Magnolia's atmosphere was still heavy.
What had happened the day before—the sky folding, gravity bending—was fresh in everyone's mind. Children pointed at the sky while whispering, adults exchanged worried glances. Inside the guild hall, a strange silence lingered, as if everyone had realized one thing:
Thorn was no longer just an ordinary guild member.
Thorn quietly appeared inside the hall. His back was slightly hunched, eyes half-closed. The calm, perfectly controlled presence he usually carried was missing.
Everyone's gaze shifted to him automatically.
Ignar Draven nearly slipped off the table.
"Hey—what the—?!"
Zephyr Frost grabbed him before he fell.
Levy adjusted her glasses, silently observing.
In the corner stood Aurelius.
His face showed a mix of subtle shock and fear. He had finally understood that what he considered his "maximum skill" wasn't even equal to 0.1% of Thorn's power. Still, he maintained an outward calm—respect and intimidation both visible.
Thorn chose a corner and sat alone.
Whispers moved through the hall, but he ignored them.
I'm dangerous… I can hurt someone.
Mavis approached him quietly. Her expression was gentle, but slightly hurt.
"Thorn…"
He raised a hand slightly.
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
He was deliberately creating distance.
For Mavis, that was the hardest part. Concern and frustration both flickered in her eyes.
Aurelius offered a subtle smile.
"Don't worry… I can help."
Mavis ignored him, but her heart skipped when she sensed Thorn's emotional state.
---
That evening, Thorn chose the training field.
His demon wings activated again.
Air pressure distorted. Small gravity folds appeared. With every flap, dust clouds rose.
Guild members watched from the balcony.
"Careful, Thorn," Seraphina Noctis said with concern.
Mavis stood quietly, watching him, her heart heavy.
Thorn inhaled deeply and focused.
The edges of his wings glowed purple. Maintaining a subtle space fold, he stabilized himself into a perfect hover. Gravity compressed in his hands as the air around him swirled in circular motion.
"Just one more second…" he whispered.
Slowly, the wings stabilized.
The small distortions dissolved.
It was the first real step toward controlling his new power.
Mavis smiled softly and clapped once.
"Good… you're learning."
Even Seraphina looked impressed.
---
Later, the guild hall settled into a quiet evening.
Thorn sat near the entrance, wings now invisible.
Mavis approached him, hesitating slightly.
"You're not telling me what you're feeling…"
His breathing was slow.
"…I lo—"
Suddenly, a small magical disturbance rippled through the hall. Lanterns trembled. A soft alert buzz echoed.
Everyone's attention shifted.
The moment shattered.
Mavis placed her hand gently on Thorn's shoulder.
"Later… we'll finish this."
He nodded slowly, eyes still filled with emotion.
Aurelius stood in the shadows, visibly shaken—yet respectful.
---
On the rooftop, Thorn sat alone, staring at the stars.
Mavis joined him quietly and took his hand.
"You know… I'm here," she said softly.
"…I know," Thorn replied.
The stars twinkled.
Magnolia settled into calm silence.
But inside the guild—and inside their hearts—nothing was predictable anymore.
Cliffhanger:
Thorn's hand remained in Mavis's. Resolve and emotion burned in his eyes, ready for whatever came next—love or danger.
---
That evening, Magnolia's streets glowed gold and pink under the fading light.
The guild hall door opened quietly, and a shadow slipped out.
Thorn walked through the corridor with his usual deadpan expression. Inside him was a mix of exhaustion, guilt, and the faint thrill that came with regaining control over overwhelming power.
Then—
A soft giggle echoed down the hallway.
Thorn glanced over his shoulder instinctively.
Mavis Vermillion stood there, glowing gently, a playful aura around her.
"Thorn… are you hiding?" she teased.
"…I'm not hiding."
"Yeah, sure," she smiled wider. "Then what's with this strange energy? It feels like you're intentionally avoiding me."
He took a silent step forward, hands in his pockets.
Mavis leaned closer and whispered,
"You know… I've already placed a magical tracker on you."
Thorn froze.
His heart skipped.
The next moment—SSS+ speed.
He vanished in a blur, sprinting toward the rooftop.
Inside the guild hall, Ignar was watching with popcorn.
"What is even happening, Zephyr?"
Zephyr leaned back, deadpan.
"That speed… impossible."
Levy adjusted her glasses and scribbled notes.
"And Mavis's mischief is officially confirmed. Probability of chase completion: 0.001%."
---
Thorn leapt from rooftop to rooftop, dodging railings and edges with perfect precision.
Behind him, Mavis floated effortlessly, magical lanterns lighting up his path like playful traps.
"Catch me if you can, Thorn!"
"Stop messing with my balance," he muttered while running.
As he prepared to land on the next rooftop, a familiar voice echoed.
"New member in action… Thorn?"
Valeria Stormblade stood there, armor shining, expression confident.
Thorn froze for a fraction of a second.
Mavis smiled mischievously.
"See? You attract attention easily."
Thorn rolled and activated his speed again.
Valeria stepped forward, teasing softly.
"Watching you struggle in a chase… interesting."
"I don't want trouble," Thorn replied flatly.
---
The chase turned into full comedy mode.
Guild members watched from rooftops, streets, and balconies.
Ignar crashed into a flower stall.
Zephyr jumped across tables to avoid him.
Levy kept updating her tracker data.
"Thorn! You're about to fall from the ceiling!" Seraphina yelled—secretly smiling.
"…Not falling," Thorn replied.
"Challenge accepted?" Mavis whispered playfully.
---
Valeria appeared on a rooftop in perfect stance.
"Thorn. Fight me."
He sighed and shifted his hands in his pockets.
"Fine. Let's go."
The fight began.
Thorn deliberately held back—no full wings, no overwhelming power.
Valeria attacked with confidence: precise strikes, magic bursts.
Thorn dodged calmly, countering with subtle precision.
The guild fell silent.
Ignar dropped his popcorn.
Zephyr facepalmed.
Mavis floated above, slightly blushing.
"He really is… mine."
With every exchange, Valeria realized the truth.
Even restrained, Thorn was overwhelming.
"…Impossible," she whispered as her strike was perfectly neutralized.
Lanterns fell. Banners flapped.
Levy and Seraphina laughed quietly.
"This is a circus!" Ignar yelled.
Mavis teased lightly,
"Careful… or you'll make me jealous."
Thorn's face remained deadpan—ears slightly red.
The fight ended cleanly.
Valeria stepped back, impressed.
"You're… strong."
Thorn sat quietly in a corner, slightly flustered.
Mavis smiled smugly.
"I told you. He's mine."
The guild laughed and teased him.
In the shadows, Aurelius watched—impressed, intimidated, silent.
---
Evening returned its calm.
On the rooftop, Thorn sat again.
Mavis joined him, glowing softly.
"Now tell me," she whispered teasingly, "what are your feelings?"
He replied quietly,
"Focus on actions. Words are unreliable."
She laughed softly, blushing.
"Fine. But next time—no running away."
The stars shimmered above Magnolia.
Peace returned.
But in Thorn and Mavis's hearts, the tension—and the romance—burned brighter than ever.
Final Cliffhanger:
Aurelius watched from the shadows.
The guild whispered.
And Thorn's wings flared faintly in the night—
ready for the next challenge.