Mira was genuinely stunned. Her reaction mirrored Kael's own disbelief—after all, he had only been with Fairy Tail for a year.
For a position as prestigious and vital as Guild Master, the successor usually came from veterans with decades of seniority. In the guild, there were only two names most people would assume were next in line.
The first was Gildarts Clive. He'd been part of Fairy Tail since childhood and was universally recognized as their strongest wizard. Every member trusted him. The second was Laxus Dreyar, the Master's biological grandson. In most places, a grandson inheriting his grandfather's seat would be considered the natural order of things.
Mira hadn't expected the Master to bypass both and choose Kael.
Even though she knew Kael better than anyone and believed he was the most capable man she had ever met, the decision still felt abrupt.
"See? Now you understand why I'm not exactly celebrating." Kael nodded helplessly.
"What? Is the idea of being Master really that awful to you?" Mira giggled at his miserable expression.
"Of course it is. It's nothing but trouble," Kael groaned.
"Paperwork every day. Getting lectured by the Magic Council fossils. Writing formal apologies every time Natsu so much as breathes near a building. Mediating petty arguments, sitting through endless regional meetings, listening to old men brag about their glory days…"
"Well, when you put it that way… the Master has been doing exactly that for as long as I can remember." Mira laughed, her eyes crinkling.
"Exactly," Kael said.
"And the worst part? Laxus actually wants the job."
"Laxus?" Mira murmured.
"He's certainly ambitious."
"He's got 'the strongest' on the brain," Kael muttered.
"But being the strongest isn't something you announce—it's something you prove. What's the point of showing off inside the guild hall? If he's really that bored, he should go pick a fight with one of the Four Emperors of Ishgar."
Mira laughed again.
Then Kael's tone turned more serious.
"By the way—don't tell anyone about this. If Laxus finds out the Master chose me, he'll lose his mind and come looking for trouble."
"Are you actually… afraid of Laxus?" Mira blinked.
"I'm not afraid of him. I'm afraid of the headache." Kael shook his head.
"If he hears this, he'll make a scene. The old guild was just wrecked, and the new one isn't even finished. I don't want to see the rebuilt hall leveled before we even move in."
He sighed.
"And he's the Master's grandson. If I end up beating him half to death, that's going to be an awkward conversation."
Mira's smile softened. Knowing Laxus, Kael's concerns were entirely reasonable.
"So… you agreed in the end?"
"The old man didn't give me a choice," Kael said.
"I had to say yes. But I managed to stall. He's staying on for two more years. By then, my seniority won't look so ridiculous."
"Two years…" Mira's expression turned thoughtful.
"The Master will be ninety by then. It really is time for him to step back."
Mira understood what "stepping back" meant for Makarov. It wouldn't be abandoning the guild—just shifting from frontline responsibility to something calmer, like what she already did. Less fighting, less punishment, less strain.
"Forget it. I'm not stressing about it tonight." Kael blew out a breath and shook his head.
"If I'm Master in two years and I still hate it, I'll just hand the title to Erza and go back to being a regular S-Class wizard."
Mira found his shameless avoidance strangely endearing. Most people would beg for that seat. Kael talked about it like he'd been handed a prison sentence.
A short while later, they reached Mira's home. Normally, if Elfman was around, Kael would walk her to the door and head back to his own place.
But tonight, the air felt different.
The space between them was thick with the sweet tension of new love—the kind that made parting feel almost impossible. They lingered at the doorway, eyes meeting under the moonlight.
"How about… you come over to my place for a bit?" Kael suggested, his voice a shade lower than usual.
"It's… it's a little late, isn't it?" Mira hesitated, cheeks warming.
"Come on," Kael teased gently.
"I'm actually kind of hungry. Let's grab a snack."
"…Alright."
Kael took her hand and led her back toward his apartment. He could feel her palm damp with nerves, and his own heart was pounding just as hard. He'd liked Mira for a long time, but until recently, they'd stayed safely on the far side of that invisible line. Now that they were officially together, every touch felt electric.
The moment they stepped inside and the door clicked shut, Kael didn't give her time to overthink. His hand settled at her waist; the other braced against the wall beside her head.
His gaze held nothing ambiguous—only honest, unmistakable desire.
Mira looked up at him, breath catching. Her shyness won out, and she slowly closed her eyes.
"Mira… I…"
Kael leaned in, closing the last bit of distance—finally within reach of the moment he'd been waiting for—
Suddenly—
BANG!
The front door slammed open hard enough to rattle the frame.
"Kael! This is bad! Loke—he—"
Gray stood in the doorway, panting, frantic.
Then he froze.
The posture. The distance. The silence.
His brain caught up all at once: he had interrupted at the worst possible time.
Kael's face twisted into pure, miserable agony.
Mira, blushing furiously, stepped back and smoothed her hair. Despite the embarrassment, a small wave of relief slipped through her—she wasn't sure she was ready for things to move that fast.
"Gray, what's wrong with Loke?" She steadied her voice.
"Loke…" Gray blurted, still flustered.
"Loke left Fairy Tail!"
"What?!" Mira and Kael said at the same time.
The mood shattered instantly. Loke wasn't just a member—he was a friend, and a long-time one.
"What happened?" Mira asked, her tone turning sharp.
"I don't know!" Gray said.
"Everyone's out looking for him. He's been acting weird lately, but I didn't think much of it. I went back to the dorm and found a note. All it said was: 'I'm leaving.'"
"Wait… this afternoon a group of girls came to the guild crying." Mira's brow furrowed as something clicked.
"They said Loke dumped all of them last night. For Loke to break things off with everyone at once… that's not normal."
Everyone knew Loke flirted too much, but he was never cruel. Leaving without a word to the Master—or to his friends—made no sense.
"Loke, huh…" Kael said quietly.
"I think I know where he's hiding."