Year X772.
Over the past two years, Raizel and Laxus had been training together.
Through rigorous exercise, their physiques grew stronger, and their height increased with age.
For their age, they were considerably taller than their peers.
Laxus's Dragon Slayer Magic had improved, but he began following Makarov's advice and refrained from using it in front of others.
Raizel didn't know the reason behind Makarov's suggestion, but he guessed it was to protect Laxus.
After all, Dragon Lacrima was quite rare, and he wasn't sure if the God Serena of this era was also collecting Dragon Lacrima across the land.
Raizel's Take Over proficiency had also greatly improved, nearing 40%.
The higher it went, the harder it became to increase.
According to Raizel's estimation, surpassing 50% would likely place him at the level of a genuine S-Class Mage like those in the future.
Additionally, as his Take Over proficiency improved, the hardness of his armor also increased.
Raizel wasn't sure of the exact hardness, but so far, he hadn't encountered anything that could break through his defense.
Perhaps only Erza's Adamantine Armor could compare to it in the future.
On the Ishgar continent, there were no official rankings below S-Class.
Those with some skill had reputations, but S-Class Mages were simply more famous.
Moreover, there were disparities even among S-Class Mages — the watered-down S-Class Mages in most guilds were truly lacking.
...
Cana Alberona arrived at Fairy Tail as expected, searching for her father, Gildarts.
Cana was only six years old at the time, having not yet awakened or learned magic yet, but Makarov still allowed her to join.
She had just lost her mother.
During this period, Gildarts briefly returned before leaving again for another job.
Cana only exchanged a few words with him — Gildarts didn't recognize her, and she couldn't bring herself to tell him the truth, hindered by Makarov, who kept urging Gildarts to hurry off for his mission.
Afterward, Cana often showed a sorrowful expression, which both Raizel and Laxus noticed.
"Hey, let's take Cana out to have some fun," Laxus suggested quietly to Raizel from the bar counter, watching Cana stare blankly at her tarot cards for several days in a row.
"Oh ho, you're quite attentive to Cana, aren't you?" Raizel teased, though he was only joking — after all, Cana was still just a little kid at this point.
"Come on, she's been like that for days. Anyone with eyes can see it. Haven't you noticed Macao and Wakaba trying to cheer her up?. It's strange — she's been like this ever since Gildarts left," Laxus mused, resting his chin on his hand.
Raizel thought Laxus was surprisingly perceptive.
He knew the answer but didn't plan to tell Laxus, as it was a family matter between Cana and Gildarts.
However, he was already considering whether he should talk to Gildarts about it the next time he returned.
This time Gildarts came and went in such a hurry that Raizel didn't get much chance to interact with him.
Makarov only gave a brief introduction, and as Raizel thought about it, he realized Laxus's suggestion was a good one.
"Good idea, let's go find her." Raizel snapped his fingers and nodded at Laxus. Then he turned to Makarov, who was drinking.
"Grandpa, I think we might need your help to persuade her."
"I understand." Makarov paused with his glass in hand and nodded slightly.
He was actually quite worried about Cana's state too.
"Cana, how about we take you out to explore Magnolia?" A voice suddenly sounded beside her ear.
Cana looked up to see a figure wearing spiked headphones and a yellow short-sleeved shirt, with a smile on his face, alongside Raizel who was about the same height.
"Come hang out with us. This guy knows how to have fun - he knows all the good spots." As he spoke, Raizel pointed his thumb at Laxus.
"What do you mean 'this guy knows how to have fun'! Weren't you there too?" Laxus glared angrily at Raizel, clearly unwilling to accept such slander!
"Now, now, don't mind the details." Raizel waved his hand with a laugh.
Cana remained silent, just watching them.
It wasn't that she didn't believe them, but she genuinely felt down and couldn't muster any interest.
"Cana, when you're feeling low, don't keep it bottled up. Go out and have some fun." Makarov chimed in at the right moment.
"Yeah, yeah." Wakaba and Macao nodded vigorously like lackeys. "Go have fun with them."
"Alright." After a moment's thought, Cana finally nodded.
Staying cooped up like this wouldn't bring her father back any sooner anyway.
"How about we go to Southgate Park first to see the Sky Tree?" Laxus pointed toward Southgate Park while looking at Cana.
"I'm fine with anything." Cana hadn't really explored Magnolia much.
When she first came here, she had headed straight for Fairy Tail while holding her puppy.
"But before that, how about we get some food? Cana, is there anything you'd like to eat?"
"Cotton candy."
'Of course kids can't resist it. The current Cana isn't that heavy-drinking alcoholic yet', Raizel silently complained to himself.
"Sure thing. Let's see if there's anything else you like while we're on the street." Laxus took a few steps forward before turning back to look at Cana.
...
"We ended up buying too much," Raizel remarked as he and Laxus carried numerous bags filled with various grilled skewers, sausages, takoyaki, crepes, and drinks.
Laxus was also holding Cana's dog - a white floppy-eared puppy named Little Snow.
Raizel didn't know the breed, but Little Snow was clearly excited, constantly turning its head around with its tongue out and tail wagging nonstop.
Cana held pink cotton candy in her left hand and Italian gelato in her right, taking licks from each.
Finally, a smile appeared on her face as she enjoyed her sweets sideways.
Seeing this, Raizel and Laxus, who were walking a step behind, grinned at each other.
Arriving at Southgate Park and standing on the steps, it wasn't a weekend, so there weren't many people.
Only a few families were playing in the corners.
There were trees in the corners too, which might have offered more privacy, allowing the families to speak without much restraint.
However, their conversations didn't seem to contain anything particularly private, so they decided to have a picnic under the Sky Tree.
Laxus followed behind Cana as they strolled around Southgate Park.
Under the Sky Tree, Raizel first spread out the green square cloth he had brought and then arranged the food on it.
The little dog was very interested in the food and kept trying to eat it.
Raizel picked up Little Snow and said to it, "You can't eat this. These are all heavy on oil and salt. Dogs shouldn't eat too much salt. I've prepared something else for you."
On their way, Raizel and the others had also bought a pet can.
As he spoke, he opened it and placed it in front of Little Snow.
Seeing this, Little Snow finally stopped pestering him and focused on the can, wagging its tail the entire time it ate.
"Alright, come over and eat now," Raizel shouted toward Laxus and Cana, cupping his hands around his mouth.
"Delicious!" the three of them exclaimed in unison, eating grilled skewers and drinking chilled beverages.
"Cheers," they said, lightly clinking their cups together.
"What should we do this afternoon after we finish eating?" Raizel asked while munching on grilled squid.
"Rainbow Cherry Blossom isn't in season right now. There's a hot spring street in Hosenka Village that's pretty nice, but Cana is too young to go to the women's bath alone. If she goes, she can only see the cherry blossoms. How about we go watch a play and then visit Uncle Varo to see if there are any concerts or something?"
Laxus suggested, tapping his fingers lightly on his knees as he considered Cana's age.
Varo's shop had expanded, and he had set up a stage next to the front counter with various instruments on it.
Varo often hosted concerts, and Laxus was a regular visitor, while Raizel only came occasionally.
"I'm fine with anything, but who is Uncle Varo?" Cana asked.
"He's a rock musician uncle. He's a really good guy," Laxus replied.
Hearing this, Cana nodded in agreement.
They first went to watch a play.
Raizel, who had seen many TV dramas and plays in his past life, found it rather boring, but Laxus and Cana were thoroughly engrossed.
Afterward, the three of them went to a restaurant for dinner before heading to Varo's shop.
The dishes were all chosen according to Cana's tastes and preferences, since they were the ones who had invited her out. However, Raizel didn't mind.
"Laxus, Raizel, you're here! And who is this?" Varo was adjusting the sound equipment on stage when he saw Laxus and Raizel walk in, accompanied by a little girl in an orange checkered dress.
"Uncle Varo, this is Cana, a new member of our guild," Laxus introduced her.
"Hello, Cana. You can call me Uncle Varo too," Varo said, stepping down from the stage and crouching down with a friendly smile.
"Hello, Uncle Varo," Cana greeted him, sensing his kindness.
"Uncle Varo, are you about to perform? We came to watch your performance," Laxus said.
"Almost. You came at the right time. How about helping me with the accompaniment? You can play the electric guitar or the drums," Varo suggested to Laxus.
"Then I'll take the drums," Laxus said, feeling tempted.
Varo's performances were all rock music, which suited his taste perfectly.
"Then Cana and I will be your audience." Raizel then took Cana to pick two good seats first, sitting down with her to watch their performance.
Varo also signaled the staff to serve Raizel and Cana two glasses of juice.
Laxus playing the drums showed a different side of himself - he smiled a lot.
...
"Alright, it's getting late. Cana, go inside and rest now." Raizel and Laxus escorted Cana back to the girls' dormitory.
Although Cana had previously received help from the church, after joining Fairy Tail, Makarov arranged for her to stay in the girls' dormitory, with Makarov covering the expenses.
"Now that you've brought her back, hurry up and leave. Boys aren't allowed to linger in the girls' dormitory."
The dorm supervisor, Grandma Hilda, started shooing them away with a broom in hand.
"I had a really fun time today." Cana, holding Grandma Hilda's hand, tilted her head and smiled, her eyes narrowing into two slits.
The two who were about to head home turned around upon hearing this, each raising a thumb with a wide grin, their white teeth gleaming in the night.
"That's good. You can come find us to play anytime."