Karna's Perspective
"Karna."
I looked up and saw Laxus standing over me, his expression anything but friendly.
"I heard you went on that S-class quest," he said, his tone sharp.
"Yeah," I replied, bracing myself for what was coming next.
Since we were kids, Laxus had always treated me like a younger brother. The incidents with Ivan and the wolves only strengthened his belief that I needed constant protection. He hated the fact that I took dangerous quests and never held back from voicing his disapproval.
"If you know what's good for you, stop doing stupid things like this once and for all," Laxus growled.
"Don't worry, Laxus. I'll be fine. Besides, you know Gildarts is the strongest, right? He can take care of me," I said with a grin, trying to defuse the tension.
"Tch." Laxus scoffed, turning and walking away.
As he disappeared from sight, I muttered to myself, "He still hasn't dealt with his own problems, huh?"
"Talking to yourself again?"
I spun around in surprise to find Cana standing beside me, smirking.
"When did you get here?" I asked, startled.
"Looks like my stealth skills are improving," she said with a teasing grin.
I sighed. "Alright, why are you here?"
"There's a new bakery opening in town," she said, her grin widening.
"And?"
"You're coming with me."
"Do I have to?" I groaned. Though I'd rested enough to recover from my earlier exhaustion, the idea of lazing around was far more appealing.
Cana leaned in close, her tone heavier. "Did you say something?" Her smile remained, but her eyes were anything but amused.
"Nope. Let's go," I said quickly.
One thing I'd learned from Fairy Tail's older members was that arguing with the guild's women was a battle you'd never win. They'd also given me invaluable advice: Never make them angry. I agreed with them wholeheartedly.
We spent the afternoon and evening exploring Magnolia. Cana dragged me to all sorts of places, clutching my arm to ensure I had fun with her. To my surprise, I actually enjoyed myself.
I'm not oblivious; I know Cana has feelings for me. We're almost teenagers now, and the dangers of this magical world force people to mature quickly.
Still, the fact that I'd never dated anyone—even in my past life—made me nervous. I had no idea how to handle her feelings.
"Stop overthinking," Cana suddenly said, breaking me out of my thoughts.
"Wait, did I say that out loud?" I asked.
"No, you dummy. I can read you like a book. I've known you long enough to recognize that face—you make it whenever you're overthinking something simple."
"Really?" I muttered, incredulous. I'd always prided myself on my mental fortitude and control over my expressions.
"Yeah," she said firmly. "And whatever it is, you don't have to worry so much. You're not alone, you know."
I smiled. "Yeah. Let's go."
As we resumed walking, I hesitated for a moment before reaching out and slowly taking her hand. She intertwined her fingers with mine, and we continued in comfortable silence.
It was a good day.
Ivan's Perspective
From a hidden vantage point, a paper puppet spied on Karna and Cana as they walked, hand in hand.
"Hmm, the kid's grown strong," Ivan muttered, pacing back and forth in his hideout. "If I don't act now, he'll become a monster like Gildarts."
He paused, weighing his options. A direct confrontation might draw unwanted attention, and sending his subordinates could lead to complications.
Then his gaze returned to the puppet's vision, lingering on Cana.
"The girl, huh? She could make for excellent bait," he mused with a sinister grin.
Suddenly, another thought struck him.
"The Council's already uneasy about his connection to the Vermillion name. Perhaps I can use that to my advantage..."
Ivan's grin widened into a malicious smile as he began to formulate a plan. If only he had known what he was about to unleash, he might have thought twice.
Aldrin's Perspective
Aldrin, a member of the Wizard Council, stood in his chambers. He was an older man, nearly seventy, with long white hair and two spider-like limbs protruding from his back to assist his movements.
"So," he said to the masked figure kneeling before him, "Ivan wants a temporary alliance, does he?"
"Yes, Master," the figure replied in a monotone voice.
"Very well. Inform him that I will distract Makarov and Gildarts for a time, but that's all I can offer. Tell him to make it count."
The masked subordinate nodded before vanishing into the shadows.
Aldrin walked to the window, gazing out as a butler approached him.
"Sir, is it wise to provoke them?" the butler asked cautiously.
Aldrin smirked arrogantly. "Fairy Tail is nothing more than a collection of misfits. Even if they learn of my involvement, they won't dare oppose a Council member."
"But why take such drastic measures?"
"You don't understand the significance of the Vermillion name," Aldrin replied, his tone darkening. "According to the Council's ancient archives, Mavis Vermillion was not only one of Fairy Tail's founders but also played a key role in the Council's formation during the war.
Her magic is intricately woven into the Council's foundational contracts and spells. If that child has even a fraction of her power, he could gain substantial influence within the Council. And that's not counting the number of powerful individuals who owe Mavis their loyalty."
A twisted smile spread across his face.
"The only solution is to turn the boy into a puppet under my control—or wipe him off the face of Earthland."
A/N- hope you like ethe rewrite and every 100 powerstone gets extra chapter of Jason.