Rhodes's Wind Magic had beco far more refined over the years. He still wasn't a true master, but he could now control it with ease. It was a far cry from the clumsy days when he accidentally blew branches off trees in the orchard.
He pressed his fingers together in a sword-hand gesture and traced a circle in the air. A blue-green glow shimred, and a gentle breeze swept across the room. Mira and Lisanna felt it brush their faces before it spiraled outward, filling the house.
The once-colorless wind quickly picked up dust, turning a hazy yellow as it spread. The ceiling, shelves, and floor seed to dust themselves, the air growing lighter and cleaner by the second. The gust carried the filth out through the open windows, leaving only faint traces clinging to corners and furniture legs.
In a single sweep, the musty odor was gone, the air refreshed, and most of the cleaning burden lifted.
Lisanna clapped. "That's such a convenient magic!"
"Right?" Rhodes leaned close to her ear with a sly grin. "With around, cleaning the house will be a lot easier from now on."
Lisanna's eyes lit up like stars, and she nodded furiously toward her sister. "Mhm! Mhm!"
Honestly, she was more than ready to beco an aunt. After seeing Alzack and Bisca's daughter, Asuka, that desire had only grown stronger.
Mira glanced between them, cheeks pink, realizing her little sister was already eighty percent sold on the idea.
anwhile, Elfman had just returned from tossing a trash bag outside when he saw yellow clouds of dust billowing dramatically out the windows. He froze. It looked spectacular, but terrifying.
Stepping back inside, he was t with the sight of Lisanna tugging Rhodes by the arm. "Onii sama, co use that wind magic in my room too!"
Elfman: "???"
"Hold on, let's talk about the serious stuff first." Rhodes set down the bundle he'd brought and unpacked a box of snacks.
"Wait." Mira quickly wiped down the table and chairs with a rag before letting him put anything down. Even after magic-cleaning, she couldn't help herself, hand-wiping ant truly clean.
They all sat together, Lisanna happily munching while Elfman still looked suspicious. Rhodes cleared his throat. Lisanna gave him an encouraging nod, 'Brother-in-law is a good person,' he thought gratefully.
"Here's the thing. The house I used to rent changed owners, so I don't have anywhere to live right now. I thought about finding a new place, but rent is insane these days. And well, it wouldn't be right to freeload at Lucy's place, so…"
He paused dramatically, then finished, "Would you mind if I stayed with the Strauss family for a while?"
"Why ntion Lucy's place," Lisanna muttered. Out of all the things Rhodes had said, that was the one she latched onto.
What was that supposed to an? Did he think Lucy's house was a hotel? Wasn't he worried about how Mira might feel hearing that?
Then again, this was Lucy's place they were talking about. That apartnt had sohow turned into a Guild annex more than once, an inn, a lounge, an ergency gathering spot.
Mira swatted Rhodes lightly on the arm. "Don't always think about teasing Lucy."
She wasn't jealous, how could she be, when she was one of the people who used to march into Lucy's place with Erza and the others without asking? If anything, what annoyed her was, "If you think it's that fun, why didn't you say it when Lucy was actually here?"
Rhodes only grinned, unbothered. "Anyway, that's the situation. So… is it alright?"
Lisanna raised her hand imdiately. "No problem at all! Welco, Brother-in-law, move in!"
Elfman glanced around at the three expectant faces, then gave a firm nod. "I've got no problem either."
Rhodes blinked in surprise. "That easy?"
Elfman added seriously, "Honestly, I thought you would've moved in sooner."
"…?"
Rhodes froze. 'Did I bring this up too late?'
To Elfman and Lisanna, it was obvious. Both their sister and Rhodes were painfully slow. For ages now, Rhodes had been coming by for breakfast, walking with Mira to the Guild, and escorting her ho at night. Every few days he'd tag along for shopping trips, and they'd end up having late-night snacks together afterward.
The siblings had grown so used to his presence that sotis they felt he was the extra one leaving, not the guest.
Their sister really was hopeless. She hadn't asked him to stay when he left before, and later she even disappeared to stay at his place instead.
The more Lisanna thought about it, the more her cheeks flushed.
So what Rhodes expected would require careful persuasion was settled in the ti it took to share a plate of snacks.
Mira, still red in the face, let the subject slide for now. After eating and drinking, the four of them got back to cleaning, repairing the roof and walls, scrubbing indoors, clearing weeds, organizing old belongings, and dealing with mildew on the ceilings. Even with magic helping, it kept them busy from morning until afternoon before the house finally looked livable again.
"If it weren't winter, we'd probably have to deal with insects too," Lisanna groaned as she collapsed onto the table like a salted fish, drained of all energy.
Elfman poured her a cup of water and sat beside her. "No helping it. No one's lived here for six years."
Rhodes began moving his things in. Clothes went straight to Mira's room upstairs. Fitness gear could go outside. Books were carried up too, Mira ntioned adding a desk by her dressing table for them.
As for picture fras and photos, he spread them out so everyone could pick what they wanted for their rooms. They weren't only of him and Mira, there were plenty with the whole Guild.
"Wow!" Lisanna, revived instantly, pored over the stack with sparkling eyes.
Though she'd been told to choose ones for her own room, she kept sneaking peeks at the photos of Rhodes and Mira together, grinning mischievously and even helping her sister decide which ones would look good in the bedroom.
Elfman carefully pulled out a large group photo of the whole Guild. "How about hanging this one in the living room?"
Rhodes looked at it and chuckled. "That one would be perfect for the Guild itself. For here… how about we ask Reedus to draw us a proper family portrait?"
Mira's eyes softened with a smile. "That's a wonderful idea."
"Oh, right, Mira-nee…" Lisanna hesitated, rubbing her hands together. "I need to buy a lot of clothes, but… I don't really have enough money."
Six years had passed, and most of her old clothes were ruined, yellowed, eaten by moths, or covered in mildew. A few outer layers could still be worn, but underwear was impossible, and even her bedsheets and quilts all needed replacing.
Having only been back from Edolas for just over a month, Lisanna hadn't had the ti or ans to save up.
"It's fine. We've got it covered," Rhodes said imdiately, taking responsibility without hesitation. Between him and Mira, they had nearly 30 million J saved in the bank. Unless they decided to buy a house, they were more than comfortable.
How could he let his own sister suffer? He'd simply withdraw the money later. After all this ti, the interest alone might even surprise him with a windfall.
"You can use mine too," Elfman added gruffly, scratching his head. He'd managed to save a little himself over the years.
Mira bead, her heart warm at seeing her family so harmonious. "Then it's settled. We'll go to the bank first, then head out shopping."
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