A Dino Tamer In Fairy Tail

Kael led Erza outside the guild hall, his expression serious. The sunset bathed the street in hues of orange and gold, but neither of them seemed to notice the beauty around them.

Kael paused, glancing at the horizon as if searching for answers. Erza stood behind him, arms crossed, her gaze locked on his back. The silence stretched between them, heavy and uncomfortable. Finally, Kael turned, his expression resolute.

"I'm leaving, Erza," he said again, his tone firm but not cold. He had to confront her about this at some point.

Erza's eyes widened slightly before narrowing, her voice sharp. "What do you mean, you're leaving? You just got here."

Kael sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I mean exactly what I said. I came here to make sure you were safe. That was the deal. You're in the guild now. You have people around you who can support you." He gestured toward the guild hall behind her. "You don't need me anymore."

Erza took a step closer, her hands tightening into fists. "Don't need you? Kael, do you even hear yourself? After everything we went through at this forest, after everything we survived… You even saved my life in this beach. You're the only person I trust! The only one who understands!"

Kael's gaze softened, guilt flashing across his face, but he stood firm. "Erza, I understand why you feel that way. But you're stronger than you think. You don't need me to survive, and you don't need me to fit in here. This is a fresh start for you."

"A fresh start without you?" she shot back, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and panic. "We've been through hell together. You've been the only constant in my life since... since them. And now you're just going to walk away!?" Her screams momentarily stunned Kael who didn't think she would be this attached to him.

"It's not like I want to leave!" Kael snapped, his voice rising for the first time. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. "But I have to. This implant on my arm, it's more than just a mark. It's a responsibility. And if I stay here, I'll only put you and everyone else in danger. I can't let that happen." He can't know what would happen in the future regarding his system, he had to become stronger by exploring this world. Staying here will only be restrictive for him. He has nothing against these people, but he had no place here.

Erza's hands dropped to her sides, her expression shifting to one of disbelief. "Danger? You think I care about that? Kael, I've already faced more danger than most people see in a lifetime. Don't use that as an excuse to run away."

"It's not an excuse," Kael said quietly, his gaze dropping to the ground. "It's the truth. I don't know what this implant and the being behind it wants from me, but I do know that staying here won't help me figure it out. Out there, I can get stronger. I can find answers. Here, I'll just…" He trailed off, struggling to find the right words.

"You'll just what?" Erza pressed, stepping closer. "Be part of something? Let people help you for once? That's not weakness, Kael. That's how you grow, I learned it before."

Kael met her gaze, his expression pained. "And what happens when I attract the wrong kind of attention? When someone comes looking for this thing and finds the guild instead? I can't put you in that position. I won't."

Erza stared at him, her chest rising and falling as she tried to process his words. For a moment, her composure cracked, and a flicker of desperation showed in her eyes. "Kael…"

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You've got a place here, Erza. You're already fitting in better than you realize. You've got people who will fight for you, who will care for you. You'll be okay."

Erza shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "You really think it's that simple? That I can just replace you with some guildmates I barely know? You're the closest thing I've had to family, Kael. You leaving feels like losing everything all over again."

Kael flinched at her words, but his resolve didn't waver. "You're not losing me. I'm just… taking a different path. I'll come back when I can. But for now, this is something I have to do alone."

Erza's jaw tightened, and she took a step back, crossing her arms defensively. "Fine," she said, her voice cold but laced with vulnerability. "If that's what you've decided, I won't stop you."

Kael's heart sank at her tone, but he knew he couldn't waver. "Erza, I..."

She cut him off with a faint, bittersweet smile. "Just promise me one thing."

"Anything," Kael said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Don't die out there," she said simply. "And don't forget you have a place to come back to. No matter what happens."

Kael nodded, swallowing hard. "I promise."

Before the conversation could continue, the guild doors burst open, and Gray came sprinting out, his face a mix of panic and exasperation.

"You two!" he panted, pointing frantically back toward the guild. "That crazy chicken of yours is wrecking the place! It's trying to eat the jobs board, and Wakaba's about to lose his mind!"

Kael and Erza exchanged a glance, the tension between them breaking as they both sighed in unison.

"Bobo," they muttered simultaneously, their voices filled with exasperation.

Kael shook his head, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Guess I'm not leaving yet." Bobo came in time, he really is the king he thinks he is. I owe you one, brother.

Erza allowed herself a small, genuine smile. "Let's go save your overgrown dodo before he brings the whole guild down."

With that, the two of them turned and ran back inside, momentarily setting aside their argument to deal with the chaos Bobo had undoubtedly unleashed.

Inside the guild hall, the scene was exactly as chaotic as Gray had described. Tables were overturned, scraps of paper from the jobs board littered the floor, and in the center of it all stood Bobo, Kael's oversized feathered companion. The massive bird was flapping its stubby wings and pecking at the wooden board with alarming determination, seemingly oblivious to the commotion it was causing.

"Bobo!" Kael shouted as they ran in, his voice a mix of authority and exasperation. "What are you doing? Stop that right now!"

The bird froze mid-peck, turning its head toward Kael. It let out a low, indignant squawk, as if to say, What? I wasn't doing anything.

Erza folded her arms, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "He's clearly just expressing his appreciation for the guild's craftsmanship."

"Not helping, Erza," Kael muttered as he approached Bobo cautiously.

Makarov appeared from behind the bar, his face red with frustration. "Kael, if you don't get that oversized chicken under control, I'm going to ban it from the guild permanently!" Even if this bird wasn't one of them, why the hell was he tearing down all the job applications?!

"Chicken!?" Bobo squawked loudly, puffing up its chest as if deeply offended by the insult.

Kael raised his hands in a calming gesture. "Easy, Bobo. He didn't mean it. You're not a chicken, okay? You're a… uh… majestic predator. Yeah, that's right."

Bobo tilted its head, considering the words, before letting out a satisfied trill.

Erza smirked, her earlier anger momentarily forgotten. "Majestic predator, huh? You're really laying it on thick."

"Desperate times," Kael muttered under his breath. He reached out, placing a hand on Bobo's neck to calm it further. "Come on, buddy. Let's get you outside before you destroy something else."

Bobo huffed but allowed Kael to lead it toward the door, its talons clicking against the wooden floor.

As they passed, Wakaba, who was clutching a shredded job flyer, muttered, "That bird's a menace. Please control it..." Imaginary tears could be seen on Makarov's face as he nodded in the background.

Kael shot him an apologetic look. "Sorry about the board. I'll fix it later."

"You'd better," Wakaba grumbled.

Once outside, Kael released a heavy sigh, scratching Bobo's neck affectionately. "You really know how to pick your moments, don't you?"

Bobo let out a soft coo, leaning into Kael's touch.

Erza stepped out behind them, her arms still crossed but her expression softer now. "You know," she said, her voice quieter, "for all the trouble he causes, Bobo's got good timing."

Kael glanced at her, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Yeah, he does."

They stood there for a moment, the tension between them easing as the fading sunlight cast a warm glow over the scene. It had been a long time since Kael had enjoyed a human civilization. Since his reincarnation, he had never really set foot beyond the forest. And now, he found himself here, in front of Fairy Tail with one of the main characters in the future. It was still very disturbing for him, but being used to all the crazy things Bobo had done, nothing could shock him anymore.

Finally, Erza broke the silence. "Kael… I know you think leaving is the right thing to do. But I also know you care. Don't shut us out completely, okay? Whether it's me, Bobo, or even the guild later you have people here who won't give up on you even if you're not part of it"

Kael looked at her, the weight of her words sinking in. "I'll do my best to remember that," he said softly.

Erza nodded, satisfied for now. "Good. Now, let's get back inside before the guild Master bans both of you."

-------

The next few days passed in relative peace, at least, as peaceful as life in Fairy Tail could be. Kael spent the time recovering completely from his injuries, his body regaining its strength quite quickly. During this time, he helped repair the damage Bobo had caused to the job board, though the oversized bird managed to "help" by making a bigger mess. Despite the repairs, Kael spent most of his time distancing himself from the guild members, subtly preparing for his departure.

Kael stood at the edge of Magnolia, the first rays of sunlight creeping over the horizon. The town behind him was quiet, still asleep, but his mind buzzed with thoughts of what lay ahead. His pack was slung over his shoulder, light but enough for the journey. Bobo stood beside him, the oversized bird scratching at the dirt lazily. Seriously, he doesn't know how he survived with that bird all this time.

Kael inhaled deeply, his gaze fixed on the road that disappeared into the forest. His destination wasn't clear yet, only that he needed to grow stronger.

"Planning to sneak off without saying goodbye again?"

Kael froze at the voice, and a faint smirk crossed his lips. He turned to see Erza standing a few feet away, her arms crossed but her expression softer than he expected. She was now wearing an armor compared to her past tunic, her commanding presence was impossible to ignore.

"I figured we'd already said everything that needed saying," Kael said, shrugging slightly.

"Maybe," Erza replied, stepping closer. "But I still wanted to see you off."

Kael nodded, appreciating the gesture. "Thanks, Erza."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched, not awkward but heavy with unspoken words. Finally, Erza reached into her pocket and pulled out a small object, holding it out to him.

It was a simple bracelet, woven from red and black threads. The knots were uneven, the pattern a little rough, but it was unmistakably handmade.

"I, um…" Erza cleared her throat, her face turning a faint shade of pink as she avoided his eyes. "I made this. For you."

Kael blinked, surprised. "You made this?"

"It's not much," she said quickly, still not meeting his gaze. "But it's sturdy. The threads are enchanted to resist wear and tear. It's… practical." Even though she felt ashamed for asking people from the guild, she felt grateful to them for helping her enchant it.

Kael took the bracelet, turning it over in his hands. Despite its imperfections, it was clear she had put effort into it. He slipped it onto his wrist, the material snug but comfortable.

"It's perfect," he said, his voice soft.

Erza glanced up at him, her cheeks still tinged with pink. "You better not lose it."

"I won't," Kael promised, his tone sincere.

She took a step back, crossing her arms again, though the faint blush on her cheeks remained. "Just… don't get yourself killed out there. I don't want to have to come looking for you."

Kael chuckled, shaking his head. "I'll do my best to stay alive. Besides, Bobo wouldn't let me get into too much trouble, right?"

Bobo squawked in agreement, puffing out his chest proudly.

Erza rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "That bird's as much trouble as you are."

"Maybe," Kael admitted, glancing down at Bobo before looking back at her. "Take care of yourself, Erza. And take care of the guild. They'll need you."

Erza's smile faded slightly, replaced by something more serious. She nodded. "I will. Just remember... you have a to come to see me. No matter how long you're gone."

Kael nodded, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than he intended. "I'll remember."

With that, he turned and began walking toward the forest. Bobo followed, his talons clicking softly against the ground. Kael didn't look back, but he could feel Erza's eyes on him until the trees swallowed him whole.

---

The air was cooler under the forest canopy, the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves. Kael adjusted the strap of his pack, his other hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

He glanced down at the bracelet on his wrist, a small smile playing on his lips. Despite the weight of the journey ahead, the thought of Erza sitting down to make it, probably cursing every uneven knot, gave him a strange sense of comfort.

"Alright, Bobo," he muttered, scanning the dense underbrush. "First goal: becoming stronger, find a raptor. And this time, we're taming it."

There were 2 reasons why he wanted to get one. First, to be able to move quickly, it was the only thing he could think of at his level. He couldn't tame any pterodactyls or faster dinosaurs yet. Second, he wanted to satisfy his ego by capturing a creature that almost killed him. Like facing his fears or something. The bite's scar on his arm itched faintly at the memory, a reminder of how close they had both come to death. But this time would be different.

"Let's get to work," Kael said, stepping deeper into the forest, determination burning in his eyes.