The quiet forest path was bathed in the fading light of dusk.
Makarov let out a heavy sigh as he recalled the scene at the Magic Council.
"Tch… They really laid into me this time. Don't those guys know when to back off?"
His face scrunched up like a dried orange peel, eyes burning with frustration.
"When I get back, I'll—"
BOOM—
Before he could finish, an overwhelming surge of magic erupted into the sky.
The sheer pressure made the very air seem to freeze. Birds mid-flight dropped like stones, and beasts in the forest collapsed unconscious.
"This magic… It's insane!"
Makarov's pupils shrank to pinpricks as he whipped his head toward the source.
There, standing boldly amidst the raging magic, was a being with massive wings, towering horns, and a body of immense scale.
Its pristine white feathers shimmered with a sacred golden glow under the setting sun.
Without a doubt—this was a creature lost to history, one that hadn't been seen in four hundred years.
"A… dragon!?"
Even Makarov, a man weathered by countless storms, found himself momentarily stunned.
But then he noticed something else.
Atop the dragon's head stood a small figure, their faint magical aura nearly drowned out by the dragon's overwhelming presence.
As if sensing his gaze, the white dragon slowly turned its head.
Sapphire-like eyes, vast and piercing, locked onto Makarov.
In that instant—
The magical particles in the air grew restless.
Flickers of golden lightning crackled around the dragon's form.
"Oh crap—!"
Though he didn't understand the situation, Makarov knew one thing: the dragon saw him as a threat.
He opened his mouth to declare he meant no harm—
But then, just as suddenly as it appeared, the dragon's magic began to fade.
Its massive body turned translucent, vanishing into the air like mist.
The child, who should have plummeted from the sky, was instead caught in a soft pink bubble of magic, floating gently to the ground.
"Summoning Magic…?"
The realization struck Makarov.
That's why a dragon, missing for centuries, suddenly reappeared.
But now wasn't the time to dwell on that.
The child was the priority.
Without hesitation, Makarov sprinted toward where the bubble descended.
When he arrived, he found a man already standing beside the unconscious boy.
And beyond them—
A village in ruins.
Gaping fissures split the earth. Houses were charred black or torn apart as if by monstrous claws.
Bodies littered the ground, staining the soil crimson.
Survivors clutched their dead, weeping openly.
Their occasional glances toward the boy were filled with unmistakable fear.
"Did the dragon do this?"
Makarov's first thought was that the white beast had wreaked havoc.
Hearing footsteps, the man jolted upright—only to relax slightly upon seeing Makarov's short stature.
That reaction made Makarov narrow his eyes.
If the dragon had attacked, the man wouldn't have been relieved to see me… So this wasn't its doing.
"I'm Makarov Dreyar, master of the Fairy Tail guild. What happened here?"
"The master of Fairy Tail!?"
The man's eyes widened.
Fairy Tail was one of Fiore's most famous guilds—of course he'd heard of it.
Nervous in the presence of such a renowned figure, the man hurriedly explained.
"A Dark Guild attacked us."
His voice cracked with grief as he spoke of the friends he'd lost.
Makarov fell silent.
Dark Guilds were a blight on the magical world, leaving chaos and suffering in their wake.
Even the Magic Council struggled to eradicate them completely.
"This boy's parents died right in front of him… Then, out of nowhere, that huge monster appeared and slaughtered the Dark Guild members."
Wiping his eyes, the man gestured to the child.
He didn't know anything about dragons—to him, it was just a monstrous savior.
"A magical awakening…"
Makarov murmured in understanding.
Magic was born from the heart.
Under extreme emotional stress, those with latent power could awaken their abilities spontaneously.
But summoning a dragon? That's unheard of.
"I was friends with his parents. When I saw him fall, I came to check on him."
The man hesitated, then looked at Makarov with desperate hope.
"Sir… could you take him with you? You saw his magic—he's strong!"
"...I understand."
Makarov didn't need it spelled out.
Even if the boy's power had saved the village, humans feared what they couldn't comprehend.
He'd heard stories of people with Take Over magic being driven out as monsters.
"Thank you."
The man bowed deeply, relief washing over him.
He'd been agonizing over what to do.
This child was his friend's son—he couldn't abandon him, but keeping him here would only invite fear and conflict.
Hearing Makarov's title had given him an idea: entrust the boy to Fairy Tail.
A reputable guild's master wouldn't mistreat a child.
"His name is Rayne. I'll bury his parents and talk to the villagers—we'll keep his magic a secret."
With one last bow, the man cast a final glance at the unconscious boy before turning back toward the ravaged village.
There was still so much to do.
"Sigh…"
Makarov exhaled heavily, looking down at the child.
Black hair, a soot-smudged face—almost comical, yet with delicate features beneath the grime.
He draped his cloak over Rayne, then flexed his magic.
His body swelled with power, muscles bulging as he grew to a towering size.
Hoisting the boy onto his back, Makarov took off at a sprint—vanishing into the distance in seconds.
Moving rubble wouldn't help this village.
His priority now was to alert the nearest garrison and send aid.