The Accidental Savior

The morning sun streamed through the large windows of Fairy Tail's guild hall, illuminating the chaos already underway. Nick Romero stood nervously in front of the mission board, clutching the strap of his satchel as if it were a lifeline. Around him, the guild bustled with noise—arguments, laughter, and the occasional crash as a tankard sailed through the air.

Nick ducked as one such projectile narrowly missed his head, shattering against the wall behind him.

"Yup," he muttered, "totally a professional environment. Nothing screams 'responsible workplace' like airborne mugs."

Macao, standing by the bar, chuckled. "You get used to it, kid."

Nick shot him a skeptical look. "Do you, though? Do you really?"

Wakaba, puffing on his ever-present pipe, smirked. "If you're gonna survive here, you've got to learn to dodge faster. Consider it training."

"Training for what?" Nick asked, throwing his hands up. "The day someone weaponizes a beer keg?"

Nick turned his attention back to the mission board. The parchment slips pinned to it seemed to taunt him with their range of tasks, from simple deliveries to monster-slaying escapades he had no business considering.

"Alright," he muttered. "Step one: don't die. Step two: make enough money to not live in the guild's nursery forever."

Behind him, Macao and Wakaba exchanged amused glances.

"First mission jitters," Wakaba said, puffing a cloud of smoke. "I remember my first job. Nearly got eaten by a pack of wolves."

Nick spun around, alarmed. "Wolves? That's an option? Why is that an option?!"

Macao laughed. "Relax, kid. You're not ready for anything dangerous yet. Stick to the easy stuff."

"Easy stuff," Nick repeated, scanning the board. His eyes landed on a section marked Beginner Missions. Three slips of parchment stood out.

Collect Magical Herbs in Magnolia Forest

Objective: Gather five bundles of Moonshade Herbs.

Reward: 1,500 Jewels.

Note: Beware of small magical creatures guarding the herbs.

Repair a House in Town

Objective: Help rebuild a storm-damaged roof.

Reward: 1,200 Jewels.

Note: Manual labor required.

Deliver a Package to Clover Village

Objective: Safely transport a sealed package to a nearby village.

Reward: 1,800 Jewels.

Note: Potential wildlife encounters.

Nick tapped his chin, weighing his options. "Okay, so... collecting herbs sounds easy, but 'small magical creatures' could mean anything from cute bunnies to, I don't know, carnivorous squirrels. Fixing a roof is safe, but also boring. And delivering a package? That's just asking for an ambush."

Wakaba puffed thoughtfully. "You're overthinking it, kid. Pick the boring one. Trust me, you'll thank yourself later."

Macao nodded. "Roof repair is as safe as it gets. Unless you fall off, but, hey, that's on you."

Nick sighed, plucking the house repair mission from the board. "Fine. I'll be the guild handyman for a day."

The house was a quaint little cottage on the edge of Magnolia, its roof caved in from a recent storm. The elderly couple who owned it, Mr. and Mrs. Harvin, greeted Nick at the gate.

"You're from Fairy Tail?" Mr. Harvin asked, squinting at him.

"Yes, sir," Nick said, standing as straight as his seven-year-old frame could manage.

The old man grunted. "You look like you're here to sell cookies."

Nick flushed. "I, uh, get that a lot."

"Well, don't just stand there," Harvin said, handing him a hammer. "Roof's not gonna fix itself."

Fixing the roof was harder than Nick had anticipated. Balancing on the slanted surface while hammering shingles was a test of both his patience and his coordination.

"Careful up there, boy!" Harvin shouted from below. "You break anything, you're paying for it!"

"Yes, sir!" Nick yelled back, sweat dripping into his eyes.

Halfway through, he slipped and nearly fell off the roof. Clinging to the edge, he let out a shaky laugh. "This is fine. Totally fine. Just one slip away from being a pancake."

Mrs. Harvin appeared with a plate of cookies, looking up at him with concern. "You want a snack, dear?"

Nick gritted his teeth as he hauled himself back onto the roof. "I'll take it when I'm not about to die, thanks!"

By late afternoon, the roof was repaired, and the walls were patched. Nick climbed down the ladder, covered in dust and sweat but proud of his work.

Harvin inspected the repairs, nodding grudgingly. "Not bad for a kid. Maybe you're not useless after all."

"High praise," Nick muttered.

Mrs. Harvin handed him a pouch of Jewels and a bag of cookies. "For your trouble," she said with a kind smile.

Nick pocketed the money and grinned. "Thanks. And, uh, sorry about the three shingles I accidentally nailed to the gutter."

As Nick made his way back to the guild, the Wives System pinged to life.

"Mission complete! Nexus Energy replenished: +5%."

Nick frowned at the glowing screen. "Five percent? I spent all day risking my life for five percent?"

"Nexus Energy rewards are proportional to mission difficulty," the AI explained cheerfully.

Nick rolled his eyes. "So what, I've got to fight a dragon to get a decent recharge?"

"Dragons are highly efficient energy sources," the AI said, unhelpfully.

"Noted," Nick muttered.

Back at the guild, Nick collapsed onto a stool at the bar, nursing a glass of juice. Macao and Wakaba joined him, both wearing matching grins.

"So, how'd it go?" Macao asked.

Nick sighed dramatically. "Let's just say I've discovered a new fear of ladders."

Wakaba laughed. "Welcome to Fairy Tail, kid. You'll fit right in."

As the conversation continued, Nick's gaze drifted back to the mission board. He knew he couldn't rely on roof repairs forever. If he wanted to make real progress, he'd need to take on something more challenging.

Before Nick could dwell on his next move, the Wives System pinged again.

"Alert: Minor Chaos Energy detected in the Magnolia region. Cause: residual multiverse instability."

Nick groaned. "What now? Is the universe throwing a tantrum or something?"

The AI's tone was calm but serious. "Chaos Energy is a remnant of multiverse disruptions. It can cause localized anomalies, such as aggressive wildlife or unpredictable weather."

Nick rubbed his temples. "So, basically, more things to make my life harder?"

"Correct!"

Nick sighed, finishing his juice in one gulp. "Awesome. Guess I'd better get used to this."

That night, Nick lay in the guild's nursery, staring at the faintly glowing screen of the Wives System. He thought about the road ahead, the challenges he'd face, and the skills he'd need to survive.

"Alright," he whispered to himself. "One mission down. A million to go. I've got this."

The flute beside him seemed to glint in the moonlight, a quiet reminder of the magic he was still learning to master.

Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for tonight, Nick let himself rest.