"It's Dubling," Makarov said slowly, "Joining the guild is no problem, but if you want to join Levy's team, you'll have to ask her, Jet, and Droy."
Rhodes looked at the man speaking with the guild master—a buzz cut, scruffy beard, lifeless eyes, and bare feet despite it being late autumn.
It seemed like the word "sloppy" could be read all over him.
He had seen this guy in the tavern a few times, apparently quite familiar with Jet and the others.
Dubling scratched the back of his head, "I already asked Levy, but she rejected me."
Makarov asked, "Why did she reject you?"
"Because I'm not a mage."
Rhodes: "..."
Levy's team takes on missions—why join in if you're not even a mage?
Thinking back to when he first joined the guild, Rhodes suggested, "Why don't you try learning some magic?"
"Can I?"
Makarov nodded; he wouldn't turn away anyone eager to learn magic, "What kind of magic would you like to learn?"
"The same as Levy's!"
"Solid Script Magic, huh? Rhodes, why don't you explain it to him?"
"Me?" Rhodes was stunned; wouldn't it make more sense for Levy to teach him?
Makarov nodded, "Go ahead."
"Alright then," Rhodes organized his thoughts, "Solid Script Magic is a type of magic where you write words using magic power..."
"Never mind, forget it. It sounds troublesome."
Before Rhodes even finished his sentence, Dubling gave up faster than Jet got rejected by Levy.
"???" Rhodes watched Dubling's departing figure, unsure if he genuinely didn't want to learn or if he had a problem with Rhodes and insisted on Levy teaching him.
"Don't worry about it—that's just the way he is. As long as there's a little hassle, he gives up right away."
Makarov sighed, "I get the feeling even if he joins the guild, he'll end up like Nab—never actually going on missions."
Rhodes thought for a moment, "I feel like I've heard this before."
"That's because Master used to worry you'd become the next Nab."
Rhodes turned his head, "Mira, you're awake?"
"Yeah, full of energy." Mira smiled, flexing her arm a little to show her energy.
She had probably just washed her face; the strands of hair by her ear were still slightly damp, making her look somewhat playful.
Makarov picked up where she left off, "That was just a normal concern. Rhodes is doing great now."
Rhodes looked at him—when he didn't leave the guild, Master compared him to Nab, but as soon as he earned some praise, he suddenly became "great."
Makarov was such a hypocrite.
Feeling uncomfortable under Rhodes's stare, Makarov hopped off the counter, "The guild is in your hands. I have something to take care of."
"Master," Rhodes called to him, "Could you do me a favor and pass these two things to Poluschka when you have time? They're gifts from me and Wendy."
The last part came out sounding a bit odd.
In any case, it was a cloak that Rhodes had picked out, a scented sachet Wendy had made herself, and a bag of medicinal herb seeds that Wendy had collected with everyone's help on Rhodes's suggestion.
Makarov took the items and left.
Mira flipped through the account books and records, complimenting, "Well done."
Rhodes grinned, "Of course. Once I become an S-Class mage, I'll compete for your job—you better worry about losing it, Miss Mira."
"Is that so?" Mira thought for a moment, then smiled sweetly, saying, "How about firing you now then? That way, no salary, and we'll keep your last mission's reward too."
Rhodes said in a deliberately exaggerated tone, "Abuse of power! Someone come do something about this!"
"There is someone, and it just so happens it's also me." Mira sat down, her hands under her chin, "If you have any complaints, feel free to voice them, Mister Rhodes."
Rhodes sighed dramatically, "Alas, the evil demon Mira Jane's grasp has reached every corner of the guild, all power under her control. Even Fairy Tail's strongest newcomer, the star of the future—Rhodes—has no choice but to yield to her temporarily, silently seeking an opportunity to resist.
"But watch out—the power of the oppressed is limitless. Mira Jane's dark reign won't last long!"
What kind of nonsense was this? Mira laughed, "It seems like you've gotten more talkative after going out. Don't turn into Marcus."
Rhodes continued, "In order to keep Rhodes under her control, the evil Mira Jane even tried to interfere with his growth direction."
Mira raised her hand as if to strike him, and Rhodes stopped goofing around with a grin.
...
Once all the trivial matters were handled, Rhodes took advantage of his break to head to the backyard—it was about time to get back to his usual training routine.
This mission made him acutely aware of his shortcomings.
Working alongside Gray and with the help of the Council's Capture Squad, they still struggled a lot to wipe out a Dark Guild.
Not to mention that Gray got injured, though part of it was his own fault.
But compared to Erza, who casually defeated an entire Dark Guild to get back early and eat some dessert, he had a long way to go.
He wouldn't need money for the next half month at least, so it was time to train seriously.
First was enhancing physical fitness and magic power—absolutely essential as the foundation of all magic.
Then, he needed to accelerate his exploration of Summoner's Rift, to see if he could unlock the Blue Buff to help alleviate his magic shortage.
And, he needed to practice more Take Over forms.
Busy days were ahead.
In the evening after work, Rhodes was preparing for extra training when Mira, naturally, also changed into her workout clothes and went to the backyard.
Rhodes asked, "You still do night training lately?"
Mira tied her hair while replying, "Of course. Don't underestimate my perseverance."
There was something particularly captivating about a girl tying her hair.
Watching her finish, Rhodes asked, "What about Elfman?"
Mira complained, "He went off on a job this afternoon. He said a real man can't lose to you—he only just got back two days ago!"
"... What does not losing to me even mean? Anyone who does two missions a month is already better than me."
Rhodes hesitated, "Does he really need to be this 'diligent'?"
He suspected Elfman was already gearing up to be his rival.
Mira gave him a side glance, "You're one to talk. You said you'd rest after the mission, but now it's turned into training."
Rhodes smiled, "This is also a kind of rest, isn't it? Just being in the guild is restful enough—mentally."
Rhodes found that simply being back in the guild made him relax.
Of course, he'd still get a little tense when others got into group fights, but that was a different kind of tension—it didn't feel tiring.
Mira thought for a moment and asked, "Next time, why not try teaming up with Elfman?"
"Sure, when?"
"When you've rested enough."
"I..."
"No, wait," Mira corrected herself, "better yet, when I think you've rested enough."
Rhodes laughed, "Alright."
They continued chatting while doing their warm-up exercises, then started their respective training routines.
Though the exercises differed, and once they got serious, they stopped talking and might not even be within each other's sight.
Just knowing someone else was there with you was already enough.
Training, rest, wiping off sweat, applying medicine.
And then walking her home.
For some reason...
Without Elfman there, Rhodes somehow never had enough magic power left to summon even one crab.
Actually, it wasn't really a mystery.
The autumn night was cool. Mira and Rhodes walked side by side down an empty street. Mira hesitated a moment, then asked:
"Are you free tomorrow?"