CHAPTER 571: FAIRY GLITTER

As a mid-ranking member of the Council, Mest knew the truth: Zeref had never died at all.

The Council had spent years quietly gathering scraps of information, hoping to locate him, contain him, or, if necessary, eliminate him before his magic could threaten the world again. But his whereabouts had always been elusive, until now.

And to think... he would stumble across Zeref here, on Tenrou Island of all places.

Could the island itself be cloaked by Zeref’s magic? Was that why it had remained hidden for so long?

A dozen possibilities flashed through Mest’s mind, but they didn’t matter. What mattered was,

Merit.

If he could be the one to capture the infamous Black Wizard Zeref, it would outweigh a hundred petty reports about Fairy Tail’s mischief.

This was the kind of achievement that could define a career.

Of course, taking Zeref down alone would be suicide. No, he needed backup. He needed Lahar and the others here with the battleship, immediately.

"Mr. Mest?"

Lucy’s voice broke his thoughts. She looked at him strangely; just a moment ago he’d been chewing on tree bark, and now he was staring into space like he’d bitten into something poisonous.

"Huh? What is it?" Mest blinked, snapping out of his thoughts.

"You were the one who said we should keep going, right? You wanted to investigate the guild’s secrets?"

"Ah... that," Mest hesitated for half a second before forcing a grin. "I’ve changed my mind. You should head back to camp first!"

And before Lucy could press him, he vanished with a flash of spatial magic, teleporting away.

"Hey!" Lucy’s hand swiped through empty air. Her brows knitted in frustration. "What is with him?!"

She kicked the tree he’d been gnawing on earlier, venting her annoyance, before turning and heading back toward camp alone.

...

"Wendy, are you secretly the Goddess of Fortune?"

"No, no, it’s nothing that amazing." Wendy’s cheeks turned pink, clearly embarrassed.

In the E route of the first exam, Rhodes stood frozen in disbelief, staring at what could only be described as a sparkling graveyard.

His plan had been simple, take a shortcut and let Wendy pick a direction on instinct. They’d wandered for a bit, and then... there it was.

The path she chose led them to a fork in the rock wall of the cave, and beyond that, to a radiant tomb that glimmered as if the air itself was enchanted.

And seated right in front of it were Master Makarov and Carla.

He’d unleashed a small army of summoned beasts to scour the island, forty-two in total. Not a single one had returned with a clue. And yet, a casual stroll with Wendy had led them straight to the destination.

What kind of luck was this?! Was Wendy some kind of divine guide?

Carla, blissfully unaware of Rhodes’ inner turmoil, tilted her head. "What’s that? Why is the tombstone glowing all of a sudden?"

Makarov’s expression didn’t change. "It means a secret, one not so small, is hidden here. And that glow? That means someone has found it."

Rhodes and Wendy stepped quietly into the chamber.

"Master, Carla," Rhodes greeted.

"Wendy!" Carla’s voice carried a rare note of relief. She was clearly glad Wendy had made it through the exam unscathed.

Makarov was already rising to his feet. "So it’s you two. As expected... and faster than I thought. Did you manage to solve the riddle?"

"—"

Rhodes said nothing.

"Was there... a riddle?" Wendy asked, tilting her head in confusion.

For a moment, Makarov just stared at them. So they’d gotten here purely on luck? He didn’t know whether to sigh or laugh. Well, luck was part of the exam too, wasn’t it? Passing was passing.

"In any case," he said at last, "congratulations. You’ve passed. This," He gestured to the luminous monument before them. "is the grave of the First Master, Mavis Vermillion."

Rhodes blinked. "Wait, there’s no third stage this year?"

"No," Makarov replied with a small smile. "But if you insist, I could arrange one."

They followed him to the tombstone. The golden glow radiating from it slowly condensed into a fist-sized sphere of light, pulsing gently in a circular recess carved into the stone.

Without exchanging a word, Rhodes and Wendy each knelt and placed the wildflowers they had gathered along the way before the grave, bowing their heads in respect.

Makarov’s eyes softened at the sight. Then, with a wave of his hand, the golden light shifted, projecting shining letters into the air.

[Fairy Glitter]

Rhodes’ eyes widened. "Isn’t that..."

"That’s right," Makarov confirmed. "Fairy Glitter, one of the guild’s Three Great Magics. It has been sealed here for generations. I seem to recall you have... an interest in super magic?"

Rhodes gave a wry smile. "Interested, yes... but I haven’t even mastered Fairy Sphere yet."

Fairy Glitter, the ruthless light capable of piercing any foe. As difficult to learn as Fairy Law or Fairy Sphere, and perhaps even more demanding in its precision.

Seeing the hesitation in Rhodes’ eyes, Makarov chuckled. "Don’t worry. Those recognized by the First will receive not only all the knowledge of Fairy Glitter, but also one opportunity to use it. You know what that means, don’t you?"

Oh, he knew.

One chance to cast it with the First’s blessing... one chance to feel the magic flow through his body. Even if he couldn’t master it immediately, he’d gain invaluable insight, a sense for the rhythm and power that no book could teach.

And if he still couldn’t learn it after that, well, maybe it was time to admit defeat.

"How do I gain her recognition?" he asked.

"Try it, and you’ll know." Makarov gestured toward the sphere.

Rhodes stepped forward, extending his hand. As his fingertips brushed the golden light, he felt no resistance, only warmth, like plunging his hand into sunlit water.

The sphere rippled at his touch, golden waves climbing his wrist and curling around his forearm, etching themselves into his skin as delicate brown patterns.

"You can do it."

The voice was soft, ethereal, and right beside his ear.

Rhodes froze. "What?"

"Oh... future of the guild... I entrust Fairy Glitter to you. Please use this power wisely... and protect the guild well."

The gentle, ethereal voice faded, and the golden sphere embedded in the tombstone slowly dissolved into shimmering motes of light. In its place, two intricate black patterns bloomed along Rhodes’ arm like living ink.

The moment the markings settled into his skin, an overwhelming rush of magical knowledge surged into his mind. His eyes widened slightly at the sheer weight of it.

Fortunately, he’d experienced something like this before, being infused with an entire body of magical theory in an instant, so this time, he didn’t cry out in shock.

For now, he set aside the urge to fully digest the knowledge and looked up at the tombstone. "Was that... the First Master?"

"What?" Makarov’s brows lifted in surprise. "Are you saying the First spoke to you?"

"I... think so," Rhodes replied. "I just heard a voice speaking to me. You didn’t hear it?"

Wendy and Carla both shook their heads in unison.

Makarov fell silent for a moment, then smiled faintly to himself. He had believed this seal would merely choose a worthy inheritor for Fairy Glitter. But if Rhodes had truly heard her voice...

Perhaps the First Master’s will, her very soul, still lingered here on Tenrou Island.

Perhaps the old rumors about "the fairies’ presence" weren’t just stories after all.

And if Mavis Vermillion herself had spoken to this boy... then she had truly acknowledged him.

Makarov’s smile broadened, pride shining in his eyes. "Alright! I now officially declare, Rhodes has passed the S-Class Mage Promotion Exam, and is hereby promoted to S-Class Mage of Fairy Tail!"

Wendy practically bounced in place, her face lighting up. "That’s amazing, Big Brother Rhodes!"

"Thanks to you, Wendy." Rhodes grinned, raising his hand for a high-five. She slapped it eagerly.

"When we get back," he promised, "dessert’s on me. Eat as much as you like!"