"Alder."
"..."
"Alder!"
"..."
"That's it. I'm coming in!"
The sun had barely begun to rise, the faintest hints of dawn painting the sky outside the window. Inside, the peaceful stillness of my morning sleep was completely shattered by the sound of a young girl's voice.
"Alder! Wake up! It is time! Get up already !"
I groaned as the door to my room slammed open, and in stormed Cana, her brown eyes sparkling with excitement and determination. "Come on, come on, come on!" she shouted, bouncing onto the edge of my bed with an energy that should have been illegal at this hour. "Today's the day ! It is our first mission together ! You can't just sleep through it !"
I barely managed to lift my head off the pillow, gurgling something unintelligible in response. My body screamed in protest at the sudden disruption, every muscle somehow sore and stiff—something that shouldn't even be possible, thanks to [Gamer's Body].
"Cana…" I croaked my voice hoarse with sleep. "What's… wrong with you ?"
"It's our first mission together!" she repeated, bouncing on the mattress like a hyperactive puppy. "A real mission ! I have been waiting an entire month for this ! I had to beg Master for days just to convince him ! Isn't that amazing ?"
Rubbing my face, I squinted at her, and then turned to glance at the clock on the wall. My stomach sank.
"Cana…" I said slowly, my voice now devoid of emotion. "It's six in the morning."
"So ?" she shot back, grinning as if this was the most normal thing in the world.
"It's Sunday."
"And ?"
I stared at her for a long moment, my brain struggling to process her boundless enthusiasm while I felt like I had been run over by a train. Finally, I let out a heavy sigh and sank back into the pillow.
"How did you even get in here ? I made sure to lock the doors and windows after I finished my shift at the bakery."
"Granny Wilma let me in," she said cheerfully.
Of course, she did. Sighing, I began untangling myself from the den of blankets and pillows I called a bed. "Just… give me a second to wake up," I muttered.
Cana tilted her head, confused. "Okay, so does that mean you're getting up now ?"
"Yeah," I said, sitting up slightly before pointing at the door. "Right after you leave."
"Wait, what—"
Before she could protest, I nudged her off the bed with my foot and shuffled her toward the door. Despite her attempts to cling to the frame, I managed to push her out, shutting the door firmly behind her.
"I'll be ready in five minutes!" I called through the door. "Just… let me have my five minutes of peace!"
Outside, Cana huffed dramatically. "Fine! But don't take too long, Alder !"
I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose before collapsing back onto the bed for a moment. Staring up at the ceiling, I muttered, "Why me…" before forcing myself to sit up and start getting ready.
After a quick shower, I brushed my teeth, changed into fresh set of clothes, and headed downstairs—only to be met with a bizarre sight that had somehow become part of my daily life.
In the kitchen, Laxus and Cana were silently glaring at each other, their eyes locked in a battle of wills. I could almost swear I saw actual sparks flying between them as they continued their unspoken death match.
Meanwhile, Grandma went about serving breakfast, completely ignoring the tension in the air, as if two kids silently plotting each other's downfall over pancakes was the most normal thing in the world.
The moment the stack of pancakes hit the table, the stalemate broke. The two of them pounced like starving wolves.
"Hey, Laxus ! You're eating too much—leave some for me!" Cana shouted, trying to wrestle a pancake off his plate.
"I'm bigger and older than you, Cana," Laxus shot back, stuffing a bite into his mouth before she could grab it. "That means I'm allowed to eat more !"
My lips twitched at the sight. This chaotic scene had become a strange new normal. While I was used to sharing breakfast with Laxus and Grandma, Cana was still a relatively new addition to our table.
It had only been a month since she first joined the guild and consequently meet Grandma, but somehow it had taken the old woman less than 24 hours to unofficially adopt her—just like she had with Laxus.
At this point, I might as well start calling my Grandma "Bruce Wayne."
I sighed, shaking my head as I walked into the kitchen. "Do you two ever eat like normal people, or is this just how it's going to be every morning ?"
Cana turned to me, cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk, a piece of pancake dangling from her fork. "He started it!" she mumbled through a mouthful of food.
"Did not !" Laxus growled, glaring at her as he grabbed another pancake. "She's just mad because I'm faster."
"Faster? You're hoarding all the syrup! Leave some to the rest of us " Cana pointed an accusatory finger at Laxus, who was unapologetically drowning his stack in maple syrup.
"Laxus, share the syrup," I said flatly, sliding into my seat. "Before Cana decides to declare war and you two burns the house down."
"I wasn't going to burn it down!" Cana protested, pouting as she finally managed to snag a piece of bacon.
"Yet," I muttered under my breath, earning a huff from her.
Grandma, as calm and unfazed as ever, placed a fresh plate of scrambled eggs on the table and gave us all a stern look. "There's plenty for everyone. Eat properly, or none of you will get seconds."
That shut them both up immediately.
I took another bite of toast, smirking as I watched them both devour their breakfasts, as they had not eaten in days. Laxus, unsurprisingly, was eating as if the world depended on his pancake consumption. Cana was not much better, munching away with such gusto that it was clear proper meals were not something she had been used to.
Honestly, I could not blame them. Laxus lived with Master, and while his magical power was incredible, Master's culinary skills were... well, let us just say there was a reason Laxus usually ate at the guild bar.
Cana, on the other hand, was still in a tight financial spot. The guild bar was her only reliable option most days, and while Enno's cooking was far from bad—actually, whoever married her was in for a lucky life—at the end of the day, she was cooking in a bar, not a proper kitchen.
"Honestly," I said, leaning back in my chair, "you two are like wild animals. It's a miracle Grandma puts up with us."
"She likes us more than you," Laxus teased, smirking over the rim of his coffee mug.
"Yeah, that's why I'm the one she trusts to clean up after your messes," I shot back.
"Enough, you two," Grandma said, though her tone held no real bite. She set down a plate of scrambled eggs in front of Cana and added, "Cana, dear, have some more eggs. Laxus, chew slower, or you're going to choke."
The chaos gradually subsided as we ate, replaced by the warm, comfortable atmosphere that only breakfast at Grandma's could provide. Cana was grinning as she fed small pieces of her toast to Gild, who wagged his tail enthusiastically under the table.
"Hey, Alder," Cana said suddenly, looking up at me with wide, excited eyes. "What kind of mission do you think we're going on today ? Do you think it's going to be something cool, like fighting a monster ?"
I raised an eyebrow. "First mission together, huh ? Let me guess—you're hoping for an epic battle so you can prove how tough you are ?"
"Maybe," she replied with a giggle, puffing out her chest dramatically. "And I could even be the one to save the day!"
Laxus snorted into his coffee. "Yeah, sure. You'll 'save the day' as long as the monster is smaller than your puppy."
"Hey!" Cana shouted, glaring at him before grabbing a piece of bread and tossing it at his face.
I laughed, dodging the bread as it ricocheted toward me. " Remember, Cana it's your first mission. No need to go overboard."
"Unless it's bandits," Laxus muttered, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Bandits would be fun."
Cana's eyes lit up. "Do you think we'll see bandits ?"
I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Please don't give her ideas."
"Oh, come on, Alder," Cana said, waving me off. "We both know we're more than enough to handle a couple of bandits."
" You Mean me and alder are more than enough to handle a couple of bandits" laxus smirked as he looked at cana
" why you " Cana huffed as she silently glared at laxus
Sighing, I reached into my [Inventory] and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Both of their heads turned instantly, their curiosity piqued.
"Remember when I said you should bring a coat ?" I said, unfolding the paper. "I knew this was going to happen. It's a good thing I already chose a job for us."
I placed the job request on the table, letting them read over it.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Herb Retrieval
Requirements: None
Location: Outside of Mt. Hakobe
Type of Mission: Retrieval
Rank: D+
Description: Recently, there's been a shortage of medical ingredients across the continent due to the situation in the northern regions, particularly in Brago. I need a black flower called the Black Lily, which glows faintly purple at night. This flower is the key ingredient in a pain medication I prescribe to my more heavily injured patients, and I'm running out.
The flowers grow at the base of Mt. Hakobe, away from most monsters, so it should be safe. Unfortunately, I can't gather them myself, so I was hoping someone might be willing to help. Your efforts will be rewarded, and it would mean a great deal to me.
A map to the flower's location is included on the back of this request.
Requestor: Dr. Vroman
Reward: 10,000 Jewels + 500 Jewels for every additional flower you find.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Cana's eyes scanned the page eagerly, her lips moving as she read. Laxus leaned over her shoulder, his face devoid of interest until the mention of jewels.
"Ten thousand Jewels ? Not bad," he said, straightening up.
Cana looked up at me with a slight pout. "But it's just picking flowers…"
"Trust me," I said, already predicting her complaint. "It's a D+ rank mission, so it'll be good practice. Plus, there's still plenty of adventure in it—Mt. Hakobe's no picnic, even without monsters."
"Besides," Laxus added with a smirk, "it's better than sitting around doing nothing."
Cana still seemed hesitant, her brown eyes betraying an uncertain look that lingered behind the facade of confidence she usually wore so well.
Moreover, I understood why.
This was her first real job without a senior member of the guild accompanying her.
During her time at Fairy Tail, Cana had gone on a handful of jobs with Enno, Macao, and Wakaba. She had shown great potential each time—more than great, really.
She was Gildarts' daughter (and wasn't that embarrassing for me, considering how long it had taken me to remember).
Her mother, Cornelia, who was apparently a powerful card-type mage and had taught Cana everything she knew, had trained her. It made sense—no sane parent would let a six-year-old child travel across Fiore without some form of protection.
Despite inheriting her mother's knowledge and deck of card-based magic, Cana still struggled with something that held her back her self-esteem.
It had only gotten worse after she started comparing herself to Laxus and me—something she really should not be doing in the first place.
Aside from the simple fact that we were much older than she was—Laxus being five years older, and me four—we also had far more experience. Between us, we had been taking on quests for over a year and a half, gaining actual combat experience along the way.
Sure, one could argue that both Laxus and I lacked the depth of magical knowledge an ordinary mage had due to our unique upbringings. Nevertheless, we made up for it in our own ways.
Laxus, for example, was practically a walking miracle. Just three years ago, he had been on the verge of death because his body couldn't handle the overwhelming amount of magical energy he was born with. It had literally been tearing him apart.
After his father implanted that Dragon Lacrima into him, making him a Dragon Slayer, Laxus had only grown stronger—far stronger than most people his age could ever hope to be.
Then there was me—the walking, talking definition of a cheat code. Even without the system, my Paladin abilities alone would have been enough to eventually make me a powerhouse by this world's standards.
Cana comparing herself to either of us was not just unfair—it was completely unreasonable. It did a disservice to her potential and everything she had could accomplish one day.
Yet, even though I could see why she felt that way, it still frustrated me.
Cana was not weak—far from it. She had inherited her mother's expertise, and even though she was young, she had the potential to surpass both Laxus and me in her unique own way.
However, self-doubt had a way of creeping in, especially when people who seemed like they were miles ahead of you surrounded you.
The problem was, she did not realize that Laxus and I had our own struggles, our own battles we had to face. Neither of us got to where we were now without pain or sacrifice. Laxus had literally rebuilt his body from the ground up, and I… well, I was not even originally from this world. The system had been both a blessing and a curse, and there were plenty of sleepless nights where I questioned what my purpose even was.
"Cana," I said softly, catching her attention. She looked up from the quest paper, her brow furrowed with that same uncertain expression.
"This mission," I began, choosing my words carefully, "isn't about proving anything to anyone. It is about working as a team, learning, and getting stronger."
She blinked at me, her lips parting slightly as if she wanted to say something but could not find the words.
"And besides," I added with a smirk, leaning back in my chair, "If we run into any trouble, Laxus will just punch it until it stops moving. That's his specialty."
"Damn right," Laxus muttered, sipping his coffee like the idea of solving problems with his fists was the most natural thing in the world.
Cana's expression softened into a small smile, and she let out a quiet laugh. "Thanks, Alder," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Don't mention it," I replied, ruffling Cana's hair. "Now, finish your breakfast. We've got a long day ahead of us—thanks to someone who, despite me healing him, refuses to take a carriage because of his terrible motion sickness," I said, shooting a pointed look at Laxus.
Laxus at least had the decency to look away, mumbling something under his breath as he focused intensely on his coffee.
"And," I continued, turning back to Cana, "I don't want to end up carrying you up Mt. Hakobe because you decided to skip breakfast."
Cana huffed, brushing my hand away with a small pout before turning back to her plate.
Grandma, who had been quietly listening from the kitchen, approached and placed a small bundle on the table. "Here," she said, gesturing to the bag. "I packed some extra snacks for the road. Mt. Hakobe isn't exactly friendly this time of year, and I don't want you going hungry."
"Thanks, Grandma," I said, grabbing the bundle and slipping it into my [Inventory].
"Now," she said with a sly smile, "make sure Cana doesn't fall into a snowdrift. Or worse, don't get distracted and leave Laxus behind."
"Hey!" Cana protested, puffing her cheeks indignantly.
"And why would I get left behind?" Laxus added, glaring half-heartedly.
I grinned. "No promises, Grandma. But I'll make sure we all come back in one piece."
"And the flowers!" Grandma added, crossing her arms with a mock sternness.
"Yes, yes, and the flowers," I said, rolling my eyes, though the corners of my lips tugged upward into a smile.
With breakfast finished and everything packed, we stepped outside. The crisp morning air stung slightly against my skin, and my breath fogged in front of me as I exhaled. The sun had begun its slow climb into the sky, casting a soft glow over Magnolia.
Cana adjusted her scarf, glancing up at me with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. "So… how long do you think it'll take to get to the mountain?"
"Not long," I said, shifting my gear into a comfortable position. "But you'd better stay close. Mt. Hakobe can get dangerous if you are not paying attention. You ready ?"
Her earlier uncertainty melted away, replaced by the kind of determination only a six-year-old could muster. She nodded firmly. "I'm ready."
Laxus stretched his arms behind his head, smirking as he started walking. "Let's just hope it's not boring. If all we're doing is picking flowers, I might fall asleep."
I shot him a sharp look. "Laxus, don't jinx it."
He shrugged his smirk widening. "What's the worst that could happen ?"
I sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of my nose as I led the way down the path.
"Why do I feel like you just cursed us all ?" I muttered under my breath..