The Magic Merchant in Fairy Tail

With a creak, the door of the Forget-Sorrow Tavern swung open, revealing a petite girl of 12 or 13 years old. Her cold demeanor matched the icy winds outside. She had silver-white hair that shimmered like snow and wore simple blue-and-white cloth pants paired with a gray coat that looked both old and insufficiently warm. Despite this, she seemed unbothered by the frigid temperatures.

Her eyes, sharp and clear, held a maturity beyond her years, and her petite figure hinted at surprising strength, much like a young snow leopard.

"I'm back," the girl said flatly as she removed her coat. Her sharp gaze scanned the room, pausing on the unfamiliar faces. "Uncle, who are these people?"

"Winter, you're back!" Poole greeted her warmly, though her expression remained cold.

Before Poole could introduce them, Natsu, ever the exuberant one, jumped in. "I'm Natsu! A wizard from Fairy Tail!"

"I'm Lucy," she said with a polite smile.

"And I'm Happy!"

Winter stared at them with an unimpressed look. "Wizards?" she repeated, her tone tinged with doubt. She walked closer, folding her arms as her piercing gaze landed on each of them in turn. "What are you doing here?"

Poole explained patiently. "They've come to help us fight the monsters."

Winter frowned, her expression skeptical. She pointed at each of them. "Just these two people and a cat? What kind of magic do you use?"

"Fire," Natsu replied, grinning confidently.

"Celestial Spirit magic," Lucy added.

"And I can fly!" Happy chirped, fluttering his wings.

Winter's frown deepened as she gave them another once-over. "This is who you brought for help?" She turned to Poole, her voice dripping with disbelief. "A hot-blooded idiot whose fire magic is useless in this cold, a woman with nothing but useless fat, and a cat who can only act cute and eat grilled fish? (Though I admit the cat is cute.)"

Lucy's face turned bright red with anger. "What do you mean, useless fat?! I have a perfectly plump figure!"

Happy swallowed the last bite of his grilled fish indignantly. "That's right! I'm more than just cute—I can fly!"

Unfazed, Winter shrugged. "You should leave before you get yourselves killed. You won't win." She turned away, walking toward the tavern's staircase, and disappeared upstairs.

Poole sighed, scratching his head apologetically. "I'm sorry about Winter. She's… different now that she's grown up. She wasn't always this rude. She used to be such a sweet little girl."

Lucy forced a smile, though her irritation was still evident. "It's fine…"

"This girl's magic power feels… strange," Natsu muttered. His senses had picked up something unusual about Winter.

Hearing this, Lucy looked at Poole. "Is she a wizard too?"

"Yes, Winter is incredibly talented in magic," Poole said. "She was supposed to inherit the magic of the Isisnew clan. But after her father's death, she became withdrawn. Her personality grew stronger and more defiant. She refused to leave this snowy mountain, even when I tried to take her away."

Poole's eyes softened with nostalgia. "She's stubborn, like her father. I think she's trying to prove she can protect our family's legacy, even without the Demon Slayer magic. I stayed here to look after her, but she doesn't belong in this frozen place. She has so much potential… I just want her to see the outside world someday."

Lucy was deeply moved by Poole's words. She couldn't help but compare Winter's situation to her own. Unlike Winter, Lucy's father had always been distant and strict, more concerned with business than her happiness. She felt a pang of envy for Winter, whose uncle cared for her so deeply.

"I've made up my mind!" Lucy declared suddenly, standing up with determination.

Natsu and Happy blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about, Lucy?"

Lucy clenched her fists. "I'm going to help Winter get out of this snowy mountain! She deserves to see the world, to live a better life! Uncle Poole is right—she shouldn't be stuck here, tied down by the past."

"Lucy's acting weird again," Happy whispered to Natsu.

"She's always weird," Natsu replied with a shrug.

"Stop muttering and support me!" Lucy huffed.

"Sure, sure," Natsu said casually.

Meanwhile, deep within a mysterious cave in the Zonia mountains, four demonic figures gathered around an ice table. Their presence radiated a dark and oppressive energy that seemed to chill the air even further.

At the head of the table sat a towering, muscular demon with an aura of authority. His deep voice echoed in the cavern. "The plan we've worked on for decades is nearing completion. The Lord's resurrection is within our grasp. Let nothing jeopardize it!"

"Hmph! Stop acting like you're in charge, you big oaf!" snapped a petite demon girl with twin pigtails. She had one foot on the table, her posture defiant. "You're not the boss of me!"

A scholarly-looking young man adjusted his glasses, his demeanor calm. "Claude, your temper will be your undoing. Perhaps you should read more books and educate yourself."

"Books?!" Claude sneered. "What kind of demon wastes time with books?"

The fourth demon, a voluptuous woman with a sultry air, chuckled as she leaned forward. "Claude, you should listen to Ace. If you keep acting out, don't blame me when you're frozen on an icicle later."

Claude glared at her. "Shut up, you conniving witch! You're always trying to get me punished!"

"Because you deserve it," the woman replied with a smirk.

"Enough!" Ace's voice boomed, silencing the bickering. "Focus. Our enemies aren't to be underestimated. Remember what happened years ago—Walter was killed because of carelessness."

Claude scowled. "That was only because Walter was weak! If I'd been there, the outcome would've been different."

The scholarly demon, Ferg, interjected, "That 'weak' human who killed Walter was using the Ice Demon Slayer Magic. Don't forget, that magic can harm even us."

Claude huffed but said nothing, begrudgingly acknowledging the danger of the magic.

Ace leaned forward, his expression grim. "We can't afford mistakes. Each of you will lead your packs of Ice Wolves to eliminate these intruders. Do not let them interfere with the Lord's resurrection."

"Yes," the three demons replied in unison before dispersing.

Once they were gone, Ace turned and walked deeper into the cave. He entered a hidden chamber, where a massive ice sculpture stood. Encased within the ice was the frozen form of a monstrous demon, its body towering over the room.

Ace's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "The time is near. Soon, I will possess your power, oh great Master of the Sea!"

If Kira or Gray had been there, they would have recognized the magic sealing the demon instantly—it was none other than Uru's Absolute Freeze, a spell that could only mean one thing: something terrifying was about to awaken.

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