(Heartfelt thanks to 'Bing Yue Ying', 'Xiong Mao A!', 'Black Cat Liuli', 'Wandering in a World Without You', 'Qinxun Luopo', 'Yun Qi Qing Gu', 'Long Tiani', 'Sing Zai', 'Er Ci Yuan Wo Men De Meng', 'Xiao h Zhai', 'Breezeless Skyline', 'Diying', and '703's Rabbit' for their rewards!)
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Sunlight at a pleasant temperature shone over a village that was neither large nor small, and into the courtyard of an old inn, draping the young man and woman within in a veil of gold.
"Ha—ha—ha—!"
Accompanied by crisp shouts, Noah held the Knight Sword and practiced his slashes in the standard posture he had drilled for three months. Every swing drew a fleeting flash of sword light and a sharp whistle through the air before him, creating a pleasing sight.
Not far away, Wendy sat on the doorstep with her little hands propping up her cheeks. Her watery eyes remained fixed on Noah as he swung his sword in the courtyard, her face wearing a contented expression as her gaze never left him.
This was the third day since Noah, Wendy, and Jellal had returned from the forest.
On the first day after their return, Noah had gone to the village chief's home and told him that the task had been completed. He informed the chief that the villagers could return to hunting in the forest as they had before.
Naturally, the village chief thanked Noah while tactfully suggesting that he stay in the village for a few more days. Once the villagers entering the forest confirmed that the crying ghost and the shattered sky were truly gone, he would pay the reward for completing the commission.
That was only to be expected.
Noah had not expected to gain the village chief's trust with a single statement, so he stayed at the village inn with Wendy.
As for Jellal, Noah had originally thought he would leave immediately. Instead, Jellal stayed behind as well, temporarily residing in the village.
"According to my estimates, Anima shouldn't activate in this area again, but to be safe, I should remain and observe for a while."
Thus, Noah, Wendy, and Jellal stayed in the village together and all lodged at the inn.
It was worth mentioning that although the three of them were staying at the village inn, they only rented two rooms.
Noah was the first person Wendy had ever met in her life.
Now, Grandine, Wendy's mother, had suddenly vanished. Wendy had searched desperately through the forest for days and cried for days as well. One could imagine just how difficult that ordeal had been for a little girl under ten who knew nothing of the world.
Perhaps because of that, Noah, the first person Wendy had encountered and the first person to give her warmth, seemed to have gained an immensely important place in Wendy's heart in only three short days.
On top of that, Wendy's only family had disappeared. Over the past three days, Wendy had barely left Noah's side for even a moment. She even had to sleep in the same room and bed as him; otherwise, she would wear a sorrowful expression as though she were about to cry. She had completely latched onto Noah.
With no other choice, Noah could only let Wendy have her way.
"Ha—ha—ha—!"
Rhythmic shouts rang out without pause, while the cold gleam of the blade flashed repeatedly through the courtyard.
During these three days, Noah had spent nearly all his time training his swordsmanship and magic control. Compared to Magnolia, aside from the different location and the lack of Erza as a sparring partner, nothing much had changed.
Even while traveling, Noah had not forgotten to train the combat ability that had only just received initial recognition and remained his sole means of fighting.
However, Wendy, who had been watching Noah practice his swordsmanship from the side, caught sight of someone approaching. After freezing for a moment, she stood and called out sweetly to Noah.
"Big Brother Noah! Jellal is back!"
The Knight Sword, halfway through a downward slash, immediately stopped in midair instead of continuing along its path.
This alone showed that Noah's progress in swordsmanship could only be described as advancing by leaps and bounds. Even Erza would likely have praised him instinctively if she had seen it.
"Big Brother Noah." At some point, Wendy had already run to Noah's side. She held out a towel in both hands and offered it to him.
"Thanks." Noah took the towel, wiped away his sweat, and patted Wendy on the head. As Wendy revealed a comfortable expression, he turned to look at Jellal, who was walking over.
"How was it?"
"Fairly stable." Jellal nodded.
"There are currently no signs of Anima activating here again. I think this place can be considered safe now."
Hearing that, Noah nodded as well.
Even after spending three days together, Jellal still showed no intention of telling Noah about the Ultra-Spatial Magic, Anima. As a result, Noah knew nothing at all about Anima.
However, from Jellal's statement that this place could be considered safe, Noah could infer that if Anima successfully activated, it would definitely bring about a disaster no less severe than Noah's rampaging magic power!
Jellal had appeared here precisely to stop such a disaster.
According to Jellal, he would continue traveling across the world, tracking the signs of Anima's activation and setting out on a journey to continually shut down Anima before it could activate.
Knowing that, Noah turned his gaze toward Jellal.
"Are you planning to leave?"
Jellal opened his mouth, just about to say something, when a voice interrupted him.
"A guest from Fairy Tail has arrived!"
The newcomer was the innkeeper, who had entered from outside the inn and come before Noah.
"What is it?" Noah looked at the innkeeper. Seeing his hesitant expression, he frowned slightly.
"Did something happen?"
"The village chief asked me to pass along a message." The innkeeper shook his head and spoke.
"Not long ago, three white-haired children about your age went to the village chief and asked about your whereabouts. Then they entered the forest and haven't returned yet. The chief asked me to find out whether those three are your companions."
"Three white-haired children?"
Wendy and Jellal both looked toward Noah, and they clearly saw his expression suddenly change.
"What is it?" Jellal asked.
"People you know?"
"More or less." Noah's expression darkened slightly as he asked the innkeeper, "You said that after entering the forest, those three never returned?"
"It's not merely that they didn't return." The innkeeper answered honestly.
"The villagers only saw the three of them enter the forest. They never saw them come out again."
Noah fell silent for a while before nodding.
"I understand. Please thank the village chief for me."
The innkeeper smiled and nodded before withdrawing.
"Big Brother Noah..." Wendy suddenly felt uneasy. She tightly grasped Noah's silent hand and refused to let go.
"Noah." Jellal spoke up. "Do you need help?"
Noah's expression shifted several times. In the end, he let out a sigh and pulled Wendy in front of him.
"If you want to help me, then I'd like to ask you to take Wendy and find Grandine."
"Take Wendy to find Grandine?" Jellal looked somewhat surprised.
"No!" Wendy's little face instantly turned pale, and she abruptly threw her arms around Noah's leg.
"I don't want to leave Big Brother Noah!"
Noah seemed to have expected things to turn out this way. A helpless smile appeared on his face as he crouched down and once again pulled Wendy in front of him.
"Wendy, be good. Let Jellal take you to find Grandine, all right?"
"I don't want to, I don't want to!" Wendy threw herself into Noah's arms again, clinging tightly to him as though she would never let go, even if she died.
"Big Brother Noah, don't leave me alone like Grandine did!"
Listening to Wendy's words and feeling just how tightly her little arms clung to him, even Noah was surprised.
Although Noah liked Wendy, this adorable little girl who felt like a younger sister, he truly had not expected her to rely on him this much.
Thinking of that, Noah could not help feeling a little troubled. He stroked Wendy's thin back in his arms and spoke softly.
"I don't want to be separated from Wendy either, but doesn't Wendy want to find Grandine?"
Wendy's whole body trembled at once.
Before you continue