Chapter 3: Knowledge, Home, and an Unexpected Friend
An hour after lunch, Levy and I made our way through the quieter residential district of Magnolia toward Professor Maddox's house. The streets here were lined with well-maintained homes, their gardens blooming with early summer flowers that filled the air with a pleasant fragrance.
"So," Levy said, adjusting the small satchel slung over her shoulder, "have you worked with ancient magical texts before? Some of the books in Professor Maddox's collection are supposedly centuries old."
"I've studied some older texts, but nothing too ancient." I replied, keeping my answer vague. "That's part of why I'm excited about this job. [Archive Magic] should make cataloging much more efficient than traditional methods."
"I'm honestly a bit jealous," Levy laughed. "Do you have any idea how long it takes me to organize my personal library? Your magic could revolutionize magical research!"
[Notice: The guild member Levy appears genuinely enthusiastic about your abilities. This bodes well for future academic collaborations.]
Before I could respond to Raphael's comment, we arrived at a modest two-story house with ivy climbing up its brick walls. A small brass nameplate by the door read 'Professor E. Maddox.'
Levy knocked, and after a moment, the door opened to reveal an elderly man with wild gray hair and spectacles perched precariously on his nose. He looked exactly like what central casting would order for 'eccentric scholar.'
"Ah, Miss McGarden!" Professor Maddox beamed. "And you must be the Archive Mage I've heard about. Kazuki, was it?"
"That's right, Professor. I'm looking forward to helping organize your collection."
"Wonderful, wonderful! Please, come in." He gestured us inside, leading us through a cluttered hallway lined with overflowing bookshelves. "I must warn you, the collection is in quite a state. My grandfather was... shall we say, more focused on acquisition than organization."
That turned out to be a massive understatement.
The library took up the entire second floor of the house, and it looked like a tornado had hit a bookstore. Tomes, scrolls, loose pages, and magical artifacts were scattered everywhere. Some books floated lazily near the ceiling, apparently enchanted to drift freely, while others were stacked in precarious towers that defied physics.
"Oh my." Levy breathed, staring at the chaos. "This is... extensive."
"Roughly three thousand volumes, by my count." Professor Maddox said proudly. "Though I may have missed a few in the corners. Some of them bite, you see."
"They bite?" I asked, slightly alarmed.
"Only the really old ones. And usually just a nibble. Nothing fatal!" He waved dismissively. "Now then, I'll leave you to it. I'll be downstairs if you need anything. Tea will be ready at four!"
With that, he disappeared, leaving Levy and me alone with the literary disaster zone.
"Well," I said, rolling up my sleeves, "I guess we start somewhere. Levy, want to handle the normal books while I tackle the magical ones?"
"Sounds like a plan! Though..." she gestured at a floating grimoire that was apparently singing opera, "you might want to be careful with that one."
I nodded and activated my [Archive Magic], creating several glowing screens in the air to start cataloging. The magic felt smooth and natural, like a computer interface designed specifically for organizing information.
The first few hours passed quickly as we sorted through the chaos. Most of the books were standard magical theory texts, historical accounts, and spell collections. But as I delved deeper into the older, more dangerous-looking volumes, I started finding some real treasures.
"Hey Levy, look at this." I called out, carefully handling an ancient leather-bound tome. "This is a comprehensive guide to [Transformation Magic] theory. It goes way beyond basic shapeshifting."
She hurried over, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What kind of advanced theory?"
I activated my [Archive Magic] to scan the text, feeling knowledge flow into my mind. "Physical restructuring, mass alteration, even theoretical applications for magical enhancement... This is incredibly detailed."
The information was fascinating. The book outlined not just how to change appearance, but the underlying principles of biological manipulation, the magical theory behind altering bone density and muscle structure, and even advanced concepts like temporarily gaining the physical capabilities of the form you took.
[New knowledge acquired - Advanced Transformation Magic Theory]
"That's amazing!" Levy said. "Anything else interesting?"
I was already moving to another promising section. An entire shelf was dedicated to what appeared to be elemental magic theory, and one book in particular caught my attention—a treatise on wind-based magic that went far beyond anything I'd seen before.
"[Wind-Make Magic]." I read aloud, opening the volume. "This is... wow."
The book detailed a specialized form of Molding Magic that used compressed air to create semi-solid constructs. Unlike regular \[Wind Magic\], which manipulated existing air currents, this technique could forge actual objects from atmospheric pressure—invisible weapons, protective barriers, even complex mechanisms.
[Archive Magic] drank in the knowledge eagerly, showing me diagrams of magical circles, instructions for precise mana manipulation, and theoretical applications I'd never considered.
[New knowledge acquired - Wind-Make Magic Theory\]
"You're like a kid in a candy store." Levy observed with amusement.
"Sorry, it's just... some of these techniques are incredible. Look at this next one."
The third book that caught my attention was bound in dark leather and practically radiated magical energy. The title was written in Ancient Draconic: 'Oculus Magicus Analysistem' - roughly translating to 'Magical Eye Analysis.'
"This is about developing specialized [eye magic]." I said, feeling excitement building. "Not just enhanced vision, but analytical capabilities. The theory behind creating magical eyes that can reveal information about anything you look at."
The book detailed the process of developing what it called 'Appraisal Eyes'—a form of eye magic that could analyze and display detailed information about observed targets. The magic worked by channeling mana through specialized neural pathways behind the eyes, creating a sort of magical interface that processed visual data and provided comprehensive analysis.
According to the text, the magic could reveal basic information about objects, people's general capabilities, magical properties, and even suggest weaknesses or optimal strategies. The more advanced the user became, the more detailed the analysis.
[Archive Magic] absorbed every detail, from the initial development exercises to advanced applications.
[New knowledge acquired - Eye Magic Theory (Appraisal Type)]
"[Eye magic]?" Levy asked, peering over my shoulder. "That's incredibly rare. I've only read about a few practitioners in historical texts."
"The theory seems sound." I said, closing the book carefully. "Though developing it would probably take considerable practice."
[Recommendation: The acquired knowledge provides excellent foundations for future magical development. [Eye magic] in particular could prove invaluable for tactical assessment]
"Definitely." I thought back to Raphael. "Between these three magic types, I'll have a lot to work on."
We continued cataloging for another hour, finding several more interesting but less immediately useful texts. By the time Professor Maddox called us down for tea, we'd managed to organize roughly a third of the collection.
"Excellent progress!" the professor said, serving us tea and biscuits. "Find anything interesting?"
"Quite a bit." I said. "Your grandfather had excellent taste in magical theory texts."
"He always said knowledge was the greatest treasure. I'm glad his collection is finally getting the attention it deserves." Professor Maddox beamed. "Will you be able to finish tomorrow?"
"Easily." I assured him. "We should have everything properly cataloged and organized by then."
After finishing our tea, Levy and I headed back toward the guild district. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the cobblestone streets.
"That was fascinating." Levy said as we walked. "I'd love to study some of those texts more thoroughly when the professor's ready to allow researchers access."
"I'm sure he'd be happy to accommodate fellow scholars." I replied. "Especially after we get everything properly organized."
As we reached the main guild hall, Levy waved goodbye and headed inside, probably to update Mira on our progress. I, however, had another task to take care of.
"Raphael, can you help me locate the specific apartment I'm looking for?"
[Certainly. Based on your knowledge of the series timeline, Lucy Heartfilia's future residence should be in the Strawberry District, likely a corner unit with good natural lighting]
"Thanks. Let's go apartment hunting."
The Strawberry District was a pleasant residential area about ten minutes from the guild hall. The buildings were well-maintained but affordable, perfect for young mages just starting their careers. I wandered through the streets, looking for the distinctive building I remembered from the anime.
And there it was—a charming three-story building with flower boxes in the windows and a small courtyard. According to the sign out front, there was a vacancy on the second floor.
Perfect. This was the exact building where Lucy would eventually live. And if I was reading the apartment numbers correctly, the vacant unit was right across the hall from what would become her apartment.
The landlady, Mrs. Hibiki, was a pleasant woman in her fifties who seemed delighted to have a guild mage as a potential tenant.
"Fairy Tail, you say?" she said, looking at my guild mark. "Oh, that's wonderful! We've had several guild members over the years. Very reliable tenants, always prompt with rent."
"I'm looking for something quiet where I can study." I explained. "The guild can get pretty lively."
"Oh, this unit would be perfect then! Good natural light, quiet neighbors, and the previous tenant left some furniture behind. It's right across from another vacant unit, so you'll have a peaceful hallway. Let me show you around."
The apartment was cozy but spacious, with large windows and a comfortable layout. The rent was reasonable, and Mrs. Hibiki seemed more than happy to let me move in immediately. More importantly, I could see the door directly across the hall—apartment 2B, which would eventually become Lucy's home.
"I'll take it." I said, handing over the first month's rent and deposit.
"Wonderful! Here are your keys. Welcome to the neighborhood, dear!"
[New residence acquired - Strawberry District Apartment]
[Notice: You now possess a base of operations with good strategic positioning relative to both the guild and future plot locations.]
"Thanks, Raphael. Though let's hope I don't need the strategic positioning for anything too dramatic."
After getting the keys, I spent some time exploring my new building and the surrounding neighborhood. It was peaceful and quiet, with tree-lined streets and small shops catering to the local residents. My apartment was perfectly positioned—close to the guild, in a safe area, and right across from where one of my favorite characters would eventually live.
[Notice: Excellent strategic positioning. You'll be able to naturally encounter Lucy Heartfilia when she arrives in Magnolia.]
"That's the idea, Raphael. Though I need to be careful not to seem too eager or knowledgeable about her arrival."
As evening approached, I decided to head back toward my new apartment. But as I cut through a small park near the Strawberry District, I heard something that made me stop in my tracks.
A weak, pained mewing sound coming from behind a cluster of bushes.
[Alert: Detecting signs of distress from a small magical entity. Recommend investigation.]
I pushed through the bushes and found something that made my heart clench. A small, white-furred exceed was lying on her side among the fallen leaves, her tiny body trembling. She had beautiful silver-white fur with subtle blue markings along her ears and tail, but she was clearly injured and exhausted.
"Oh no." I breathed, kneeling down carefully. "Hey there, little one."
The exceed's eyes fluttered open—they were a striking violet color, and filled with pain and fear. She tried to move away from me but was clearly too weak to do more than shuffle a few inches.
"It's okay." I said softly, slowly extending my hand. "I'm not going to hurt you. Let me help."
I could see several scrapes and cuts on her tiny form. She was also clearly malnourished, her fur dull and her breathing shallow.
[Recommendation: Your Sky Dragon Slayer Magic includes healing capabilities. You should be able to provide immediate medical assistance]
Right. Wendy's magic wasn't just about wind—it could heal too. I activated my [Sky Dragon Slayer Magic], feeling the familiar warmth of the magic flowing through me, but this time focusing on its restorative properties rather than its destructive ones.
"[Sky Dragon's Healing Wind]." I whispered, gently channeling the magic toward the injured exceed.
Soft, warm air began to swirl around the little creature, glowing with a faint blue light. I watched as her wounds began to close slowly, her breathing becoming steadier, and some color returning to her fur.
The exceed's violet eyes widened in surprise as the pain faded, looking up at me with what I could only describe as wonder.
"There we go." I said gently. "Much better, right?"
She nodded weakly, then tried to sit up. I helped support her tiny form, noting that she was probably no bigger than Happy or Carla.
"Can you speak?" I asked softly.
"Y-yes." she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Thank you... for helping me."
"What's your name? I'm Kazuki."
"I'm..." she paused, seeming to think. "I'm Astra. I... I don't really remember much before being here."
Astra. The name suited her—with her silver-white fur and violet eyes, she did look rather celestial.
"Do you have anywhere to go? Any family?"
She shook her head sadly. "I've been alone for as long as I can remember. I was trying to find food when... when those mean kids started throwing rocks."
My jaw clenched. Kids throwing rocks at an injured exceed? That was unacceptable.
"Well, you're not alone anymore." I said firmly, gently scooping her up. "How would you like to come home with me? I just got a new apartment, and it could use a roommate."
Astra's eyes went wide. "Really? You... you'd want me around?"
"Of course. Every mage needs a good partner, and you seem pretty special to me."
She smiled—the first real expression of happiness I'd seen from her—and nodded eagerly. "I'd like that very much."
[New companion acquired - Astra (Exceed)]
[Notice: This exceed appears to have no connection to the canonical timeline. Her presence should not disrupt established plot points.]
"That's a relief." I thought to Raphael as I carefully carried Astra toward my new apartment. "One less thing to worry about."
"Did you say something?" Astra asked, looking up at me curiously.
"Just talking to myself." I said with a smile. "A bad habit of mine. Are you feeling better?"
"Much better, thanks to your magic. That was amazing—it felt like warm sunshine and gentle breezes all at once."
"That's [Sky Dragon Slayer Magic]. I can manipulate wind and air, but also use it for healing."
"[Dragon Slayer Magic]?" Astra's eyes sparkled with interest. "That's so cool! I've heard stories about Dragon Slayers, but I never thought I'd meet one."
"What about you? Do you have any magic?"
She looked down sadly. "I... I'm not sure. I feel like I should be able to do something, but nothing ever happens when I try."
"We'll figure it out." I assured her. "Sometimes magic just takes time to develop, especially if you've been stressed or injured."
By the time we reached my apartment, Astra was looking much more alert, though still tired. I unlocked the door and carried her inside, setting her gently on the couch.
"Welcome to your new home." I said, looking around the modest but comfortable space. "It's not much yet, but we'll make it work."
"It's wonderful." Astra breathed, looking around with wide eyes. "I never thought I'd have a real home."
"Well, now you do. Are you hungry? I should probably get some food for both of us."
"A little." she admitted.
"I'll run to the market quickly. Will you be okay here for a few minutes?"
She nodded, curling up on the couch cushions. "I'll be fine. Thank you, Kazuki. For everything."
"Don't mention it. We're partners now—that's what partners do for each other."
As I headed out to get supplies, I couldn't help but smile. The day had been incredibly productive—I'd gained knowledge of three new types of magic, secured a perfect apartment, and found myself a companion who seemed like she'd be both loyal and intelligent.
[Notice: Your integration into this world continues to exceed expectations. The addition of a companion should provide both emotional support and tactical advantages.]
"Yeah." I thought back to Raphael. "I have a feeling things are about to get a lot more interesting."
Whatever challenges lay ahead, at least I wouldn't be facing them alone. Between my growing magical abilities, my new guild family, and now Astra, I was starting to feel like I might actually belong in this world.
Now I just had to figure out how to develop those new magical techniques without accidentally revealing too much about my otherworld knowledge. But that was a problem for tomorrow.
Tonight, I had a home to settle into and a new friend to take care of.