The sun was bright over Magnolia, casting its warm glow on the guild that stood as both home and hearth for countless mages. Laughter, chatter, and the constant clink of mugs filled the hall of Fairy Tail. It was a day like any other—except for the unease prickling at the back of Keal's mind.
The silver-haired siblings—Mira, Elfman, and Lisanna—had left that morning on a mission. Keal had caught a glimpse of them from afar, walking confidently out of Magnolia, Mira leading as always, her siblings chattering close behind. He'd thought nothing of it at first. Missions were their daily bread, and Mira was strong, more than capable of keeping her younger siblings safe.
But now, as he sat at the bar, a sharp pang twisted in his gut. Something was wrong. He didn't know why—just that it was.
Pushing back his empty glass, Keal rose and strode toward Makarov, who sat quietly on the balcony railing, pipe smoke curling around him.
"Master," Keal called, his voice sharper than usual. "Where did Mira and her siblings take their job?"
Makarov looked at him, one brow raised. "What's gotten into you, boy? You planning to chase after them?"
"I saw them earlier," Keal said, his mismatched eyes narrowing. "But my gut tells me this won't end well. Just tell me where they went."
Makarov studied him silently. The boy was rarely wrong when he had that look—like a storm ready to break. With a sigh, the old man exhaled a puff of smoke. "South forest. They went after a Beast Soul creature. Mira's confident she can handle it, but…" His gaze softened, shadowed by the weight of memory. "If you're going, then go. Just don't get yourself killed."
Keal smirked faintly. "No promises."
With that, he bolted out of the guildhall, magic flaring beneath his feet as he launched into the air, bounding across invisible steps of compressed wind.
Makarov watched him vanish into the sky, pipe clenched tightly. "Chaos always follows that boy… Erza!"
A shadow fell across the guild doors as scarlet hair gleamed in the sunlight. Erza stepped forward, armored boots clicking against the floor. "You want me to follow him."
Makarov nodded gravely. "Mira will keep her siblings safe. But Keal? He'll throw himself into fire without hesitation. Make sure none of them pay too high a price."
Erza bowed her head. "Understood." With swift strides, she departed, her presence steady and resolute.
Meanwhile, deep in the forest, chaos had already unfolded.
"ELFMAN!" Mira's voice cracked, filled with terror.
Her brother's massive body twisted uncontrollably, consumed by the Beast Soul magic he had recklessly attempted. His hands were claws, his body monstrous, his mind lost. He roared, thrashing through the trees, unable to distinguish friend from foe.
Lisanna clung to Mira's arm, trembling. "S-sis, what do we do?! He—he can't control it!"
Mira grit her teeth, holding Lisanna close even as Elfman's rampage tore apart the clearing. "I'll stop him! I have to!"
But the strain was overwhelming. Even Mira, fierce and unyielding, could feel despair creeping in. Her magic was faltering, her strength ebbing. When Elfman charged, Mira pushed Lisanna away with all her might—just as the air split apart.
A portal, dark and spiraling, opened with a soundless scream. Lisanna stumbled, her small body slipping into its pull. Mira lunged, catching her sister's hand just as the portal tried to swallow her whole.
"No! I won't let go!" Mira's arms shook violently. "Lisanna, hold on!"
Lisanna's eyes welled with tears. "Sis…"
But Mira's body was already at its limit. Her magic drained, her muscles screamed in protest. The portal tugged harder, dragging Lisanna inch by inch from her grasp.
"I—I can't—" Mira sobbed, despair sinking into her heart. "I can't hold on…"
Lisanna's fingers slipped further, the portal pulled mercilessly.
"Not yet!"
The voice cut through the chaos like lightning. Mira's wide eyes snapped upward, and there—racing through the air on invisible steps of wind—was Keal. His body glowed faintly with the strain of magic, his jaw clenched, eyes blazing with determination.
"MIRA, DON'T LET GO YET!"
In one final burst, Keal propelled himself downward, airsteps exploding behind him. He seized Lisanna's arm, wrenching her free of the portal's grip. For a heartbeat, hope flared in Mira's chest—until she realized Keal wasn't slowing down.
"Keal—!"
He twisted mid-air, pulling Lisanna against his chest. With his back facing the ground, he shielded her with his own body as they plummeted.
"Better me than her," he muttered through clenched teeth.
The crash was thunderous. Dirt and stone erupted as Keal slammed into the earth, his body absorbing the full force of the fall. Pain exploded across every nerve, but he held Lisanna tightly, ensuring not a scratch marred her.
The portal above flickered and sealed shut, vanishing as though it had never existed.
Mira collapsed, staring at the crater where her sister and Keal lay. Relief, disbelief, and exhaustion flooded her at once.
Erza arrived moments later, her sword flashing as she restrained Elfman with precise strikes, disabling his rampaging form until he collapsed unconscious. She sheathed her blade, eyes darting toward Mira.
"Is Lisanna—?"
"She's safe," Mira whispered hoarsely, tears spilling down her face. "Because of him."
Keal groaned, forcing himself onto his elbows. His body screamed in agony, bones knitting back together with sluggish cracks. His magic reserves were nearly empty, and his healing ability devoured his stamina with every passing second. He was drenched in sweat, gasping for air.
Lisanna blinked up at him, wide-eyed. "Y-you saved me…"
"Of course I did," Keal said, flashing a weary grin. "Can't let Fairy Tail lose its cutest little sister, can I?"
Her cheeks flushed faintly, but exhaustion claimed her, and she leaned into Mira's arms as her sister rushed to embrace her.
Mira trembled as she held Lisanna, her voice breaking. "I thought—I thought I lost you…"
Keal leaned back against the crater's edge, laughing weakly. "Relax, Mira. You still owe me, remember?"
She glanced at him, confused through her tears. "What…?"
"Compensation," Keal said with a lopsided smirk, even as blood trickled from his temple. "I saved your siblings. So, as payment…" His mismatched eyes glimmered playfully. "You'll be my girlfriend."
Mira's jaw dropped, her cheeks turning scarlet. "Y-you can't be serious—making jokes at a time like this—!"
Even Erza, standing nearby, blushed at his audacity with jealousy she didn't realize.
But Keal only chuckled, his voice raspy. "What? You think I'd waste my near-death experience without a good payoff? I'm dead serious. You can take your time answering, though. I'm patient."
Mira stared at him, torn between outrage and laughter. She pressed Lisanna closer, her heart racing in a way she hadn't felt before.
Erza crouched beside Keal, her tone sharp but touched with concern. "Idiot. You nearly killed yourself."
"Nearly," Keal corrected with a grin. "But not quite."
Exhaustion washed over him like a tide. His body continued to heal, draining the last dregs of his stamina. His vision blurred, and with a soft sigh, he slumped sideways into unconsciousness.
Later, as the dust settled and Elfman returned to himself, Mira sat silently by Keal's resting form. His breathing was shallow but steady, his body mending even in sleep.
Her hand brushed his, tentative and uncertain. The memory of his words lingered in her mind—compensation, he'd called it. A joke, surely. Yet the image of him diving headfirst into danger without hesitation, all to save Lisanna…
Her lips curved faintly despite herself. "Idiot…"
She didn't know if it was gratitude, guilt, or something deeper. But one truth rooted itself firmly in her heart.
She would never forget the moment Keal had thrown himself into danger for her sister's sake.
And maybe—just maybe—his ridiculous request wasn't such a joke after all.