Mystogan

Rhode made it back to the counter alive.

Mira asked with a beaming smile, "So? Erza's hug?"

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

"Oh my, I can't tell whether you used that word wrong or were simply stating a fact." Mira covered her mouth, unable to hide the amusement in her eyes.

"Why does she always wear armor?" Rhode thought about what it would have been like if Erza had not been wearing armor today...

It might have been a little awkward, but at least his head would not hurt.

"Erza has been like that since she was little. Other than bathing and sleeping, she hardly ever takes off her armor."

Mira's movements as she wiped the table slowed. "Maybe... because she feels uneasy."

"Someone as strong as her can feel uneasy too?"

Rhode had always thought he was the most anxious one. Before he learned magic properly, he might not even have dared leave Magnolia's city district.

"That depends on what's in your heart. It has nothing to do with strength." Mira gripped her left arm with her right hand, and her expression turned sorrowful.

"Many of us in Fairy Tail carry heavy burdens—trauma, pain, things we cannot speak of..."

"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. Her pale blue pupils held neither mockery nor teasing, much less the usual mischievous delight she showed when watching a spectacle, but rather... a sorrow born of shared understanding.

Had she... also experienced a time when panic had left her at a loss?

Or, as she had said herself, something even more painful and traumatic?

"I wouldn't want to leave that kind of impression on you, though I really am not all that strong."

Having said that, Rhode stiffly changed the subject. "Is Master not here today?"

"He is." Mira composed herself. "Master is upstairs writing a letter of apology."

"Oh." Rhode answered absentmindedly, then realized something was wrong. "A letter of apology? Master is writing an apology? Who does he have to apologize to?"

"The Council, of course." Speaking of this, Mira finally smiled again. "Because Gray was accused of 'sexual harassment.'"

"How could Gray possibly..."

Rhode instinctively wanted to argue that Gray could not be that kind of person, but when he thought about Gray's stripping habit, it did not seem impossible after all.

"So he really did it?"

"Of course there was no actual misconduct." Mira smiled. "He merely accidentally stripped completely naked while escorting a city official's carriage."

Rhode glanced at Gray, who was currently chatting with someone while wearing nothing but a pair of boxers. Just like him.

"The client's wife and daughter were in that carriage too." Mira seemed to be taking pleasure in his misfortune again.

"If Gray had not defeated a band of robbers along the way and protected them perfectly, it would not have ended with just a complaint."

"Then why is Master writing it for him?" Rhode felt a little sorry for Master. The old man had taken such good care of him, yet he had to take the blame for Gray.

"Because Gray is a member of the guild. Everything he does while carrying out a job represents the guild."

"That is why the guild has to handle the aftermath and apologies. Of course, how Gray is punished afterward is also up to Master."

Mira looked gently toward the second floor. "Master is like everyone's father, especially to children with nowhere to go."

"A responsible head of the family..." Rhode looked wistful.

"You too, Rhode... huh?"

Rhode did not catch Mira's last words. Suddenly feeling dizzy, he closed his eyes and collapsed.

Mira hurriedly caught Rhode, but then she collapsed as well.

"Strange, I suddenly feel so sleepy."

After the two of them, everyone in the tavern who had been eating, drinking, laughing, and chatting also began to collapse. Some slumped over tables, while others fell directly to the floor.

Worm, who had somehow started playing with Happy, lay on his back atop a table, exposing his heart-shaped belly.

"This feeling... is it Mystogan..." Erza held on for a few more seconds before finally falling asleep facedown on the table.

Even Makarov, up on the second floor, swayed lightly as drowsiness overtook him.

Master leaped over the railing to the first floor. "You, how long are you going to keep this up?"

A man wearing a black headscarf and black cloak, with his face covered by a veil, strode inside.

"Sorry. I'll apologize to everyone when I get the chance."

Without another word, he selected a job request from the notice board, handed it to Master for approval, then immediately turned and left.

"Honestly, undo your magic already."

"Understood."

The instant Mystogan stepped out of the guild doors, his figure vanished as though erased by a rubber.

At the same time, everyone sleeping in the guild jolted awake.

"Damn it! That was Mystogan, wasn't it?"

"That guy's Sleep Magic is still as ridiculous as ever."

Everyone began complaining, while Natsu ran straight outside. "Mystogan! Fight me! You bastard, you do this every time!"

"..." The moment Rhode woke up, he found himself lying on the floor, with something heavy still pressing against his chest.

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

"I was going to help you up, but it turned out to be Mystogan's Sleep Magic."

"..." Rhode took her hand and stood, his eyes vacant.

"It's all right, Rhode. This is the guild, and Mystogan is our companion. He did not mean any harm."

Mira comforted Rhode softly. She could feel his hand turning cold, sweat gathering in his palm.

That was a sign of extreme anxiety, wasn't it? Could sudden Sleep Magic frighten him this badly?

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

Rhode pursed his lips and gently pulled his hand back, curling it into a fist. "I know. I'm fine."

Of course he was not fine. Losing consciousness without warning, without even the slightest ability to resist, was terrifying for Rhode.

The heart that had gradually settled over the past few days amid the guild's cheerful, lively atmosphere was suddenly on edge again.

—There were probably still many terrifying things in this world that he did not understand.

Mystogan was a companion, but there must also be enemies as powerful as Mystogan, right?

Rhode took several deep breaths, trying to steady his heartbeat.

Worm seemed to sense something and ran back to hug Rhode's calf.

A reassuring warmth passed over from Worm's heart-shaped belly, and Rhode bent down to pick it up.

That soft, squishy Poro actually gave Rhode a little sense of security.

All fear came from the unknown and from weakness. He held Worm up to meet its gaze. If he felt uneasy, then he just had to work hard and become stronger.

Besides, he still had his cheat ability.

Could I copy some cool summoning chants? I don't want to keep using Celestial Spirit Magic.