Inside the Fairy Tail guild hall, an unusual silence blanketed the room.
All eyes were on Mirajane, who stood near the bar, trying to steady her breathing. Her usual warm smile was absent, replaced by a strained, vacant look. She barely moved, except for the occasional twitch of her fingers clenching the fabric of her skirt. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, as if her body was struggling to process something her mind couldn't comprehend.
Across the room, Rudra sat at his table, chewing nonchalantly on a piece of roasted meat, completely unfazed by the heavy atmosphere. He raised his hand slightly, turning to Kinana behind the bar.
"Another drink, please," he said casually, his voice smooth and calm.
Kinana hesitated, her eyes flickering nervously toward Mirajane. "U-Uh, sure..."
She walked over with a shaky hand and placed a mug of ale before Rudra. He gave her a small nod of thanks and resumed eating, completely unaffected by the atmosphere. Several guild members exchanged uncertain glances. Something was clearly wrong—something more than the usual tension that followed a misunderstanding or rivalry. This was deeper.
The tense silence shattered with a loud BANG as a heavy fist slammed into the table next to Rudra. Plates jumped, mugs tipped, and more than a few gasps filled the air.
Rudra slowly looked up, his golden eyes meeting Elfman Strauss's furious glare.
"What did you do to my sister?!" Elfman shouted, his voice like thunder rolling through the guild.
Rudra blinked once, his expression calm. "What exactly are you accusing me of?"
Elfman jabbed a trembling finger toward Mirajane. "Look at her! She won't even raise her head! She's terrified! What did you say to her, you bastard?!"
Rudra turned his head lazily to look at Mira. Her eyes were cast down, her body slightly hunched, arms folded protectively over her stomach. The usually composed and cheerful barmaid looked utterly shaken, as if she'd just seen a ghost.
"See?!" Elfman growled, stepping closer. "She won't even meet your eyes! You did something!"
Rudra shrugged. "She looks fine to me. Maybe she's just tired. Or emotional. Or... maybe she remembered something unpleasant. I didn't say anything offensive, if that's what you're hoping to pin on me."
"Don't play dumb with me!" Elfman roared. "I won't let anyone hurt my sister! A real man protects his family!"
In a burst of fury, Elfman grabbed Rudra by the collar and yanked him upward. The clattering of cutlery and gasps from the guild echoed like thunder.
Rudra's golden eyes grew cold. The half-smile that had played at the corners of his mouth vanished, replaced by something sharp and deadly.
"Listen here, muscle-head," he said in a voice low and cold. "If you don't want all your teeth shattered and your jaw wired shut for a month, release me. Now."
Natsu stood up from his seat. "Whoa, let's cool down before we turn this place into a crater."
"He's right," Lucy said, eyes darting between the two. "Mira doesn't need more chaos right now."
Gray walked over, arms crossed. "We need answers, not a brawl. Whatever's going on, we're not gonna solve it by tearing each other apart."
Erza's voice rang through the hall with commanding weight. "Elfman. Release him. That's an order."
Elfman growled, but the authority in Erza's tone made him relent. He let go, shoving Rudra back.
Rudra landed lightly, brushing his clothes off with an annoyed grunt. Then he looked around, his sharp gaze meeting the eyes of the other guild members.
"What the fuck are you all looking at?" he snapped.
Most turned their gazes away instantly, some pretending to sip from empty mugs, others looking at the walls or floorboards.
With a scoff, Rudra turned to Mira, who hadn't moved from her spot by the bar. Her hands trembled slightly at her sides, and her eyes remained downcast. Her breathing was shallow, skin pale.
He walked toward her, steps steady but not aggressive. The sound of his boots against the floorboards echoed like a drumbeat in the silent hall.
"Mira," he said, voice quieter. "Are you really not going to say anything?"
Her lips parted. A shaky breath escaped her.
"I... I don't know what you are," she said, just above a whisper. "But the demons inside me—they know you. And they're scared."
The room tensed again, as if her words had sucked the air from the room.
Rudra tilted his head slightly. "Is that what this is about? Your little pets whispering in your ear.?"
Mira flinched at the words. Her fingers clenched into fists.
"They're not pets," she said, her voice steady but clearly shaken. "They're a part of me. And they've never acted like this toward anyone. When you walked in... it was like they saw something terrifying. Not a man. A monster."
Rudra's serious expression softened just a bit. He stepped forward and gently lifted her chin with two fingers. His touch was careful, unexpected from someone who carried such a strong, intimidating presence.
"Mira. Look at me."
She hesitated. Her breath came quickly, her heart racing in her chest. But when their eyes met, something changed. His left eye shifted—the white of it darkened to black, the iris turned a deep red, and a strange mark, a tomoe, appeared and slowly spun like a clock's hand moving in slow motion. It was impossible to look away. Everything else around her seemed to disappear.
It didn't just feel like magic. It felt like something much older and deeper. She felt as if she were falling into something endless, like standing in front of a storm that had been waiting for ages to wake up. Every part of her told her to run, but she couldn't.
And then, just like that, his eye went back to normal.
The strange feeling vanished.
Mira gasped and stumbled backward. Her legs gave out, but Rudra caught her with one arm around her waist. He held her easily, as if he'd done it a hundred times.
"Are you okay now, Mira?" he asked, his voice softer than before.
She nodded, though she couldn't get any words out. Her hand gripped his sleeve tightly, still shaking.
"Good," he said, gently helping her sit on the edge of the table. He paused for a moment, taking a breath, and then looked over his shoulder. "Sorry if I scared you."
He walked away slowly, each step quiet and calm. Without waiting for her to say anything, he returned to his seat, picked up his chopsticks, and continued eating like nothing had happened.
Mira stayed where she was, her breath shallow, her mind racing. Her eyes couldn't leave Rudra—not because she feared him, though that was certainly part of it—but because something inside her stirred at the sight of him. A dangerous curiosity. An involuntary pull toward the power that radiated from him.
For the first time, Mira didn't know what scared her more—Rudra himself, or the part of her that was drawn to him.
"Mira!" Lisanna's voice snapped her out of her trance. Her younger sister rushed to her side and dropped to her knees, eyes wide with concern. "Are you okay? What happened?"
Elfman stood just behind her, his massive frame tense, his fists clenched. His eyes locked onto Rudra like he was ready to charge. "Did he hurt you? Say the word, sis."
Mira shook her head slowly, trying to find her voice. "No... I'm okay. Just... overwhelmed, I guess."
Lisanna glanced over her shoulder at Rudra, then back to Mira. "What was that just now? You looked like you'd seen a ghost."
"Not a ghost," Mira murmured, almost to herself. "Something older... and darker."
By then, Erza and Lucy had joined them. Erza knelt beside Mira, eyes scanning her face. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yeah," Mira replied, forcing a smile. "Thanks, Erza. I just need a moment."
As the murmur of the guild slowly resumed, like someone had lifted a heavy weight off the room. Conversations started up again, laughter returned in trickles, and the din of Fairy Tail's familiar chaos crept back in.
But Mira noticed—Rudra was still the eye of a quiet storm. He sat where he had been, calmly finishing his food, completely unbothered by the fear and curiosity around him. Only a few dared speak to him. The only one who lingered near was Kinana.
Kinana kept her hands busy behind the bar, drying glasses and rearranging bottles. But every now and then, Mira caught her stealing a glance at Rudra, her expression unreadable.
"She's not afraid of him," Mira whispered.
Erza, still beside her, raised a brow. "Kinana?"
Mira nodded. "She's watching him. Like she knows something."
Erza followed her gaze. "Then maybe she does."
As Mira slowly got to her feet, her legs still unsteady, her thoughts spiraled. The word kept echoing in her mind—Sparda. A name. A presence. Her demon souls had recoiled at it. No, they'd panicked.
Who was Rudra, really? And why did he carry a name that sent even her strongest demons into silence?
Mira took a deep breath, willing her body to move, her face to calm. There was work to do, and questions could wait—at least for now.
She made her way behind the bar beside Kinana, pretending to help restock the shelves. Kinana didn't say anything, but Mira could feel the tension in the air between them.
"You've spoken to him," Mira said softly, not looking at her.
Kinana paused, her hand resting on a bottle. "A little."
"You're not scared of him."
Kinana didn't respond immediately. Then she said, just above a whisper, "Not yet."
Mira glanced toward Rudra once more, her heart skipping a beat as their eyes briefly met. He didn't smile. He didn't scowl. Just... watched.
She looked away immediately, focusing on her tasks behind the bar. Hours passed as she worked, tidying up glasses and restocking bottles. The guild slowly returned to its usual chaotic rhythm. Familiar laughter echoed, tables thudded under tankards, and the occasional magic spark flew across the room.
Then came the inevitable chaos.
Chairs crashed. Shouting erupted. A guild-wide brawl had broken out once again. Mira looked up and couldn't help but smile. It was messy, loud, and reckless—but it was Fairy Tail. The Fairy Tail she loved.
Suddenly, the front doors burst open with a loud BANG.
"I'll be damned! You guys are back!"
Heads turned toward the entrance. Standing proudly in the doorway were familiar faces from Lamia Scale:
Lyon Vastia – tall, handsome, with silver-white hair slicked back and piercing ice-blue eyes. He wore his trademark long white coat, exuding confidence.
Toby Horhorta – wild-looking as ever with his spiky blond hair and trademark dog collar. He waved both arms and practically bounced into the room.
Sherry Blendy – composed and elegant in her purple attire, her twin buns bouncing slightly as she walked.
And Jura Neekis – calm and collected, dressed in monk-like robes, exuding the peaceful strength he was known for.
"Lyon! Toby! Sherry! Jura!" Lucy called out, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Whoa, long time no see!" Gray stood up from a table, a grin tugging at his lips. "Didn't expect you guys to drop by today."
Lyon smirked, crossing his arms. "You really think we'd miss a chance to see how our favorite troublemakers are doing?"
"This place still smells like booze and brawls! Just like I remember!" Toby barked out a laugh, sniffing the air with exaggerated flair.
"Oh Fairy Tail," Sherry giggled, waving gracefully. "You haven't changed a bit."
Jura gave a respectful nod. "It is good to see all of you once again. Truly."
"Oi! Who let the ice prince back in here?" Natsu shouted from the middle of the brawl, smoke drifting from his mouth.
"Still got that mouth, huh, Natsu?" Lyon quipped back. "Guess some things never change."
Erza approached, arms crossed but a small smile on her lips. "Welcome back. It's been too long."
The guild hall filled with cheer as handshakes, hugs, and banter flew between members old and new. The Lamia Scale team joined the crowd seamlessly, as if they'd never left.
From behind the bar, Mira watched it all unfold, her smile softening. The weight in her chest eased. For a moment, the unease that Rudra brought with him faded into the background.