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Two days had passed since Varion and the Strauss siblings boarded the train, the journey a blur of rattling cars, brief stops in sleepy towns for food, and quiet conversations that stretched into the night. The overnight compartment had been cramped but safe, with Mira often waking from nightmares of her demon arm spreading, only to find Varion's reassuring presence next to her. Elfman was nervous over meeting a guild full of strangers, and Lisanna had kept spirits up with stories and games. Now, as the train pulled into Magnolia's bustling station with a final hiss of steam, Varion felt a quiet relief—they were here.
He led them off the platform, the kids' bags slung over his shoulder. Magnolia was alive in the afternoon sun: vendors hawking fresh fruits, mages demonstrating spells for tips, and the distant clamor of guilds echoing through the streets. Mira pulled her cloak tighter around herself, hiding her demonic arm, while Elfman and Lisanna gawked at the colorful chaos, their exhaustion from the trip forgotten in the excitement.
"We'll head to my house first," Varion called to them, his voice calm over the crowd noise. "You've been stuck on that train for two days—you all need a shower and fresh clothes before anything else."
Lisanna cheered, skipping a little faster. "Yay! A real bath!"
Elfman nodded, sniffling slightly from the dust. "S-Sounds good…"
Mira walked beside Varion, her blue eyes glancing up at him gratefully. "Thanks again… for everything."
He smiled softly. "No problem. It's just up ahead."
The house came into view soon—a sturdy two-story brick home on the outskirts, with a wide porch and a big backyard that backed onto a wooded area. It was simple but spacious, the kind of place built for a growing family. Varion unlocked the door, ushering them inside. The living room was cozy, with mismatched furniture he'd picked up cheap, a fireplace crackling faintly from a self-sustaining magic charm, and the faint scent of fresh bread lingering from breakfast.
"Bathrooms upstairs," Varion said, pointing. "Towels in the closet next to it. Take your time, I'll make some sandwiches while you clean up."
The siblings nodded eagerly, heading up with their spare clothes—worn but clean outfits packed from their hideout. Lisanna and Mira shared one bathroom, giggling as they splashed water, while Elfman took the other, his sniffles turning to relieved sighs under the hot stream. Varion coated his body in magic carefully burning all the grime and any sweat off of him while careful not damaging his clothes. Then he busied himself in the kitchen, slicing bread, layering ham, cheese, and fresh veggies from the market. By the time they came down—Lisanna in a cute pink dress, Elfman in a simple white shirt and pants, Mira in a modest black top and skirt, her cloak draped over her arm—they looked refreshed, the grime of the train washed away.
"Sandwiches on the counter," Varion said, setting down a plate with a smile. "Eat up, we're heading to the guild after."
They dove in quickly, the simple meal tasting like heaven after train rations. Lisanna munched happily, Elfman wolfed his down with a content grunt, and Mira ate more delicately, glancing at Varion with a small, grateful smile. The two days on the train had bonded them already—late-night talks about magic and fears, Varion sharing stories of the slayers and guild mates to ease their worries.
Once finished, Mira pulled her cloak back on, hiding her arm as they stepped out. The walk to the guild was short, the kids chattering about what Fairy Tail might be like. As they pushed open the doors, the noise hit, brawls in the corner, laughter at the bar.
Someone spotted Varion first—Macao, raising his mug. "Hey, varion's back!"
The greeting chained through the room like wildfire. "Varion! Good to see ya!" Wakaba called. Cana waved from her cards. "Brought new faces?" Levy peeked over her book curiously. Gildarts boomed a laugh. "Kid's collecting strays now!"
Varion returned the greetings with a wave and a small smile, but then he heard running footsteps, small and fast. He looked just in time to see Wendy flinging herself at him in a full tackle hug, her blue ponytails flying.
"Varion!" she cried, arms wrapping around his waist.
He caught her effortlessly, lifting her with a small spin to bleed off the momentum, her giggles filling the air as she twirled. "I missed you!" she said, hugging him tight once she was set down.
Varion ruffled her hair gently. "Missed you too, Wendy. All of you."
The guild watched with warm smiles, the new arrivals—Mira, Elfman, and Lisanna—hovering awkwardly behind him as the cheers continued.
Varion steadied Wendy in his arms as she hugged him tight, her giggles echoing in the guild hall. The cheers from the members died down slightly as the slayers crowded around, Natsu tugging on his pant leg non stop while being his normal loud self trying to get him to fight him, Sting grinning wide, Rogue nodding quietly, and Gajeel grunting an awkward "Welcome back." The guild watched with warm curiosity, a few older members like Macao chuckling at the family reunion.
Once Wendy let go, hopping down with a beaming smile, Varion turned his attention to the Strauss siblings hovering behind him, Mira still clutching her cloak tightly, Elfman being shy but trying to act brave, Lisanna peeking out with wide-eyed wonder at the chaotic but welcoming hall.
"Everyone," Varion called out, his voice carrying over the noise as he gestured to them. "These are Mirajane, Elfman, and Lisanna Strauss. They've had a rough time—misunderstood magic, scared villagers calling Mira a demon. But they're mages, like us. Take Over specialists. They're staying with me for now, and I hope you'll make them feel at home."
The guild responded with a fresh wave of cheers and offers—"Welcome!" from Cana, "Need some juice?" from Wakaba, "We love new faces!" from Levy. Mira blushed slightly under the attention, pulling her cloak closer, while Lisanna waved shyly and Elfman wiped his teary eyes, overwhelmed but smiling.
Varion caught Makarov's eye across the room, the master nodding from his perch at the bar. "Master," Varion said, approaching him. "Can we have a small chat in the office? It's about them."
Makarov hopped down, his jovial grin in place. "Of course, my boy. Lead the way."
Varion turned to Lisanna and Elfman. "You two wanna go play with the other kids while we talk? Natsu, Wendy—show them around please."
Lisanna's face lit up. "Yeah! Come on, Elfman!"
Elfman sniffled, nodding as he followed, but perked up at the sight of the younger guild members. Natsu grabbed Lisanna's hand enthusiastically. "This way! We got games and stuff!"
Wendy smiled at Elfman. "It's fun here. You'll like it."
As the kids headed off, Varion, Makarov, and Mira made their way up the stairs to the office. Mira walked quietly beside Varion, her cloak brushing his arm, her expression a mix of nerves and hope. Once inside, Makarov closed the door and hopped into his chair, gesturing for them to sit.
"So," Makarov said, leaning forward with a kind smile. "What's the story?"
Varion explained everything—the "cursed" forest, the villagers' fear and racism, Mira's Take Over gone wrong during the mission to save her siblings from the demon beast, how she'd absorbed its power to protect them but now couldn't control it. He detailed the threats from the chief, the demands to "do his job" and kill her, calling him a demon sympathizer. "They wouldn't listen," Varion finished. "Scared, ignorant—treated her like a monster for saving them."
Makarov's face darkened as Varion spoke, his small hands clenching into fists on the desk. By the end, he was fuming, his jovial demeanor replaced by paternal fury. "Those fools dared threaten one of my children?" he growled, slamming a fist down hard enough to crack the wood. "Blacklisting them from Fairy Tail requests is the least I'll do—I'll make sure every allied guild knows about this. No one messes with my kids!"
Mira's eyes widened at the outburst, touched by the protectiveness from a man she'd just met. Makarov took a breath, then turned to her, his expression softening instantly as he dropped back into his warm, jovial personality, a grandfatherly smile spreading across his face. "Now, let's see what we can do about that arm of yours, young lady. Take Over magic, eh? Tricky stuff, but we've got resources. We'll figure it out but I need to see the arm."
Makarov leaned forward in his chair, his sharp eyes focusing on Mira's demonic arm as she reluctantly extended it, pulling back her cloak sleeve with a trembling hand. The limb was twisted—dark scales covering the skin, jagged claws tipping her fingers, and black veins pulsing with unholy energy that seemed to writhe like living shadows. He examined it visually first, squinting as he traced the contours with his gaze, noting the unnatural fusion of flesh and demonic essence. Then, his hand glowed with a soft, probing magic—a gentle scan that hummed through the air like a low vibration, mapping the internal flow of power.
"Hmm," Makarov muttered, his mustache twitching as he concentrated. "Strong possession, but not complete. The demon's soul is fighting for dominance, but it's anchored oddly—like it's fused but not fully integrated."
Mira shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny, her cheeks tinting pink from the embarrassment of exposing her "curse" to strangers. Varion stood nearby, his arms crossed, watching with quiet concern.
Makarov straightened, then pointed at an old tome on a high shelf across the office. With a casual flick of his wrist, magic enveloped the book, pulling it through the air in a smooth arc until it landed open on his desk with a soft thump. He flipped through the pages quickly, his eyes scanning the ancient text—yellowed parchment filled with diagrams of possession rituals, soul-binding spells, and demonology notes.
After a minute of humming thoughtfully to himself, Makarov nodded. "Ah, I think I've got it. Mira, have you made a magic circle to isolate the demon's soul yet? Or beaten it into submission—forced it to yield through sheer will and power?"
Mira shook her head, her face flushing deeper with embarrassment, the pink spreading to her ears as she looked down at her feet. "N-No… I didn't know I needed to do that. I thought… I thought it was just stuck in me forever."
Makarov waved his hand dismissively, his tone kind and reassuring, like a grandfather brushing off a minor mistake. "No big deal, child! Happens to the best of us when magic goes sideways. Here—read this page. It'll explain the basics. Then, we'll help you make a magic circle and beat that demon into submission. You'll be back in control in no time."
Mira took the book gingerly, her eyes scanning the page, while varion read over her shoulder, it was a detailed diagram of a containment circle etched with runes for soul extraction, notes on channeling personal magic to dominate the entity. She read quietly, absorbing the instructions, her brows furrowing in concentration.
After a few minutes, she nodded. "Okay… I think I get it."
Makarov hopped off his chair with surprising agility. "Excellent! Let's clear some space."
They moved the desk aside, and Makarov began drawing the circle on the floor with glowing magic chalk—intricate runes forming a pentagram-like pattern that pulsed with binding energy. Varion helped, adding his own star magic to reinforce the lines, the silver light weaving into Makarov's golden magic like stars in a night sky. Mira watched, her embarrassment fading into determination.
Once complete, the circle hummed to life, a soft barrier shimmering around its edges. "Step inside when you're ready," Makarov said. "Focus your will—command the demon to submit."
Mira took a deep breath, stepping into the center. Her arm began to glow darkly, the demonic energy surging as the circle activated. With a guttural roar, the demon's soul manifested—summoned from her body in a swirling mass of shadow and fangs, a hulking ethereal beast with glowing red eyes and claws extended. It lunged immediately, jaws snapping toward Mira in a bid to reclaim its host.
But before it could strike, Makarov and Varion reacted in unison. They both released the hold they had over their magic focusing it on the demon, the pressure alone slammed it into the ground. In the demon's point of view it looked as if a giant made of light and a silver dragon were standing above it daring it to disobey.
The demon howled, its form distorting and shrinking until it was forced into submission, dissolving back into Mira, but this time, tamed, the dark energy receding under her control. Mira gasped, staggering as the circle faded, but she felt it, the demon's soul beaten, yielding to her will.
Mira collapsed to her knees in the center of the fading magic circle, her breath coming in shaky gasps as she stared at her arm, now smooth, pale, and human again, the dark scales and pulsing veins gone like a bad dream. Tears welled in her blue eyes, spilling over as she flexed her fingers, watching them move without the demonic taint. "It's… it's normal," she whispered, her voice breaking with disbelief and relief. The weight that had crushed her for months lifted, leaving her trembling.
She looked up at Varion first, her eyes shining through the tears. Without a word, she launched herself forward, crashing into his chest with a desperate hug, burying her head against his shirt. Her arms wrapped around him tightly, as if afraid he'd vanish if she let go. "Thank you… thank you… thank you," she repeated over and over, her voice muffled and choked with sobs, the words tumbling out like a prayer.
Varion blinked in surprise at first, his arms hovering awkwardly for a second before he wrapped them around her gently, one hand stroking her white hair in slow, soothing motions. The softness of it under his fingers made his heart skip, a warmth spreading through him that had nothing to do with magic. "It's okay," he murmured softly, his voice steady despite the sudden closeness. "You're safe now. It's over."
Makarov watched from his desk with a soft smile, giving them a moment, while Varion held her, the hug lingering as her sobs quieted into hiccups. Mira's body relaxed against him, the tension melting away, but as she calmed, she became acutely aware of how close they were—his steady heartbeat against her ear, the gentle rhythm of his hand in her hair. A deep blush crept up her neck to her cheeks.
Finally, she pulled away, refusing to look at either Varion or Makarov, her face burning as she stared at the floor, fiddling with her cloak. Varion felt his own cheeks heat up slightly, rubbing the back of his neck as he glanced away, the intimacy of the moment leaving them both flustered.
Mira took a steadying breath, then turned to Makarov, bowing her head deeply. "Thank you… so much," she said, her voice still thick with emotion. "For everything."
Makarov waved it off with a grandfatherly chuckle. "No need for thanks, child. That's what family does."
Mira lifted her head, a small smile breaking through her blush. "Actually… if it's okay, I'd like to join the guild. From what I can see, from what Varion's told me, this feels like a place we could call home. I want to stay… and make this our family."
Varion looked at her, a soft pride in his eyes, while Makarov's face lit up with joy. He hopped off his chair, clapping his hands together. "Of course, my dear! We'd love to welcome you and your siblings into our family. Fairy Tail's doors are always open to those who need them. You're one of us now!"
Mira's smile widened, tears of happiness glistening as she nodded, the weight of her fears finally lifting for good.