"Supreme Magic—Blessing of Starlight!"
A thunderous boom echoed through the air as Kael's magic power erupted like a storm. The surge of his energy drew upon the power of everyone around him, pulling their magic into perfect harmony.
An immense current of energy spiraled upward, reaching toward the heavens. Kael's eyes glowed—one golden, one blue—and he began chanting in an ancient, indecipherable tongue. The faint violet-white sphere of condensed magical energy at the center of the ritual began to rise slowly.
As his words grew faster and stronger, Gray, Lyon, and Uluthea's eyes too began to shimmer with the same gold and blue light.
Above them, a colossal golden-blue magic circle unfolded across the night sky. The stars seemed to brighten, shimmering in resonance with the magic circle.
Lucy and the others poured their energy into the spell, focusing everything they had. None of them noticed that the Celestial Keys at Lucy's waist had begun to glow as well.
In the Celestial Spirit Realm, the spirits themselves stirred—the Celestial King opened his eyes, his deep voice rumbling through the stars:
"Old friend… let us lend you our strength."
The stars blazed brighter. Their light poured down into the circle, merging with the lunar radiance of the Moon Drip spell. Together, they condensed into a brilliant core of divine energy.
Kael's voice rose: "Now! Gray, Lyon, Uluthea—give it everything you have!"
"Ahhh!" The three cried out, unleashing all the magic within them.
Gray's voice broke as tears filled his eyes.
"Please… let me see Ur again. Just once more. I want to tell her I'm sorry… that the darkness in my heart is gone. Master… I miss you so much."
Lyon's magic flared brighter.
"Master Ur! Come back… I've grown strong, I know I was wrong! I just… I just want to hear your voice again, even if it's to scold me! Please… come back, Master, I miss you!"
Uluthea's heart trembled, her voice shaking.
"Mama… I miss you. I want to hold you again. If you return, everything will be okay… everything… I just want to see you, one more time—okāsan."
Seeing them pour out their souls, Kael gathered the magic swirling around him. The torrent of light converged in the heavens, coalescing into a radiant sun that burned above them.
Their tears—Gray's, Lyon's, Uluthea's—drifted upward, glimmering as they joined the flow of magic, becoming one with it.
Sunlight, moonlight, starlight—three lights as one—merged into a single, shimmering orb that descended slowly toward the frozen mass of ice that encased Deliora.
The moment the celestial circle completed, everyone collapsed to their knees, gasping for breath. Their magic was completely drained, but their eyes remained locked on the ice with desperate hope.
Then, the ice began to glow.
A blinding radiance spread outward, and the massive block of ice gradually melted, transforming into flowing water. Within the light, a familiar figure began to take shape—gentle, warm, and unmistakably human.
"Okāsan!"
"Master!"
Uluthea didn't hesitate—she threw herself into Ur's arms, burying her face against her mother's chest, her tears soaking into the warmth she had longed for all these years.
"I'm sorry, Uluthea," Ur whispered, tears forming in her own eyes. "It's my fault… I left you alone for so long, my dear daughter. Back then…"
"It's okay, Mama," Uluthea thought, her heart overflowing. "It doesn't matter anymore… you're here. That's all that matters."
Gray and Lyon stood nearby, both crying openly now. The proud, stoic men they'd become were nowhere to be seen—only two young apprentices longing for their teacher's embrace.
No one mocked them. Every single person watching was deeply moved. Even Natsu's eyes glistened with tears as he remembered his own father, Igneel.
Cana leaned against Kael's chest, smiling softly through her tears, happy for them all. Nearby, even the usually composed members of Lyon's team were weeping openly.
Ur, seeing Gray and Lyon's tear-streaked faces, flicked each of them lightly on the forehead before pulling all three—Gray, Lyon, and Uluthea—into her arms.
"My, how you've grown," she said with a gentle laugh. "And you're still crying like children! Honestly… shame on you. Just this once!"
But before anyone could respond—
"ROAAAR!"
A thunderous bellow shattered the tender reunion. Deliora's monstrous voice echoed across the clearing.
Gray, Lyon, and Uluthea's expressions hardened instantly. Stepping in front of Ur, they glared at the towering demon, eyes filled with killing intent.
"This time," Gray growled, "we won't let you take anything from us ever again!"
They raised their hands together, channeling every last drop of their remaining magic.
Ice-Make: White Tiger!
Ice-Make: Lancer!
Ice-Make: Rose Garden!
Three powerful ice spells burst forth simultaneously, crashing into Deliora with explosive force. The demon's body shattered, ice and flesh breaking apart in a final burst of energy.
"It can't be… that easily?" Lucy whispered in disbelief.
Kael answered calmly beside her, his eyes reflecting the fading glow. "Deliora had been dying slowly within Ur's ice seal for years. That battle ended long ago."
Ur smiled, tears glistening as she looked at her three students. "Congratulations," she said softly. "You've each found your own form of Ice-Make magic."
——— Interlude ———
After the ordeal at the temple, everyone supported one another as they made their way back to the village. The elder met them with tears in his eyes—each mage was battered and exhausted. He immediately arranged homes for them to rest in and ordered the villagers to tend to their wounds.
After all, these wizards had risked their lives to break the curse that had plagued the village for generations.
From afar, the villagers had seen the enormous surge of light and magic that had erupted into the sky. They knew Kael and his companions had faced a formidable challenge, and since they could not approach the ruins, they prayed from a distance, hearts full of faith.
They believed—no, they knew—that the mages of Fairy Tail would lift their curse and restore their human forms.
Holding on to that hope, the villagers finally drifted into peaceful sleep, awaiting the dawn.
That night passed quietly. Every mage's magic was completely drained. Even Kael, who normally could tear through barriers of dark energy, could do nothing but rest and wait for his strength to return.
Uluthea, at last, slept beside her mother, just as she had dreamed for so many years. Gray and Lyon lay on makeshift beds nearby, taking turns waking in the middle of the night just to look at Ur—to make sure she was real—and then falling back asleep, smiling in peace.
Lucy and Cana shared a bed too, sleeping soundly, exhaustion etched into their faces but hearts at ease.
Kael slept alone nearby, content for the first time in a long while. He had finally fulfilled one of his greatest wishes—he had brought Ur back.
All his years of study, his research, his struggles—it had all been worth it.
But as his eyes closed, he made a silent vow. When the time was right, he would thank the Celestial King and the spirits properly. He had felt their aid clearly in that moment—their blessing had been one of the keys to the spell's success.
And soon… it would be time to face the issue of the Celestial Lion—Leo.