Chapter 8 – Our Home
After the party with the guild members, Arthur approached Makarov with Erza beside him. His expression was serious, his posture firm. "Master," Arthur said, "there's something I need to tell you in private."
Makarov noticed the seriousness in Arthur's voice and expression. He gave a small nod and gestured for them to follow. "Alright," he said. "Let's go to my office."
They walked through the hallways of the Fairy Tail building, the sounds of laughter and celebration still faint in the distance. Even though the party had already ended earlier in the afternoon, the energy of camaraderie still lingered in the air. When they reached Makarov's office, he closed the door behind them and sat down in his chair, giving Arthur a focused look.
"What do you want to tell me, son?" Makarov asked, his tone calm yet attentive.
Arthur didn't hesitate. "Master, I met Erza because I was passing through an area and heard screams. I went to investigate and found her village being attacked by dark mages."
Makarov's face shifted slightly, but he said nothing, waiting for Arthur to continue.
"I defeated the mages," Arthur went on, "but after the fight, I discovered something troubling. They were capturing people—forcing them to build a tower. They were using villagers like Erza to create something... dangerous."
Makarov leaned back slightly, frowning. "I see..."
Arthur nodded. "They didn't give many details, but I believe the tower was for some kind of dark purpose. Something serious. I couldn't just ignore it."
Makarov crossed his arms and nodded slowly. "I understand, son. Thank you for telling me this. I'll report it to the Magic Council right away. We can't allow these dark guilds to continue unchecked."
Arthur bowed his head in respect. "Thank you, Master. For now, I'm going to do some missions with Erza. I want to earn money so I can rent a place for us to live."
Makarov smiled softly. "Of course. Do what you need to do."
As Arthur and Erza turned to leave, Makarov leaned back in his chair, folding his hands in thought. Once they were gone, he closed his eyes.
"These dark guilds have started to move again... What are they planning this time?" he muttered to himself, feeling a deep sense of unease.
Meanwhile, Arthur and Erza began taking simple jobs from the guild's request board. They completed tasks like retrieving lost items, helping villagers with minor problems, and gathering supplies for local stores. It wasn't glamorous work, but it brought in enough money — and it allowed them to spend time together, building their trust and friendship.
By the end of the day, they were standing in front of a small, modest house near the outskirts of Magnolia. The sun was low in the sky, casting warm light over the rooftops. Arthur stood with Erza by his side, looking at the house.
"This is our house now," Arthur said with a smile.
Erza looked at the home in front of them. It was humble — nothing fancy — but it had a certain charm. A place to call their own.
"This is our house?" she repeated.
Arthur nodded and looked into her eyes. "Yes, it's our home now."
He took her hand gently, and they walked inside together.
The inside of the house was dusty and cluttered. There were cobwebs in the corners and dirt on the floor, but Arthur and Erza got to work cleaning right away. They swept, wiped, opened the windows to let in fresh air, and organized the few pieces of furniture.
Once the cleaning was done, they both felt more at ease. They cooked a simple meal — bread, fruit, and some soup. It wasn't anything special, but it felt different. It felt like the beginning of something meaningful. After they finished eating, they sat together for a while, quietly enjoying the peace of their new home.
Later, as night fell and the air grew cooler, they lay down on a single bed they had managed to set up in the corner of the room. The mattress wasn't perfect, but it was enough for now.
Arthur held Erza close as she fell asleep in his arms. Her breathing grew softer, more peaceful, and soon she was asleep. Arthur lay there for a few moments, listening to her breath, feeling the warmth of her body next to his.
After making sure she was asleep, he slowly moved, trying not to wake her. He sat up carefully and slipped out of bed, then quietly summoned a glowing portal beside the wall.
"I'll return home now," he whispered to himself. "It should be almost morning there. I'll slow the flow of time here, so she won't even notice I was gone."
He stepped through the portal, and the world around him shifted. He arrived back in his original world, the sky already glowing with the first light of dawn. Birds were chirping softly, and a gentle breeze blew through the trees. Everything looked peaceful.
Arthur ran quickly back to his house, careful not to make noise. When he arrived, he opened the door quietly. No one had noticed his absence. Everything was just as he had left it.
He went to his room and lay down on his bed, staring at the ceiling for a while.
"Damn... It really sucks not having my Erza to hold while I sleep," he muttered.
He turned on his side, closed his eyes, and slowly let himself fall asleep, thinking about the girl waiting for him in the other world — and the home they now shared together.