Ember of the Starry Sky

Morning sunlight streamed through the thin curtains of the inn's small room. Yukari groaned, still half-asleep, when a loud knock jolted her awake.

"What the…?" Yukari mumbled, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. She shot a glance at Hinote, who was sprawled across the other bed like she didn't have a care in the world.

"Who's banging at this hour?" Yukari grumbled, pulling her blanket over her head. "Tell them to go away."

Hinote stretched lazily, completely unfazed. "Relax, it's probably breakfast."

The knock came again, sharper this time.

"Yeah, definitely not breakfast," Hinote said, swinging her legs over the bed. She stood up, yawning, and strolled toward the door.

Yukari squinted at her. "You're not even going to check who it is first?"

Hinote smirked. "Why bother? If it's trouble, we'll just set it on fire."

"That's your solution to everything," Yukari muttered, her unease growing.

Hinote opened the door to reveal two soldiers from the Magic Council standing stiffly in the hallway. Their uniforms were immaculate, their long robes and triple-pointed headgear giving them an air of sanctity that only made them look more pompous. Each held a staff topped with a crystal globe that gleamed ominously.

"Good morning," one of them said, his voice devoid of any warmth.

Hinote leaned casually against the doorframe, her expression unreadable. "Morning, boys. What brings the Council to our humble little room?"

The soldier frowned, clearly unimpressed by her tone. "We are here to ask questions regarding a forest fire that occurred yesterday near the village. Witnesses reported seeing two individuals matching your descriptions leaving the area."

Yukari's stomach dropped. Her heart pounded in her chest as panic surged. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think. They know. We're doomed.

Hinote, however, didn't flinch. She let out a dramatic sigh and shook her head. "Ah, yes, that. It was the bandits we caught. Nasty little pyromaniacs, the lot of them."

The soldiers exchanged glances. "Bandits?"

"Oh, absolutely," Hinote said, her voice smooth as honey. "They set the fire as a diversion so they could ambush us. Lucky for us, my apprentice here"—she gestured at Yukari, who looked like she might faint—"is a genius in fire magic. She put out most of the flames before it got out of hand. Isn't that right, Yukari?"

Yukari blinked, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "Uh… y-yeah. Totally."

The soldiers' gazes shifted to Yukari, who tried her best to look calm and confident. Spoiler: she failed miserably.

Hinote clapped her hands together. "So, if you're looking for someone to blame, the bandits are already in custody. Case closed!"

The soldiers hesitated, clearly skeptical. But after a moment of whispered deliberation, they nodded. "Very well. We'll look into the matter further. Thank you for your cooperation."

"Anytime," Hinote said with a wide grin, slamming the door shut before they could change their minds.

Yukari collapsed onto the bed, her hands trembling. "What if they find out it was me? What if they arrest me? What if—"

"Kid," Hinote interrupted, sitting on the edge of the bed and flicking her on the forehead. "Calm down. They bought it, didn't they?"

Yukari scowled, rubbing her forehead. "But what if—"

"No 'what ifs.' You're not a criminal. You're my apprentice. And I don't raise amateurs who get caught."

Yukari wasn't sure whether to feel reassured or insulted, so she settled for glaring.

"Now," Hinote said, standing up. "Let's grab some breakfast and head back to Magnolia. I'm starving."

After a quick breakfast (where Hinote ate enough for three people, as usual), they left the inn and started their journey home.

Halfway through the trip, Hinote stopped suddenly, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

"Change of plans," she announced, her body beginning to glow. Flames erupted around her, and in a flash, she transformed into her majestic phoenix form.

Yukari sighed, already knowing where this was going. "Really? We couldn't just walk like normal people?"

"Do you want to spend all day traveling?" Hinote asked, her fiery wings unfurling. "Climb on."

With a resigned shake of her head, Yukari hopped onto Hinote's back. By now, she was used to the heat and the occasional flicker of flames licking her boots.

Hinote took off, soaring into the sky with a powerful flap of her wings. The wind whipped past them as they flew over forests and hills, the world below a blur.

An hour later, they landed just outside Magnolia in a secluded area. Hinote shifted back into her human form, dusting off her clothes as if the transformation was no big deal.

"Home sweet home," she said, gesturing toward the town in the distance.

The walk to the Fairy Tail guildhall was uneventful, and soon they stood in front of the large wooden doors. Yukari hesitated for a moment, still feeling the weight of the mission and the morning's interrogation.

Hinote pushed the doors open without a second thought, striding inside like she owned the place. The familiar chaos of the guild greeted them members brawling in one corner, others drinking and laughing in another.

The moment Yukari stepped inside, Gray and Cana rushed over.

"Hey, Yukari!" Gray called, his shirt already missing for no apparent reason. "How'd your first mission go?"

Cana leaned against the wall, her barrel of booze in hand. "Yeah, tell us everything. Did you screw up?"

Yukari bristled. "Why is that the first thing you ask?"

"Because it's you," Gray said with a smirk.

Yukari shot him a glare. "For your information, I didn't screw up. Much."

"Oh, this is gonna be good," Cana said, taking a long sip from her barrel.

Ignoring them, Yukari launched into the story, recounting the bandits, the mages, and the slightly charred vegetables. She might have glossed over the part where she burned down the forest, but she made sure to highlight her victories.

"And then," Yukari finished, "the farmer docked our pay because of the burnt cargo."

Gray burst out laughing. "That sounds like you, alright. You can't even deliver vegetables without causing a disaster!"

"At least I didn't lose my shirt!" Yukari shot back.

"Nice comeback," Cana said, raising her drink. "Not bad for a rookie."

Yukari rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips. For all the teasing, it felt good to be back.

Hinote, meanwhile, lounged in a chair with a satisfied grin. "Not bad for her first mission, huh? I'd say she's already causing as much chaos as the rest of you combined."

"High praise coming from you," Cana said with a smirk.

Yukari sighed, but despite herself, she couldn't deny the warmth that filled her.