"Well then, kid, this much should be enough for creating medicine for your mother, " Gildarts said as he looked at Cana, who had a small bundle of herbs in her hands.
"Mmm." Cana nodded with a happy smile. With this much, she would definitely be able to help her mother.
Seeing Cana acting so cheerful, Gildarts also cracked a smile on his face. Compared to the gloomy look she had in the guild, this is way better for her pretty face.
"Let's go, little Missie; we have a mother to cure, " Gildarts said as he offered his hand to Cana.
Cana nodded happily as she took his hand. She really liked hanging out with this uncle. He gave her the same feeling as her mother did.
Seeing her smile, Gildarts also smiled. If an outsider were to look at the two of them now, they would definitely comment on how these two look like father and daughter.
Cana's house isn't that far from Magnolia town, so they were able to reach their destination very quickly.
"Mom, Mom, I brought you the herbs you need to cure your illness. With this, I'm sure you would be cured in no time. Cana excitedly shouted as she dashed inside without even caring to ask Gildarts to make himself at home. She was just that excited.
"*Cough cough, Cana, you are back. " A weak but loving voice sounded in Gildart's ears, making him freeze in shock.
Even if it had been more than 6 years since they met, he could never forget that voice. Gildarts tremblingly opened the room's door and looked inside.
The room was very small, typical of any house in the village. In this room there was only a small bed where a beautiful woman was.
She had long, curly brown hair and purple eyes that gazed lovingly at Cana. Due to her illness, her body looked a little pale and malnourished. Despite her weakened body, she still used her shaky hands to pat little Cana's head.
"Cornelia," Gildarts spoke as he barely held himself back. Despite the illness changing her, he could still recognize his one and only wife.
Hearing someone call her name, Cornelia instinctively looked towards the door. And when her gaze met with Gildarts, she also froze. Her expression was one of disbelief, happiness, longing, and a little bit of shame.
Cana, who knew nothing of the drama that was happening, only heard someone calling her mother's name. When she saw it was Gildarts, she had a surprised expression.
"Ah, Uncle Gildarts," Cana exclaimed, a bit flustered. Due to her excitement, she forgot to act like a proper host and left Gildarts hanging near the door.
Cornelia looked at Cana and asked in a weak voice, "Honey, who is this uncle?" Despite trying to make herself distant, her gaze never left Gildarts.
"Ah, Mom, this uncle is a Fairy Tail wizard. He is the one who helped me pick up all the herbs you need. " Cana began to tell her adventurous journey of how she sneakily went to Magnolia, how she was dragged inside Fairy Tail, and how she was able to finally manage to collect all the herbs needed to make the medicine.
As Cornelia listened, her expression became more and more complicated. 'Haa, it seems this is fate,' she thought inwardly.
She knew her condition the best. Although the herbs Cana brought were indeed herbs needed for a cold medicine. That would not work on her, as she knew that her illness is no mere cold.
"Cana, dear, can you go to the kitchen and prepare some tea for Uncle Gildarts? " Cornelia said as she looked at Cana.
"Okay, Mother. " Cana nodded her head obediently and went to the kitchen.
After Cana left, the room descended into silence as both Gildarts and Cornelia just stared at each other.
"It has been a while, Gildarts." Cornelia was the one who broke the awkward atmosphere.
"Yes, it has been 6 years, " Gildarts said as he wiped away the tears that were on his face. He walked forward towards her and knelt beside her.
"You really made me run all around the world looking for you, Cornelia, " he complained softly as he held her hand.
"I'm really sorry about that, Gildarts. I was really stubborn at that time. " Cornelia said with a wry smile.
"It doesn't matter. Those are all in the past. " Gildarts said immediately. "The fact that I found you is all that matters to me, " he said as he held her even tighter.
"Gildarts" Cornelia had tears in her eyes as she looked at Gildarts. She seemed to remember the day when they first met. Just like today, he didn't ask much, as when she asked for help, he helped her unconditionally.
Slowly both of them began to get closer to each other. Their lips were almost about to touch.
As the atmosphere was about to turn pink, a small head suddenly popped out and broke it with her innocent voice, "Ehem, Uncle Gildarts, would you like less sugar for your tea? "
Cana's sudden appearance startled both of them. They were like a high school teenage couple that was suddenly caught by their homeroom teacher.
"Um, well, less sugar will be fine for me, " Gildarts said as he coughed awkwardly.
"Okay." Although Cana felt the atmosphere was strange, she still nodded and left.
After Cana's departure, the room once again descended into an awkward silence. Both Gildarts and Cornelia were very embarrassed. They were almost caught making out with each other by their own daughter.
"Cornelia, come with me. I don't think the herbs Cana brought would be able to make a suitable cure for you, " Gildarts said with a serious expression.
"I can't, Gildarts; my body is already at its limit. No medicine would work on me now, " Cornelia said with a sad smile.
"But we wouldn't be able to find out if we didn't at least try. Please, Cornelia, I'm begging you, please come back with me." Gildarts said with an earnest expression.
" " Cornelia said nothing but just smiled sadly. She used her hands to wipe away the tears that were coming out of Gildarts's face and spoke in a loving tone, " I'm sorry, Gildarts, I really can't do that. My time is already near. But even without me, I will still leave you someone who would fill in the love I couldn't fill in these whole 6 years.
Gildarts I will leave our daughter Cana in your hands. Protect her; she is proof of our love. "
"No, no, Cornelia. What are you saying? How could I just leave you? Come on, come with me to the Guild. I'm sure Granny Porlyusica can make a cure for you. As for Cana, of course, I, as her father, would definitely protect her. But shouldn't she also have her mother's love? Come on, Cornelia, you can't be stubborn this time, " Gildarts said desperately.
Cornelia said nothing, as she was already unconscious. Her body was sick for a long time, and the only reason she managed to barely keep her consciousness is because Cana was not home. She didn't want to pass away in her sleep without speaking to her daughter.
"Cornelia! Cornelia!" Gildarts shouted as he panicked and placed his ear on her chest. Upon hearing the faint heartbeat, he exhaled with a sense of relief.
Then, looking at her again, a resolute expression appeared on his face. He then carefully lifted her off the bed and carried her. He then turned to look at Cana, who had appeared with a cup of tea.
Cana's mind froze in shock. She looked at Gildarts and then her mother in a daze. She heard everything they said in the last few minutes.
"Cana, dear, I'm sure you have a ton of questions right now, and I promise you I will answer them all later. But now I need you to hold on to me. We need to go back to the guild and let Granny Porlyusica heal your mother. " Gildarts said in the softest voice he could muster at this moment.
Cana nodded in a daze as she walked towards Gildarts.
Gildarts dropped down so she could climb on his back. After he was sure she held him tight, Gildarts stood up and ran like crazy.
As soon as he passed by, the whole house was destroyed. To reach Magnolia as soon as he could, Gildarts ran at his full speed while also mobilizing his magic to remove all the obstacles in his path.
Whether it was a wall, a huge tree, or even a house, he went through all of them, destroying everything in his path. For his dear wife's safety, Gildarts completely let loose. His super magic was mobilized to its full extent without any hesitation.
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