A New Life in Fairy Tail

”Unfortunately, we can’t go just yet.”

Noah waved the invitation vouchers in his hand and spoke to Erza and the others.

”What? Why?”

Natsu and Gray, who had been excited a moment ago, stopped immediately and looked at Noah along with everyone else.

”To be more precise, we have to postpone it. There is something much more important to handle right now.”

”What is it?”

Seeing that Noah didn’t look like he was joking, everyone became serious. Erza was the one who asked.

”I received information that the R-System, also known as the Tower of Heaven, built by the Black Magic Cult years ago, wasn’t just seven towers—there were eight. And now, this eighth Tower of Heaven has been completed.”

”What?!”

”The Black Magic Cult?!”

”The Tower of Heaven?!”

Erza, Sorano, and Yukino-kun all cried out in shock. Sorano was the most furious of all: ”Those bastards actually dared to reappear! Noah, where are they? I’ll go tear them apart right now!”

Due to her rage, Sorano’s magic power began to leak out unconsciously, causing the surrounding people to feel a wave of pressure.

”Sister—”

Yukino-kun called out to her. Sorano immediately snapped out of it and suppressed her magic.

She knelt down and hugged Yukino-kun, gently stroking her back before saying to everyone, ”Sorry, I got too worked up.”

”It’s alright. Everyone understands why,” Ultear comforted her softly.

However, there were still those who didn’t know the full story.

”I have a general idea of what the Black Magic Cult is, but what are the R-System and the Tower of Heaven?” Lucy asked Noah.

”The Black Magic Cult is an organization that worships the Black Wizard Zeref. They build the R-System, or the Tower of Heaven, in order to resurrect him.”

”What?”

Lucy gasped and covered her mouth. The Black Wizard Zeref was a legendary figure—the most violent, powerful, and evil person in the history of the magical world. If the Black Magic Cult wanted to resurrect him, Lucy knew they were a dangerous organization.

”Erza’s village was once attacked by the Black Magic Cult. And Sorano and Yukino-kun’s village and family were destroyed because of them.”

”What? I... I’m so sorry!” Lucy immediately apologized to Erza, Sorano, and Yukino-kun.

”It’s nothing,” Sorano shook her head at Lucy, indicating it was fine.

Many years had passed, and the two sisters had found healing within Fairy Tail. Mentioning the events of the past now left them much more stable emotionally. However, the members of the Black Magic Cult were not to be forgiven. A fierce light gleamed in Sorano’s eyes.

”Back then, Noah came to our village to help fend off the cult,” Erza said nostalgically. It was Noah’s help that had allowed her and her village to survive that disaster. She looked at Noah with a smile, her face turning slightly red.

”My sister and I were both saved because of Noah,” Yukino-kun added, looking at Noah with eyes full of deep emotion.

When she had been captured, she had felt utterly helpless, wishing every moment for someone to save her. From being full of hope to slowly falling into despair, she didn’t even know how she had endured it back then.

Until one day, Noah suddenly opened her cage and rescued her from that hell. She would never forget Noah’s silhouette at that moment; in her heart, he had been radiant with light. Furthermore, she later heard that her sister had also been rescued. Finding her sister again felt like a dream; everything had seemed so surreal. It was only after repeated confirmation that she dared to believe they were truly safe.

Seeing Sorano and Yukino-kun’s expressions, everyone knew they held deep feelings for Noah for saving them back then.

”Thank you, Brother Noah!” Yukino-kun said in a clear voice.

”Alright, no need for more thanks. I simply help when I have the ability to do so,” Noah waved his hand.

”You said you got news about the cult and the tower. Is it accurate?” Ultear asked.

”Completely. He wouldn’t dare lie to me.”

”Then are we going to destroy them right now?” Erza asked.

”Of course. Since we know they exist, it’s best to destroy them as early as possible.”

”I want to go too!” Sorano said immediately, looking at Noah with a serious expression.

”You can,” Noah replied. Seeing her face, he couldn’t and wouldn’t refuse. Sorano was now very strong; she could protect herself and eliminate her enemies.

”I’m going too,” Erza declared. When the cult attacked her village, she had no power to resist and could only flee with the others. Now that she had the power, she wanted to join in and destroy the enemies who had nearly ruined her home.

”If Erza’s going, then I’m going too!” Natsu’s hands erupted in flames as he spoke loudly.

”Aye!” Happy chirped.

”Even though I hate being with this bastard, I’m going too,” Gray said, glancing at Natsu with disdain before turning to Noah.

”Eh? Um, since we’re a team, I’ll go as well—” Lucy added. She was scared, knowing a cult worshipping Zeref was likely full of lunatics, but she wouldn’t abandon her friends.

”Sister, I want to go together,” Yukino-kun said, looking earnestly at Sorano.

”No! You stay here. You aren’t coming with us,” Sorano panicked, looking at her sister and speaking firmly.

”But sister, the cult took Mom and Dad—” Yukino-kun’s eyes welled up with tears.

Sorano’s heart clenched. It was obvious that Yukino-kun still had psychological trauma that hadn’t healed. She painedly pulled Yukino-kun into a hug, gently patting her back to comfort her as she began to cry softly.

”Yukino-kun—”

Wendy-kun, Meredy-kun, and Carla looked at her with concern.

”How about this? Wendy-kun and the others can come along, and Mirajane and I will go with them to protect Yukino-kun and Wendy-kun. It would be good for them to gain some experience dealing with the Black Magic Cult, as they might encounter them again in the future. Mirajane, Noah, Sorano—what do you think?” Ultear suggested.

”That works for me. I’ll watch over Yukino-kun and the others,” Mirajane nodded, agreeing.

”I think that’s fine. You two are more than enough to protect them. Besides, Yukino-kun and the others aren’t weak; you’re just there as a safeguard,” Noah thought for a moment and nodded to Ultear.

Sorano pondered for a while. She naturally didn’t want her sister in danger. The members of the Black Magic Cult were fanatics; who knew what traps they had waiting? But seeing Yukino-kun looking at her with tearful eyes, she couldn’t refuse.

Whether as a victim of the cult’s past atrocities or as a wizard, Yukino-kun needed to face and understand them. She might even need to seek revenge for her parents. Of course, Sorano would prefer to do that herself, but with Ultear and Mirajane protecting her, letting Yukino-kun encounter them was acceptable.

”Fine, I agree. But sister, you must listen to us. No rushing in recklessly, and you must stay safe. Do you understand?” Sorano said solemnly.

”I understand, sister,” Yukino-kun replied seriously, knowing her sister was worried about her.

Seeing her sister agree, Sorano finally breathed a sigh of relief. She turned to Ultear and Mirajane, who knew exactly what she wanted to say.

”Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of them. I won’t let anything happen,” Ultear promised.

”I won’t let your sister come to any harm,” Mirajane added seriously.

”Did you forget about me? With me there, you don’t need to worry about Yukino-kun’s safety,” Noah said to Sorano.

”Oh right, I almost forgot you were going too.” Hearing Noah, Sorano realized she had been so worried about her sister that she had forgotten Noah was leading the group. This realization made her feel incredibly relieved. With Noah’s strength, her sister would surely be safe.

”Let’s confirm the list: Me, Erza, Natsu, Gray, Lucy, Happy, plus Ultear, Mirajane, Sorano, Yukino-kun, Wendy-kun, Meredy-kun, and Carla. This is the group going to destroy the Black Magic Cult and the R-System Tower of Heaven, right?”

Noah confirmed with everyone, and they all nodded.

”Yukino-kun, we’ll protect you,” Wendy-kun said, clenching her fists and speaking seriously.

”Let’s fight together just like always!” Meredy-kun added.

”Hmph, you two are hopeless,” Carla said, though her tone was serious as she looked at Yukino-kun.

”Thank you, everyone!” Yukino-kun was moved by her friends. She then looked at Ultear and Mirajane. ”Thank you, Ultear-san, Mira-san. Thank you!”

”No need for thanks. We want you to gain more experience,” Mirajane said gently. She saw that Yukino-kun hadn’t forgotten the past—few could. As a sister herself, she understood Sorano’s desire for her sibling’s well-being. She agreed to protect them so that this mission might help reduce the psychological scars on Yukino-kun’s heart.

~~~

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