118 Chapter 107 - A Wizard Saint, not bad.

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[Adam C. POV.]

After my brief talk with the King, I was given the Wizard Saint insignia/medal that came with the title.

As far as the medal. Well.

The Wizard Saint medal was a dazzling piece, an embodiment of my new responsibility, but it was a weight I bore without concern.

The sheen of white gold, embossed with the emblem of the Council, gleamed under the sunlight, almost seeming to pulse with a life of its own.

I couldn't help but wonder how the old man would react when he learned of this.

"I guess I will find out soon enough," I chuckled.

Upon leaving the Council's building, I was greeted by the bustling cityscape. Vendors hawking their wares, families and friends out for a late afternoon stroll, street performers entertaining clusters of spectators, in short the city thrummed with the rhythm of ordinary city life.

I might even buy an apartment here. I had more than enough income now for that kind of decision.

Chuckling at the thought, I made my way through the winding streets, unhurried, soaking in the city's vibrance.

A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth, my gaze roaming the sights and sounds.

Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. Having a house for vacation purposes, a Gildarts free home.

The setting sun painted a warm glow over the city, making it look like a scene straight out of a canvas.

Before long, the docks were in sight. The smell of sea salt mingled with the scent of fresh fish, seagulls cawed in the distance, and the lapping of waves against the hulls of ships formed a soothing harmony.

I paused for a moment, breathing in the scene. The sight of the endless horizon, the sparkling water reflecting the dying embers of the day, held a strange calming effect.

Perhaps I was tired, but who cared?

Pushing those thoughts aside I boarded the ship.

"Erza," I called out as I spotted her leaning over the ship's rail, her scarlet hair catching the last rays of the setting sun.

She turned to look at me, surprise flickering in her eyes as she took in the insignia in my hands.

"Guess what?" I started, the grin on my face growing wider. Holding out the Wizard Saint medal, I watched as her eyes widened in shock and then narrowed in suspicion.

"No way," Erza began, shaking her head in disbelief. "You didn't actually..."

"Become one of the Wizard Saints?" I finished her sentence, my grin never wavering. "Yes, yes I did."

The stunned silence was priceless. For a moment, all she did was stare, her mouth opening and closing in a perfect imitation of a fish out of water.

Then, finally, she let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose as she chuckled.

"You're unbelievable, Adam," Erza muttered, her voice filled with a strange mix of amazement and pride. "I expected nothing less from you."

"I know," I responded, leaning back against the ship's railing, as I tossed the medal into the air, catching it effortlessly as it fell back down. "But that's why you love me, isn't it?"

"Love?! I—" Erza stammered, blushing for God knows why.

"Erza, are you okay?" I asked, tilting my head.

However, before she could reply a whirlwind of energy burst out from the ship's interior.

Cana, with her hair tousled and eyes sparkling with mischief, appeared from one of the rooms.

Her eyes immediately zeroed in on the gleaming medal in my hand. She froze for a split second, taking in the sight, and then a grin spread across her face, so wide it seemed to split her face in two.

"I fucking knew it!" Cana shouted happily before launching herself at me at full speed. Her hug struck me like a super powered battering ram, nearly knocking me off my feet into the sea.

Thankfully, thanks to my years of training I managed to brace myself just in time.

Laughing, I caught her and swung her around, earning a delighted shriek from her.

"I knew those old farts would see your potential! I expected nothing less from you, big brother!" Cana cheered, pulling back to punch me lightly on the arm.

Her eyes were sparkling with pride and excitement, and I couldn't help but return her grin.

Erza, who by now had calmed down from whatever had bothered her a few moments ago, was watching our antics with a fond roll of her eyes, before stepping forward to congratulate me as well, placing a hand on my shoulder and giving it a firm squeeze.

The joyful atmosphere was suddenly split by a booming voice, a familiar energetic timbre that I could recognize anywhere.

Natsu came barreling out of the ship's room, a wide grin on his face. His scarf fluttered behind him as he skidded to a halt, and upon seeing the insignia in my hand, his eyes lit up with excitement.

"Heh! So the big guy got even bigger, huh?" Natsu called out, his grin widening. "That's awesome!"

In a split second, his jovial demeanor shifted, replaced with the fire of challenge as flames erupted around him. Grinning he raised his fists, his eyes ablaze with eager anticipation, mirroring the flames that had started to dance around him.

"I don't care if you're a Wizard Saint, or a Wizard potato now, I'll still take you down! Let's have a match, right here, right now!" Natsu challenged, his voice echoing around the docks. He was practically vibrating with energy, his body radiating heat as his magic filled the air.

Laughing, I held up my hand in a placating gesture. "Maybe later, flaming gecko, I'm tired."

For a moment, Natsu just stared at me, his fiery aura flickering in disbelief. Then, his eyes widened, and he pointed at me, looking scandalized. "Flaming gecko?!" he squawked, incredulous. "I'm a dragon, not a gecko!"

At this, the others burst into laughter at Natsu's outrage, in turn making his face turn beet-red, an amusing contrast to his flaming hair.

That said, the dragon slayer couldn't help but grin despite himself. So with a playful scowl, he crossed his arms and huffed, "Fine, I'll wait! But I'm not going easy on you!"

I rolled my eyes.

As if I needed that.

With laughter still ringing in the air, and nothing more to do in the city, we settled in for the journey back to Magnolia.

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The ship creaked and groaned as it began to move, the sail billowing out as it caught the wind.

Yawning, I leaned on the railing, watching as the city shrunk in the distance, while hearing Natsu groaned in unbearable pain.

Natsu's suffering aside, it was a beautiful sight, the setting sun painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, its golden rays reflecting off the waters.

"Please… make it end…" Natsu groaned, but like always, Erza would knock him down when his cries for help got too loud, silencing his pain for the next few hours.

Natsu finally silenced, we were allowed to enjoy the sight before us to the fullest extent.

The sea was calm, the waves gently lapping against the sides of the ship, their rhythm a soothing melody. Seagulls squawked overhead, their calls carried away by the salty breeze.

Then, after putting the out of commission Dragon Slayer in one of the rooms, the others soon joined me at the railing, their faces illuminated by the fading sunlight.

I smiled.

I can't wait to be back home.