Return

A flash of spiritual light condensed in Riyao's eyes, and gold-and-green magic erupted with a roar. He raised a hand and brought his palm down, crushing the skeleton bearing the life-draining curse mark at the bottom of the pit to pieces.

The lingering bone-type deathly energy was instantly purified by the power of life and vanished without a trace, cutting it off at the source.

With the hidden danger eliminated, he turned to the deathly pale Eker, a gentle, soothing healing glow spreading from his palm.

Life magic that had drawn on the forest's origin flowed slowly into Eker's body in fine strands, gradually replenishing the life force secretly drained from him over the past half month and the magic he had exhausted.

As green light swirled around him, color gradually returned to Eker's ashen face, his unfocused eyes grew clear again, and his weak, unsteady body slowly regained its strength. The exhaustion and frailty that had plagued him for days were swept away.

Gray and Cana stood nearby, watching the filth beneath the ground being purged, and breathed a sigh of relief.

By the time the healing magic was complete, night had fallen over the entire estate. The stars and moon hung high, and the evening breeze was slightly cool.

Restored to vigor, Eker was filled with gratitude and thanked the three of them repeatedly. Knowing how far they had traveled and how hard they had fought, and how much energy they had expended, he warmly urged them to stay.

"Thank you, all three of you, for saving me! It's late, and the journey would be difficult. Please stay at the estate tonight and set off for your guild tomorrow."

He immediately instructed the butler to prepare three elegant, comfortable guest rooms and serve dinner, making sure all three were properly settled.

Gray looked at the exceptionally luxurious room with an impassive expression.

Cana, on the other hand, was happy to take it easy. She could finally get some proper rest.

Riyao gazed out at the night, let down his guard, and settled in for the time being at the estate, far from strife.

The night was gentle, and white mist drifted over the open-air hot spring on the hill behind the estate. Warm water spread through the bluestone pool, dispelling the fatigue left by their fighting.

Riyao slung an arm around Gray's shoulders, and the two of them slipped into the hot spring one after the other, sinking comfortably into the water.

The white jade table beside the pool was laden with sweet fresh fruit and chilled drinks, all within easy reach. It was bliss.

Warmth flowed through every limb and bone, spreading throughout their bodies, and nerves that had been taut all day finally relaxed.

Riyao narrowed his eyes and leaned against the pool wall, sighing with pleasure.

"Ah, this is the life... An estate this grand, complete with a private hot spring, must cost tens of millions of J at least, right?"

Gray, usually so reserved, had also let down his guard. His expression was languid and content as he nodded lightly and murmured at the rising steam.

"If only we could build a hot spring at the Fairy Tail guild too."

"It'd be perfect to have a soak every time we came back from a job."

The spring water murmured and the evening breeze brushed past. Soaking in the warmth, the two boys temporarily forgot the dark guild and the bone-type curse, enjoying this rare moment of peace.

Suddenly, Cana's indignant shout rang out from nearby.

"Hey, you two! You sneaked off to the hot spring without even inviting me!"

Amid the white mist rising from the spring, both of them froze, their expressions changing drastically. They hurriedly sank deeper into the pool, leaving only their heads above water.

Riyao waved his hands and shouted in alarm, unable to keep his composure.

"Don't come over here! This is the men's bath. Girls have a separate pool next door!"

A flush of embarrassment appeared on Gray's usually impassive face, and his ears reddened. In a rare panic, he hurriedly tried to stop her too.

"That's right! Men and women bathe separately. You can't come over here!"

The two huddled side by side in the water, at a loss. The comfort of their bath had vanished in an instant, and they could only hope Cana wouldn't barge in.

The next morning, sunlight streamed into the guest room through the carved window lattice.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

A crisp knock suddenly sounded, and Cana's voice rang out from outside. "Wake up! If you don't get up now, we won't make it back in time!"

Inside the room, Gray was the first to be awakened. He opened his eyes blearily to find Riyao sprawled out in his sleep, one foot planted squarely on Gray's face.

His brow twitched, and without hesitation, he raised a hand and shoved the offending foot away hard.

The two rubbed their sleepy eyes, quickly got ready, and left the room to meet Cana before heading to the estate's dining room together.

The spacious dining room was elegant and luxurious, its long table covered with a dazzling array of exquisite dishes.

There was smoked meat, freshly baked bread, a platter of fresh fruit, creamy soup, and crystal desserts, all giving off an enticing aroma.

Eker was already waiting there, his complexion fully restored and his spirits high. Having endured weakness and faced life and death, he now looked radiant as he warmly welcomed the three to the table.

"It's thanks to your help that I was able to recover. Please, enjoy yourselves. It's a small token of my gratitude."

The three didn't hold back, tucking into the lavish, abundant breakfast, filled with warmth.

All the fatigue of the night had vanished. After eating and drinking their fill, they prepared to bid their client farewell and set off back to the Fairy Tail guild in Magnolia.

Riyao kicked open the guild doors.

"We're back!"

Cana was the first to call out, waving the bag containing their mission reward.

"We completed the job without a hitch, and earned plenty of J too!"

Her words instantly drew everyone's attention. Makarov looked up sharply and saw the three youngsters, safe and sound.

He froze for a moment, then darted over to them and seized Riyao's arm with both hands.

"The job? What about the compensation? The damage to the train and the forest! My wallet!"

"Don't worry, don't worry~"

Riyao slapped his hands away and quickly recounted what had happened, grinning all the while.

"It was the remnants of the Spectral Bone Trickster Guild. We acted in self-defense, and the passengers and the Magic Council both backed us up. We don't have to pay a single J!"

Gray added, "We also dealt with a spirit-draining skeleton beneath the estate. The client paid us double."

Makarov's face instantly changed from a picture of misery to a beaming smile.

Riyao leaned back in his chair, watching the noisy, lively scene in the guild.

He couldn't help the smile spreading across his face. This was Fairy Tail: no matter how much danger he faced out there, he always came back to warm companions and a reassuring sense of belonging.

Makarov grinned from ear to ear, completely forgetting his earlier worries. He even announced extra food for everyone that night to celebrate the success of Riyao's first job away from home.

"Extra food for everyone tonight! All the roast meat, soup, and desserts you can eat, especially to celebrate the success of Riyao's first job away from home!"

"Oh, great! Let's celebrate for Riyao! A bowl of pork cutlet rice, loaded with red bean paste."

"Awesome! Let's celebrate! And we want to hear the story about you smashing a mountain with one punch! A bowl of pork cutlet rice, loaded with mayonnaise."

"It was a mountain of bones, not a real mountain."

"Same thing! Either way, it was amazing! One deluxe ramen!"

"A barrel of ale!"

"You dealt with a dark guild and protected all the passengers on your first job away from home. Well done."

Laughter, playful commotion, and the clinking of glasses mingled throughout the guild.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, falling warmly on everyone. The perilous job had finally come to a perfect end amid the lively bustle of everyday life.