Two weeks later
Kael stood in a small clearing, the sunlight trickling down through the thick canopy like golden threads, illuminating patches of the forest floor. He wiped the sweat off his brow with his forearm and took a deep breath, steadying his breathing after another grueling round of training. His body ached, every muscle protesting against further movement, but it was the kind of ache he had started to appreciate, a sign of progress, of pushing himself beyond his limits.
"Alright, one more run," Kael muttered to himself, gripping his makeshift spear tightly. His eyes darted around the clearing, pinpointing the wooden markers he had set up earlier. "Let's see how fast I can do it this time."
Bobo let out a disapproving squawk from the edge of the clearing. The dodo had plopped itself down in the shade, its stubby wings twitching lazily as it watched Kael with what he swore was judgment.
"What?" Kael shot the bird a look. "You're supposed to be my moral support. Maybe even my training partner. Not my critic."
Bobo clucked indignantly and flapped its wings, as if to say, I'm retired from this nonsense.
Kael sighed, a small grin tugging at his lips. "Fine. Stay there and relax, your majesty. I'll just do all the work, as usual."
He shifted his stance, focusing on the first marker. Without hesitation, he sprinted forward, weaving through the makeshift course he had constructed from fallen branches, rocks, and ropes. His feet barely touched the ground as he leapt over logs, ducked under low-hanging vines, and skidded around sharp corners.
The new Agility trait from the raptor was no joke. He felt lighter, faster, more in tune with his surroundings. The forest had become his training ground, and every tree, rock, and vine was his object.
As he vaulted over a final obstacle, he landed in a crouch and spun around to check his imaginary "finish line." His chest heaved, and a triumphant grin spread across his face.
"Better," he muttered, glancing at the sun's position to roughly estimate the time. "I think I shaved a few seconds off."
Bobo let out a half-hearted chirp, clearly unimpressed.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Kael said, walking over to his feathered companion and flopping down beside it. "Still not raptor-level, huh?"
The dodo tilted its head, clucking softly as if to agree.
Kael chuckled and reached out to scratch the top of its head. "You're lucky you're cute, you know that?"
Bobo leaned into the touch, its feathers fluffing up in contentment.
"Kael."
The voice startled him, and he glanced up to see Erza emerging from the trees. She carried a bundle of berries and roots in her arms, her expression as serious as ever.
"You've been out here for hours," she said, setting the bundle down near him. "You need to rest."
"I'm fine," Kael replied, though the stiffness in his limbs betrayed him. He forced himself to sit straighter, as if to prove his point. "I'm making progress."
Erza crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Progress is useless if you collapse from exhaustion."
Kael rolled his eyes but didn't argue. He knew better than to push back when she used that tone. "Alright, fine. I'll take a break. Happy?"
She gave a small nod, but her gaze lingered on him, her expression softening slightly. "You've improved a lot."
"Thanks," Kael said, his tone lighter. "It's not like I had much choice. After that raptor nearly turned me into a chew toy, I figured I should step up my game."
Erza smirked faintly and sat down beside him. "You've come a long way from the boy who screamed at a dodo."
Kael groaned, rubbing his face. "You're never going to let me live that down, are you?"
"Never," she said with a rare, teasing glint in her eye.
For a moment, the two sat in comfortable silence, the sounds of the forest filling the space between them. Kael glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, noting the way her shoulders seemed less tense than usual.
They have gotten closer, she is no longer suspicious and on guard next to him. He knows that later despite this, she would wear armor. We can say that he had at least the honor of seeing her normally and not behind a mask. Maybe his presence has allowed her to relieve a bit her trauma.
"You've been sparring with me a lot," he said suddenly. "Does that mean I'm actually getting better? Or are you just taking it easy on me?"
Erza tilted her head, considering his question. "You are improving. But don't let that go to your head."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Kael said with a smirk. Then, after a pause, he added, "Thanks, though. For helping me. You didn't have to."
Erza looked at him, her expression unreadable for a moment. "You saved my life," she said simply. "Helping you is the least I can do."
Kael shrugged, leaning back against a tree. "Still. I appreciate it."
Bobo let out a soft cluck, as if to second Kael's sentiment.
Erza smiled faintly, reaching out to pat the dodo on the head. "You're welcome."
---
The forest was quiet that night, save for the occasional chirp of nocturnal creatures and the crackling of the small fire Kael had built between them. Shadows from the flames danced across the nearby trees, creating fleeting shapes that flickered and vanished.
Erza sat across from him, her knees drawn to her chest, her crimson hair catching the firelight. She watched the flames intently, her expression calm but distant. Kael was lying back on his elbows, the tension from his earlier training finally easing from his body. Bobo was curled up near the fire, snoring softly.
For a while, neither of them spoke. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, but one that came from a growing understanding between them. Still, Kael wasn't one to let a moment linger too long.
"Do you ever stop to just… enjoy this?" he asked, gesturing vaguely at the surrounding forest. "The peace, I mean."
Erza blinked, as if pulled from a faraway thought. Her gaze shifted to him, curious. "What do you mean?"
"I mean this," Kael said, sitting up and motioning around. "The quiet. The stars. The fact that nothing's trying to kill us for once. Don't you think it's… nice?"
She tilted her head slightly, considering his words. "I don't know if I'd call it 'nice.' But… it is different. Quieter than what I'm used to."
Kael leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. "What are you used to? I mean, I know you've been through… stuff." He hesitated, careful not to press too hard. "But I've never really heard you talk about it."
Erza's shoulders tensed, her gaze dropping to the fire. "It's not something I like to talk about," she said after a moment, her voice low.
Kael nodded, not pushing further. "That's fair. But… sometimes it helps, you know? Talking."
She looked at him, her eyes sharp but not unkind. "And what would I even say? That I've seen things no one should ever see? That I've fought just to survive, just to stay sane?" She paused, her voice softening. "How does saying it out loud change anything?"
Kael leaned back, thinking. "I guess it doesn't change what happened. But maybe it makes it feel… less heavy? Like you're not carrying it alone." Seeing her patched eye, he still felt a little pity. Even though he hasn't had an easy life up until now, he's always been free in a way.
For a long moment, Erza didn't respond. The fire crackled between them, filling the silence. Finally, she sighed, her posture relaxing just a fraction.
"When I was young, I… wasn't free," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was a prisoner, forced to work under people who didn't see me as anything more than a tool."
Kael didn't interrupt, his expression softening as he listened.
"I had to fight for everything. For food, for rest, for the people I cared about. And even when we escaped, even when I thought I'd finally found freedom…" She trailed off, her hands tightening into fists. "Freedom isn't as simple as running away. It leaves scars. Some you can see. Others…" She touched her chest lightly. "Others stay hidden."
Kael stared into the fire, letting her words sink in. "That sounds… awful," he said quietly. "I can't imagine going through something like that."
"It was," Erza admitted, her tone matter-of-fact. "But it's also why I fight. To make sure no one else has to go through what I did."
Kael looked at her, admiration flickering in his eyes. "You're a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for, you know that?"
She glanced at him, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "I've had no choice but to be strong."
"Well, for what it's worth," Kael said, leaning back with a small grin, "I think you're amazing. Scary, sure. But amazing."
Erza snorted softly, shaking her head. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"You should," Kael said, his tone teasing but sincere.
The two lapsed into silence again, but this time it felt lighter. Erza's gaze lingered on the fire, her thoughts still heavy but no longer unbearable.
"Thank you," she said suddenly, her voice quiet.
Kael blinked, caught off guard. "For what?"
"For… being here. For listening," she said, meeting his eyes. "You didn't have to, but you did."
Kael smiled, shrugging. "Hey, it's what friends do, right?"
Erza looked at him for a long moment, then nodded. "Right."
The fire had burned lower, casting softer shadows on the surrounding trees. Kael lay back with his hands behind his head, staring at the stars through the canopy above. Erza was still sitting across from him, her gaze flickering between the dying embers and the boy who had become her unlikely companion.
"Erza," Kael began, breaking the silence. His tone was thoughtful, almost hesitant.
"Hm?" She glanced at him, curious.
"That old man you mentioned before, uhm... the one who told you to seek out a guild named Fairy Tail. Do you… ever think about actually going there?"
Erza straightened slightly, caught off guard by the question. "I've thought about it," she admitted. "But I don't know if it's the right time. Or if I'm… the right person."
Kael sat up, brushing dirt off his hands. "You're exactly the right person. You fight for others, you don't back down, and, let's be honest, you're terrifying when you need to be. That's gotta count for something."
She raised an eyebrow at him. "Terrifying?"
"In a good way," he clarified quickly, grinning. "But seriously, Fairy Tail sounds like a place where you could… belong. You've been fighting alone for so long. Maybe it's time to let others fight alongside you."
Erza frowned, her gaze dropping to the fire. "And what about you?"
Kael blinked, caught off guard by the question. "What about me?"
"You've been through just as much as I have," she said, her voice soft but firm. "Maybe even more. Why wouldn't you want to go too?"
Kael scratched the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable. "I mean… I've always been more of a lone wolf. Fairy Tail sounds great and all, but I'm not sure it's my kind of place. You, though? You'd fit right in."
Erza's frown deepened, and she stood abruptly, the movement startling Bobo awake. The dodo clucked in confusion before waddling a safe distance away.
"So that's it?" she said, her tone sharper now. "You think I should go alone? Just leave you behind?"
Kael stood as well, raising his hands defensively. "Whoa, hold on. That's not what I..."
"Then what are you saying?" she demanded, her eyes narrowing. "After everything we've been through, after all we've done together, you think it's fine for me to just leave? To move on without you?"
Kael's expression hardened. "Look, it's not like I'm saying we'll never see each other again. But Fairy Tail… that's your path, Erza. Not mine."
"And what's your path, then?" she shot back. "Wandering the forests alone? Chasing dinosaurs? Running from one danger to the next without anyone to watch your back?"
"Better that than dragging you down!" Kael snapped, his voice rising.
Erza flinched, her expression shifting to one of hurt disbelief. "Dragging me down? Is that what you think I've been doing this whole time?"
Kael froze, realizing how his words sounded. "No, that's not what I meant. I just…" He trailed off, running a hand through his hair. "I don't want to be the reason you hold yourself back. You deserve more than that."
Erza's fists clenched, and for a moment, Kael thought she might actually hit him. Instead, she took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm.
"You're wrong," she said quietly, her voice trembling with emotion. "The only thing holding me back is you thinking I can't decide for myself. Fairy Tail isn't just about me. It could be about us."
Kael opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off.
"But if you're so determined to push me away," she said, her tone icy now, "then maybe you're right. Maybe you don't belong there."
The words hit Kael harder than any physical blow, but before he could recover, Erza turned on her heel and stormed off into the trees.
"Erza, wait!" he called after her, but she didn't stop.
Bobo waddled over to him, letting out a mournful cluck. Kael dropped to the ground with a groan, burying his face in his hands.
"Smooth, Kael," he muttered to himself. "Real smooth."
The forest was silent again, but this time, the peace felt heavy, oppressive. Kael stared at the dying fire, the weight of his own words pressing down on him like a mountain.
"It's annoying..." He'll have to talk to her tomorrow, he's almost sure he won't go to Fairy Tail.
There would be too many restrictions on his future dinosaurs and being free is what matters most to him. His goal would be more to find an island and make a big field for his dinosaurs.
Well, the least he could do would be to apologize anyway, right?