On the very day they returned, Raizel pulled Makarov aside and briefed him on the Cult of Zeref and the sinister R-System towers being built across the continent.
He urged the Master to notify the Council and the Guild Alliance immediately.
Makarov, realizing the gravity of the situation, contacted the other masters that same night and set off for Clover Town the next day to attend an emergency meeting.
After resting for two days, Raizel couldn't sit still.
He picked up several mission requests from neighboring towns, planning a circuit to clear them efficiently.
Laxus had already bolted the day before, eager to escape the old man's inevitable lectures.
When they both eventually returned, Makarov gave them a thorough dressing down.
"Gone for the better part of a year!" Makarov shouted, his face red. "Do you know how lonely I was? I felt like an empty nester! Missions were piling up to the ceiling! I had to swallow my pride and ask Ur—a new member!—to handle S-Class jobs!"
He lectured them for nearly an hour, but ultimately let them off easy with a hug.
They had brought Rob back, after all.
To make up for it, Raizel took on quest after quest.
First, he delivered a valuable artifact to a collector in Hargeon.
Then, he flew to White Claw Town to exterminate a pack of rampaging magical beasts.
Next, he served as a bodyguard for a famous theater troupe in Onibus.
The job required four mages, but Raizel use and Jesmon spirits handled it alone.
In fact, the shiny silver knight became part of the show, with children constantly trying to touch his armor.
Finally, while eating lunch in a tavern near Oshibana, a group of bandits at the next table bragged too loudly about their dark guild.
Raizel followed them to their hideout, dismantled their base in five minutes, tied them up like sausages, and dumped them on the local Council branch's doorstep without even waiting for the reward.
...
"Here again," Raizel murmured to himself, looking up at the imposing iron gates.
His final stop was the Heartfilia residence.
This time, he hadn't notified them in advance.
"Please inform Mr. Jude that Raizel from Fairy Tail is here," he told the guard.
The guard's eyes widened in recognition. "Yes, sir! Right away!"
The gates opened swiftly.
Raizel walked up the long driveway, admiring the manicured gardens. Before he reached the main door, the elderly butler appeared to intercept him.
"Mr. Raizel," the butler bowed. "Mr. Jude is not home today, but Mrs. Layla is already waiting for you in the reception room."
"Thank you."
Raizel followed him into the familiar, lavish room.
Layla stood up as he entered, her presence as warm and elegant as ever.
"Mr. Raizel, it's been a long time," she greeted him with a gentle smile.
"Mrs. Layla, it's good to see you. Please, just call me Raizel," he replied, taking a seat.
"Has Mr. Jude gone out?" Raizel asked after taking a sip of tea.
"He left for Crocus on a business trip two days ago," Layla explained. "He's been very busy expanding the railway network."
Raizel nodded. "Might I ask if you've found Grammi yet?"
This was crucial.
Zoldeo was dead, but Aquarius's key was still in the wind.
Grammi was the key to securing it, and potentially securing Brandish—a future nation-destroyer—as an ally.
"Not yet," Layla sighed, shaking her head regretfully. "We have agents searching the Western Continent, but it is vast and dangerous. We haven't had any leads."
"That's understandable," Raizel assured her. "There is still time. What about Zoldeo?"
"Unfortunately, nothing," Layla frowned. "He vanished without a trace."
"Of course you couldn't find him," Raizel said, reaching into his magic pocket. "Because he wasn't Zoldeo anymore."
He placed a heavy, golden key on the table.
The Key of the Goat.
"Capricorn's key!" Layla gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "How... how did you get this?"
"I think it would be better for him to explain it," Raizel pushed the key toward her.
Layla picked it up with trembling hands. "Open, Gate of the Goat! Capricorn!"
A golden light filled the room.
The tall, suited goat spirit materialized, kneeling on one knee.
"Lady Layla," Capricorn's voice broke. "Forgive me."
"Capricorn!" Layla rushed forward, hugging the spirit. "What happened? Where is Zoldeo?"
Capricorn explained everything—the betrayal, the forbidden Human Subordination Magic, the years spent fused together, and finally, Raizel's intervention that freed him and destroyed Zoldeo.
Layla listened in horror and sadness.
She mourned the loss of a servant she thought loyal, but rejoiced at the return of her friend.
"Thank you," Layla turned to Raizel, tears in her eyes. "I don't know how to repay you."
"Haha, there will be opportunities," Raizel waved it off. "How about this? When Lucy grows up, have her join Fairy Tail. Our guild still doesn't have a single Celestial Spirit Mage. It would be a waste of talent if she went anywhere else."
"If Lucy expresses interest in joining a guild," Layla smiled through her tears, "I will steer her toward you. I trust she will be safe there."
"Good," Raizel stood up. "Then I'll take my leave. Please, rest well, Lady Layla."
...
"Gramps, how did the discussions go?"
Back at the guild, Raizel found Makarov at the bar.
"The Council has issued notices requiring all legal guilds to cooperate in the search for the R-System towers," Makarov reported, looking grim. "Blue Pegasus has deployed the Christina—their magical bomber airship—for reconnaissance. I heard two days ago that Lamia Scale discovered and destroyed a facility near the coast."
"Good," Raizel nodded. "Keep the pressure on."
He scanned the guild hall. It was noisy as always, but he didn't see his usual shadows.
"Where are the girls?"
"Training in the East Forest," Makarov pointed a thumb over his shoulder. "They're diligent i tell ya."
Raizel headed out to the forest clearing.
Sure enough, the sounds of metal clashing and ice shattering filled the air.
Erza was sparring with a magically animated armor Raizel had left for her, her movements sharp and fluid.
Ultear was meditating on a floating rock, while Kagura practiced swings with her wooden sword nearby.
"Where's Simon?" Raizel asked, stepping into the clearing.
Erza paused, wiping sweat from her brow. "Simon went on a job with Gray and Lyon. A C-Rank extermination quest."
"Gray and Lyon?" Raizel raised an eyebrow. "Those two idiots will probably forget the mission and just fight each other."
"Simon is the responsible one," Ultear opened one eye. "He'll keep them in line."
Erza sheathed her sword and walked over to Raizel.
Her expression was serious.
"Raizel," she said firmly. "I want to take on jobs. I feel... useless just training here. I'm living on your charity, and I hate it."
Raizel looked at her.
The determination in her eyes was blazing.
She was ready.
"Actually, I'd like to take on jobs too," Ultear floated down from her rock. "Meditating all day is getting boring. I want to see how my Arc of Time holds up in the real world."
"Did I say no?" Raizel shrugged, smiling. "Go ahead."
"What I mean is," Ultear sighed, crossing her arms. "Come with us. For the first one. Just to make sure we don't blow anything up."
"What about Kagura? Simon isn't here to babysit her," Raizel pointed at the little girl, who was now chasing a butterfly with her wooden sword.
"Leave her to Ur," Ultear said. "Mom loves kids. She's been bored since Gray and Lyon graduated from her basics course. She'll be happy to have a new student."
"Fair enough," Raizel nodded. "Alright. Pick a mission. We leave tomorrow."