Fairy Tail: The Faint Smile in Earthland

📍 Location: Magnolia Outskirts → Airship Deck

📅 June, X791

The early summer air smelled of blooming wildflowers and sun-warmed dirt as the group passed through Magnolia's main gates. Romeo led the way, calm and focused, his steps steady beneath the rising heat. Behind him, Natsu chattered about food, Happy hovered lazily in the air, and Lucy adjusted the pouch of Celestial keys at her side. Gray followed, flicking bits of ice into the grass to see them melt.

Michelle Lobster kept close, clutching a small satchel to her chest. Her eyes held nervous determination.

Lucy moved up beside Romeo, her voice soft. "You sure you're ready for this? You could've stayed back at the hall."

Romeo shook his head. "No more waiting. I need to face what's out there — alongside you all."

Lucy studied his face for a second, then smiled gently. "Then we'll face it together."

Behind them, Natsu stretched with a loud pop. "Man, I hope it's ruins full of traps or creepy cult guys. I haven't smashed anything weird in days!"

Gray scoffed. "You'd probably punch your soup if it didn't smell right."

"Aye!" Happy added, spinning midair. "As long as there's fish after!"

Romeo's laugh came freely — a light, clear sound that rolled across the fields.

📍 Location: Airship Deck

The group boarded a small merchant-owned airship arranged by Kinana and Max. As it rose above Magnolia, the town shrank into a quilt of rooftops and trees.

Romeo stood by the railing, eyes on the horizon. Now and then, his fingers brushed the hilt of the flame sword on his back — making sure it was still there.

Lucy leaned against the rail beside him. "You know, when you stand like that… I forgot you're Macao's kid. You've changed."

Romeo gave a faint nod. "I had to. While the guild waited, I trained — because standing still felt like disappearing."

Lucy's gaze softened. "You don't have to carry everything by yourself anymore."

Romeo looked down at the distant land. "Some burdens never leave. Teresa showed me that. Even when you return, the weight stays."

"She meant a lot to you," Lucy said quietly.

Romeo tightened his grip on the rail. "She didn't teach me to fight for love or justice. She taught me to survive — and to make every strike count."

He paused, then added, "But somehow, it still brought me back. Back to all of you."

Lucy smiled. "Even the sharpest sword can be used to protect."

Romeo looked over, his voice barely above the wind. "Maybe… that's what I'm trying to be."

📍 Location: Cabin Interior

Inside the cabin, Natsu paced like a storm waiting to happen. "Come on! Let's fight something already!"

Michelle blinked at him. "Are you always like this?"

Gray leaned against a wall. "Worse when he's hungry."

Happy dug through a basket. "Which is always."

Michelle chuckled, then turned to Romeo. "You… carry yourself differently now."

Romeo raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Before, you looked like you were waiting for orders," she said. "Now… It's like you're already moving, even if no one else does."

Romeo hesitated, then nodded slowly. "…Thanks."

📍 Location: Airship Deck (Later)

The sun dropped low, turning the sky into a painting of fire and violet. Romeo stood alone again, wind in his hair.

He drew his sword slightly from the sheath. A soft, violet glow shimmered along the edge — no sparks, no flames — just heat coiled like a breath.

"Edge-Forged Flame Sword," he whispered.

He stepped back, slid into a stance, and exhaled.

"One flame… one purpose. One cut… one choice."

He slashed once — clean and straight. The fire hissed quietly through the air, like a line drawn across the sky.

Then he sheathed it.

Far above, he imagined Teresa's silver eyes watching.

I'm not just a student anymore. I'm my blade now. And I choose what burns.

📍 Location: Cabin Interior (Evening)

Back inside, night had settled.

Natsu and Happy were already snoring — tangled in a pile of limbs and fish bones. Michelle had drifted off nearby, her satchel tucked under her head like a pillow.

Romeo sat by the window, staring at the stars.

Gray tossed him a water bottle. "Don't sit there brooding like Erza. You'll turn into a statue."

Romeo caught it and chuckled. "Noted."

Gray gave a rare grin. "I like this version of you. Strong, but still Romeo."

Romeo didn't reply right away. He looked out at the darkening sky, where stars shimmered like sparks waiting to ignite.

Outside, the airship hummed steadily, flying toward ruins no map had marked. The wind whispered of old magic and trials ahead.

Inside that silence, Romeo closed his eyes. The lessons burned beneath his skin — not just the ones he had learned alone, but the ones that brought him back home.

One strike at a time… he was becoming something new.

Not just a flame that flickered in someone's shadow.

But a fire is ready to light the path forward.