Tike nudged Wendy's back gently, encouraging her with his eyes to introduce herself to Makarov.
Mustering her courage, Wendy took a small step forward, bowed slightly, and revealed a somewhat shy expression.
"Hello, Grandpa Master! I... I am Wendy Marvell. The magic I use is Sky Magic. I can... can help treat some minor illnesses and injuries."
Toward the end, her voice unconsciously became quieter, her fingers nervously twisting the corner of her clothes, obviously lacking confidence in describing her abilities.
"Sky Magic?" Makarov's originally narrowed eyes opened slightly wider, a trace of surprise flashing in them. "Is it Sky God Slayer Magic?"
As far as he knew, there were only two types of Sky Magic with healing abilities: one was God Slayer Magic, and the other was Dragon Slayer Magic.
Sky Dragon Slayer Magic only existed in ancient legends. In contrast, relevant learning materials for the former could still be found in the Magic Council's ancient literature library.
He had just picked up a little brat who could use Fire Dragon Slayer Magic not long ago. It couldn't be such a coincidence that two Dragon Slayers came to join Fairy Tail in succession.
Wendy became even more nervous at Makarov's question, stammering as she tried to explain: "No... no, Grandpa Master, I am..."
Halfway through, she looked up subconsciously at Tike beside her, her eyes carrying a trace of pleading and unease.
She knew Tike harbored some resistance toward "Dragon Slayer Magic," so ever since mentioning it the first time, she had never proactively brought it up again.
"It's not God Slayer Magic."
Tike appeared much more composed, answering Makarov's question for her directly.
"Wendy uses Sky Dragon Slayer Magic, genuine dragon magic."
The kind personally verified by a real dragon.
"Ho! It really is Dragon Slayer Magic! This is truly..."
Makarov stroked his white beard, revealing a smile that was both surprised and amused. Then, as if thinking of something, he said with a bit of teasing, "Speaking of which, that new brat who just got kicked out by Erza is also a Dragon Slayer Wizard. Could you two know each other?"
Wendy shook her head hurriedly and answered softly, "No... don't know him. I... I should be seeing him for the first time."
Despite a wondrous sense of familiarity deep inside, her memory indeed contained no existence of that pink-haired boy.
"True enough; can't be such a coincidence."
Makarov also felt his guess was somewhat far-fetched. He stopped dwelling on the Dragon Slayer topic, fished out a stamp carved with the Fairy Tail guild emblem from under the bar counter, and said to Wendy with a smile, "Alright, little girl, come here. Where do you want to stamp the guild emblem on your body?"
Wendy looked at Tike beside her with some expectation and shyness, saying with a trace of small hope, "I want it stamped in the same place as Brother Tike."
"Okay, then on the right shoulder."
Makarov smiled knowingly and stamped the Fairy Tail emblem on Wendy's right shoulder.
When the stamp with faint magic power touched her skin, Wendy felt a slight warmth on her shoulder. She blinked curiously, tilted her head slightly, and looked at the exquisite blue emblem on her shoulder, a brilliant smile coming from the bottom of her heart appearing on her face.
"Same color as Brother Tike."
Watching Wendy's happy appearance, Tike also curled his lips slightly: "Yeah, what a coincidence."
The color stamped by the guild magic stamp was completely random. Tike had even seen a two-meter-tall burly man with a flashy pink guild emblem on his chest.
Although the man himself said it was magenta.
Since Wendy successfully joined the guild, Tike finally relaxed his worried heart. He turned his head and looked at Makarov on the bar counter again.
"Grandpa Master, has Mom Ur gone out on missions these past few days?"
Makarov stroked his beard and answered cheerfully, "No. Isn't Ultear on leave from the Magic Council during this time? She said she wanted to take this rare opportunity to spend more time with her daughter at home."
"Big Sis is back!"
Hearing this long-awaited news, Tike's eyes lit up instantly. He turned around almost immediately, excitedly pulling Wendy's small hand beside him.
"Great! Wendy, let's go back and find her quickly!"
With that, Tike pulled Wendy along. With steps as graceful and smooth as when they arrived, the two shuttled through flying tables, chairs, benches, and colorful magical light bullets again, quickly disappearing at the guild's exit.
Watching the backs of the two children leaving in a flurry, Makarov raised his glass, a benevolent smile appearing on his face, and continued drinking his beer leisurely.
In a relatively quiet corner of the guild hall, a blond boy leaning against the wall took off the headphones on his head.
The boy had a striking lightning-shaped scar on his right cheek, adding a bit of unruly temperament to his handsome face. He tilted his head slightly, looking in the direction where the two children had just disappeared, his eyes flashing with strange and complex light.
"Another Dragon Slayer Wizard came... and, that brat just now mentioned 'Demon of Zeref'? Heh... the old man's guild is becoming more and more interesting."
---
The moment he pushed open the door home, an incredibly familiar aura rushed over him.
Tike's nose flared slightly, identifying the source of this aura. Surprise instantly bloomed in his eyes as he rushed toward the living room.
He saw the black-haired young woman sitting sideways on the sofa, her fingertips gently teasing Alice lying on her lap.
"Big Sis!"
Tike let go of Wendy's hand, rushed forward in a few steps, threw his arms tightly around the woman's neck, buried his face in the crook of her shoulder, and rubbed vigorously, his voice full of irrepressible excitement and attachment.
"I missed you so much! You're finally back!"
Ultear leaned back slightly from the passionate impact, but a gentle smile immediately spread across her face.
"Tike is back. Mom said you went out two months ago. Where have you been adventuring for so long?"
"I went to the Western Continent to deliver a message for someone!" Tike loosened his arms slightly but still clung affectionately to Ultear. "Also met a very powerful grandpa and learned magic from him for a whole month. After that, I was accompanying Wendy to find her mother, but unfortunately haven't found her yet."
Hearing this, Wendy lowered her head somewhat uneasily and apologized softly: "So... sorry for taking up so much of Brother Tike's time..."