The first thing I noticed when I stepped outside was the smell of the sea—salt and morning mist mixing in the crisp air. The second thing was the silence.
Not the peaceful kind. The heavy kind.
The shore was littered with footprints and discarded rags, remnants of the slaves' former lives. Now, they stood in clusters, talking in hushed voices, eyes darting between the open ocean and the unknown future ahead. The Tower of Heaven was gone, but that didn't mean the past had let them go.
Irene had already left. No note, no goodbye. Not that I expected one.
"Figured she'd bolt," I muttered to myself.
She wasn't the type to sit around and chat. Whether or not I got through to her last night… that was her problem now.
I rolled my shoulders, turning my attention to the crowd. Some were standing still, stiff as statues. Others fidgeted, like they didn't know what to do with their own freedom. A few kids clung to the adults, staring up at me like I was some mythical creature.
Rob was at the front, arms crossed, watching me with the patience of someone who'd seen too much already.
"They're ready," he said.
I let my gaze sweep over the group. Dozens of people, all with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Some looked hopeful. Others looked lost.
"Where are you headed?" I asked.
"The nearest town," Rob answered. "From there, they'll figure it out."
"Uh-huh." I exhaled through my nose. "And how many of you actually have a plan?"
Silence. A few exchanged uneasy glances. One guy cleared his throat but said nothing.
Exactly what I thought.
I ran a hand through my hair. "Yeah, that's not gonna work."
A woman near the middle hesitated before stepping forward. "Then… what do we do?"
I sighed. "Look, I get it. You've spent years being told where to go, what to do, when to eat, when to breathe. Now, suddenly, you're free, and nobody's telling you anything. That's terrifying." I gestured toward the ocean. "The world's huge, and none of you have a map. But that doesn't mean you have to walk blindly into it."
I raised my hand, and space distorted beside me, golden light bleeding into reality. A low hum filled the air as something massive materialized.
Avalon.
A sleek, futuristic airship, polished metal gleaming under the morning sun. Unlike the clunky, wind-powered ships most people knew, this was pure engineering perfection—advanced technology and magic seamlessly woven together.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Some of them stumbled back. A few of the kids clung tighter to the adults.
"Is that…?" One man's voice trailed off in disbelief.
"Yup," I said casually. "Welcome to Fairy Tail's personal airship. Avalon."
Rob let out a low chuckle. "Didn't know the guild had one of these."
"They didn't," I said. "I gave it to them."
A teenage boy, maybe sixteen, stared at me like I'd grown a second head. "You just… gave them an airship?"
I smirked. "I'm generous like that."
One of the younger kids, a girl with short dark hair, tugged on Rob's sleeve. "Are we really getting on that?"
Rob knelt beside her, his expression softer than I'd ever seen. "Yes, we are."
She bit her lip, looking back at Avalon. "It won't… disappear, will it?"
I arched a brow. "What, you think I'm some kind of illusionist? It's real, kid." I tapped my foot against the ship's metal ramp for emphasis. "Solid as it gets."
Still, they hesitated. I understood why. When you spend your whole life being promised things only to have them ripped away, you learn not to trust anything that seems too good.
I crossed my arms. "Look, nobody's forcing you. You can stay here and try your luck on foot. Or, you can get on the ship, let me take you somewhere safe, and start fresh. Your call."
Silence stretched. Then, one by one, they started moving, stepping onto the ramp with cautious steps. Some clutched each other's hands, like they still couldn't believe this was real.
A woman in her twenties stopped in front of me. "Why are you doing this?" she asked quietly. "You don't even know us."
I met her gaze. "Because I can."
She studied me for a second, then nodded and walked on board.
I turned to Rob. "You coming?"
He smiled. "Of course."
As the last of them boarded, I took one final glance at the empty shore. The past was behind them now. The future?
That was up to them.
I stepped onto Avalon and closed the ramp behind me.
The airship touched down just outside the port town, its engines letting out a soft hum as Avalon settled onto solid ground. From above, the town looked peaceful—white stone buildings clustered near the docks, the ocean stretching endlessly beyond. People bustled around, merchants shouting their wares, fishermen unloading their catch, and kids running barefoot through the streets. It was a stark contrast to where these people had come from.
The ramp lowered with a mechanical hiss, and the salty sea breeze rushed in. I turned to face them, hands on my hips. "Alright, folks, welcome back to civilization. The world hasn't changed too much while you were gone—still loud, still expensive, and still full of people who'll try to rip you off." I grinned. "So, you know, have fun with that."
A few of them chuckled, albeit nervously. Rob, standing near the front, gave me a tired look. "Aiden, this isn't the time for jokes."
"Rob, everything is the time for jokes," I shot back, tossing him a bag. He caught it with ease, though his brows furrowed.
"What's this?"
"Money," I said. "Enough for everyone to get a place to stay, food, maybe even a fresh set of clothes." I turned to the group. "You're free now. That means you get to decide what comes next. Some of you will want to stay here. Some will move on. But you won't be doing it empty-handed."
"Enough for you guys to get a fresh start. Find a place to stay, buy some food, maybe get clothes that don't scream 'I just escaped from a doomsday cult.'"
A few of them exchanged glances, hesitant. A burly guy with a thick beard scratched his head. "This is... a lot. We can't just take your money, kid."
"You can," I cut in. "And you will."
He looked at me, something between gratitude and disbelief in his expression.
"Look," I continued. "I don't do pity. This isn't charity. Think of it as… an investment. One day, you'll pay it forward to someone else. That's how this works."
Rob tightened his grip on the bag before turning to the others. "Alright, everyone. Let's not waste this opportunity."
The man swallowed hard, then nodded. Others followed, murmuring quiet thanks before stepping down into the town. One by one, they left the ship, some moving with purpose, others slower, as if afraid the world might reject them again.
There was a murmur of agreement, and slowly, the tension eased. People started stepping off the ship, some of them chatting quietly, others just taking in the sight of the bustling town.
Rob remained on the ramp, watching them disappear into the streets. "You didn't have to do that," he said.
I smirked. "I do a lot of things I don't have to do."
He chuckled. "Fair enough."
I turned back to the ship, where a smaller group remained. Erza, Jellal, Simon, Kagura, and a few others. They weren't ready to part ways yet. Or maybe they had nowhere else to go.
I met Rob's gaze. "You're still coming with me?"
He nodded. "I want to see my guild again."
"Good," I said, stepping onto the ramp. "Then let's go home. Before the old man starts yelling at me for being late"
With that, Avalon's doors closed, and we lifted off once more—heading straight for Fairy Tail.
Avalon cruised smoothly through the sky, the vast ocean stretching endlessly below us. The morning sun bathed the airship in golden light, and inside, a group of newly freed kids were experiencing their first taste of freedom.
And, of course, chaos followed.
"Stop pulling my hair, Kagura!" Simon yelped, twisting awkwardly as the tiny four-year-old clung to his back like a stubborn kitten.
"I'm not pulling it! I'm just holding on!" Kagura argued, her small hands gripping tight.
Simon groaned, but he didn't push her off. The guy had the patience of a saint.
Across the deck, Erza sat stiffly, watching the scene unfold with an unreadable expression. Jellal was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, still trying to act indifferent. Wally, Millianna, and Sho were scattered around, wide-eyed as they explored the ship.
"This ship is huge!" Wally shouted, leaning over the railing to look down. "It's even bigger than the Tower!"
"And there's food!" Millianna added, already munching on bread she'd found in the kitchen. "I didn't know bread could taste this good!"
"You've been eating plain slop for years. Anything tastes good after that," Jellal muttered.
I smirked, leaning against the wall. "Glad to see my ship is impressing you all."
Erza turned to me, brows furrowed. "Why do you even have a personal airship?"
"Because I can," I answered simply. "And because it's convenient."
"Seems excessive," Jellal mumbled, but I caught the way his eyes flicked around, taking everything in.
Rob chuckled, his old eyes twinkling. "Aiden has a habit of going all out."
"Hey, if you're gonna do something, might as well do it in style," I said with a shrug. "Anyway, since you're all heading to Fairy Tail, any second thoughts?"
They looked at me, some shifting uncertainly. Rob had already told them about Fairy Tail, but I wanted to hear it from them directly. They had spent years in chains, robbed of choice. Now, they finally had one.
Erza clenched her fists on her lap, her gaze steady. "I want to go. I want to be stronger, so I can protect the people I care about."
Simon nodded beside her. "If Erza's going, I'm going too."
"Meow! I wanna go too!" Millianna chirped, cheeks still stuffed with bread.
Wally shrugged. "Sounds fun."
Sho, who had been quiet, finally spoke. "As long as we're together, I don't care where we go."
I turned to Jellal, the only one who hadn't said anything. He was staring at the floor, lost in thought.
"Jellal?" I prompted.
He hesitated before looking up. "I don't know," he admitted. "Fairy Tail… it sounds nice, but…" He trailed off, struggling to put his feelings into words.
"You don't have to decide now," I said. "Just know that you're welcome there."
He didn't respond, but he didn't shut the idea down either. Progress.
I clapped my hands. "Alright then, since you're coming to Fairy Tail, let me lay down some ground rules."
The kids straightened up, listening closely.
"Rule number one: Try not to destroy the guildhall."
Sho immediately looked guilty. "Uh… how often does that happen?"
"More than you'd think," Rob sighed.
"Rule number two: If you see an old man with a kind smile and a lot of energy, that's Makarov, the Guild Master. Be respectful—he's the one who runs things."
Millianna giggled. "He sounds nice!"
"He is," I said. "Just don't call him short."
Simon blinked. "Why?"
I grinned. "You'll find out."
"Rule number three: If you see a blond kid who looks like he woke up on the wrong side of the bed every morning, that's Laxus. He's grumpy, but he's not a bad guy. Just let him sulk in peace."
"Who's Laxus?" Erza asked.
"My little brother," I said casually.
"You have a brother?"
"Not by blood, but close enough."
Erza and the others shared a look but didn't press further.
The conversation shifted, and soon, the tension melted away. Sho and Wally started poking around the ship, pressing buttons they shouldn't be touching. Millianna found a pile of pillows and started throwing them at people, which quickly turned into an all-out pillow war.
At some point, Kagura climbed onto my lap and declared, "You're my chair now."
I raised an eyebrow. "I don't remember agreeing to this."
"You're warm," she said simply before curling up and dozing off.
Simon gave me a helpless look. "She does that."
I sighed, adjusting so she wouldn't slip. "Fine. Just don't drool on me, kid."
The atmosphere was light. For the first time in a long while, these kids weren't prisoners. They weren't victims. They were just kids, laughing and playing without a care in the world.
Rob watched them with a small smile. "You did a good thing, Aiden."
I shrugged. "I just did what needed to be done."
Rob nodded, eyes filled with warmth. "Still, thank you."
I didn't respond. I didn't need to.
As Avalon continued soaring toward Fairy Tail, I leaned back, letting the moment sink in.
—
The ship was quiet. Most of the kids had finally worn themselves out and were either asleep or curled up somewhere, lost in their own thoughts. Even Kagura, who had stubbornly refused to sleep earlier, had eventually dozed off again—this time on Simon's lap.
I stood on the deck, leaning against the railing, letting the cold night air clear my head. The gentle hum of Avalon's engine was the only real sound, a steady reminder that we were still moving forward.
I wasn't alone for long.
"You're still awake?"
I glanced to my side, finding Jellal standing a few feet away, arms crossed. His blue hair was tousled from the wind, his face shadowed by the dim light of the stars.
"So are you," I pointed out.
Jellal huffed, walking up beside me. He didn't say anything at first, just stared out at the horizon like it held all the answers he was looking for. I let him have his silence.
Eventually, he sighed. "I don't get you."
I smirked. "That's fair. Most people don't."
Jellal turned to me, frowning. "You did all this… saved us, gave us a way out, gave us food, shelter, a future." He shook his head. "Why?"
I let the question hang in the air for a moment before answering. "Because I could."
He scoffed. "That's not an answer."
"It's the truth," I said. "I had the power to help, so I did. That's all there is to it."
Jellal looked at me like he wanted to argue, but he didn't. Instead, he let out another sigh and rested his arms on the railing.
"Fairy Tail, huh?" he muttered. "Do you really think it's the right place for us?"
"I do," I said without hesitation. "Fairy Tail isn't just a guild—it's a family. A loud, sometimes reckless, but always loyal family. You won't just be joining some organization. You'll be gaining people who will have your back, no matter what."
Jellal looked skeptical. "Sounds too good to be true."
I laughed. "Oh, don't get me wrong. It's chaotic as hell. Fights break out almost daily, people argue over the dumbest things, and property damage is practically a tradition."
Jellal raised an eyebrow. "That's supposed to make me want to go?"
"I'm just saying it's not perfect," I admitted. "But it's home."
Jellal fell silent again, his expression unreadable.
After a while, I spoke again. "You're still unsure."
He clenched his fists. "I… I just don't know if I belong there."
I studied him for a moment. "You're afraid."
His jaw tightened, but he didn't deny it.
"You've been in a cage for so long," I continued. "Now that the doors are open, you don't know where to go."
Jellal turned his head away. "Maybe."
I sighed, ruffling my hair. "Listen, you don't have to make a decision right now. No one's forcing you to join. But if you want a place where you can figure things out, Fairy Tail is a good start."
He didn't answer. But the way his grip on the railing loosened told me he was at least considering it.
We stood there in silence for a while, just watching the stars.
Then, quietly, Jellal spoke. "Thanks… for everything."
I smiled. "Don't mention it."
And for the first time since we met, Jellal actually looked at peace.
The night stretched on, quiet and calm. After my conversation with Jellal, I figured I'd head to my room, maybe get some rest before morning. But as I made my way across the deck, I spotted a familiar figure sitting on one of the crates near the ship's edge.
Rob.
I found him sitting near the edge of the deck, his back against a crate, a cup of tea in his hands. His gaze was fixed on the stars, the soft glow of the ship's lights reflecting off his weathered face. There was something peaceful about the way he sat there—like a man who had spent a lifetime chasing burdens and had finally found a moment to rest.
I walked over and sat down next to him, stretching out my legs.
"Thought you'd be asleep by now," I said.
Rob chuckled, not taking his eyes off the sky. "Sleep and I have an understanding. It comes when it wants, and I don't chase after it." He took a slow sip from his cup. "What about you? Too much on your mind?"
I exhaled, resting my arms on my knees. "Something like that."
The silence between us was comfortable, neither of us feeling the need to fill it. I had grown to respect Rob—not just as an elder but as someone who had lived through more than most. He carried his past with him, but he didn't let it weigh him down.
After a while, he finally spoke again. "You did a good thing, Aiden. Those children… you saved them."
I shrugged. "I just did what anyone would've done."
Rob gave me a knowing smile. "No, Aiden. You did what you would do. That's different."
I didn't argue with him.
He turned his gaze to me then, his expression softer. "And do you think Fairy Tail is the right place for them?"
I smirked. "It's the best damn place in the world."
Rob chuckled. "I suppose it is."
We sat there for a while, just listening to the hum of the ship. Then he spoke again, his voice quieter this time.
"You remind me of Mavis, you know."
That caught me off guard. I turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "Mavis? The first Guild Master?"
He nodded. "She had that same unwavering belief in doing what was right. That same reckless kindness. She never hesitated when it came to protecting others, even when it put her in danger."
I huffed. "Sounds like a hassle."
Rob chuckled. "Perhaps. But the world is better for it."
I didn't have an answer for that, so I let the silence stretch between us again.
After a while, I glanced at him. "What about you? What's next?"
Rob smiled. "Fairy Tail, of course. If they'll have an old man like me."
I smirked. "Makarov would be crazy to say no."
He laughed softly. "Yes… it'll be good to be home again."
His voice carried something deeper than nostalgia—something heavier.
I understood that feeling well.
"Yeah," I murmured. "It will."
And for the rest of the night, we sat there in silence, two people looking up at the stars, letting the quiet speak for us.
After talking to Rob, I stayed on the deck for a while, letting the cool night air wash over me. The Avalon hummed gently as it sailed through the sky, the stars above looking close enough to touch.
Most of the passengers were asleep, but I never really needed much rest. Not with my body the way it was.
That's when I felt a familiar presence in my mind.
"You're unusually quiet tonight, Aiden."
I smirked. "Didn't realize I needed to keep up a conversation with myself just to entertain you."
NIMO's voice carried a hint of amusement. "I don't require entertainment, but you usually have something to say. Either that or you're annoying someone else with your antics."
"Touché." I leaned back against the railing, watching the clouds drift below. "Just thinking."
"About?"
I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. "Everything, really. The kids. Rob. The guild. What happens next."
"That's a lot for one person to carry."
I scoffed. "Please, you've seen my inventory. I can carry a lot more than that."
NIMO didn't respond right away, which meant he was trying to be 'thoughtful.'
"You joke, but I know you, Aiden. You take on responsibilities like they're yours alone to bear. You fix things, you protect people, and you never stop moving. But have you ever asked yourself why?"
I frowned, staring at the horizon. "Because I can."
"That's not an answer."
I sighed. "It's the only one that matters."
"Is it?"
I rolled my eyes. "Great, now my Omnitool is giving me a therapy session."
"You act like I haven't been doing that since the day we met."
I huffed a laugh. "Fair point."
Silence stretched between us for a moment.
Then, in a quieter tone, NIMO said, "You did a good thing today, Aiden. No matter what comes next, they're free because of you."
I closed my eyes for a second, letting that sink in. "Yeah… I know."
And for once, I let myself believe it.
----
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