The sheer power of this army of heartbroken girls was so overwhelming that even the guild's cunning tactician and the demon herself, Mirajane, were rendered completely helpless.
Honestly, if they'd caused even a bit more trouble, broken some glasses, flipped a table, maybe thrown a punch, Rhodes would've stepped in without hesitation and shown them the door.
But they didn't. They didn't lash out or break anything. They just cried, pleaded for Loke's whereabouts, argued over who his "true love" was, or quietly lamented their broken hearts.
Rhodes could only sigh in defeat. "Loke… this guy really is a menace."
A few of the girls instantly shot him glares. "Don't insult him!"
"Alright, alright, my bad..." Rhodes raised his hands, surrendering. These were victims of heartbreak, he had no intention of kicking them while they were down.
That said… these girls were so emotional they could barely be handled by Warm, the snuggly bug companion he usually deployed for comfort.
Maybe Warm's cuteness is fading as he gets older…
Eventually, once they were sure Loke truly wasn't in the guild and no one had a clue where he'd gone, the crowd finally dispersed, leaving the guild in a welcome silence.
As the tavern began returning to normal, murmurs floated around about how much trouble Loke had stirred up.
Rhodes let out another sigh, but now that the chaos was over, he had the mental space to worry about what truly mattered.
Loke's sudden decision to leave… it has to mean something's wrong.
Polyusica's statement about prescribing medicine might have just been to calm everyone down. And if she hadn't found a solution after examining him...
Then Loke might not have much time left.
Rhodes recalled the day he brought Loke to her. The red and blue buffs had stayed at the treehouse for hours afterward, but Loke never showed up again. It likely hadn't helped at all.
His frown deepened.
What should I do? Kidnap him and drag him to Wendy for healing?
Before he could think further, another commotion hit.
A mail carrier walked in with a fresh delivery.
"A letter for Master Makarov."
"The Master's out," Mira said, stepping forward out of habit. "I'll take it."
She'd long been entrusted with the guild's incoming letters—bills, complaints, reprimands, and the occasional bizarre love note. Makarov trusted her completely to screen and sort them.
So she took this one too, but paused when she read the name on the envelope.
"It's from Loke."
Rhodes's stomach twisted. "Why would he send a letter to the Master?"
Mira didn't answer. She tore the envelope open and pulled out a folded piece of paper. As she did, a small glowing projection flickered to life above it.
It was Loke—calm, collected, and smiling faintly.
The projection began to speak:
"Master, by the time you're reading this, I've probably already left Magnolia. These past few years at Fairy Tail have been some of the happiest of my life. Thank you… for everything."
"Hey! What's with these goodbye-sounding lines?!" Gray immediately left Natsu behind and ran up to the projection, drawing a small crowd of worried guildmates.
But of course, the projection was just a recording. It couldn't answer.
It continued:
"To all my guildmates... thank you for putting up with me. Knowing all of you has truly been my greatest luck. If I had my way, I'd stay by your side forever."
Natsu clenched his fists, anger flashing in his eyes. "What the hell are you saying, Loke?!"
"Quiet, Natsu!" Gray snapped. "Just listen."
The message went on, Loke's voice softer now, with guilt beneath the calm:
"But I'm a sinner. I made a mistake I can never take back. And it's time I face the consequences. Whether I disappear without a word or leave a message like this, I know you would still worry about me. That's why…"
"I've decided to leave Fairy Tail."
At that, his projection faltered slightly, as if the words themselves were hard to say. He pushed his glasses up, lowered his gaze, and continued.
"From this moment on, I am no longer a member of Fairy Tail. So please… don't try to find me. I have somewhere I must go.
Goodbye.
No, farewell, forever.
That's all."
With those final words, Loke's projection vanished.
For a moment, the entire guild stood in stunned silence, then chaos erupted.
"What the hell was that?!"
"No way I'm accepting this!"
Before anyone could stop them, Natsu and Gray shoved their way through the crowd and bolted for the door.
"That guy! After causing all this mess, he thinks he can just walk away?"
"I'm dragging him back myself!"
"Damn it, our fight's not over yet, Loke! You better not run off!"
A storm of angry voices and stomping footsteps followed as half the guild rushed out in pursuit.
Rhodes snapped into action. "Warren!"
"Right here!"
"Can you locate Loke?"
Warren placed his index and middle fingers to his forehead, eyes narrowing as he reached out with his telepathy.
"No. I can't sense him anywhere."
That could only mean one thing: Loke had already left Magnolia.
Rhodes wasted no time. He summoned a pair of Murk Wolves and released them to trace Loke's scent. Then he turned to Warren and Mira, handing them the reins of his Scuttle Crab.
"Search the roads outside the city. I'll check with Polyusica. She might know more than she let on earlier."
...
The place Loke had chosen for his final farewell was solemn and beautiful: a cliff surrounded by cascading waterfalls on three sides. It overlooked the tomb of Karen Lilica, his former contractor.
The location sat in the outskirts of the city where Blue Pegasus was headquartered, not far from Fairy Tail's territory, but far enough to avoid any interference.
By the time Rhodes learned the full truth from Polyusica and hurried over, he discovered that Lucy had already acted.
Having uncovered everything herself, Lucy had raced ahead.
Now, she was standing atop the cliff, using every ounce of her magic power to force open the Celestial Gate and return Loke to the Celestial Spirit World.
Rhodes arrived just in time to see the sky warp.
A black vortex spiraled open above the cliff, darkening the day into night. Stars shimmered into view across the heavens, and from within that cosmic darkness descended a massive figure cloaked in celestial light.
A giant.
He hung suspended in the air, surrounded by constellations, like a god made of stardust.
Compared to him, the two figures standing on the cliff were barely larger than his fingertips.
And his magic power, it was overwhelming. More intense, more ancient, more suffocating than anything Rhodes had ever felt. Not even Makarov at his angriest had radiated this kind of presence.
Rhodes stared up, stunned.
'Who… or what… is that?'
"The Celestial Spirit King…"Loke's voice trembled with reverence.
"Why… why have you come in person?"
The Celestial Spirit King's voice echoed through the sky, deep and unwavering:
"According to the covenant between our worlds, a Celestial Spirit must never harm the bearer of their Key. Even Leo, though his actions were indirect, broke this fundamental law.
It is an unforgivable sin. This law… cannot be changed."
Lucy, standing defiantly between the King and Loke, shouted with all her heart:
"He's already paid the price! Three whole years! He suffered in silence, not for himself, but for Aries, for his friends! How can you still call this a crime?!"
The Celestial Spirit King sighed.
"I, too, feel sorrow for….
Lucy cut him off sharply. Her eyes burned with tears.
"Listen, you bearded old man, yes, you! You know what happened with Karen was an accident! You know Loke did the right thing! He protected Aries when no one else would!
That wasn't a crime, it was compassion!"
The sky seemed to tremble from the force of her words.
Down below, more members of Fairy Tail had arrived. One by one, they looked up in awe and unease at the immense, starlit figure looming overhead.
Even the rowdiest of guildmates fell silent. None dared take a step forward.
This… this was power beyond even Makarov, beyond any Ten Wizard Saint. The Celestial Spirit King was in a league of his own.
And yet—
On the cliff's edge, a lone girl stood unwavering before him.
"Just… let me disappear already…"
Loke's voice cracked as he fell to one knee, his strength fading.
"Please, Lucy. I deserve this."
"You don't!"
Lucy turned to him, eyes blazing.
"Thinking of your friends, fighting to protect them, that's not a sin!
You're not a criminal. You're a hero!"
With a cry, she raised her arm, and unleashed the last of her magic power.
"Open, The Gates of the Celestial Spirit Zodiac!"
One by one, the Spirits appeared behind her:
Aquarius, fierce and proud.
Taurus, muscles flexed.
Sagittarius, silent with bow drawn.
Virgo, kneeling in loyalty.
Cancer, scissors gleaming.
They said nothing, but their presence made everything clear.
They stood with Lucy.
And they stood for Loke.
The summoning lasted only a moment. Lucy's body couldn't handle the strain. She collapsed forward.
"Lucy!!"
Natsu was the first to react, darting forward and catching her before she hit the ground.
Gray arrived a heartbeat later, stepping in front of Loke protectively, hands raised with forming ice.
"Don't do anything stupid!"
Loke forced himself to his feet. His voice was hoarse.
"You guys… you don't understand. If you anger him—!"
Blue light flared across the cliffside.
Rhodes, Mira, Erza, and others arrived next, surrounding Lucy and Loke in a protective circle. No one needed to say a word.
Their message was clear.
He's one of us.
Loke's eyes trembled. "Natsu… everyone…"
Lucy forced a weak smile from Natsu's arms.
"Honestly… this guild…