Dusk, the following day — by the street steps.
Romeo had hurriedly finished the last bite of his lunch that afternoon and had come early, waiting here with a heart full of hope. He stared across the street, because Kael had told him that Natsu and Makarov would be back today.
The moment the trio and Happy turned the corner, Romeo's eyes lit up even brighter, dazzling like the midday sun. His pupils widened with surprise, and tears of joy began to swell.
"Romeo!"
Natsu, one hand supporting a slightly embarrassed Makarov who was scratching his head, waved happily at Romeo.
"Haha! Papa!"
With a sudden leap, Romeo threw himself forward, tackling Makarov to the ground and wrapping his arms tightly around his father's neck.
"Papa… I'm sorry, I—I shouldn't have…"
"You worried me, Romeo, my brave one," Makarov said softly.
"It's okay. I'm the son of a wizard, and Kael told me not to worry about what others think. I believe that you're the strongest wizard, Papa."
Romeo lifted his head, eyes still glistening with tears, but his gaze was firm and filled with pride and trust. Makarov felt a warmth in his heart, and he couldn't help but gently ruffle Romeo's hair.
"Next time, you can proudly tell everyone that your father is strong. I fought off more than a dozen monsters on my own," Makarov said with a soft smile.
"Mm-hmm!" Romeo grinned, showing his teeth, joy radiating from him.
Kael, Kana, Lucy, Natsu, and Happy watched this touching reunion. Understanding that the father and son needed space, they exchanged happy glances and quietly stepped aside, letting them have their moment.
"Natsu, Happy, thank you… and Lucy too. Thank you for bringing my father back," Romeo said, his voice still tinged with awe.
"And Kael… thank you for your advice. I'll remember it."
"And Kana… your cooking is amazing, so delicious. Thank you all."
Bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, their shadows stretched long across the cobblestone, frozen in that perfect moment of smiles and happiness.
A few days later — inside the Fairy Tail Guildhall.
"Lisanna, I'll need two or three more mugs of ale here."
"And a few more over here."
"Sure, sure! Just a moment."
Lisanna quickly filled a few mugs of ale and placed them on a tray, calling out to guild members.
Meanwhile, Natsu flopped onto a table, looking dejected.
"Ah… I guess I need to find a job soon," he muttered, lazily resting his head on the table.
"Yes, Natsu. Otherwise, there's no food," Happy said nonchalantly, nibbling on a fish.
"If only Kael were here… I could borrow some money from him," Natsu added wistfully, drawing little circles on the table with his finger.
Lucy perked up immediately, remembering that she still hadn't paid her rent. Money was tight for her too.
Their last mission, Sunrise, hadn't paid any commission due to various circumstances. The trio—Natsu, Happy, and Lucy—was now financially strained. They needed work fast, or next month's expenses would be impossible to cover.
Lucy hurried to the mission board, scanning the pinned requests. The sheer number of tasks left her feeling overwhelmed.
"What should I take… there are so many types of missions!" she muttered to herself.
Kana and Levy, chatting nearby, overheard Natsu's musing and smiled. Levy plopped down across from him, propping her chin in her hands, grinning.
"Yes, Natsu. Kana and Kael live together now, and she manages all the household finances. So if we want anything, we ask Kana," Happy announced loudly, standing up and gesturing toward Natsu.
The voice carried across the guildhall, startling Lucy.
"Eh? What?! So Kael's really… henpecked?" Lucy exclaimed, rushing to the table in disbelief, staring at Kana for confirmation.
"Yes, it's basically accepted by the guild," Levy confirmed, teasingly bringing up moments of Kael and Kana's previous affectionate times.
"They really are a perfect match," Lucy said, her expression softening at Kana's genuinely happy smile.
"Thanks. Did you pick a mission yet? The guild master went to the council meeting with Kael. If you have questions, I can help!"
"Council meeting?"
"Yeah, it's when the heads of all guilds gather periodically for reports and decisions from the Magic Council. Hmm, not the easiest to explain… Lidas, can I borrow your magic pen?"
Kana gestured to Lidas (with his Drawing Magic) and received several magical pens that could materialize text in midair.
"…And then there's managing all of us wizards. The guild masters really work hard."
"I had no idea… so guild members actually collaborate?" Lucy exclaimed, staring at the hierarchical diagram of the guilds and council in front of her.
"Yes, collaboration between guild members is crucial. Without it…"
"…the Dark Guilds would come after you," Kana whispered into Lucy's ear.
"Eh?!" Lucy jumped up in fright.
"Hahaha!" Natsu laughed at her reaction, teasing her.
"Childish!" Gray suddenly appeared, scoffing at Natsu's antics.
"Gray, your clothes—"
"Huh? When did I—" Gray was shocked, realizing he didn't even notice taking off his clothes.
"Exhibitionist!" Natsu mocked, seizing the opportunity.
"What did you say?!"
And so the two of them bickered again…
"But the Dark Guilds are still around. Even though Kael destroyed many of them, some rogue wizards are slowly regrouping. Crimes continue, but don't worry. The Magic Council is still cracking down," Kana added.
BANG! The guild doors were flung open.
"Erza! She's back!" Loki announced, rushing inside and ducking behind Lucy's table. Earlier, he had been chatting happily with some girls outside but had been spotted by Erza. Hiding now seemed wise.
As he crouched, he noticed the Celestial Spirit Key hanging at Lucy's waist and froze for a moment, before quickly regaining his casual, careless expression. He moved to the bar, watching Lucy intently with a serious gaze.
"Hey, hey, what's going on here?" Lucy wondered, watching the normally lively guild members turn suddenly wary at Erza's arrival. Seeing Natsu and Gray acting like close brothers, she grew even more curious.
Even though she'd learned a bit about Erza from Natsu and Gray's stories, witnessing everyone's reaction firsthand made her realize her imagination had underestimated Erza's presence.
Meanwhile — Kael and Makarov.
"Master, you really know how to enjoy yourself. Be careful—Erza's coming back, I'll tell her everything!" Makarov said, sprawled in the back seat of the magic-powered car, guzzling beer.
Kael, driving, sighed in exasperation. He had been roped into this trip to the council meeting because of his abundant magical energy and his ability to recharge it from sunlight—essentially free labor for the guild master.
"You dare? If you say that, I… fine, I'll drink a little less," Makarov muttered, defeated. Clearly, Kael had the upper hand here.
"Good. Obedient. When we arrive, I've arranged a lavish meal for you," Kael said calmly.
"All right, all right… gulp, so good," Makarov replied, slurping.
Kael's thoughts drifted momentarily: I hope nothing unexpected happens… what's the plot here, anyway?
"Pfft, what am I thinking…" Kael shook his head, clearing his mind, then accelerated sharply. The sudden jolt caused Makarov's beer to spill, making the guild master stomp and complain about Kael's reckless driving.