Shuurai
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[FT: O King of the Fairies] Chapter 45
🕑 Added 2025-03-26 07:11:06 +0000 UTCMorning sunlight streamed through the guild’s windows, painting streaks of gold across the wooden floors. The usual Fairy Tail chaos had already begun—people laughing, shouting, and somewhere in the distance, something breaking.
Meanwhile, I was sitting across from Makarov in his office, slouched comfortably in my chair while he pinched the bridge of his nose like I’d just given him a migraine.
"You sure about this, Aiden?" he asked, sighing as he flipped through a few papers. "Taking care of one kid is expensive enough. Seven? That’s not a small responsibility."
I waved a hand. "I’ve got the funds. Don’t stress about it."
He shot me a tired look. "It’s not just about money. Taking care of people means looking after them, guiding them, making sure they’re alright."
"Yeah, and money makes all of that easier," I countered. "It’s a lot easier to guide people when they’re not worried about where their next meal is coming from."
Makarov grumbled something under his breath. Probably about how I was impossible.
"Alright," he said finally. "What’s your plan?"
I straightened up a little. "The younger ones—Kagura, Millianna, Sho, and Wally—need a stable home. Someone in the guild could take them in. As for Erza, Jellal, and Simon… they’re a bit older. They can take care of themselves, but they still need a place to stay."
Makarov leaned back in his chair, thinking. "We could set them up with a rented house in town, at least until they figure out their next steps."
"I’ll cover the cost," I said without hesitation.
He studied me for a long moment before exhaling slowly. "You’re really set on this, huh?"
I grinned. "I did kind of wreck their last home. Least I can do is make sure they have a roof over their heads."
Before Makarov could respond, a voice cut in from the doorway.
"You’ve got a real soft spot for kids, huh?"
I turned to see Alma, arms crossed, leaning against the doorframe with an amused look.
"Only when they’re cute," I shot back. "Which means you were completely out of luck growing up."
She snorted but smirked. "You’re lucky I like you."
"Lucky?" I gestured to myself. "I think you’re the lucky one. Handsome, strong, generous—what more could you want?"
Makarov coughed loudly. "If you two are gonna flirt, do it somewhere else."
Alma laughed, stepping into the room and leaning on the desk next to me. "So, you’re really paying for all this?"
I nodded. "Housing, food, whatever they need."
"That’s a lot of money," she mused.
I grinned. "Good thing I have a lot of money."
She raised an eyebrow. "And here I thought you were just reckless. Turns out you’re reckless and loaded."
I shrugged. "I like to keep people guessing."
She shook her head, smirking. "You really don’t have to do all this, you know."
I glanced at her, my usual grin softening just a bit. "I know. But I want to."
She studied me for a moment before rolling her eyes. "You’re an idiot."
"And yet, here you are, madly in love with me," I teased.
She huffed. "Madly is a strong word."
I laughed, pushing myself up from the chair and stretching. "Come on. Let’s go check on the kids."
Alma sighed but followed, shaking her head. "Hopeless. Absolutely hopeless."
After sorting things out with Makarov, I stepped out of his office, stretching my arms over my head.
I spotted Alma at the bar, wiping down a glass with that sharp-eyed, amused expression she always wore when watching the chaos unfold.
Perfect.
I made my way over, leaning on the counter. "Busy?"
She flicked her gaze up at me, unimpressed. "Oh, you know, just running a guild’s bar while also keeping track of a bunch of new kids you dumped on us. No big deal."
I grinned. "Great, then you’ve got time to come over to my place."
Alma raised an eyebrow, setting the glass down. "Oh? And what exactly would we be doing at your place?"
I smirked. "Talking. Mostly."
"Mostly?"
I leaned in slightly. "What, nervous?"
She rolled her eyes. "Please. If anything, I’m curious about what’s so important that you need privacy for it."
I tilted my head. "So that’s a yes?"
She let out a long, dramatic sigh. "Fine. But if this is just an excuse to flirt, I’m charging you for my time."
I grinned, pushing off the counter. "Fair enough. Let’s go."
Alma followed me inside, her sharp eyes scanning the place like she was expecting a mess.
"Still as neat as ever," she muttered, crossing her arms. "How? You live alone, and you’re barely home."
"NIMO helps," I said, kicking off my boots. "He cleans up while I’m gone. Keeps things organized."
Alma gave me a flat look. "Of course.”
"Pretty much," I said with a smirk.
She sighed and leaned against the wall. "Alright, you dragged me here. What’s this about?"
I turned to face her, my tone shifting. "Alma, have you ever thought about learning magic?"
She blinked. "…What?"
"You heard me," I said, watching her reaction.
She stared at me for a solid five seconds before laughing. "Okay, very funny."
"I’m serious," I said, crossing my arms. "I can help you learn. You’re smart, you’ve got great instincts, and magic isn’t as impossible as you think."
Her laughter faded as she realized I wasn’t joking. She studied me, something uncertain flickering in her eyes. "Aiden… I don’t have magic. Never have."
"Doesn’t mean you can’t use it," I said simply.
She exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "This… This is insane."
"Yeah, but so am I," I said with a grin. "So? What do you think?"
Alma stared at me, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. She wasn’t one to get flustered easily, but I could tell I’d thrown her off with this.
"Aiden," she started, her voice slower, like she was choosing her words carefully. "You’re really not joking?"
I shook my head. "Nope."
She exhaled, rubbing her temple. "Okay, let’s say, for argument’s sake, that I even entertain this idea. How exactly would this work? I don’t have magic, Aiden. I never have."
I leaned back against the kitchen counter, tilting my head. "That’s not entirely true."
She shot me a look. "Oh, really?"
"You may not have magic power, but magic isn’t just about raw energy. It’s about understanding, control, and technique." I tapped my temple. "You’ve got a sharp mind. You pick things up fast. With the right approach, you could learn to use magic, even without innate ability."
Alma let out a dry chuckle. "That sounds like nonsense."
I smirked. "Yeah? So does half the stuff I do."
She opened her mouth to argue, then stopped. She knew I had a point.
"Even if I could… what would be the point?" she asked. "I’m not a fighter like you. I don’t need magic to do my job."
I shrugged. "Fairy Tail’s a crazy place. Magic’s useful, even if you’re not throwing punches. Besides, aren’t you even a little curious?"
Alma sighed, shifting her weight. "You’re serious about this."
"As serious as I ever am," I said.
She shook her head. "That doesn’t mean much."
"Fair."
She rolled her eyes but didn’t look away. I could tell she was thinking it over, even if she didn’t want to admit it.
Finally, she exhaled sharply. "Alright. Say I agree to this lunacy. How would you even teach me? I can’t just wake up one day and start casting spells."
I grinned. "That’s where I come in."
She raised an eyebrow. "I hate how smug you look right now."
"You love it," I shot back.
She scoffed but didn’t deny it.
I pushed off the counter, walking over to her. "I have access to a lot of knowledge, Alma. Magic theories, ancient texts, techniques most people don’t even know exist. I can find a way to help you."
She frowned slightly, glancing away. "That’s a lot of effort for something that might not even work."
I shrugged. "I like challenges."
She gave me a side-eye. "You just like proving people wrong."
"That too."
She groaned. "You are the most exhausting person I’ve ever met."
"And yet, here you are," I said, nudging her lightly.
She sighed, looking at me properly now. "You really think I can do this?"
I met her gaze, serious for once. "Yeah. I do."
Something flickered in her expression, something uncertain but intrigued.
She poked my chest. "And if this gets me blown up, I’m haunting you."
"Noted."
I leaned back on the couch, arms stretched over the top, watching Alma as she paced in front of me. She still looked skeptical, but I could tell she was thinking about it seriously now.
"Alright," I said. "Let’s start with the basics. If you could use any kind of magic, what would it be?"
She stopped mid-step, looking at me like I’d just asked her to solve a complex math equation. "How am I supposed to know that? I’ve never even considered using magic before."
I shrugged. "Well, think about it. What interests you? Do you want something practical? Something flashy? Something that lets you blow stuff up?"
She gave me a dry look. "You’re projecting."
I grinned. "Maybe a little."
She sighed, crossing her arms. "I don’t know, Aiden. I don’t see myself throwing fireballs or swinging giant swords. That’s more your thing."
"True, but there are plenty of other kinds of magic. You don’t have to be a combat mage."
She sat down across from me, tapping her fingers against her knee. "Okay… what are my options?"
I smirked. "Oh, now you’re interested."
She rolled her eyes. "Just answer the question."
I chuckled. "Alright, alright. There are tons of magic types. Elemental magic—fire, water, wind, earth, all that. Requip magic, where you summon weapons and armor. Support magic, like healing or enhancement. Even weird stuff, like Archive magic, which lets you manipulate information and data."
She hummed, considering. "That last one sounds interesting."
I nodded. "It’d suit you. It’s all about intelligence and control. You could store information, communicate across distances, even analyze things in real-time."
She tapped her chin. "That… actually sounds useful."
I smirked. "Told you."
She shot me a look. "Don’t get cocky."
"Too late."
She exhaled, still mulling it over. "So if I wanted to learn Archive magic, how would that work?"
"Well, normally, it requires magic power," I admitted. "But there are ways around that. With the right tools and training, you could use an external source—like lacrimas or even something I design—to act as a conduit."
She arched an eyebrow. "You’d make something for me?"
"Of course." I grinned. "What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t?"
She blinked, a slight pink dusting her cheeks before she scoffed. "You’re impossible."
"And yet, you’re still here."
She sighed. "Yeah… I guess I am."
I leaned forward. "So? Archive magic?"
She hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. Let’s try it."
I grinned as Alma finally gave her answer. "Good choice."
She gave me a wary look. "Why do I feel like I just agreed to something I’m going to regret?"
"You wound me," I said, placing a hand over my heart in mock offense.
She sighed. "Alright, so what now? Do I have to swear an oath or sacrifice my firstborn or something?"
I chuckled. "No rituals needed. Just… hold out your hands."
She did as I asked, though I could tell she was still skeptical. With a flick of my wrist, I reached into my Celestial Inventory, feeling the energy shift around me as I searched for exactly what I needed. A moment later, a book materialized before me, hovering in the air between us.
Alma’s eyes widened. "Is that—?"
"A grimoire," I confirmed. "A magic book, bound specifically to you. Think of it as both a guide and a power source. If you can’t generate magic on your own, this will help channel it for you."
She stared at it. The book was sleek, its cover a deep blue with silver filigree forming intricate patterns across its surface. Runes shifted and flickered like living ink, constantly reshaping themselves. It pulsed faintly, reacting to her presence.
"You’re serious about this," she murmured.
"Of course I am," I said. "I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t think you could handle it."
She hesitated, then slowly reached for the book. The moment her fingers brushed the cover, the runes glowed brighter, spreading up her arm in delicate, swirling patterns before fading into her skin. The grimoire shuddered, then settled in her hands, as if recognizing her as its rightful owner.
Alma inhaled sharply. "I… felt that."
"That’s the bond being formed," I said. "The grimoire is linked to you now. No one else can use it."
She turned it over in her hands, running her fingers along the cover. "And this will let me use Archive magic?"
"It’ll help," I said. "It won’t do the work for you, but it’ll act as a medium. Think of it as a bridge between you and magic itself."
She was silent for a moment, then exhaled. "This is insane."
"Yeah," I said with a grin. "But so is everything else I do."
She shook her head, but I caught the small smile on her lips. "Alright. What’s next?"
"Next?" I smirked. "Time for your first lesson."
First Lesson
Alma sat on the couch, the grimoire resting in her lap. She traced the runes on its cover, her expression unreadable.
"Alright, teacher," she said, finally looking up at me. "Where do we start?"
I grinned. "First, open the book."
She raised an eyebrow but did as I said. The pages flipped open on their own, glowing softly as text and diagrams shifted into view.
"Whoa," she muttered. "It’s like it’s alive."
"That’s because it is—in a way," I explained. "Grimoires are semi-sentient. They respond to their owners, adjusting their contents to match your understanding and progress. It won’t overload you with information you’re not ready for."
Alma gave me a skeptical look. "So, it’s a magic book that dumbs things down for me?"
"Think of it as an interactive tutor," I said, amused. "Now, first things first—Archive magic is data-based, meaning it revolves around information gathering, storage, and manipulation. At its most basic level, you’ll be able to access, sort, and transmit information in real-time. The more advanced you get, the more control you’ll have."
Alma tapped her fingers against the page. "And how do I actually use it?"
"Simple," I said. "Close your eyes and focus on the book. Imagine a stream of information flowing from it into you."
She gave me a dry look. "That’s vague as hell."
"Welcome to magic," I said with a smirk. "Now, just try it."
She huffed but obeyed, closing her eyes. A few moments passed. The room was silent, save for the distant hum of NIMO moving around.
Then, faint golden lines flickered around her hands. The air shifted slightly. The runes on the grimoire pulsed in sync with her heartbeat.
Alma opened her eyes. "Did I—?"
A small, translucent screen popped up beside her. She blinked at it.
"Holy crap," she muttered.
I leaned in. "Congrats. You just accessed Archive."
She stared at the floating screen in awe, hesitantly reaching out to poke at it. The moment her fingers made contact, it expanded, revealing a string of glowing text.
Alma squinted. "Why does it say ‘Test Connection Successful’?"
I laughed. "Because you basically just turned on the interface. Baby steps."
She groaned. "Great. I’m a magic newbie."
"Everyone starts somewhere," I said. "Try something else. See if you can summon another screen."
She inhaled, focusing again. This time, a second screen appeared—though it was smaller and flickered a bit before stabilizing.
Alma’s eyes widened. "Okay, that’s kinda cool."
"Now, try closing them."
She hesitated, then swiped her hand. The screens flickered out of existence.
She looked up at me, excitement creeping into her expression. "Alright. What’s next?"
I grinned. "Now, we get to the fun part."
"Fun part, huh?" Alma smirked, stretching her fingers. "That wasn’t fun enough for you?"
"Oh, that was just turning the system on," I said, crossing my arms. "Now, let’s see what you can actually do with it."
Alma rolled her shoulders. "Alright, hit me."
I pointed to the grimoire. "Your Archive Magic works like a database. Right now, it’s empty—so let’s fix that. Try scanning something."
She raised an eyebrow. "Scanning?"
"Yeah. Archive lets you store and analyze information. Start small—try scanning me."
Alma smirked. "With pleasure."
She closed her eyes, focusing. The runes on the grimoire pulsed, and golden screens flickered into existence. A faint glow surrounded me as data streams ran across her interface.
Her eyes flicked across the text. Then she frowned.
"…What the hell?"
I leaned over to look. "What’s wrong?"
"It says 'ERROR: INCOMPATIBLE DATA.' It won’t read you."
I chuckled. "Huh. Looks like I don’t play nice with scanning magic."
She shot me an unimpressed look. "That’s suspicious as hell."
I shrugged. "What can I say? I’m an enigma."
Alma sighed. "Of course you are. Fine, if you’re being weird, I’ll just scan something else."
She turned to NIMO, who hovered beside me. "Alright, little guy. Let’s see what you’re made of."
A golden glow surrounded NIMO as Alma’s Archive magic activated again. This time, the scan worked—her screen filled with text, blueprints, and system diagnostics.
"Whoa," she muttered. "This is insane. NIMO, you’re basically a walking encyclopedia and a supercomputer combined."
"Correction," NIMO’s voice chimed. "I do not walk. I float."
Alma snorted. "Okay, smartass."
I laughed. "Now you’re getting the hang of it."
She tapped the screen, scrolling through NIMO’s data. "So, if I can scan things, does that mean I can save this information for later?"
"Exactly," I said. "Think of it like your own personal database. You can categorize, sort, and access information whenever you need it."
Her expression turned thoughtful. "This is… actually useful. Like, really useful."
"Told you." I tapped her grimoire. "And this is just the beginning. Archive Magic isn’t just about gathering information—you can also use it to send messages, create holograms, or even manipulate data in real time. Eventually, you’ll be able to hack into magical networks, link minds, and maybe even develop some custom applications."
Alma whistled. "So basically, you just gave me the ultimate hacking tool."
I smirked. "Welcome to the future, babe."
She snorted but didn’t deny it.
After a moment, she exhaled and looked at her hands, flexing her fingers. "It still feels weird. Like, I’ve never had magic before. Now, suddenly, I do."
I nodded. "It’ll take some getting used to, but you’ll figure it out. I know you will."
She glanced up at me, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. Then she grinned. "Alright, King of the Fairies. What’s next?"
I chuckled. "For tonight? That’s enough. Magic takes energy, and you’re already pushing it."
Alma frowned like she wanted to argue, but then yawned. "Damn it. Fine. But tomorrow, I want more training."
"Deal," I said. "But first, food. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving."
She groaned, stretching. "Ugh, I could eat an entire feast."
"Then let’s raid the kitchen," I said with a grin, leading the way.
Behind us, the golden glow of Archive Magic faded, but Alma’s journey had just begun.
