Chapter 15
The next morning, Leon walked into the Fairy Tail guild hall with a sense of purpose. He was ready to take on more jobs and start earning a steady income.
He made his way to the bar, eyes scanning the job board for anything that could give him a decent payout. As he was about to get lost in his search, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see Master Makarov standing there, a kind smile on his face.
"Ah, Leon," Makarov said, his voice warm and friendly. "How are you settling in? Everything going well so far?"
Leon hesitated for a second before answering. "Well, I'm still staying at the inn... but, uh, I don't really have much left to my name. I've been doing odd jobs around town, but... I could really use more work. You know, to make sure I can stay in a place that's decent."
Makarov's eyes softened, as if he'd been expecting something like this. "Ah, I see. It's not uncommon for new members to need a little extra help when they first join. You know, I've done this before with some of the others."
Leon blinked, unsure where this was going. "What do you mean?"
The master chuckled, a twinkle in his eye. "Well, it's not a problem for me to loan you a little. I've helped some of the other guildmates with a bit of a loan when they were in the same situation. Of course, you'll pay it back when you're able."
Leon felt a wave of relief flood over him. "You'd really do that? I mean, I really appreciate it, Master. But I'll make sure to pay it back as soon as I can."
Makarov waved it off, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Don't worry about it, lad. It's no trouble. You're part of this family now, and we look out for our own. Just remember—always pay it forward when you're able."
Leon nodded, grateful for the offer. It felt nice, knowing that he wasn't alone in this world. "Thank you, Master. This really means a lot."
"You're welcome," Makarov said, giving him a nod of encouragement. "Now, go get yourself a job, and make yourself useful. We're all here to help each other grow, after all."
Leon's eyes lit up as he scanned the job board again. Most of the jobs were small-time, only offering a handful of jewels here and there, but then he spotted one that stood out—a job that paid a whopping 50,000 jewels.
The title alone caught his attention: "Request for Mage Protection – Dangerous Beast Near Magnolia".
He quickly scanned the details.
Client: Local Merchant Union
Description: A group of merchants has been having issues with a dangerous beast that has been attacking their caravans near Magnolia. They've already lost several supplies, and the merchants are afraid to continue their journey without help.
Reward: 50,000 jewels (upon successful completion)
Location: Outside Magnolia, near the Whispering Forest.
The job was a big one. The beast was apparently dangerous, but the payout was substantial. It was exactly what he needed—not just for food or the inn, but for something more lasting.
If he took this job and succeeded, together with the loan, he could finally move out of the inn. He could afford to rent a small apartment, something stable for himself in Magnolia.
He knew he couldn't pass this up.
With newfound determination, Leon grabbed the job request and made his way to the bar, where Mirajane was chatting with a couple of guild members.
"Hey, Mira!" he called out, waving the job sheet. "I've found a job. This one pays 50,000 jewels."
Mirajane looked up from her conversation, eyebrows raising as she saw the amount. "50,000 jewels? That's a pretty hefty reward. Are you sure you're ready for a job like that? It sounds dangerous."
Leon gave her a small, reassuring smile. "I don't really have much choice. I've been staying at the inn, but I can't keep doing that forever. If I complete this job, I'll have enough to get myself a small apartment."
Mirajane studied him for a moment, her expression softening. "I understand. But remember, you don't have to do it all on your own. If you need help, you've got us. Just... be careful, okay?"
"I'll be fine," Leon said, confidence creeping back into his voice. "I've got this."
Mirajane smiled, handing him the job request. "Good luck, Leon. Let me know if you need anything. And take care out there."
With a grateful nod, Leon tucked the job request into his pocket. He'd done the math—if he pulled this off, not only would he have the jewels for an apartment, but he'd also be able to get a head start on the next step of his new life in Magnolia.
As he made his way out of the guild, Leon could feel the excitement growing in his chest.
This was the chance he needed.
He just needed to get through the job first.
The journey out of Magnolia was relatively quick. It didn't take long for him to reach the outskirts of the town and venture further into the dense woods leading to the Whispering Forest.
The air here felt different. The forest was thick with towering trees, their branches tangled above him, blocking out much of the sunlight. Leon didn't let it unnerve him; he had a job to do, and nothing would distract him from it.
As he continued along the path, he spotted a small group of merchants up ahead, their carts laden with goods, looking weary but determined. They were waiting near a clearing at the edge of the forest, a few of them standing guard with makeshift weapons—mostly poles or wooden staffs.
One of the merchants noticed Leon approaching and waved him over. "You the mage from Fairy Tail?" The man was in his forties, his face weathered from years of traveling.
"Yeah, I'm Leon," he answered, walking up to the group. "I'm here for the job. Who's in charge?"
The merchant nodded. "I'm Joren, the head of the merchant group. We've been dealing with this beast for weeks now. We thought we were safe, but it keeps coming back. I hope you're ready for a fight."
Leon nodded, tightening his grip on his sword hilt. He wasn't sure what kind of beast they were dealing with, but with the reward they were offering, it had to be serious.
"Alright," Joren continued, "We'll be heading into the forest soon. Stick close to us, and keep your eyes open. The creature usually attacks when we're at our most vulnerable."
"Understood," Leon replied, glancing around the group. They all seemed nervous, but their resolve was clear. They were depending on him to protect them.
As they started moving deeper into the forest, Leon felt the tension in the air thicken. The merchants murmured to each other, occasionally glancing nervously into the trees.
It wasn't long before they heard a low growl, barely audible over the sound of the wind rustling the leaves. Leon's eyes immediately snapped to the source. Something was lurking just beyond the shadows, something big.
Joren's face paled. "There it is," he whispered, his voice shaking. "Stay close."
A loud roar split the silence. The beast appeared—a massive creature with glowing red eyes, dark fur, and claws that looked sharp enough to tear through steel. It charged at the group with terrifying speed, sending a few of the merchants scrambling back in fear.
"Wooly! Vulcan!" he called, his voice steady and commanding.
The shadows at Leon's feet seemed to pulse and stretch before they coalesced into two monstrous figures.
Leon stood back, watching as the two shadow creatures charged toward the monstrous beast.
The creature lunged at Wooly first, its massive claws swiping down in a blur of motion. But Wooly was quicker. With an impressive turn of speed for its size, the mammoth swung its tusks, narrowly missing the claws. Wooly rammed its tusks into the creature's side, sending the beast skidding back.
But it wasn't done yet. It snarled, pushing itself forward with surprising agility, and took a swipe at Wooly's leg. The mammoth stumbled, but it wasn't fazed for long. Wooly swung its trunk around, slamming the beast in the face and knocking it to the ground.
Vulcan, not one to let Wooly have all the fun, charged in from the other side. The beast, distracted by Wooly's onslaught, didn't see Vulcan coming. With a mighty roar, Vulcan swung its massive fist, smashing the creature in the ribs. The sound of impact was deafening, and the beast howled in pain as it staggered back, dazed by the force of the hit.
Leon, seeing the opening, summoned his sword and advanced, but before he could strike, the creature let out a blood-curdling roar and attempted to charge at him. It was fast, but Leon was faster.
"Wooly! Vulcan! Hold it down!" he commanded.
Wooly and Vulcan immediately responded. The mammoth charged forward, using its sheer weight to slam into the beast's side, while Vulcan stepped in front of Leon, ready to block any attack.
The creature, now frustrated and enraged, swiped again at Wooly, but the mammoth dodged and swung its trunk, wrapping it around the beast's neck. At the same time, Vulcan raised a massive fist and drove it down onto the creature's skull with earth-shattering force.
The beast let out a final, agonized howl before collapsing to the forest floor, its limbs twitching in a final death throe.
Leon exhaled sharply, then took a step toward the corpse. He reached out with his hand, willing the shadow beneath the beast to rise. Darkness pooled, stretching unnaturally as he focused.
"Arise."
Nothing happened.
His brows furrowed. He tried again, narrowing his focus, commanding the darkness with more force.
"Arise."
Still nothing.
One last time.
"Arise."
He gritted his teeth and pushed harder, channeling his energy into the command. The shadow quivered—then stilled.
No response.
Leon slowly lowered his hand, frowning. Either the creature's will was too strong… or he wasn't strong enough yet.
Wooly and Vulcan stepped back, then began to dissolve into wisps of black smoke, returning to the safety of the shadow realm. Leon let them go, still staring at the corpse in quiet frustration.
Not yet.
He stood silently for a moment, taking in the aftermath. The beast was down, the merchants safe. But his own limits had just made themselves known.
Joren, one of the lead merchants, was the first to speak. "That... that was incredible! We didn't think you could handle it so easily."
Leon wiped the sweat from his brow and sheathed his sword. "It's what I do," he said simply, though the truth was, he had learned from fighting much worse.
"Thank you again," Joren said, his voice full of genuine gratitude. "We can finally make it through the forest without worrying about that creature."
Leon nodded, still focused on the forest around them. It was quiet now, but his senses remained alert. "No problem. You should be good to go now."
The merchants began to gather their things, still stunned by the battle they had witnessed. With the creature dead and the path cleared, they packed up their carts, chatting in low, relieved voices.
Leon, feeling the weight of the reward waiting for him, couldn't help but feel a small sense of satisfaction. The job was done, even if he hadn't gotten everything he wanted out of it.
With a nod to Joren, Leon turned toward the road back to Magnolia. The fight had been quick—but the lesson was clear. He still had work to do.
Still, he couldn't help but smile.