Raizel wasted no time.
He gathered Ultear and Mavis, and they rushed back to the guild hall.
Inside, the atmosphere was as raucous as ever, completely oblivious to the tension conveyed in the letter.
Tables were flying, beer was spilling, and laughter echoed off the rafters.
However, the Master was nowhere to be seen.
"Yo, Raizel's back!" Wakaba called out, turning around on a bench with a pipe in his mouth.
"The Master wants you to go see him in the underground library immediately. He looked pretty serious."
Raizel nodded, his expression tightening. He looked down at Ultear, who was clutching his sleeve.
"Ultear, stay here in the main hall. Don't wander off," Raizel said gently.
He glanced around the room.
He didn't trust Macao and Wakaba to watch her—they'd likely teach her bad habits or how to gamble.
His eyes landed on Reedus, who was quietly painting in the corner.
"Reedus, could you look after Ultear for a bit? Maybe draw some pictures for her?"
"Oui! Leave it to me!" Reedus adjusted his beret, happy to oblige.
"Alright, First Master, let's head down together."
Raizel walked to the hidden staircase behind the bar, descending into the cool, musty air of the underground library.
The library was dim, lit only by a few magical lanterns.
Makarov sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by stacks of ancient books and scrolls.
His face, usually flushed with alcohol and cheer, was now clouded with a heavy, uncharacteristic worry.
"Grandpa, I'm back," Raizel announced, stepping into the circle of light. "What happened? That letter sounds urgent."
Makarov looked up, his eyes weary.
"The Alvarez Empire is preparing to invade Ishgar."
The silence that followed was deafening.
"A spy planted by the Council in the Western Continent sent back the intel just hours ago," Makarov continued, his voice low.
"The pressure from the West is immense. If they move, it won't be a skirmish. It will be a war."
Raizel frowned, his mind racing.
'Invading in X774?'
He pinched his chin in thought.
In the original timeline he knew, the Alvarez Empire didn't launch a full-scale invasion until X791, during the war for Fairy Heart.
Why now? Was the butterfly effect already this strong?
'Zeref... what are you thinking?' Raizel analyzed the situation internally.
'Zeref doesn't have a reason to destroy Ishgar yet. He's still waiting for Natsu to grow strong enough to kill him. The Spriggan 12 aren't fully assembled or mobilized for war yet. The only true threats right now would be August and Irene.'
"So, the Council is summoning us?" Raizel asked aloud.
"Yes," Makarov sighed, massaging his temples. "The Council has demanded that all Guild Masters and independent Mages of S-Class or higher in Ishgar attend an emergency summit to discuss defense strategies. I've also sent a letter to Ur at Mount Hakobe, instructing her to head directly to Era."
Makarov looked at Raizel with a mixture of pride and regret.
"I knew I shouldn't have let you become an S-Class Mage so quickly. You're too young to carry the burden of continental war."
"It's fine, Grandpa," Raizel said calmly, placing a hand on the old man's shoulder. "Better I know it now than be ignorant."
"Ishgar is vast," Raizel mused. "How will the distant guilds participate?"
"They'll go to their respective branch locations. The Masters and the mages will participate via Thought Projection to coordinate. We, however, are close enough to go in person."
Mavis stood to the side, silent.
Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes held a sorrowful depth.
She knew the name Alvarez better than anyone, though she said nothing.
"Alright," Makarov stood up, grabbing his cape. "Let's set off immediately."
...
Era — The Magic Council Headquarters.
They took a carriage to the station, then a specialized magic train that cut through the mountains directly to the headquarters of the Magic Council in Era.
The journey involved a long trek up a winding mountain path.
The Council headquarters floated majestically above a massive canyon, a testament to the Council's power and arrogance.
"Why did they build this place so high up?" Raizel complained, adjusting his coat against the mountain wind.
"It's completely impractical."
"Probably because they think it makes them look more imposing," Makarov snorted, his disdain for the Council evident.
"They like to look down on the rest of us."
'So the old man already has issues with the Council at this point', Raizel thought with a smirk.
'It makes sense. Makarov believes magic is freedom, while the Council believes magic is order. They are natural enemies.'
They finally reached the summit.
The main hall of the Council was bustling with the elite of the magical world.
Raizel spotted familiar faces immediately.
There was Goldmine, looking flamboyant as always.
Bob of Blue Pegasus was chatting animatedly.
He even spotted a young, bald man with a stern expression standing behind Ooba Babasaama—Jura Neekis, the future Wizard Saint.
"Master!"
A voice called out from the entrance.
Ur rushed in, looking slightly disheveled from travel. Trailing behind her were Gray and Lyon, both looking awestruck by the architecture.
"I came as fast as I could," Ur said, catching her breath. "I had nowhere to leave these two, so I brought them along."
She passed through security unimpeded.
The Knights bowed respectfully to her. Everyone recognized the newly appointed Seventh Saint.
"What's the situation?" Ur asked, joining their table.
"Alvarez," Raizel whispered, filling her in.
Suddenly, the lights dimmed.
Several figures materialized in the high chairs on the stage ahead.
It was the full Council.
Chairman Crawford Seam sat in the center, flanked by Councilor Org, Yajima, and Belno.
"We have gathered the elite of Ishgar for a grave matter," Chairman Crawford began, his voice amplified by magic.
"We received intelligence that the Alvarez Empire was mobilizing a fleet."
Murmurs of fear rippled through the hall.
"However," Crawford raised a hand. "The latest update, received moments ago, is that Alvarez has halted their offensive. Their fleet has turned back."
A collective sigh of relief washed over the room.
"It seems they detected our defensive mobilization," Crawford continued, trying to sound authoritative.
"Ishgar's swift response has deterred them... for now."
Raizel narrowed his eyes.
'Deterred? Unlikely.'
'It's just a game of spies,' Raizel realized. 'Alvarez wanted to test the waters, or maybe a rogue general got ambitious and August reined them in. Zeref is likely just wandering around, uninterested in conquest right now.'
"However," Councilor Yajima spoke up, his voice grave. "This serves as a warning. The gap between Ishgar and the Western Continent is real. We must not be complacent."
The meeting shifted to logistics—defense budgets, border patrols, and spy networks.
It was tedious, but necessary.
...
As the sun began to set, the meeting adjourned.
Makarov, Raizel, and Ur walked out onto the stone plaza overlooking the canyon.
Makarov walked ahead, his hands clasped behind his back, lost in thought about the future of his "children."
Not wanting to disturb him, Raizel turned to Ur.
"Ur, are you planning to return to Magnolia with us to check on Ultear?"
Ur hesitated.
She looked at Gray and Lyon, who were practicing ice-make shapes nearby, then looked toward the west.
"How is she doing?" Ur asked softly.
"She's doing very well," Raizel smiled. "She trains daily in the Arc of Time with the First Master. Cana says she even practices Ice-Make on her own at night to surprise you."
Ur smiled, a mixture of pride and longing on her face. "In that case... I won't return just yet."
"Oh?"
"The Council is right," Ur said, her gaze hardening. "There is a gap in power. If an Empire invades, I need to be strong enough to protect my daughter. I can't be complacent just because I'm a Saint."
She turned to Raizel. "Please tell Ultear I'll be back in about three months. I'm taking Gray and Lyon deeper into the mountains for intensive training."
"Three months..." Raizel nodded. "She'll miss you, but she'll understand. How about writing a letter? It's better than me just passing a message."
"Good idea," Ur nodded.
She borrowed a pen and parchment from a passing Frogman and scribbled a hasty but affectionate letter.
"Take care of her, Raizel."
"I always do."
...
The train ride back was quiet. Makarov broke the silence only once.
"Raizel. Don't tell the other guild members about the Alvarez threat. Panic will do us no good."
"Understood," Raizel agreed. "What about Laxus?"
Makarov frowned, thinking of his ambitious grandson.
"Tell Laxus. He needs to know what's out there. It might humble him—or drive him."
They arrived back in Magnolia late at night.
When Raizel pushed open the guild doors, the noise hit them like a physical wall.
Nothing had changed.
"Oh! The Master and Raizel are back!"
Raizel scanned the room.
Ultear was sitting at a table with Reedus, who was drawing a caricature of Gildarts.
Upon seeing Raizel, she immediately hopped off her chair and ran over.
"Grandpa Master!" Ultear greeted Makarov first.
Makarov smiled, his worries melting away for a moment as he patted her head.
Then she looked up at Raizel, her dark eyes searching his face.
"Did something happen? You left in such a hurry."
Raizel crouched down to be at eye level with her.
"There were some urgent matters with the Council, but they've been dealt with. It's boring adult stuff," Raizel lied smoothly, stroking her hair.
"Don't worry."
He reached into his coat pocket. "I also saw Ur. She couldn't come back today, but she sent you this."
He handed her the letter.
"A letter from Mom?" Ultear took it with both hands.
"She said she has to train for three months," Raizel explained gently. "She wants to be strong enough to protect you from anything."
Ultear didn't look sad.
Instead, she clutched the letter to her chest and nodded firmly. "I understand. I'll train hard too, so I can show her when she gets back!"
She didn't open it immediately.
She wanted to savor it later, in the quiet of her room.
She no longer feared abandonment; she knew her mother was fighting for her!
At the bar, Makarov had already settled in.
He poured a tall mug of ale and clinked glasses with Wakaba.
The threat of Alvarez loomed on the horizon, but for tonight, Fairy Tail would drink and laugh, blissful in their ignorance.
'Let them have this peace,' Raizel thought, heading to the request board.
'I'll worry about the future so they don't have to.'