Joining Together in Marriage

Jiang Bai held Erza's hand as they walked along the warm afternoon streets of Magnolia Town.

What's different?

Erza's voice was soft, carrying a hint of nervousness that she herself was unaware of.

She could feel that from the moment they stepped out of the guild, countless eyes were fixed on them—some curious, some offering blessings, and others simply gossiping.

Normally, she would have silenced everyone with a single glance.

But today, she just subconsciously moved closer to Jiang Bai.

"Um..."

Jiang Bai pretended to be deep in thought as he sized her up, then said in a serious tone,

"She wasn't carrying a sword, wasn't wearing armor, and didn't immediately rush in and beat Natsu and Gray up when she saw them fighting in the guild. That's very un- 'Titania'."

"You!"

Erza's cheeks flushed instantly, a mixture of annoyance and amusement.

"But,"

Jiang Bai changed the subject, his smile softening.

"You look even better like this. It's like we've gone back to our childhood."

Erza's heart skipped a beat. She turned her head away, unable to meet Jiang Bai's all-seeing eyes, muttering under her breath, "Smooth talker..."

The afternoon passed quietly in this relaxed and sweet atmosphere.

Jiang Bai didn't take her to do anything Heavenly Movement; they were just like any other ordinary couple in town, strolling through the dazzling array of shops.

Jiang Bai would take her to look at those sparkling trinkets she had never paid attention to before, and then, when she wasn't looking, he would secretly buy a hairpin adorned with blue crystals and personally pin it to her long, crimson hair.

"Blue suits you perfectly," he said with a smile.

Erza would also be drawn in by the sweet aroma when passing by a cake shop, unable to tear herself away.

Jiang Bai would then go in with a smile, buy her favorite strawberry cake, and the two of them would sit on a park bench, sharing it bite by bite.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling their bodies, making time seem to stretch out and slow down.

Erza felt her heart, hardened by years of battle, slowly melting, becoming soft and warm.

She began to understand.

It turns out that shedding the armor of the "Titania" and being an ordinary girl who is loved and cherished is such a blissful feeling.

As night slowly falls and the city lights come on, the entire town of Magnolia is bathed in a warm orange glow.

"Alright, now for the main event."

Jiang Bai, holding Erza, winked mysteriously and instead of leading her to the town's most famous and luxurious restaurants, headed towards the outskirts of town.

They walked through a quiet residential area and onto a little-known forest path.

Where are we going?

Erza asked, somewhat curiously.

"A good place."

Jiang Bai didn't turn around, but simply tightened his grip on her hand.

At the end of the path was a hill that wasn't very high.

The moment they reached the summit, Erza's breath caught in her throat.

A magnificent picture slowly unfolded before her eyes.

The dazzling night view of the entire town of Magnolia is like a shimmering galaxy spread out at their feet.

In the distance, the lights converged into a sea, reflecting the twinkling stars in the sky, seemingly within reach.

A gentle evening breeze, carrying the fragrance of grass and earth, stirred Erza's long hair and skirt.

"Here..." Erza murmured to herself, her eyes reflecting the starry sky.

"A place I discovered by chance,"

Jiang Bai produced a picnic blanket that he had prepared beforehand from behind his back and spread it on the flat grass.

"This is the clearest place to see the stars in all of Magnolia."

The two sat side by side, neither speaking for a moment, simply enjoying the tranquility and grandeur that belonged only to them.

After a long silence, Erza finally spoke, her voice sounding especially soft in the night breeze. "Jiang Bai, thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you... for doing so much for me."

Erza turned her head and looked intently into Jiang Bai's eyes.

Thank you for always being there for me.

From her dark childhood when the Tower of Heaven attacked, to joining Fairy Tail, and then becoming S-Class Mage, she was crowned with the title of "Titania".

She always wrapped herself in hard armor, forcing herself to become strong, because she wanted to protect the guild, protect her companions, protect... the most important boy to her.

But she didn't know when it started, that boy had grown into a towering tree that she couldn't see the top of.

He saw through all her strength and pretense, and in his own way, little by little, he freed her from that heavy armor.

"Fool,"

Jiang Bai chuckled, reaching out to gently tuck a stray strand of hair, ruffled by the wind, behind Erza's ear.

Do we need to say thank you to each other?

Erza's eyes welled up slightly. She sniffed, forcibly holding back the tears that were about to spill, but a bright smile bloomed on her face.

"Um!"

Under the starry sky, they talked for a long time.

They talked about the days when they supported each other in the village when they were young, the scene when they first met Guild Master Makarov, the time they spent playing around with Natsu, Gray in the guild, and their hopes for the future.

Under Jiang Bai's guidance, Erza shed all her strength and revealed the softest and most authentic side of her heart.

She would burst into laughter when talking about happy things, and her eyes would well up with tears when recalling sad memories.

She was no longer the aloof "Titania," but just an ordinary girl in love.

Time passed by unnoticed, and when the moon reached its zenith, Jiang Bai stood up and extended his hand to Erza.

"Let's go, it's late, we should head back."

On the way home, the two held hands again, neither of them speaking, but their hearts were closer than ever before.

Soon, they returned to the familiar house.

The first floor has a living room and kitchen, and the second floor has their respective rooms.

"Then I... I'll go back to my room."

Erza stood at the top of the stairs on the second floor, reluctantly letting go of Jiang Bai's hand.

"Okay, goodnight."

Jiang Bai smiled and nodded, then lowered his head to kiss Erza's lips.

Erza then turned around and walked step by step toward her room.

One step, two steps, three steps...

Suddenly, the words Mira had whispered in her ear during the day echoed in her mind.

"Erza, if you don't hurry up, don't blame me for striking first and getting him completely."

Get him...

Erza abruptly stopped at the door of her room.

Her heart was pounding wildly like a drum.

She could feel Jiang Bai's gaze fixed on her from behind, warm and accepting.

She knew that once she stepped into this room, everything that happened tonight would truly be over.

They would say goodnight to each other as usual, and then, as usual, get stuck at this last step.

No!

She can't go on like this!

This overflowing emotion, at this moment, finally broke through all restraint and constraints!

Erza turned around abruptly.

She looked down at Jiang Bai on the stairs, his crimson eyes burning with an unprecedented flame called "determination".

To Jiang Bai's somewhat surprised gaze, she stood in front of him again.

"Erza?"

Erza did not answer.

Her cheeks were flushed red, as if they were about to bleed, but her eyes showed no sign of flinching or evasion.

She stood on tiptoe, stretched out her arms, and tightly wrapped them around Jiang Bai's neck.

Then, in the instant Jiang Bai was completely stunned, she forcefully pressed her warm, soft lips against his.

At that moment, the world seemed to fall silent.

This kiss carried the girl's unwavering, all-or-nothing resolve.

After a long while, their lips parted.

Erza, slightly out of breath, buried her head in Jiang Bai's chest, her voice thick with nasal tone yet crystal clear, saying, "Jiang Bai... tonight... don't leave me alone."

Jiang Bai lowered his head, looking at the girl in his arms who was trembling slightly but had bravely taken the last step, and felt Infinity sense of pity and tenderness.

He tightened his arms around her, pulling her close, and whispered in her ear in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Good."

He bent down and picked Erza up horizontally.

The girl in his arms let out a soft gasp, instinctively tightening her arms around his neck and burying her burning cheeks deep into the crook of his neck.

He turned and walked towards his room.

The door slammed shut.

The room was completely dark, with only the increasingly clear sound of their heartbeats.

Jiang Bai carried her, walked slowly to the bedside, and gently laid her down.

The mattress sank slightly, Erza could feel the soft touch beneath her, as well as... Jiang Bai's presence beside her.

Erza couldn't see his expression, but she could feel his gaze—intense and focused, as if it wanted to suck her soul into it.

This silence was more unsettling than any words.

Erza gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, her heart pounding as if it would jump out of her throat.

Just then, a pair of warm, large hands covered the back of her hands.

Don't be afraid.

Jiang Bai's voice rang out in the darkness, deep and hoarse, carrying a reassuring power.

He leaned down, his warm breath brushing against Erza's ear, sending shivers down her spine.

"Erza, look at me."

Erza instinctively looked up.

A sliver of moonlight shone through the gap in the curtains, illuminating Jiang Bai's deep eyes.

There was not a trace of lust in it, only an unyielding, gentle doting affection, as tender as the starry sea.

Erza's heart sank completely into that sea of stars.

He slowly raised his hand, his fingertips gently brushing across her cheek, and then, softly, removed the hairpin adorned with blue crystals from her hair.

With a soft "ding," the hairpin fell onto the bedside table.

Her long, crimson hair cascaded down like a waterfall, spreading across the pristine white sheets and intertwining with her sky-blue skirt, creating a scene as beautiful as a richly colored oil painting.

He leaned down again, and this time, his kiss landed on her forehead, as gentle as a feather.

Then the tip of the nose, the cheeks...

Finally, with utmost tenderness, he slowly kissed her lips, which she had bitten until they were white.

This kiss was completely different from the one at the bottom of the stairs.

It's no longer about seeing each other again, but about a gentle exploration and a tender, lingering embrace.

Erza's tense body gradually relaxed under his guidance.

She responded awkwardly, mimicking his actions, giving him everything she had.

The ties on the skirt had been undone at some point.

The sky-blue fabric, like a shed butterfly wing, slipped silently off.

As her last piece of clothing was about to be removed, Erza instinctively grabbed Jiang Bai's hand.

"What's wrong?"

Jiang Bai stopped what he was doing, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension.

Erza's voice was barely a whisper, "There... there's light..."

Jiang Bai laughed.

He snapped his fingers, and the only sliver of moonlight that had managed to sneak in was blocked by an invisible hand, plunging the room into complete darkness.

"And now?"

In response, Erza wrapped her arms around his neck.

Under the tranquil moonlight, two hearts that had long been intertwined merged completely with their burning bodies, leaving no gap whatsoever.

The next morning, a playful ray of sunlight broke free from the curtains and leaped onto the slightly messy bed in the room.

Erza's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.

What came into view was Jiang Bai's handsome face, fast asleep, right next to me.

The crazy and shameful scenes from last night flooded her mind like a tidal wave, instantly making her cheeks burn again.

She instinctively tried to get up, but found that her waist was tightly encircled by a strong and powerful arm.

The unfamiliar soreness deep within her body made her feel utterly weak.

Seemingly sensing her movement, Jiang Bai slowly opened his eyes.

Their eyes met.

There were no further words spoken.

Jiang Bai looked at the girl in his arms, her face flushed with embarrassment, yet still staring at him with those beautiful crimson eyes, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Erza smiled too.

That smile, like a rainbow after the rain, was breathtakingly beautiful.

Without needing to say anything more, they both understood that from this moment on, their relationship had entered a completely new and inseparable phase.

From that moment on, we would weather any storm together and share life and death.