A Long Trip
For as long as Riyao had lived, he had never set foot beyond the confines of Magnolia.
Bored out of his mind, he leaned against the noisy bar at Fairy Tail, listening as Cana and Gray enthusiastically recounted what they had seen on their journeys to Fairy Tail.
In his previous life, although he hadn't been a shut-in, he hadn't traveled much either.
Those unfamiliar, vivid sights were like a little flame, kindling an itch and a longing in Riyao's heart. He wanted nothing more than to set off for distant places at once.
As the longing welled up, his eyes darted around and settled on Makarov, who was strolling leisurely past.
The boy hurried over, bent down without a word, and wrapped himself around the old man's short legs. Casting all dignity aside and unabashedly shameless, he clung to him and wheedled relentlessly in a sweet, pleading voice.
"Old man~ best guild master~ the world's so big, with flowers everywhere and mountains and rivers stretching for miles. I've never seen any of it in my whole life, so please let me go out and look around~ pretty please~?"
Makarov couldn't move with the little fellow clinging to him. Looking down at the child hanging from his legs and refusing to let go, he felt both helpless and annoyed.
He struggled several times, but couldn't shake off the pesky little fellow gripping his pants. In the end, he could only admit defeat.
The instant he got permission, Riyao dropped his obsequious, well-behaved expression. His smile vanished completely, and the speed of his change was astounding.
He let go and straightened up in one swift motion, his face brimming with excitement as he replied energetically.
"All right! I'll go look through the request board now and pick out a few jobs that'll take me somewhere far away!"
The guild members watching nearby burst into waves of laughter at the seamless performance and teased the clever, cunning boy.
Makarov was left standing there, stunned and utterly thrown by the sudden change. He raised a hand to his forehead and watched Riyao dash toward the request board, letting out a long sigh of regret.
"Ah, that brat... When I picked him up outside town, he was so quiet and clean. I was delighted, thinking I'd found a good, obedient kid who wouldn't give me any trouble. I must have been blind."
Macao, who had watched the whole thing while leaning against a wooden pillar nearby, couldn't help laughing. He walked over and picked up on the guild master's words.
"Don't go lamenting, master. What good kid? From start to finish, he's clearly been a mischievous, impish little devil that nobody can keep under control."
Riyao had barely gotten his footing after bounding over to the request board when two little figures stirred at the sound.
Young as they were, Cana and Gray's eyes lit up at once. They scampered after him on their short little legs and stopped in front of him, panting.
The two of them had been itching to go for a long time. For now, they were both still young children, and their magic was immature.
Makarov strictly forbade them from taking any official wizard requests on their own, so they could only play and train at the guild.
But while they couldn't take requests, they could follow other people.
They exchanged a glance and, as one, crowded up to Riyao and looked at him expectantly.
Even if they only followed him around, ran errands, and lent a hand, they could leave the familiar guild, see the scenery outside, and experience adventure. Nothing could be better.
Gray pressed his lips together, a hint of shy anticipation on his face. Cana was more direct: she tugged on Riyao's clothes, her eyes full of longing to go somewhere far away. All she wanted was to follow her companion on a journey into the unknown.
Riyao rubbed his chin. "It's not up to me. Ask the old man. If he agrees, I've got no problem with it."
Gray and Cana understood at once.
They exchanged a glance, perfectly in sync.
Copying the way Riyao had acted just now, they pattered over to Makarov and each clung tightly to one of his short legs, one on either side.
With the two little ones tugging at him, Makarov couldn't even move his feet. Flustered and annoyed, he scrunched up his face.
"What are you two little brats up to now? Let go! If you keep pulling, you'll drag my pants right off!"
His cool little cheek pressed against Makarov's clothes, Gray looked up with clear eyes and pleaded obediently and earnestly.
"Master, please let us go out and play with Riyao. Oh, no, I mean train. We'll be quiet and obedient the whole way, and we definitely won't cause trouble."
Beside him, Cana spoke even more softly, shaking Makarov's leg as she wheedled sweetly.
"Yeah, yeah, Grandpa Master, pleeease? We really want to go out and see things together~"
The guild members watching nearby doubled over with laughter. They found it thoroughly entertaining to see the three little rascals take turns getting their way with the master.
Makarov looked at the two little ones hanging from his legs and felt as though his head would split in two. He was utterly helpless.
Makarov looked at the two little ones refusing to let go of his legs, then at Riyao gloating nearby. Completely out of options, he could only heave a long sigh and raise his hands in surrender.
He put on a stern face and gave them the same warnings several times before finally relenting.
He allowed the three little ones to go out as a team, but laid down strict rules: they could only take the easiest, simplest requests, with no danger at all. They weren't to run off or push themselves beyond their abilities.
Delighted, Riyao immediately bounded over to the request board and searched through it. He soon pulled down a thin sheet of paper and hurried over to show Makarov.
The request was simple. In short, they were to go to Hargeon and use Healing Magic on a noble suffering from a stubborn illness.
He rubbed his little hands together and ventured with a broad smile.
"Look, old man, all I have to do is treat someone. There's no danger at all, and it isn't that far from Magnolia either. It's just right, isn't it?"
Makarov carefully checked the location and requirements. Only after confirming the entire trip would be safe did he slowly nod, pick up a pen, and make his mark, formally approving the outing.
"Let's go, let's go!"
Riyao turned and called to Gray and Cana, urging them to pack their little bags quickly.
The three chatted, laughed, and horsed around all the way to the train station at the edge of town.
On the way, Cana's gaze fell on Gray, and she immediately launched into a barrage of complaints. Gray had fallen back into his old habit of stripping anywhere and everywhere.
"Gray, can't you keep your clothes on properly? You look awful! You're such a slob, it's embarrassing to be seen with you!"
Gray's face turned red at the scolding. He scrambled to put his clothes in order, too embarrassed to speak.
Riyao stifled a laugh beside him and quietly took out a camera. Without a sound, he captured Gray at his most embarrassed for posterity, then carefully tucked the picture into his palm.
A hint of cunning flashed in his eyes as he made a plan.
I'll save it for now. When I meet Juvia, who's always hanging around Gray, I can use this picture to tease her. Maybe I can even get something out of it!