Chapter 18: Blaze — Formation of the Strongest Team, the Ten-Year Quest, and the Tragedy (5)
November 11, X781
At the cemetery located within the Kardia Cathedral in the heart of Magnolia, rain fell in a steady drizzle.
All the members of Fairy Tail stood silently in their black formal uniforms, heads bowed, faces etched with sorrow.
At the front stood Master Makarov, also clad in mourning attire. With a solemn expression, he stepped forward to speak before the gravestone.
"He... Ciel Illusian was loved by the gods, and he loved them in return... just as he loved all our friends.
His heart was broader than the vast sky, and his spear shone nobly for those he cared for. He embraced everyone like mist—strong, yet gentle.
Love is what makes humans strong. But love is also what makes us weak. I... I loved him... like family... like my own son..."
Makarov's voice trembled. He couldn't contain the emotions surging from his chest.
Though his tears were hidden by the rain, the trembling of his body and his soft sobs were unmistakable.
Clenching his fists and gritting his teeth, he forced himself to finish his words.
"May he rest... in peace..."
As his eulogy ended, the Magic Council members, cloaked in black robes, stepped forward in silence.
One by one, they placed their council badges before Ciel's grave.
Councilor Org spoke on behalf of the council.
"Ciel Illusian... the council will forever remember his noble sacrifice. By unanimous decision, we award him the honorary title of Councilor. And furthermore, we bestow upon him the title of Saint Wizard—one of the Ten Wizard Saints."
The council members bowed their heads in silence, observing a quiet moment of mourning.
Behind them stood the masters and wizards from other guilds.
Bob and Ichiya from Blue Pegasus.
Oba Babasama and Jura from Lamia Scale.
They, too, were dressed in black and bowed their heads without a word.
"Ciel... because of that young wizard's sacrifice, countless lives—including our own children's—were saved."
"We may be from different guilds, but as fellow wizards, we offer our deepest condolences."
"Ciel... I'm sorry."
"Lord Ciel... may you rest peacefully."
The funeral continued in an atmosphere of deep solemnity.
By Makarov's side, Elfman gently supported Lisanna, who was sobbing uncontrollably.
"This can't be... Why did Ciel-nii have to die...?! Why him, of all people?!"
"Lisanna... it happened during a mission. There was no other way. If Ciel-nii hadn't stepped in, not just the people in that city—but maybe the entire continent—might have been lost."
"But now he's gone! He's not here with us anymore! He's... he's...!!"
"Lisanna..."
"Big brother Elf... Huuuh... Haaaah... WAAAAAAAH!!!"
Her cries pierced through the sound of the rain, echoing across the cemetery.
No one could bring themselves to stop her.
Instead, Lisanna's sobs opened the floodgates.
Makarov, along with every member of Fairy Tail, wept openly for Ciel's passing.
Erza's face twisted as she held back tears.
Gray kept his head down, silently crying.
Levy, supported by Jet and Droy, covered her mouth with her hand, sobbing quietly.
Even Cana and Gildarts, usually seen with a drink in hand, stood clean and composed—but wore expressions as if they'd downed the bitterest liquor.
Macao and Wakaba closed their eyes and slowly shook their heads.
While everyone grieved in front of Ciel's grave, Laxus stood some distance away, watching silently.
The members of the Thunder God Tribe stood behind him without a word.
"That guy... in the end, we never got to have our match…"
"Laxus, it's not your fault that Ciel died."
"Yeah. Wasn't the enemy so strong it turned a vast plain into a canyon? No one could've stopped that. Ciel... he did what he had to."
"Laxus..."
After the battle against Badrach whale ended, the guild had spent five days combing the canyon aboard the Christina, hoping to find any trace of Ciel.
They never recovered his body.
But his spear—entwined in lotus flowers—was discovered at the bottom of the canyon.
That alone had been enough to confirm the worst.
Five days later, the funeral was held.
"No... it wasn't my fault, or Ciel's... We were just... too weak."
"Laxus..."
"Fairy Tail must become stronger... From this day forward, I make this vow: I will forge the strongest Fairy Tail, So that nothing like this ever happens again."
Laxus made a silent promise in his heart.
Ciel had died because he was weak.
Because they were weak.
Ciel couldn't be saved.
Fairy Tail wasn't strong enough.
And neither was Laxus.
As he gazed at Ciel's grave from afar, he swore:
This will be the last time someone dies because we weren't strong enough.
I'll build a guild so powerful that no one else has to die.
Burning with that vow deep in his heart, Laxus turned and quietly left the cemetery with the Thunder God Tribe.
...
"DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH!!"
Just then, someone shouted through the somber silence.
Everyone turned.
It was Natsu, soaked to the bone, standing defiantly before Ciel's grave.
"What the hell are you all doing?!"
Natsu couldn't contain his rage.
He kicked the bouquet laid gently at Ciel's gravestone, refusing—utterly unable—to accept the wizard's death.
Makarov and Gray quickly moved in to restrain him, trying to calm him down, but their efforts were in vain.
"Natsu, you brat! That's enough!!"
"What is all this supposed to mean?!"
"Stop it already, Natsu!!"
"Ciel isn't dead!! He was the strongest wizard in Fairy Tail! There's no way he could've died—not when the strongest of us took on that mission together! He has to be alive somewhere...!"
But before Natsu could say more—
WHAM!!
Unable to hold herself back, Erza stormed forward and punched Natsu squarely in the face.
He didn't even resist. The force knocked him straight to the ground.
"What the hell, Erza?!"
"Wake up, Natsu! Ciel... Ciel is gone! Look at reality for once!"
"Let go of me!! Ciel is alive! He's still alive!!"
"Natsu..."
"Happy, say something! Ciel isn't dead, right?! He's not!! Tell them!!"
"Natsu... Ciel... Ciel is..."
Happy's trembling voice faltered.
And in that moment—Natsu finally accepted the truth.
The dam broke.
Tears streamed uncontrollably down his face.
He wasn't Igneel—but Ciel had been like an older brother.
A fellow Dragon Slayer who stood beside him like family.
He'd helped teach Natsu everything from theory to technique, filled in the gaps of Natsu's incomplete Dragon Slayer magic, and never once turned away.
Ciel had embraced Natsu warmly when he first joined the guild, when Natsu had still been lost and alone.
But now—Ciel was gone.
And the agony tore through Natsu's chest like fire.
"CIEEEEEEEEEEL!!! THIS IS A LIE!! IT HAS TO BE A LIE!! WHY DID YOU DIE?! WHY?! I still had so much to learn from you! I wanted to grow stronger, to show you how far I'd come! WHY?! DAMN IT, WHY?!"
Rain poured around them like a storm that would never end.
As if the heavens themselves were weeping for Fairy Tail's loss.
As if the sky shared their sorrow.
...
Meanwhile, during the heart of the funeral, Mirajane sat alone in Ciel's room.
She was curled up in the wooden rocking chair he always used, knees drawn to her chest.
Her face half-buried in her lap, Mirajane stared blankly with hollow eyes at a wrapped gift resting on Ciel's desk.
Mirajane couldn't accept the truth.
She couldn't accept that Ciel was gone.
That was why she hadn't gone to the funeral.
The Ciel she knew was strong.
A wizard acknowledged by Gildarts, Laxus, Erza, even Master Makarov and the Magic Council themselves.
And yet… he had died.
She couldn't believe it.
But disbelief could not change reality.
After hearing the news from Gildarts—Ciel's death, and the final message he left for her—Mirajane had run home and locked herself in Ciel's room.
Three days passed.
She didn't eat.
She didn't sleep.
She just sat curled up in his old rocking chair, staring at the unopened package Gildarts had given her—Ciel's last gift.
It remained untouched on the desk.
And then—something changed.
As if making a quiet resolution, Mirajane slowly uncurled her legs and stood.
She approached the desk and carefully unwrapped the package.
Inside was a letter… and a small case.
She opened the case first.
Inside was a delicate, gold locket—a pendant, beautiful and elegant.
It was nothing like her usual punk-rock style.
The contrast drew a bittersweet smile to her lips.
Then, with trembling hands, she opened the letter.
...
To Mira,
First of all, congratulations on becoming an S-Class wizard. When I returned after the trial, I was sent off on another mission and never got the chance to say it.
So I'll take your upcoming birthday as an excuse to say it now—congratulations.
This gift may not suit you…
Lately you've been a little sharper, more intense.
But I chose it in the hope that you might embrace a softer, gentler side—like the girl I first met.
We haven't talked much lately. Things have been awkward.
But recently, Erza and Laxus have been helping me with my duties, so maybe I'll finally have some time.
When that day comes…
Let's take Elfman and Lisanna and spend it together.
No missions. No battles. Just us.
Mira, I've always loved you.
I've never said it—not even once—since we started spending time together.
It feels a little embarrassing to write it down like this.
But I want you to know that I've always loved you.
Please never forget that.
...
Tears began to stream down Mirajane's face.
She hadn't realized.
Ciel hadn't grown distant.
He had been trying to come closer.
And now, it was too late.
"Ciel... Ciel..."
She had never said those words to him.
Not even once.
She told Elfman and Lisanna often.
But to Ciel?
She had never told him she loved him.
She had assumed he knew.
They were close. They understood each other.
She believed that was enough.
But now… all that remained was regret.
If only she had expressed her feelings when they were still together.
If only she hadn't let things grow so awkward.
If only she'd been honest with him.
In that moment, she finally understood.
She hadn't just loved him as family.
Her feelings had always been something more.
Mirajane clutched the letter and pendant to her chest and sobbed.
He was her family.
He was the one she loved.
And now… he would never return.
If only she had cherished him more while he was still by her side.
If only she had taken care of him for once, instead of always being the one taken care of.
But no amount of tears would change the truth.
Ciel would never come back.
That would never change.
"Ciel... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I loved you too. I always have. I should've told you when you were still here... Why... why can I only say it now that you're gone... Ciel... I'll say it every day now... every single day... So please... please, tell me it's a lie... Come back to me... please... Ciel..."
In the dark, quiet room, Mirajane called out his name.
But there was no answer.
No voice to greet her.
No warm hand to comfort her.
Ciel Illusian...
Could never return.
Soaked in sorrow, the girl wept until her tears ran dry.
And eventually, she collapsed—overcome by grief, and completely alone.
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