"Thank you for saving them," Meredy stood in front of the peculiar woman.
The woman had arrived just after Master Yajima and Lahar's arguments had died down. The Magic Council was about give their verdict. Even with the help of Master Yajima, they could see that it is still not enough to convince the council.
It is not easy to convince Gran Doma to release the two. Everyone in the court who were audiences—members of Fairy Tail, all wanted wipe the stupid wide smirk plastered on Lahar's face.
All the members of the Magic Council all shared a look. They looked at each other before Gran Doma nodded. The leader of the Magic Council cleared his throat and stood up.
"As by decision of the Magic Council, these two criminals known as Jellal Fernandez and Ultear Milkovich are both s—"
However, he was cut off by the sound of the large doors of the court room bursting opened. It was easy to tell that magic had opened the door. The door and the hall still shook from the magic.
Everyone turned to look at who caused the racket. Completely naïve Rune Knights stationed around the court hall and outside immediately surrounded the cloaked figure standing at the middle of the hallway. Her deep blue cloak and hood obscured anything that can identify her. All except for the white heeled boots that made a clanking sound as she walked in the room.
"Move," she said sharply to the couple of Rune Knights standing directly in front of her.
"This is a close trial." The brave one said. "No outsider allowed."
She laughed. Not an evil or cruel laugh that most had been expecting. Her laughter was clearly filled with amusement.
Her hands slipped out of the opening of her cloak. The Rune Knights' metallic and electric rods ready to strike her if she makes a wrong move. However, what she merely did was pull back her hood.
"You are quite brave fellow," she said. "However, I am not outsider."
"M-m-ma-ster K-ka-rina," the knights stuttered out.
She nodded at him before slipping passed the knights. She made her way to the front of the court. The door behind her closing on its own accord.
"Karina," Master Yajima said smiling at the gray-haired woman who smiled in return.
"Master Yajima," she bowed down before his imposing figure before she stood in front between Jellal and Ultear.
The members of the Magic Council are still gaping at her as well as Lahar. His eyes had seemed to have popped out of their sockets.
"Good to see that trials can be held even with an incomplete council, Gran Doma," she commented. Her voice was youthful, smooth as velvet but it was also regal and calm.
It was the first that people notice that, yes, the Magic Council was incomplete. One place was empty. And it was also place of where the second-in-command would stay.
It was a wonder why nobody had noticed it before. It was probably because Gran Doma steals all the attention.
"I'm sure our admirable captain has something to do with it?" She turned her head to the gaping captain standing just below the Magic Council's platform.
"W-w-what?" Lahar stuttered out when the youthful woman turned to give him a glare.
Karina just gave him a look before she turned back to Gran Doma. "May I take the floor?"
"Yes, you may." He nodded seating back down.
She turned to survey the two people she was standing between.
"Psst," Natsu whispered to Lucy. "Who is she?"
It was the question that had been plaguing the minds of the members of Fairy Tail.
"You know her Yajima?" Makarov asked the man.
He nodded. "Yes."
"Who is she Master Yajima?" Erza, who heard his answer, asked.
"She is Karina," Yajima replied calmly. His eyes never leaving the young woman circling the two standing in front. "The last member of the Magic Council. She is the most secretive of them all. That is why less knew of her."
"My first order of business would be this question. Why are they whipped and beaten?" Her voice stole the attention of everyone in the room before anyone from Fairy Tail could ask the Master any more question.
Karina looked at Lahar. She knew this was his jobs. His hands are all over this. No use hiding.
"As far as I have recalled, there is no law that states for the approval of jail punishment in the constitution ESPECIALLY for people candidates of the death penalty, Lahar. Or am I mistaken?" She asked.
With both hands in front of her she moved it as if she was opening a big heavy book. Magically once she had opened it, a book appeared floating in front of her.
Levy gasped at the beautiful display of sorcery.
"There is no saying that beatings, lashing, pummelings or ANY kind of physical abuse are permitted to any of the prisoners unless trials stated otherwise." She said skimming through the leather bound book that had appeared in front of her. She closed off the book. As thud of the pages hitting each other, the book vanished returning to what ever it had came from.
"So tell me Captain," she started. "Where did you get the jurisdiction for this act?" She gestured to the bloodied and tired form of the two.
"Gran Doma, granted me permission," Lahar said confidently. He was smirking but it was an act. He was nervous. It could easily be known especially with how his voice wavered in the end.
"I see," Karina said. "On what grounds are these two punished for? As far I have known there hasn't been any known verdict. This is the first trial."
"They are guilty of several charges." Gran Doma said.
"However, without a proper trial those punishment for those charges can wait, Gran Doma," she argued. She held her hand in front of her and a bunch of papers appeared right on her outstretched hand.
"Here is evidence that these two are merely victims to a self-righteous plan of harvesting powers from the long dead powerful mage, Zeref." Karina waved her hand on the floating paper and they flew to the direction of the member of the Magic Council. "Zeref is not the culprit of the heinous acts that had been committed to our fine country many years ago. As Master Yajima said earlier, Jellal Fernandez has been possessed by someone by that posse as 'Zeref' the evil mage, when in fact that posse is Ultear Milkovich, former member of Grimoire Hearts."
The members of the Magic Council all had confused looks on their faces.
"Where are you going with this, Karina?" one of the members of the council asked. He was looking at Karina with a stoic expression on his face. However, confusion was clear in his eyes.
The new Magic Council is quite different from the old Magic Council. After the battle with the dragons, the old Magic Council was changed by some new ones. The new council are different from the old one. The would one wouldn't reconsider like what the new member would. They wouldn't have listen to Karina's explanation but the new one did.
"I am here to plea that the two candidates for the death sentences are not guilty of said charges." Karina declared.
"Jellal Fernandez we can understand." The man said. "How about Ultear Milkovich, why is she not guilty?"
"Grimoire Hearts," she said in a way of explanation.
"Yes?" another member of the Magic Council. Her eyes were flickering unto Karina and the two prisoners.
"Grimoire Hearts is a dark guild," Lahar said in outraged. He could see that he is going to be beaten by the upstart woman. Most of the members of the magic council were reconsidering.
"Yes," Karina replied. "However, most of its members are not always dark wizards. Grimoire Hearts is led by Hades. Thorough research showed that Hades is part of the Mortial Circle. It is group of different master of dark guilds whose sole purpose is not reviving Zeref by channeling his powers so that they could steal it. In fact, Hades is the leader. He is notorious to everyone who doesn't follow to his plans. And I assure you that Ultear Milkovich is victims of these acts."
"How can you be so sure?" another member of the council asked her.
"Would she be so willing to disband dark guilds now, if that isn't the case?" she asked rhetorically.
"We see your point, Karina," Gran Doma said. "Now, we must deliberate."
"Karina."
The woman nodded and followed as the flashed out of the room.
The hall was silent with the Magic Council gone for deliberation. They watched Lahar turning red still standing where he was.
"What kind of magic does she practice?" Levy asked out loud, still in awe with the display of magic the woman, Karina, had shown.
"Conjuring Magic?" Meredy answered Levy unsurely.
"Yes," Master Yajima said. "Amongst other things. She is just like Jellal. I remember when I thought him. Versatile and ambitious. Cunning and honest. Just and wise. All good traits for a member of the Magic Council."
"She did well. The council deliberating increases the chances of Jellal and Ultear's freedom," Master Makarov said.
"She did." Master Yajima said. "That is while I called her back from her travels. She is the tipping point of this whole trial. The wild card."
"What?" Master Makarov asked.
But his question soon fell in deaf ears as the members of the Magic Council had returned. Karina now sat on the empty seat beside Gran Doma.
Her face was cool, expressionless, and blank.
Gran Doma cleared his throat and stood up from his seat.
"With much deliberation, the Magic Council has decided that these two persons, Jellal Fernandez and Ultear Milkovich, charged with numerous charges are hereby declared as NOT GUILTY."
Gasps of surprise and sighed of reliefs filled the whole hall.
"However they will be monitored by a member of the council. Karina has generously volunteered to be the council member to be monitoring you with the probationary period of one year for a good deed. And they will need to join a guild."
"Fairy Tail would like to accept them as members of the guild," Master Makarov said he stood in the aisle before anyone could get a word out.
Gran Doma nodded and continued. "They should always be supervised by an S-class member of said guild especially during jobs.
"Yes," Makarov nodded.
"Then, it is done," Gran Doma nodded. "Lahar released the prisoners."
"But," Lahar was about to protest but the look the leader of the Magic Council was giving him shut him up.
"Yes, Gran Doma," Lahar nodded.
"This trial is dismissed," Gran Doma declared before flashing out of the room along with most of the members. Lahar left soon after grumbling in his breath. Rune Knights were following right behind him.
Soon the only ones left is Fairy Tail, Master Yajima and Karina who had gotten down the platform and was standing by the door she had opened earlier
The members of Fairy Tail whooped in joy. Erza was the first person out of her seat followed closely behind by Meredy who hugged Jellal and Ultear. They were celebrating except for the two, just released, who are still in shocked. They didn't seem want to leave. But that can't be the case for the court room will soon close because the trial is finished.
"I'm pretty sure celebrations are going to much more appreciated if they are held on your own guild hall," her voice pierced through the room stopping anyone from doing anything. She gained their attention and everyone morphed back to their best behavior.
Karina gestured for them to leave the court hall.
They filed out of the room quietly. Once everyone stood outside of the court hall, the door closed behind Karina who was the last.
"I shall be visiting Fairy Tail in a months' time for the report. I shall see you then," she said to Jellal and Ultear and to Makarov who was standing beside each other.
"I assume you know the exit." Karina said coolly. "Good day."
She turned to leave but Master Yajima stop her short. Standing right beside her, he complimented her. "You did well, Karina."
"Thank you for doing what you did." Jellal stood beside him. His bloodied and torn clothes still not replace as well as Ultear's.
"Yes," Ultear nodded. Gratitude rang through the voice. "We don't know how to repay you."
"I was only doing my job." Her lips twitched a bit. "However, now that you are free, we can't have you wondering the streets in torn clothes. Both of you."
A magic circle appeared below Jellal and Ultear as their clothes changed
"Somnen"
"Thank you." Ultear said.
Their dirty, bloodied and torn clothes were replaced with new ones. Ultear wore a white long-sleeved leather dress the reach to the middle of her thighs, a pair of black stockings and white boots. While Jellal wore pair of black pants, dark button down shirt, a long black coat with gold trimming and a pair black shoes. To complete both of their looks, they both have cloaks with a hood, similar to what Karina was wearing but instead of silver, gold and black edging, theirs was only gold. It was similar to their old hood.
She nodded in recognition before the sound of something cracking was heard.
Natsu Dragneel and Gray Fullbuster were the cause. Natsu was about to challenge Jellal to a fight when Gray told him not to. A cracked pillar is the result.
"NATSU!" Erza bellowed while bonking the two over the head.
"I guess," Karina's face remained stoic. "That is another pile on my desk about Fairy Tail inability to leave places unscathed. I must go. Good day."
"I shall see you later, Master Yajima." She bowed infront of the man before walking down the hall.
"Wait," Meredy exclaimed when she noticed that the councilwoman was already away. She had finally figured who she is and why she is familiar.
"Thank you for saving them," Meredy said .
"Only doing my job," Karina said. "Now, I must go. Paperwork don't do themselves."
"It was you too, wasn't it? On the forest near Crocus," Meredy continued.
Karina merely gave a confused look. "I don't know what you talking about."
She was aware of the people looking at them. Jellal, Ultear, Makarov, Erza, Mirajane and Laxus, confusion was on their faces.
"We haven't thank you for that so thank you."
The small twitched on her lips was the answer Karina was willing to give and is the only answer Meredy received before Karina turned her back towards them and continued walking down the hall to her office.