Riyao looked at Cana helplessly. Her small frame seemed particularly frail before the boisterous guild gates. In the end, Cana didn't reveal her identity; the word "Dad" was forced back down her throat, turning into a fleeting look of loss in the corners of her eyes. Riyao didn't say much. He simply reached out his broad, warm palm and gently took Cana's slightly trembling hand, leading her into the Fairy Tail Guild and straight to the bar that smelled of aged wood and alcohol.
Just moments ago, when Cana looked at Gildarts' mountain-like figure, her heart pounded as if it would leap out of her chest. That rugged yet cynical smiling face gradually overlapped with the description her mother had given before she passed away. She hurriedly lowered her head, using her slightly messy brown bangs to hide the surging emotions in her eyes, and shouted with a trembling voice while feigning admiration, "I... I'm your super fan! I've always wanted to join the guild to see you up close!" There was an almost imperceptible sob in her voice, and her small fists gripped the hem of her clothes so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
With his simple-minded personality, how could Gildarts possibly notice the complex thoughts of a young girl? He just chuckled, scratched the back of his head, let out a few hearty laughs, and took her words at face value before turning to leave. His broad back was soon swallowed by the guild's clamor. Watching him go, Cana pulled on Riyao's sleeve. She looked up with large, tear-filled eyes and pleaded softly, "Brother Riyao, you must keep this a secret. I'm not ready... I'm really not ready yet, please!" Her eyes were filled with helplessness and fear, dreading that her sudden appearance as a "daughter" would bring trouble to that man who was as free as the wind.
Riyao looked into Cana's uneasy eyes and nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. This is a secret between the two of us." Hearing this promise, Cana finally breathed a sigh of relief. Her grip on her clothes loosened slightly, but the tension in her eyes hadn't completely faded.
Riyao led Cana and shouted to Makarov, who was sitting at the bar drinking alone while watching the guild's youngsters mess around, "Old man, I've brought back a cute little sister! She's a huge fan of Gildarts and wants to join the guild. What do you think?"
Hearing this, Makarov set down his massive mug, and his wrinkled old face immediately broke into his signature kind smile. He hopped down from his stool and walked over to Cana with short steps, carefully observing the somewhat timid girl. Cana took a deep breath and tried to keep her voice steady. "My name is Cana Alberona. I want to join Fairy Tail."
Makarov reached out his rough, large hand and gently patted Cana's head. His voice was warm and resonant, seemingly able to soothe all anxieties. "Child, welcome to Fairy Tail. From today on, this is your home."
As Makarov finished his sentence, the already lively guild members instantly erupted. Macao raised his glass and cheered, Wakaba blew out a smoke ring and clapped with a smile, and the young Mages whistled excitedly. Riyao skillfully pulled a slightly yellowed membership application form from a drawer under the bar and handed it to Cana to fill out. Watching Cana carefully write her name stroke by stroke, Riyao turned and brought out the Magic Mark stamp that symbolized being a member of the guild.
"Little Cana, what color would you like for your mark? And where do you want it?" Riyao asked with a smile, playing with the magical stamp in his hand.
Cana bit her lower lip, thought for a moment, and said softly, "Then... can I have a black one? Put it here..." As she spoke, she shyly lifted the hem of her shirt a little, revealing the fair and delicate skin on the left side of her abdomen.
"Of course, no problem." Riyao happily adjusted the color of the stamp and then carefully pressed the black Fairy Tail emblem onto the left side of Cana's abdomen. Accompanied by a faint ripple of magic, the black mark was perfectly imprinted there, as if it had always belonged.
"Alright, all done!" Riyao stood up and clapped his hands. "We're family now, little Cana. If anyone dares to bully you, just tell me, and I'll prescribe them the bitterest medicine!"
Hearing this, the tears Cana had been holding back finally burst forth. She nodded heavily with teary eyes; her drifting, lonely heart had finally found a place to rest in this noisy yet warm guild.
Seeing how cute young Cana was, with her tear-streaked face and well-behaved demeanor, Riyao's mischievous side instantly flared up. With lightning speed, he whipped a portable Magic Camera from his pocket and with a "click," captured a precious "embarrassing" photo of her. He thought secretly to himself that when Cana grew up to be that boisterous, alcoholic big sister, bringing this photo out would definitely be a sight to behold.
Just then, Makarov suddenly jumped onto the bar and shouted in his booming voice, "To celebrate Cana joining Fairy Tail, we're having a banquet tonight! Everyone, drink your fill!"
The atmosphere in the guild reached a fever pitch, nearly blowing the roof off.
"Oh! Welcome, Cana! Long live the Master!"
"Angela, bring me a barrel of ale! I'm going to drink to my heart's content today!"
"With your low tolerance? I'm definitely drinking you all under the table today!"
Watching the group start their unrestrained revelry again, Riyao cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, eager to stir up trouble, "Great! Drink as much as you want! I can treat your hangovers again tomorrow! I've recently mixed a new 'Sobriety Potion.' The taste is so sharp and sour, I guarantee you won't want to touch alcohol again for the rest of your lives!"
Hearing the words "Riyao's potion," the rowdy guild members collectively froze for a second, their hands holding drinks suspended in mid-air. But immediately after, someone led the way with a laughing curse, "Get lost, Riyao! Don't try to scare us with your poisons!" Then, the crowd threw the warning to the wind and dove back into an even wilder frenzy. The clinking of glasses, loud laughter, and playful fighting intertwined to play the unique symphony of Fairy Tail.
Amidst the deafening noise, Riyao brought over a plate full of delicate pastries and a glass of warm sweet juice. He bypassed the drunks who were already swaying and approached the somewhat cramped Cana in the corner. He smiled and handed the plate to her. "Eat up, Cana. Everyone is especially happy that you joined the guild today, even if their way of expressing it is a bit... wild. After you finish eating, I'll take you to the guild dormitory to settle in."
Seeing Cana eating the pastries in small bites, her eyes still holding a hint of confusion and worry about the future, Riyao added softly, "Don't worry about the expenses. Our guild dormitory is very cheap. Once you're familiar with the guild and can take on requests to earn rewards, you can pay it back slowly. For now, you just need to settle in peacefully, okay?"
"Mhm, thank you, Brother Riyao," Cana replied softly, her heart feeling warm. Looking at the young man who smiled like a spring breeze, she felt he was like a reliable older brother.
The banquet lasted until late at night. When most people had passed out under the tables snoring, Riyao led Cana out of the guild hall to the dormitory area located behind the guild. He specifically chose a sunny, quiet single room for her. Although the room wasn't large, it had everything she needed. The two of them worked together to quickly tidy the bed, change into clean sheets and covers, and wipe down the desk and chairs. Before long, the once cold room became clean and cozy.
"Alright, get some rest. I'll take you to get familiar with the guild environment tomorrow morning." Riyao stood at the door and waved to Cana.
"Goodnight, Brother Riyao." Cana stood inside the room, watched Riyao's departing back, and gently closed the door. Lying on the soft bed and smelling the scent of sunlight on the quilt, she closed her eyes, replaying everything that had happened today in her mind. Although she hadn't reclaimed her father, she had gained a new home.
On the other side, Riyao returned to his own room. Unlike Cana's cozy little room, Riyao's room was practically a cluttered laboratory. Corners were piled with various herbs emitting strange smells, some even glowing faintly. A large desk was covered with several notebooks filled with scrawled handwriting, densely recording various potion formulas and experimental data. Next to the notebooks were several tubes of strangely colored, unknown potions that bubbled from time to time.
Riyao walked to the desk, picked up a tube of potion that glowed with an eerie purple light, and a mischievous smile curled on his lips. "Tomorrow morning, those hungover guys are in for a treat..."