After three days of training in the Eastern Forest, Layla finally welcomed this long-awaited moment.
Oddly enough, Granny Porlyusica had gone out for some reason and had not returned, not even for an occasion like the Fairy Tail Fantasia.
As fireworks bloomed across the night sky, their brilliant sparks lighting up the darkness and casting a colorful reflection, the entire city was filled with a joyful atmosphere. The annual Fairy Tail Fantasia had begun.
The buildings on both sides of the street were adorned with neon lights and colorful ribbons. Spectators cheered and applauded from the roadside, dressed in vibrant costumes with stars and hearts painted on their cheeks, wearing ornate masks, and holding glowing light sticks. Lacking street-level spots, families crowded by their windows, while others climbed onto higher rooftops to watch. Bursts of laughter drifted through the crowd from time to time, and everyone's face radiated happiness and excitement.
The parade floats rolled slowly down the street, each one elaborately decorated with twinkling lights. The entire procession was imbued with the power of magic and a fantastical aura, making people feel as though they had stepped into a world of magic and dreams. In this moment, all the spectators were completely immersed in the experience, celebrating this unforgettable magical extravaganza together.
Layla stood by the roadside. Her own memories of the Fantasia were extremely scarce, her impressions nearly forgotten, but as she gazed at the magical feast before her, she found herself getting carried away.
First to come into view was a magnificent float glittering with a giant Fairy Tail emblem. The stage was embellished with exquisite and gorgeous decorations, hung with flowing ribbons and brilliant lights that radiated an intoxicating magical atmosphere. A group of performers dressed in fairy-style attire stood on the stage, wearing floral wreaths and draped in sheer gauze. They moved with graceful, gentle dance steps, resembling sprites dancing in the forest and capturing the gaze of the audience.
Right behind it came a float themed around the Kingdom of Wind and Snow. The vehicle was styled to resemble a world of ice and snow, glistening with white frost and shimmering ice crystals. Lifelike ice sculptures stood atop the float, showcasing the magnificent scenery of a snow kingdom and making people feel as though they had stepped right into a frozen fairy tale. Performers dressed in lavish royal attire stood on the float, waving magic wands and executing graceful dances, accompanied by backup dancers in snowman costumes, bringing the magic and majesty of the snow kingdom to vivid life.
The third float was the Animal Kingdom, decorated with various animal motifs to convey a lively and cheerful atmosphere. The performers wore lifelike animal hats, transforming into all sorts of cute creatures as they jumped and twisted about, adding a playful and fun touch to the parade. They waved colorful balloons in their hands, their joyful laughter intertwining to form a unique and picturesque sight within the parade procession.
The fourth float was a radiant fairy procession. As the stage float moved slowly forward and music began to play, a group of young performers in innocent costumes danced around the vehicle, holding colorful balloons and fresh flowers while waving brightly and smiling at the audience. Each fairy's costume was pieced together from countless butterfly-wing-thin silks, every piece embroidered with delicate patterns and designs that made them look like colorful butterflies fluttering through the air. The magic wands in their hands were all embedded with sparkling gems, emitting a charming glow.
Of course, Macao and Wakaba made an appearance as well. Macao unleashed purple flames, combining them with Wakaba's smoke magic to form a heart shape. The purple flames and smoke intertwined, sketching a perfect heart pattern in the air. Suddenly, the purple flames burst through the heart shape, streaking across the sky like a shooting star and trailing a dazzling beam of light. Next, the flames ignited the smoke, which gradually dispersed under the heat to form a magnificent combination of letters—"FAIRYTAIL." Though the two of them didn't really matter.
Amidst the parade procession, there was yet another float where a young boy stood, dressed in a white formal shirt paired with a black fleece jacket, a silk ribbon tied around his waist from which hung an exquisite sword.
The little boy wore a wide smile, his eyes filled with joy and happiness. His right hand was raised high, his index finger pointing toward the sky as if sending a message to someone who might not be able to see him. As the float moved slowly forward, he kept waving to the audience, his smile brilliant and innocent.
What he did not know was that the very person he was thinking of—his grandfather—was following closely behind his route, standing among the spectators with a heart full of excitement and joy as he watched the boy's energetic display.
August gazed at the surrounding crowd. He could feel the spectators' moods—something he could discern without even using magic to read people's inner thoughts and emotions. Suddenly, an idea popped into August's mind, and once it surfaced, it refused to go away. August's gaze gradually drifted toward someone.
As the Fantasia ended, the members of Fairy Tail returned to the guild hall, while Layla and August were still wandering the streets, eventually strolling over to South Exit Park. The park featured a giant snowman doll, decorated balloons hung along the paths, and a stuffed bear puppet selling balloons.
"Layla, what do you think of this guild, Fairy Tail?" August asked, gazing at the bare trees and scenery of South Exit Park.
"It's pretty nice. Feels quite lively and a lot of fun," Layla replied, still lingering on the experience. Hearing August's question, she couldn't help but picture the scenes inside the guild—how the front doors never had a moment of peace because anyone who walked by would kick them in, and how the members would start brawling at the drop of a hat.
"Have you ever thought about joining this guild?" August asked, watching Layla's expression thoughtfully.
"Joining? It's definitely a good choice, but..." Layla certainly had the thought of joining, but she was mainly worried about what to do regarding Grandpa August.
"Layla, why don't you join this guild? My journey ends here," August stated, voicing his thoughts. After all, Layla was still young, and the environment of the Alvarez Empire could not compare to this place.
"Grandpa, do you mean you're going back?" Layla asked anxiously. Once this opportunity passed, it would be hard to say when the next one might come.
"Yes, the purpose of this journey has been achieved, and some matters in our country require my return to handle them. Though it's not terribly urgent, I plan to head back in a couple of days." August wore a gentle expression, his full smile speaking of how much he had gained from this trip.
"Grandpa, are you serious?" Layla looked at the old man before her, a pang of emotion gripping her heart.
"Yes. Don't worry, I'll come back to visit you," August said, looking at Layla's expression as he gently patted her head to comfort her.
On the way back, Layla remained absent-minded all the way, and August walked in silence upon seeing it.
"Grandpa, this isn't the way back, is it?" Layla asked in confusion, noticing August stepping toward Strawberry Street.
"Yes, it's the way back. Since I'm leaving soon, I'm going to buy you a house here."
"Grandpa, didn't you say you were out of money?"
"I still have plenty of money left."