Erza locked herself in her room and didn't show her face again for the entire night.
The next morning, what woke Shane wasn't birdsong, but the rhythmic sound of a blade cutting through the air.
Whoosh—whoosh—
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Shane climbed out of bed and pushed open the window.
In the yard, scarlet hair danced with the motion of its owner's body.
Erza, dressed in a loose white training outfit, was facing the morning light and swinging her sword with ticulous precision.
And yet—
Even though every movent was still textbook-perfect, for so reason Shane felt that today's blade carried less of its usual steadiness, and a little more restlessness.
"Morning, Erza."
Leaning against the windowsill, Shane yawned and called out tentatively.
At the sound of his voice, the girl swinging her sword stiffened sharply, and the tip of her blade traced an unnatural tremor through the air.
Still, she didn't bolt like she had the night before.
After a full two seconds, Erza slowly lowered her sword.
She kept her back to the window, her voice sounding outwardly steady.
"…Morning, Shane."
"So you're back to normal?"
Seeing that she was at least willing to respond, Shane let out a quiet sigh of relief.
He had honestly been worried she might lock herself in her room and spiral for several days straight.
As long as she was willing to practice swordsmanship, that was a good sign.
What Shane didn't know was that Erza hadn't slept at all that night.
Her mind had been endlessly replaying Cana's line: "That's called loving soone." She had tossed and turned until dawn.
Only by rushing out into the yard and swinging her sword like mad had she barely managed to suppress the knot of emotion in her chest and make herself look sowhat calm.
Right now, she simply couldn't face Shane the way she used to, cool and composed.
"So now she's picked up my habit of spacing out too?"
After watching for a mont, Shane muttered inwardly, "Yeah… she's definitely still acting weird."
But he didn't press the issue. He was worried that asking outright would only make things worse while she was this sensitive.
If she wanted to calm herself through sword practice, then he should leave her so space.
After washing up, Shane quickly made breakfast.
"I'm heading to the guild. Breakfast's on the table—eat it while it's still warm."
Before leaving, he called out to Erza, who was still quietly swinging her sword in the yard.
"O-okay… I know…"
Her hand twitched slightly around the hilt. She kept her back stiff and only answered in a thin, shaky voice.
What exactly was wrong with her…?
Shane really wasn't good at reading a girl's mind. His not-yet-fully-recovered head started hurting again.
…
"One more drink!!!"
The mont he pushed open the guild doors, a bold female voice drowned out the entire noisy hall and instantly beca the center of attention.
Shane followed the sound and felt his eyelid twitch.
There, at the bar, was Ur—one foot planted boldly on a stool, hoisting one of those huge beer mugs only Makarov usually used, drinking and competing with a crowd of rowdy old drunk uncles.
She was at least properly dressed today, but with her open collar, unrestrained posture, and that overwhelming I'm the best drinker here aura, she looked less like a newcor and more like a veteran guild regular.
"Now that's a drinker! Way to go, Big Sis Ur!"
"Hahaha! Wakaba, are you done already?"
The crowd was full of cheers and laughter.
"She fit into the guild this fast?"
Even Shane had to admit it—Ur's adaptability was terrifying. She felt born for Fairy Tail. She hadn't even needed an adjustnt period.
Though whether she was settling into life in Magnolia well… judging from how energetic she looked, she was probably doing just fine.
"Um… Master, maybe drink a little less? It's still morning…"
Next to her, Gray was miserably tugging at her sleeve, trying to stop his totally unleashed master.
"What's the problem? The more lively, the better!"
Ur laughed, grabbed Gray in a headlock, and began rcilessly rubbing his hair like she was making up for all the years she hadn't been able to.
"You want one too? How's a guy supposed to not know how to drink!"
"I'm still underage!" Gray yelled, struggling.
Just then, Ur caught sight of Shane walking in.
The bright, lively look on her face instantly collapsed into sothing much more wounded.
Bang!
She thumped her empty mug onto the counter.
"Shane! Good timing!"
Pointing straight at him, Ur started complaining,
"That damn girl left without even saying goodbye!"
Naturally, she ant Ultear, who had vanished overnight and gone straight back to magic school.
"We'd only just t again… we didn't even get to share a proper al…"
"Co on, she has things she needs to do too."
Shane walked over and tried to soothe the overly emotional mother with a few gentle words.
"Didn't she say she'd co visit often? There's still plenty of ti ahead."
While casually patting Ur on the shoulder to calm her down, Shane's mind quietly reached for the Book of Heroic Spirits.
He was trying to register Ur as a "companion."
However—
A few seconds later, nothing happened.
"So it really doesn't work…"
Shane looked away, unable to hide a flicker of disappointnt.
It seed the selection for companions was stricter about age than he'd expected. Ur was certainly powerful enough, but she clearly wasn't within the range the book acknowledged.
If Ur didn't qualify, then there was only one target left.
His gaze swept across the hall, searching for a silver-haired figure.
Mira.
As long as he could push her to S-Class, the final slot in the long-chain trial would be complete.
But after scanning the room and finding no sign of her, just as he was about to go looking—
"What are you thinking about with that serious look on your face? You look like an old man with constipation."
An old but energetic voice interrupted his thoughts.
Shane ca back to himself and saw the short, tiny Makarov standing there, hands behind his back, looking up at him.
"Master?"
Shane blinked, then greeted him politely.
Makarov clearly wasn't here to chat. His eyes swept once behind Shane, and his brows drew together.
"Where's Erza? At this hour, she should normally be here with you."
"Uh… well…"
Thinking of Erza's strange behavior that morning, Shane answered vaguely,
"She's not feeling well. She's still resting at ho. Did you need sothing from her? Want to pass on a ssage?"
"Not feeling well?"
Makarov looked surprised. The Erza who always seed full of energy was actually feeling off?
He waved it off.
"It's nothing urgent. It's just that the regional guild alliance's 'guildmaster eting' is happening again soon. I was planning to bring her along."
"I see."
Shane nodded. He did rember that Erza had often accompanied the master to things like regional etings and Council inquiries.
As for why Makarov always brought Erza…
Shane gave the little old man a look full of pity.
Probably because in a guild full of drunks and walking disasters, Erza was the only person who could be taken to a formal occasion without embarrassing him—soone who not only wouldn't cause trouble, but could also keep him from causing trouble.
Being a guildmaster really wasn't easy when this was the quality of one's staff.
"You brat!"
The thought was written too plainly on Shane's face. Makarov exploded, his little mustache twitching upward.
"What's with that pitying look?!"
"What are you talking about? This is clearly a gaze full of admiration!"
Caught on the spot, Shane instantly straightened up and put on a solemn face.
"Well, if Erza's not free…"
Makarov looked at that all-too-obvious attempt to cover up, and a sly, rather wicked grin spread across his face. He pointed straight at Shane.
"Then as punishnt, you can take her place and co with to the eting!"
"Huh?"
Shane froze, then instinctively started to refuse.
"Wait, Master, I've actually got things to do. I still need to find Mira and put her through special training—"
He was still trying to finish the trial task. Where would he find the ti to sit through so boring administrative eting with the old man?
"I said it's a punishnt! Since when do you get to refuse?"
Makarov didn't leave him a single opening.
"In this guild, the only people I can bring outside without losing face are Erza and you! So it's decided! We leave right now! I'm too old to be standing around waiting for you!"
~~~
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