It wasn't that Mystogan wanted to question why Natsu and Dorachion were the keys to solving everything. For now, he decided to set aside his curiosity about Faust's prophetic foresight—clearly, that touched on a hidden truth far too immense.
That was what had given him that uncanny sense of unfamiliarity when he first faced Faust.
"Why do you go this far?" Mystogan asked in a low, restrained voice. "There are other ways to create the world you want—other than one where magic has been bled dry. Isn't that right?"
Even if Faust now felt strange to him, there were certain things Mystogan was certain about: Faust had not changed in essence.
And from everything he knew of Faust, Mystogan had reason to believe that, given the choice between restoring the world to what it once was or crafting a world flooded with magic—even if it meant everyone perishing together—Faust would choose the latter.
But… was he really telling the truth?
"Why?" Faust countered calmly, his voice heavy with meaning. "Why must the world I long to see not be the world we once had?"
Mystogan froze, caught off guard by the reply. Faust's eyes seemed to drift away into memory as he continued,
"When you were young—before you were sent to Extania—I asked you once: which was more important, the nation or its people?"
"…Yes." Mystogan collected his thoughts, remembering carefully. "At that time, you told me the nation and its civilization outweighed everything. That as a king, your duty was to the nation, to its people."
A faint smile touched his lips. "I admired you deeply back then."
For once, his tone was deadly serious, his gaze sharp and searching—as if trying to recognize this man anew.
"But we chose different paths."
"That's right," Mystogan pressed on, his voice firm. "For me, people are more important than a nation or civilization. A kingdom without its people is nothing but an empty shell."
"So you would rather betray the world—betray those you claim to protect—than stand with the kingdom?" Faust sneered.
"…Your method is wrong," Mystogan said after a pause, but with unwavering conviction.
"There is no 'right' or 'wrong' in this world," Faust replied coldly. "Only what serves our interests, what ensures the future. That is the only standard that matters."
"Not to me." Mystogan's voice cut him off like a blade, resolute and unyielding. "To me, there is right and wrong."
Faust fell silent, studying the son he had never truly cared for. Yet time and again, this boy managed to surprise him—both now, and in the many futures he had glimpsed.
The grand hall was filled with silence, and the two of them locked in a wordless standoff.
At last, Faust relented. His voice softened slightly as he spoke, though his face betrayed fear as visions of the future flickered across his mind.
"That man is utterly cold. He doesn't show it outwardly, but at his core, that is what he is. He cares for nothing but himself. He cannot be reasoned with. He cannot be bargained with. That is why he must be expelled. For this world… for you and for me… it is the only choice left."
Even with the ability to glimpse the trajectories of fate, to peer beyond destiny's walls, there were still things Faust could not change.
Like Shagotte, he too bore the same torment—seeing the future, yet powerless to stop it.
The only advantage he had was a sharper mind for handling information. He could weigh different possible futures, compare them, and select the one most favorable to himself. That was the only sliver of choice granted to him.
But against such overwhelming forces, that power was negligible—almost as if it didn't exist at all.
"You mean… the old man?" Mystogan asked sharply, brows furrowing.
"Yes," Faust said simply, his voice heavy with finality. "The very one you're thinking of. Jellal, my son… the future is already laid bare before us. You and I are but grasshoppers tied to the same rope. There is no escaping it."
The light around him flared brighter, hazy brilliance swallowing his features until his face was no longer visible, his words muted in the glow.
"Gramps, I'm back!"
A cheerful voice rang out, filled with excitement. Natsu leapt down from the ceiling with a playful grin.
Bang!—a ripple of flame burst into being, startling the shelves of the library into a shudder.
But when he looked around, the spot he expected to see occupied was empty. The reading space was deserted, not a soul in sight. Natsu's smile froze instantly.
"Natsu… it looks like Gramps really isn't here," Happy said softly as he floated down, his tone carrying a trace of sorrow.
Ever since returning from the battle with Oración Seis, Natsu had grown stronger, eager to share his progress. Even though Master Makarov had warned him that the old man was missing, Natsu had refused to believe it without seeing for himself.
"That's impossible… where could Gramps go?" Natsu muttered in disbelief.
Pappy's daily life was simple, after all. The Infinite Loop domain, the Fairy Tail guild, and the Council chambers.
Those three points made up his entire world—and the Council was barely worth counting. Most of the time, he stayed in the guild or the Loop. Where else could he possibly go?
"Maybe he just had something he needed to do," Happy suggested lazily, eyelids drooping until they were little more than slits. "Old folks forget things easily—it's normal."
"But this time I defeated a powerful enemy! I even created a new Dragon Slayer technique! And I finally found a hint… a direction for Dragon Force!"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Happy yawned. "You can show him later when he's back. There's plenty of time."
"I guess so…" Natsu sighed, shoulders slumping as he shuffled away.
But for some reason, as he looked at the empty library, an odd thought struck him—a glimpse into what Pappy must have felt.
If this world were empty, with no one but himself left to remember his existence… then what difference would it make whether the world existed at all? What difference would its changes make?
Alone against the world.
Forsaken by all.
Utterly isolated.
What kind of loneliness must that be?
"…Wait, Happy. You go on ahead. I'll stay a little longer."
"Natsu? Are you okay? You're acting weird," Happy said, frowning. Even with his dull senses, he couldn't ignore how strange this was—Natsu was the last person who'd normally get so sentimental.
"I'm fine. I just… want to wait a little longer. Go on, Happy. Charle's still waiting for you, isn't she?"
The moment he said her name, Happy's face lit up, his mind filled with an image of a certain elegant white Exceed.
"Charles!!" He quickly wiped away a line of drool from his mouth, then bolted toward the exit. "Natsu, I'll go ahead! Don't keep me waiting too long, okay?"
"Yeah, I got it." Natsu waved him off, then sat down in Pappy's usual seat, back straight as if imitating the old man.
His eyes scanned the room, but something still felt wrong. Finally, he picked up a book just as Pappy would and began reading with an unusual seriousness.
The world grew quiet, the only sound the rustle of turning pages.
Above the library, in the Fairy Tail guild hall,
A blue-haired girl clutched the hem of her dress, eyes full of unease as she stood surrounded by a crowd.
"No way! Such a tiny little girl is a Dragon Slayer too?!"
"Our guild already has four Dragon Slayers now. That's incredible."
"Hey, little one—what's your name? What do you like? Want me to take you out to play?"
"You perv! Quit it before I kill you!"
"…"
The chatter was lively, sprinkled with the occasional outrageous comment—usually followed by a large hand dragging the offender off by the ear.
"Sorry, sorry! It was just a joke, honey!"
"T-then… um…" With her fingers fidgeting nervously, the girl gathered her courage and spoke. "Hello everyone… I'm Wendy Marvell… a Sky Dragon Slayer."
She bowed deeply, her voice growing quieter as she went on until it was barely more than a whisper. "I… I'm happy to join Fairy Tail. Please take care of me…"
The hall fell utterly silent for a moment.
Wendy peeked up shyly, wringing her hands together. With everyone staring at her without a word, her eyes welled with tears—she was moments away from breaking down.
And then—
"She's adorable!!"
"I wanna take her home!!"
"Wendy-chan, have you eaten yet? Let's get you some food!"
"Humans," Charles scoffed, rolling her eyes at the crowd fawning over Wendy. "So pitiful."
"Charles, I'm here!" Happy shouted, flying straight toward her with open arms.
"Stay away from me, idiot." She tilted her head aside and stepped away in disdain.
"Don't worry, I brought you a gift!" Happy said proudly, digging into his little backpack to pull out a fish, holding it up eagerly as he edged closer.
In some ways, no matter the species, males always seemed to act the same when courting females.