" Lady Layla, if I may ask, what would happen if you cannot collect all 12 Zodiac keys " Akira asked as he looked at Layla.
"If I cannot gather all twelve zodiac keys tonight, I will have to use the thirteenth key, Ophiuchus, to try and bridge the gap," Layla admitted, her voice trembling slightly as she as she continued "But even with Ophiuchus helping to anchor the connection, forcing the Eclipse Gate open while simultaneously opening all twelve celestial gates will demand far more power than I possess. I will have to use my own life force as a substitute to make up for the missing Aquarius key."
At the end, Layla had a sad smile on her face. In fact, opening all twelve zodiac gates would actually be pushing her limit. After all, she has never tried opening so celestial spirit gates even in her prime, much less now when she is retired.
Thankfully, she had the help of Orphichus to train herself, allowing her to barely support opening all the zodiac gates. Again, Layla felt fortunate enough to meet Akira, who took her quest, allowing her to increase her survival chances.
"So you see, Akira," Layla continued softly, trying to steady her hands. "This is why finding Grammi is very important."
Akira didn't hesitate much as he agreed, " Okay, I will help you find this person. But can I ask you to prepare some things for me "
Layla's eyes lit up with relief. "Of course, Akira! Anything you need. The entire resources of the Heartfilia family are at your disposal. What do you require for the journey?"
Akira leaned forward, tapping his fingers thoughtfully against the table. "First, I need a detailed map of the Western Continent. I know official records are scarce because of the distance and the political tension, but whatever your family's merchant connections have gathered over the last four hundred years will be useful. Cities, ports, terrain, known magical danger zones—everything."
"I will have Spatto gather our most classified archives immediately," Layla nodded quickly, taking mental notes. "What else?"
"Second, I need an item and a photo of Grammi. Any item is fine as long as it has a connection with Grammi," Akira asked as he looked at Layla.
Layla thought about it for a while before she took out a bracelet from her hand. She then handed the bracelet to Akira. "This was something that was given to me by Grammi. She left it behind as a keepsake when she retired. I always keep it near me to remember her."
Akira accepted the silver bracelet, feeling the faint, lingering magical trace on it. For someone with his tracking skills, an item with such a strong personal connection is enough for him to create a tracker.
He then asked Layla to bring a simple map of the world that was available to any normal person. Layla just clapped her hands, and soon a servant arrived, bringing a world map and a picture of Grammi that Akira had asked for.
Taking the world map and the picture from the servant, and thanking the servant, Akira began to craft a magic item. Taking a few materials from his storage ring and placing them in a magical array, he began to pour down magic power as he began to use enchantment magic.
As the magical array vibrated under his hands, Akira began chanting the structural commands, his voice steady and rhythmic:
"[Enchantment: Extraction]"
The silver bracelet glowed brightly as a thin strand of silvery magic was pulled from it, floating just above the metal. Akira then pointed his fingers toward the world map spread across the table, his eyes narrowing behind his mask as he cast the next chain of spells.
"[Enchantment: Separation]"
With a sharp snap, the glowing strand detached completely from the bracelet, hovering freely in the air.
"[Enchantment: Connection]"
He slammed his palm lightly onto the map. The silvery strand shot downward, sinking deep into the parchment. The materials that Akira placed began to disintegrate as they turned into sparks of light going straight towards the map. The lines of the map rippled like water before settling, and a tiny, glowing blue dot finally burst to life far across the ocean, flickering steadily deep within the territory of the Western Continent.
"It's done," Akira muttered, his voice calm. "This dot will track Grammi's position in real time. As long as she is alive and holding onto her magic, this map will show me exactly where she is. Although the location isn't very accurate, this can at least help us give us a general location."
Layla gasped softly, leaning over the table to look at the glowing dot. "This is... incredible, Akira. You truly are full of wonders."
"Hahaha, thank you for your praise, Lady Layla," Akira replied, a humble smile gracing his lips. To him, this was simply a practical application of his craft, but seeing the sheer relief washing over her face made the effort entirely worth it. Enchantment magic truly was a boundless tool, its limits stretching only as far as the caster's own imagination and power, and he was glad it could offer her comfort when she needed it most.
"Well then, since the night has already settled, you should rest here for now, Akira," Layla said, her voice softening with genuine warmth. The heavy, suffocating despair that had anchored itself in her chest for three long years was finally beginning to lift, replaced by a profound sense of gratitude. Looking at him, she knew with absolute certainty that trusting him with this mission was the best decision she could have made. "My husband, Jude, has been deeply eager to meet you, and little Lucy... she truly misses you."
"Then I will gladly accept your hospitality, Lady Layla," Akira said, his expression softening behind his mask. "It has been a long journey, and I really need a good night's rest."
Layla's smile widened, a touch of genuine happiness returning to her tired face. "Wonderful. I will have the servants prepare the grand guest room for you immediately."
.....
The morning sun shone softly through the large windows of the guest room. Akira opened his eyes, feeling completely rested. He got out of bed, washed his face, and walked out into the grand hallway. Following the rich scent of freshly baked bread, he made his way down to the dining hall.
As soon as he stepped inside, the quiet morning air was broken by a happy shout.
"Akira!"
A little blonde girl with short pigtails ran straight toward him. It was young Lucy. Her brown eyes sparkled with pure excitement as she stopped right in front of him. "You're really here! Mommy told me you came last night, but I was already asleep. Are you going to show me your cool magic again?"
Akira's serious face softened. He knelt down to her height and smiled gently. "Good morning, Lucy. But sorry, Lucy, I have to go on a long trip today, so I cannot play right now. But next time I visit, I promise to show you a brand new trick."
"Promise?" Lucy held out her tiny pinky finger.
"Promise," Akira said, hooking his finger with hers. He made a tiny, harmless spark of blue light dance on their hands, making the little girl laugh with joy.
"Lucy, don't bother our guest the moment he wakes up," a deep, calm voice said.
A tall man walked into the dining hall. It was Jude Heartfilia. He looked strict and serious, like a true noble merchant, but his eyes showed great relief. He walked up to Akira and held out his hand for a firm handshake.
"You must be Akira. Layla told me everything," Jude said, his voice shaking slightly with emotion. "My name is Jude Heartfilia, Layla's husband. Thank you for taking this quest. You have no idea how much this means to our family."
" Please don't worry, Mr.Jude, we Fairy Tail members always try our best to help our friends" Akira replied politely.
Author's Note: I'm currently balancing my university studies with writing, and things can get pretty tight. If you enjoy my work, even a $1 donation on Patreon makes a massive difference in helping me cover my education expenses.
Also, I'm going to create a new fanfic, so there are a few voting polls to decide on the story will continue. I would appreciate it if you can go to my Patreon and cast your vote. The more feedback, the better.