Fairy Tail: The Faint Smile in Earthland

📍 Location: Crocus — Domus Flau Arena

📅 Date: July X791

The entire arena felt like it had forgotten how to breathe.

The first event had been announced: Pandemonium.

A massive archway shimmered into view at the heart of the stadium. Etched with glowing runes, it pulsed blue and white like it was alive. From its center, the shapes began to form—twisted beasts with glowing eyes and glistening claws. One turned into two. Two multiplied by ten. Then, suddenly, there were a hundred.

Every one of them radiated raw, untamed magic. Their growls thundered like the beat of war drums, sending ripples through the stands.

The audience didn't just cheer—they roared, caught somewhere between awe and fear.

Erza stepped forward without a word. Her scarlet hair snapped behind her like a flag in battle. She scanned the monster horde with that familiar, unshakable calm—the kind that didn't shout, but made everything else go quiet.

Up in the observation booth, Teresa leaned in ever so slightly, eyes narrowing to slits. Even seated, her presence radiated tension like a drawn bow.

"She walks without hesitation," she murmured, almost to herself. "But her soul... it quivers underneath. Echoes she hasn't silenced."

Beside her, Macao shifted uncomfortably. "That... bad?"

No reply came. Teresa's eyes never left Erza.

Kinana sat on the other side, hands clasped in her lap. Her fingers were white at the knuckles.

At the field's center, the referee's voice rang out. "Contestants may choose how many monsters they wish to face. The more you defeat, the higher your score."

It was a calculated risk: fight too many and you'd fall; too few and you'd be forgotten.

Erza didn't hesitate. "I will fight them all."

Silence. Even the flags seemed to pause mid-flutter.

Then the crowd exploded. Cheers, gasps, disbelief—it all tumbled together like a wave crashing down.

Makarov's voice cracked as he gripped the railing. "That's my girl!"

From above, Mavis watched with wide, shining eyes. "She carries all of them with her... every bond, every burden."

Teresa's mouth twitched. A fraction of a smile surfaced—gone before it could fully settle.

"All of them? Ridiculous," she said softly. "A waste of energy. Yet... that seems to be her strength."

Erza lifted her sword. Light bloomed across her armor, reshaping into something sleeker, faster, deadly.

The first monsters lunged.

Claws slashed through dust and air. Erza turned, her blade carving through two in a single sweep. Another came from behind—she spun, slicing through its skull without missing a beat.

Up above, Teresa spoke as if narrating a puzzle.

"She's overextending. Sacrificing defense for a better angle."

Kinana winced as another beast fell, leaving behind a bloody smear.

"It's like she's dancing," she whispered. "But if she slips—just once…"

Macao didn't answer. He was frozen in place, mouth half-open.

A second wave of monsters charged. Erza's armor changed again—heavier now, plated for impact. Lightning danced across her form as she moved faster, tighter. Her strikes became sharper. Cleaner.

A giant creature sprang from her blind spot. She turned without looking—blade flashing in a brutal upward arc. The beast crumpled before it landed.

Teresa tilted her head slightly. "She adjusts mid-battle. She learns as she fights… Shapes the storm instead of running from it. Hm."

Her tone was flat, but there was something else there—respect, maybe. Hard to tell.

Back in the Fairy Tail booth, Mavis pressed her hands together, eyes wide.

"That's what makes us strong," she said. "Facing the impossible, even when we stand alone."

Down on the field, the battle reached a fever pitch. Erza spun through monsters like a whirlwind of steel. Her body ached. Her breath grew ragged. But she didn't stop. Couldn't.

With one final cry, she brought her blade down in a clean arc. The last beast's head struck the ground with a heavy thud.

Silence fell again.

Then the crowd lost control—cheering until the walls trembled.

Erza stood in the center of the wreckage, shoulders rising and falling with each breath. Her blade hung low, stained and steaming. Her eyes, though, never wavered.

In the booth, Teresa's gaze narrowed.

"She's still standing," she said quietly. "But the cracks are forming. One day... those echoes will demand something back."

Macao broke the tension, his voice raw. "That girl… she's made of miracles."

Kinana wiped her cheeks without realizing she was crying. "She's… amazing."

Teresa looked away—but this time, the faint smile lingered.

On the field, Erza sheathed her sword slowly. Her limbs trembled. She turned and looked toward the Fairy Tail stands. Her fist rose high.

Makarov shouted himself hoarse. Levy's pen flew across her notebook. Mavis floated in reverent silence, eyes bright with tears.

And above them all, Teresa sat, still and quiet. Her blade remained sealed. Her fingers curled gently around the edge of her chair.

She showed nothing. Not really. But in the glint of her silver eyes, something warm flickered—brief and fragile, like sunlight on frost.