Chapter 1: The Forgotten Brother's Trial
The Fairy Tail guild was as lively as ever.
Tables shook as Natsu and Gray chased each other around the hall.
"Get back here, ice freak!"
"You started it, flame brain!"
Happy laughed as he flew overhead.
"Aye!"
Lucy sighed.
"This happens every day…"
Then…
The guild doors slowly opened.
A young man with silver-black hair stepped inside. He wore a long dark coat with a calm smile on his face.
The moment Natsu saw him…
His entire body froze.
His eyes widened.
"…Big…"
The room became silent.
"…Bro?"
The words escaped his lips in a whisper.
The stranger smiled warmly.
"It's been a long time, Natsu."
Without another word, Natsu launched himself across the guild.
"KAEL!"
Everyone expected the older man to be sent flying.
Instead…
Kael didn't move an inch.
He caught Natsu effortlessly before wrapping him in a hug.
"You've grown."
Natsu laughed, though tears threatened to spill from his eyes.
"You idiot!"
"You disappeared!"
"I know."
"For seven years!"
"I know."
"Where were you?"
Kael scratched the back of his head.
"…Training."
"For seven years?!"
"…I got lost."
Lucy buried her face in her hands.
"I don't know why… but I actually believe him."
Gray folded his arms.
"It must run in the family."
The guild burst into laughter.
The guild doors opened once more.
"Wendy!"
The young Sky Dragon Slayer rushed inside with Carla following behind.
The instant Wendy saw Kael…
Time seemed to stop.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"…Big brother…"
She sprinted across the room and hugged him tightly.
"I missed you…"
Kael smiled as he gently patted her head.
"I missed you too, Wendy."
Carla blinked in complete surprise.
"I've never seen Wendy smile like that…"
"Tch."
Another familiar voice echoed from the entrance.
Gajeel Redfox stepped inside with Panther Lily.
He looked toward Kael.
For several long seconds…
Neither of them spoke.
Finally—
"…Idiot."
Kael laughed.
"Good to see you too."
Gajeel walked over before pulling him into a rough one-armed hug.
"You disappeared without saying anything."
"I know."
"You owe us an explanation."
"I do."
Levy watched in complete disbelief.
"G-Gajeel hugged someone…"
Master Makarov climbed onto the bar.
"So…"
He smiled knowingly.
"I think our guest deserves an introduction."
Kael bowed respectfully.
"My name is Kael."
"I was raised by the dragons."
"I trained every Dragon Slayer before they began their own journeys."
The guild immediately exploded into whispers.
"You trained Natsu?"
"And Gajeel?"
"Wendy too?"
Kael nodded.
"They're my younger siblings."
Natsu puffed out his chest proudly.
"Our big brother is awesome!"
As the excitement settled, Kael quietly watched the three Dragon Slayers.
Natsu had become stronger.
Gajeel had matured.
Wendy had gained confidence.
He smiled to himself.
"Let's see how far they've come."
Kael stood.
"Natsu."
The Fire Dragon Slayer immediately looked over.
"Yeah?"
"I'd like to spar."
Natsu's grin widened.
"Heh… finally!"
Kael looked toward the others.
"Gajeel."
"Wendy."
"You two as well."
The three Dragon Slayers exchanged excited looks.
"You want all of us?" Wendy asked.
Kael nodded.
"I trained each of you."
"It's time to see how much you've improved."
Natsu punched his fists together.
"This is gonna be awesome!"
Gajeel smirked.
"Been waiting years for this."
Wendy smiled nervously.
"I'll do my best."
The entire guild followed them outside to Fairy Tail's training grounds.
Mirajane, Erza, Cana, Elfman, Lisanna, Freed, Evergreen, Bickslow, Levy, Lucy, Happy, Carla, Panther Lily, and the others gathered around.
Laxus was nowhere to be seen.
Having been banished from Fairy Tail after the Battle of Fairy Tail, he was no longer with the guild.
Makarov stood quietly near the front.
"I've heard stories about this young man…"
"Now I'll finally see them with my own eyes."
Kael stood calmly in the center of the training field.
His hands rested in his pockets.
"No holding back."
Natsu grinned.
"Wouldn't dream of it!"
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
A massive torrent of flames rushed toward Kael.
At the same time—
"Iron Dragon's Sword!"
Gajeel charged from the right.
"Sky Dragon's Roar!"
Wendy attacked from behind.
Three Dragon Slayers.
Three directions.
One target.
Lucy gasped.
"They're coordinating perfectly!"
Kael smiled.
"They've learned teamwork."
He took one step.
Only one.
Natsu's flames missed by inches.
He tilted his head, allowing Gajeel's blade to pass harmlessly by.
Then he caught Wendy's wind magic with an open palm.
The whirlwind simply… vanished.
No explosion.
No struggle.
Only silence.
"Incredible…" Erza whispered.
Natsu charged again.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
Kael caught the punch effortlessly.
"Natsu."
He smiled.
"Your flames burn much hotter now."
With a gentle twist of his wrist—
Natsu spun through the air before landing safely on his feet.
Gajeel attacked immediately.
"Iron Dragon's Club!"
Kael blocked the massive iron weapon with his forearm.
The impact echoed across the field.
Yet Kael never moved.
"Gajeel."
"You've become physically stronger."
"But you're still telegraphing your attacks."
He lightly pushed.
Gajeel slid backward across the dirt.
"…Damn…"
"Wendy!"
Natsu shouted.
"Got it!"
Green wind surrounded Natsu.
His speed increased dramatically.
Lucy smiled.
"She's supporting him!"
Kael nodded proudly.
"Excellent."
"That's exactly how a Sky Dragon Slayer should fight."
Natsu vanished.
He reappeared behind Kael.
"Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame!"
The attack struck—
Nothing.
Kael had disappeared.
Natsu blinked.
"Huh?"
A finger gently tapped the back of his head.
"You've improved."
"But you still commit too much to your attacks."
Natsu laughed.
"Heh… you're still impossible."
The spar continued.
For nearly half an hour.
Every technique.
Every combination.
Every strategy.
Kael defended against all of them.
He never attacked.
Instead, he corrected them.
"Natsu."
"Use your instincts."
"Gajeel."
"Watch your left side."
"Wendy."
"Trust your magic."
His voice sounded exactly as it had years ago.
Patient.
Calm.
Encouraging.
Like the older brother who had taught them everything.
Finally…
Kael nodded.
"I've seen enough."
The three Dragon Slayers launched one final combined attack.
Kael closed his eyes.
For the first time…
Magic flowed from his body.
An emerald aura surrounded him.
The earth trembled.
The wind stopped.
The air itself felt heavier.
Elemental Dragon Slayer Magic.
He released only the smallest fraction of his true power.
The pressure alone halted the three Dragon Slayers in their tracks.
Their instincts screamed that advancing any farther would be pointless.
Silence fell across the training grounds.
Even Erza unconsciously tightened her grip on her sword.
Mirajane stared in amazement.
"So… that's his magic…"
Makarov's smile slowly faded into a look of deep respect.
"He's incredible."
"His magic power…"
"It's just below Gildarts'."
"But his control…"
"I've rarely seen anything like it."
"Every movement is efficient."
"Every ounce of magic perfectly restrained."
"Now I understand why the dragons trusted him to watch over their children."
The aura vanished.
Kael smiled proudly at the exhausted Dragon Slayers.
"You've all become stronger."
Natsu grinned despite collapsing onto the ground.
"So…"
He laughed between breaths.
"Did we pass?"
Kael chuckled.
"You did."
He looked at each of them.
"But beginning tomorrow…"
"…your real training starts."
The three Dragon Slayers smiled like excited children.
"YES!"
High above Magnolia, hidden among the clouds, a cloaked figure silently watched the reunion.
"So…"
"The Elemental Dragon Slayer has finally returned."
With that quiet whisper, the figure disappeared into the distance.