Chapter 145: Today Is a Special Day

With the extended duration provided by the Crown of Insight, Rhodes spent some extra time playing around with the golem in the guild's backyard. The massive stone fists swung with impressive force, but unfortunately, its large body couldn't really move much in the small yard.

"Alright, let's try that move again," Rhodes said, discovering that the golem also knew a bit of earth magic, which was worth exploring further.

Makarov, watching, felt his eyelids twitch. "Don't break the wall again."

After giving a simple reminder, he returned to the guild hall.

Apart from initial summonings or the first time receiving new powers, there wasn't much about Rhodes practicing magic that Makarov needed to worry about.

"Got it," Rhodes muttered to himself, wondering where he could find a larger practice ground—somewhere spacious enough for both the red and blue to have their fun.

The forest outside the city seemed suitable, but given his situation of running out of mana quickly, it wouldn't be very safe to go there alone.

Rhodes only stopped when his mana was nearly exhausted, doing some physical training before heading back to the guild hall.

He made a point of looking around. Natsu still looked listless, not even bothering to provoke Gray despite sitting near him.

Cana was holding a wine glass, sitting beside Macao and Wakaba, listening to them chat. When the two men started talking about young women, she made a face of disdain.

Erza, who had taken an S-class mission a while back, had returned just yesterday. She was currently talking to the Master at the front desk.

As for Mira... she wasn't there.

Rhodes glanced around, not seeing any sign of Mira.

He quietly walked to the counter, wondering if she had gone to the storage room, the kitchen, or perhaps gone out shopping.

"Good work," Makarov said to Erza, acknowledging her effort. "Rhodes, you're just in time. Help Erza complete the last step of the paperwork."

"Sure." Rhodes expertly pulled out the logbook and a pen, casually asking as he wrote, "Erza, what happened to your armor?"

"Oh, this is the Thunder Emperor Armor," Erza replied. "The one I usually wear got damaged, and it's being repaired. Does this look strange?"

Rhodes shook his head. "No, I just thought it was kind of refreshing."

Erza's armor and weapons were essentially magical items—most could be worn like regular clothes. As long as she wasn't in combat or being attacked, there was no need to worry about mana consumption.

But there were some that were burdensome just to wear, and of course, those types of armor were often very powerful.

Seeing that Erza's armor had suffered damage, it must have been quite a difficult mission.

Though, it was an S-class mission, after all, and that kind of difficulty was to be expected. Rhodes couldn't help but stare at the string of zeroes on the commission sheet, nearly drooling.

As he was writing, Rhodes suddenly stopped. "Wait, Master, this is an S-class mission. Are you sure it's okay for me to be recording it?"

"Doesn't matter. It's already completed. Just remember to keep it confidential," Makarov said, giving Rhodes a glance.

They didn't let others go up to the second floor to look at S-class missions because they feared people might act recklessly or be tempted by high rewards and do something foolish.

But this kid... Even if S-class missions were made available to you, would you take them?

"Time flies. Rhodes is already helping with Mira's work, huh? Hmm, yes," Erza said in an old-fashioned tone, seriously assessing Rhodes's progress.

"It's just whenever she's not around or too busy, I give her a hand," Rhodes said, then asked, "By the way, where did Mira go?"

"She went to the church with Elfman," Makarov said softly. "Today... is Lisanna's memorial day."

Rhodes was stunned, raising his head.

"It's been a whole year since then?" Erza's tone turned somber.

When Mira had just joined the guild, Erza had taken the initiative to greet her, hoping to get along well.

But later, for some reason, they were always at odds.

After what happened to Lisanna, they could finally get along, but this wasn't the kind of relationship Erza wanted.

"If you're worried, you can go," Makarov said. "But also, have some faith in Mira and Elfman."

Rhodes remained silent as he finished his task, carefully putting away the logbook and pen. Then he spoke, "Master, I'll be stepping out for a bit."

Erza watched his back as he left. "Rhodes really cares about his companions, doesn't he?"

"Because he is a member of Fairy Tail," Makarov said.

...

So that's it. No wonder Mira didn't come to see his new summon—even though she had complained last time that he didn't call her to watch the treant summoning. No wonder Natsu was listless today, and everyone seemed a bit more restrained in their laughter and noise...

Rhodes walked quickly toward the central church, slowing down as he got closer.

"I should buy some flowers," he thought.

He went to a flower shop and explained the occasion, and the florist helped him wrap a bouquet of white lilies.

After leaving the shop, Rhodes walked a few steps, then stopped to look at his clothes. "I should change into something black..."

He hurried back home to change clothes, then rushed over to Kardia Cathedral.

All along the way, Rhodes carefully rehearsed his words—how to comfort Mira, how to encourage Elfman?

It had been a long time since he felt so flustered.

As he entered the church, Rhodes encountered an elderly priest. He asked quietly, "Excuse me, where is the cemetery?"

"Just behind here."

"Thank you."

As they passed by each other, the priest suddenly spoke, "Stay calm, child."

Rhodes stopped, looking at him in confusion.

"Disturbed thoughts and excessive distractions are not conducive to properly mourning the deceased," the old priest said with a kind smile. "Before entering the cemetery, think clearly about why you came here."

"I..." Rhodes paused.

Was it for Mira? For Elfman? For... himself?

Looking at the flowers in his hand, he thought that going there with such a mindset made him unworthy to stand before that child's grave.

"Thank you for your guidance," Rhodes said, bowing slightly to the elder as he watched him leave.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the cemetery. "I am Rhodes of Fairy Tail, here today to honor our departed companion, Lisanna."

Nothing more.

The cemetery was quiet, rows of tombstones standing silently. Anyone stepping in would instinctively lighten their steps.

Rhodes quickly found the place he was looking for—Elfman stood before the tombstone, while Mira knelt beside him.

Despite their presence, Rhodes felt they looked so lonely.

He approached them slowly, making his footsteps deliberately heavier as he neared the siblings.

When they turned around, he greeted them softly, "Sorry to intrude."

"Rhodes?" Elfman was surprised. "Why are you here...?"

"I heard from the Master that today is Lisanna's memorial day, so I came to bring flowers."

Mira didn't seem surprised. She stood, stepping aside to make room in front of the tombstone, bowing gently to Rhodes.

Elfman quickly followed suit.

Rhodes nodded to them, then looked at the tombstone.

It was simple, engraved with Fairy Tail's symbol, Lisanna's name, and her birth and death dates.

He placed the bouquet down, thinking about Lisanna's face from the photos he'd seen before, and observed a moment of silence.

In his heart, he spoke the words he wanted to say to Lisanna, then turned to Mira and Elfman.

"Sorry for intruding on such a day."

"No, thank you for coming to see her," Mira said, her eyes fixed on the tombstone. "Knowing there's a talented newcomer in the guild would make Lisanna happy too."

"Yeah, that's exactly how Lisanna was," Elfman added.