Fairy Tail: This Healing Mage's hits hurt so much!

Riyao sat at the bar, elbows propped on the counter, looking at the empty guild hall.

The usually noisy hall is now so quiet that you can hear birds chirping outside the window.

The order form was completely empty; not a single order form remained.

"It's that day again."

Riyao swung his legs, speaking in a lazy tone.

"No one has succeeded in the past few years, I wonder if anyone will succeed this year?"

Mirajane stood at the bar wiping glasses.

The glass spun around in her hand, polishing it until it was as smooth as a mirror.

"Lisana also went to do her commission with Elfman. They left early this morning."

"Everyone's fighting tooth and nail for a spot," Riyao chuckled.

Lucy lay on the edge of the bar, her head resting on her arm, looking completely bewildered.

"What are you talking about? What success or failure?"

Wendy and Charlotte sat on the chairs next to them, also looking puzzled.

Xia Lulu crossed her arms and tilted her head slightly.

Sunlight casually ruffled Wendy's hair; it felt nice, like a kitten's.

"You're new here, they didn't say, probably because they don't want to increase the competition. The S-class mage exam is coming up soon."

"An S-rank assessment?" Lucy's eyes widened slightly.

"Yes, to participate in the S-level assessment, you first need to get a spot. How do you get a spot? By doing as many commissions as possible, showing off your abilities, and then seeing if the old man will approve. So now everyone is rushing out to do commissions, not a single one is left."

"Oh, I see... no wonder the task list was completely empty."

Lucy's head slid off her arm, and she slumped on the bar like a wilted eggplant, her hair all flattened.

"I don't know how I'm going to pay this month's rent, sob sob sob."

Riyao looked at them, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Why don't you give it a try? If you become an S-rank mage, the rewards for S-rank commissions are very generous. One commission can cover a year's rent and you'll still have some left over."

Lucy rolled her eyes, changed her position and continued lying down, this time burying her face in her arms.

"I can't even complete an A-level commission on my own, an S-level one? That's more of a pipe dream."

Wendy shook her head, her twin ponytails swaying back and forth.

"We've only been here a short time, are we eligible to participate in the S-level assessment?"

"sure."

Riyao shrugged, his tone as casual as if he were explaining what to eat tomorrow.

"As long as we get the old man's approval, that's fine."

Makarov sat on a high stool by the bar, took a sip of his tea, and then spat out the tea leaves in his mouth.

"My approval is not easily obtained. Over the years, only a very small number of people have been able to participate in the S-level assessment."

Mirajane rested her finger on her chin and blinked.

"Really? I took the S-level assessment very quickly back then."

"You're different!"

Makarov blew on the tea, causing his white beard to flutter.

"When you first joined the guild, you were already capable of receiving a powerful Satanic Soul, and your magical power far surpassed that of your peers. If I weren't blind, how could I not acknowledge that?"

"That's right. Don't you even know whose daughter-in-law she is?"

Riyao patted his chest, and together with Mirajane, they raised their little heads, their lips curling up in a wide smile.

"I have such good taste."

The two of them were in the same pose, at the same angle, even the curve of their heads tilted back was exactly the same.

Lucy looked at the two of them, her eyes filled with envy.

It wasn't that I envied their relationship, but rather Mirajane's magic.

"Is there any way to quickly increase magic power?"

She lay on the bar counter, her voice muffled.

"Yes, yes, activate the second magic source. After activation, not only will your magic power double, but your magic will also undergo a qualitative change. Look at my Azure Dragon form; the obvious change only occurred after activating the second magic source."

Lucy's eyes lit up, and her head bounced off her arm.

"How do I turn it on?"

"It's very simple. As you continue to cultivate, once your magic power accumulates to a certain level, you will naturally be able to open up a second source of magic power."

"..."

Lucy slumped down again, lying even flatter than before.

"You're basically just wasting your breath talking."

Riyao shrugged, indicating that it was none of his business.

"That's how training is supposed to be. How many people do you think can get stronger just by eating fire like Natsu?"

He thought for a moment and then added more.

"Oh, right, there's a little-known fact about magic power. Magic power doesn't decline with age; in fact, it increases over time. You see, the old man is a perfect example. His magic power is among the highest in the guild, but his physical abilities have declined, so he can't quite unleash it."

Makarov kicked Sunrise in annoyance.

"Can't you say something nice about me?!"

"Are you going to kick me again?"

Riyao looked down at the old man's short legs.

"If you kick me again, I won't treat your body anymore. Go find Granny Poliusica."

Makarov's expression changed.

"Oh dear, what kind of relationship do we have? How can you let such a small thing ruin our friendship?"

He chuckled and withdrew his foot, his expression changing faster than turning the pages of a book.

"Heh." Riyao sneered, "I haven't settled the score with you for stealing my wine yet."

"I suddenly remembered I still have some official documents to process!"

Makarov jumped off the high stool, his short legs moving swiftly, and dashed into the office.

The door slammed shut.

Mirajane was grinning from ear to ear, her shoulders shaking with laughter.

Wendy covered her mouth and laughed out loud, while Xia Lulu's lips twitched.

Lucy lay on the bar counter, laughing so hard she was exhausted, and punched the table twice.

"The old man runs way too fast."

"He gets like this every time the topic of stealing alcohol comes up; he's a repeat offender."

Riyao shook his head, picked up the juice Mirajane had poured for him, and took a sip.

Just then, the guild door was pushed open, and a tall figure walked in, letting out a long yawn.

"Huh...why is it so quiet today? There's not even anyone to brag to."

Gildarts scratched his head and lazily walked to the bar.

"The S-rank assessment is coming up soon, everyone's out doing commissioned work," Riyao said.

"Oh right, it's that time of year again. I forgot."

Gildarts plopped down on the bar and waved to Mirajane.

"Mira, give me a curry chicken chop rice, extra curry. I'm starving."

"Okay, just a moment."

Mirajane turned and walked into the kitchen, her apron straps tied into a pretty bow at her waist.

Sunlight looked at Lucy and Wendy, and pointed to Gildarts's back.

"Let me tell you, this seemingly strong, smelly old man only knows one spell."

Wendy blinked, sizing up Gildarts' tall figure, tilting her head in confusion.

"Isn't Mr. Gildarts an S-class mage? I even heard he's the strongest in the guild, yet he only knows one spell?"

Gildarts' ears twitched, and he heard Wendy's words. He quickly turned around and waved his hand.

"Don't listen to their nonsense! I just used the Shattering Magic as a basic spell, not that I don't know any other spells, okay?"

He protested loudly.

Sunlight completely ignored Gildarts' protests and continued to educate the two juniors.

"That old bastard's shattering magic is a super high-level magic, isn't it terrifying? The difficulty of learning it is no less than Lucy's physical skills surpassing Leo's."

"His total magical power is terrifying. You don't feel it now because he usually suppresses it. If he were to release his full magical power, you standing this close wouldn't be able to breathe at all."

Lucy swallowed hard, and the way she looked at Gildarts changed completely.

"According to the old man..."

Riyao's tone shifted to a storytelling style.

"Back then, Uncle Stinky was young and couldn't control his shattering magic at all. He would shatter everything he went with him—he would crush the pavement when he walked, break door frames when he pushed open doors, and shatter bowls when he ate. Everyone around him was terrified and chased him away, treating him like a monster."

"Later, the old man found him in an abandoned town and brought him back to the guild to train him slowly. It took a long time to help him learn to control himself. But..."

Sunburst glanced at Gildarts.

"I still haven't gotten rid of my bad habit of getting distracted. When I get distracted, I forget to control myself, and when I forget to control myself, things break down."

"Hey, you brat!"

Gildarts slammed his hand on the bar counter, making a loud cracking sound.

"What nonsense are you spouting in front of your juniors? This is completely made up!"

"I'm just adding some embellishments."

The two started playfully fighting each other at the bar.

boom!

A muffled thud.

Riyao was completely shattered.