Erza looked up at the Catholic church where she had lived before becoming a pirate. It had been a whole year since her last visit and she was eager to see Pastor Makarov again. As expected she found him at the sanctuary organizing his scriptures.
"Hello pastor." She said. "Sorry that I missed your service."
The old man smiled at the sight of the red haired young woman.
"Erza. So good to see you, you look more beautiful each time you visit me."
"Now Makarov you know you're not supposed to lie especially in the house of God." She giggled.
"My dear you know very well that I always speak the truth especially when it comes to you."
The two embraced each other lovingly.
"You keep getting taller." The short old man said. "I remember when you and I were the exact same side. How are the boys?"
"They're doing fine."
"Natsu still picking fights?"
"Of course."
"Gray still Protestant?"
"Yes Makarov."
"Curses!"
"Honestly Makarov what's the deal with Catholics and Protestants? You worship the same God so is there really a difference?"
"It's a matter of principle and tradition dear. But that aside, where is my grandson? Is Laxus here? I've missed him so much."
"I'm sorry Makarov but he didn't come."
"Oh..." He sighed. "So he's still mad at me."
"No. I'm sure that's not it. He just...Had some stuff he had to do."
"I suppose."
Erza hated seeing Makarov look disappointed like that. He was always such a kind, forgiving, self sacrificing, and understandable man who believed that no one was beyond redemption and that every child born on earth was entitled to a loving family and if he found one who didn't have a family then he would either find a family to adopt that child or he would take them in himself.
The first child he ever took into his care was his grandson Laxus. Laxus's father Ivan had abandoned him when he was thirteen and shortly after that his mother died of the plague, with no one else in his family Laxus was placed in his grandfather's care. Makarov adored his grandson and Laxus loved him too but as he grew older their relationship became strained.
You see Laxus had started to idolize his father Ivan, trying to think of ways to impress him which was why he became a pirate in the first place. Because he believed that if he was a pirate just like Ivan then it would win him his father's love. Makarov tried to explain to Laxus the truth about Ivan, that he was a selfish man who had no love to give. Laxus couldn't accept that so now they weren't on speaking terms.
"I'm sure you and Laxus will work this out eventually." Erza told him.
"I pray that we will." He sighed. "But enough of my word, what brings you here?"
"We're just taking a break from work. Resting and refueling."
"I see."
"So have any new comers at the church?"
"Well there was one woman who came to confess a sin. She was very regretful for it."
"What was her confession?"
"Now Erza you know I'm not allowed to tell you that but I will tell you this, when I first saw her come in I thought she was you."
"Really? Why?"
"Well she was a pirate and looked a lot like you except she was much older. Well not as old as me but somewhere in the late thirties, early forties."
"She was a pirate? Huh then I bet she had a lot of things to regret. Murder, theft, dishonesty."
"Actually she said that she had only one regret and it was none of those things."
"Did she tell you her name?"
"No."
"Hmm... Makarov there's something that I'd like to ask you."
"What's that?"
"Well you know about the tales of sirens and merfolk right?"
"Of course."
"Apparently they don't have immortal souls like we do. Why is that?"
"That is because such creatures were not made by God."
"I don't understand."
"As you know it was God who created the humans and he gave each of us an immortal soul but he didn't create the sirens or the merfolk. The sirens, the kracken, the Roc, and many other beasts like that are all creations of that dreaded book E.N.D."
"But I thought that book was sealed away before anything it created could get out."
"A few monstrosities manage to slip through the cracks. They were created by the devil and therefore have no soul but merfolk are a different story. While they were made from the blood of those heathenish sirens, they were also made from the water that God created so they are given a chance to earn an immortal soul. Why the sudden interest in merfolk and sirens?"
"Well I...We...We have befriended a mermaid."
"A what?!" He gasped.
"It's not what you think. She's perfectly harmless and she's very educated and she wants a soul."
"I'm sorry to tell you this Erza but her only chance of earning a soul is to win-"
"The love of a human and become his wife, she said that but isn't their any alternative way?"
"No there isn't."
"But why? Why does she have to win a man's love to get a soul?"
"Because technically she's not even supposed to exist. Any living thing that wasn't created by God is not meant to exist in this world therefore it would be better than when it dies it should be as if it did not exist at all. However if this creation is loved by a child of God, in other words a human being then it is granted the Lord's favor."
(BTW I have no idea if that's true or not.)
"But it isn't fair."
"I know but life isn't always fair." He said. "Now is there anything else you wish to ask me about?"
"Yes, what else can you tell me about the book of E.N.D?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Ummm..." Erza wasn't sure how to answer. She was always a terrible liar and she couldn't bring herself to lie in a church.
"Erza why do you want to know about that book?" He asked again.
"Alright now don't panic but we're...We're looking for the book."
"Are you completely mad?!" He cried out.
"Makarov please don't panic!"
"You can't really mean to go after that devil book are you? What in God's in name could you possibly want from it?"
"It's Natsu's idea but we plan to hold it for ransom."
"So this is all for money? Erza I thought I taught you better."
"It's not out of greed Makarov. I want the money to buy the freedom of those enslaved by the pirates who made four years of my life hell."
Makarov took hold of her hand.
"My dear Erza, you are truly a kind and selfless woman. But do you really feel that you need to do this?"
"Yes Makarov. Long ago I promised God that if I ever escaped that ship I would find some way to free all the other prisoners." When I make a promise I always keep it."
He sighed.
"I know that I can't stop you from doing this but I beg of you, please be careful on that island. Very few have gone there and returned."
"I will. Don't worry Makarov, this won't be the last time you see me."
"I pray from the bottom of my heart that what you say is true because I love you as I love my own grandson and if you were to die before me it would break my heart."
"I understand."
She gave him another hug and bid farewell to the kind pastor who had raised her from the time she was ten years old. Then she went back to the ship, wondering what Natsu and the others were up to.
