Riyao returned to the guild courtyard, the afterglow of the sunset spilling over the messy stone slabs.
The injured members gathered in twos and threes, some moaning and groaning against the corners of the walls, some lying on the ground unable to move, and others supporting each other while bandaging their wounds.
Riyao walked to the center of the courtyard with his hands behind his back and a smile on his face, his dragon tail swaying leisurely behind him.
He cleared his throat and spoke with the enthusiastic tone of a salesman.
"Dear ones, how would you like to be treated~"
He held up two fingers and waved them in the air.
"There are Flame Sets and Lightning Sets here, take your pick."
The injured members all looked up at once, seeing the mischievous smile on Riyao's face.
They widened their eyes in terror, and the next second, they started running away like a school of fish disturbed in their nest.
The timid members shrank back, clutching their wounds, looking at Riyao in disbelief, their voices trembling.
"You devil! Is that what you call treatment? That's torture!"
The members who could still move scrambled up and ran, limping toward the guild hall, shouting as they fled.
"Run! This kid is becoming less and less human! I was shocked by him last time, and my legs are still numb!"
The severely injured members who couldn't move looked at each other; they couldn't run or hide, so they had to resign themselves to their fate.
One of them gathered his courage, raised his hand, and pleaded pitifully.
"I, I'll take a Lightning Set! Can you shock me a little lighter?"
Riyao watched the members scattering in all directions and smirked, electric arcs dancing on his dragon horns, his expression looking just like a cat staring at a fish pond.
"Just be good and take a nap~ Otherwise, you won't have the energy to party at the Fantasia parade tonight."
He raised his hand, cyan lightning gathering at his fingertips, and unleashed dozens of bolts of cyan lightning.
Each bolt accurately struck an injured member, the current coursing through their bodies, and their injuries visibly improved.
Afterwards, everyone lay down peacefully, smiles on their faces, falling into a sleep as deep as a baby's.
Erza stood to the side with her arms crossed, watching this scene with a straight face, her brows slightly furrowed.
"What are you doing? They are still injured."
Riyao was hanging on Mirajane's back, his hands resting on her shoulders.
He swung his legs lazily, his dragon tail dangling and flicking beside Mirajane, his tone nonchalant.
"These lightning bolts have healing effects, don't worry. They'll wake up in a while, and they'll feel refreshed after waking up."
Erza thought for a moment, blinked, and spoke after a brief hesitation.
"Give me a shock too, I've been a bit tired lately."
Riyao poked his head out from behind Mirajane, raised an eyebrow, and recommended with a grin.
"How about a Flame Set? The effect is gentler, suitable for someone like you who has accumulated fatigue."
Without waiting for Erza to answer, he reached out and pressed his hand onto her shoulder, cyan flames igniting in his palm, the warm fire spreading like water from her shoulder and slowly moving along her meridians.
Erza felt a warmth permeate deep into her body, and the accumulated soreness and fatigue were being dissolved bit by bit.
She moved her body, twisted her neck, and felt her body becoming more comfortable, her tense muscles relaxing, and she tilted her head slightly.
"How long does this need to burn?"
Riyao tilted his head, carefully sensed the condition inside her body, and shook his head.
"It depends on how many hidden injuries you have. You've fought too much over the years, and you have quite a few more hidden injuries than the average person."
Mirajane reached out and caught Riyao's mischievous dragon tail, stroking it along the scales as if petting a kitten, and the tip of Riyao's tail curled comfortably, his whole body going soft.
Mirajane suggested while stroking the dragon tail.
"When the Fantasia parade comes tonight, why don't you release this for the residents who come to watch? It'll serve as an apology, after all, the guild really stirred up Magnolia today."
Riyao nodded, the electric arcs on his dragon horns flashing, grinning.
"My wife is still the smartest, killing two birds with one stone."
Erza rolled her eyes, the cyan flames still slowly burning on her body, and walked straight into the guild hall to start handling the aftermath.
Mirajane also followed inside, starting to prepare for the various tasks for the parade, and Riyao was carried inside while lying on her back, his dragon tail still wrapped around Mirajane's wrist, refusing to let go.
In the infirmary, Laxus sat on the hospital bed, Makarov sat on the chair opposite him, and the two looked at each other, silent for a long time.
Two heads quietly popped up on the windowsill; Riyao and Natsu were lying on the window, like two peeping cats, their eyes darting around.
Riyao pulled a handful of sunflower seeds from his pocket and shared some with Natsu, and the two just sat there cracking seeds and watching the show.
"Natsu, what do you think Laxus will say to the old man?"
Riyao asked in a low voice, spitting the seed shells to the side.
Natsu cracked the seeds, tilted his head to think for a long time, and shook his head.
"I don't know. I can't imagine what Laxus would say; that guy usually has a sour face."
Riyao tossed another seed into his mouth, chewed it, and mumbled vaguely.
"That's true, but the old man should be able to handle it, after all, they are grandfather and grandson."
...
Finally, it was evening, and the time for the Fantasia parade had arrived.
Night fell, and the main street of Magnolia was brightly lit.
The residents flocked to the streets early, occupying favorable positions; the laughter of children and the conversations of adults intertwined, and the whole city was immersed in the joy of the festival.
A dozen floats of various shapes slowly drove along the main street of Magnolia, each one decorated with flowers and clusters, the lights brilliant.
Cana stood on a float, the cards in her hands dancing like butterflies.
She scattered the cards into the air, and the rotating cards released dreamy heart-shaped bubbles; colorful bubbles floated toward the crowd, and children chased the bubbles around, laughter rising one after another.
Wakaba took a deep puff of his pipe, exhaling large clouds of pink smoke, the smoke condensing and transforming in the air.
It turned into funny clown shapes, some doing somersaults, some juggling balls, making the audience laugh out loud.
Macao waved his hands, and purple flames shot into the sky, intertwining in the night sky.
Forming a huge heart shape, the purple firelight reflecting on everyone's faces, couples smiled at each other one after another.
Bisca, Lucy, and Levy stood on a float dancing to celebrate; Lucy was truly the eldest daughter of a wealthy family, her dance posture graceful, and the three of them looked especially moving under the lights.
Jet, Droy, Warren, and Max put on cute mascot costumes—a rabbit, a bear, a cat, and a puppy.
They walked clumsily beside the floats, interacting with the residents, teasing the children who were both scared and wanting to touch them; Warren's rabbit headpiece was crooked, revealing a pair of helpless eyes.
Elfman stood on a float and shouted loudly, his magic power surging as he used Take Over: Beast Soul, his figure swelling, displaying a pose full of power.
It drew a gasp from the audience, and he proudly struck various poses, shouting, "This is what a real man is!"
The huge flower bud at the very top slowly bloomed, the petals unfolding layer by layer like a curtain, and the sister duo, Mirajane and Lisanna, made a shining appearance.
The two stood in the center of the petals, waving to the audience.
Mirajane suddenly transformed into an elegant white cat, and Lisanna turned into a cute little rabbit; the tourists were stunned at first, then erupted into even louder cheers.
Gray and Juvia stood on a float together, Gray concentrating cold air in his hands, Juvia manipulating water to cooperate, and water and ice intertwined.
Creating a magnificent frost castle, the spires of the castle refracting colorful light under the illumination, crystal clear, and the audience raised their cameras one after another to take pictures.
Erza changed into the Ceremonial Armor, the armor shining brightly under the lights.
She waved her hands, and dozens of ceremonial swords danced in the air, the sword light like a weave, controlling the flying swords to form blooming flowers, the petals being the sword blades—a perfect blend of hardness and softness, breathtakingly beautiful.
Natsu walked behind the float, tilting his head back and breathing fire, the orange-red flames forming two large fiery characters "Fairy" in the air, the strokes powerful and vigorous, the firelight reddening half the sky.
Happy flapped his wings and flew around on the side, acting as a mascot, occasionally shouting "Aye" to the audience.
Reedus, Nab, Laki, and Bickslow stood hand in hand, spinning in circles, the other hand scattering flower petals, colorful petals flying in the night breeze, as if it were a rain of flowers.
Riyao put on that cyan cheongsam again, stuffed two buns inside, stood on the float in a seductive pose, and blew kisses to the tourists.
Every time he passed a crowd, he flicked his fingertips, and the cyan flames drifted toward the audience like fireflies, landing on everyone, warm and comfortable, making people feel refreshed from their bones, and fatigue and soreness were swept away.
The residents felt the changes in their bodies with surprise and cheered one after another.
"Wow, so comfortable!"
"My back doesn't hurt anymore!"
"This flame is actually warm!"
Each member displayed their unique abilities, performing interesting programs, and the entire main street turned into a grand carnival.
Makarov stood on a float doing funny movements, sometimes making faces, sometimes doing somersaults, and sometimes turning himself into a giant and shrinking back, making the tourists marvel endlessly, waves of laughter rising higher and higher.
Laxus stood in the crowd, his hat brim pulled very low, silently watching the parade procession pass before him, watching those familiar faces laughing and playing on the floats, watching the audience cheering and jumping for joy.
The corners of his mouth lifted involuntarily, and just as he wanted to turn and leave.
The old man took the lead in raising his hand, making that iconic "L" gesture.
The other members saw the guild master's action and responded one after another, raising their hands one by one, all making the "L" gesture together; Natsu raised his the highest, flames dancing at his fingertips, every single member included.
Laxus pursed his lips, his throat feeling as if it were blocked by something, tears gushing out uncontrollably, sliding down his cheeks.
He bit his lip hard, not wanting to make a sound, but the tears wouldn't stop no matter what.
Amidst the fireworks in the sky, colorful lights illuminated the night sky of Magnolia and also illuminated Laxus's tear-streaked profile.
He took one last look at those companions who were raising their hands in the "L" gesture, turned around, and quietly left Magnolia, his figure gradually disappearing into the light of the fireworks.
"Click"