On a rainy hill, a little girl with slightly tanned skin and curly-brown hair stood before a pile of soil topped with a tombstone.
Cornelia Alberona.
Birth Year X745 - X772.
Looking at her mother's grave, Cana couldn't help but reminisce about their days together.
The picture of her mother reading fairy tales at bedtime, her strictness while teaching magic, her laughter on birthdays, and her sadness in her final moments all came flooding back to her. For a moment, she was overwhelmed with memories of her mother.
Cana sighed softly and decided not to dwell on it too much.
Although her mother's passing saddened her deeply, she had long prepared herself for it.
Her mother was afflicted with an unknown disease that even local doctors were helpless about. As a young child, Cana could do nothing but pray as she watched her mother weaken each day until she finally breathed her last.
Cana was very grateful to her mother in this life.
Although Cornelia couldn't give Cana any luxuries, she at least gave her the maternal love that she never received in her previous life.
In her previous life, Cana was a man named Harry.
When he was three, his mother left him and his father for another man.
Apparently, his mother's departure and betrayal left Cana's father in a depression. To divert his depression, he became a workaholic and neglected his son.
Because of this, he died due to overwork. Fortunately, by then, Harry was already an adult and was able to live on his own.
Harry lived a stable life after the death of his father. He became a regular office worker, had a stable income, and was socially stable.
Unfortunately, at the age of thirty, he died in a car accident and woke up again as Cornelia's newborn daughter, Cana Alberona.
Reincarnating as a girl was baffling, but who can complain about reincarnation?
Being given a chance to live a second time is already a blessing. He has no right to complain about his gender.
Besides, being a girl is not that bad...
A few moments later, Cana returned to her house.
Her house is located in the West Forest of Boundary Forest near the outskirts of Magnolia Town.
Her house is like a yellow bungalow with a brick chimney and some decorative elements around the door and walls. It's just a simple house.
After entering, Cana immediately went to her mother's room and found on the table next to the bed, a piece of paper with a blue butterfly-shaped necklace pressed on it.
Cana picked up the necklace and caressed it gently.
This blue butterfly-shaped necklace was a precious object, at least to her mother. She always uses it every day.
She said that it was a gift from her beloved man, who was Cana's father.
Honestly, Cana didn't really understand Cornelia. Her husband has been leaving her for years, and yet she still harbors those kinds of feelings.
The same case with her father in her previous life-- he should just move on and remarry instead of drowning himself in depression until he died.
Love is truly complicated...
Cana put a blue butterfly-shaped necklace around her neck.
Although she was once a man, she is now a woman. It's normal to have girly things.
Moreover, this necklace is one of the most precious things her mother left to her.
Cana picked up the paper from the table and read it with curiosity.
A few moments later, she folded it and put it in her shirt pocket.
The paper contained a will from her mother and information about her father. In summary, Cornelia hoped that Cana wouldn't live alone and that she would find her father.
According to the will, Cana's father was Gildart Clive, a wizard from the notable guild "Fairy Tail."
"Fairy Tail, huh...." Cana murmured.
This world is different from the one Cana used to live in. Despite the backward technology, magic exists here.
Magic is a common occurrence in this world. Cana has witnessed many people using magic, including her mother, Cornelia.
Moreover, she also studied magic under her mother's guidance.
Cornelia was skilled in Card Magic, and she taught Cana how to produce a variety of effects using cards.
Currently, Cana is only capable of performing a few tricks such as Card Enhancement, Card Shuriken, and Fortune Telling.
Card Enhancement is a magic that enhances the speed and strength of a card, making it more powerful. This technique is often combined with Card Shuriken.
Card Shuriken is a throwing technique that involves throwing enhanced cards at the target. The cards possess cutting power that allows them to cut through wood.
Fortune Telling, on the other hand, can only be performed using Tarot Cards. However, Cana's ability in this magic is not exceptional as she can only predict small things like finding lost items, despite having a talent for it.
That's it.
Although Cana can use magic, she is not a full-fledged wizard. To become a full-fledged wizard, one must join a wizard's guild.
Cana was aware of the Fairy Tail Guild, which was known to be the most renowned guild in the vicinity. However, she had no idea about its exact location. Despite living in this world for six years, she never stepped out of the Western Forest due to her mother's condition, which made it impossible for them to wander far from their home.
Cana looks around as if looking for something.
She came out of her mother's room and shouted, "Pochi~"
"Woof!"
Soon, a small white furry dog came with its agile body. Cana bent down and caught it in her arms.
Pochi, the dog, has been her companion since she was five.
This dog is not an ordinary animal.
About a year ago, when Cana was busy picking a wild herb, she accidentally found it coming out of the Boundary Forest.
Cana's mother had warned her that the Boundary Forest was home to monsters. Therefore, any creatures emerging from that forest were suspected to be non-ordinary animals.
Despite its small and cute appearance, Pochi was capable of expanding its body size, enough to carry Cana around. Additionally, it possessed high intelligence and an excellent sense of smell.
There's no way an ordinary dog possessed such abilities!
"Let's go find Dad, Pochi!" Cana said, stroking its soft hair.
"Woof-"
Pochi wagged its tail as if to say, 'Let's go!'
*****
Fiore Kingdom, Magnolia Town.
Magnolia is a prosperous merchant town that houses around 60,000 inhabitants. It is located in the center of the southeastern part of Fiore, with the sea and Hargeon Town not too far to the south, a series of minor built-up areas linked to it by a railway line to the north, and the state boundary with the nation of Bosco to the east. [1]
As soon as Cana reached Magnolia, she was taken aback by how medieval the town looked.
She had no idea that the world she entered was set in the Middle Ages.
The structures in West Forest appeared to follow medieval building styles, however, Cana assumed that it was probably because West Forest was located in a remote part, far from the city settlements. It was similar to the difference between houses in villages and cities. Therefore, she didn't give it much thought at the time.
"I should have expected this since magic exists..." Cana muttered.
It might be unrelated, but somehow, she always thought magic was associated with fantasy, and fantasy was associated with the medieval ages. That's her logic after watching Harry Potter.
Despite its seemingly old-fashioned appearance, there is a certain charm to this town that cannot be found in any big city she has seen in her previous world.
Cana was particularly drawn to the town's vibrant colors, which may have been due to the lack of pollution in this world. Everything appeared crystal clear and bright in her eyes.
Cana searched for a while before dismounting from Pochi and approaching a middle-aged man standing on the side of the road.
"Excuse me, sir. Can you help me?" Cana asked politely.
The man responded kindly, "Of course, Young Lady. What do you need?"
Cana inquired, "Do you know where I can find the Fairy Tail Guild?"
The middle-aged man looked surprised and asked, "Are you looking to join Fairy Tail?"
Cana shook her head and replied, "No, I'm looking for my Dad."
"I see, your father is Fairy Tail's member. Then, he must be an amazing wizard~" The middle-aged man praised after hearing this.
"Amazing? How so?" Cana confused.
"Oh, your father probably didn't mention this to you, but Fairy Tail is the number one guild in Fiore. Many of its members are known for their prowess and deeds. They have helped many people in Magnolia," the middle-aged man explained.
"They sound strong and reliable," Cana commented.
"Yes... if only they are less destructive." The middle-aged man said wryly.
"By the way, what is your father's name, Young Lady?" The middle-aged man inquired. "I don't mean to boast, but I'm acquainted with most of Fairy Tail's members. Unfortunately, a few powerful wizards from Fairy Tail have retired recently. However, since you're here searching for your father, that means he's still an active Fairy Tail wizard."
"My father's name is Gildart Clive," Cana responded.
As soon as she spoke his name, the middle-aged man stiffened, and a look of horror crossed his face as he stared at Cana.