Kaia stood at the edge of the village square, staring down the long, dusty road leading out of Dallira. It was the kind of path that stretched on for miles, nothing but trees, a few scattered farms, and the occasional ratty sign to mark her way. If there was a more desolate route to take, she hadn't found it.
"Alright, Magnolia," she muttered, shifting her bag over her shoulder and adjusting her now-immaculate coat. "You're a big city, so I'm sure I'll find a way to get there. How hard can it be, right?"
[Everything is hard. This is Fiore.]
"Shut up, Styme. I don't need your negativity today."
The problem was, while Kaia had a general sense of where Magnolia was somewhere to the southeast, with lakes and a cathedral and an inconveniently large population she had no clue how to get there. Walking? Sure, she could, but she'd be dead by the time she hit the outskirts of the town. No, Kaia needed something faster, something that screamed adventurer without screaming "I'm going to collapse in the middle of nowhere."
Train. She needed a train.
She had heard of the railway that connected the surrounding towns and passed by places like Oshibana and Clover Town. The trains, at least, were a lot faster than walking and they didn't require her to fight off rabid swamp creatures every few miles. If she could find the nearest station, she'd be well on her way.
[Finding the station: a mission. The challenge: follow the tracks.]
Kaia raised an eyebrow at Styme's casual tone. "I know where the station is. I just need to ask someone."
Her search for information took longer than expected. It wasn't because she didn't ask the right people, but because everyone she asked seemed suspiciously concerned with her appearance. Apparently, walking around in a high-collared black coat with glowing magic sigils on your boots made you stand out. Who knew?
"I'm not that noticeable," she muttered to herself, trying to sidestep an elderly woman who looked at her like she had asked for directions to a haunted castle.
Kaia finally found a merchant who looked both sane and willing to talk to her. He was in the middle of setting up his cart when she approached him.
"Excuse me," she said with a smile, doing her best to look like someone who wasn't about to cause an accidental disaster. "Can you tell me how to get to the train station?"
The merchant glanced at her, eyed the glowing runes on her gloves, and sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"Fine. It's up the path, then turn left at the mill. From there, follow the signs. You'll find the station just past the old barn."
"Thanks!" Kaia called after him as he walked away.
The walk wasn't too bad, though she did end up accidentally bumping into a barrel full of fish at one point. Fish scales and small market items fell everywhere, causing a small commotion, and Kaia was this close to just abandoning the entire idea of using the station altogether.
She gritted her teeth, deciding to keep walking. She wasn't going to let some minor fish-related incident derail her journey. If she had to do one thing in life, it was to make sure that, no matter how many fish she ran into, she kept moving forward.
After what felt like a lifetime of navigating dirt roads and hearing villagers muttering about the "strange girl" in the black coat, she finally reached the train station. It was a small wooden structure with a sign above it, reading Dallira Train Station in bold letters. The station was bustling with activity: people were waiting in line for tickets, some were waving goodbye to family members, and others were too busy talking to notice Kaia sneaking her way past them.
She approached the ticket booth and smiled at the attendant.
"I'm heading to Magnolia. What's the best way to get there?"
The attendant, a man in his thirties with a scruffy beard and half-opened eyes, glanced up from his paperwork.
"Just hop on the next train. It's gonna be a direct route. We got plenty of stops, but Magnolia's at the end of the line. You can't miss it."
"Great," Kaia said, handing over her Jewels to pay for the ticket. "How long does it take?"
"About two days, give or take," the attendant said, pointing at a poster on the wall showing the train schedule. "Next train's in a few hours, so you better hurry if you wanna catch it."
After boarding the train, Kaia settled into a seat by the window. She could feel the soft hum of the train's engines vibrating beneath her, the gentle motion rocking her back and forth. She stared out the window at the rolling countryside of Fiore vast fields, scattered houses, and a few suspicious-looking trees that probably had more secrets than they were letting on.
[Two days to Magnolia. This will give you time to plan your next move.]
"I'm planning on not wrecking my next room, Styme. But thanks for the advice."
[I'm not sure you're capable of that. But we'll see.]
Kaia stretched out, leaning her head against the glass. She could almost feel the excitement building inside her. Magnolia. Fairy Tail.
A legendary guild. The place where magic thrived, where dreams came alive, and where, according to rumor, crazy things happened every other day.
She couldn't help but smile. She wasn't just a wandering girl anymore. She was heading for a destiny, or at least a place where the craziest people lived.
"Alright, let's do this," Kaia muttered to herself. "Magnolia, here I come."
The Next Day
Kaia woke up to the train rolling through a quiet, rural area. She stretched in her seat and rubbed her eyes. The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon. It was peaceful. A stark contrast to what she expected Magnolia to be like.
But she'd had enough of the quiet. The idea of sitting in the same spot for another entire day was making her feel restless. The train wasn't packed, but there were enough people that she felt the need to do something else.
She took out the Gear Voucher she'd received after her victory with the bandits. It still glowed faintly in her hand. She looked over it once more, reading the text that offered her the chance to buy moderate-quality enchanted items. But the question was, what would she get?
[You could get something useless. Or you could get something cool.]
She thought about it for a while. Cool definitely sounded better. The whole idea of getting an enchanted item excited her but would it be worth the Jewels?
She pulled out her notebook and began jotting down a list of potential purchases. Clothes? Gear? A weapon? Maybe a new hair accessory? She could use something a little flashier to match her new look.
[Get a cool outfit. You'll need it.]
"Right," Kaia said aloud, taking a deep breath. "It's decided. New outfit. It's time to look like I'm about to kick ass."
By the time they reached Magnolia, Kaia was buzzing with excitement. She had just enough time to glance out the window at the sprawling city as the train slowed to a stop. The buildings were taller here, more crowded, and everything had a certain elegance that screamed "this is where magic lives."
The first thing she noticed was the Kardia Cathedral a massive, awe-inspiring structure right in the heart of the city. People bustled through the streets, and the sounds of the marketplace filled the air. She was right where she needed to be.
As the train came to a complete stop, Kaia gathered her things and exited the train. She could feel the energy of the city all around her, like it was practically pulsing with potential.
"Well," she whispered to herself, a grin spreading across her face. "I'm here. Now the real fun begins."
**********
Hey, readers! It's time for a little interaction! Kaia's journey is just beginning, and we're diving into the romantic side of things!
So, here's a quick poll: Who do you think should be Kaia's love interest?
Choices:
Erza Scarlet
Mirajane Strauss
Kagura Mikazuchi
Cana Alberona
Other Suggestions? You can drop any other beloved Fairy Tail female characters in the comments if you have another one in mind!