Fairy Tail: Picked up Erza At The Start

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"Are you sure you want to take on this mission?" Makarov asked seriously. "This mission was originally meant to be transferred to the second floor for S-class mages to handle."

It wasn't that he doubted Darius and Erza.

The main issue was the mission's difficulty. The target was a demon named Satan, and even though only its soul was sealed, it was still a formidable foe. Few mages could handle such a threat.

The fact that the mission had remained untouched for three months spoke volumes about its danger.

Even with Darius and Erza's rapid growth, Makarov wasn't sure they were ready to face a demon of this caliber.

"It's fine," Darius said confidently.

He wasn't worried. If the demon had been sealed, it meant it wasn't at full strength.

"This mission needs to be done. Since Gildart isn't here, someone has to step up," Erza added.

Demons were terrifying, but she trusted Darius's strength. Even if they couldn't defeat the demon, she was confident they could escape unscathed.

Makarov fell silent.

Seeing their determination, he finally relented, waving his hand and warning them sternly, "Remember, if things get too dangerous, come back immediately. Fairy Tail can't afford to lose you. Don't take unnecessary risks!"

For a moment, Darius felt a wave of emotion. Makarov's fatherly concern reminded him of the warmth of family he had once known.

"Understood," Darius nodded.

With that, he turned and headed to the dormitory to pack his things. Erza did the same.

After they left, the guild members began to chatter.

"In just a year, Darius has become so responsible," Macao remarked, taking a sip of his drink.

He remembered Darius as the young boy who had first joined the guild. Now, he had grown into a reliable and capable mage.

"Not just responsible—his strength has grown exponentially. It feels like he's leaving us old-timers in the dust!" Wakaba added, exhaling a puff of smoke.

The guild was growing stronger, and it was a joy to see.

Gray scratched his head. "It's just a demon. With Darius and Erza teaming up, there's no way they'll lose."

"Ugh! I'm gonna duel him!" Natsu growled, clenching his fists.

Gray rolled his eyes. "You're hopeless. You know you can't beat him, yet you keep challenging him."

"Shut up, stripper! Let's fight!"

"Idiot."

"Stripper! Ice block! Let's go!"

"Tch, whatever."

The two continued to bicker, much to the amusement of the other guild members.

---

At Magnolia Station, Darius stared in disbelief at Erza, who was dragging an enormous pile of luggage behind her.

"What's all this?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Erza looked at him, confused. "What's wrong?"

Darius gestured at the mountain of bags. "Do you really need this much luggage for every mission?"

Erza tilted her head, genuinely puzzled. "Isn't it normal to bring luggage when you travel?"

Darius opened his mouth to argue but quickly gave up. She wasn't wrong—it *was* normal to bring luggage. Still, the sheer volume was excessive.

Shaking his head, he decided not to press the issue and boarded the train once it arrived.

Once seated, the two reviewed the mission details.

"The target is a demon's soul named 'Satan'..." Erza began.

Darius interrupted, surprised. "Wait, Satan's soul?"

The name immediately reminded him of Mirajane, the demon-taking mage from Fairy Tail. She was known for her angelic appearance and terrifying power in battle.

If they destroyed Satan's soul now, would it affect Mirajane's future? Would she never join the guild?

"Yes, it's said that this Satan was sealed in a church. He's incredibly powerful and has multiple forms," Erza explained.

Darius fell silent, deep in thought.

He wasn't sure if destroying Satan's soul was the right move. If it meant altering Mirajane's future, he had to be cautious.

"Let's investigate first. There might be more to this mission than we realize," Darius said seriously.

"Alright," Erza agreed without question.

She trusted Darius's judgment and began discussing their strategy for the mission. They planned carefully, ensuring they had an escape route if things went south.

Safety was their top priority. While Erza believed in Darius's strength, she knew it was always wise to be prepared.

The train raced along the tracks, passing through city after city until it finally arrived at a small, secluded village. This was the place where the demon Satan had been sealed.

At the village entrance, the village chief eyed Darius and Erza with clear skepticism.

"Are you the mages from the Fairy Tail guild?" he asked, his tone laced with doubt.

*They sent two kids?* he thought. *So much for Fairy Tail being the top guild.*

"Yes, we're the mages sent by Fairy Tail. Could you take us into the village?" Darius replied politely, ignoring the chief's obvious disdain.

He knew arguing wouldn't change the man's mind. The best way to prove themselves was through action, not words.

"Fine, follow me," the chief said reluctantly.

Despite his doubts, he couldn't outright refuse representatives from Fairy Tail. He led them into the village, his steps slow and deliberate.

As they walked, Darius scanned the surroundings, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Mirajane sisters.

He wasn't sure where Mirajane's hometown was, but if Satan's soul was here, it was possible the sisters were nearby.

"The people here don't seem to be sleeping well," Erza whispered, noticing the tired faces of the villagers.

The village chief, despite his age, had sharp hearing.

"For months now, the demon Satan's roars have grown louder. It's been keeping everyone awake," he explained, his voice heavy with frustration.

"When Fairy Tail agreed to send help, I didn't expect…" He trailed off, but the implication was clear: he had no faith in Darius and Erza.

Darius ignored the chief's skepticism and continued to search for any sign of Mirajane.

Unfortunately, by the time they reached their resting place, he still hadn't found her.

"Rest here for now. Let me know if you need anything," the chief said curtly before leaving.

His tone made it clear he had no expectations of them.

Once alone, Darius sat down, deep in thought.

"What's the plan? Should we head to the church tonight?" Erza asked.

She was determined to complete the mission. The villagers' suffering couldn't be ignored, and she wanted to prove their worth.

Darius nodded. "We'll go tonight."

He had accepted the mission, and regardless of his concerns about Mirajane's future, he couldn't abandon the village.

---

Meanwhile, in a small house at the edge of the village, a family with striking silver-white hair was having a heated discussion.

"Are we really doing this, Mira?" Elfman asked, his voice tinged with worry.

Mirajane had just announced her plan to confront the demon in the church, but Elfman wasn't convinced. Even if Satan was only a remnant of his former self, he was still a formidable foe.

"Big brother Elf, we have to trust Mira. The whole village is suffering because of that monster. As part of this village, we can't just sit back and do nothing," Lisanna said, her voice firm.

Mirajane, her hair tied with a bow, nibbled on a hard biscuit and nodded confidently.

"Exactly! That monster's been keeping everyone awake. Why should we wait for someone else to deal with it? We can handle this ourselves!"

"But… I heard the village chief already called for a mage," Elfman countered, still uneasy.

He thought it was better to leave such dangerous tasks to professionals.

"Brother, stop being so timid! Relying on others won't solve anything. We'll prove we're just as capable as any mage!" Lisanna said, her eyes shining with determination.

Mirajane took a sip of water and continued, her voice filled with conviction.

"Lisanna's right. We can't always depend on others. The mage might leave, but we'll still be here. If we want to protect our village, we need to get stronger."

Her words inspired her siblings.

Lisanna and Elfman exchanged excited glances, their doubts fading.

"If you say so, sis, we'll follow you," Elfman said, finally relenting.

Mirajane smiled, her confidence unwavering.

"Good. Tonight, we'll show them what we're made of."

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