Chapter 2: First Contact x First Mission
The morning sun cast long shadows across Magnolia as I finally touched down on the outskirts of town, my wings folding naturally against my back. The flight had taken longer than expected—turns out there's a difference between gliding and actual sustained flight that I'd had to learn the hard way. My landing wasn't exactly graceful either, but at least I hadn't face-planted.
"Well," I said, brushing dust off my clothes, "that could have gone worse."
[Agreed. Your flight technique improved considerably over the course of the journey. However, I recommend practicing takeoffs and landings when you have the opportunity]
"Noted." I looked around at the familiar yet foreign town spread out before me. Everything looked exactly like the anime, but there was something surreal about actually being here. The smells, the sounds, the way the morning light hit the buildings—it was all so much more vivid than any animation could capture.
People were already moving about their daily routines, and I could see the distinctive guild hall of Fairy Tail rising above the other buildings in the distance. My heart rate picked up just thinking about actually walking through those doors.
"Raphael, any advice on blending in? I'm pretty sure the horns and wings might draw some attention."
[Your appearance, while unusual, is not entirely unprecedented in this world. However, I recommend developing a cover story for your origins before engaging with locals]
Right. I needed a backstory. As I walked through the quieter residential streets toward the town center, I tried to piece together something believable. Traveling mage from a distant land seemed like the safest bet—vague enough to avoid specific questions, but reasonable enough that people wouldn't dig too deep.
The closer I got to the main thoroughfare, the more people I started to encounter. Most gave me curious glances, particularly focusing on my horns and the hints of wings visible beneath my jacket, but no one seemed particularly alarmed. A few children pointed and whispered excitedly, but their parents just smiled and nodded politely when I passed.
[Observation: The locals appear relatively accepting of non-human individuals. This suggests your appearance will not be a significant barrier to integration]
"That's good to know." I murmured under my breath as I turned onto what I recognized as the main street. And there it was—the Fairy Tail guild hall, exactly as I'd seen it countless times in the anime. The sight made my steps falter for a moment.
"This is really happening." I whispered. "I'm actually about to walk into Fairy Tail."
The guild hall was impressive in person, much larger than it had seemed on screen. The distinctive fairy emblem hung proudly above the main entrance, and I could already hear the faint sounds of conversation and laughter filtering out from within.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself. Time to put on my best "traveling mage" persona and hope for the best.
The heavy wooden doors swung open with a satisfying creak, and I stepped into the main hall of Fairy Tail. The interior was just as I'd imagined—long wooden tables scattered throughout the room, the impressive bar dominating one wall, and the second-floor balcony overlooking everything. The morning crowd was relatively small, maybe a dozen people scattered around eating breakfast or planning their day.
And there, behind the bar with her characteristic warm smile, was Mirajane Strauss.
My brain briefly short-circuited. It was one thing to intellectually know I was in the Fairy Tail universe, but seeing one of the main characters in person was something else entirely. She looked exactly like the anime—long white hair, kind blue eyes, and that gentle expression that had made her such a fan favorite.
"Good morning!" she called out cheerfully as she noticed me standing in the doorway. "Welcome to Fairy Tail! Are you looking to hire a mage, or perhaps interested in joining our guild?"
I forced myself to move forward, trying to project confidence I didn't entirely feel. "Actually, I was hoping to learn about joining the guild, if that's possible."
"Of course!" Mira's smile somehow managed to get even brighter. "Please, have a seat at the bar. I'm Mirajane, but everyone calls me Mira. Can I get you something to drink while we talk?"
"Just water would be great, thanks. I'm Kazuki Hayashi." I settled onto one of the bar stools, acutely aware of how my wings shifted against the backrest.
Mira placed a glass of water in front of me and leaned on the bar, her expression curious but friendly. "Kazuki—that's an interesting name. Not many people with names like that around here. Are you from far away?"
Here we go. Time to test my cover story. "Yeah, pretty far. I'm from a region way up north where names like mine are more common. The area has a lot of... unusual residents." I gestured vaguely at my horns. "Skywing Elves aren't exactly rare where I come from, but I wanted to travel and learn about different types of magic."
"Skywing Elf?" Mira's eyes lit up with genuine interest. "I don't think I've ever met one before! That would explain the..." she gestured at my general appearance, "distinctive features. What kind of magic do you specialize in?"
"Wind-based magic, primarily. I can manipulate air currents, generate gusts of wind, that sort of thing. I also have a magic known as [archive magic] that helps me store and process information quickly." I figured keeping it simple was the best approach for now.
"That's fascinating! Wind magic can be incredibly versatile, though we don't currently have any other wind specialists in the guild." Mira's expression grew thoughtful. "Most of our members lean toward more... explosive types of magic. You'd definitely bring something unique to our roster."
I nodded, trying to hide my relief that she hadn't mentioned Wendy. Of course they wouldn't know about her yet—she was still safely with Cait Shelter, and wouldn't join Fairy Tail until the Oración Seis arc. That knowledge felt strange, knowing about people who would become important to this guild but didn't even exist in their world yet.
"I'd be happy to learn from everyone, regardless of their magic type." I said. "Different perspectives can be really valuable for developing new techniques."
"Well, you've certainly come to the right place for that!" Mira laughed. "Fairy Tail has mages with all sorts of magic types. We're always happy to welcome new members who are serious about improving their skills and protecting their friends."
She paused, studying me with those perceptive blue eyes. "Speaking of which, would you mind giving me a small demonstration of your abilities? It's not that I don't trust you, but Master Makarov likes to have an idea of what our members can do."
"Sure, no problem." I stood up, grateful for the relatively empty guild hall. "Should I do it in here, or...?"
"The courtyard out back would probably be better." Mira suggested. "Follow me."
She led me through a side door into a spacious courtyard behind the guild hall. The area was clearly designed for training and demonstrations, with scorch marks and other evidence of magical practice scattered around.
"Alright." I said, moving to the center of the space. "Let me start with something basic."
I raised my hand and traced the familiar rune pattern while focusing on my Sky Primal Magic. "[Aspiro]!"
A controlled gust of wind swept across the courtyard, strong enough to rustle Mira's hair and send a few loose leaves dancing, but nothing too destructive. I followed it up with a demonstration of my [Archive Magic], causing glowing text to appear in the air as I "accessed" some basic information about wind patterns.
"Impressive!" Mira clapped her hands together. "That was both powerful and precise. And that [archive magic]—is that how you store information?"
"Something like that. It's a bit complicated to explain, but essentially I can download and share knowledge directly." I decided to hold off on demonstrating Sky Dragon Slayer Magic for now. That might raise more questions than I was ready to answer. Especially if Natsu asks me about the "dragon" who trained me and if I know where Igneel is.
"Fascinating. I think Master Makarov would definitely be interested in meeting you." Mira's expression grew more serious. "But I do have to ask—do you have any criminal record or outstanding debts? Guild policy requires us to check."
"Nothing like that." I assured her. "I've been focused on training and travel, mostly. Haven't really had time to get into trouble."
"Excellent! In that case, let me go get the guild stamp and some paperwork. Master Makarov is currently upstairs in his office, but I can handle the initial registration if you're ready to join us officially."
My heart started racing. This was it—I was actually about to become a member of Fairy Tail. The absurdity of the situation wasn't lost on me, but the excitement was real.
"I'm ready." I said, probably with more enthusiasm than I'd intended.
Mira beamed at me. "Wonderful! Where would you like your guild mark, and what color?"
I thought for a moment. "Left shoulder, in blue, please." Blue felt right, given my new coloring and sky magic theme.
"Perfect choice! The blue will complement your eyes beautifully." Mira returned a few minutes later with the guild stamp and the necessary forms. "Now, this might sting a little..."
The sensation of the guild mark appearing on my shoulder was strange—a warm, tingling feeling that seemed to settle into my skin and stay there. When Mira pulled the stamp away, there it was: the Fairy Tail emblem in electric blue, marking me as an official member.
"Congratulations, Kazuki!" Mira's smile was radiant. "You're now officially a member of Fairy Tail!"
[Status Update: New Title Acquired]
[Title: "Fairy Tail Mage" - Member of the Fairy Tail Guild]
I looked down at the mark on my shoulder, still hardly believing it was real. "Thank you, Mira. This... this means a lot to me."
"I'm so glad! Now, let me show you around properly and introduce you to some of the other members." She gestured back toward the guild hall. "Most of our S-Class mages are out on jobs right now, but there are still plenty of people for you to meet."
As we walked back inside, I couldn't help but grin. I was officially a member of Fairy Tail. Whatever came next, I was ready for it.
"Oh, and Kazuki?" Mira added as we reached the main hall. "Welcome home."
The warmth in her voice made something twist in my chest. Home. Yeah, I could get used to that.
[Observation: Integration proceeding smoothly. Recommend continuing to maintain cover story while gathering information about current guild dynamics]
"Thanks, Raphael." I thought back. "So far, so good."
Now I just had to figure out how to be a Fairy Tail mage without accidentally breaking the timeline. How hard could it be?
"So, let me give you the grand tour." Mira said, leading me back into the main hall. "Most of our members are either on jobs or still sleeping off last night's celebration, but there are a few people I'd love for you to meet."
As if summoned by her words, the guild doors burst open with a loud crash, and a familiar pink-haired figure stumbled in, looking slightly singed and grinning widely.
"Mira! We're back!" Natsu Dragneel called out, his distinctive scarf trailing behind him as he bounded toward the bar. "And before you ask, it was totally Gray's fault that we destroyed half the client's fence!"
"My fault?!" An equally familiar voice shouted as Gray Fullbuster followed Natsu through the doors, already in the process of removing his shirt. "You're the one who decided to eat the fire that was supposed to scare off the monsters!"
I felt my breath catch. There they were—two of the main characters from the series, bickering exactly like they always did in the anime. The surreal nature of the situation hit me again, but this time I was better prepared for it.
[Observation: Fairy Tail's most chaotic duo has arrived. Recommend maintaining composure and avoiding excessive fan reactions]
Thanks for the reminder, Raphael.
"Oh perfect!" Mira clapped her hands together, seemingly unbothered by the destruction report. "Natsu, Gray, I'd like you to meet our newest member, Kazuki Hayashi."
Both mages turned to look at me, their argument temporarily forgotten. Natsu's eyes immediately locked onto my horns and the hints of wings beneath my jacket, while Gray gave me a more appraising look.
"Whoa, cool horns!" Natsu said with his typical enthusiasm, bounding over to get a closer look. "Are you some kind of demon or something? You smell weird—but not bad weird, like... sky weird?"
"Natsu!" Mira scolded, though she was smiling. "That's not polite!"
"It's fine." I laughed, genuinely amused by his directness. "I'm a Skywing Elf, actually. The horns and smell probably come with the territory."
"A Skywing Elf?" Gray had finished stripping down to his boxers and was studying me with interest. "Never heard of that before. You from around here?"
"Northern regions, pretty far from Fiore." I replied, sticking to my cover story. "I came to Magnolia specifically to join Fairy Tail."
"Smart choice!" Natsu grinned, giving me a friendly punch on the arm that nearly knocked me over despite my enhanced physiology. "Fairy Tail's the best guild in Fiore! What kind of magic do you use?"
"Wind magic, primarily. Some information magic too." I gestured vaguely, not wanting to get too specific about my abilities just yet.
"Wind magic? That's pretty cool!" Natsu's eyes lit up. "Can you make tornadoes? I bet fire tornadoes would be awesome!"
"Natsu, no." Gray said immediately. "Do not give him ideas about combining your magic with fire. We've had enough property damage for one day."
Before Natsu could protest, the guild doors opened again, this time much more calmly. Erza Scarlett walked in, her armor gleaming and her expression serious as always. My heart rate spiked—if Natsu and Gray were intimidating to meet in person, Erza was downright terrifying.
"Natsu. Gray." Her voice carried that familiar note of authority that made both boys immediately straighten up. "I trust your mission was completed successfully?"
"Yeah, Erza!" Natsu said quickly. "All the monsters are gone! We barely destroyed anything!"
"Define 'barely.'" Erza said with a raised eyebrow.
"Only half a fence!" Gray offered helpfully.
Erza sighed, then noticed me standing nearby. Her gaze swept over my appearance with the efficiency of someone trained to assess potential threats.
"And you are?" she asked, her tone polite but cautious.
"My name is Kazuki Hayashi." I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I just joined the guild today."
"A new member huh?" Erza mused. "Interesting features. What are your magical capabilities?"
"Wind manipulation and information processing." I replied, grateful I'd practiced this answer. "I specialize in support and utility magic but may learn more magic in te future."
Something in her expression softened slightly at the mention of support magic. "Useful abilities. Support mages are invaluable in team situations." She paused, then nodded approvingly. "Welcome to Fairy Tail."
Coming from Erza, that felt like a significant endorsement.
"Thanks." I said, unable to hide my relief. "I'm looking forward to working with everyone."
"Speaking of which," Mira interjected, "Kazuki was asking about taking on his first job. Do we have anything suitable for a new member?"
"Actually," a new voice piped up from a nearby table, "I might have something."
I turned to see Levy McGarden approaching, a stack of books balanced in her arms. The petite script mage looked exactly as I remembered—orange hair, brown eyes, and that characteristic headband.
"Hi there!" she said cheerfully. "I'm Levy. I couldn't help but overhear that you use information magic? That's so rare!"
"Nice to meet you, Levy. And yeah, it's called [Archive Magic]. I can store and process information at high speeds, access databases, that sort of thing."
Levy's eyes practically sparkled. "That's amazing! I've read about [Archive Magic] but never met anyone who could actually use it. The theoretical applications alone are—"
"Levy," Mira interrupted gently, "you mentioned a job?"
"Oh! Right!" Levy blushed slightly. "There's a client who's been looking for someone to help catalog and organize an old magical library. Most mages don't have the patience for it, but with your \[Archive Magic\], it could be perfect! Plus, the pay is decent and it's here in Magnolia, so no travel required."
That actually sounded ideal for a first job—low risk, in town, and it would let me test my abilities without drawing too much attention.
"That sounds perfect." I said. "What are the details?"
"The client is an elderly scholar named Professor Maddox." Levy explained, pulling out a job request flyer. "He inherited a large collection of magical texts from his grandfather, but they're completely disorganized. Some might even be rare or dangerous, so he needs someone with magical knowledge to help sort them properly."
"I'll take it." I said without hesitation.
"Excellent!" Mira beamed. "That'll be a great way to ease into guild work. The job pays 50,000 jewel, which is quite good for an organizational task."
Before I could respond, another voice boomed across the guild hall.
"A new member?! They must be a real MAN to join our guild!"
I turned to see Elfman Strauss approaching, his massive frame making the floorboards creak slightly. Despite knowing he was Mira's brother, seeing him in person was still imposing.
"Elfman," Mira said with fond exasperation, "meet Kazuki."
"Nice to meet you!" Elfman said, extending a hand that could probably crush mine if he wasn't careful. "Any friend of Fairy Tail is MANLY in my book! What's your magic?"
"[Wind magic]." I replied, grateful when his handshake turned out to be firm but not bone-crushing.
"Wind magic is MANLY!" Elfman declared. "The power of storms and hurricanes! Very MANLY indeed!"
"Thanks?" I said, not entirely sure how to respond to that.
"Don't mind him." a lazy voice drawled from the bar. "He calls everything manly."
I looked over to see Cana Alberona leaning against the bar with a large barrel of alcohol, her card magic deck scattered on the surface in front of her.
"Cana Alberona." she introduced herself, raising her drink in a casual salute. "Welcome to the madhouse. Try not to let these idiots corrupt you too quickly."
"Hey!" Natsu protested. "We're not that bad!"
"You literally set fire to a client's fence today." Cana pointed out.
"That was an accident!"
"Was it though?" Gray asked skeptically.
As the familiar bickering resumed around me, I couldn't help but smile. This was exactly what I'd expected from Fairy Tail—chaotic, loud, and somehow incredibly welcoming all at the same time.
[Observation: You appear to be integrating well with the group dynamic. Your cover story is holding up under casual scrutiny]
"Yeah." I thought back to Raphael. "They're exactly like I imagined, but somehow more real."
"So, Kazuki." Levy said, appearing at my elbow with the job request. "When do you want to start on Professor Maddox's library? He's available pretty much any time."
"How about this afternoon?" I suggested. "That'll give me time to get settled and maybe learn a bit more about how guild jobs work."
"Perfect! I can walk you over there if you'd like. The professor's house is only about ten minutes from here."
"That would be great, thanks."
"Oi, newbie!" Natsu called out, having apparently lost interest in arguing with Gray. "After you finish your boring book job, you should come train with us! I want to see what your wind magic can do!"
"Natsu," Erza said warningly, "not everyone enjoys your particular style of 'training.'"
"What's wrong with my training?!" Natsu demanded.
"You mean besides the property damage, the hospital visits, and the fact that you consider 'dodge the fireball' a legitimate teaching method?" Gray asked dryly.
"Those are features, not bugs!" Natsu protested.
I found myself laughing at their antics. "I'd be happy to train with you guys sometime, but maybe we start with something a little less... explosive?"
"A MANLY attitude!" Elfman approved. "Knowing your limits is the most MANLY thing of all!"
"I like him already." Cana said, raising her drink again. "He's got common sense. That's rare around here."
As the conversation continued to flow around me, I felt a warm feeling settling in my chest. These people—these characters I'd watched and read about for years—were accepting me as one of their own. It was almost too good to be true.
[Status Update: New connections established with multiple guild members. Social integration proceeding ahead of schedule]
[Recommendation: Focus on successfully completing first job to establish credibility within the guild]
Good advice. The library job would be perfect for testing my [Archive Magic] in a practical setting, and it would help establish my reputation as a reliable guild member.
"Alright." Mira said, clapping her hands to get everyone's attention. "Let's let Kazuki get settled in. Levy, why don't you show him to Professor Maddox's place when he's ready?"
"Will do!" Levy said cheerfully.
"And Kazuki," Mira added with a warm smile, "don't hesitate to ask if you need anything. We're all family here."
Family. The word hit me harder than I'd expected. I'd gone from being a lonely shut-in in my old world to having a whole guild of people who were already treating me like I belonged.
"Thank you." I said, meaning it more than they could possibly know. "All of you. This... this really means everything to me."
"Aww," Cana said with a slightly tipsy grin, "look at that. We broke him already."
"In the best way." I assured her, wiping at my eyes before any actual tears could form.
"So MANLY!" Elfman declared, which somehow made everything perfect.
Yeah, I thought as I looked around at my new guildmates, I could definitely get used to this.
Now I just had to make sure I didn't accidentally break the timeline while I was at it. But that was a problem for future me to worry about.
Right now, I had a library to organize and a new life to build.