Thank you everyone for your support and reviews. I'm utterly sorry for the late updates, I know I always apologize yet keep on extending the update span, I won't be giving any reasons for my late updates anymore now, my apologies will always be there, but mostly I hope to provide you with good story. Thank you again.

Chapter 25

Her already growing indifference…

…against his late realization.

Zeref walked through the forest, his pace becoming faster every minute. It wasn't till he reached their mainland when he realized the odd time of the early morning and hesitated, what should he give as the reason to meet her? They won't let him in just like that..

"Zeref-heika?" he heard Makarov call at him, "Oh. Makarov-san.."

The short old man asked, "Is something the matter?" noticing his bed clothes under the robe.

"No no, everything's fine..I guess Mavis is sleeping.."

Makarov gave a pause, then chose to say, "No. She's awake. Did you want to meet her?"

"Is she busy doing some work? She's up this early, and so are you.."

Makarov replied, "No. I usually wake up for a stroll in the morning. The rest of the day I have to spend hearing the brats making ruckus and what not..Should I call the First Master?"

"No, it's alright. She must be still a bit sleepy, she won't want any interference now. It can wait." Zeref said softly.

"Ah..about that..umm, how should I put it?" Makarov pondered for a while and continued, "First Master doesn't sleep."

"Huh?" Doesn't sleep? What did he mean by that?

"More like she can't sleep, the astral body.."

"Third Master?" Mavis' clear voice halted their talk.

"First Master." Makarov greeted her.

She nodded and turned to Zeref "Heika-sama, what brings you here this early in the morning?" Mavis inquired.

"It's…it's just that Natsu's letter came some minutes ago, I thought you would want to know that they have reached Alvarez safely." Zeref blurted out the first excuse.

"Pardon me, First Master, Zeref-heika; I would like to continue with my morning stroll if it doesn't offend you, I'll take my leave." Makarov said and left them alone, with an air of awkwardness.

Zeref cleared his throat and continued, "They had reached Alvarez in the evening yesterday and Natsu had send the letter as soon as possible, that girl…"

"Lucy." Mavis stated her name.

"..Yes..Lucy, and her friend will be safe over there. Natsu would make sure of that."

"I know. I trust that boy." Mavis' facial features eased into a slight smile.

If Zeref hadn't known Mavis before, he would have been totally suspicious of her smile, that she might be using Natsu's weakness for Lucy against them. But he knew that smile of hers, her eyes would soften with affection and the gentleness in her smile would strike him, no matter how many times he had seen he like this before, he never could get used to it.

Moreover, it was the first. The first time he saw her smiling since he had met her again in Tenrou. He felt an unexpected light pang of irrational jealousy towards his loving little brother. He finally got to see Mavis without her upguarded demeanor; no thanks to himself, but Natsu. Seeing her proved out much harder than he had thought, especially now since there were just the two of them.

"Was there anything else, Heika-sama?" Mavis was getting impatient. It wasn't like Zeref to rush over and stammer over his words. Had something happened at Alvarez which he wasn't telling her?

Zeref looked baffled for some seconds before deciding, and replied, "No. That's all. I'll leave you to have your rest. Apologies to have disturbed you.." and left the place in a fast pace without running. It felt like it had been just yesterday when they had confessed for each other, he had kissed her, heard her laugh, was mesmerized by her eyes and laugh, how he had promised his everlasting love for her, he had been even ready to abandon his own clan for her, she had suggested to live with her at their secret place…How had they ended up like this? So formal and even more so distant. If that day's incident hadn't occurred, would he have been in Natsu's place to suffer the pain of the poison along with the betrayal's or would he have known her name and her confirmed feelings for him? How he hoped for the latter!

"Heika-sama!" Invel's voice was full of concern, "Where did you went off to?"

"Just a morning walk Invel. Nothing happened. I met with Makarov-san and Mav..the queen as well, so I told them the other lot's safe arrival at Alvarez. Are the others awake?"

"Almost all of them, yes."

"Alright then. It's still a bit early. Ask them to take their time to get ready, but within an hour and half. We have a lot to search and investigate. Even more so now since Wendy and Juvia are not here."

""Should I ask for their return here? Afterall Denka and that Heartfilia girl and her companion have reached Alvarez safely."

"Not for the time being, I think we would manage fairly well with Minerva and Silver. If things get out of our control, only then will I consider for Wendy, her power would be more effective."

"Understood Heika-sama."

"I will go wash up now, you too get fresh up Invel. Will meet you all in the hall for breakfast."

"Yes, Heika-sama."

Zeref went back to his room, had his morning chores done and was dressing up when he was reminded of the letter that Natsu had sent him. Gildarts' had been a brief one just to inform him while Natsu's seemed to have much content. He still had time…so he opened it to read.

Yo! Nii-san! Woww…it feels super weird to write you a letter! Is it the first time that I'm writing you one..it is, isn't it?!

Zeref rolled his eyes at the greetings and chuckled. Typical Natsu!

So…we arrived here safely. Everyone seems to be doing very well. They all received Lucy and Levy welcomingly. I had the two joined guest bedrooms arranged for them, the one near to Wendy's chambers for their comfort.

By the way, Gidarts was telling me that you had expected me to sleep in your chambers. As if I can! No apologies, I love my own bedroom, it's much better than yours, I won't get a blink of sleep if I stay in your bedroom! So, I had it locked up and have stationed more guards there.

Due to the hurry to leave Tenrou, I couldn't have a proper talk to you about it nii-san, but I really want you to know…

Zeref already knew what the next sentence was going to be, he carried on to read.

I love her. You were right, and you might have realized this much before I did myself. But I can't be surer about it. And I know that she loves me as well, just needs a bit more of time to open herself up.

I know it wasn't nice of me to do this, but I had Mavis' permission before bringing Lucy to Alvarez. She agreed to it. And, I'm not just talking about this span of time, Mavis agreed to let me have her, I just had to talk to you and Lucy about it. I will tell this to Lucy gradually and let her know, but before that I wanted you to know this. You don't have to worry about me, I'll take care of it.

But, I think it's high time you talk with Mavis, nii-san. I know it wasn't her, she isn't the one. She can't be. She still loves you as well. Though she would be angry with me for telling you this, she has somehow accepted that it had been a big misunderstanding, she doesn't blame you, but she refrained me from saying it to you. She said that your relation had nowhere to continue off.

I don't think so. It's your relation, she doesn't get to decide everything. You have the equal rights and share! Don't hesitate about it nii-san, you might end up regretting. Go, talk to her, tell her your perspective and sort out things.

And…just in case you would use this as an excuse…If you are worried about the throne and our empire, well..you could always declare me the Kōtaishi! And Mavis can hand over her position to someone else as well, and you both can live together somewhere peacefully! Think about it a bit, and if you want I can help with the plan!

Anyways, I will write again when I have a chance to and will keep a track of things in Tenrou from Gildarts. I know it's cheesy..but..well..stay safe nii-san.

(I'm not writing my name, of course it's a letter from me, who else would dare to write to you like this?)

Zeref would have laughed throughout the entire letter, had it not contain such dire matters. He knew that Natsu would start kicking off with his plans regarding Lucy once in Alvarez. What he didn't expect was how much Natsu had conversed with Mavis.

Did she really not blame him anymore? Despite everything? Even after almost losing her life? Was it possible? He was beginning to trust his and Natsu's instincts..it hadn't been Mavis..no way she could have.

But how did she think of him now? It had been entirely his fault for not believing her, not confronting her at that time as Gildarts had told him to. How could she not hate him..no, it wasn't about hatred, because if that were the case he would have wasted not a second to bare his feeling for her and make her fall in love with him all over again. It wasn't even about forgiveness, he would beg her to forgive him for the rest of his lives on his knees if that's what she wanted. It was about trust and her nonchalance. The way it seemed, he feared that she had already given up on their relation, even if she still loved him like Natsu said. How could he gain her trust back, he old self back? If only he had went to her after Natsu's incident..things would have been so different now..

He would never forgive the one behind this. Though he had a vague idea of the ones behind it..

"Heika-sama? Are you done?" Invel knocked at his door.

"Yes Invel, enter."

"Is that denka's letter? Tch, as bad writing as ever that notorious brat!"

Zeref just smiled and continued seriously, "I was thinking to send a letter to Gildarts right now."

Invel was puzzled , "Now? But we haven't gone to see the situation and haven't assessed anything here."

"It's some important matter. I want it to reach to him be tonight. Would it be too much to ask you to send two letters for today? One now and one in the evening?"

"No. Absolutely not Heika-sama."

Zeref sat with paper and ink and started writing, "By the way Invel?"

"Yes Heika-sama?"

"Are you still keeping track of Seilah's whereabouts?"

That's it! My exams are done with, so I can update the fic atleast once a month. No guarantee though. Again my heartfelt apologies to you all and thank you for your seemingly never ending patience. Do let me know if there was any shortcoming with the update.