Chapter 3. Tears of grief

In the next three days Makarov didn't depart from his room. He was so despaired that everyone feared about his right mind. He didn't want to speak with anybody.

Despite her hate to the humans, Porlyusica stayed in the guild three days. All the time she was around Makarov.

"You old fool!" she said to him. "Why do you torture yourself? It is absolutely meaningless… You know that I'm right!"

The old man didn't answer. His heart was broken. Never in his life had he felt himself so despaired. A persistent memory tortured him… a memory from the happy days that now seemed so far away as if they had never been.

Flash-back

"Gramps!" The four-years-old Laxus threw himself into Makarov's arms. The old man smiled with joy.

"Dear-loved child! Is it just my imagination or you indeed grow up so quickly? I hope to see you a man one day." Makarov fondled his grandson's golden hair.

The guild master raised his head and noticed tears in his son's eyes. "What is wrong, Ivan?" he asked.

"It's nothing…Don't pay attention to me. I was just thinking about the child," Ivan Dreyar said under his breath as if he was speaking to himself.

"But why do you cry about Laxus?" wondered Makarov.

"I'm his father. When you blessed him to grow up, my heart just melted with pity… I don't know why…" He remained silent for a second, and then continued: "May your words come true! I hope to see him not only a man but also a powerful mage…"

"A powerful mage, you say? It doesn't matter. With or without power, it's all one to me. The most important thing for him is to be alive and well, don't you think?"

"Yes…Yes, of course," Ivan nodded.

End of flash-back

"I was so happy then… Alas, how could I have thought then that I would live long enough to see Laxus dead? I promised to watch over him… and I broke my promise!" Makarov thought. "But what could I do? How could I rebel against the Council?"

Evergreen was not much better than the guild master. The girl had regularly fits of nerves and nobody was able to console her. She wept her eyes out. The non-ending tears caused a loss of her eyes' magical power. Now her glance couldn't petrify even a fly and she didn't need her glasses.

"I warn you, if you don't stop crying, your magic ability will be lost forever," Porlyusica said to her. "Do you hear me, girl? Do you understand what I'm saying? You harm yourself! So stop weeping until it isn't too late! Your tears are meaningless!"

Evergreen didn't pay attention to her warnings. One and only thought had embedded in her mind and gave her no peace… "Laxus is dead! I will never see him again!"

Fried had become even more silent (if it was possible at all). He hadn't shed a single tear (at last in front of the other guild members) but it seemed that his spirit was completely broken. Nobody had heard a word from him since the Council's messenger had come.

As for Bixlow, nobody knew where he was. He had said that he needed to be alone and had left the guild.

As it was to be expected, the entire guild was in mourning. Everyone was in shock. Even Levy (who otherwise was afraid of Laxus) cried about his death.

Natsu's anger took an upper hand three times a day and he wanted to go and destroy the entire Magic Council. He was really out of self-control at these moments and even Happy and Lucy, his closest friends, were afraid of him. Erza and Gray had to stop him by force.

"They will see… each and every one of them!" Natsu cried out.

"You hot head! Just once think before act! If you do such a thing, the situation will get even worse! It will be the end of our guild! Don't you understand this?" asked the ice mage.

"Think that I'm in the same situation, Natsu!" said Erza. "You know that my childhood friend Jellal Fernandes was arrested by the Council. Now he is in the prison. And I may receive an official announcement about his death tomorrow! How do you think I feel? I can't bear even thinking about it! But I can do nothing! None of us can rebel against the Magic Council!"

Lyon and Sherry felt themselves extremely uncomfortable. Everyone was amiable to them but they couldn't stand the tense atmosphere. On the third day they decided to return to Lamia Scale.

Porlyusica left the guild at the same time.

"Be careful with Makarov," she said before leaving. "He is still not well and needs some more time to get over this sorrow. If you do care about him, don't trouble him about anything!"

-ooo-

Meanwhile in a far off place…

The supposed messenger of the Magic Council met his master. (1)

"You are already here! Very well. So, what news do you have for me? Was your job successful?" asked Ivan Dreyar.

The red-haired man smiled. "It was more than successful, master Ivan."

"I'm glad to hear this. Now explain me more precise."

"The entire Fairy Tail guild believed that I'm a messenger of the Magic Council. Now these fools are convinced that Laxus is dead. Oh, you should see their expressions, master! It was obviously that they trusted every word I said!"

"And what about the real letter from the Council?"

"Don't worry about that, master. They won't receive it. There will be some time before they reveal the deception..."

A satisfied smile formed on Ivan's lips. "Excellent. Everything is just as I planned. You have done well. I wonder how my father will stand this… I know that Laxus-chan is dearer to him than the air he breathes!"

He turned to face the other man standing next to him.

"What do you think about this little joke, Gajeel-chan?" asked Ivan. "Fairy Tail members don't know that Laxus-chan had been set free by the Council! They believe that he is dead. Isn't that perfect? I want you to go back now and see what happens at the Fairy Tail guild!"

"Of course, master Ivan. As you say," nodded the Iron Dragon Slayer obediently. In fact, his thoughts were far away from what he said.

"I must tell master Makarov the truth as soon as possible!" Gajeel said to himself.

-ooo-

(1) I decided to make the fake messenger of the Council a member of the Raven Tail guild. I couldn't think of a name for him (I apologize for this!).

Please forgive me if this chapter is too depressing…

Laxus will appear in the next chapter!

Review please, please, please!