NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Trial by Fire
Chapter 3: Trial by Fire
Kael's POV
If someone had told me that joining Fairy Tail involved a death sentence disguised as a trial, I might've reconsidered. But here I was, standing in the guildhall with Natsu, Lucy, and Happy, staring at a job request pinned to the board.
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[Quest Activated: C-Rank Mission – Rogue Thieves in Clover Town]
Objective: Stop a group of rogue mages terrorizing the outskirts of Clover Town.]
Rewards: 3,000 Jewel, +50 System Points, and Unlock: Basic Combat Spells.]
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I read the description twice, hoping I'd misunderstood. "Rogue mages?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound very… C-Rank."
"It'll be fine!" Natsu said, already fired up. "Rogue mages are nothing!"
Lucy sighed, crossing her arms. "You always say that right before we end up running for our lives."
Happy floated above us, grinning. "Aye, but it's more fun that way!"
I glanced between them, wondering if I'd made a terrible mistake. Still, the rewards were too good to pass up, and I wasn't about to back down in front of Fairy Tail's loudest members.
"Alright," I said, forcing confidence into my voice. "Let's do this."
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The Journey to Clover Town
We set out the next morning, the sun shining and spirits high—at least for Natsu and Happy. Lucy alternated between complaining about the weight of her bag and glaring at Natsu for his endless energy.
"So, Kael," Lucy said after a while, "what's your magic? You've got that fancy tome, but I haven't seen you use it yet."
"Uh…" I hesitated, not wanting to admit I barely knew how to use my magic. "It's Arcane Magic. You know, versatile, ancient, mysterious."
Lucy's eyes lit up. "Arcane Magic? That's super rare! Can you cast a spell?"
Happy chimed in, flying in front of me. "Yeah, show us!"
"Sure," I said, opening my tome and flipping through the glowing pages. The runes hovered in the air, and I focused on the spell the system had taught me. "Here goes nothing."
With a flick of my wrist, I cast Arcane Bolt. A small, glowing projectile shot out—and immediately ricocheted off a tree, a rock, and nearly hit Lucy before dissipating into the air.
"Are you kidding me?!" Lucy yelled, ducking behind Natsu.
"Hey, it's a work in progress!" I protested, closing the tome. "Magic's harder than it looks."
Natsu laughed, slapping me on the back. "You'll fit right in with Fairy Tail!"
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Clover Town Trouble
When we reached Clover Town, it was eerily quiet. The usual hustle and bustle of a small town was replaced by boarded-up windows and empty streets.
"Creepy," Lucy muttered, clutching her celestial keys.
"Where are the rogue mages?" Natsu asked, scanning the area. "I wanna fight already!"
"Maybe they're hiding," Happy suggested.
As we moved deeper into town, the silence was broken by the sound of crashing wood. A group of rough-looking mages emerged from a ruined shop, their leader smirking as he twirled a staff in his hand.
"Well, well," the leader drawled. "Fairy Tail sent us some playthings."
"Finally!" Natsu said, flames erupting around his fists. "Let's go!"
The fight broke out before I could blink. Natsu charged into the fray, taking on three mages at once, while Lucy summoned Taurus to deal with another. Happy cheered from the sidelines, leaving me standing awkwardly in the middle of the chaos.
"Uh, system? A little help here?" I muttered.
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[Combat Assistance Activated: Recommended Spell – Arcane Snare.]
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The runes in my tome glowed, and I instinctively cast the spell. Tendrils of glowing energy shot out, wrapping around two mages and pinning them in place.
"Not bad," I said, feeling a surge of confidence.
One of the rogue mages broke free, rushing toward me with a sword. I barely had time to react before Natsu intercepted him, sending the guy flying with a fiery punch.
"Thanks for the save," I said, wiping sweat from my brow.
"Don't mention it," Natsu said, grinning. "Now let's finish this!"
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The Aftermath
By the time the fight ended, the rogue mages were either unconscious or fleeing, and the townsfolk were cautiously emerging from their homes.
"Another job well done!" Natsu declared, throwing an arm around my shoulders.
Lucy groaned, inspecting a tear in her skirt. "You mean another job where you destroyed half the town."
"It's fine!" Natsu said, waving her off. "They'll fix it!"
I couldn't help but laugh. Despite the chaos, I felt a strange sense of belonging. This wasn't just a guild—it was a family.
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[Quest Complete: C-Rank Mission – Rogue Thieves in Clover Town.]
Rewards: 3,000 Jewel, +50 System Points, and Unlock: Basic Combat Spells.]
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As the system displayed my rewards, I glanced at Lucy and Natsu, who were already arguing about what to do next. Happy floated above them, throwing in his two cents.
For the first time since waking up in this world, I felt like I was exactly where I needed to be.
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End of Chapter 3