The little girl by the roadside

Boom! The spell struck Xi Feng head-on, blasting him into a wall.

"Hiss..." Xi Feng sucked in a breath and rubbed his chest. Magic really does hurt.

"Big brother!" Seeing Xi Feng blasted away, Erza hurried over in alarm. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. It just hurt a little." Xi Feng shook his head.

Just then, Jellal walked over and looked impassively at Xi Feng and Erza. "If you two want to leave so badly, then go. Everyone else belongs to me!"

"Just the two of us?"

"That's right. Rebuilding the Tower of Heaven takes manpower. I can't do it alone, so I need people. Of course, I won't be like those idiots. I'll give everyone food, drink, clothes, and even time to rest. Squeezing labor out of people through fear is terribly inefficient." With that, he turned and left, paying Xi Feng and Erza no further attention.

"Wait..."

"Don't, Erza." Erza wanted to say something else to Jellal, but Xi Feng stopped her.

"Big brother, Jellal..."

"He's not the Jellal we knew anymore. Let's go." Xi Feng shook his head.

"But... but... Waaah..." Erza wanted to say more, but she didn't know what to say. In the end, she threw herself into Xi Feng's arms and cried.

"It's all right. It's all right. I'll always protect you, Erza," Xi Feng said, patting her back over and over.

"Really, big brother?" Erza raised her little head, her eyes red from crying.

"Yes." Xi Feng nodded firmly, then added, "Let's go."

Xi Feng took Erza's little hand and led her outside. Once they were out, however, he spotted a little purple snake struggling desperately. When he approached, he saw that her tail was trapped beneath a rock.

Isn't this...? Looking at the little snake, Xi Feng found her familiar. She seemed to be Cobra's snake from Oración Seis in the original story. But why was she here? Wasn't she supposed to be with Cobra?

"Wow, what a cute little snake!" While Xi Feng was lost in thought, Erza spotted Purple Little Snake too.

"Cute..." Erza's words left Xi Feng speechless. She thought snakes were cute? Most girls would be scared of them. As expected of the future Titania-even her idea of cute was different from that of ordinary girls.

"Big brother, let's take this little snake with us."

"Take her with us?" Erza's request caught Xi Feng off guard, but faced with her hopeful gaze, he could only agree. Besides, this little snake was a beauty too. In the future, her figure would rival Mira's.

Xi Feng pushed the rock aside and said to the little snake, "Little one, would you like to come with us?"

"Hiss, hiss..." The little snake first tilted her head at Xi Feng, then nodded.

"Then climb aboard." Xi Feng lowered his hand toward her, and the little snake climbed onto it.

Looking at her, Xi Feng said softly, "Let's get along from now on, little one."

"Hiss, hiss..." The little snake flicked her tongue, as though replying to Xi Feng.

"Big brother, let me hold her! Let me!" Erza clamored, staring at the little snake in Xi Feng's hand.

"All right, all right. I heard you."

"Hehe, hello, little one. My name's Erza." Erza greeted the little snake too.

Watching Erza play with the little snake, Xi Feng knew she was only pretending to be happy. She couldn't hide the sorrow in her eyes from him. She simply didn't want him to worry.

"Ah..." Xi Feng sighed. "What a considerate little girl."

"Big brother, hurry up! Kinana and I aren't waiting for you!"

"Huh? Kinana?" Xi Feng quickly caught up and gave Erza a puzzled look.

"Yes. From now on, her name is Kinana. Isn't it pretty?" Erza said, pointing at the little snake.

"It is."

Xi Feng smiled. To think Erza had been the one to name Kinana. It was incredible.

Out at sea, Xi Feng, Erza, and Kinana rode a wooden raft. Xi Feng looked at the distant island, then turned toward Erza, who was playing with Kinana.

"Erza, as long as I'm here, no one will ever hurt you!"

Chapter 3: The Little Loli by the Roadside

"Big brother Xi Feng, I'm so tired."

"Honestly, you..." Hearing Erza's complaint, Xi Feng shook his head helplessly and crouched down. "Hop on. I'll carry you."

"You're the best, big brother!" Erza beamed at his gesture and immediately climbed onto his back. Kinana crawled onto Xi Feng's shoulder, flicking her tongue.

After leaving the Tower of Heaven, Xi Feng and Erza had spent a month or two living in the forest, hunting wild animals and trading them in nearby towns for gold coins and changes of clothes. Since neither of them had any family, they eventually decided to go to Fairy Tail.

"Mmm..." Resting on Xi Feng's back felt so comfortable and reassuring that Erza let out an involuntary little moan. Embarrassed by the sound, she blushed and stole a glance at Xi Feng. When she saw no change in his expression, she felt relieved, though a tiny bit disappointed too.

"Big brother, do you think Grandpa Rob's guild is nice?"

"Hmm?" Erza's question made Xi Feng pause for a moment before his lips curved into a smile.

"Of course. You could tell just by looking at Grandpa Rob. He wanted to go back all those years, and whenever he talked about Fairy Tail, his face lit up."

"Yeah."

Indeed, when Xi Feng had watched the anime in his previous life, he had thought Fairy Tail was the best. It was like one big family: everyone shared their joy and sorrow, and if one person was bullied, everyone sprang into action.

"Waaah..."

Just then, Xi Feng and Erza heard someone crying. Looking ahead, they saw a Little Loli sitting on the ground, sobbing her heart out.

"Big brother, look! There's a little girl over there. I think she's crying."

"Yes." Xi Feng nodded, set Erza down, and took her little hand. "Let's go have a look."

Coming up to the Little Loli, Xi Feng bent down slightly and asked gently, "Little girl, what's wrong?"

"Huh?" Hearing his voice, the Little Loli slowly raised her head. When she saw Xi Feng, disappointment washed over her, and she started crying again. "Waaah... Grandeeney... waaah... she's gone..."

It's Wendy! I never thought I'd meet her here. Then where's Mystogan? Have he and Wendy not met? Xi Feng could hardly believe his eyes, but he soon began comforting her.

"There, there. Don't cry. If Grandeeney sees you like this, she won't like it."

"R-really...? Will Grandeeney hate Wendy if Wendy cries?" At Xi Feng's words, Wendy looked at him, holding back her tears. If he said she wouldn't, Wendy would surely burst into tears again the next instant.

Seeing her expression, Xi Feng smiled and stroked her little head. "Of course. Grandeeney doesn't like crybabies."

"Then Wendy won't cry anymore." Wendy immediately wiped away her tears, then thanked him. "Thank you, big brother. My name is Wendy."

"It's all right." Looking at Wendy, Xi Feng thought she really was an endearing little girl. Then he introduced himself. "My name is Xi Feng, and this big sister is Erza."

"Hello, Wendy. I'm Erza." Erza stepped up to introduce herself too, then raised her right hand and pointed to Kinana resting on it. "Her name is Kinana. She may be a snake, but she's very nice."

Wendy had been a little frightened when she first saw Kinana, but Erza's words reassured her, and she greeted them warmly. "Hello, big sister Erza. Hello, Kinana."

"Hiss, hiss..."

"Wendy, would you like to come with us?" Xi Feng asked.

"I... I..." His invitation made Wendy hesitate. Seeing what was on her mind, Xi Feng spoke again. "We're going to a guild."

"A guild?"

"Yes, a guild. There'll be lots and lots of people there who'll like you and be your friends."

"But... I..." Xi Feng's words had thoroughly captured Wendy's interest, but she still couldn't decide.

"Are you worried Grandeeney won't be able to find you when she comes back?" Xi Feng asked, stroking Wendy's little head.

"Yes." Wendy gave an adorable little nod.

"Don't worry. Grandeeney will be so happy when you've made lots of friends." Xi Feng suddenly realized he had quite a talent for coaxing children away.

"Then... then I'll go with you. Once I make friends, Grandeeney will be happy."

"Then let's go, Wendy." Xi Feng took her soft little hand.

"Wendy, who's this Grandeeney you were talking about?" Erza ran over to Wendy's side and asked quietly.

"Grandeeney is a dragon! She's really big." Speaking of Grandeeney made Wendy a little excited, and she waved her little hands in the air as though trying to show them what Grandeeney looked like.

"A dragon?!" Erza was startled. Back in the Tower of Heaven, she had heard Grandpa Rob talk about dragons quite often. As for Kinana, an evil wizard had turned her into a snake when she was little, so she knew nothing about dragons. She simply flicked her tongue and looked at Erza and Wendy in confusion.

"No, no! Grandeeney is a good dragon. She's very gentle, and she taught Wendy magic and how to read." Seeing Erza's surprise, Wendy thought she had misunderstood and hurried to explain.

"That's not what I meant. I was just surprised. I never imagined a dragon had taught you magic, Wendy. That's amazing." Erza smiled at her.

"No, Wendy's really slow. When Grandeeney taught Wendy, it took a long time to learn." Wendy grew shy at Erza's praise.

"Then keep working hard." Xi Feng, who had been silent beside them, finally spoke. "Work hard, Wendy, so you can protect Erza and me someday."

"Protect big brother Xi Feng and big sister Erza?" Wendy paused at his words, then nodded her little head firmly.

"Yes! Wendy will practice magic and protect big brother Xi Feng and big sister Erza!"

"Good. Do your best. We'll be counting on you, Wendy."

"Yes, big brother Xi Feng."

Since it was getting late, Xi Feng and the others needed to find somewhere to rest. After walking for a while, they arrived at an abandoned village.

"Big brother Xi Feng, it looks like there's no one in this village," Erza whispered beside him.

"Yes." Xi Feng nodded. "Be careful. Keep an eye out for danger."