's just a little hobby. I like to capture memories."
After chatting with Laxus for a moment, Makarov brought him over to Lyla.
He introduced them formally, though Lyla already knew, back when he joined the guild, Makarov had mentioned he had a grandson named Laxus, who couldn't make it that day due to other matters.
"Hey," Laxus greeted.
"Hey," Lyla replied, smiling.
At this stage in life, Laxus was still friendly and approachable. Curious, he asked Lyla what kind of magic he used.
"I use Arc of Embodiment," Lyla answered.
Laxus raised a brow. "What's that?"
Lyla took the time to explain his magic, and Laxus seemed thoughtful. Then, rather abruptly, he challenged Lyla to a duel.
Lyla immediately declined. "I'm not really into fighting. I didn't learn this magic to fight people."
Makarov, standing nearby, smiled knowingly. He already understood Lyla's power better than most, and frankly, if Lyla and Laxus did fight, the outcome might surprise people.
Laxus didn't take offense. Instead, he nodded and said, "I'll keep asking."
Maybe he wanted to test himself against someone his own age. Or maybe he just wanted to prove himself as the grandson of the Guild Master, to show he was stronger than anyone else.
Makarov quickly shifted the topic.
"So, how'd the check-up with Porlyusica go?"
"She said I'm doing well," Laxus replied. "The Dragon Lacrima is stable."
Mavis, who had been listening quietly, perked up. "Dragon Lacrima?"
Makarov explained, "Laxus's father implanted a Dragon Slayer Lacrima in his body because his health wasn't good as a child. I wasn't thrilled about it, but… it worked. His body adapted, and now he can use Lightning Dragon Slayer Magic."
"I see…" Mavis looked at Laxus more closely, sensing the lightning magic pulsing within him. Just like Yuri… she thought wistfully.
Then Laxus turned to her. "Hey… who are you?"
"She's Lyla's sister," Makarov answered quickly. "Be respectful."
"Got it. Nice to meet you, sis," Laxus said with a polite bow.
"Nice to meet you too, Laxus," Mavis replied with a soft smile.
Lyla stayed quiet, not wanting to ruin the moment. But in the back of his mind, he was already planning to take a lot of photos during Laxus's inevitable rebellious phase. Gotta build that blackmail folder early.
"Well then, I'll be heading out," Mavis said to Makarov. "Seeing Lyla here, I feel at ease."
Makarov nodded. He wanted to speak more formally but restrained himself, no one else knew the truth. "Alright. Take care."
"Bye, Lyla."
"See you later… sis," Lyla replied, feigning reluctance.
From the side, Macao and Wakaba watched them go.
"Lyla," Wakaba said, "your sister doesn't look that old, but she's got such a mature vibe."
"Yeah," Lyla chuckled. Technically, she got cursed around age thirteen or fourteen, but she's probably in her twenties now… She's like a little grown-up.
"Hey, Lyla," Macao said, draping an arm around his shoulder. "How about forming a team with us? You wouldn't need to go on missions, just provide intel. In a few years, once you're ready…"
He trailed off, eyes twinkling like a salesman about to close a deal.
In Fairy Tail, kids like Lyla weren't rare. Many had no families, but the guild took care of them, supporting them until they were old enough to take on jobs themselves. Seasoned members always kept an eye out to make sure no one got into trouble.
"No thanks. I'm not ready for missions yet. But if you need intel, just come to me. Anyone in the guild can."
Lyla had a plan.
His first step? Establish an information hub within the guild. If he could become the go-to source for news and requests, it'd be an easy way to earn money.
Later, he'd resume training in the East Forest, but his current magic wasn't fully reliable yet. He needed to learn some basic spell formations too. Fortunately, he had talent, likely due to the strength of his soul. His sensitivity to magic and his training progress were both excellent.
<150 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter>