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[FT: O King of the Fairies] Chapter 78
🕑 Added 2025-04-23 12:04:14 +0000 UTCThe guild hall felt emptier without Alma. The usual sounds of laughter and chatter seemed quieter now and I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was just a little bit duller. The world felt a little off without her here, and I didn’t know how to adjust to that.
I sat at the bar, elbows resting on the wood, staring at the glass in front of me. I’d been like this for days—lost in my thoughts, unable to focus on anything. I couldn’t stop thinking about Alma.
“You look like hell.”
I didn’t even need to look up to know who it was. Laxus. His voice was as blunt as always, but there was something softer behind the words today, something I didn’t often hear from him. I glanced over at him, his arms crossed, eyes watching me with that usual intensity of his.
I didn’t respond right away. I couldn’t. The words didn’t come easily.
“Yeah,” I muttered after a long pause, barely able to meet his eyes.
Laxus didn’t say anything for a moment, just studied me like he was trying to figure out what to say. “You know,” he began, his voice rough but quieter than usual, “you’re not the only one who feels her absence.”
That hit me harder than I expected. Laxus wasn’t the type to be vulnerable, and I knew it. But there was something different in his tone now.
Laxus leaned against the bar, his eyes hard, but his voice uncharacteristically gentle. “We all get lost sometimes, Aiden. Even people like Alma. She had her own path to follow. But that doesn’t mean we can’t keep going forward.”
I looked at him, surprised by his words. He wasn’t known for offering advice, let alone comforting anyone. But it seemed like Laxus was saying what I needed to hear.
“We’ll get through this,” he continued, his tone firmer now, like he was trying to convince both of us. “It doesn’t feel like it now, but time has a way of healing things. Even if it doesn’t seem like it.”
"You sound like an old man right now. Mini-Master.”
“Shut up.”
I laughed and took another sip of my drink, I felt somewhat better now.
I reached into my coat, pulling out a neatly folded newspaper, my fingers brushing the edges like it was some kind of lifeline. I smoothed it out on the counter, the headline staring back at me
HEARTFILIA KONZERN: FUTURE UNCERTAIN?
I skimmed the article, eyes landing on the only part that mattered.
Rumors of Lady Layla Heartfilia’s worsening condition continue to circulate. Sources close to the Heartfilia family have reported that she has not made any public appearances in months…
I let out a sharp breath and set the paper down with a sigh. Tch. So it’s already getting this bad.
Layla Heartfilia.
Her condition wasn’t just some random illness. She wasn’t sick the way mages or doctors couldn’t figure out. No, she was dying slowly because she had sacrificed most of her remaining life to open the Eclipse Gate. A selfless act, sure, but the consequences were cruel. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples.
If left alone, she probably has a few months left.
I tapped my fingers against the table, trying to focus, but my mind kept drifting back to Alma.
I stared at the paper again, trying to think. I’ve already thrown the entire canon out the window. What’s one more intervention?
Damn, I’m such a good person, I thought bitterly, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. But it didn’t feel good. It never did anymore.
The real question was, how the hell was I going to pull this off? I could sneak into the estate. I could get past their defenses in seconds—nothing more than a weak barrier for someone like me. But convincing them to accept my help? That’s the problem.
I couldn’t just walk up to their door and say, “Hey, I can heal you!” Could I?
I paused. The idea struck me like a bolt of lightning.
Maybe I could.
It was stupid. It was reckless. But it seemed oddly fitting. No elaborate schemes, no infiltration. Just me, walking up to their door, and doing what I was good at. Solving problems. It was so simple, so absurd, that it just might work.
A slow smirk tugged at my lips.
Fufu.
I stood up, stretching my arms above my head, trying to shake off the heaviness in my chest. "Alright," I muttered, more to myself than anything. "Let’s go save a life."
With a flick of my wrist, I opened my Celestial Inventory. The glowing interface blinked into existence, and I typed in the name.
Vimana.
A golden flash appeared in the air beside me, and the legendary flying craft materialized with a grace as the throne-like ship hovered effortlessly.
"Set destination—Heartfilia estate," I ordered, my voice distant.
The ship hummed to life, and with a pulse of light, we shot into the sky.
It didn’t take long before I arrived.
I hovered at the edge of the Heartfilia estate, looking at the sprawling property. Manicured gardens, pristine stone paths, a grand mansion that screamed money.
Even from here, I could feel the magic barriers around the estate. Not strong enough to keep me out, but enough to remind me that everything about this place was built to keep people with ill intentions away.
I shrugged it off. Strolled up to the grand double doors and knocked.
A moment later, the door cracked open just enough for a cautious maid to peer through. I saw the suspicion in her eyes—she didn’t know me, didn’t expect someone like me here.
Her eyes softened for just a second when she recognized me. At least that was something.
"I’d like to speak to Layla and Jude Heartfilia," I said, my voice flat. "It’s important."
She hesitated, fingers tightening around the doorframe. I could hear her thoughts—Who is this? Why is he here? The fear was palpable. She debated for a second, then nodded, stepping back. "Please wait here. I’ll inform Master Jude."
The door shut softly, and I stood there, alone with my thoughts.
Two minutes later, heavy footsteps echoed from inside. The door opened fully, revealing Jude Heartfilia. His gaze was sharp and cold, studying me with the kind of careful scrutiny that only someone who felt untouchable would give.
"Aiden Leonhart," he said, voice steady but wary.
I offered a relaxed smile, though it felt out of place on my face. "Hello there."
A long pause. Then, to my surprise, he stepped aside and gestured me in. "Please, come in."
I walked past him, taking in the lavish halls with a quick scan. Expensive paintings. Ornate chandeliers. Everything about it screamed wealth.
Jude led me into a sitting room, motioning for me to sit.
"I heard about your wife’s condition," I said, voice steady despite the whirlwind of thoughts in my mind. "I can heal her."
His expression cracked for a split second—just a flicker of disbelief before it was replaced by something more guarded. "Really?" he asked, barely above a whisper.
I nodded."Take me to her."
Jude hesitated but led me down the hall.
He opened the door to Layla’s room, and I stepped inside.
She lay against a pile of pillows, her once-glorious golden hair now dull, her skin pale and almost translucent.
Beside her sat a little girl. Lucy. Her wide brown eyes flickered to me—full of guarded curiosity, but also hope.
I’d seen this girl’s journey, her struggles, her resilience. She was the kind of person who never gave up, no matter how much the world tried to break her. She was one of my favorite characters to be honest
Layla’s gaze met mine. Despite her frailty, her eyes were sharp.
"And you are?" Her voice was soft, but it had strength behind it.
"Aiden Leonhart, from Fairy Tail," I said, keeping my voice neutral. There was no room for cockiness here, no room for the usual bravado.
A faint smile touched her lips. "I’d love to stand and greet you properly, but…" she gestured at herself.
Jude cleared his throat. "Mr. Aiden says he can heal you."
Layla’s eyes flickered with a mix of disbelief and something deeper—fear, maybe? But there was a spark of hope there too.
"I want to believe you," she said quietly. "But I’ve had the best doctors, the best mages. No one could help. I’ve already accepted my fate."
I smirked, though it was more out of habit than anything else. "Well, I’m not like other mages, Mrs. Heartfilia."
With a flick of my wrist, I summoned the vial—a shimmering golden liquid glowing in the dim room.
Jude’s gaze snapped to the vial, his fingers twitching. Layla’s reaction was just as immediate. Even Lucy leaned in, curious.
"This is an elixir," I explained. "It can heal anything—illness, disease, wounds. I’ve traveled far and wide to get it. I only have two left."
Layla narrowed her eyes, suspicion evident. "Why? What do you want in return?"
I could feel the weight of the question, but I didn’t flinch. "You deserve it," I said, keeping my tone steady. "I know what you did. I know you sacrificed your life for the Eclipse Gate."
Jude stiffened. "What?"
Layla’s mouth parted in shock. "How do you know—"
"Don’t ask," I cut in. "Just take it. It’s a reward."
I set the vial down, letting it glow faintly on the bedside table.
"You have weeks," I said quietly. "Maybe a month. Think about it. But don’t waste time."
Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked out.
What they did with that elixir?
None of my business.
At least it took my mind off things.
As soon as I stepped back into the guild, chaos greeted me. Natsu was challenging Gildarts again. Gildarts, in the middle of doting on Cana, didn’t even look before uppercutting him straight into the ceiling.
“Aiden!”
I turned at the sound of Kagura’s voice. She was standing there, looking up at me with that familiar, determined gaze. The girl who used to be so fragile—starving and alone—was now standing tall, but there was something different in her expression now. She wasn’t that scared little kid anymore.
“What’s up, Kagura?”
She hesitated for a moment, her hands clasped in front of her. Then, with a voice that held a certain seriousness, she spoke. “I want you to train me.”
I blinked, caught off guard. “Train you? You’re still nine. You can barely even hold a sword.”
“I know,” she said, not flinching. “But I want to learn. Also, I’m older now. I can handle it.”
I remember the conversation we had a few years ago. Back then, she was just a little girl, desperate to learn but too young.
“You’ve grown a lot since then,” I said quietly. “But you’re still a long way from being ready for the kind of training I do. It’s not something you just jump into. It’s tough.”
She looked up at me, eyes full of that same fire she’d had when we first met. “I know it’ll be hard. But I’m ready. I’ve been ready for a long time. I want to learn, Aiden. I want to be strong. Like you”
I let out a slow breath, seeing the sincerity in her words.
“Fine. I’ll train you,” I said, giving her a nod. “But don’t expect it to be easy. You’ll be pushing yourself harder than you think. Start tomorrow. My place. First light. Don’t be late.”
She smiled, a small but genuine grin, and gave me a respectful bow. “Thank you, Aiden. I won’t disappoint you.”
“You better not,” I said with a smirk. “I’ll be expecting a lot from you.”
She walked off, her steps lighter than before.
Another brat to train, what's one more.
