Mystogan

Rhode returned to the counter alive.

Mira asked with a smile, "How was it? Erza's hug."

Rhode rubbed his forehead. "...Solid as a rock."

"Ah, I can't tell if you're using that word incorrectly or stating a fact," Mira covered her mouth, her smile impossible to hide.

"Why does she always wear armor?" Rhode wondered what it would be like if Erza wasn't wearing armor today...

It might be a bit awkward, but at least his head wouldn't hurt.

"Erza's been like this since she was little; she barely takes off her armor except to bathe or sleep."

Mira's desk-wiping slowed. "It's probably... because she's insecure."

"Someone as strong as her can be insecure?"

Rhode had always thought he was the most insecure; he probably wouldn't have dared to leave Magnolia's city limits before mastering magic.

"That sort of thing depends on the heart, it has nothing to do with strength," Mira grabbed her left arm with her right hand, her expression turning sad.

"Many of us in Fairy Tail carry heavy burdens—trauma, pain, hardships..."

"Even me... no, even you, Rhode... I'll never forget the confusion and panic in your eyes when we first met."

"..." Rhode looked into Mira's eyes. The pale blue irises revealed not mockery, not teasing, and certainly not the usual schadenfreude of someone watching a spectacle, but... a shared sadness.

Did she... also have experiences where she was so panicked she didn't know what to do?

Or, as she herself said, was it something heavier, like pain and trauma?

"I really don't want to give you that impression, though I'm not exactly strong."

Rhode said this, then awkwardly changed the subject. "Isn't the Master here today?"

"He is." Mira composed herself. "The Master is upstairs writing a self-criticism."

"Oh." Rhode replied absentmindedly, then realized something was wrong. "A self-criticism? The Master is writing a self-criticism? Who is he apologizing to?"

"The Council, of course." Speaking of such matters, Mira finally smiled again. "It's because Gray was reported for 'sexual harassment'."

"Gray couldn't have..."

Rhode reflexively wanted to retort that Gray wouldn't do such a thing, but then he remembered the man's stripping habit, and it didn't seem entirely impossible.

"So he really did it?"

"Of course, there were no actual actions," Mira chuckled. "He just happened to strip himself bare while escorting a city official's carriage."

Rhode glanced at Gray, who was currently chatting with someone while wearing only a pair of boxer shorts. As expected of him.

"The client's wife and daughter were in that carriage," Mira seemed to be enjoying the gossip again. "If Gray hadn't defeated a group of bandits halfway and protected them perfectly, it wouldn't have ended with just a complaint."

"Then why is the Master writing it for him?" Rhode felt a bit sorry for the Master; the old man took good care of him, and now he had to take the blame for Gray.

"Because Gray is a member of the guild, and everything he does during a commission represents the guild."

"That's precisely why follow-up actions, apologies, and the like must be handled by the guild. Of course, how Gray is disciplined afterward is also up to the Master."

Mira looked gently towards the second floor. "The Master is like a father to everyone, especially to the children who have no home."

"A responsible patriarch..." Rhode showed a look of longing.

"You too, Rhode... Huh?"

Rhode didn't hear Mira's last words clearly. He suddenly felt a bit dazed, closed his eyes, and collapsed.

Mira quickly supported Rhode, but then she herself also fell.

"That's strange, I suddenly feel so sleepy."

Following them, the people eating, drinking, and laughing in the tavern also began to fall, some slumping onto tables, others collapsing directly onto the floor.

Poro, who had somehow started playing with Happy, lay on his back on the table, revealing his heart-shaped belly.

"This feeling... is it Mystogan..." Erza held out for a few more seconds before finally slumping onto the table and falling asleep.

Even Makarov, on the second floor, swayed gently, feeling drowsy.

The Master jumped over the railing to the floor below. "You, how long are you going to keep this up?"

A man wearing a black headscarf, a black cloak, and a face mask strode in.

"My apologies, I'll apologize to everyone when I have the chance."

He went to the notice board on his own, picked out a mission request, handed it to the Master for confirmation, and then immediately turned to leave.

"Really, hurry up and undo the magic."

"Understood."

The moment Mystogan stepped out of the guild hall, his figure vanished as if erased by an eraser.

At the same time, the drowsy people in the guild suddenly woke up.

"Damn it! It must have been Mystogan!"

"That guy's Sleep Magic is still as over-the-top as ever."

Everyone started complaining. Natsu immediately chased after him out the door, "Mystogan! Come duel me! You damn guy, you always do this!"

"..." As soon as Rhode woke up, he found himself lying on the floor, his chest feeling a bit heavy.

"Sorry, I'll get up now." Mira gently got up, not forgetting to reach out and pull Rhode up.

"I was going to help you up, but I didn't expect it to be Mystogan's Sleep Magic."

"..." Rhode stood up, pulling her hand, his eyes vacant.

"It's okay, Rhode, this is the guild, Mystogan is a comrade, he means no harm."

Mira's gentle tone soothed Rhode's emotions. She felt his hand turn cold, his palm breaking out in a sweat.

This was a sign of extreme unease. Did the sudden Sleep Magic truly frighten him to this extent?

Mira clasped Rhode's right hand with both of hers, hoping he would calm down.

Rhode pursed his lips, gently withdrawing his hand and clenching it into a fist. "I know, I'm fine."

Of course, he wasn't fine. Losing consciousness without any warning or the slightest ability to resist was a terrifying thing for Rhode.

His heart, which had been somewhat settled by the guild's joyful and lively atmosphere these past few days, was suddenly in turmoil again.

—There should still be many terrifying things in this world that he didn't understand.

Mystogan was a comrade, but surely there would be people as powerful as Mystogan who were enemies, right?

Rhode took several deep breaths, trying to calm his racing heart.

Warm seemed to sense something and ran back, hugging Rhode's small leg.

A comforting warmth spread from Warm's heart-shaped belly, and Rhode bent down to pick it up.

The soft Poro actually gave Rhode a sense of security.

All fear stemmed from the unknown and weakness. He lifted Warm to meet his gaze. If he felt uneasy, he just needed to become stronger.

Besides, he had his cheat.

Are there any cool summoning words I can copy? I don't want to keep using Celestial Spirit Magic.