Mirajane walked slowly into the room, her footsteps echoing in the silent air. It had been over ten years since anyone had entered, and the thick layer of dust seemed to envelop everything. Yet for Mirajane, every inch of the room was filled with precious memories.
"Hold Mina for me..." she requested softly, her voice tender as she approached the small bed at the end of the room.
Ken nodded and gently took the baby from her arms, settling her in a comfortable position. Mirajane lowered her gaze and reached under the bed, her hand brushing away the dust to pull out a square wooden box. She carefully wiped it off and slowly opened it.
Inside was an old, yellowed photograph, perfectly preserved within the wooden box. The photo was a cherished relic, protected from the ravages of time.
Ken glanced at the photo and saw the three faces of Mirajane, Elfman, and Lisanna as children. Their smiles were innocent, their joy unmistakable. Even though the photo had aged, it still radiated the pure happiness of those early years.
"It's been more than ten years..." Mirajane whispered, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "On the second night after we left the village, I realized I didn't take this photo with me. The next night, I snuck back to get it without telling Lisanna or Elfman. But I was kicked out by the villagers. The photo... it was left behind until now."
Ken remained silent, not wanting to interrupt her train of thought. He could see the pain in her eyes, the sorrow of memories long past. But there was something different this time. As Mirajane gazed at the photo, a soft smile began to form on her lips. She wasn't crying anymore, not because she no longer missed Lisanna, but because something—or rather, someone—was now filling the void.
Mirajane glanced down at Mina, who cooed softly in her arms. "Let that child stay with you for a while, Mira," Ken said gently. "I'll bring Lisanna back soon... I promise."
Back in Magnolia, Fairy Tail Guild:
The strain of using Satan's Soul magic had drained Mirajane, and as they landed at the guild entrance, her usual warm smile was a little more subdued, her face pale from exhaustion.
Ken, noticing her condition, suggested, "How about I hold Mina for a bit?"
Mirajane shook her head with a soft smile. "I'll hold her, Ken. You go open the door."
Ken smiled wryly. Ever since they left Gruk Village, Mirajane had grown particularly fond of Mina, never letting her out of her sight. It was clear to Ken that the bond between them was already strong.
With a resigned sigh, Ken stepped forward and kicked open the guild door. It was a moment that felt oddly familiar—if only for the sheer force of it.
"We're back... Hey? Master? What are you doing?"
Inside the guild, Makarov, looking somewhat disheveled, was surrounded by a flurry of activity. Several guild members were shouting demands at him, each more impatient than the last.
"Master, where's my beer?!" one of the guild members yelled.
"Coming right up, coming right up!" Makarov answered, exasperated.
"Master, I'm starving! Where's my lunch?" another voice called.
"It's almost ready! Just give me a moment!" Makarov replied, his patience running thin.
"Hey, Master, what about my order? I've been waiting forever!" a frustrated voice rang out.
Makarov, now clearly overwhelmed, sank to his knees by the door, trying to catch a much-needed break.
That was when Ken barged in.
"Bang!!"
The door swung open with a loud crash, and Makarov, who had been resting beside it, was knocked over, crashing onto the floor in a rather undignified manner.
"Hey? Master, what are you doing?" Ken asked in concern, his eyes widening at the sight of Makarov sprawled on the floor.
Makarov groaned, ready to unleash his fury on Ken, when his gaze landed on Mirajane, who had just entered behind him.
His expression softened instantly, as though seeing a long-lost friend.
"M... Mira?" Makarov's voice cracked with relief.
The guild fell silent in an instant. Every eye turned to look at Mirajane, whose presence seemed to light up the room.
Mirajane took a few steps forward, then bowed deeply, her face full of apologies. "I'm sorry for worrying everyone. Ken and I were out on an urgent mission, but I'm back now. From now on, I'll be taking care of the guild's work again."
For a few moments, there was a hushed silence. Then, as if on cue, the guild erupted in cheers.
"Mira's back!!"
"It's amazing! No more of the Master's cooking!"
"Mira, please never disappear again!"
Mirajane smiled warmly, her heart full at the sight of her guildmates' enthusiasm. But then, one of them noticed something unusual.
"Wait... what's that in your arms?"
Mirajane, still holding the baby carefully in her arms, leaned down and smiled. "Oh, this is Mina," she said softly. "From now on, she'll be part of our family."
Makarov, still in shock, finally took a closer look at the baby. Mina, wrapped snugly in her swaddling clothes, smiled up at him with innocent curiosity.
Ken, noticing the sudden shift in atmosphere, quickly tried to explain. "We found her during our mission. She's a child from Gruk Village. Her story is..." he began.
But before he could explain further, the guild erupted once again, this time in laughter and teasing.
"Ken!? You're moving fast!"
"Wow, Ken, didn't know you had it in you! How long has this been going on?"
"You picked up Mira's baby!? What a smooth move!"
Ken, caught off guard by the sudden attention, scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "It's not like that!" he protested. "She's not—"
Mirajane, meanwhile, was already swaddling Mina comfortably and teasingly responding to the remarks. "Her name is Mina. And from now on, she'll be one of us. I'm so happy to have her."
The guild members quickly shifted from playful teasing to a genuine warmth, welcoming Mina into the fold. One by one, they promised to help take care of the child, offering their support without hesitation.
A few moments later, after the laughter had subsided, Ken turned to Makarov, his curiosity piqued.
"By the way, Master, has Erza and the others returned from their mission yet?"
Makarov shrugged, looking a little tired. "Erza and the others came back the same day you left... but they've already gone off again."
Ken frowned. "Back out on another mission?"
"Not exactly," Makarov replied, scratching his head. "They're joining up with some other guilds to form a coalition to take down the Oración Seis of the Dark Guild."
(Next Chapter: Tensions Rise)