Chapter 567 - 567: I Want to Experience All Sorts of Things with You

"In that case, I will take you to a restaurant I am quite fond of," August suggested after a moment of thought.

While he usually took his meals within the imperial palace, he occasionally ate in the city to break the monotony. Because of this, he knew of several excellent local establishments.

Bringing Mavis and Noah into the heavily fortified palace wasn't an option right now, so a high-end restaurant in the city was the perfect alternative. More importantly, he simply wanted to share something he enjoyed with his mother. Right now, that was his greatest desire.

"Oh, that sounds wonderful! Let's go right now!" Mavis cheered, instantly agreeing.

She desperately wanted to know what her son liked to eat. She wanted to understand every little detail about him. Furthermore, having only genuinely lived for twenty-odd years before being trapped in the crystal, she still possessed the vibrant, adventurous spirit of a young girl. Exploring the capital of a foreign empire and eating exotic food was a thrilling adventure, and she was ecstatic to share it with her son.

Noah, naturally, had no objections. Sampling the local cuisine was his second favorite hobby, right behind researching magic.

Seeing that they were both eager, August tapped his massive wooden staff against the ground. A subtle, shimmering wave of magical light instantly enveloped the three of them.

Noah's eyes immediately locked onto the magical aura surrounding him. It was a sophisticated presence-concealment ward. He recognized several baseline principles he had just studied in the Alvarez bookstores, but August had seamlessly interwoven them using a highly complex, uniquely efficient structural formula that drastically amplified the stealth capabilities.

Fascinated by the brilliant runic architecture, Noah's brain instantly shifted into overdrive, completely immersing himself in reverse-engineering the spell.

"See? I told you he was obsessed with magic," Mavis whispered to August, giggling softly as she pointed at Noah's utterly transfixed expression.

August nodded in understanding. He had personally engineered this specific stealth ward; he had never taught it to anyone. To Noah, it was an entirely undiscovered magical theory. The fact that the young man could instantly identify its underlying structure and lose himself in studying it proved Mavis right.

If he loves magical theory this much, I know exactly how to repay him, August thought to himself. Since Noah had orchestrated this miraculous family reunion, August was determined to compensate him with the rarest magical grimoires the Empire had to offer.

"Alright, Noah, stop analyzing the spell! Food takes priority!" Mavis clapped her hands, snapping Noah out of his trance.

"Oh. Right. Lunch is definitely the priority right now," Noah blinked, shaking his head and nodding in agreement.

He raised his right foot and tapped the ground, smoothly dispelling his own localized soundproofing barrier.

Seeing that Noah was ready, August tapped his staff against the earth once more. In a flash of light, the three of them vanished from the barren hills.

When they reappeared, they were standing in a quiet, empty alleyway deep within the bustling Imperial Capital.

Noah immediately brought a hand to his chin, falling right back into deep thought.

Given August's overwhelming strength and his status as the highest authority in the Empire, it made sense that he could effortlessly bypass the capital's magical radar. But Noah was entirely focused on the mechanics of the teleportation spell. It felt functionally similar to his own Spatial Magic, but the dimensional routing was distinctly different.

"Let's just start walking. He'll follow us automatically," Mavis sighed affectionately, grabbing August's arm and leading him out of the alleyway.

August kept his primary focus entirely on his mother, but he kept a peripheral eye on Noah. If the young man didn't follow them, August was prepared to snap him out of it. However, despite being completely lost in thought, Noah's body moved on autopilot, seamlessly trailing right behind them.

Satisfied, August led them through the winding streets toward his chosen restaurant.

Thanks to the advanced stealth ward August had cast, the bustling crowds simply parted around them, completely oblivious to their presence.

Even when they entered the high-end restaurant, ordered their food, and paid the bill, the waitress and the surrounding patrons wouldn't retain a single memory of their faces. They would only vaguely recall that "someone" had dined at that table.

"Please, try it. I hope it suits your palate," August said softly once the steaming dishes were placed on the table.

Although he was addressing both of them, his eyes were glued entirely to Mavis.

Noah, having snapped out of his magical trance the moment the food arrived, completely ignored the mother-son dynamic and happily began devouring the meal.

"Mhm! This is delicious! I absolutely love the seasoning!" Mavis beamed, taking a bite and letting out a happy sigh.

Seeing her genuine, radiant smile, a profound warmth blossomed in August's chest. Knowing that he shared the same culinary tastes as his mother filled him with a quiet, indescribable joy.

"You need to eat too! The food is going to get cold if you just sit there staring at me," Mavis scolded him gently, pointing her fork at him.

"Of course. I will eat right now," August agreed instantly, finally pulling his gaze away from her and picking up his utensils.

Even as he ate, his attention remained entirely focused on Mavis. The food, which he normally found merely "pleasant," suddenly tasted like the greatest meal of his life.

Once they finished, Mavis patted her stomach lightly. "That was wonderful. I'm so incredibly satisfied."

"If you wish, I can bring you here anytime you like," August promised, his tone completely serious.

"I'd love that. If I ever crave this specific dish, we'll definitely come back," Mavis smiled warmly. "But first, I want to try everything else! I want to experience all sorts of new things with you!

"I know I'm completely clueless about how to be a mother... but I know that spending time with my child and creating new memories together is a mother's duty.

"I want to make up for lost time. I want to experience everything we missed out on. Is that alright with you, August?" Mavis asked, looking deeply into his eyes.

"Of course... I would want nothing more," August replied, his voice trembling slightly.

He gripped his utensils tightly beneath the table to stop his hands from shaking. This was the exact scenario he had starved for his entire life. To hear his mother explicitly state she wanted to share her life with him... it was overwhelmingly beautiful.

"Let's get out of here and go for a walk. We need to walk off this meal, and you need to give me a proper tour of the city!" Mavis said, reaching across the table to gently squeeze his hand.

"I will gladly show you around," August replied, his emotions stabilizing under her comforting touch.

The three of them left the restaurant and began a slow, meandering tour of the Imperial Capital.

August and Mavis walked side-by-side in the front. August spoke softly, explaining the history and function of the various districts, while Mavis listened with absolute, undivided attention.

Noah trailed a few paces behind them, happily enjoying the sights and listening to August's commentary.

Because they were finally together, August and Mavis were practically buzzing with adrenaline. They walked and talked continuously, completely oblivious to physical fatigue. Noah's monstrous stamina meant he barely considered the walk a warm-up.

They wandered the city from noon until the sun finally dipped below the horizon.

"You've been escorting us for hours," Mavis noted, reluctantly stopping as the streetlights began to flicker on. "Are you sure this isn't interfering with your duties? Shouldn't you head back to the palace to check on things?"

"There is no need. My Thought Projection is currently handling all administrative affairs, and I am receiving its continuous telepathic updates. Everything is perfectly fine," August shook his head firmly.

He had managed the Empire's bureaucracy for decades; missing an afternoon was utterly irrelevant. More importantly, he refused to leave his mother's side.

He was terrified that if he left, he would wake up and realize this had all been a beautiful, cruel dream. He wanted to drag this reality out for as long as possible, soaking in every single second of her affection just in case he woke up tomorrow completely alone.

"Well, if you're sure it isn't causing problems, then let's keep going!" Mavis smiled, relieved she didn't have to say goodbye yet. "Let's walk a bit more, and then you can pick another place for dinner!"

"Follow me," August nodded, leading them toward another one of his favored establishments.

Over dinner, the three of them discussed their immediate plans.

Since August and Mavis had just reunited, they absolutely refused to part ways. They decided to stay in the Imperial Capital for a while so they could properly bond and get to know each other, before eventually traveling back to Ishgar to introduce August to the rest of Fairy Tail.

Noah also planned to stay in the capital to continue his analysis of Western magical theory.

However, since the guild was undoubtedly anxious for news, Noah separated a Thought Projection and teleported it back to Ishgar. The clone informed Fairy Tail that Mavis had successfully found her child, easing their worries.

The guild was incredibly curious to know what the First Master's child looked like, but since Noah hadn't taken any pictures, he couldn't show them.

That reminds me, Noah thought to himself. I need to take a massive family photo of August and Mavis to preserve the memory for them.

Makarov was profoundly relieved to hear Mavis had found her son. However, before the clone could leave, Makarov pulled Noah aside into a quiet corner.

"Noah... the thing inside the First Master... as long as it isn't actively triggered, it is completely undetectable. Combined with the layered sealing wards you placed on it, there shouldn't be any issues," Makarov whispered gravely, referring to the apocalyptic infinite magic source, Fairy Heart. "But please... you must remain vigilant. We cannot afford any accidents."

"I know, Grandpa," Noah nodded seriously.

Even without the warning, Noah had zero intention of letting Mavis out of his sight. She currently possessed an artifact capable of plunging the entire world into an eternal war; her security was paramount.

Once Makarov was satisfied, the Thought Projection dissipated, transmitting the interaction back to Noah's main body in Alvarez.

When Noah mentioned the idea of taking commemorative photos, August was instantly thrilled. The prospect of possessing physical photographs of him and his mother was priceless.

But before they could take pictures, they needed to secure lodgings.

August obviously possessed his own luxurious, heavily fortified private estate in the elite governmental district. However, bringing Mavis and Noah there was far too risky. The district was swarming with Imperial Guards, politicians, and the other Spriggan 12 shields. Even with August's stealth wards, the risk of accidental exposure was too high, and August vehemently refused to let Imperial politics interrupt his time with his mother.

Since he had never cared for material wealth or secondary properties, August only owned his primary estate.

Therefore, they decided to simply rent two rooms at a high-end civilian inn—one for Noah, and one for Mavis and August. To them, the novelty of staying in a civilian inn was an exciting experience.

After securing their rooms, Mavis wasn't ready to settle down. She wanted to see the capital's nightlife.

Naturally, August agreed, and Noah happily tagged along.

The three of them strolled through the vibrant, brilliantly illuminated streets of the capital. The night markets were bustling, filled with the loud, chaotic sounds of merchants haggling, horse-drawn carriages clattering over cobblestone, and citizens laughing.

The air was thick with the scent of roasted street food and the profound, comforting warmth of a thriving civilization.

Watching the prosperous scene unfold around them, a deep sense of pride swelled within August. He instinctively glanced down at Mavis, his eyes carrying a subtle, vulnerable look of seeking validation.

He was the primary architect of this prosperity. He had spent his entire life building this Empire. And now, for the first time in his eighty years of life, he desperately wanted his mother to look at his accomplishments and be proud of him.

"You've done an incredible job, August," Mavis said softly, easily reading his expression. She smiled up at him, her eyes reflecting the glowing streetlights. "Look at how happy everyone is. Look at the smiles on their faces. All of this peace and prosperity... it's the result of your hard work."

Hearing her genuine, heartfelt praise, a profound, unadulterated smile finally broke across August's weathered face.

The validation from his mother made his chest feel incredibly light. He felt an overwhelming wave of pure, childlike happiness.

"August... crouch down for a second," Mavis suddenly requested, leading him into a quiet, secluded corner away from the main thoroughfare.

August didn't ask why. He simply obeyed, slowly crouching down until he was eye-level with her.

The moment he was within reach, Mavis stepped forward and threw her arms around his neck, pulling him into a tight, incredibly warm embrace.

The Magic King, the most terrifying mage on the Western Continent, physically jolted.

He froze completely, his entire body going entirely rigid. His eyes widened in absolute shock, and for several agonizing seconds, his brilliant mind completely blanked as he desperately tried to figure out what to do with his arms and legs.

~~~

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