Chapter 4: Growth and Discovery
The next morning, I woke up to the pleasant sensation of something small and warm curled up against my shoulder. Opening my eyes, I found Astra sleeping peacefully on the pillow next to me, her silver-white fur catching the early morning sunlight streaming through the windows.
"Good morning, little one." I whispered softly, careful not to startle her.
Her violet eyes opened slowly, and she stretched like any normal cat would, complete with a tiny yawn that was absolutely adorable.
"Morning, Kazuki." she said, sitting up and looking around the apartment. "I wasn't sure if yesterday was just a really good dream."
"Nope, all real. How are you feeling?"
"Much better! Your healing magic really works wonders." She flexed her wings experimentally. "I think I might even be able to fly again soon."
"That's great to hear. Are you hungry? I picked up some fish and milk yesterday."
Her eyes lit up. "Fish sounds amazing! I haven't had a proper meal in... well, I can't really remember how long."
After getting Astra settled with breakfast, I took a moment to review my status screen, curious about how the new knowledge had integrated with my existing abilities.
"Status." I said quietly.
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Name: Kazuki Hayash
Race: Skywing Elf
Age: 18
Level: 1
Health: 240/240
Mana: 320/320
ATTRIBUTES:
Strength: 18
Agility: 24
Vitality: 20
Intelligence: 22
Wisdom: 19
Luck: 15
RACIAL TRAITS:
Storm Attunement: Magic power increases during storms and high winds
High Altitude Adaptation: No penalties at extreme elevations
Enhanced Agility: +6 to base Agility score
Sky Primal Connection: Natural understanding of Sky Arcanum
ACQUIRED ABILITIES:
[Archive Magic] [Novice]: Store, process, and transfer information magically
[Sky Dragon Slayer Magic] [Novice]: Consume and manipulate wind/air
[Sky Primal Magic] [Novice]: Requires philosophical understanding and runic knowledge
THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE:
[Transformation Magic] Theory: Advanced biological manipulation and restructuring
[Wind-Make Magic] Theory: Compressed air construct creation
[Eye Magic] Theory (Appraisal Type): Analytical visual enhancement
PHYSICAL FEATURES:
Wings: Small functional wings (4-foot wingspan)
Horns: Twin swept-back horns
Eyes: Electric blue with enhanced night vision
Hair: Storm gray with blue streaks
TITLES:
"Otherworlder" - One who has crossed between worlds
"Fairy Tail Mage" - Member of the Fairy Tail Guild
EQUIPMENT: None
COMPANION: Astra (Exceed)
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"Interesting." I murmured. The theoretical knowledge was listed separately from my actual abilities, which made sense. I'd need to practice and develop these techniques before they became true skills.
[Notice: Your theoretical knowledge provides excellent foundations, but practical application will require dedicated training time. I recommend starting with [Wind-Make Magic] as it builds upon your existing wind manipulation abilities]
"Good point, Raphael. Maybe I can practice some basic exercises after we finish the library job today."
"Who's Raphael?" Astra asked, looking up from her breakfast with curiosity.
I realized I'd been speaking aloud again. "Ah, it's... complicated. I have a sort of magical AI assistant that helps me analyze situations and provides advice. Think of it like a really advanced [Archive Magic] construct."
"That's so cool! Can I talk to it?"
[Notice: The exceed appears trustworthy and already knows about your unusual magical capabilities. Limited interaction should be acceptable]
"Raphael says hello." I said with a smile. "He can hear you, but he communicates directly with my mind, so I have to relay messages."
"Hi, Raphael!" Astra said brightly. "Thank you for helping Kazuki help me yesterday!"
[Notice: Please inform Astra that she is welcome, and that her magical potential appears to be developing. I detect subtle mana fluctuations around her that weren't present yesterday]
"He says you're welcome, and that he thinks your magic might be starting to develop. He can detect some kind of mana fluctuations around you."
Astra's eyes went wide. "Really? What kind of magic do you think it might be?"
"We'll have to wait and see. But don't worry about it for now—magic develops at its own pace."
After breakfast, we made our way back to Professor Maddox's house to finish cataloging his library. Levy was already there when we arrived, chatting with the professor over tea.
"Good morning!" she called out as we entered. "And who's this adorable little one?"
"This is Astra, my new partner." I said as the exceed perched on my shoulder. "I hope you don't mind her coming along."
"Of course not! Exceed are excellent research assistants." Professor Maddox said warmly. "My grandfather had one year ago—wonderful creatures."
"Nice to meet you!" Astra said politely. "Kazuki told me you have an amazing collection of books here."
"Indeed we do! Though I'm afraid some of them are rather temperamental. Best to let Kazuki and Levy handle the dangerous ones."
We spent the morning finishing the cataloging work. With [Archive Magic] handling the heavy lifting, the process went much faster than traditional methods would have allowed. Astra proved to be surprisingly helpful, her small size allowing her to reach books in cramped spaces and her keen eyes spotting volumes that had been overlooked.
By noon, we had the entire collection properly organized and cataloged. Professor Maddox was delighted with the results.
"Magnificent work!" he exclaimed, looking over the neatly organized shelves and the comprehensive catalog I'd created. "This will make my research so much more efficient. Here's your payment, plus a little extra for the excellent work."
He handed me a pouch containing 60,000 jewel—10,000 more than the original job posting had promised.
"Thank you, Professor. It was a pleasure working with your collection."
"The pleasure was all mine! And please, feel free to come back if you'd like to study any of those texts more thoroughly. A scholar with your skills should have access to knowledge."
That was an interesting offer. Having access to those advanced magical texts could be invaluable for developing my new abilities.
As we walked back toward the guild, Levy was practically bouncing with excitement.
"That [Archive Magic] of yours is incredible! Do you think you could teach me some of the basics?"
"I'm not sure how well it would transfer." I said honestly. "My version seems to be pretty specialized. But I'd be happy to help you experiment if you're interested."
"Really? That would be amazing!"
When we reached the guild hall, it was considerably more crowded than it had been the day before. The lunch rush was in full swing, with mages eating, drinking, and loudly recounting their recent adventures.
"Kazuki!" Natsu's voice boomed across the hall. "Perfect timing! Me and Gray were just about to settle an argument about who's stronger. Want to referee?"
"By settling an argument, you mean start a fight that destroys half the guild hall?" Erza's voice cut through the noise like a blade.
Both Natsu and Gray immediately froze, sweat beading on their foreheads.
"No fighting you two." Erza continued, her tone leaving no room for argument. "We've already had to repair the tables twice this week."
"Aww, come on, Erza!" Natsu whined. "It's just a friendly spar!"
"Your 'friendly spars' tend to involve property damage and medical bills." Mira said with a sweet smile that somehow seemed more threatening than Erza's scowl.
I couldn't help but laugh at the familiar dynamic. "Maybe we could train outside the guild hall? I wouldn't mind seeing what you guys can do, and I could use some practice myself."
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Natsu grinned. "Let's head to the training grounds!"
"Wait," Cana called out from the bar, "the newbie wants to train with these idiots? Kid, are you sure you're ready for that level of crazy?"
"I think I can handle it." I said confidently. "Besides, I need to test some new techniques I've been working on."
[Notice: This presents an excellent opportunity to practice your theoretical knowledge in a controlled environment]
Erza studied me appraisingly. "Very well. But we'll start with basic exercises to assess your current capabilities before moving to anything more advanced."
About twenty minutes later, we found ourselves at the guild's outdoor training area—a large field behind the building that had clearly seen extensive use. Scorch marks, craters, and other signs of magical combat dotted the landscape.
"Alright, newbie." Gray said, already down to his boxers despite the cool morning air. "Let's see what you can do. Show us some of that wind magic."
I stepped into the center of the training area, with Astra perched safely on a fence post to watch. Taking a deep breath, I decided to start with something I knew worked.
"[Aspiro]!" I called out, tracing the Sky Primal rune and sending a controlled gust of wind across the field.
"Not bad." Erza nodded approvingly. "Good control and power. What else?"
"How about this?" I switched to my Dragon Slayer magic. "[Sky Dragon's Roar]!"
The tornado of wind that erupted from my mouth was significantly stronger than my first demonstration, carving a visible furrow in the ground before dissipating.
"Whoa!" Natsu's eyes lit up. "That's Dragon Slayer magic! Are you really a Dragon Slayer?"
"Yeah, Sky attribute." I confirmed. "I can heal too, though I haven't practiced that much yet."
"That's incredible!" Levy said from the sidelines. "Dragon Slayer magic is supposed to be incredibly rare!"
"Show us the healing!" Natsu demanded, immediately punching himself in the face hard enough to give himself a bloody nose.
"Natsu!" Erza barked. "Don't injure yourself just to demonstrate magic!"
"It's fine." I said, walking over to him. "[Sky Dragon's Healing Wind]."
Warm, glowing air swirled around Natsu's face, and within seconds, his bloody nose was completely healed.
"That's amazing!" he said, touching his now-perfect nose. "It doesn't hurt at all!"
"That is very impressive." Erza said. "Your control over both offensive and healing applications shows excellent training. Who taught you?"
I felt a moment of panic. This was exactly the kind of question I'd been dreading. "I... learned from books mostly. Self-taught, you could say."
[Notice: Recommend deflecting with demonstration of other abilities rather than elaborating on false training history]
"Actually," I said quickly, "I've been working on developing some new techniques. Mind if I try them out?"
"What kind of techniques?" Gray asked, looking intrigued.
"Well, I've been studying [Wind-Make Magic]. It's like your [Ice-Make], but using compressed air instead of ice."
Gray's eyebrows shot up. "Wind-Make? That's a thing?"
"Theoretically." I said, raising my hands and focusing on the knowledge I'd absorbed from Professor Maddox's library. The theory was clear in my mind—compress air molecules, give them semi-solid properties through magical enhancement, maintain structural integrity through sustained mana flow.
"[Wind-Make: Sword]!"
To my amazement, it actually worked. A blade of compressed air formed in my hands, visible as a slight distortion in the atmosphere but solid enough to hold and swing.
"Holy crap!" Gray stared at the invisible weapon. "That's actually real [Maker Magic]! How did you—wait, can you do Static mode too?"
I grinned, remembering the techniques from the book. Static magic required different hand positioning and a more stable mana flow pattern.
"[Wind-Make: Wall]!"
A barrier of compressed air materialized in front of me, invisible but solid enough that when Natsu impulsively threw a small rock at it, the stone bounced off harmlessly.
"That's incredible!" Levy said, pulling out a notebook and furiously scribbling notes. "I've never seen wind magic used for construct creation before!"
"It's all about understanding air pressure and molecular compression," I explained, dispelling the constructs. "The theory is similar to other [Make Magic] types, but the execution is different because air doesn't naturally hold solid forms."
[Notice: Excellent adaptation of theoretical knowledge. Your practical application exceeds expected proficiency for a first attempt]
"Your turn Gray." I said to Gray. "I'd love to see some real [Ice-Make] techniques."
"Now you're talking!" Gray grinned, taking his combat stance. "[Ice-Make: Lance]!"
Multiple spears of ice shot up from the ground around me, forming a perfect cage. The precision and speed were incredible—definitely beyond what I could manage with my wind constructs yet.
"Amazing." I said, examining the ice formation. "The structural integrity is perfect."
"Years of practice," Gray said with obvious pride. "Want to see something really cool? [Ice-Make: Geyser]!"
A massive pillar of ice erupted from the ground, shooting nearly thirty feet into the air before slowly dissolving.
"My turn!" Natsu shouted, not to be outdone. "[Fire Dragon's Roar]!"
A stream of flames shot across the training field, leaving a line of scorched earth in its wake.
"Show off." Gray muttered.
"What was that, ice princess?"
"You heard me, flame brain!"
"Enough both of you." Erza said firmly before the argument could escalate. "Kazuki, I'm impressed with your versatility. Three different types of magic, all at respectable skill levels. With proper training, you could become quite formidable."
"Thanks." I said, feeling genuinely pleased with the praise. "I'm still working on developing new techniques though."
"What else are you studying?" Levy asked, her notebook still ready.
I hesitated. The [Eye Magic] was probably too advanced to demonstrate yet, and [Transformation Magic] might raise uncomfortable questions. But maybe I could mention them in general terms.
"I've been reading about [Transformation Magic] and [Eye Magic], but those are still theoretical for me. Much more complex than wind manipulation."
"[Eye Magic]?" Erza's interest was clearly piqued. "That's extremely rare. What type?"
"Analytical enhancement." I said carefully. "The theory involves channeling mana through the optic nerves to enhance visual processing and information gathering."
"That would be incredibly useful for reconnaissance." Erza mused. "If you manage to develop it, I'd be interested in seeing how it works."
"I'll let you know if I make any progress." I promised.
We spent another hour training, with the others demonstrating various techniques while I practiced my [Wind-Make Magic]. I was getting better at it rapidly—the theoretical knowledge combined with practical application was accelerating my learning significantly.
Astra had been watching the entire time with fascination, occasionally cheering when I managed a particularly good technique. But as we were wrapping up, something unexpected happened.
"Kazuki, look out!" she suddenly called out.
I spun around to see one of Natsu's practice fireballs heading straight for me—apparently he'd misjudged the trajectory. Without thinking, I started to dodge, but then I noticed something strange.
Astra was glowing.
A soft, silver light was emanating from her fur, and suddenly the fireball... changed course. It curved through the air as if guided by an invisible hand, arcing safely over my head and dissipating harmlessly against a training dummy.
Everyone stared at the little exceed in shock.
"Did... did Astra just deflect that fireball?" Levy asked in amazement.
"I... I don't know what happened," Astra said, looking just as surprised as everyone else. "I saw Kazuki was in danger and just... wanted to help."
[Notice: The exceed appears to have manifested gravity manipulation magic. Extremely rare, especially for an exceed]
"I think you just used [gravity magic]." I told her, unable to keep the excitement out of my voice.
"[Gravity magic]?" Natsu's jaw dropped. "That's like, super rare, right?"
"Incredibly rare." Erza confirmed, studying Astra with new interest. "I've only read about a handful of gravity mages in all of magical history."
Astra looked overwhelmed by all the attention. "I... I really don't remember having magic before. Maybe it's something new?"
"Magic can sometimes manifest during times of stress or strong emotion." Levy explained gently. "The desire to protect someone you care about is a powerful trigger."
"Well, whatever caused it, that was amazing!" I said, offering Astra my hand so she could perch on my shoulder. "We'll figure out how it works together, okay?"
She nodded, still looking a bit dazed by the whole experience.
[Notice: A gravity-manipulating exceed partner will provide significant tactical advantages. This development should be carefully cultivated]
As we walked back to the guild hall, I found myself thinking about how much had changed in just a few days. I'd gone from a lonely shut-in to a member of Fairy Tail with a unique magical partner and growing abilities.
"Hey Kazuki." Natsu said as we reached the guild entrance. "Want to come on a job with me and Happy tomorrow? Nothing too dangerous, just clearing out some monsters from a merchant route."
"That sounds great." I said. "Astra and I could use the experience."
"Awesome! Meet us here first thing in the morning!"
Inside the guild hall, Mira was waiting with a warm smile and a plate of food.
"How did training go?" she asked.
"Really well." I said, settling at the bar with Astra. "Though we discovered that Astra here might be able to use [gravity magic]."
"[Gravity magic]?" Mira's eyes widened. "That's extraordinary! Exceed magic is rare enough, but gravity manipulation..."
"I'm still getting used to the idea myself." Astra said shyly.
"Well, you're in good hands here." Mira assured her. "Fairy Tail has always been good at helping members develop their unique abilities."
As the afternoon wore on, more guild members trickled in from their jobs and missions. I found myself easily falling into the rhythm of guild life—the constant chatter, the occasional argument that was quickly resolved, the sense of found family that pervaded everything.
Cana challenged me to a drinking contest (which I politely declined), Elfman declared my training performance "MANLY." and Levy peppered me with questions about [Archive Magic] applications for research.
But as evening approached, I realized I should probably head home and start working on developing my new magical knowledge in earnest.
"Heading out already?" Gray asked as I gathered my things.
"Yeah, I want to practice some of those techniques we worked on today. Plus, I should let Astra get used to her new home."
"Fair enough. Same time tomorrow for training?"
"Actually, I'm going on a job with Natsu tomorrow. But maybe the day after?"
"Sounds good. See you around, wind boy."
As Astra and I walked back to our apartment, the setting sun painted the sky in brilliant shades of orange and pink. The Strawberry District was peaceful and quiet, a nice contrast to the energetic atmosphere of the guild.
"Today was incredible." Astra said as we climbed the stairs to our floor. "I never imagined I'd be able to do magic."
"You're full of surprises." I said, unlocking our door. "Tomorrow we'll start figuring out how your gravity magic works."
"And you'll keep working on those new techniques?"
"Definitely. I want to try developing the [Eye Magic] next. If I can get even basic analytical abilities working, it could be incredibly useful."
We settled in for the evening, with Astra curled up on the couch while I reviewed the theoretical knowledge I'd gained. The [Eye Magic] development process was complex, requiring precise mana control and specialized meditation techniques to establish the necessary neural pathways.
According to the text, the basic development involved focusing mana behind the eyes while visualizing information overlay systems. The magic would gradually create permanent pathways that allowed for enhanced visual analysis.
"Want to try it?" I asked myself, settling into a comfortable meditation position.
[Notice: The theoretical framework is sound, but this will require multiple sessions to achieve even basic functionality. Recommend starting with simple exercises]
I closed my eyes and began focusing mana into the area behind my eyelids, following the visualization techniques described in the ancient text. The process was surprisingly difficult—the mana wanted to dissipate rather than form stable pathways.
After about thirty minutes of practice, I felt a slight tingling sensation behind my eyes, but nothing more dramatic than that.
"Any progress?" Astra asked, looking up from where she'd been practicing making small objects float.
"Maybe a little. This kind of magic takes time to develop." I opened my eyes and immediately noticed something different—the world looked slightly sharper, more detailed. "Actually, I think something might be working."
I looked at Astra, trying to focus on gathering information about her. For just a moment, I thought I saw something—a faint overlay of text that might have been her basic status—but it flickered away too quickly to read.
"Interesting." I murmured. "I think the foundation is there, but it needs more work."
"That's still amazing progress for one day." Astra said encouragingly. "You learned [Wind-Make Magic], started developing [Eye Magic], and found out I can manipulate gravity. Not bad for our first real day as partners."
She was right. The progress had been remarkable, almost suspiciously so. But I wasn't going to complain about rapid magical development when it might be the key to surviving in this world.
[Notice: Your adaptation rate continues to exceed normal parameters. The combination of theoretical knowledge, practical training, and your enhanced physiology is creating optimal learning conditions]
"That's good to know." I thought back to Raphael. "How much time do we have before the major plot events start?"
[Notice: Based on the timeline, approximately five months before Lucy Heartfilia arrives in Magnolia. That should provide adequate time for substantial skill development]
Five months. That was both a lot of time and no time at all, depending on how you looked at it. Enough time to get much stronger, but I'd need to be careful not to change too much before the canon events began.
"Alright, Astra." I said, settling back into a meditation position. "Let's see if we can make some more progress on our magic before bed."
"Sounds good! I want to try making that chair float."
As we practiced our respective magics in the comfortable quiet of our new home, I reflected on how drastically my life had changed. A week ago, I'd been a lonely gamer with no real direction. Now I was a Skywing Elf with multiple types of magic, a gravity-manipulating exceed partner, and a place in one of the most famous guilds in fiction.
Whatever challenges lay ahead, I was starting to feel like I might actually be ready for them.
The thought of Lucy's eventual arrival sent a thrill of anticipation through me. When she finally showed up, I'd be able to help her settle in as a neighbor and fellow guild member. But first, I had a lot of growing to do.
Time to get to work.