Funeral

Magnolia

Home

Qian Guang gently laid Mirajane on the bed and cast a sleeping spell, letting her get some proper rest. Mira's injuries had already been completely healed.

In another room, Qian Guang likewise placed Elfman on the bed and cast a sleeping spell on him.

When he finally settled Dumb Dumb down, Dumb Dumb woke up.

"What is this?"

"We're home already."

Dumb Dumb looked at Qian Guang's slightly pale face, its expression dimming as it realized what had happened.

Qian Guang patted its head. "Watch the house. Take good care of them."

"Where are you going?!"

Dumb Dumb was a little afraid. It was afraid Qian Guang would do something foolish.

Qian Guang's body trembled. It was not that he had not considered going to search for Edolas, but he could not leave Mira and the others behind. Lisanna would have to wait a little longer.

Likewise, he did not dare tell anyone the truth. He was afraid that after giving them hope, they might do something foolish, or that some unforeseen change might occur.

"It's nothing. I'm just going to the guild."

Qian Guang did not want Mira and the others to have to speak of that cruel truth. He also did not know whether that old man, who treated everyone like family, could bear the news. Qian Guang suddenly became a little afraid to say it.

He slowly opened the door. Outside, a fine rain was still falling. He did not take an umbrella and gradually vanished into the curtain of rain.

Guild

Perhaps because of the weather, no one seemed to have much spirit. The usual lively atmosphere was gone, an exceedingly rare sight in Fairy Tail.

Natsu, usually the rowdiest, lay sprawled over a table, visibly restless. Even the fish in Happy's hand seemed tasteless.

The master sat at the bar, drinking one sip at a time. He felt that something was about to happen.

Suddenly

He saw a figure slowly walking in through the rain.

"Qian Guang!"

Erza was shocked when she saw Qian Guang's pale face. Normally, Qian Guang was always carefree and flippant; she had never seen him so drained of vitality.

Besides, whenever Qian Guang took a job, he would not return for at least half a month. It had only been a few days.

Makarov reached Qian Guang's side at astonishing speed, his expression grave. "What happened? Your magic power has been depleted this badly."

Qian Guang looked at the old man, who was so worried merely because his magic power had been overdrawn. He opened his mouth, wanting to speak, yet the words would not come out.

The master had initially relaxed when he saw no wounds on Qian Guang, but his expression tightened again.

Something even more serious must have happened!

"Speak! What exactly happened?!"

The master shouted, veins bulging on his forehead as the ominous feeling in his heart grew stronger.

Qian Guang looked at the enraged old man before him, his face somewhat grim.

"Mira and the others encountered the Beast King. Lisanna... Lisanna, she..."

Before Qian Guang could finish, Natsu, who had been lying there all along, rushed over and grabbed him by the collar. His eyes were like those of an awakened tyrannosaur.

"What happened to Lisanna?! Tell me! What happened to Lisanna?!"

For the first time, Qian Guang did not get angry at Natsu's actions. He opened his mouth. "She's gone."

The moment Natsu heard those words, his whole body froze, and he unconsciously staggered back several steps.

The master's face gradually darkened. Yet the magic power constantly spilling from him and the veins on his forehead showed that he was far from calm.

"You're lying!! Say you were lying just now!!!"

Happy refused to believe it. He flew straight up to Qian Guang's face, his eyes brimming with tears.

"How could this be!"

Erza could not believe it either. How could that child, like an angel, have died on a mission just like that?

Gray and Cana's expressions gradually turned sorrowful as well. They knew Qian Guang would never joke about his own sister, much less make a joke like this.

In an instant, everyone in the guild fell silent. Only the heavy rain outside continued pouring down.

"I don't believe it!!! You're lying!"

Natsu suddenly roared, shoved Qian Guang to the ground, and ran out alone.

"Natsu!" Happy chased after him.

Qian Guang sat on the ground with his head lowered, somewhat afraid to look at the master.

"Mira and the others are all right, aren't they? And the Beast King?"

Qian Guang could hear the master's suppressed anger. He was now worried about the master's health.

"They're fine. The Beast King has already been dealt with. Mira and the others are recuperating at home."

"Is that so? Tell me everything in detail."

The master turned and headed deeper into the guild. Qian Guang rose to his feet and followed him.

As he passed Laxus, he heard him say, "Are you okay?"

Qian Guang looked up at Laxus. The normally arrogant man's face was filled with concern, and the sorrow in his eyes could not be concealed.

Qian Guang shook his head and walked deeper into the guild.

Laxus watched the old man and the young man, remembering Lisanna's smiling face as he clenched his fists.

That was why he hated their weakness! If everyone in the guild were strong, no one would die, and there would be no sorrow.

Cardia Cathedral

The rain had continued for several days.

Today was Lisanna's funeral. Mirajane had awakened last night, but she still could not accept the reality that Lisanna was gone.

Everyone from Fairy Tail wore black, staring blankly and sorrowfully at the black-and-white photograph atop the grave.

Lisanna's smile in the photograph was so radiant that it felt as though everyone could still hear her nagging in their ears.

"Uncle Macao! You're talking about other girls again. Be careful, or I'll tell Auntie!"

"Uncle Wakaba, smoke less."

"Big Sister Erza! Can you stop fighting with my sister?"

"Gray! Put your clothes on!"

"Cana! Don't drink so much!"

"Grandpa Master, Lisanna made this cake for you!"

"Natsu, I'll be your bride someday."

"Dumb Dumb, here, have this to eat. And this, this, and this."

"Big Brother Elfman, look what I bought for you."

"Big Sister Mira, you and Big Brother Qian Guang..."

Mira had long since been unable to hold herself together. After everyone offered their flowers, she remained kneeling before the photograph, weeping bitterly.

Elfman was the same. That strong man hunched over, consumed by self-blame. He felt that he had caused Lisanna's death.

The master seemed to have aged greatly in an instant. Though he had known such things could happen ever since becoming master, he still could not accept the deaths of his children.

All he could do was protect them with every ounce of strength he had.

Natsu and Happy stared blankly at the photograph as memories of the past surfaced before their eyes. Natsu remembered that before Lisanna had left on that mission, she had told him to protect Fairy Tail.

He gritted his teeth and forced himself through the funeral. Now, all he wanted was to return to the little house he had shared with Lisanna.

Qian Guang looked at everyone's sorrowful expressions and desperately wanted to tell them that Lisanna was not dead, that she had merely gone to Edolas.

But he could not say it. He did not know what changes his arrival had brought to this world, nor did he know how Lisanna was doing in Edolas.

He did not want to give them hope only to make them despair again.

But one thing would not change. If nothing had changed, Qian Guang would definitely bring Lisanna back. Even if he had to tie her up, he would bring her back!

At night,

Natsu and Happy stayed in their secret base, but there was not a trace of warmth left within it.

Natsu silently packed his things while Happy, tears in his eyes, looked at the place where he had been born.

"Natsu, aren't we coming back? Aye."

"Yeah, we'll come back."

Natsu made a gravestone in front of the little house and placed a flower on it.

"Have a safe journey."

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