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[FT: O King of the Fairies] Chapter 64
🕑 Added 2025-04-05 12:54:46 +0000 UTCLet me start by saying this wasn’t my idea. If I had a jewel for every time someone said, “Aiden, take the kids on a mission, it’ll be good for them,” I could buy an island and disappear.
Makarov hit me with the classic you’re so good with the younger members line.
Translation? “Please chaperone our murder-happy kids before they raze the guild.”
So now here I was, stuck in the middle of Fiore’s Least Scenic Forest with four miniature disasters-in-progress.
Fifteen-year-old Laxus was a walking storm cloud of teen angst and superiority complex. The kind of kid who scowled like it was cardio and thought subtlety was a myth.
Then there was Erza. Eleven years old and already moving like she was planning for a boss fight. Her sword? Longer than she was tall. Her attitude? Somehow more aggressive. I was terrified and also a little proud.
Jellal barely talked, always watching with those sharp eyes like he was analyzing how to kill you with a spoon. Quiet, polite, and probably already smarter than me. Honestly, I respected it.
And Simon ? Oh, Simon was that chaotic little cousin who somehow knew exactly which buttons to press and when. If he wasn’t blowing something up, he was planning to blow something up. I could feel it.
“Are we there yet?” Simon asked for the third time in ten minutes.
“No,” I replied flatly.
“Are we closer than the last time I asked?”
“Technically, yes. Emotionally, I’m a thousand miles away.”
Laxus rolled his eyes again. I was beginning to think it was a permanent condition. “Why are we walking? I could’ve flown there in half the time.”
“Because,” I said, “you can’t just electrocute everything in your path and call it a win. This mission needs teamwork.”
He scoffed. “Teamwork is overrated.”
Erza stopped mid-step. “Say that again. I dare you.”
Laxus raised a brow. “Oh? And what are you gonna do, Red?”
She slowly turned toward him with that smile. The scary one. “Train with me later. You’ll find out.”
Jellal, without looking up, muttered, “Laxus, don’t. She bench-pressed a horse last week.”
Laxus blinked. “...What?”
“She named it Kevin,” I added helpfully.
After an hour of bickering, we finally arrived at the lake. The villagers had been freaking out over some kind of “monster” in the water, but all I could see was a calm, glassy lake surrounded by mist. It was serene. Too serene.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
“I’ll scout ahead,” I said, stepping toward the shore.
“You’re the leader, boss,” Laxus grumbled. “Just don’t go getting eaten.”
“I’ll try not to,” I muttered, scanning the water for any signs of movement. “Stay on your toes.”
Erza was already prepping her sword, swinging it around like she was about to face down a dragon. “If it’s a fight it wants, then it’s a fight it’ll get!”
Jellal, meanwhile, was adjusting his glasses and holding a scroll. “I don’t believe in unnecessary violence. We should attempt a peaceful resolution first.”
Simon, not to be left out, was already sitting by the edge of the lake, quietly fishing with a stick, no bait, and somehow managing to look completely at ease.
“I’m just saying,” Laxus muttered, “I’ve got lightning, and I’m not afraid to use it.”
Before I could respond, the water in the center of the lake began to bubble. Something large shifted beneath the surface, and then a strange, translucent creature rose slowly out of the water.
It was… not a monster.
More like a blob with big, sad eyes and arms that looked like wet noodles.
“Boo?” it said, its voice as weak as a dying breeze.
Erza froze, sword still raised. “This is the monster?”
“I didn’t think it’d be so… adorable,” Simon whispered, still poking the water with his stick. The blob made a little “blorp” sound when it touched the stick, which somehow only made it more adorable.
Laxus looked furious. “What the hell is this?! I thought it was supposed to be a lake monster!”
Jellal cleared his throat, holding up his scroll. “Technically, it is a monster. It’s just… not the kind of monster we were expecting.”
I stepped forward cautiously, squatting down to get closer to the blob. “Hey there, what’s your deal?”
The creature blinked at me with big, wet eyes. “I’m Horpi. I just… wanted some friends.”
There was a long pause as the group processed this.
“Wait, hold up,” I said, “you’ve been scaring villagers for… friends?”
Horpi nodded. “I didn’t mean to scare anyone! I just get lonely. And I made these friendship boats to send messages, but they kept floating away…”
Laxus scoffed. “So you were literally sending friendship boats out into the lake and people thought you were a monster?”
Erza looked torn between pity and confusion. “But why not just ask for help?”
Horpi looked down. “I don’t know how to talk to people… I’m not very good at it…”
I sighed, rubbing my temples. “Alright, listen. Maybe you should stop scaring people with your creepy wailing at night, alright? And the whole ‘haunting boats’ thing? Maybe keep that to yourself.”
Horpi looked up at me with watery eyes. “So, you’ll be my friend?”
I nodded. “Yeah, kid. We’ll be your friends. But you gotta stop scaring everyone first.”
Laxus crossed his arms. “I’m not hugging it.”
We made our way back to the village, Horpi still splashing around happily in the lake. The blob seemed genuinely pleased with the idea of having friends, and honestly, I was starting to warm up to it myself. As we approached the village, the group of nervous villagers who’d been watching from the outskirts immediately noticed us.
One of them, a burly man with a thick mustache, approached us first, his eyes darting nervously to the lake. “Did you… did you get rid of it? The monster?”
I couldn’t help but smirk. “Well, about that…”
Before I could finish, a huge splash echoed from the lake. Horpi popped its head out, water dripping everywhere, looking so proud of itself. “Hi, villagers! I’m Horpi! I made new friends!” It waved its noodle-like arms enthusiastically.
The villagers froze. Silence. Absolute silence.
Then, the burly man blinked, looked at us, and then back at Horpi. “That’s… that’s the monster?”
I gave a casual shrug. “Yep. Apparently, it just wanted some friends.”
Horpi gave a little happy wiggle, making a soft "blorp" sound. “Friends are fun! I’m really good at boat-making!”
Laxus, arms still crossed, couldn’t hide his irritation. “This thing? This adorable blob is what you were all freaked out about?”
The burly man looked between Laxus and Horpi. “But… it’s got eyes… and arms…”
Erza, with a grin that was part amused, part condescending, looked down at the man. “Yeah, and you thought it was some sort of terrifying monster, huh?”
The villager scratched his head, his eyes still wide. “Well, we thought it was, uh... you know, dangerous. It was wailing at night, and the boats…”
“Yeah, that was me,” Horpi piped up, “but I didn’t mean to scare anyone! I just wanted someone to play with.”
The villagers’ skepticism slowly started to wane as they saw the blob’s earnestness. One of the women, an older lady with a shawl, stepped forward. “Well, I’ll be. I’ve never seen a lake monster that cute in my life.”
“I told you,” Simon said matter-of-factly, “this isn’t a monster. It’s just lonely.”
“I just want friends!” Horpi repeated, flapping its arms like an excited puppy. “I’ll help out! I can make boats, and I’ll never scare you again! Promise!”
The villagers began to murmur amongst themselves. One by one, they started to approach the edge of the water, tentative but curious.
“So…” the burly man began, “how do we make sure it won’t... you know... send any more creepy messages?”
“Well,” I said, stepping forward with a sigh, “Horpi’s going to stick around, but we’re going to teach it how to be a better communicator. No more spooky wailing in the middle of the night.”
“I can talk to you now!” Horpi said, looking up with hope in its eyes. “We’ll make boats together! I can even make some for you to send messages with!”
The villagers slowly began to approach the shore, and Horpi shyly waved its noodle-like arms in greeting.
"Alright, alright," one of the older men said with a nervous chuckle. "Maybe it’s not as bad as we thought." He crouched down, offering a hand. “What’s your name again, little one?”
“I’m Horpi! I promise I won’t bite!” Horpi said, now happily hopping toward him.
I exchanged a look with Laxus, who was still glaring at the lake, arms folded. “See? No need for violence. Everyone’s learning.”
Laxus snorted. “Not everyone.” He shot a look at Erza, who was already pulling out a training schedule.
“I’m starting the ‘Friendship Boot Camp’ at noon,” Erza declared. “Horpi will need to build its strength. And maybe some discipline. I’m thinking a 5-minute drill on how to stop people from freaking out would be a good start.”
Simon grinned. “I’ll give Horpi fishing lessons. It’ll be a good start.”
Jellal adjusted his glasses, now stepping forward to add his two cents. “Perhaps we should first focus on helping it communicate better, especially with the villagers. A peaceful integration into the community would be preferable.”
“Jellal’s right,” I said. “We’ll ease it in. No need to rush the friendship lessons.” I turned to the villagers. “I know you’ve all been scared, but Horpi just needed a little guidance. I’ll leave it in your capable hands now. Don’t worry, it’s harmless.”
The older woman with the shawl nodded, still eyeing Horpi suspiciously but clearly softening. “I suppose it could help out around here, especially if it’s good at making boats. There’s been a lot of flooding lately, so we could use some extra hands—or… arms.”
“I’ll make good boats!” Horpi shouted, already trying to mold some of the nearby twigs into what could best be described as a "boat" by its standards, which looked more like a canoe shaped by a very enthusiastic child.
The villagers collectively watched the blob’s attempt, then glanced back at me, one by one.
“Well, looks like we’re gonna need some serious lessons in boat-making,” the burly man said, crossing his arms.
“Don’t worry,” I said, turning to the group, “Horpi’s got this. And you’ve got us to help make sure it learns how to be a good friend.”
Laxus muttered, “I’d be more helpful if I could just zap it into submission.”
“Laxus!” Erza scolded. “No! That’s not how we do things here!”
“I’m just saying,” Laxus grumbled under his breath, “if the boats sink, I’ve got backup.”
“Well, it’s not all about boats, you know,” I said, grinning. “Horpi’s going to be a great friend and a valuable part of this village. Let’s give it a chance.”
With a final, awkward silence, the villagers nodded, and one of them—this time the older lady—started cautiously clapping her hands. “Alright, Horpi. Let’s see if those boats float, eh?”
The blob gave another enthusiastic wiggle and splashed back into the water, determined to prove itself.
As we turned to leave, I could hear the villagers beginning to mingle with Horpi, tentatively at first but soon with more warmth. And honestly? It didn’t seem so bad after all. The village was on its way to having one very unusual, very enthusiastic friend.
"Well," I said, feeling a little proud of the outcome, "mission accomplished. And hey, no one got electrocuted or eaten by a giant lake monster.”
“Yet,” Laxus muttered, still glaring at the water.
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, yeah, keep dreaming, Laxus.”
Then suddenly a sudden, sharp crack sounds through the air. Everyone stops in their tracks.
From the far side of the lake, a massive shape breaches the surface—twice the size of Horpi. It’s another blob, but this one looks different. It’s darker, its eyes gleaming with an unsettling, predatory glint. The water around it begins to churn violently, sending splashes of water everywhere.
Horpi, who had been happily showing off its boats, freezes, its expression turning to one of dread. “S-s-sis...” it stammers weakly.
“Horpi,” I say, narrowing my eyes. “What’s going on?”
Horpi hesitates, then looks down. “That’s... my sibling. They’re... they’re not nice.”
The large creature rises fully out of the water, revealing its true form—a grotesque, monstrous version of Horpi, with sharp, jagged limbs and eyes that glow ominously. It lets out a low, rumbling growl that echoes across the lake, sending ripples through the water and tension through the air.
Laxus steps forward, his arms crackling with energy. “I knew it was too good to be true. Looks like Horpi wasn’t the only one who wanted friends.”
The creature speaks in a gravelly, deep voice, its tone mocking and menacing. “Did you think I would let you have all the fun, little brother? No one gets friends unless I say so.”
Horpi backs away from the monstrous version of itself, clearly terrified. “No! I just wanted to make friends! I didn’t want to hurt anyone…”
This new blob looks at the group with contempt. “Your little friends will never understand you, Horpi. You’ll always be alone.”
The tension between the creatures and the group rises, and suddenly, everything becomes clear—the so-called "monster" was never just one creature, but two. And the village, which had thought it was rid of its problem, is now facing an even greater threat: a sibling of Horpi that might be far more dangerous.
“Looks like we’re not done yet,” I mutter, preparing for the inevitable showdown.
As the towering figure of the monstrous sibling of Horpi looms over the village, the air thickens with tension. Laxus cracks his knuckles, Erza draws her sword, and Jellal steps forward, his expression set in determination. But I stay still, watching from a distance, my arms crossed.
Laxus stood at the forefront, his muscles tense, eyes locked on Horpi’s sister. The air crackled around him, charged with raw energy.
"Stay back," Laxus growled. "This one's mine."
He surged forward, lightning dancing across his body as he launched himself at her. His fist slammed into the ground, sending a shockwave of electricity through the air.
But she barely flinched. With a flick of her hand, the dark aura around her expanded, blocking the blast and sending a wave of dark energy toward Laxus. He dodged, rolling to the side, sparks flying from his fingertips.
“I’m not done yet!” Laxus shouted, grinning.
He raised his hands, summoning a fierce lightning storm that cracked across the sky. Bolts of lightning shot at her, but the dark energy surrounding her absorbed the strikes with an unsettling calm.
Meanwhile, Jellal, despite his youth, had already begun to focus his magic. He raised his hand to the sky, attempting to call down a fragment of celestial power. The weak glow of Heavenly Body Magic flickered around him, but it was enough to push back some of the dark energy surrounding Horpi’s sister. He winced, sweat trickling down his face as he struggled to maintain control.
“I... I can do this...” Jellal muttered to himself, trying to focus through the haze of power and pain.
Erza, still unarmed but fueled by determination, dashed in close, using her agility to avoid the blasts of dark energy. She aimed a series of quick, precise strikes at the sister, hoping to find an opening, but the creature deflected each blow effortlessly.
Simon, standing a bit further back, clenched his fist. Shadows twisted around him, feeding off his Darkness Magic as he cast tendrils of shadow to lash at the sister. The tendrils wrapped around her limbs, attempting to bind her in place, but the dark energy surrounding her seemed to absorb the magic, rendering it useless.
“You’re stronger than I thought,” Simon grunted, eyes narrowing.
Horpi’s sister snarled, snapping her tentacles forward. A wave of shadow shot out, slamming into Simon’s chest and knocking him back several feet. He hit the ground hard but quickly rolled to his feet, determination in his eyes.
“We can’t let up!” Erza shouted, darting forward once again, but her strikes were blocked by a sudden surge of dark energy, pushing her back.
Laxus gritted his teeth. “She’s too strong...!”
The dark magic swirled, intensifying as Horpi’s sister raised a tentacle, summoning a vortex of darkness. The ground cracked, and the air turned heavy, making it hard for the group to move.
“I told you,” she hissed, “you’re nothing compared to the power I command.”
With a single motion, she unleashed a massive burst of energy, knocking all four of them off their feet. They hit the ground hard, groaning in pain.
Laxus struggled to rise, his body still crackling with electricity, but even his power couldn’t break through the overwhelming pressure. He glanced at the others, seeing that they, too, were battered and struggling.
“She’s too much for us right now,” Laxus said, his voice strained. “We can’t win this.”
Horpi’s sister loomed over them, her eyes glowing with malicious satisfaction. “This was never a fight you could win.”
Laxus, Jellal, Erza, and Simon—were struggling. Despite their effort, they were clearly outmatched. Sweat covered their faces, their bodies battered and bruised. But they kept pushing, fighting with everything they had.
They weren't enough, not yet.
“Enough.”
I focused on the group. "You’ve done enough. Rest."
Laxus’s eyes flared with defiance, but he staggered slightly on his feet. His body was on the edge, as was everyone else’s. They’d pushed themselves beyond the limit, but they hadn’t quite broken through yet.
But they would. Just not today.
I felt the surge of power inside me. Laevatein, the sword forged from the very calamity of the sun, pulsed in response. I reached for it, feeling the blade materialize beside me, its energy crackling like an electrical storm ready to be unleashed.
Horpi’s sister snarled, her eyes narrowing with rage. “You think you can stop me?” she hissed, voice laced with venom.
I didn’t respond with words. Instead, I raised Laevatein, the sword’s radiant light flaring to life, filling the air with heat and power. Her dark energy flared in response, but I didn’t flinch.
Her hand lashed out first, sending a blast of shadow toward me. I could feel the pure malice in the strike—this wasn’t just power, it was a twisted desire to destroy. The ground cracked beneath the impact, but I was already moving.
I swung the sword forward in a clean, horizontal arc. Laevatein's blade cut through the air with the brilliance of a solar flare, clashing against her attack with a burst of radiant light. The explosion of energy sent shockwaves rippling outward, but I didn’t stop.
I pressed forward.
Horpi’s sister recoiled, visibly shaken, but it wasn’t enough. She gathered herself quickly, her dark aura intensifying, and she charged at me with ferocity. She swung a fist, releasing tendrils of shadow that twisted and coiled through the air, aiming to ensnare me.
I danced around her strikes with fluid movements, Laevatein slicing through her shadow tendrils like they were nothing. Each strike brought me closer, until I was within range.
“Enough of this,” I muttered, my voice steely.
With a single, powerful strike, I swung Laevatein downwards. The sword flared brighter than ever, the light blinding. The force of the blow landed directly on Horpi’s sister’s chest, sending a shockwave of light erupting from her form.
She screamed, the sound deafening as the energy of the sword began to overpower her. Her dark form crumbled under the intensity of Laevatein’s light, the power of the sun itself bearing down on her.
She fought back, thrashing wildly, but it was futile. The radiant energy enveloped her completely, crushing her resistance. Her shadowy tendrils shriveled and burned away, her form weakening with every passing second.
A final strike—one last push of power—and her form collapsed to the ground, her dark energy dissipating like smoke on the wind.
The battlefield fell silent.
Horpi’s sister, once brimming with uncontrolled darkness, now lay defeated. I stood over her, breathing heavily, watching as the last remnants of her power faded into the air.
Laxus, Jellal, Erza, and Simon slowly returned to their feet, eyes wide with disbelief. They had seen the power I wielded, felt the overwhelming pressure of Laevatein, but they couldn’t truly grasp it until now. They were still learning.
I turned my attention back to the defeated figure of Horpi’s sister as I unsummoned Laevatein, and let out a long sigh. “Well, that’s one way to solve a problem, I suppose.”
Laxus walked up beside me, his usual cocky grin replaced by something more thoughtful. “You really don’t hold back, do you?”
I chuckled, looking down at the fallen figure of Horpi’s sister. “When it’s necessary, no. But you know, sometimes it’s nice to have a little fun, too.”
From the edge of the battlefield, Horpi stepped forward, his eyes wide as he looked at his sister. He seemed torn between concern and awe, his usual childlike demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos that had just unfolded. “Is she... okay?” he asked hesitantly, glancing up at me.
I gave him a playful smile and patted his body. “She’ll be fine. Just a little nap, and she’ll wake up with a much better attitude. Trust me, I’ve seen worse.”
Horpi’s eyes brightened, and he gave a relieved grin. You’re the best, Aiden!”
I shook my head, laughing softly. “Yeah, yeah. Just remember, I’m not always around to solve your problems, kiddo. But next time, let’s try to avoid the whole ‘battle’ thing, alright?”
Horpi nodded vigorously, still wearing that innocent smile. “I’ll try, I promise!”
The group slowly gathered around, all of them looking at Horpi as if they’d just encountered something far more complex than they could have ever expected. Erza gave me a small, approving nod, while Simon smirked.
“Well, it looks like you managed to make peace with a monster in one go,” Simon teased.
I shrugged, tapping my chest. “It’s all part of the package deal.”
Laxus shook his head with a smirk. “You really make this look easy.”
“Easy? Nah,” I replied, winking. “Just a bit of fun with some fireworks thrown in.”
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the tension in the air finally melted away, replaced by the lighthearted atmosphere of the ground.
