The Accidental Savior

Nick Romero leaned against the side of a cobblestone building, just a block away from the towering Fairy Tail guild hall. The sound of laughter and shouting from inside was as chaotic as he'd imagined, but for now, he stayed put. Something was bugging him—something big.

He glanced down at his hands, flexing them nervously.

"Alright," he muttered. "Let's be real here. What exactly am I supposed to do if things go south in there? My one and only skill is playing music, and unless I'm about to serenade an angry monster into submission, I'm pretty much useless."

He scowled at the ground, frustration bubbling up. "Why couldn't the Good God give me something practical? Like fire magic? Or a giant sword? Nooo, I get harp hands."

He reached into his satchel and pulled out the "smartphone" that housed the Wives System. The device glowed faintly as it activated, projecting its familiar holographic screen.

"Hey," he said, addressing the AI. "Is there a way to, I don't know, turn this music thing into actual magic? Or do I have to wait until I unlock a flamethrower app?"

The AI responded in its usual chipper tone. "Music is a universal language of emotion and energy! With practice, it can serve as a conduit for powerful magical abilities."

Nick raised an eyebrow. "Okay, but how? Am I supposed to just start jamming out and hope for the best?"

"Precisely!" the AI replied.

Nick groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "You're the worst teacher ever."

With a sigh, Nick grabbed a nearby stick that vaguely resembled a conductor's baton. He stood in the middle of the quiet street and began moving the makeshift baton through the air, humming an aimless melody.

"Alright," he muttered. "Let's see if I can pull a Disney moment out of this."

He closed his eyes, focusing on the rhythm of the melody. As he moved the baton, he felt a faint tingle in the air, like static electricity. A soft hum began to build around him, and when he opened his eyes, he saw faint wisps of light trailing the baton's movements.

"Holy crap," Nick whispered, staring at the glowing trails. "It's actually working."

The excitement caused him to lose focus, and the lights fizzled out almost immediately.

"Okay, note to self: don't get distracted," he muttered, gritting his teeth.

Nick looked down at the stick in his hand, an idea forming in his mind. If music could create magic, maybe instruments could channel it even better.

He rifled through his satchel, searching for anything he could use. His fingers brushed against something smooth and metallic, and he pulled it out—a small, collapsible flute.

"Why do I have this?" he asked aloud, glaring at the AI.

The system chimed. "The flute was included as part of your initial gear, optimized for your current abilities."

Nick sighed. "Right. Of course. Because every adventurer needs a flute in their starter pack."

Still, he couldn't deny the potential. He raised the flute to his lips and played a simple tune, letting the notes flow naturally. As the melody echoed through the street, the faint hum of energy returned, stronger this time.

The air shimmered, and small bursts of light appeared around him, pulsing in time with the music.

"Alright," Nick said, lowering the flute. "That's actually kind of cool."

Nick spent the next half hour experimenting, using different rhythms and tempos to see how the magic responded. Fast, sharp notes created bursts of light that fizzed and popped like fireworks, while slow, steady melodies made the air hum with a gentle glow.

He even tried using the baton again, conducting an invisible orchestra. The combination of gestures and music seemed to amplify the effects, creating trails of light that danced through the air.

It wasn't much, but it was a start.

As he practiced, a thought crept into Nick's mind—one he'd been trying to ignore since the system first activated.

Sophia.

She'd always loved music. Back when things were good between them, they'd spent hours listening to old records and humming along to their favorite songs. It had been one of the few things he'd actually been good at—making her smile with a melody.

He shook his head, trying to banish the thought. "Focus, Nick. You've got bigger problems than your love life."

But even as he said it, he felt the familiar pang of regret.

The AI's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Excellent progress, Nick! Your music-based magic is developing rapidly. This ability will prove invaluable in forming bonds and completing plotlines."

Nick scowled at the glowing screen. "Can we not talk about 'forming bonds' right now? I'm in the middle of an existential crisis."

"Emotional growth is a key component of your journey," the AI replied cheerfully.

Nick glared at it. "You're really good at ignoring context, aren't you?"

The AI continued, unbothered. "Reminder: Music is a powerful tool for communication and connection. It transcends barriers, fostering unity and understanding."

Nick sighed. "Yeah, yeah. Save the motivational speech. Let's just hope nobody in the guild laughs me out of the room when I show up with a flute and some light tricks."

By the time Nick reached the massive doors of the Fairy Tail guild hall, he felt more confident—if only slightly. His experiments with music magic had given him a sliver of hope that he might not be completely useless here.

He took a deep breath, gripping the flute in one hand and the baton in the other.

"Alright," he said to himself. "Time to see what these guys are made of."

With a push, he opened the doors, stepping into the chaotic world of Fairy Tail.