Magic is a wonderful thing—everyone who's used it swears by it. In the world of Edolas, where people crave magic endlessly, or even in Earthland, where daily life is intertwined with it, magic is everywhere. From magical technology lighting up human cities to farming, water systems, trade, and even warfare, everything is tied to magic, mages, and magical power.
So, even though Kira had plenty of magic power and was strong in his own right, he still felt it wasn't enough. Anyone with ambition would never think they're strong enough, right? Kira hadn't forgotten his battle in X791 against the Ice Demon King, Ace, which drained a full third of his magic power. According to the "the later they appear, the stronger they are" rule, future enemies might be ridiculously powerful.
Kira didn't buy into the whole "I just need enough power to protect my friends" mindset. Instead, he thought, "I'm already weak, so I need my friends to protect me."
Ailentia, a world overflowing with so much magic it practically spills over, was once a target for Edolas. But they gave up on invading because of the Moon Dragon God. If a pathway between the two worlds could be opened, maybe true magical freedom could be achieved.
Just imagine it—unleashing super magic like it's a basic attack in future battles. How awesome would that be?
As Kira daydreamed about this epic future, Dispel's voice snapped him back to reality. "Those guys over there—are they your friends?"
Coming back to his senses, Kira followed Dispel's gaze and immediately spotted Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Juvia on a small boat.
At the same time, they noticed him too.
"Kira! And Dispel? What are you guys doing here?" Gray called out.
They didn't know why Kira and Dispel were there, but their arrival was a huge relief. With them around, rescuing Erza and Happy felt a lot more doable.
"Ugh… Kira… pull me onto the boat… quick…" Natsu groaned.
Of the four, Natsu was the happiest to see them. Without Happy to carry him, he was stuck enduring the boat's rocking, fighting off dizziness and nausea while tracking Erza and Happy's scent in the air.
On the flip side, Juvia was probably the least thrilled. A rare chance to cozy up to Gray had just slipped through her fingers, and she couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.
Once the four climbed aboard, they eagerly filled Kira in on what had happened, hoping for his help.
Apparently, after Loke regained his identity as the Celestial Spirit Leo, he had no use for the summer resort vouchers he'd planned to use for a date with his girlfriend. So, he gave them to Lucy and the others. But while they were there, they were attacked by a group claiming to be "Erza's former comrades." Not only did these guys accuse Erza of betraying them, but they also kidnapped her and Happy. Now, thanks to Natsu's nose, they'd tracked them to this location.
Feeling much better, Natsu was fired up. "They took Erza and Happy? I'm not letting them get away with this!"
Lucy, hugging her knees with a gloomy expression, muttered, "What they said about Erza's past… what was that all about?"
Gray shouted, "We've been talking this whole time, Kira! Say something! What's on your mind?"
"Oh, I was just thinking about that demon training I mentioned back in X791," Kira said casually. "You guys got beat by a bunch of nobodies? That's kind of embarrassing."
Gray was momentarily speechless. Is this really the time for that?
"Don't worry," Kira continued. "That place? Those guys? They can't hold Erza. We'll storm in, take everyone down, and then just wait for Erza to settle things herself."
"That's it? No plan? That's not like you at all," Gray said, skeptical.
"This time's special. Let's just be a little reckless," Kira replied with a grin.
Lucy frowned, sensing something off. "Wait a second, Kira. Do you know something? It's weird that you're even here in the first place!"
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean? Can't I just be here on vacation?" Kira teased.
Lucy hesitated. "Well… I guess…"
"The Tower of Heaven is…" Kira started.
"You do know something!" Lucy exclaimed.
After Kira shared what he knew about the Tower of Heaven, the group was furious. "So that's where Erza was before she joined Fairy Tail?" Gray asked.
"Exactly," Kira said. "A bunch of kids and old folks were locked up there, starving, freezing, and forced to work every day under brutal conditions. That's the kind of life Erza had before Fairy Tail."
His casual tone only fueled their anger. Gray and Natsu clenched their fists, their rage palpable, while Lucy and Juvia seethed quietly.
"How can you talk about it so calmly?" Natsu demanded. "Erza's our friend!"
Kira didn't budge. "Of course she's our friend. But that was eight years ago. The ones responsible have already been dealt with by the Magic Council. Getting mad now—what's the point?"
Natsu's anger deflated a bit. He knew Kira was right. The cult behind it had been wiped out, and after all these years, there was no one left to take revenge on.
Lucy spoke up. "If the culprits are gone, then what's going on with the Tower of Heaven now? Those guys said it was rebuilt over the last eight years."
"Jellal took over the unfinished Tower of Heaven, trying to resurrect Zeref," Kira explained.
"Zeref again…" Gray muttered, then his face changed. "Wait, Jellal? You mean Mystogan's…?"
"Yup, Mystogan's Earthland counterpart," Kira confirmed. "By the way, even though their magic power levels differ, counterparts usually have similar talents. Like my magic and Dispel's swordsmanship. Mystogan, with no magic in his body, became an S-Class mage just using a few magic staves. Jellal's magic is even stronger than Mystogan's."
"No wonder Erza acted so weird when she heard his name," Gray said, scratching his head in frustration. "I should've asked her about it!"
Kira shook his head. "Even if you had, she wouldn't have told you. The Tower of Heaven is a painful memory for her. She'd only talk about it if she absolutely had to."
"You know about it?" Lucy asked.
"Of course," Kira said. "That story, from start to finish, is nothing but a tragedy."
"A story?" Dispel perked up, suddenly intrigued. The guy had been obsessed with novels lately. "What's the story? Tell us!"
With no other choice, Kira began to tell the tale of The Love Story of the Red-Haired Girl in the same gentle tone he used when reading to the kids at the orphanage.
The story began in a prison, where a group of starving, tortured children were held. These kids, who should've been enjoying the joys of youth, were instead captured by a cruel force and forced to toil day and night in a dark, hopeless place.
But the harsh fate didn't break the blue-haired boy. Instead, it strengthened his resolve to resist. His stubborn will was like a light piercing the darkness, bringing hope and warmth to those around him.
In their rare moments of rest, he'd say things like, "Your red hair is really pretty," stealing the innocent heart of a young girl.
"Man, that kid's smooth!" Dispel laughed, slapping the boat's deck. "I read this kind of thing in your books! The hero's parents—Minato and Kushina—got together like that! Are Earthland kids that precocious?"
Kira shot Dispel an annoyed look and continued.
After a failed escape attempt, the boy took the punishment meant for the girl. As everyone's spirits began to crumble, overwhelmed by guilt and cries, the girl remembered the boy's encouraging words. She rose up, leading her friends to fight against their captors. But the enemy was too strong, and the battle was brutal. Many were lost, including an old man who cared for the children, who died saving her.
In her grief and rage, the girl awakened her magic, turning the tide and securing victory. She led the others to a boat to escape, but went back alone to find the boy—her light in the darkness.
Tragically, after years of torment and brainwashing, the boy had changed. He decided to continue the Tower of Heaven's construction. Perhaps a flicker of his old self remained, because he forced the girl to leave the island, threatening her with the lives of their friends if she ever spoke of it or returned.
The boy spread a lie that the girl had abandoned them, tricking his "friends" into continuing the work. Though he ensured they were fed, clothed, and taught magic, they were still forced to labor every day, fed twisted ideals. This went on for eight years.
In the end, the girl found a new home at the guild where the old man who saved her once belonged, starting a new chapter of her life.