Gray and Lyon were famous for being "perverts," as they would unconsciously strip off their clothes in the middle of the street. Thankfully, Ultear's constant correction had at least taught them to keep their underwear on, saving them from true indecency. Simon was relatively normal, though he sometimes caused accidental property damage on missions. In truth, that was a problem most Fairy Tail members had, which was why the guild was drowning in compensation invoices.

But the worst offender, by far, was Natsu.

His destructive power was on another level. For every mission he completed, he left a trail of devastation. The guild received more compensation requests for him than for anyone else. His mission rewards almost never covered the damages. Sometimes, the guild—or Noah—had to pay the difference, and Natsu would have to work off the debt. Even so, his destructive habits never changed.

Noah didn't intervene, aside from an occasional reminder. As long as Natsu took responsibility for his actions, that was enough. After all, "advancing on the path you believe in" was the Fairy Tail way.

Time passed, and another month went by.

One day, Wendy suddenly ran up to Noah in the training grounds, with Carla, Yukino, and Meredy right behind her.

"Brother Noah!" she said, her voice full of excitement. "I... I think I smelled Grandeeney's scent in the forest east of Magnolia! Can you come with me? I need to check!"

Yukino and the others also looked at Noah, hoping he would agree. They had been shocked when Wendy first told them. A dragon? In the forest near Magnolia? It seemed impossible, but Wendy was absolutely certain she wasn't mistaken. Yukino had been the one to suggest they get Noah. He was like a big brother to them all, and his strength and knowledge were completely trustworthy. Plus, with him there, they'd be safe.

"You said you smelled Grandeeney's scent?" Noah listened to their story and immediately agreed. "Alright, I'll go with you."

Of course, he knew Grandeeney wasn't there. He would have known if a dragon was nearby. He also knew where Grandeeney actually was, and it was nowhere that Wendy could find her right now.

But if Wendy said she smelled a scent like Grandeeney's, and it was in the forest to the east... Noah had a pretty good idea of who she had found. This was a good chance to pay her a visit.

Noah packed up his things and left the training grounds with the girls, heading east into the forest, following Wendy's lead.

After a lot of twists and turns, Wendy finally led them to a treehouse.

"This is it," Wendy whispered to Noah and the others. "This is where the scent stopped."

Her little face was a mixture of nervousness and hope. She had been searching for her dragon parent for so long with no leads. To suddenly find a clue so close to home... she was terrified it would be a false alarm, but she was also desperately hoping for a real lead. She even had a tiny, secret wish that she might find Grandeeney herself, though she knew a treehouse couldn't possibly hold a dragon.

She looked to Noah, hoping he could give her an answer.

Noah simply looked at the familiar treehouse and said, "So it was here."

"Brother Noah, you know this place?" Yukino asked.

"Of course," Noah said. "When I first joined the guild, I spent a lot of time here. This is where I learned all my healing magic. The person who lives here... she's my teacher."

"Your teacher?" Yukino's curiosity was piqued. "How come we've never heard you talk about her?"

"That's because my teacher... well, she hates humans. She rarely interacts with anyone. Usually, it's just me or Gramps who comes to see her. The older members know of her; she's our guild's consultant apothecary. She used to handle a lot of the guild's medical needs. But ever since I learned from her, I've taken over that duty. That's why you newer members don't know she exists. I don't talk about her, to protect her from being disturbed."

That explained it.

"So, your teacher..." Wendy began, her eyes wide with hope.

Noah knew what she was thinking and gently shook his head. "She's not Grandeeney, Wendy. I studied with her long before X777. She's 100% human."

"A human who hates humans? That's... odd," Carla muttered.

"Haha, that's just her defining trait," Noah laughed.

"Oh... I see..." Wendy's hopeful expression fell.

Noah patted her on the head. "But you smelled Grandeeney's scent. So let's go ask, shall we?"

"Mhm! Thank you, Brother Noah!" Wendy's spirits lifted a little.

Noah nodded and walked up to the door of the treehouse. He knocked and called out, "Master! Master Porlyusica! I've come to visit!"

He knocked for a moment, and then the door suddenly flew open. A broom shot out, swinging right at his head.

Noah, expecting this, easily dodged to the side.

A moment later, an elderly woman with purple hair, wearing a red, high-collared cape, stormed out, brandishing the broom.

"I thought I told you not to bother me!" she snapped, jabbing the broom at Noah. "Why are you here again?! I hate humans!"

"Haha, it's not me this time, Master!" Noah said, easily dodging her swings. "They're the ones who wanted to see you! I just tagged along."

Porlyusica swiped at him a few more times before finally huffing. She lowered her broom and turned to look at the girls. When her gaze passed over Yukino and Meredy, her expression didn't change.

But when she saw Wendy, she froze. Her sharp, severe expression softened, and her eyes filled with a complex emotion.

And Wendy, looking at Porlyusica, burst into tears.

~~~

Get early access to 50+ advanced chapters on Patreon!

https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn