A Promising Start

A New Day

Qian Guang woke to the lively clamor of the vendors downstairs. Magnolia was far too bustling; vendors could be found outside nearly every apartment building.

But Qian Guang did not have a bad temper upon waking, and there was not much entertainment in this world anyway, so he had gone to bed quite early.

"Morning, everyone."

When Qian Guang came downstairs, he found everyone already seated in the dining room, waiting for breakfast.

"Brother Qian Guang is such a sleepyhead!" The little girl sat in her chair with one hand on her hip and the other held like a blade, giggling.

"Yeah, yeah, you're the best. You got up as soon as you were called." Qian Guang yawned. "Mira, I want some toast."

"No. Make it yourself, bastard."

A roar came from the kitchen.

In the end, there was no toast for breakfast, only fried eggs, bacon, and hot milk. Qian Guang decided to ask about it at the guild.

"Guild, guild, guild." Lisanna wore the little pink dress from yesterday, and she was still absolutely adorable.

"Morning, everyone!"

Qian Guang pushed the door open, only to be sent flying together with little Gray, who came hurtling toward him.

"Bastard, what are you doing?!" Lying on the floor, Qian Guang punched Gray, who was sprawled on top of him.

"Hahahahaha! You bastard droopy-eyes, you got sent flying!" A pink-haired, spiky-headed boy inside burst out laughing.

"You can fly out too!" Another huge fist successfully sent another brat flying.

But Qian Guang was prepared this time and sidestepped. "Hey, at least catch me!" Watching Natsu fly past him, he dug at his ear as if he had heard nothing.

Lisanna, on the other hand, ran over curiously and poked Natsu, who was lying on the ground.

"Honestly, fighting first thing in the morning. You youngsters never let an old man rest easy." The guild master withdrew his enlarged hand and greeted everyone with a smile. "Morning, brats."

"Morning, Master."

Qian Guang sat down with Mirajane and Elfman, then called out to Lisanna in the distance, "Get back here. Don't get too close to idiots, or you'll catch it."

"Hah! You black-haired bastard, who are you calling an idiot?!" Little Natsu immediately narrowed his eyes into angry triangles and scrambled to his feet. ᕙ(`▿´)ᕗ

"If you left out the word bastard, I'd take that as a compliment. After all, long black hair is the best." Qian Guang was rather satisfied with his long black hair. In this world of colorful, mostly spiky-haired people, it was quite rare.

"Argh! Take this!" Unable to outtalk him, Natsu decided to settle things the way children did, charging over with his fist raised.

But he did not use any magic power. After all, Qian Guang had said yesterday that he only knew Healing Magic.

"Heh, got you." Looking at his fist drawing closer and Qian Guang standing there without moving, Natsu had already imagined how he would laugh in a moment.

Whoosh—

A fierce gust swept over.

"Ah! Where did that wind come from?!" Natsu shouted as he was sent flying again.

The guild members around them stared blankly at the magic circle in Qian Guang's hand, then quickly broke into laughter again.

"Hahahaha! That's no good, Natsu."

"You got knocked down, Natsu."

"You're the senior here. Show some senior strength! Hahahaha!"

Although everyone was surprised that Qian Guang could use wind magic, they did not care much. As long as you were a member of Fairy Tail, you were family!

Makarov was astonished. He had not expected Qian Guang to know other magic, since his old friend had only known Healing Magic.

"You black-haired bastard! Didn't you say you only knew Healing Magic?!" (;｀o´)o Natsu roared as he stormed back inside.

"It's dangerous out in the world. Is it so wrong for me to learn a little other magic for self-defense?"

"Mm-hmm, that's true." Natsu was successfully talked around and nodded beside him.

This guy was definitely an idiot! Mirajane thought. Lisanna, meanwhile, found it rather amusing.

"No! Fight me!" Natsu suddenly came to his senses and said excitedly.

"Didn't you just lose?" Qian Guang did not intend to refuse this time. He needed to eat, he needed to take jobs, and children needed strength before they could take jobs.

"I wasn't serious before! This time, I'll be serious! I'm a Fire Dragon Slayer Mage!" Natsu was fired up.

Gray beside them also became serious. Though they often bickered, he knew he and Natsu were evenly matched. He wanted to see what the newcomer was capable of too.

Qian Guang instinctively activated his Sharingan. His eyes instantly glowed red, two dark tomoe slowly revolving within them. He wanted to know whether he could copy Dragon Slayer Magic.

Makarov's expression turned solemn. He had sensed an ominous aura. "Those eyes feel very unsettling."

Mirajane and the other two also looked dazed. They had never seen Qian Guang's Sharingan before; after all, there had been no need to use it during their journey here.

Natsu, staring directly into the Sharingan, was hit the hardest. It was as though he saw a blood-red sea of flames, and cold sweat instantly trickled down his face.

"Be careful. Don't get so lost in an illusion that you can't move." Qian Guang teased him. The Two-Tomoe Sharingan could create a small illusion, though it was not particularly strong.

"What a joke! Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!!" Natsu forced a smile and charged forward.

He really was still a child. The illusion had affected him after all.

Qian Guang could see the flow of magic power clearly, but he could not imitate it. It felt as though something was missing—perhaps the so-called Dragon Power.

He deactivated his Sharingan. His eyes hurt if he kept it active too long, and Natsu's movements were far too slow anyway. His Sage Body was enough now.

Qian Guang turned sideways and raised his leg.

"Bang!"

His knee slammed into Natsu's stomach. He had no desire to take a ball of fire head-on; clothes were expensive!

"Pff!" The flames in Natsu's hand instantly went out, and he collapsed with spirals in his eyes. Qian Guang's body was completely monster-level now.

Natsu suffered a crushing defeat in a single exchange!

"Amazing!!!" Cana looked at the fallen Natsu. She knew Natsu's strength well enough—at the very least, she could not beat him head-on.

"Oh, young people really are monsters." Macao looked amazed. Even he could not have beaten Natsu so easily.

"My body is just a little stronger." Qian Guang bent down to heal Natsu. It was truly rubbing salt in the wound—he beat him, then healed him afterward, and maybe they could keep fighting.

Ah, the perfect punching bag had appeared.

"Mmm... Is breakfast ready? I dreamed about so many fish." Natsu woke with drool at the corner of his mouth.

"Fire-breathing idiot, you're really pathetic. You got KO'd in one move." Gray mocked him, bare-chested.

"Hey, pervert, your clothes!"

"Ah, I let my guard down! I definitely won't lose next time!" Natsu shot back, not caring much about this defeat. He was already used to being beaten by Erza and that red-haired uncle.

Fully revived, Natsu turned his attention toward Mirajane and the other two. Lisanna watched him with amusement, Elfman hid behind his sister, and Mirajane directly transformed one hand into a demon's claw, glaring at him darkly.

It looked as if Natsu dared to charge forward, Mirajane would not mind giving him a slap.

"Enough. Fighting first thing in the morning, honestly. Clean up the tables, then go practice your magic!" A giant fist came down and smashed Natsu into the floor again.

In the end, Makarov stopped him. It was not easy managing a pack of huskies.

"What was that with your eyes?" After the chaos died down, Makarov came over to Qian Guang with concern.

"I call them the Sharingan. I think I awakened them myself, on the night Grandpa passed away. There's nothing wrong with them. They can see through the flow of other people's magic. That's how I learned wind magic." Qian Guang understood what Makarov meant. He made it clear that he was fine while explaining part of their abilities.

"Is that so? Don't push yourself too hard!" Makarov gave Qian Guang a deep look. He did not want this child getting dragged into anything strange.

After learning about it, Makarov returned to his little old man demeanor. "A beer, please!"

"Hey, Master, can I go take jobs now?" Qian Guang could not wait any longer. He had joined the guild now—he could take jobs! Helping people along the road before had not been the same as doing guild jobs!

"Now, now, you've got plenty of time, brat." After downing a cup, Makarov waved his hand with a flushed face.

"Eh? How can it be like this?"