Months swiftly passed. After Laxus mastered Observation Haki, Zorn continued to train with him and Cana.
Some Guild Members also successfully entered the physical training area to intensify their training. Everyone was striving to become stronger. Cana, true to her exceptional talent, diligently trained and could even use her monstrous strength as a trump card in battle.
During this period of improvement, Zorn was able to set aside training matters and take Cana, Natsu, and Gray on some simple missions. Laxus was also asked by the Old Man to go on a mission with Mirajane.
On this day, the Master announced that he had something to reveal. All the Guild Members gathered in the Guild, waiting for the Master's announcement. Zorn, enjoying a rare day off, was playing a card game with Lisanna, Cana, and Elfman at a Guild table. Laxus was still lying on the sofa, eyes closed in rest. The Guild Members were as boisterous as ever.
"Thump, thump, thump~" A small old man, with his hands clasped behind his back and wearing the hat Zorn had given him last time, entered the Guild with a calm and composed expression amidst the cheers of the Guild Members. He then jumped onto the bar counter.
"Everyone, I have carefully observed your efforts this past year. Therefore, the new annual S-Class Mage Examination is about to begin. Gildarts will arrive in three days, so the S-Class Exam will also commence in three days," the Master announced solemnly.
"Oh, good! Master, quickly announce the list! Who will be eligible for the examination this year?" Everyone cheered excitedly. One member, eager to know the list, raised his hand and asked excitedly before the Master could speak again.
Laxus opened his eyes upon hearing this, sat up, and looked up, his eyes slightly bright, confidently gazing at the Old Man. Zorn, while listening to the Master speak, was also looking at Cana, who seemed a bit downcast beside him. Zorn knew that Gildarts was a different person to Cana and was thinking about how to tell her directly.
"Gildarts? S-Class Exam?" Mirajane seemed confused. Erza, seeing this, pointed to the unclear notice board on the second floor and said, "S-Class Mage, that means you can go to the second floor to take on high-difficulty missions and are considered one of the strongest candidates recognized by the Guild. As for Gildarts?"
"Gildarts is currently the strongest in the Guild. He uses the extremely advanced magic, Crush Magic, and is the only S-Class Mage," Macao said proudly, putting down his glass after hearing Erza and Mirajane discuss who Gildarts was, as they seemed a bit confused.
"Ahem, I will now announce the examination list. They are…" The Master coughed, signaling Everyone to quiet down, and then paused at this point, building up ample suspense for Everyone.
"Zorn Ace"
"Laxus Dreyar"
"That concludes it."
Some of the members were disappointed not to be selected, lowering their heads in dejection, but they quickly recovered with the comfort of their companions.
"Damn it, I'm so envious! I really want to become an S-Class Mage too!" Natsu, hearing the announced list, looked envious, his eyes shining as he imagined himself as one of the names on the list, able to have a big battle with Gildarts.
"Alright, it seems I need to work hard too." Gray didn't mock Natsu at this moment, as he had the same thought, also wanting to quickly meet the S-Class Exam standard.
"Hey, Natsu, don't think too much, just work hard," Happy, held in Lisanna's arms, earnestly tried to persuade Natsu not to daydream.
"Brother Zorn, hehe, congratulations, congratulations!" Lisanna looked Happy for Zorn and congratulated him on qualifying for the S-Class Exam.
"Brother Zorn, congratulations," Elfman's personality had gradually softened a lot after this training.
Everyone cheered for this S-Class Exam and discussed it enthusiastically. Erza and Mirajane also competed, discussing who would become an S-Class Mage first.
No one noticed Cana's distracted expression at this moment. Zorn, however, had been constantly observing Cana's state.
As Everyone dispersed to work and train harder, Cana, somewhat dazed, walked out of the Guild. Zorn, feeling a little uneasy, followed her.
By the time Laxus's excitement subsided and he wanted to challenge Zorn to a pre-examination match, Zorn was already gone from the Guild.
On a small hill behind the Guild, a gentle breeze carried a slight chill, blowing off the last few leaves from the trees. Cana was sitting on the ground, hugging her knees, her head resting on them, looking with envy and a hint of sadness at a Happy girl in the town, lifted above her father's head, a scene of a family's laughter.
Zorn was behind Cana at this moment, watching this rather poignant scene, feeling a pang of heartache. Recalling Cana's desperate efforts in training and her determination in the examination with Laxus, Zorn now felt that he might have developed some different feelings for Cana, and that he could no longer stand idly by.
"Cana," Zorn slowly probed.
"Why are you here? Are you going to train? Let's go then." Cana was startled to hear Zorn's voice. She quickly put on a Happy expression, turned, stood up, and spoke to Zorn with a cheerful smile, patting the dust off her clothes as she spoke.
"Cana, is there something you haven't told us, Everyone?" Zorn asked softly, gently, and with a hint of nervousness.
"Haha, no, nothing, how could there be?" Cana paused, then forced a cheerful laugh as she explained.
"Whether it's Happy things or sad things, at least sharing them to some extent, that's what a Guild is. One person's happiness is Everyone's happiness, one person's anger is Everyone's anger, and one person's tears are Everyone's tears. That's the Fairy Tail Guild."
"Cana, Gildarts is your father, isn't he? I've noticed it all along. Whenever Gildarts's name is mentioned, your expression has a hint of sadness. Plus, you said you came to the Guild looking for someone, and Gildarts's age—all these factors confirm it." Zorn tried to state his reasoning in a calm tone.
Cana's mood was completely shattered by Zorn's words at this moment. Her shoulders trembled slightly as she slowly recounted her past. As she spoke, tears slowly streamed down Cana's face and fell to the ground.
Zorn slowly stepped forward and pulled Cana into his embrace, patting her back soothingly to comfort her. "Don't worry, I'll teach him a good lesson in this examination. Although I might not win, I'll do my best, how about that?"
Hearing Zorn's words, Cana looked up with her deer-like eyes, still tear-filled, looking at Zorn with a bewildered expression. Zorn was instantly struck by this Cana, and his face immediately turned red. Cana, seeing Zorn's blushing face, only then realized the proximity between them. Even her sadness was now overshadowed by shyness, and her face instantly flushed red, but she didn't push Zorn away. Instead, she just clasped her hands together in front of her chest, at a loss.
"Cana, don't worry. When you're ready, you can tell Gildarts whenever you want. But Everyone in our Guild is behind you. You're not alone, we are all your family, and, of course, I am too. I will always protect you. I want, I want…" Zorn said firmly, his words becoming a little stammering and embarrassed as he tried to express his feelings at the end, rubbing his head.
"Mhm, okay," Cana replied, her mood gradually calming as she listened to Zorn's words. She looked down at the Fairy Tail Guild building, where the Master's roar and Natsu and Gray being sent flying could be heard. She then turned, brushed the hair from her face with her hand, and tilted her head, replying with a blissful smile.
To be continued...