Makarov sighed, the sound heavy with exhaustion. "Sigh... you really are a clumsy boy. If you just put down the weight you've been carrying on your shoulders, you'd see things you've never noticed and hear words you've never understood. Life is a lot more enjoyable that way."
"Watching you grow up... that was the meaning of my life. I didn't need you to be strong, and it didn't matter if you weren't the smartest. As long as you grew up healthy, I was satisfied."
"..."
Laxus's shoulders trembled. When he first heard that his grandfather was in critical condition, an indescribable wave of panic and terror had washed over him. In that moment, he realized that the grandfather he had always viewed as invincible and immortal was, in the end, just a man subject to the cycle of life and death.
But his stubborn pride wouldn't allow him to bow his head. He had said so many things he didn't mean just to keep that mask of strength.
It wasn't until Kael had ruthlessly trampled over his ego and rubbed his face in the dirt that he finally woke up. He realized just how many lines he had crossed—things he should never have done.
"Laxus... as of right now, you are expelled from the guild!!" Makarov announced, his voice booming despite his weakness.
Laxus's pupils shrank. He couldn't believe his grandfather was actually going through with it. He was family; no matter how much trouble he'd caused in the past, the old man had always shielded and forgiven him.
But then, Laxus saw Makarov's fist—trembling and clenched tight with grief. In an instant, his shock turned to acceptance.
Laxus stood up, grabbed his coat, and draped it over his shoulders. He began to hobble toward the door. "Thank you for everything, Grandpa. Please... take care of yourself."
"Just get out..."
Makarov turned his back, tears beginning to fall steadily onto the hospital sheets.
Laxus appeared on the second floor, and his presence was immediately noticed by the guild members below.
"Laxus! You bastard!" "Because of you, we were forced to fight our own people!" "You used our lives as leverage! You're a disgrace!"
The accusations flew. Yesterday, they hadn't said much because Kael had beaten him half to death, but seeing him today, they couldn't help but vent the resentment that had been building up. They wouldn't kick a man while he was down, but they sure as hell were going to make him hear it.
Kael raised his voice, cutting through the noise. "Enough! Get back to work! Laxus made a mistake, but fighting amongst yourselves isn't exactly something to be proud of either. You couldn't even defeat a single member, and you ended up covered in bruises. Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?"
"Ugh..."
The guild fell silent, everyone looking down as they returned to their repairs. Kael was right. The fighting had been intense, but they hadn't even managed to touch Laxus's personal guard, let alone the man himself. Their own weakness was part of the reason this mess had escalated so far.
Kael looked up at Laxus and frowned. "What are you doing down here? If you're hurt, stay in bed. I specifically beat you with the intent of keeping you down for a month."
"..."
Laxus had actually felt a spark of gratitude when Kael defended him, but that spark was instantly extinguished by Kael's follow-up. The guy was just as annoying as ever.
"Let's talk," Laxus said, looking at Kael.
"Fine."
Kael dropped what he was doing and led the way outside. They stopped just beyond the guild's front doors.
"This is far enough. What's on your mind?" Kael asked, getting straight to the point.
"Yesterday... how much of your strength did you actually use?" Laxus asked, his gaze searching Kael's face.
"Yesterday? Mhm... about ninety percent."
"Don't lie to me!" Laxus snapped, clearly not buying it. If it had been ninety percent, it should have been a close fight. But Kael hadn't even gotten his clothes messy, while Laxus had been pulverized.
"Why would I lie? I'm not as omnipotent as you think. Don't sell yourself short; you're strong. If you hadn't been so obsessed with attacking and had focused more on a cautious defense, I would've had a much harder time dealing with you."
Kael wasn't just being humble. The mechanics of the Limitless were broken, but Laxus's lightning magic wasn't weak by any means. If Laxus had played a war of attrition, Kael might still have won, but it wouldn't have been such an overwhelming landslide.
Through this fight, Kael had realized the limits of the Six Eyes and the Limitless. While the mechanics were top-tier—meaning he could defeat opponents with far more raw magic power—the "ceiling" was still there. If an opponent's raw stats far exceeded the technical logic of the infinity, the protection would weaken.
For instance, when Laxus cast Fairy Law, the Limitless was being breached at a terrifying speed. Kael had been panicking internally, ready to drop a Domain Expansion: Unlimited Void just to survive, but then the light had passed him by. It proved that deep down, Laxus hadn't truly seen Kael as an enemy.
Laxus felt a little better hearing that. He had been on the verge of a total breakdown, thinking the gap between them was as wide as the ocean. Looking back, he realized his emotions had clouded his judgment, leading him to make several amateur mistakes during the fight.
"Thanks."
"Is that all you wanted to ask?"
"Yeah. That was the most important thing to me."
"Mhm. You could've just asked me inside. You didn't have to make a scene of walking out."
Laxus looked back at the Fairy Tail guild hall, a wave of deep regret and longing washing over him. He used to stay away because he couldn't stand the "weaklings," but now that he was being forced to leave, he realized how much he'd miss it. "I... I won't be coming back. Tell everyone I'm sorry. And... take care of the guild for me."
"If you want to apologize, do it yourself. It means more that way."
Before Kael could finish his sentence, Laxus was already hobbling away. His silhouette looked small and lonely against the setting sun.
Kael frowned, a memory surfacing. Wait, is this...?
He suddenly remembered the plot. After this, Laxus was supposed to be expelled by the Master. Kael wanted to call him back, but he didn't know what to say. Given Laxus's actions, expulsion was actually a lenient punishment, but it was still cruel to separate an 88-year-old man from his only grandson.
Whatever. I won't overthink it. He'll be back soon enough anyway.
"Laxus!!" Kael shouted.
Laxus stopped and turned his head, looking back at Kael.
"Next time you come back, we're getting a drink! And you're paying!"
Laxus blinked, a strange, warm sensation rising in his chest. His eyes felt a bit damp, but he forced a loud reply:
"DEAL!!"
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