ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ᴏꜰ ʜᴇᴀᴠᴇɴ ɪɪ (ꜰᴀɪʀʏ ᴛᴀɪʟ ᴇʀᴢᴀ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ)

Chapter 217 - The Growing Shadows

Chapter Cover: Eve standing with RuneSave upon her shoulder, alongside Lucy and Erza as Natsu was holding a fairy Tail flag beside her. Gray was seating with Juvia beside the standing group along with Wendy and Carla

After our bath, we joined the boys back at the barbecue as they were eating from the plates. Taking on the scent of the food just reminded me of how hungry I was at the moment. Warrod already had some plates out for us as we took a seat around the table just like before.

"Here are some drinks for you," he said approaching toward us.

"Oh…sir Warrod," Erza said standing up again, "I could have do that for you."

"Ah, relax," Warrod said waving her off, "You guys are my guests. I'm happy to do it myself, please have as much as you like."

I took one of the cups from him and it had a small tree growing out of the side. It had a strange smell as well, similar to the forest after it rains. It really was a nice smell.

"It smell's like a forest," Erza remarked.

"More like dead leaves," Natsu added, "What's in this stuff anyway?"

"It's a special blends of medicinal herbs tea," Warrod told us, "It's a great way of relieving stress and even help you stay regular. It took me a long time to perfect and I am happy to share it with you."

The others seems to believe this but I didn't do anything with my cup other than placing it back upon the table to continue on with my food but then…

"You kids will really believe anything won't you?" Warrod said.

From the look upon everyone's face, the drink wasn't a tasty one.

"Well the part about relieving stress was true at least," Warrod laughed.

I stared at the cup in front of me for a few moments before pushing it away from where I was. If that thing was that nasty then there is no way I'm going to put this thing in my mouth.

"Gross," Natsu said, "I've tasted better brewage from a sewer."

"You drank from the sewer?" I asked, surprised.

The young man only shuddered in response before both him and Gray started to try to force each other to drink each other's tea. Of course, Erza interfered with them but then the duo extended their drink toward her saying that she could drink if she wanted. I couldn't help the laughter that escaped from me from their interaction and even Warrod let out a small laugh.

"Spending time with guild mates can be quite a wonderful experience. To be honest, I am feeling quiet nostalgic."

Lucy sounded a little put off at that.

"That's sweet but since when are we guild mates?" she asked.

Warrod let out a small voice of surprise.

"Oh…I'm so sorry about that," he said, "I'm sure Makarov would have already told you."

I was confused at that. I'm sure he knew the Master from being a Wizard Saint and all but from the way he was talking, it sounded closer than that. Warrod rolled up one of his sleeves before revealing a very familiar tattoo upon his forearm.

"I was part of Fairy Tail since the very beginnings," he said, "Right alongside of Mavis and of the other founders. You can even say that I am your senior-senior."

To say that I was shocked would be an understatement. I was staring at the man across us, with my mouth hanging open in surprise. One of the Four Emperors of Ishgar is a former member of Fairy Tail?