Out of sight, out of mind?

Chapter 11

Detour

After Erza's irruption into Ultear's house, my head started spinning! I became pretty mixed up. One part of me believed that Ultear had been my only ''friend'' and that she wouldn't hide anything important from me and the other part of me was screaming that, maybe, Titania wasn't totally wrong. It took some time, I but finally succeeded to make that voice shut up. Everything went back to normal when Ultear came back from Magnolia.

Once she was back, I told her about my encounters with Titania. Ultear told to me that Titania was only playing with my head and mind as well. According to my Master, she was trying, at my expense, to save her precious little guild and that she would stop at nothing to achieve it. Ultear didn't hide the fact that they had met in Magnolia, but my Master told me that she had introduced herself. They had spoken about me, my capacities and my future. Then, Titania had attacked her. Ultear also told me that I needed to stay far away from her and that they were all troublemakers; Titania's behavior was the proof of that. However, even after my chat with Ultear, that night, when I hit the sack, a little voice kept me awake.

The day after, when we met the High Council's members, she told them that Fairy Tail was indeed respecting the deadline, for now, but that she should be the one continuing to visit them since she had done the first three visits. The High Council promptly accepted her request and I found myself on the bench. At first, I was a pissed, but she assured me that it was for the best. She said, and I quote: ''you can trust me.'' Even if a part of me thought that her words were sincere, it didn't stop a little voice from echoing into my head. That voice was saying: ''Titania is right''… Once again, I succeeded in keeping that little, but tenacious voice down.

When she went back to Magnolia, a month later, I asked her if I could accompagny her. She told me that she would have loved to, but that I had an important case to judge in Onibus in a little more than a week and that I had to prepare myself for it. She also added that she fully trusted me with the case and that I should do the same with her. Before leaving, she even added that, next time, I could go with her, if my schedule was allowing me to. I accompanied her to the train station. Few minutes after she had gone on board, the train started to move away. As I watched it and her leave; the voice emerged again…

During the next week, I tried to concentrate myself on the task at hand and I succeeded, but not without difficulty. That voice was becoming more and more steady and confident...

One week later, Ultear came back. As usual, the next day, she met the High Council, in my presence. Her assessment concerning Fairy Tail was the same; they were respecting the deadline, but, according to her, they still needed surveillance. Immediately after the meeting, I left for Onibus.

Originally, I was supposed to stay in Onibus for a whole week, but, after only 4 days, the case on which I was working on was settled.

While I was waiting for the train that would bring me back to Era, one of the train station employee screamed that the next stop of the train who was about to leave the station was Magnolia. Then, the little voice in my head started to echo, it echoed and echoed... It only stopped once I was on that train.

Next stop Magnolia…

When I arrived to Magnolia's train station, I was afraid not finding the Guild's Headquarters, but I was worried for nothing. Even from afar, I could easily see it. A tall and big building with their emblem on it.

Promptly, I started to walk toward it. I walked with determination, but suddenly stoped in front of the entrance. There, I froze. Maybe, it was a bad idea, after all… I jumped when I felt a cold hand on my shoulder. I immediately turned. I instantly winced when I saw who was facing me.

''You here! I thought that your Master was the one in charge of keeping an eye on us! Are you here to spy on us or, maybe, you're here for something or someone else.'' If, at first, he had spoken dryly, his tone had quickly changed, it had become almost playful. However, I sighed seeing and hearing Gray Fullbuster who was standing in front of me. If he seemed amused by my presence, I wasn't of his, quite the contrary in fact...

''I needed to see what was going on here, with my own eyes.'' I told him, with anger while I was staring at him.

''Does Erza know you're here?'' He asked me, visibly curious.

His tone surprised me; he had spoken to me without an ounce of hostility in his voice, even if my gaze was filled with it. His easiness didn't stop me from answering to his question with contempt.

''No, Titania doesn't know about my presence in Magnolia!'' I hold him with contempt. I wanted him to leave me alone, I didn't want Titania's boyfriend bothering me.

''I'll bring you to the rebuilding area, if you want to. That's probably what you are here to see on with your own eyes.'' said the ice mage, without lowering either his head or his gaze. ''But, I suggest you change your clothes first. You'll be able to have a better look on the real Fairy Tail if you are not dressed as a member of the Council of Magic. I am sure you noticed that we don't really like authority. Follow me!'' He added with an certain firmness as he walked into the guild Hall. Even if my head didn't want to follow him, my legs did and I started to walk.

Inside the guild Hall, Gray brought me to a room where I could change. Once he had left the room, I took off my white and official smock and I put an old pair of jeans and a navy-bleu T-shirt. For now, I was going to wear Jellal's clothes. I felt weird wearing them; It brought me a few years back... No, I had to focuse on the job!

When I exited the room, the ice mage was still there, but his expression had slightly changed, he had a wide smile plastered on his annoying face.

''You can leave your luggage here, you'll come back. And there's a room here for you, if you want to spend the night in Magnolia. Erza's friends are my friends, no our friends.'' he said, friendly.

What was wrong with this guy? I had been dreadful with him and he was acting like a… friend!

''Follow me! l'll lead you to what you are here for.'' He said, before starting to walk.

We walked during around fifteen minutes, but we haven't talked. The only subject we had in common was Erza who we both knew intimately, but I didn't want to talk about her, not with him... I was in Magnolia to prove that Titania was wrong, nothing more…

When we finally arrived at the reconstruction area, I saw a lot of people working together to rebuild their city. What I saw impressed me.

Some people stopped working when they saw us walking toward them. Gray introduced me to some of them: Macao and Wakaba who were installing a window in a souvenir shop. They were helped by a young boy, Macao's son; Romeo. He also introduced me to Jet, Droy, Levy and Gajeel who were repairing the walls of a house right next to the souvenir shop. They were a lot more people working on the same street.

Astonished, I kept looking at them. I didn't know what to say... They seemed to be giving their best for their town. Plus, this town seemed rather nice; no wonder why Erza had found a place here and among them. I could have been happy here too... God, what was happening to me! Becoming smooth and weak all the sudden! It wasn't like me; it wasn't like the new me, in fact... However, I had to admit that Erza had been right on one point!

''I am glad to see that Jellal is still there in you, Master Siegrain.''

I jumped when I heard her playful, but steady voice. I turned to see Titania a few meters behind me. Soon after, I looked at Gray who was smiling broadly to me, to us. I had the feeling that he was behind our reunion, but why? He was her boyfriend, wasn't he? Now, I doubted that he knew about our whole past history together or he wouldn't be so thrilled about what he had just done!

''I will leave you two. You guys have some catching up to do.'' He said, as he put a hand on my shoulder and smiled at me. Promptly, he walked toward Erza. For a slight horrible second, I thought he was goint to kiss her, but he didn't. He simply nodded and whispered something to her, something that I couldn't hear from where I was standing. Then, he walked away, leaving us.

Erza walked toward me and I walked toward her; we met in the middle...