Fairy Tail: The Faint Smile in Earthland

Date: April X788 — Late Morning

Location: Chimera Forge Interior

Teresa stepped under the giant archway. Her cloak brushed over cracked glyph lines on the floor. Inside, the air felt heavy and smelled sharp, like metal and burnt magic. A low hum vibrated under her feet — the forge felt alive, like an animal breathing in pain.

The Edge rolled silently beside her. Its runes glowed in time with her steady breathing. The ground was covered in pools of unstable mimic liquid. Sparks and broken glyph lines crackled across the surface like ice breaking.

She stopped and half-closed her eyes. Through the steam ahead, she could see shapes moving — tall, twisted creatures. She felt them before she saw them. These weren't normal chimeras. They were stronger, with stolen magic cores and extra pieces taken from vaults. They didn't just attack mindlessly — they could think, at least a little.

She felt the air shift. A creature rushed at her from the right, claws turning into sharp spear points. Teresa bent low, turned on her heel, and brought her sword up in a fast sweep.

The creature ran right into her strike. Its body is split in half. Its veins of corrupted magic fizzled out, and it fell with a wet thud.

The Second Enemy

Another chimera charged right after, sparks flying from its head markings. Teresa stepped back, her hand gripping her sword tightly.

The Edge pulsed behind her, ready.

She tapped the bike lightly. It shot forward, hitting the chimera from the side and slamming it into a wall. Teresa rushed in and stabbed it through the neck. It stopped moving right away.

Five more creatures appeared from the steam, moving faster and more carefully than the ones before. They circled her, claws dragging on the ground.

Teresa breathed out slowly. She stopped looking at them as individual enemies. Instead, she saw the entire room — the floor's vibration, the forge's breath, every small movement.

One chimera tried to fake left. Teresa saw the hesitation in its feet.

She didn't wait. She stabbed it straight through the chest, twisted, and pulled out before the others could close in.

She jumped onto The Edge as it rolled past, landing smoothly on the seat. She turned sharply, her cloak flying like a second blade.

One chimera lunged. She leaned low, turned hard, and swung her sword sideways as she passed. Its head flew off.

Another jumped from the other side. Teresa slid the bike into a tight turn, stood slightly, and cut down with one clean strike as she drifted by. The creature dropped instantly.

Teresa jumped off mid-motion and landed in a low crouch. The bike rolled forward a bit more, then disappeared into Requip space.

She held her sword in reverse grip without looking back. The last two enemies came at her together, claws glowing brighter.

Teresa dashed forward. Her eyes flashed gold — a partial awakening.

She broke their attack pattern immediately. She cut off one's arm and core glyph in one quick slice, then spun and slashed the second one across the neck.

The room went quiet. Steam drifted around her like a slow fog after a storm.

Upper Ridge — Watching

Romeo stood frozen, his knuckles white around his wooden sword. Every move Teresa made looked both simple and impossible at the same time.

Kinana stood next to him, her eyes filled with both pride and worry.

"She didn't stop even once," Romeo said softly.

Kinana nodded.

"She can't. Not down there."

Romeo swallowed hard.

"I think I finally understand why she keeps telling me to stay centered."

Kinana looked at him, her expression gentle.

"That's the real training. Learning to stay steady inside."

The Core Chamber

Teresa stood up slowly. Her breath stayed calm, but her eyes still glowed faintly gold. In front of her was the final chamber. A wall covered in glyphs looked like it was made of living tissue, moving as if it were breathing.

She stepped closer. The wall responded, glyph lines stretching toward her like they recognized her — or feared her.

She pressed her palm against it. A shock ran up her arm. Her fingers twitched, but she didn't pull back.

"This isn't just a forge," she said quietly. "It's a womb."

Her energy spread into the wall. The glyphs shook. A deep, echoing growl rose from below.

Behind her, The Edge rolled forward from Requip space. She turned slightly and gave it a small nod.

She cut her palm lightly, letting her blood drip onto the floor. The wall shook violently and then split open along a glowing line. A dark hallway appeared behind it.

Without hesitating, Teresa stepped inside, sword held low and steady. The Edge disappeared into Requip space again, ready to be called when she needed it.