Chapter 166: Mavis Vermillion
Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Mavis Vermillion
The appearance of Tenrou Island is unique, with a three-tiered structure.
At the top, in the center of the island, stands a colossal tree reaching towards the heavens, known as the "Tenrou Tree."
Below the tree are two more levels; the middle level is smaller than the bottom. Both levels are dense, vast forests.
Due to its distinctive structure, Nate could spot the island from ten nautical miles away. He maneuvered the fishing boat toward the island.
Under the setting sun, Tenrou Island looked breathtaking, cloaked in shades of red, orange, and yellow.
"Is that the guild's sacred land? It's beautiful," Lucy murmured in awe.
"Lucy," Nate said.
"Yes?"
"Once we're on the island, don't leave my side," he instructed seriously.
Lucy's cheeks flushed, thinking he had something mischievous in mind.
Nate didn't elaborate. "Just don't stray from my sight. The island can be dangerous."
"Are there fierce magical beasts?"
"It'd be easier if that's all there was," Nate replied with a slight smile. He couldn't mention that Zeref, a powerful dark mage from 400 years ago, might be wandering the island at this very moment.
A while later, they docked along the island's shore. Nate secured the boat by tying it to a rock, then took Lucy's hand as they moved inland.
With his Six Eyes activated to their fullest extent, Nate conducted a thorough scan of the entire island.
The land of Tenrou Island was imbued with strong magical energy, which posed a slight challenge to Nate's detection.
After observing the flow of magic energy, Nate soon found Mavis's grave.
"Found it..." he murmured.
"Found what?" Lucy asked, clinging to Nate's arm and curiously observing Tenrou Island's surroundings.
As they walked, she saw many strange creatures she'd never encountered before.
Nate had located Mavis's grave, but he saw no sign of Zeref. It seemed they were the only two people on the island.
Then, Nate picked Lucy up in a bridal carry.
"Let's go pay our respects at the First Guild Master's grave," he said, and in a flash of golden light, they soared over the island, leaving an elegant arc in their wake.
Moments later, they landed.
Before them stood a simple, square tombstone with a thatched roof above it, shielding it from the elements.
In the center of the tombstone, a stone tablet was embedded, hollowed in the middle, where a soft, golden light emanated.
"What is that?" Lucy stared at the light within the stone tablet in surprise. "Magic?"
It was the super magic, Fairy Glitter. Nate thought, 'Maybe if you reach out, Mavis will be in a good mood and lend it to you...'
Nate sat down cross-legged in front of the grave and patted the spot to his left. "Have a seat."
"Do we need to pray?"
In her short skirt, Lucy kneeled gracefully beside him, clasping her hands together, closing her eyes, and whispering, "Guild Master Mavis, I'm Lucy, a mage of Fairy Tail. Sorry to disturb you—it was Nate who brought me here, so please don't hold it against me..."
Nate smirked. "You're really scared of ghosts, aren't you?"
"Good evening, Guild Master Mavis," Nate introduced himself calmly. "I'm Nate, a mage of Fairy Tail."
He then looked at the stone tablet—or, more precisely, just above it.
Mavis hovered there, floating in the air, curiously observing him and Lucy.
She must have been wondering why someone from the guild would visit the island when there wasn't an S-Class Trial happening. Could Fairy Tail be facing a crisis?
Mavis's trademark ahoge (a stray hair on top of her head) quivered as she debated whether to make her presence known.
Nate continued staring at her in silence.
She looked just as he had imagined—an adorable little girl with vibrant green eyes, two fairy-like wings on her head, long, wavy blonde hair, and a white cloak that gave her a fairy-like appearance.
As she floated, he noticed her tiny feet were bare.
When Lucy finished her whispered message, she turned to see Nate staring intently at the tombstone.
"Is there something there?" she asked.
Mavis wondered the same thing.
She noticed that Nate had been watching her the entire time, and it puzzled her. Could he possibly see her?
'No, that doesn't make sense.'
She was a ghost, completely transparent, and unless she chose to reveal herself, no one should be able to see her.
Curious, Mavis floated a little to the left, only for Nate's gaze to follow her. She moved to the right, and his gaze shifted as well.
'Confirmed! He can see me!'
Mavis's expression turned to one of surprise, her eyes drawn to Nate's unique eyes, which seemed to hold an endless sky within them.
"Is that some kind of eye magic?" she whispered.
Her curiosity piqued, Mavis decided to fully reveal herself.
A blonde-haired girl suddenly appeared in front of them, causing Lucy to scream in fright.
"Ahhh!"
Nate chuckled internally. 'How can you be so afraid of such an adorable ghost?'
"It's... it's a child?" Lucy stammered.
"I'm not a child!" Mavis immediately denied, visibly irritated. She cleared her throat and addressed them with a serious tone. "I am Mavis Vermillion, the First Guild Master of Fairy Tail. Why have you come to my grave?"
'The First Guild Master!?'
Lucy was both charmed by her cuteness and shocked by her identity. No wonder Nate had said she was adorable.
Nate smiled and got straight to the point. "Guild Master Mavis, I've read your magic books, but for the last two of Fairy Tail's Three Great Magics, I don't think I can learn them from books alone. So, I've come to ask for your guidance."
"You want to learn Fairy Tail's Three Great Magics?" Mavis's eyes widened in astonishment.
Nate said, "Requip!" A flash of white light appeared, and a box of strawberry cake materialized in his hands.
"I heard you like sweets, so I picked up a cake for you. Would you like some, Guild Master Mavis?"
Mavis's eyes sparkled with excitement. Although she really wanted to eat it, she was trying hard to maintain her dignity as the guild's First Master.
Lucy, meanwhile, looked utterly confused.
'When did Nate get a cake? And wait... can ghosts even eat?'
Mavis cleared her throat, forcing herself to look away from the cake she so desperately wanted to taste.
"Is Makarov with you?" she asked, trying to sound dignified.
"No, we came here in secret. As for Makarov..."
Nate pulled up the magic net and opened Makarov's profile.
"Guild Master Mavis, do you have any messages for Master Makarov?"
"What is this... magic text?" Mavis floated closer, peering over his shoulder with curiosity. She had never seen magic like this before.
'So strange... There are images and text, yet no flow of magic!'
Her amazement grew. This went against all magic principles she knew, yet it was undeniably magic.
'Who is this mage, Nate?'
His power far surpassed that of a typical S-Class mage, and he possessed unique magic abilities. Most intriguingly, he wanted to learn Fairy Tail's legendary magics.
"Nate," Mavis murmured with a serious expression, "Did Makarov choose you to be the next Guild Master of Fairy Tail?"
"The Fourth Guild Master?"