Pulling Pinkies

Lu Chongwei stood in the night, his black coat whipping in the evening breeze. Faced with the mayor's biased, fearful accusations, he merely let out a cold snort. It wasn't loud, but every person present heard it clearly.

"Enough."

Lu Chongwei cut off the mayor's incessant chatter, his gaze sweeping over everyone like a blade.

"The so-called demons and curses are nothing but fantasies born of your ignorance. As the mayor of this town, instead of seeking the truth, you're leading the persecution of a few helpless children. Is this how you govern?"

The mayor was cowed by Lu Chongwei's imposing presence. He opened his mouth to argue, but no sound came out. The villagers behind him exchanged glances, their earlier bravado already half extinguished by the pressure of an S-Class Mage.

"Facts speak louder than words."

Lu Chongwei lowered his head and looked at Lisanna beside him. His usually cold gaze softened at once.

"Lisanna, take me to the church. I want to see for myself what this so-called 'source of the demon' really is."

Lisanna looked up at Lu Chongwei's trusting eyes and nodded firmly.

"Okay! Big brother, follow me!"

Lisanna wiped the tears from her face. Her body still trembled slightly, but her steps were now firm. She turned and headed toward the dark silhouette of the mountain on the edge of town.

Lu Chongwei followed.

The mayor and the villagers stood where they were, hesitating for a moment.

"Mayor, what do we do? That Mage really is going to the forbidden place!"

"What if... what if he lets the demon out?"

The villagers whispered among themselves, fear written across their faces.

The mayor gritted his teeth, a flash of resentment and reluctance in his eyes.

"Follow them! If we don't keep an eye on him, who knows what he'll do! If something goes wrong, we can at least... at least..."

He wanted to say they could stop it, but the terrifying aura Lu Chongwei had unleashed just moments ago made the words stick in his throat.

"Anyway, let's follow them and see!"

And so, on that pitch-black night, a strange procession made its way toward the abandoned church on the mountain. At the front walked a ragged little girl and a tall Mage, while a group of timid villagers clutching farm tools trailed far behind.

The mountain path was rugged. Trees swayed in the night wind, rustling as though countless ghosts were brandishing their claws.

After about twenty minutes, a ruined church appeared before them.

Half the roof had collapsed, and withered vines covered the walls. The once-grand stained-glass windows were now nothing but dark, empty holes, like monstrous eyes peering into the human world.

A chill, rotten stench swept over them.

"This is the place..."

Lisanna stopped and pointed to the broken angel statue in the center of the church hall.

At the statue's feet was a bottomless pit, with rubble scattered around it.

"That day... my sister jumped into this hole alone to save everyone..."

Lisanna's voice trembled. She seemed to be reliving the terrifying scene.

Lu Chongwei walked to the edge of the hole, crouched down, and examined it carefully.

There were charred marks around the rim, and a faint but violent trace of magical power still lingered in the air.

"What exactly happened that day? Tell me everything you saw and heard," Lu Chongwei asked gravely.

Lisanna took a deep breath and clutched the hem of her skirt, trying to steady her voice.

"After my sister jumped in, it wasn't long before a huge burst of light suddenly came out of the hole... It was purple fire. It was so scary..."

"Then... then I heard voices..."

Lisanna's pupils contracted slightly. The memory was clearly a nightmare she couldn't escape.

"They were demonic whispers... so many voices talking, screaming, and laughing... It was like countless monsters were fighting down there..."

The villagers behind them turned deathly pale. They instinctively took several steps backward.

"See? I told you it was a demon!" the mayor cried, pointing at the hole with a trembling finger. "The priest was right. This place leads straight to hell!"

Lu Chongwei ignored the mayor's shouting and kept his eyes on Lisanna.

"And then?"

"Then... the light suddenly disappeared, and the horrible voices were gone too."

Lisanna lowered her head, and tears welled up again.

"My sister climbed back out... but, but her right hand... it had become so scary... like a monster's claw..."

"She kept crying and saying she'd turned into a monster... Then the villagers came, carrying torches and stones..."

Lu Chongwei stood up, his brow relaxing slightly.

Purple fire, whispers like those of multiple personalities, a partial physical transformation.

Together, these signs formed a clear theory in his mind.

This wasn't possession by a demon, and it certainly wasn't a curse.

It was magic.

And it was an extremely rare and powerful form of Take Over Magic.

In a moment of crisis, the girl named Mirajane had unwittingly absorbed the power of some creature sealed at the bottom of the hole—perhaps even a real demon.

She was still too young, with too little magical power, or perhaps she had been mentally traumatized. Whatever the cause, she had failed to complete the Take Over and couldn't control it freely, leaving her trapped in that half-human, half-demon form.

"I see."

Lu Chongwei now understood what was going on.

If it was a magical problem, it would be easy to handle.

"Lisanna."

Lu Chongwei turned to the poor little girl and spoke earnestly.

"Take me to your sister. I can help her."

At the words "I can help her," Lisanna jerked her head up, hope flaring in her eyes.

"R-really? Big brother, can you cure my sister?"

"She doesn't need curing. She isn't sick."

Lu Chongwei smiled confidently.

"But I can help her return to normal, and maybe... become even stronger."

Lisanna was so excited that she wanted to agree immediately, but hesitation and worry soon clouded her little face.

She glanced at the vicious-looking villagers behind her, then at the long sword at Lu Chongwei's waist, its blade radiating a chill.

"But... my sister is really afraid of people right now... and big brother Elfman is there too..."

"Big brother... you really won't hurt my sister?"

Lisanna's voice was small, her question timid.

After all, as far as she knew, Mages were there to slay monsters. What if big brother saw her sister's appearance, decided she was a monster, and cut her down?

Seeing the unease in Lisanna's eyes, Lu Chongwei's heart softened.

He crouched down until he was at her eye level.

"I promise."

Lu Chongwei extended his right pinky and held it out to Lisanna.

"I'm a Mage from Fairy Tail. The people in our guild never raise their weapons against their companions or the innocent."

"I'll protect you, and I'll protect your sister and brother too."

"That's our promise."

Lisanna stared blankly at his finger.

In a world full of malice and rejection, the big brother's promise was like the warm winter sun, melting the ice in her heart.

Lisanna sniffed and held out her dirty little pinky, cautiously hooking it around Lu Chongwei's.

"Pinky promise... for a hundred years..."

Their fingers linked tightly.

Lu Chongwei smiled and gently pressed his thumb against Lisanna's.

"Sealed."

Looking at Lu Chongwei's smile, the tension finally left Lisanna's face, and a long-missed, heartfelt smile blossomed.

Though tears still streaked her cheeks, her smile was radiant.

"Okay! I believe you, big brother!"

Lu Chongwei stood up and patted Lisanna on the head.

Then he turned to face the villagers, who were still peering over at them. His smile vanished, replaced by an unquestionable authority.

"All right, had enough of the show?"

Lu Chongwei's voice rang out coldly.

"What happens next involves Mage secrets. Anyone who isn't involved should leave at once."

"But..." The mayor seemed reluctant to give in. "What about the demon..."

"I'll deal with the demon."

Lu Chongwei rested his fingers lightly on the hilt of his sword, and a searing heat began to radiate from him.

"Or would you rather stay and greet the demon in person?"

At that, the villagers shuddered.

"N-no! We're going home!"

"If the Mage says so, let's hurry and go!"

The crowd scattered as if reprieved, rushing down the mountain in a panic, afraid the demon would eat them if they were even a moment too slow.

In the blink of an eye, only Lu Chongwei and Lisanna remained outside the church.

At last, the world was quiet.

"All right, lead the way."

Lu Chongwei dusted off his hands.

"Let's go find your sister."