After the intense battle with Lyon Vastia, Cael and the team make their way back through the snow-covered mountains. Lyon's defeat weighed heavily on them, but the cryptic words he left behind still echoed in Cael's mind. "The real battle hasn't begun," Lyon had said, his voice barely audible, and the threat of someone else who would make them "pay" lingered in the air. Cael couldn't shake the feeling that they had merely scraped the surface of something much darker.
The journey back to Magnolia was quiet, the usual banter of Natsu and Gray missing from the tense atmosphere. Lucy walked alongside Cael, occasionally glancing at him. She could sense the unease hanging around him, though he said nothing. His thoughts were consumed by the warning from Lyon. Who was this new threat? And why did it feel like their victory was just the beginning of something far worse?
As they neared the outskirts of Magnolia, the familiar sight of the town in the distance gave them all a sense of relief. But the calm that had settled over the group seemed almost too peaceful, given everything they had just gone through. Cael felt it—an unnatural quietness. The air felt thick with tension, as though something was about to break.
When they finally arrived at the guildhall, the usual warmth of Fairy Tail was absent. The place was eerily silent. But something in the air made Cael's instincts flare. His eyes narrowed, and his hand instinctively moved to the pocket where he kept his tools. Something wasn't right.
Before anyone could react, they saw it.
Outside the guildhall, pinned to the large oak tree that stood proudly in front of the building were the familiar members of Shadow Gear—Levy, Jet, and Droy. They were unconscious, their bodies dangling from the tree with a single note attached to Levy's hand. The group rushed forward, immediately checking on their friends.
Natsu reached the tree first, cutting them down with a swift swing of his fist. Lucy and Gray were at Levy's side in an instant, checking for any injuries, while Cael stood a little further back, scanning the area with sharp eyes. He didn't like the stillness of the scene. The members of Shadow Gear didn't look hurt physically, but there was something unsettling about the way they were left here.
Cael knelt beside Levy, gently removing the note from her hand. It was simple, yet the words burned into his mind: "They're coming for you all." No signature. No further explanation. Just the chilling message.
"Who would do this?" Lucy asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"I don't know," Cael muttered, his fingers still gripping the note. "But someone wants to send a message."
Just as the group was getting their bearings, Mira emerged from the guildhall. Her gaze immediately fell on the three unconscious members of Shadow Gear, her face tightening with concern. She stepped forward slowly, her usually confident demeanor faltering.
"What happened?" she asked, her voice quieter than usual.
Gray quickly filled her in, explaining that the trio had been found pinned to the tree with no signs of struggle. Mira's face paled slightly, her expression unreadable. Despite her trauma, she couldn't hide the concern in her eyes.
Cael exchanged a look with her, but he didn't say anything. Mira had made it clear before the mission that she wasn't in a state to fight, but seeing her here, still concerned for the safety of the guild, made Cael realize just how deep her loyalty ran.
"We need to figure out who's behind this," Cael said, his voice steady. "Whoever did this clearly knew where we'd be. And it's no coincidence they targeted Shadow Gear."
The guildhall buzzed with the usual chatter of its members, but the cheer that usually filled the air felt muffled, replaced with whispers and anxious glances. The whole guild was on edge.
Mira stepped forward, her usual resolve returning as she turned to the guild. "Everyone, prepare yourselves. We don't know what's coming next, but this isn't over. Not by a long shot."
Cael stood beside her, though his gaze was fixed on the note still clutched tightly in his hand. His mind raced, piecing together the words, the actions, and the strange timing. The one thing that was certain—whoever was behind this was going to make a play for something bigger. And they weren't going to wait.
Mira placed a hand on Cael's shoulder, a silent acknowledgment of the bond that had formed between them over the course of their time in the guild. For a moment, there was no need for words. They both understood. This was far from over.
As Cael watched the guild members prepare for the unknown, his thoughts drifted to the future. Whatever came next, he was ready. He couldn't ignore the feeling gnawing at him—an undercurrent of danger lurking just beyond the horizon. He had only just started to scratch the surface of his own abilities, and he knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy.
With a deep breath, Cael looked toward the future. It wasn't just about surviving—it was about learning, growing, and facing whatever challenges lay in their path. The guild had come together time and time again. And this time wouldn't be any different.
The storm was far from over, and the next arc of their story was only just beginning.