Shortly after Gildarts left, Natsu couldn't wait any longer and rushed toward Gildarts' house. To Natsu, Gildarts was practically a father figure; after three years apart, he had countless things he wanted to say to him.
"I wonder if the gift is some kind of rare flame from abroad?!"
Natsu was filled with anticipation, trying to guess what Gildarts had prepared for him.
"I wonder what it could be?!"
Happy followed beside Natsu, equally curious about the gift Gildarts had for him.
"Yo!"
"Sorry for the intrusion!"
Natsu and Happy appeared at Gildarts' doorway.
"You're here, Natsu, Happy? Have you and Lisanna been getting along well since then?" Before he left, he had heard Lisanna say with her own mouth that she wanted to be Natsu's bride when she grew up. Now that three years had passed in a flash, both Natsu and Lisanna had grown up. He was curious if the two were still together; as an old father figure, he was very interested in this kind of thing.
"What?"
"Why are you being so shy?! Gahahaha!"
Seeing Natsu feign ignorance, Gildarts assumed he was just embarrassed.
"Lisanna died. Two years ago."
"…Is… Is that true?! How… how could that happen?! I'm sorry! I had no idea!"
Gildarts never expected that such a thing had occurred during the three years he was away from the guild. Lisanna was such a gentle and sweet girl, yet she had died just like that. It was no wonder Mira had changed so much.
"If that's all you wanted to talk about, I'm going back."
Hearing Gildarts mention Lisanna made Natsu lose all interest. She was his best childhood playmate, and her death had been a massive blow to him.
"Natsu! I encountered a dragon at my job site."
Natsu stopped dead in his tracks the moment he heard that.
"I don't think it's the red one you're looking for. It was a black dragon."
"Where… Where was it?"
"At Mount Zonia. Thanks to him, the job was a failure. Dammit."
The moment Gildarts finished speaking, Natsu turned to leave.
"What are you planning to do?"
"Is that even a question? I'm going to find it and make it tell me where Igneel is!"
"It's not there anymore. That black dragon is flying all over this continent—no, all over this world."
"Even so, there might be some clues!!"
Now that he finally had real news regarding a dragon, how could he possibly give up?
"Natsu, look at this."
Gildarts unfastened his cloak, revealing his body to Natsu and Happy.
Natsu and Happy's pupils constricted at the sight. Gildarts' body was covered in scars, and fresh blood was still seeping through the bandages.
The worst part was his left arm and left leg; they were completely gone, replaced by prosthetics.
"It happened in an instant. My left arm, my left leg… even my internal organs were damaged. I don't know what Igneel is like, but that black dragon is undoubtedly an enemy of humanity. And humans cannot win against that thing."
"Then… then the one who will take him down will be a Dragon Slayer! As long as I have my magic, a black dragon is nothing…"
"If that's what you think, then I won't stop you."
Gildarts looked at Natsu with a calm gaze.
Natsu's body trembled. He knew he was no match for a dragon; no one knew better than him how powerful a dragon truly was. If he went, there was only one possible outcome: death.
"Dammit…!!"
Natsu let out a frustrated shout and ran out.
"Natsu!"
Happy quickly chased after him.
The next day, Kael arrived at the guild as usual. The guild hall was bustling with energy.
"Kael!"
Wendy called out a greeting upon seeing Kael.
"Morning, Wendy!"
"It's not morning anymore, it's already noon!"
"Morning or noon, it's all the same. What are you guys chatting about?"
Lucy answered, "We were talking about dragons. Kael, isn't it a coincidence? Natsu's dragon, Gajeel's dragon, and Wendy's dragon all disappeared on July 7th, 777."
"Oh? That really is a coincidence."
Kael thought to himself: Because that was the day you all traveled to this world!
"Could that have been a scheduled day for a picnic or something?" Lucy guessed with a serious face.
Wendy giggled. "Lucy says some strange things sometimes."
Happy ran over excitedly, holding up a fish. "Carla, I caught this fish! I want to give it to Carla."
"I don't want it. Fish and things like that… I hate them the most."
"Is that so? Then what do you like? Next time I'll—"
"You're so annoying! Stop pestering me!"
With that, Carla jumped off the table and walked out.
Wendy shouted after her, "Carla!! Wait a second, you're being too mean!"
"Kael, does Carla hate me?"
Happy asked Kael.
Kael patted Happy's head. "She doesn't. Happy is so cute, how could anyone hate you?"
"Then Carla…"
"She probably just has something on her mind."
"Kael!"
Makarov's voice rang out. Kael looked toward him and saw that, besides the Master, Gildarts was also sitting in a chair next to him.
Makarov waved Kael over, signaling him to come.
"What's up, Master?"
Kael walked over.
"Gildarts, let me introduce you. This is Kael. He joined the guild a year and a half ago. Don't let this brat's youth fool you; he's the strongest mage in Fairy Tail right now, and he's also my designated successor for the next Master."
Makarov introduced him to Gildarts with pride. Gildarts was a veteran of the Fairy Tail guild and its strongest mage. Since Kael was the next Master, it was only natural to introduce the two of them.
Gildarts was a bit shocked. Mainly because Kael looked far too young—about the same age as Erza and Mira—yet he was already the strongest mage in the current Fairy Tail.
He knew the Master very well. Since the Master said Kael was the strongest in the guild, it meant the boy's strength was likely not inferior to his own.
Furthermore, the Master had actually decided on a successor. Kael had only been in the guild for a year and a half.
"Master, what about Laxus…?"
Gildarts asked in a low voice. He remembered that Laxus had been very eager to inherit the position of guild master.
At the mention of Laxus's name, Makarov said irritably, "Don't talk about that brat! I kicked him out of the guild!"
Although being apart from his grandson made him a bit sad, he still felt angry when he remembered that punk's actions.
"Expelled?!"
Gildarts was stunned. Laxus was the Master's own grandson, yet he had actually been expelled. What on earth could have happened?
Just what kind of things had gone on in the guild during the three years he was gone?
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