Because Natsu and Happy suddenly appeared, Elza had to hide her feelings and instantly revert to her proper, serious demeanor.
She looked at Hop and asked, "What's wrong with Loki? You actually sent Natsu's squad to spy on him in secret?"
At this point, Hop saw no need to hide anything from Loki and directly told the two of them and the cat about his earlier findings regarding Loki.
"What! Loki is a star spirit!"
"He's not even human?!"
"Hehe, I'm not human either, you know."
Elza quickly pinned the oddly cheerful Happy down, then asked sternly, "Hop, are you really sure Loki is a star spirit? This isn't something to joke about."
Hop nodded in affirmation.
Natsu asked puzzledly, "A star spirit is a star spirit. Since Loki's our comrade, why did you have me, Lucy, and Happy sneakily follow him?"
Seeing Elza and Happy looking over, Hop said gravely, "I've noticed Loki's inner starlight is fading. If he can't return to the Star Spirit Realm in time… he'll die."
At those words, Elza and Natsu sprang to their feet.
Recalling the few days he'd been covertly watching Loki after Hop's request, Natsu suddenly understood, "I told you I noticed Loki looking downcast lately. Could it be that he can't get back to the Star Spirit Realm?!"
"It's entirely possible," Hop agreed.
Elza didn't reply; instead she yanked Hop out from behind the counter and shouted, "Natsu, Happy, where did Lucy go? Let's chase after Loki!"
...The setting is a picturesque canyon.
On the sheer cliff faces, water rushes over scattered rocks, forming a fine, curtain‑like waterfall, while humid mist hangs in the air.
The platform at the canyon's base is ringed by dense trees; only the area near the waterfall opens up, where a solitary tomb stands quietly.
Loki stood before the tombstone, head bowed, lost in thought.
"Loki!"
A familiar voice called from behind, and Loki instinctively turned. It was Lucy, who had been trailing him, holding the "Southern Cross" key as its light faded.
"Lucy, how did you—"
"I asked Master Klu, and he said that besides your guild comrades, the only person you ever had contact with in this world was a woman named Karen Lilika."
Lucy stared at Loki, then continued helplessly, "Unfortunately, the personal data protection law apparently applies in the Star Spirit Realm too, so Master Klu couldn't give me more details."
"But I once saw the name Karen Lilika in a magazine—she was a star‑spirit mage of the Azure Pegasus, and she died after a Dark Guild ambush during a mission."
"This tomb must be where Karen is buried."
Listening to Lucy's rapid explanation, Loki was a bit surprised, but quickly put on his usual smile and said in his typical tone, "Oh dear, I was just sneaking a visit to an old friend. I didn't expect you, Lucy, to find me."
"If it's okay, I'd like to spend a moment alone with Karen."
Loki's polite request didn't make Lucy step back; instead she took a step forward, eyes firm, "You think you can brush this off? I'm also a star‑spirit mage, bound by contracts with many star spirits."
"These past few days Hop had me, Natsu, and Happy watch you covertly, and I've already uncovered your true identity, Loki."
"No, I should call you… Leo of Leo."
Loki gave a wry smile, "So you really are different from other star‑spirit mages, Lucy. Only someone who respects star spirits could see my true nature."
Hee hee!
At that moment, a loud call rang out from the sky.
With the sound, Hop descended from the heavens carrying Elza, while Happy released Natsu, and the two—boy and cat—plummeted in a successful free fall.
Loki looked at his suddenly appearing companions, gave a wry smile and sighed, "Hop, you really saw through me this time. Geez… looks like I can't hide it any longer."
Hop shrugged. Elza shoved him aside, strode forward, and fixed a sharp gaze on Loki, "What actually happened? Can't you really return to the Star Spirit Realm?"
Under their concerned stares, Loki finally spoke slowly, "Karen… she was my former contractor."
He turned toward the tombstone, his voice low, "She treated star spirits as tools, believing that if a spirit was hurt, simply sending it back to the Star Spirit Realm would heal it, so she felt free to abuse them."
"Karen contracted both me and Aries‑born Alyess. She constantly tormented and humiliated Alyess, to the point where even the president of the Azure Pegasus, Mr. Bobo, had to step in and tell her to treat the star spirits better."
"But that petty, spiteful woman grew more vicious, even trying to force Alyess to stay on Earth for seven days. It wouldn't kill her, but it would subject her to endless suffering."
I couldn't stand it, so I forcibly swapped Alyess, using my own magic to remain in the human world, preventing Karen—who could summon only one star spirit—from calling any others, thereby pressuring her to break the star‑spirit contract.
But Karen was stubborn and greedy; she couldn't part with the two golden star‑spirit keys. Even though she knew she'd be powerless without a spirit to summon, she arrogantly took on the mission.
And then she died.
I'm the one who caused Karen's death...
Loki's voice was soft but heavy with anguish. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms, "Because of my selfishness, Karen lost her protection in battle and was assaulted by a Dark Guild mage…"
The Star Spirit Realm doesn't allow a spirit that has been harmed by its contractor to return, so I'm forced to stay in the human world, watching my starlight fade away until… it disappears completely.
Lucy covered her mouth, eyes wide with shock; she finally grasped the gravity of the situation.
Hop furrowed his brow, "What a joke—contractors can hurt star spirits any way they want, but the spirits aren't allowed to fight back? That's just slave‑like nonsense, what kind of ridiculous rules does the Star Spirit Realm have!"
Natsu slammed his fist into a tree, sparks scattering, "Dammit, just because of that crappy rule we have to watch our comrades vanish right before our eyes?!"
Elza looked at Loki, whose body was becoming translucent, and asked, "Is there any way to slow down your fading?"
Loki smiled and shook his head, "It's useless. I'm already the embodiment of the Leo constellation in the heavens—have you ever seen a star that shines forever at night?"
"To meet a star‑spirit mage like you, Lucy, and have so many caring companions at the end of my life… it's truly wonderful."
Loki looked up, his body turning into specks of light that dissolved into the air.
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