That afternoon.
Knight used the little money he had left to buy a map and confirmed the location of Karna Island. It was overseas, and he'd need to take the magic train to the port city of Hargeon first, then catch a boat to Karna Island. The distance wasn't great, but his wallet was depressingly light—barely holding onto a three-digit balance.
At one o'clock, Knight passed through the ticket gate and boarded the train to start his journey.
In the world of Fairy Tail, magic and magical crystals power everything, including the magic train he was riding. It wasn't as fast as high-speed trains, but it moved much quicker than the old-fashioned ones.
He found his seat by the window, his preferred spot for long trips. The journey would take several hours, with an estimated arrival time around seven or eight that evening. Not having much else with him besides a magic book, he settled in for the ride.
There weren't many passengers on the train, maybe a dozen. Knight couldn't help but wonder how the train company made enough to cover its operating costs. Or perhaps the cost of magic crystals as fuel was lower than he imagined.
Turning his attention away from the empty train car, he opened the magic book in his hands and began reading. It was a guide to "photography" magic, explaining the principles and learning methods in detail. It wasn't as difficult as advanced mathematics, which, when incomprehensible, feels like trying to decode a foreign language. This book, on the other hand, was straightforward, and Knight had no trouble understanding it.
Engrossed in the text, he didn't notice the train starting to move. Suddenly, his ring flashed briefly—a signal that someone had sent him a private message.
Infusing the ring with magic, a translucent interface appeared in front of his eyes.
Mirajane: Knight! Are you really taking on an S-class mission from the second floor? I heard from the President—you're going to get yourself killed!
Knight smiled at the message. Mirajane was his only real friend in the guild, a kind and gentle soul.
Knight: Thanks for worrying, but I'm strong.
Mirajane responded almost instantly.
Mirajane: I know you've mastered a second magic. They say it's super magic! Why didn't you tell me yesterday? But strength isn't the only issue—S-class missions are dangerous. You have to be careful!
She added another message quickly.
Mirajane: Oh, and the President's following you in secret. If you're in danger, just shout for help!
Knight blinked in surprise. Makarov was following him? He didn't expect that and felt a twinge of warmth at the thought. Glancing around the train car, he saw no sign of the guild master, but it made sense—the old man was one of the Ten Wizard Saints, and it would be near impossible to spot him unless he wanted to be found.
Knight: Don't worry, if I run into trouble, I'll ask the President for help.
Mirajane: You better! Don't be reckless next time, got it?
Just then, a new prompt appeared.
[Mirajane has invited you to join the chat group "Fairy Tail Love Each Other." Do you accept?]
Knight chuckled. A chat group? Without hesitation, he clicked accept. Immediately, messages scrolled across his screen like a waterfall.
Macao: Did Knight really take on an S-class mission?
Wakaba: Our poster girl said so.
Jet: The President's testing him? Even with super magic, jumping into an S-class mission is a bit extreme.
Vijeeter: Anyone else feel like there's something going on between Knight and Mirajane? I mean, a ring? You know what that means, right?
Wakaba: C'mon, Vijeeter, it's just a magic item. Don't be an idiot.
The chat quickly veered off track into gossip, and Knight couldn't help but shake his head. Wizards or not, people loved to gossip.
Mirajane: Stop spreading rumors! The ring is just a tool to connect to the magic internet. Knight gave one to everyone. If you don't have one yet, come see me. Everyone should be thanking him, not jumping to conclusions!
Knight decided to ignore the chatter and sent Mirajane a private message.
Knight: I demand five meals as compensation for all this teasing!
Mirajane rolled her eyes upon reading the joke, but she quickly typed back.
Mirajane: Come back safely, and I'll treat you to the best food we've got!
Knight sent her a playful emoji and closed the chat window. More interested in the magic book than the group's endless gossip, he returned to his reading.
By seven o'clock in the evening, the train finally pulled into Hargeon. Knight stepped off, magic book still in hand, and took in the sight of the port city illuminated by the night's lights.
"It's already this late… I doubt there'll be any boats to Karna Island until tomorrow," he muttered to himself, his hand subconsciously touching his nearly empty wallet. After buying the map and train ticket, he had just over 3,000 J left.
Where would he stay for the night? And more urgently, what about dinner?
He regretted not asking Mirajane to pack him a lunch. "Big mistake."
As he wandered through the city streets, an idea formed in his head. Could he perform magic to get a free meal? No way he'd spend the little money he had left.
Spying a cozy-looking restaurant, he walked inside. As soon as he sat down at a table, something caught his eye—a mess of cherry-colored hair and a blue-skinned cat at the next table, both feasting on a mountain of food.
Knight's eyes widened. "Igneel," he whispered under his breath.
The noise from the table next to him stopped.
Natsu, mid-bite, paused. "Happy, did you just hear someone say 'Igneel'?"
The blue cat, still chewing on a fish, nodded. "Aye, I heard it."
"Meh, must be my imagination," Natsu shrugged, returning his attention to the food.
Knight smiled and stood up, moving to sit across from them. "Good evening, you two. Want to know where Igneel is? Buy me dinner."
Natsu and Happy froze, staring at him.
"Who are you?" Natsu asked, mouth full of food.
Knight removed his left glove and revealed the blue emblem of the Fairy Tail guild on his hand.
"I'm Knight, a Fairy Tail wizard. Nice to meet you, Natsu. And you too, Happy."
Brothers, he thought, I just scored a free meal.
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