Façade
Chapter 8: Hisui E. Fiore
The mages were on edge at the silence. Still, Makarov remained calm and collected. "Who took on the job?"
Laxus grinned, having all the answers to his questions. "I know, a little blue cat came up here trying to act all sneaky."
"He must have stolen it for Natsu and Lucy," Wakaba predicted, which was obvious since Happy, Lucy, and Natsu were all missing.
Mirajane gasped, "It was Happy? If you knew he'd taken the request then why didn't you stop him?" she demanded an answer as she paced up the stairs towards Laxus, who kicked back in his seat, showing no interest in the conversation.
"I had no idea it was Happy, I didn't know he'd be the one break the guild rules." He opened one eye and smugly grinned. Mirajane glared at him, enraged. "You haven't given me that look in a while."
"Well, which job was it?" Makarov's voice came from below as Mirajane never broke eye contact with Laxus.
"Lifting the curse on Galuna island." She whispered, as if mentioning the mission was a taboo.
Murmurs and gasps filled the guildhall, spreading news to everyone who had paid no mind to it. Makarov pinched the bridge of his nose at the idea of novice mages taking an S-Class quest.
"Hey Gramps, doesn't stuff like that get people kicked out of the guild? Not that it matters, it's not like those three losers will make it back alive, anyway."
"Laxus, fetch them at once!" ordered Makarov.
"I got better things to do, gramps. Where's the stuck-up Wizard Saint?"
"He's on a job! They're going to die if they don't return! You're the only one capable of bringing them back by force right now!"
Laxus' eyes manifested sadness. He wouldn't tell Jellal to do dirty work like fetching Natsu. This led to the logical conclusion, Jellal was of higher status than Laxus. Not only in the public, but Makarov had loved Jellal more than him. He chose Jellal over his own grandson. And that is what made Laxus so upset. Yet he replaced his sentiments with hostility. Hatred for someone who he thought should've never joined the guild.
Gray stood up, opposing Makarov's opinion, "Sorry Master, but I'm going to have to disagree with you."
A welcoming scent permeated the air as three mages proceeded to the castle far off in Crocus. They had all been wearing normal attire except for Jellal; who had switched from a black frock coat to a white one. The invitation mentioned vague details as Jellal recalled the purpose of being summoned in Crocus by the king himself. The aroma of jasmines filled the garden, one of the many scents Erza came to love. Jellal was looking for the petaled flower, with the darkest shade of red—no, not red. Scarlet. Their trip to Crocus was tranquil, but too quiet, for Erza at least. Jellal had not spoken a word since they arrived at Crocus. Simon didn't make the trip any easier, turning red every time he made eye-contact with Erza.
She wanted to take a tour of Crocus before arriving straight to the castle. But it seemed time was of the essence. "What a wonderful place to take a vacation."
Simon nodded, "I agree, there's so many attractions here. They have an amusement park as well as a water park."
Erza's eyes immediately sparkled at the idea, "We should take the entire guild there! It'll be a perfect opportunity to take a break from going on jobs."
Jellal disagreed with her optimistic view. "That'd be nothing short of catastrophic."
"That's true," the two mages nodded.
"But there is a coffee shop nearby, if you'd like the strawberry cake."
"That sounds tempting," stated Erza dreamily. "I think I'll take you up to that offer after we meet with the king."
Jellal took that as a challenge.
Meanwhile, the conversation in the castle—Mercurius—was louder than it should've been.
"Hisui E. Fiore, you must display the best manners in front of the Fairy Tail mages." Toma said in a fatherly tone.
To be quite honest, Hisui looked forward to the brunch because Erza was invited. Had it not been for her, she wouldn't attend it. For a twelve-year-old, she was oddly childlike, and Erza was to blame for that. Toma wasn't a fan of the mage, and would not have invited her had it not been for her daughter's tantrums.
"Father, you said I could spend my entire day with Erza. Are you taking back the words of a king?"
"No my dear Hisui, I implore you to speak with our guests. However, I'm sure you'll find the Wizard Saint more intriguing than Miss Scarlet." He chuckled, wondering what made her love Erza so much.
Hisui closed her eyes for a moment. She was not interested in speaking to the Wizard Saint. Even though she was a princess, the discussion would prove awkward with someone so knowledgeable about the world. She thought of Erza as her equal, and that is why she grew so fond of the talented mage. With the knight—Arcadios—behind the king and princess, he followed them quietly to the garden.
A large gazebo stood proudly in the middle of the private garden residing around the castle. There had been food prepared, suitable for a light lunch followed by afternoon tea. Just as it was in the folktales. The enormous round table occupying the area stunned Erza. with spots for five people. She sighed in relief. This event was not a king's feast like she imagined. If it was, what would happen to the leftovers? One thing Erza valued was food, as it was once a luxury in the Tower of Heaven.
If Jellal felt taken aback by the arrangements, he did not show a hint of surprise. Contradictory to what Erza thought, he knew this was typical. Such as the life of a council member and a Wizard Saint.
"I humbly welcome you to Crocus, it's an honour that you have accepted my invitation." Toma courteously greeted from his tiny stature. Though a short man, he spoke in a kingly voice—loud and capturing.
This meeting was not rehearsed. What was she supposed to say? What was Jellal going to do? Erza was afraid she might slip a word—or literally slip, for the record.
"No, the honour is ours. To meet Toma E. Fiore and his daughter, Princess Hisui. Many people do not have this opportunity. Thank you for having us here," replied Jellal graciously. Erza became perturbed. To think he had the elegance and manners she could never have. People could say he was of royal blood. Thinking about it, his life before the Tower of Heaven had always been a mystery, but it's not like Erza knew her parents any better.
"I see you have brought the other acquaintance I was expecting, pleased to meet you young man," Toma's politeness astonished Simon, who took him for a tyrant-like ruler. "What is your name?"
"Simon. Simon Mikazuchi."
"That's a fine name," acknowledged the king.
Both members of the royal family took a seat. Hisui was seated one chair away from her father, meaning someone would sit between them.
"Jellal, have a seat beside me." Toma rapped his knuckles against the top rail of the chair.
Jellal had quietly acquiesced, now seated between them.
However, Hisui was engrossed by Erza, and ushered her to the other chair. Simon followed beside Erza; showing significant interest in sitting beside her.
Hisui smiled, "I heard you enjoy strawberry cake, so I specifically made a cake for you. A cake fit for Titania."
Erza went pink at the praise received from Hisui. It reminded her of Lucy, who wrote a letter to her mother and mentioned how amazing Erza was, complimenting her endlessly. "That's very kind of you." She didn't expect the princess to be infatuated with her.
Hisui giggled, "You needn't be so polite, Erza. I hope we can become friends, and that one day you'll teach me how to wield a sword with your proficiency."
At this, Toma was distressed. He had been worrying about Hisui's obsession with Erza.
As if Erza suddenly remembered something, she held out her armoured hand and summoned a golden sword, with a cerulean bow decorating the treasury. It was painted in blue and silver with unique patterns. The sword included a scabbard by the name of Avalon, but that was a gift for another day.
While admiring the cerulean on the bow, Erza briefly made eye contact with Jellal. After all, he had been the one to help pick out the item when they went shopping for gifts the night before.
Hisui stared at Jellal, noticing his countenance full of content.
Erza held the gift out to Hisui, "For you."
Hisui felt blessed when she received a gift she'd been begging for. She was always told that swords weren't for pretty girls. Nevermind that, Erza was beyond beautiful, and she wielded a sword flawlessly. She wanted a friend like Erza, a companion who would always be there with her. She gave a smug grin to her father, watching as his jaw dropped, and his eyes widened.
"What is the name of this blade?" asked the adolescent.
At this, Erza smiled. "Excalibur, it was given to King Arthur by the Lady of the Lake."
"Did King Arthur pass this down to you?"
This was a prototype, generated by Erza herself. She'd gotten the blacksmith who created her armour and weaponry to make the sword. Erza had practically used up all her jewels from her previous mission to give her a sword. At first, she found it improper to give a little girl a weapon. But after much consultation from Jellal and Simon, they both agreed that it seemed fit. "The finest gifts are usually handcrafted."
Hisui continued staring at it in awe. "Wow, so you made this?"
Erza slightly nodded, with the same smile plastered on her face.
"I'm certain if you were King Arthur, the Lady of the Lake would give this to you. You would make a fine king."
"Would I?"
"Yes, of course you would!"
Jellal wasn't surprised, Hisui wasn't the first person to refer to Erza as a king or knight. He watched as the caterers served the food, much to Erza's delight.
"I got my strawberry cake much earlier than I expected," mumbled Erza, immediately taking a bite into it. "Fresh strawberries with delicious whipped cream and fondant layered all over the cake. The inside is spongy and moist, just like any delicious cake." She took another bite into it, feeling the dish melt in her mouth as she held her fork there. She took a moment to close her eyes and drown in the deliciousness. "Yummy!"
The king raised an eyebrow, "Do you make a lot of cake, Miss Scarlet?"
"I don't usually bake, I just buy cakes from all across Fiore and critique them. And I must say, these are as great as the man who owns the small bakery in Magnolia."
"Glad you like it," he bitterly replied. The number one rule of speaking to royalty was to not compare their items to the outside world, because they were supposed to be convinced that they had the finest of things. "How is the food, Jellal?"
"It's delicious, thank you for the meal." He complimented. Despite the simplicity in his answer, the king's smile widened.
Any compliment from Jellal flattered the king. After all, he had to make a good impression to the Magic Council. Toma was surprised at how much his daughter knew about Erza. She was silent, and life in the royal family was demanding, which meant he had spent little time with her. By now, everyone expected Hisui to get used to the loneliness. She had nobody to talk to, as her mother passed away years ago. Everyone who met her expressed their condolences, but she knew it was all a front. A façade to show their loyalty towards the king, but all those people were traitors. Every single one of them. Her father was to blame for trusting them so easily.
That was the sole reason why Hisui didn't like Jellal. Her father trusted him too easily, and he seemed like the type who established relationships for his own benefit. Arcadios was awfully loyal to her, but she thought he was too old to be her friend. The most they've interacted was when he taught her how to dance for her fifth birthday. The maids gossiped a lot and halted their conversations whenever she passed by them. They were most likely talking about her, if Hisui had to guess.
So she decided Erza would be her first friend. A girl who did whatever she wanted without caring about what others thought about her every movement. Nicknamed Titania, which meant Queen of the Fairies.
In her eyes, Erza deserved so much more than this world.
Erza and Simon indulged in their own conversation, while Toma beat around the bush to start business with Jellal. Hisui sometimes wished she was older, so she could have the conversations a twelve-year-old was not supposed to listen to.
She listened in on Erza and commented as frequently as she could, growing tired of Jellal and Toma's lengthy conversation. Everyone ended up unintentionally eavesdropping on the councillor and king. Erza watched with keen interest, while Hisui studied her face. Most of it was surprise, because Jellal knew so much about Fiore, despite the two of them being the same age.
"Has there been any resistance in Worth Woodsea?" asked Toma professionally. Hisui knew Jellal's answer after overhearing Arcadios gather all soldiers and explain the situation of dark guilds.
Jellal clasped his hands together. "Resistance is not the right word to describe them. Those mages are downright evil. They've been capturing young mages and have been using them for experiments."
The king sighed, condemning the dark guilds for their actions. "When will these missions become available to the guilds? The Wizard Saints are too busy."
"You know how Crawford feels about that. He thinks the guilds will be bribed into giving information to them. Though, that shouldn't be an issue, seeing that they don't hold any confidential information about the Magic Council."
Erza pursed her lips together. "If I may, Your Highness."
"Please, go on." Urged Toma, feeling stressed about the topic on dark guilds. His ability to restrain them was beyond his capability, despite having a loyal army of soldiers at his disposal.
"I think a better idea would be to open up these missions as job requests to all the guilds."
"Oh?" Jellal took great interest in her suggestion. Even if she wasn't a councillor, Erza was very strategic in matters of the battlefield.
She nodded, "It would be wise to have call an alliance for these missions. You can do this by sending a team of wizards from each guild to a certain location. There, they will meet an escort who can fill in the details about the so-called job. The dark guilds know that the council gives these missions to Wizard Saints and council members. It'll be a surprise attack if we plan this accordingly."
Toma's face lit up at the ingenious idea. "That's perfect!"
Jellal shot a quizzical look at the king. "But what if they get intel from within the guild leagues? We need to make sure we limit escorts for these missions."
Simon gave it a thought before the most obvious decision came to mind. "Wouldn't it be one of the Ten Wizard Saints? You said it yourself, Jellal. Wizard Saints practically know every dark guild on the map."
"Which is exactly why they are key players in these missions. Basically, should any dark guild find out about these alliances, they will expect a coded message or a seal to act as a rendezvous point. They won't realize that a person is the meeting point themselves. We can use tracking lacrimas if the location needs to be compromised."
Jellal knew the scheme was very similar to the three seals for Face, but risked sharing the idea for the sake of defeating the dark guilds.
Toma nodded in agreement before voicing his thoughts. "That's nice and all, but would this even work? This is a system of some sort, and the guilds require these communication lacrimas. There'll be a lot of expenses involved at the cost of taking the villains down."
Jellal smiled knowingly at Simon, who caught on to the purpose of Jellal's trip. He flickered his eyes at Toma, who raised an eyebrow in response. "We need funds for this, and the Magic Council isn't getting any richer."
"Are you asking me for the money?"
"It's a small price to pay when you think about it. This will prevent countless crimes if we put the money into good use."
The king snorted. "Jellal, the last time I deposited money to the Magic Council, they used it to book a hall for their annual party."
Jellal knew very well how irresponsibly the money was spent. If he had to guess, that was the work of Crawford. "Rest assured, you can give me the money personally. The chairman hasn't been in his right state of mind recently."
"Really?"
Erza recalled Jellal's thoughts about Chairman Crawford a couple of nights ago when he suspected him to be acting behind the council's back. "He's been rather suspicious, with all the recent events. For instance, you said that he spent the expenditures for Clover Meeting Hall on the upcoming ball—which isn't for another month. He's most likely invited suitors and clients of his own—though—I never recalled the Magic Council having suitors for artifacts in the council archives. If my memory serves me right, things like that are illegal, no?"
She knew this was Jellal's way of slowly revealing things behind Crawford's back. He would soon be voted out of the Magic Council. It was only a matter of when. Would he have sufficient information by then for whatever organization he worked for?
Toma nodded his head in agreement. "I see. It's true, he shouldn't be on the Magic Council if he's doing something like that. Very well then, if you want him evicted from his position, how soon do you want him gone?"
Jellal didn't hesitate in his answer, "As soon as possible."
Erza and Simon stared at him in bewilderment. "Jellal, what if Crawford finds out that you're turning against him?"
Arcadios cleared his throat, "How do we know you're telling the truth? The obvious case here is that you're trying to get rid of the current chairman to claim the position for yourself."
Toma didn't want to believe such a bold accusation. Erza slammed her hand on the table and glared at the bodyguard. "Jellal would never do that!"
The Wizard Saint's smile didn't falter as he looked up at the S-Class mage delightfully. "It's alright, Erza. I believe this conversation isn't fit at the moment, seeing that we have a child in our midst."
Hisui frowned, "As your future queen, I should be part of this conversation."
Jellal got up from his seat. "I think not, you'd be better off oblivious to these political affairs." A pause. "I must admit, that journey did a number on me."
The flustered king rose from his seat and whispered a few things to Arcadios before turning to the three guests. "It is getting late, we should give you a tour of the castle before showing you to your bedrooms."
"That sounds wonderful." Commented the councillor.
Erza furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. Jellal seemed laid back, considering Arcadios was hot on his feet. She grabbed his arm and prevented them from proceeding any further.
"Aren't you going to come, Erza?" asked Hisui in her innocent voice.
Erza nodded, "We'll catch up to you guys." She started their walk slow until all eyes turned away from them. Finally, she sighed heavily.
Jellal noticed her frustration, while she whipped her head towards him and gave him a heated glare. "You realize that Arcadios hasn't let his guard down ever since you mentioned Crawford? It's like he's..."
"Defending him?" finished Jellal.
She nodded. "I don't understand. Surely the king should've said something about the Magic Council's odd behaviour. Yet, he hasn't seemed to notice."
"Toma blindly trusts the council because he doesn't have the power to control mages. Since Arcadios is first in command for the Holy Knight Squadron, he communicates with the council."
"So you're saying that he's the one impersonating the king's decisions?"
"That, I don't know. But he definitely communicates with Crawford."
"Perhaps that knight is a suitor? Doesn't the chairman illegally sell artifacts?"
Jellal shook his head. "No, he sells the information about those artifacts. He gives them the blueprints and the ancient writings, so in a way, they'll be able to construct a weapon of their own."
"We have to stop them, Jellal. I'll help you."
He quietly chuckled, surprising her. "Thank you for the offer, but I should handle this one."
"Do you think I'm not fit for the job?"
"No, it's just...this is my mess. I don't want you taking responsibility for it."
Erza objected, "But-"
He grabbed her by her shoulders gently. "Promise me you won't get yourself involved in this?"
"Jellal, I want to to help."
He gazed at her intently. "This is not a simple matter, you do not want to get involved."
She looked away, looking anywhere but in his hazel eyes. "I promise."
Jellal knew she was offended. "Erza, I'm doing this for your own good."
"I know," she bit back sourly.
"I..."
I love you. I can't lose you.
"I want you to stay safe. You never know what our enemies can be planning."
"Well, I hope they're planning a mission which calls for an Erza Scarlet." She said with a hint of humour.
"And I hope you're taking me with you."
To this, she smiled. Maybe she was better off not prodding into his affairs.
The Ice Wizard didn't expect to wake up to a rope and boat. He surveyed his surroundings, noticing Natsu hung over the boat, while Lucy and Happy were perfectly seated.
"I used to be a civilian on Galuna Island," informed the seafarer.
Lucy sighed, staring at the purple skin of the man. Was he a man or a monster? "This curse must be difficult to reverse, which is why it was probably for S-Class."
"We would have had people like Erza or Laxus do it if you guys hadn't taken it," retorted a tied-up Gray.
Lucy gave no response as she was in deep thought. Natsu was off much worse; his frame bent over like a dead corpse, ready to be thrown overboard. There was a little distance between his face and the water.
All he could reiterate was, "Help...me..."
"That's what you get for wanting to go on this S-Class quest, moron."
While having their one-sided argument, Lucy's eyes widened, staying glued to the massive waves rushing for the boat. "Guys! Guys! There's something more important!"
"What's the deal Lucy?" Gray whipped his head in Lucy's direction and regret asking such an absurd question.
"WE'RE GOING TO DIE!" screeched Lucy as they went under the body of water, coming at them full speed.
Hisui kept peeking up from her covers, trying to sleep. She couldn't, not when the Erza Scarlet was in her castle, probably sleeping by now like a normal human being.
But then again, was any Fairy Tail mage normal? Even Erza had her shortcomings.
She got up from her bed, insomniac at the idea of Erza sleeping so far away, when they had so many things to talk about. She'd never been this dramatic, and nobody had ever seen this side of her. But today, they would have a nice long chat without a certain intimidating father hearing them.
At least, that was the plan. She marched outside of her room wearing her princess slippers and a long nightgown. When she shuffled towards the hallway, she made sure to be extra quiet in her movements.
Unfortunately, luck was not on her side. She heard footsteps after escaping her bedroom ever so slyly.
No, please no. Father's going to make me eat chives!
She waited for the impending punishment, the or the usual lecture, but didn't hear the person say anything. When she opened her tightly shut eyes, two guards started at her, dumbfounded.
"Princess Hisui, what are you doing up this late at night?" asked one of the royal guards.
"I was...going to pick flowers. I hear they look best under the moonlight."
"Isn't that when the sun's out?" corrected the other one. "Or maybe I'm wrong? I never learned that in school."
"Well obviously, Princess Hisui knows many things. We cannot question Her Royal Highness' knowledge."
She wasn't interested in becoming a botanist as much as they were. "Yes! You are correct. Now bow down before me and let me pass."
"Right away!" they both let her pass through after curtseying, but she heard other footsteps behind her. Unbeknownst to her, Hisui's little tantrum woke up Simon—which wasn't a hard job since he was a light sleeper. The guards didn't question him until he went towards Hisui. Only then did they see him as a threat and stopped him from proceeding any further.
"What is your intended purpose for exiting your dorm this late at night?" asked the intimidating one. Simon could see the emblem on their crest, noticing that they weren't part of Arcadios' division.
Before he gave his answer, Hisui tugged at Simon's arm. "He's coming with me. We made arrangements to go flower sighting together."
Did this girl have a sharper tongue than him? She casually lied without hesitation. The guards released him immediately, not questioning the young princess. Simon followed behind quietly until the guards were out of sight. Many of them were stationed outside the castle and in the main corridors. They didn't have enough on duty tonight to guard the countless rooms in the castle. Simon watched her navigate expertly throughout the castle. "Where are we going?"
"To see Erza."
Simon almost choked. "Princess, she's probably sleeping by now. I'm sure you of all people would know better than to disrupt someone in their sleep."
She had a mischievous glint in her eyes, "I can't sleep knowing she's in the castle! She's famous, I can't let this once in a lifetime opportunity go to waste!"
"Somehow I feel like your statement is very contradictory to reality. You can summon her whenever you wish."
"True, but my father wouldn't let me see her."
They continued pacing down the stairwell two floors below before heading towards the west wing of the castle. "And why is that?"
Hisui exhaustedly sighed, "Because he thinks she's a poor influence on me. But I like her. She's so fair...and just."
"That's Erza for you," he mused.
She peeked at Erza's door, knocking on it quietly.
No response.
"Erza? Erzaaaaa," called out Hisui.
Still no response.
"Simon, would you be so kind to break down the door?"
"No," he replied, crossing his arms.
She mimicked his actions without fail. "And why is that?"
"Because I didn't come here to pay for the damage I cause in Crocus." She huffed out a breath while he continued. "But, you can open the door like a normal person."
Since when was Fairy Tail ever normal? she wanted to retort.
She turned the knob on Erza's door, surprised that she didn't lock it. "Oh, you're right."
Hisui stepped into the room before screaming when she uncovered her bed.
"What happened?" asked Simon, rushing into the room.
Underneath the blanket were pillows designed to make it look like Erza was sleeping. "Where's Erza!?"
Jellal soundlessly made his way to the basement of the castle through a series of spiral staircases. Before he set foot onto the floor, he heard the guards give each other orders. At such an odd time, with no intruders. Jellal heard the countless steps of soldiers, making it harder to sneak in undetected. Through the periphery of his vision, he noticed the embedded crest of the Holy Knight Squadron. If he had to make a guess, Arcadios was planning something underneath the king's nose.
No, I need to act normal. After all, it'd only make sense that I have permission to explore the castle.
Jellal stepped foot into the maze of cells, unnoticed by the guards. He roamed around to see if anything that belonged to the Magic Council was hiding in the basement.
Everything looked perfectly normal. It was a typical dungeon with guards standing at their designated posts. He noticed a familiar presence behind him, turning around to meet Arcadios.
He didn't seem angry, but Jellal noticed the lilt in his voice. "What brings our honoured guest here?"
Jellal's lips curved up into a smile. "I've been given permission to explore the castle. In other words, this territory is at my disposal."
"In that case, you haven't even seen everything."
"Is that so?" the Wizard Saint was curious where Arcadios would lead him.
"If you wish to explore the castle in depth, there is one more area that's been unexplored to date."
Jellal realized his intentions and played along with his little scheme.
"I'd like to see it. Though, I find it hard to people that nobody's ventured down to such depths. Especially the guards themselves."
"And I'm sure you'll find out in due time as to why."
Right where Jellal stood was a lever which broke off the cement beneath him.
Arcadios ushered him to pull the lever.
Until he heard another voice shout from a small distance. "Jellal! That's a trap!"
"Erza?" he asked, before staring at the lever that was being controlled by another magic user. Erza leapt towards him before the two were sent crashing down into the place below them. Erza ended up on top as the both of them groaned at the height of their fall. She tried getting off of him, rolling over to sit up. Jellal stared up at her, realizing that she didn't bother listening to him.
He sat up. "What did I say about getting involved?"
She crossed her arms over her chest. "And since when did you make my decisions for me?"
"But you promised!" he protested.
"Promises are meant to be broken in compromising situations. I had a hunch you were in trouble."
"Erza, I let them bring me here."
She did a double take, finding it hard to believe him. "You what? Why?"
"I know they're hiding something, and by luring me down here, I'll get my answers." He sighed. "But I didn't expect you to tag along."
"I think you'd be better off if I came along. We can make the trip fun."
He nodded, "That's true. I'm not too happy with the implication that anyone who's been down here has never made it out alive."
"I will protect us!" she announced to nobody in particular.
He looked up at her in amusement, before getting up to explore the area. The ground beneath them was wet and green, with the occasional appearance of skulls and bones.
"Jellal, he's right. People did die here." She surveyed the area, picking up a skull with worms housed within.
"Stay close, you never know what's lurking around here."
They didn't need to go far to find what Jellal was looking for. He realized the reason Arcadios sent him down here. It was his way of letting Jellal investigate the mysteries of Zeref's magic.
Erza gazed upon the enormous gate, stunned by the size and magic power emanating from the device.
"I feel...an ominous presence."
Jellal noticed it too. "This is Zeref's magic. I'm sure of it."
Erza summoned her sword for measured precautions. But no sooner than she did that, Erza was being pulled towards the device like a magnet. "What- what's happening to me?"
Jellal reached out for her and caught her arm. "Erza, release your sword!"
She hesitantly let go of it, watching it go through the closed gate like a tornado while she rocketed into Jellal. He caught her just in time, feeling magic energy dissipate. He didn't feel her armour anymore; she felt much lighter.
She hugged herself as she felt her armour dematerialize, now in her white blouse. "My armour! I need it!"
"Erza, it's okay. You don't need your armour right now."
She squeaked, "Yes, I do! I...I don't feel safe without it."
He understood exactly what she meant by that and offered his hand. "Would it make you feel better if we stuck close together?"
"Yes," she hesitantly took his hand and squeezed it to reassure herself, now by his side. "Sorry, I'm acting like a child."
"You don't need to apologize, Erza. I know how you feel. None of us have gotten over it."
She attempted to give him a smile, but ended up with something sad. "I just...never felt so exposed. My armour protects me."
He had so many things he wanted to say to that. They could have an entire conversation about the Tower of Heaven. But he kept quiet.
She sighed in relief, "What was that anyway?"
"I don't know. But it seems to absorb all magic energy into the gate. So whatever you do, make sure not to use magic."
She nodded, observing the scattered books dedicated to the Eclipse Gate's research. She picked up the ancient books and handed them over to Jellal, being the only person capable of reading the language in the castle.
Jellal skimmed through the contents before clutching the book in his hands. He reached down to the other one with a green leather cover and a disclaimer note. The author was none other than himself.
He wanted to slap himself for giving the original copy of his book to Crawford. He had been looking for this piece of writing for a year, wanting to learn about the writings he translated.
Finally, he recognized the magical draining device. "It's called the Eclipse Gate."
Erza turned to him, seeing his countenance contort into something melancholic. "Jellal?"
"Erza, I'm a fool. Why did I do all that dirty work for Crawford?"
She placed a hand on his shoulder reassuringly. "It's not your fault. In fact, it was wrong of him to take advantage of you. You're still young to be taking part in politics."
Jellal didn't buy that excuse, he was the Jellal Fernandes. He never screwed up. That wasn't a term in his dictionary.
Erza understood how he felt and continued. "Jellal, for as long as I've known you, you never made a mistake. You make it seem like a person can be flawless. Despite that, you don't know who's your enemy or friend. That's what makes us human, making wrong judgements, trusting the wrong people, having emotions." She paused, before giving a knowing look. "But, seeing that it's you, you probably never trusted him to begin with."
"I still gave him the book, Erza. That doesn't change anything."
"And since when were you expected to know all and see all?"
With Erza, it's like she convinced him for once that he wasn't a weapon for the Magic Council. He wasn't bound to Etherion, Face, and all those catastrophic devices hiding in Era. She was too innocent to understand wrongdoers, or evil intentions.
Which is exactly why they could never be together.
He smiled, "You always say...the right things. You're as perfect as a person gets."
"That's not true," she whispered. "I just stumble through life, struggling to live."
"You make it seem very easy."
Their little moment ended as the two mages sensed another person. They didn't have to look behind to know there was someone watching them.
Armoured footsteps resounded the area whilst the person clapped loudly, as if they were congratulating the two on discovering the Eclipse Gate.
"Arcadios," growled Erza, preparing to summon her sword as she got farther from the gate.
He held a hand out in front of him, stopping her from her tracks. "There's no need, I'm only here in good will."
Jellal frowned, "You'll have to explain yourself if you think I'll believe you."
"Indeed," he bent down on one knee, bowing his head. "I apologize for the inconvenience earlier. I am no enemy, I assure you. My intentions were only to lead you here."
Erza requipped back into her armour and held out a blade cautiously. "Well, you said it yourself. Nobody's been down here. So how did you find us?"
"I'm sorry for lying about that, too. I've been coming down here for the past two years after discovering this Eclipse Gate. As you can tell, this is no ordinary mechanism. I needed to find out why this device was here underneath the kingdom. I thought it was a bomb planted to destroy Mercurius."
Erza withdrew her sword. "So, you were keeping this a secret for the sake of your king?"
Arcadios nodded, before glancing at Jellal, who—by the looks of it—still didn't trust him. "I know this sounds ridiculous, but I only meant good to come out of this. When I contacted the Magic Council about the gate, Chairman Crawford offered up research about it. I didn't know that you, Jellal, were the one who authored the translation of the ancient scripture, until later on."
"I didn't claim the writing to be mine for the sake of anonymity, in case anyone would try to target me."
He pointed to the hardcover with an imprinted —J engraved on the front cover. Erza traced the writing inside, noticing that everything was handwritten rather than typed. She marveled at his immaculate penmanship.
Jellal bit the inside of his cheek, unsure about how to remain an anonymous author. "How did you find out I was the one who wrote that book?"
"Chairman Crawford told me that you were the one responsible for disclosing this information."
"He would use me as a decoy to keep his position?"
The knight nodded. "In case word were to get out that the book was given to someone else. But now that I know of the truth, I will do my best to convince His Highness to replace the chairman."
"Thank you, Arcadios. I trust that we can get rid of him before he gathers more information for his personal benefit." Jellal had to wonder who Crawford was working for, and what he would gain out of Zeref's work.
Arcadios cleared his throat. "If you wish to put me behind the bars, I will comply. I stole your work without your knowledge."
Jellal shook his head. "I understand that it wasn't your fault. You took the information thinking you had permission, especially since it was given to you by the Magic Council. But thank you for your honesty."
"That's very kind of you. If you want to search for anything else, I will allow you to do so. But there is a reason people don't venture down here."
Erza held her breath. "So people have been down here and never came back alive?"
Jellal studied the area. "No, it's more like people used to live here. This place was probably where a civilization thrived back in Zeref's day and age."
"That's correct," nodded Arcadios. "But not anymore. We call this place the Capital of Death: Abyss Palace. Prisoners in our castle used to escape down here. Unbeknownst to them, there was no way out. That is why I asked some engineers to create a pathway that would connect the castle's prison with the Abyss Palace underneath."
"How come you never told the king of your plan?" asked Jellal, surprised at Toma's lack of involvement in the plan.
"His Majesty has told me countless times that he thinks this castle is haunted. Every year, around the time in Spring, he would notice dark magic energy reeking from within the castle. This news would frighten him all the more, which is why I had to keep it a secret. He would probably resign from his position if he knew about this area. And we can't let that happen. He's a righteous king for our country."
"I see, so that clears up everything. What will you do with this magical device now that you know what this gate really is?"
Arcadios sighed, looking up at the ceiling. "To be honest, I don't have a plan. Should I tell His Majesty, Princess Hisui; or do I keep it a secret?"
Erza looked at Jellal to see if he thought of anything, because she had an idea. Jellal noticed her impending answer and eyed her back, before turning to the knight. "We have a suggestion."
Hisui groaned as she grew tired of waiting for Erza while lounging around with Simon. They had searched the entire castle and still didn't find her. It was like playing hide and seek with her. Hisui's chances of finding Erza were a bare minimum because of how ridiculously large the castle was. There weren't guards stationed everywhere, making the process more complicated.
"Oh, this sucks! I can't even trust anyone else except Arcadios, but he's gone too."
Simon noted her inability to trust others in the castle, despite knowing them for years. "Why don't you ask the others?"
She didn't hesitate to answer him. "Because they're all traitors."
"Really? How so?"
Hisui pursed her lips together. She wouldn't mind telling Simon; it's not like he was one of the many maids in the castle who gossiped. "Many years ago, there was a time when the doors of Mercurius were open to the public. Many tourists would come to visit the king and queen. It was always a tradition. They would bring gifts, and in turn, the royal family would grant them their blessings. The powerful bond between the people and monarchy established a stable country. Hence, our castle was named the Flower Light Palace. Crocus symbolized the epitome of light and unity. That was—until my mother died five years ago." She took a deep breath, trying to gather whatever information she could find about her mother's death. "Many people tell me it was an accident. She was in the castle's infirmary, where she collapsed after her brother passed away. Uncle wasn't a kind man, and Mother despised him. But she still visited him while he lay on his deathbed. When the nurses came back to escort her, they found her passed out, until they realized that she died. People believe that story and find no fault in it. Even my father was foolish enough to move on, saying that Fiore will continue to thrive as long as we cooperate with the people. But I know someone else killed her. Arcadios knew too, so he ordered the guards to shut down access into Mercurius, confusing the public. But even then, the people in this castle are not to be trusted. My biggest suspect of the person who killed Mother was...my uncle. He surely killed her, and he was never happy to see me. Perhaps he was upset that my father was king. And I'm afraid if he were still alive today, Father would've given him the throne out of generosity."
Although Hisui didn't mention it, Simon caught on to what she was trying to imply. "So you think the next person after the throne is Jellal?"
Hisui quirked an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you caught on so quickly. But I'd say so, seeing that he's gained popularity at such a young age. And now, he wants to become Chairman of the Magic Council. That sounds nothing short of suspicious to me."
Simon paused. "Just because he wants to get rid of Chairman Crawford, doesn't mean he wants power. Jellal knows there's something fishy with him, which is why he's trying to remove him from the Magic Council."
"You never know, Simon. The person who betrayed my mother was her own flesh and blood."
"But Jellal would never do such a thing! He doesn't care about power."
Hisui crossed her arms, "Then tell me, Simon. Why did he join the Magic Council?"
"Princess, he got offered that position after years of hard work. Who would turn down such a commendable position?"
She snorted, Hisui should've known better than to convince people about Jellal's evil intentions. Speak of him, and he appeared with Arcadios and Erza. Hisui's mouth widened in amazement before she rushed to Erza, squeezing her into a hug. "I thought I lost you!"
Erza almost laughed. "I wasn't feeling sleepy, so I roamed around the castle."
"With Jellal?" blurted out Simon.
"Well, I ran into him and Arcadios. This has certainly been an eventful night."
"That's true," concurred Jellal, feeling exhausted without any shut-eye.
Arcadios informed the mages, "The king has breakfast at six, you all are required to meet him at the dining table."
"Well, what time is it?" asked Hisui hopefully.
"It's four?" cried Simon.
Hisui silently cheered to herself. "Well, who's up for a game of cards for the rest of the night?"
The Fairy Tail wizards looked at one another before taking her up on the offer. And while playing, she came to recognize the Jellal who had no titles as a councillor, Wizard Saint, or an S-Class mage. He was just an ordinary boy who wanted to live a simple life with his friends.
After an hour of playing a game of cards, the maids panicked and announced three missing wizards along with Hisui, all resting in Erza's room. The bells rang throughout the castle and the sleep-deprived mages filed out of the room one by one. All it took was a turn of the doorknob and a peek from the crack of the door by the maids to spread rumours about the eventful and not-so-appropriate night for the wizards.
Arcadios, having heard the rumours—threatened the maids to keep quiet or else he would inform the king about their less than savoury imaginations.
Erza was forcefully dragged away from her friends by the maids to assist her in taking a bath, insisting that all the wizards look presentable for breakfast. They took her to an en suite. Luxurious was the right way to describe it. The maids stood there, waiting for her to do something.
"I'm taking a bath?" asked Erza. She wasn't sure if the question was directed to herself or the maids.
"Yes milady, and you are quite overdressed."
Erza knew that much, but having women who she literally met right now assisting her in the bath was very off.
"I can take a bath myself, rest assured."
They were hesitant about leaving until Erza grabbed the garment from them and forced them out of the bathroom. She took a moment to admire the dress; it was very ballroom like, and something Hisui wore often. Perhaps that's why she became tired of dresses. Erza would rather prefer something more comfortable, but she would make do. A gift was a gift, after all.
After taking a quick bath, she struggled to put on the dress and exited the bathroom in an almost penguin-like walk. Outside, she found numerous pairs of heels, which surprised her. There were many pairs of the same design organized by size, just like the dresses. Erza went for a pair in the middle, and after attempting two pairs, found the perfect fit for her.
If she thought walking around was an issue, getting down the stairs was a lot harder than she thought. She gulped at the countless number of stairs leading to the main floor. She thought she would fall, and she would if an arm hadn't caught her just in time.
Erza turned pink when Jellal had pulled her towards him. She noticed the fresh clothes given to him, in a similar style of the coats he wore regularly. He grinned, "Looks like someone needs a hand."
She grabbed onto his sleeve and nodded. "Thank you."
They were hyper aware of Hisui approaching the stairwell, hollering, "I'M LATE FOR BREAKFAST!"
She bumped into the two S-Class mages, which started the less than pleasant journey down the stairs. All three of them tumbled down the stairs together, with Hisui landing on top of both of them.
Hisui was quick and enthusiastic to prance off of them. Erza groaned in pain, while Jellal got up, brushing the dust off his coat before offering a hand to Erza. "I guess that solved the problem of getting downstairs," he laughed.
She pouted, "That was not funny, Jellal."
Hisui interrupted them. "IT'S SIX, I REPEAT. IT'S SIX O' ONE. WE'RE LATE!" she repeated like the repetitive sound of a fire truck.
"Does something happen if we're late?" inquired Erza.
"We eat chives!" she announced.
When they arrived at the dining table, Simon was already seated while Toma praised him for being early to the table.
"You three are late." He said with a smile on his face.
"Is this some punishment game?" a horrified Erza asked.
Jellal would've found it funny if he wasn't the one playing it. "I now see the uncanny resemblance between the king and Makarov."
"However," the king continued in a less serious tone, "I'll let it go this time, seeing that we have guests today. But I wonder what reason could justify your tardiness?"
Jellal eyed Arcadios, who stood on the right-hand side of the king. He smiled back at him. "King Toma, you'd be surprised."