In the days that followed, Hope spent his time in the deserted mountain forests north of Magnolia City, familiarizing himself with his newly acquired power.
Early that morning, after a simple breakfast, he planned to leave the city for training as usual, but he was stopped by Mirajane.
"Hope, help me take these to Granny Polyushka." Mirajane packaged the medicinal herbs she had recently received and pushed them toward Hope.
Hope reluctantly took the package and weighed it in his hand. "Do I have to go face that human-hating old woman again..."
"Don't say that. Granny Polyushka just likes peace and quiet. If she truly hated humans, why would she have treated our guild members so many times?"
Hope did not refute Mirajane's words. Having been at the guild for so many days, he had learned a bit about Granny Polyushka.
Porlyusica is Makarov's close friend, a Healing Mage with superb medical skills, and once served as Fairy Tail's Pharmaceutical Consultant, forming a team with Makarov, Porlyusica, and Goldmine to go on adventures.
Later, Makarov became the Guild Master, the team disbanded, and everyone went their separate ways to pursue their dreams. Porlyusica did not leave the guild, but instead went alone to the forest east of Magnolia to live a secluded life.
Usually, the guild helps Porlyusica collect various medicinal herbs. Hope had run an errand for Mirajane once to deliver them, only to be given a cold shoulder by Porlyusica.
Although he later learned from everyone that the old woman treated everyone this way, even Makarov, Hope still didn't really want to see her again.
Seeing Hope's reluctance, Mirajane smiled and nudged him. "You're heading out of the city to train anyway, and it's right on the way. Hurry up and go."
How is that on the way? I was going to the Northern Forest... Only after Mirajane charmed him out the guild doors with sweet talk did Hope realize this.
But since he had already agreed, he might as well make the trip.
It would be great if he could somehow snag some Healing Magic, especially since Healing Mages are so rare... The forest east of Magnolia City was completely different from the desolate mountains and wilderness to the north. Here, ancient trees reached the sky, their branches and leaves intertwined to form a natural green canopy.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps, casting dappled spots of light. The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees, and friendly, cute animals occasionally passed by. Sometimes, the distant sound of birdsong could be heard.
This was indeed a good place for seclusion.
Wandering through the forest, Hope arrived at the deep woods. A wooden house built beneath a towering tree suddenly appeared before him. The house was integrated with the tree, and vines naturally draped over the wooden door, which was marked with symmetrical patterns.
However, what surprised Hope was that someone else was visiting Granny Polyushka besides him.
Standing in front of the wooden house was a person completely wrapped in a black robe. Even their hair was fully covered by a black headscarf, which had a Forehead Protector tied around it. They carried five uniquely shaped Magic Staves on their back.
With this kind of attire, an outsider might think they were cosplaying a Ninja from next door.
Hope instinctively softened his footsteps. His body flickered, and the 'Arc of the Great Tree' activated, instantly and silently merging him into the nearest tree.
Granny Polyushka stood on the porch, wearing her usual stern expression, but Hope keenly noticed the gravity in her eyes.
"I have finished developing the Magic Potion that allows you to use Magic in that world. Are you truly prepared? To face it alone."
Porlyusica's voice contained a rare hint of concern.
The black-robed person's voice was low and hoarse, as if they hadn't spoken in a long time: "Time is running out, Granny Polyushka. I no longer have the ability to stop the next 'Anima'."
"If it comes down to it, ask the people from the guild for help. I also happened to research and produce the Magic Power Potion."
"I don't want to drag the guild into this."
Porlyusica sighed, said nothing more, and simply took a bottle of Magic Potion from inside the house and handed it to the black-robed person.
The black-robed person thanked her, turned, and walked into the depths of the forest, disappearing into the shadows of the dense woods within a few breaths.
Hope waited a few minutes, confirmed the person had gone far away, and then stepped out from behind the tree. He deliberately made his footsteps heavier so Porlyusica would notice his arrival.
"Granny, I'm here to deliver the medicinal herbs." Hope held up the package.
Porlyusica glanced coldly at Hope, her gaze lingering on him for a moment, as if she had noticed something. "Come inside and talk."
Leaving those words behind, Porlyusica turned and entered the wooden house. This surprised Hope somewhat; last time he came to deliver herbs, he couldn't even get through the door.
Entering the Treehouse, the air inside was filled with the complex aroma of herbs. It was cluttered with various medicinal materials, books, and Experimental Equipment. If the clumsy guys from the guild accidentally knocked this over... Hope finally understood why Porlyusica didn't allow guild members inside.
After inspecting the medicinal herbs Hope delivered, Porlyusica sat down unassisted and poured a cup of hot tea. "You saw everything?"
"Yes, or to be precise, I saw a little bit."
Hope couldn't help but ask, "That person just now..."
"You don't know him?"
Porlyusica was a little surprised. Seeing Hope's bewildered expression, she confirmed that the boy genuinely didn't know. She said, "He is your guild's S-Class Mage, Mystogan."
Hope instantly realized that the black-robed person who was completely wrapped up was none other than Mystogan, one of Fairy Tail's S-Class Mages.
Fairy Tail currently has five S-Classes.
But Hope had only met Mirajane and Erza. As for the other three, forget seeing the person, he hadn't even seen their shadows.
Mystogan was also privately referred to by the guild members as the "Most Mysterious Man of Fairy Tail," because since joining the guild, only Makarov had seen his true face, and he rarely interacted with others.
But now it seemed that Granny Polyushka and Mystogan had a very close relationship.
Could Mystogan be Porlyusica's son?
*Slap!*
Porlyusica casually pulled out a book and slapped Hope across the face. "You stinking brat, the expression you make when thinking dirty thoughts is just as wretched as Makarov's was when he was young."
Was he that obvious?
Hope rubbed his face, still unable to suppress his curiosity. "So, is Mystogan your son, Granny?"
Porlyusica's face darkened, and she subconsciously reached toward the side of the table where a dangerous-looking Magic Reagent was constantly bubbling green.
"Granny, calm down! Please calm down!" Hope decisively admitted his mistake.
Seeing how quickly Hope groveled, Porlyusica snorted coldly. "How many years has it been? Why does Fairy Tail always manage to recruit oddballs like you?"
"Ahem, no personal attacks, please." Hope felt helpless. After spending so much time with the people in the guild, sometimes he felt like he was being assimilated.
"Brat, do something for me."
Porlyusica pulled out a map of the Kingdom of Fiore and pointed to a small island on it. "I am missing a portion of 'moonlight flower'. Go to Karna Island and bring me back a supply."
"Once you succeed, I will give you a seed of a Plant that can automatically collect Solar Energy. This Plant can convert Solar Energy into Magic Power that Mages can directly absorb. Although the amount is small, it should be helpful to you."
Hope's eyes lit up. His biggest current problem was his low Magic Power limit, which resulted in his Blue Bar running dry after using a few Magic spells that consumed Magic Power.
Although he could temporarily draw on some of the Magic Power within the earth using the 'Arc of the Great Tree', since he had finally encountered something that could restore Magic Power, whether it was useful or not, he wanted it.
Hope agreed without hesitation, took the map, and carefully looked at the location of Karna Island.
Porlyusica nodded in satisfaction and resumed her indifferent expression. "The moonlight flower only blooms at night, and must be used within three days of picking. Therefore, you must return the moonlight flower to me as soon as possible after obtaining it. If you understand, then leave."
Hope nodded, but just as he was about to leave, he turned back. "Granny Polyushka, I am still very curious, what exactly is your relationship with Mystogan?"
Porlyusica was silent for a moment, then said, "He and I are people from the same world."
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