Façade
Chapter 11: Phantom Lord
The sound of the gavel banging on the wood as Chairman Crawford Seam tried to calm down the other council members resounded in Erza's ears for the remaining day. Gray rubbed his palms like he'd been doing ever since the Fairy Tail mages received their punishment. Erza had it the worst; three slaps on her wrist and manacles on them for a day, restraining her magic energy. More than ever, the Magic Council was loud and clear with their intentions of disbanding Fairy Tail.
Jellal, however, was surprisingly not trialed despite Natsu trying to fight the members in yesterday's council meeting. They found the Possession Magic excuse to be believable, but didn't expect someone as strong as him to become victim to any mind possession.
Nevertheless, he blamed Natsu and Happy for the new Sorcerer Weekly edition, which revealed events that occurred within the twenty-four hours of the Changeling Effect. Not the twenty-hour hours on any normal day, but specifically that day.
Erza twisted her wrists to allow blood circulation within the manacles. The Rune Knights had secured them tightly, as if they believed she was audacious enough to go making more trouble.
Seeing her wary about the manacles, Jellal said, "I think you got off rather lightly with your punishment. At least you're not in a cell."
"It's not like you helped my case, either." Erza responded in kind, leaving her bitter at the revelation. "I still can't believe they set me free despite the trouble Happy caused."
"You can say that again," Gray hissed, rubbing his hands even harder. "Those Rune Knights slapped me so hard. My punishment was so evil despite me trying to do the right thing."
Lucy left the Magic Council without a punishment after causing a scene during the court trial. She cried and cried until Jellal proposed to set her free on the condition she never got involved in another incident. It was her first offence, after all.
So, here she was. Humming satisfactorily with her arms clasped behind her back. "I was off the hook thanks to Jellal."
Erza purposely brushed her arm against the Wizard Saint. "Couldn't you have done the same with me?"
Jellal grinned, "If you were bawling your eyes out like Lucy, I would've half-considered it."
"Oh please," Lucy rolled her eyes, "I wasn't that dramatic. Besides, it all worked out splendidly in the end despite Gray's hostility towards them."
She barred her teeth at the last few words, causing Gray to shrug his shoulders. The guildhall's doors were closed to the public, confusing the lot who returned from the Magic Council. Erza kicked the door open like she would with an opponent. Lucy gawked at her, but shouldn't have expected anything less. She accusingly pointed a finger at the S-Class Wizard. "Geez, can't you open the door like a normal person?"
The Wizard Saint didn't find it odd in the slightest. "She's been a Fairy Tail wizard for as long as I can remember. And besides, kicking a door open is more acceptable than crying in a court trial. You should've pleaded guilty instead of worming your way around it by causing a commotion."
Lucy made a face, admitting quietly to herself that perhaps it was a little melodramatic to claim her innocence when she pounded a few noses in during Er—Happy's—arrest.
They stepped inside and finally understood why the doors to the guildhall remained shut. The mages were being interrogated by the Sorcerer Weekly Investigation Unit. They were a group of reporters who wanted to confirm if the rumours of yesterday were true before rewriting next week's Sorcerer Weekly edition.
The investigations were individual regarding each mage. Loke scratched his neck sheepishly as Jason started bombarding him with questions. Lucy briefly made eye contact with him and gave a pointed look in his direction. The Celestial Spirit shrunk away from his seat, confusing Jason. He whipped his head and found Lucy Heartfilia with her hands on her hips. She didn't look pleased one bit.
Jason took Loke by the hand and ran to the group of mages, stopping with a wide smile. "Loke, is this your so-called rumoured girlfriend? The one and only Lucy Heartfilia!?"
Loke cleared his throat as his cheeks graced a deep crimson. "I already told you for the last time, we're not dating!"
From the periphery of Jellal's vision, he could see Mirajane at the bar wiping glasses and storing them in the cupboards. Her countenance was plastered with a devious smile, telling Jellal that she'd been behind the rumours about Loke and Lucy.
Lucy crossed her arms and opened her mouth to speak after internally detesting the ludicrous suggestion. "Tell me about it. Who would date a klutz like him?"
Erza laughed to herself quietly. "He won't be making the lists this week."
Jellal couldn't help but nod at her assumption. Although Lucy and Loke were able to clear things up with the media, Loke's reputation was tarnished for the time-being. Fairy Tail easily attracted unwanted attention; the surprise visit was bound to happen. Jason kept nodding as Lucy tried explaining the circumstances.
"This is SO cool! I didn't understand a word you said about the Changing Effect, but anyhow!"
The Celestial Mage puffed her cheeks in annoyance. She practically spoke on deaf ears the moment she opened her mouth. Sometimes she wondered why anyone ever asked for her input if they weren't going to listen to her.
Loke sighed in relief when Jason ceased his endless questions and popped in front of Erza. This time, it was her turn to be answerable to not only the court, but this nosy reporter who she desperately wanted to get away from. Jellal automatically joined in since he remained by Erza's side for the duration of their arrival at the guildhall.
Happy whistled and caved his mouth in Jellal's direction, smooching his lips in mockery as he gestured to Erza.
You loooove her, is what he was telling Jellal.
The mage's expression grew in his threat. He would confront Happy later and teach him a meaningful lesson.
Today, the exceed would be lucky if Jellal spared him a limb or two.
"So," Jason flipped through several pages in his notepad and pinpointing his notes for Erza. He tapped his pencil on the thin sheet and bit his lip. Eventually, the sharpened lead broke away as he dug the pencil deeper into the notepad. The reporter looked up at Erza again, unable to match the information with her. "We've heard that you destroyed an entire town in last night's shenanigans!"
Last night's shenanigans, what a way to sum up the chronicles of yesterday. She thought bitterly.
Jellal waited as silence hung in the air. Erza licked her lips nervously and leaned closer to her friend unconsciously. "Well, due to unforeseen circumstances...I wasn't in the right mind when the events occurred."
Having no viable explanation for what the circumstances could be, Jason supplied, "You were drunk?"
Finding the suggestion to be plausible, Erza nodded. "Yes! I drank too much last night, unfortunately..."
Jellal raised an eyebrow at her excuse. They both knew she didn't drink, and she probably would never do it in front of him. Erza was afraid she might slip or make a scene in front of Jellal, and the idea sounded horrifying.
Jason shot her a quizzical look. "But the reports say that you started the destruction midday."
"Oh really? I must've forgotten. My memory's a little hazy."
A long sound of approval followed before Jason flipped numerous pages again before landing on Jellal's story. "I was surprised to hear Councilman Jellal started a brawl against his colleagues. What drove you to such extremes?"
"Possession Magic is a common consequence of taking down dark guilds. I became victim to the effects yesterday." Jellal coolly replied. Erza found it incredible that the story came out of his mouth so smoothly. He didn't stutter or pause.
"I see. Another rumour cleared up and the responses are SO cool!" Jason merrily skipped away to Mirajane, who was going to have a lot of fun with all the dirt she had on other guild members.
"I never knew you drank, Erza," Simon teased. He moved the bench table with his bare hands and plopped on it with Wally.
"I do not!" Erza defended with a blush.
Wally's lips curved upwards. "Technically we can drink, so why not give it a try?"
"Did I hear someone say drink?" Cana asked with a mirthful expression. She hauled a barrel over her head before chucking it to Simon. It was a panic reflex as the wizard reached out to catch the barrel.
Simon cleared his throat, "Cana, maybe now's not a good time to get the guild drunk."
"Agreed," seconded Jellal.
"Oh, come on, no harm's going to be done if you pretty boys have a few drinks to spare."
"That primarily depends on our alcohol tolerance," Simon countered.
Jellal added, "Which will never be found out."
Cana maintained a poker face, searching the room before winking at Erza. "Come on, Erza. I know you're yearning for a good drink. Let's celebrate tonight!"
"For what, my manacle placement?" she retorted. Simon studied the manacles on her wrists and placed his hands around them, trying to pull them free. In retaliation, the manacles seared through her wrists as pure electricity shot through both Simon and Erza.
They both yelped at the sensation. It lasted a few seconds before the hissing and jolting ceased. Erza grit her teeth and resisted the urge to stomp back to the Magic Council and demand they remove the device. The idea sounded appealing, but it would only bring more trouble for Fairy Tail's scapegoat: Jellal.
Jellal avoided physical contact with the metal cuffs and rotated Erza's wrist, searching for a lock or anything that could free her from the wretched device.
Nothing.
"It's only a day without magic, Erza."
"One day is enough for our enemies to attack us! If that happens, I won't be able to fight!" she squeaked in response.
Jellal and Simon smiled at her adorable expression. "Right. You're one of Fairy Tail's powerhouses. You're also forgetting we have a guild master and two other S-Class wizards in this guild."
For that, Jellal clapped Simon's shoulder with a hand. "He's right."
Erza tucked strands of her hair behind her ear, "I guess that's true. Though, it's not like Laxus would care if the guild were under attack."
"GUILD UNDER ATTACK?" shouted Natsu, poking his head between Simon and Jellal. "I wanna fight!"
"Erza's just being precarious," mused Simon, gesturing to her manacles. Being the clueless person he was, Natsu didn't get the hint and proceeded to sniff the guildhall for any intruders.
Cana seized him by his scarf and dragged him alongside Gray, where Macao and Wakaba stacked barrels of booze on top of one another. Lucy had been coerced into trying some when Cana offered the substance in a wine glass supplied by Mirajane.
Jellal didn't think Mirajane was helping their case. But she seemed to be the last person who was interviewed because Jason wasn't in the guildhall anymore.
Natsu slung an arm around Cana and formed a train to invite people to drink. At first, Gray profusely declined after noting that Natsu was going to join the fray. Then the idea of being stuck with the aces of Fairy Tail who were sober yet completely terrifying influenced his decision otherwise.
Erza shifted comfortably beside Jellal and rested her head against his shoulder, watching the others party and slur words. Natsu hiccuped while Gray bubbled with laughter. Erza lifted her head off Jellal and looked at him.
"You lost weight."
It wasn't a question; it was confirmation.
Jellal gave a small smile, "Did I?"
"You know you did," she answered. "You should eat more, Jellal. Otherwise, the stress of everything is going to change you permanently."
He hadn't been purposely losing weight, but he had been unconsciously missing meals. Some nights he overworked himself to meet the ridiculous deadlines of the Magic Council paperwork.
"I will. Thank you for the concern."
Erza gave a tentative frown before facing Simon, who was concerned about the guild's commotion and Erza's lack of discipline. He fixed the collar of his shirt before clearing his throat. "So...we're going to be supervising them?"
He looked mildly horrified at the spectacle he witnessed. Cana swung her legs off her seat and ended up squishing Gray and Natsu together in between her arms. They all reeked of alcohol, and it was only midday.
Jellal gave the mage a knowing look. "You're the best at keeping watch."
Simon returned it with a baffled expression. "Way to put the weight on my shoulders, Jellal." His statement earned a laugh from Erza.
"Meow!" Millianna screeched.
Erza whipped her head in the opposite direction and found her clinging to Sho. They both shuffled away from the drunk mages and found solace within Jellal. He remained awfully tranquil. His expression remained unmoved and his eyes were closed as if he was able to meditate within the ruckus. Millianna shook his shoulders. "We can't have them getting drunk at this hour, Jellal!"
He cracked an eyelid open. "It's a little too late for that, wouldn't you agree?"
Lucy cried aloud and captured everyone's attention as she yelled, "I'm convinced there's no sane person in Fairy Tail!"
"You can say that again!" Cana whistled, parading around with a barrel of alcohol. At this point, the only table that hadn't been cleaved in half was the one Jellal and the others remained seated in.
Much to their shock, they found Erza asleep in her seat due to her restlessness from the night before. She slumped to the ground after dropping her head in a strained position.
"What's wrong with her?" Simon wondered aloud.
"She probably didn't get sleep last night from being stuck in a jail cell."
Simon took the liberty to heave Erza over one shoulder and carry her to the second floor infirmary. She was so deep into her sleep that the action didn't stir her awake. Jellal watched carefully for any threats that might pose a problem in Simon's path. The only thing that seemed to be the problem at the moment was Gray's boxers being thrown into the air.
Jellal didn't bother watching the remainder of the scene.
Despite the majority of the guild drinking away, there were a few people who decided to take advantage of the situation, namely Levy. She scooted into the seat opposite from Jellal and held out a book that spanned the length of her hand.
"Hey Jellal," Levy greeted mischievously.
"Hello, Levy." His eyes were fixated on the ancient and overly large book. "Judging by the text, I assume it's another one of your magical theory lessons?"
She grinned sheepishly, "You know me so well. Today's topic is a little more interesting, and I doubt you know anything about it."
Jellal placed a hand on his chin in interest as he glanced at the title of the book. "Oh really? Indulge me."
"Primordial Magic!"
Levy seemed so proud of her declaration. She gave a triumphant grin, assuming she finally found a topic he did not know of. Jellal rested a hand under his chin.
"Sorry to break it to you, but I've already studied some theories about it."
Levy pouted, "That's not fair, Jellal! You know so much just because you're on the Magic Council. Their archives are HUGE in comparison to our outdated guildhall library." She spread her arms to emphasize her point. "Besides, this book might have a different theory."
"You snuck into the guildhall archives without Makarov's permission again? This is the seventh time, Levy."
"I know!" Levy huffed, too curious for her own good. She scanned the area to make sure Makarov wasn't around. He, too, was drinking away while on a bar stool in the company of Mirajane and Elfman. Elfman never drank before, and Jellal would like to think Mirajane restrained him from consuming any alcohol.
But it was primarily Elfman's decision, because drinking wasn't manly. As for his sister, Mirajane avoided drinking as she was a bartender and was considered the official chaperone of Fairy Tail.
Although, Simon did a much better job at chaperoning more than anyone else in the guild.
"Please don't tell Master!" Levy blurted, ashamed of the second-hand information she revealed to him accidentally.
"That would make me a hypocrite if I didn't," Jellal mused. "As a member of the Magic Council-"
"It is my job to uphold the law." Levy finished unenthusiastically. "Okay, I get it. But you're in the Fairy Tail guildhall, not the council."
Jellal took a look at the book with interest as he hummed in response, "Mhm?"
Levy knew he was beating around the bush. Sometimes she wanted to wipe that smirk off his face. Then again, she'd never say that aloud. Jellal had done many favours for her in the past. It would only be fair to comply with his requests. "Pleaseeee don't tell anyone, Jellal. I can't stand reading the same books I've practically memorized!"
"As your fellow guild mate, Levy, I will keep this a secret."
"From Erza as well?" Levy asked with a hint of suspicion.
"That, I cannot do. Erza and I are best friends. As Fairy Tail's ace, it's only natural if she knows about these trips. She'll be in on the secret and we won't say a word."
The young girl snorted, "Okay, two things. One, Erza isn't the ace of Fairy Tail; you are. Two, I get the feeling you both are more than friends."
Jellal eyed her warily, "Is this another one of Mirajane's hunches?"
"No..." she tentatively answered. Now that she thought about it, Mirajane had been calling Jellal lover boy as a way to taunt Erza in their younger years. The S-Class wizard would furiously blush and deny it. "But you're always with her all the time. Every time I see you at the guildhall, you're with Erza. You both sit beside each other and-"
Seeing Jellal's expression made her wish she never opened her gargantuan mouth.
"I take that all back." She huffed out in one breath. "Still, you're not as touchy with another girl. Millianna counts, but you've done nothing more than give her piggy back rides in your younger years. Now that you both are older there's none of that. But Erza—you're always with her and I was thinking maybe you have a mania for her hair-"
"Hold up, Levy." Jellal exclaimed, pausing her in her tracks. "You think I have a what with her hair?"
"...a mania?" she hesitantly repeated. Simon chuckled from behind them and leaned down, slinging an arm around Jellal's shoulders.
Wally whistled, "She's not wrong."
Millianna and Sho burst out giggling at Levy's findings. They all recalled the moment when the children first met in the Tower of Heaven, where Erza earned her last name.
Simon nodded with Levy. "Well, you did give her a last name because of her hair colour."
Jellal gave no hints to show his embarrassment, only a small smile as if he was proud of it.
Levy stood up from her spot and teetered on the edge of the table as she leaned towards Jellal. "Did I hear that right? Jellal gave Erza her last name?"
"Yeah," Simon answered thoughtfully. "We were really young when he suggested it, but Erza liked the ring of it. Erza Scarlet."
"It sounds...right." Levy voiced. "See, this is what I mean! You guys can't be just friends if you have such a long history."
"She's a close friend, nothing more." Jellal confirmed without any reaction that told anyone otherwise. He was good at masking his emotions, just like Simon.
"Ever the thoughtful one, are you?" Simon hinted. They both knew there were unspoken words waiting to be said. In a way, Jellal was thoughtful because he didn't want to hurt Simon's feelings. Erza liked Simon, but not romantically. Wally had told him countless times that she liked Jellal, and after years of witnessing their friendship, he came to realize it was true.
"I'd like to think you're the considerate friend, Simon." Jellal replied with a lilt in his voice.
He traced the title with a finger before leaving to get three pairs of gloves. Levy seemed confused, but donned them on anyway when he tossed the pair in her direction. Simon had done research with Jellal numerous times when they bonded over magical theory, so nothing was new to him.
"Why do I need these on?"
Jellal cocked an eyebrow, "You've studied many ancient texts, yet you've never encountered ones sealed with magic?"
"...I have. I just pay someone to get rid of the seal so I can open the book."
Simon couldn't help but give a stifled laugh. "If you use gloves, you save the trouble of finding someone who can undo magic seals. Speaking of which, who does it for you? It's a rare practice."
"I have my ways," Levy said smugly.
"I hope you're not getting it done from dark mages."
Levy was almost left speechless at the implication. "Of course not! You'd be surprised by the number of people who can undo magic seals, Simon. I think it's easier than studying a book with oversized gloves."
"Right." Simon inched closer to the book and set it down, reading the engraved writing on the bottom of the hardcover. "The author of this book is someone who goes by the name Hades."
"Oh!" Levy recalled, "I've seen many books authored by him in the guildhall archives. Though, you can tell his view on magic has progressed throughout the years."
Jellal studied the penmanship keenly. "Whatever the case, he's been living for quite a long time, alive."
"What makes you say that?" asked Simon.
"Well," Jellal gestured to the publication date. "This was written in X735. Coincidentally, Makarov was appointed as a guild master the following year. He might know who Hades is. As for his status, magic seals are broken upon the death of the mage who cast it, meaning that Hades is still alive."
"How do we know he's ever came into contact with Makarov?"
"Because the guild's archives consist of writings from mages who have been within Fairy Tail—unless it's books given by the Magic Council. Out of the five-hundred titles issued to each guild, non-universal theories and opinionated works are not concluded. Since Primordial Magic is an opinionated subject, it must've been approved by a previous guild master in order to store it within the archive."
Levy sighed, "We don't even know the names of the previous guild masters."
"I know of the first one, Mavis Vermillion. She's the co-founder of Fairy Tail. I have no idea about the second guild master. Makarov's never mentioned them before, despite being appointed by them."
Simon shrugged it off, "The information isn't relative even if we know who approved it."
"I guess we'll start translating then," Jellal turned the hardcover and found the writing to be smudged and barely legible. He slightly shifted in his seat and found a chair coming towards him full force. It struck him squarely in the face, causing his nose to turn red from the impact.
"JELLALLLL! FIGHT ME!" hollered Natsu as he stood up and challenged the Wizard Saint. Gray pushed him aside and held his arms out.
"NO! YOU FIGHT ME!" Gray squawked in retaliation, impersonating a pigeon through his dramatic poses.
"This is why I don't drink," mumbled Simon. He took both Natsu and Gray by the hand and led them away from Jellal. The two mages started whined when they lost sight of the Wizard Saint and considered pummelling Simon to the floor.
Cana was to blame for the ruckus.
The chair that hit Jellal rattled on the floor but was destroyed in a matter of seconds with an angry yell. "The next person who throws a chair is DEAD!"
Erza emerged from the crowds of people and found Natsu and Gray senselessly tugging at each other's hair. The remaining mages froze at her presence. Drunk or not, they knew better than to deal with Erza when she was cranky.
One thing was clear; the manacles didn't prevent Erza from wreaking havoc with her bare hands.
She bent down to Jellal's height and inspected his face. "Did it hurt?"
Levy was at a loss for words. "She did a complete one-eighty!"
"I'm fine," he insisted. She slid beside Simon and took the book from them, feeling the pages shock her.
Her hand recoiled from the shcok before wincing slightly. Jellal was gone to get another pair of gloves from behind the bar and was stopped by Mirajane momentarily. They both exchanged a few words before he returned with gloves that fit Erza perfectly. In his other hand, he grabbed a pinch of herbs for healing and placed her hand in his, muttering an incantation to stop the pain.
Erza was pink by the time he was finished and tangled her fingers within his hand. He was no stranger to their close proximity. "Thank you."
"You're very welcome, Erza."
Simon looked stunned while Levy stared at him sourly, "You really went through the trouble to find a size for her?"
He couldn't help his grin and watched as Erza easily slipped her fingers into the gloves. Jellal wasn't the only one who went the extra mile for Erza, Levy noted. Simon would've done the same thing if he were in Jellal's position. The trio was stuck in an unending love triangle. Then again, Levy speculated many love triangles throughout the years of being in the guildhall. The only one she was oblivious to was her own with the Shadow Gear.
She stared off into the hall as Jet and Droy danced along with the other mages in Fairy Tail. Levy turned away and huffed a frustrated sigh.
"Alright, let's begin!" she announced.
"No way!" Simon exclaimed as he reread the text passage once again. "The author of this book believes searching in the darkness is the answer to seek Primordial Magic?"
Jellal pinpointed the passage and read it aloud as Erza peeked over his shoulder for a better view. "After observing the nature of magic for the decades I've been studying it, I have come to a realization that all universal magic stems from the one kind: Primordial. However, this magic is born from the absence of light, meaning that all magic has originated from darkness. It's a folly lie told to young mages that light is good and dark is evil. In magic's simplest form, there is no such thing as good and evil alignment. The concept is created by man and has been adopted as a universal belief since monks in the past have approved it. Thus, I have been fortunate enough to understand that no practice of magic is a taboo, even if it's forbidden by the law. This is because magic is neutral in all regards. Therefore, Primordial Magic lies within Zeref, who must be found by searching for the keys to unlock Zeref's seal. He shall grant us a way to Heaven, where we can practice magic without limits."
Erza placed a hand on Jellal's shoulder. "You translated the text so fluently. I'm impressed."
"Well, aren't you a flatterer?" he said with amusement.
Simon frowned, "The author believes magic is born from darkness, and he's suggesting that the Black Wizard has access to Primordial Magic. If that were the case, then why would Zeref bother existing in Earth Land when magic has limitations here?"
"My thoughts exactly," concurred Jellal. "A world without limits doesn't sound like true freedom. It feels like an eternal void of nothingness and destruction. Perhaps that's why the R-System exists. The cult we overthrew during the rebellion wanted to revive Zeref in the hopes of attaining Heaven."
Erza lowly whispered, "Hence the name—the Tower of Heaven."
He could feel her grip tighten on him as she recalled memories of the past. Levy shot them a confused look but dismissed the Tower of Heaven. She assumed it was a mission they took on while in Fairy Tail.
"So, what now? Does that mean we can only seek this Primordial Magic through the Black Wizard, Zeref?" Levy questioned in contempt. The arguments made by this author didn't feel right to her.
"He may be right about magic originating from darkness." Jellal said. He felt on edge by the revelation and couldn't help but wonder if this was the only viable explanation.
"We can search for more books on the research," Erza optimistically suggested.
"We can," Jellal reiterated slowly. "However, we have a larger matter at hand to deal with."
The majority of mages were fast asleep after the effects of their hangover begun. Natsu and Cana drooled in their sleep, while Macao and Wakaba were swept under a broken table. Happy remained awake and surveyed the mess of the guildhall. He nibbled on his food without Natsu's interference or the usual ruckus.
"Mira, can I please get one more fishy?"
Seeing that nobody else was awake or sober enough to request for any food, the barmaid complied with his request quickly. Jellal made a mental note of that fish being his twenty-second plate.
"Well, we don't even know where half of them live." Erza informed as she picked Natsu and Gray off the ground.
Millianna whistled at the silence, finding it more eerie than tranquil. "Then we dump them all into one place and leave them there."
"Lu's apartment sounds like a great idea!" Levy beamed in delight.
Jellal turned to Erza for confirmation, who simply shrugged her shoulders. "Lucy's not going to be pleased..."
"I think Fairy Hills would be more appropriate," Jellal offered.
Erza reminded in a soft-spoken voice, "No men allowed."
Trying to find another solution, Jellal tramped off to the second floor and set foot inside Makarov's office, trying to find a set of documents for the personal information on each member. His office was messy and Jellal had half a mind of cleaning it out, but dismissed the idea. He searched the drawers and found a bundle of neatly tucked sheets with Laxus' information first. As he progressed through the papers, names like Laki, Max, and Wakaba appeared in the lists. Jellal picked out the addresses he needed and brought the papers to the others, handing them out to the sober mages.
"There, now we can return them to their designated houses."
Levy's face fell, "You mean to say I have to carry them all the way to their addresses? Without a lacrima for navigation?"
"I think you owe me for all the times I've saved face for you." Jellal said.
"Fine!" she abruptly interrupted. "I suppose I can take Lu...along with Jet and Droy. Solid Script: Wagon!" the bubbly letters dissipated into a wooden wagon with a handle to ease Levy's trip.
Erza wiggled her wrists, trying to free herself from the manacles. By some bizarre miracle, only then would the device be removed from her. "Great, how am I supposed to carry them all back to Fairy Hills?"
"I'll help," both Simon and Jellal offered simultaneously. Neither of them backed down from their proposal, and Erza was grateful for the help. She insisted on needing only one person, but they both informed her that the more was merrier.
Jellal used his Telekinesis to control the movements of eight mages, leading them outside of the guildhall slowly. They looked like spirits engulfed in the golden light while sleeping. The sleeping mages would stand out in contrast to the dark night sky. Meanwhile, Millianna purposely chose Natsu to lure Happy out with her, successfully doing so. The exceed followed her obediently after patting his tummy from the fulfilling dinner. It didn't help that Millianna squeezed his middle affectionately.
Mirajane was the last person to exit the guildhall along with Elfman. She fished for the guildhall keys from her pocket and locked the doors before heading out for the night.
Jellal and Erza glanced at Levy's wagon before asking her, "Are you sure you'll be fine by yourself?"
"Don't worry about me. I'll be back before you know it."
"...if you're sure." Erza hesitated before starting down the opposite direction from her with her friends.
"G'night Levy!" Sho and Wally shouted from a distance, waving at her. Levy gave a small movement of her hand before dragging the wagon behind her. She could hear Jet and Droy snort in their sleep and Lucy shake from the uneven pavement.
Levy looked over the addresses Jellal gave her and deduced that Lucy's apartment was the nearest place to start.
She started off in the direction and tried not to let the loneliness unnerve her. She kept reminding herself that she wasn't alone and had three novice mages that weren't nearly as strong as the powerhouses of Fairy Tail in her company. To top that, said mages were knocked out cold and in no way responsive to the dangers of this world.
Calm down, Levy. You're simply being paranoid.
She heard the rustle of leaves and went still. She heard the sound again, but she couldn't see the trees or shrubs move. Levy hauled the wagon to the side and crawled into it, trying to wake her friends up.
"Hey Jet, Droy, wake u-"
She shrieked when she felt a heavy presence behind her. There was a sensation of metal pressing her down and she tried stifling her sporadic sobs. The presence felt intruding and unfamiliar. Her hands shook as she tried lifting herself to her feet.
The man who pinned her down studied Levy's back, where her guild mark illuminated within the moonlight.
"So, we got ourselves some fairy scum here, huh?"
His baritone was deep and chilling, and it scared Levy all the more. She thrashed against him in an attempt to escape, but her efforts were futile. She should've asked Jellal or Simon to tag along with her. Levy shook her head desperately and felt her tears blur her vision before everything went black.
Jellal woke up to his alarm ringing on his bedside, reminding him of the council meeting he had today. He tapped the top of the alarm to stop it from vibrating and opened his eyes.
Everything about yesterday felt surreal and his recollection of the events were duly remembered. Especially the discussion about Primordial Magic.
He couldn't help but wonder if all the years he spent studying magic were wasted because he'd been fed lie after lie. The Magic Council banned some practices of magic because it could take many lives. The same way magic had a greedy nature of taking and giving life to a person. Curses killed until there was nothing left for them to take.
Jellal cleared his thoughts and got up from bed, making his way to the bathroom for a shower.
He could still remember Erza's concern about Levy's impending return. They tried not to dwell on it and searched for her. Simon informed them about Levy's wagon found abandoned near Lucy's apartment. She might have stayed over at Lucy's but they didn't enter the apartment.
He felt his muscles tense from the memory and wondered why she hadn't returned to Fairy Hills. Levy's voice constantly rang in his head as he tried finding the words to evaluate his relationship with Erza.
"You guys can't be just friends if you have such a long history."
Jellal was planning to say something to Erza for a long time, but he wasn't sure how Simon would take the news if by some chance he and Erza started going out. Then there was the media to worry about afterwards, who seemed like a restless bunch.
He studied himself in the mirror before scoffing. Would she really be happy with him? He kept so many secrets from her about his work in the Magic Council. She deserved the truth.
That wasn't something he could give her now.
He slipped on his white coat with the medallion, attesting his status as one of the Ten Wizard Saints. The decoration remained a symbolic memory of the normal life he could've led on without being exposed to the Magic Council's atrocities like Face and Etherion. Being the seal for both weapons came with a burdened cost.
On the way out of his estate, Jellal looked past the kitchen and considered getting something to eat. He hadn't had anything to eat yesterday except the few bites of his breakfast at Natsu's.
Jellal ignored his hunger and exited his hollow home, with many rooms to spare but no people to share it with. The estate was bestowed by the Magic Council and he accepted it. Taking it was easy, but living in a place so clean and untouched felt like a waste of space. He regretted his decision of accepting the offer every time he returned in the night.
The Wizard Saint made his way to the guildhall with Meteor and found countless groups surrounding Magnolia Park. Dismissing it as a festival, Jellal continued to the guildhall and found Erza waiting at the entrance alone. She touched the iron beams as if predicting the work of the mage.
"...Erza?"
The disheartened mage turned to face him and found her stepping away from the mess. She attempted to kick the guildhall doors open, but they wouldn't budge.
"Someone destroyed the guildhall last night," she explained hastily. "I had a feeling these manacles brought bad luck!"
"How come we didn't sense their presence?"
She gave the ground a hard stare, unsure of the answer. "Perhaps he destroyed it in the middle of the night. I'm surprised that nobody else is here."
"HEY!" they heard an incoming shout and found Natsu and Happy racing towards the damaged guildhall in a frenzy. "Have you seen Luce?"
"I'm surprised her apartment wasn't your first guess," Erza said with mild surprise.
"She's not in there. For once, she's showed me up this time. Usually she's still asleep."
Jellal's eyes widened at the revelation, "Was Levy not there either?"
"Levy? I wouldn't see a reason as to why she would be having a sleepover with Luce. I just recovered from a hangover." He doubled over and clutched his forehead, "Man, this headache sucks!"
Erza studied Natsu for a moment, "If she's not with Lucy, and they've both disappeared...do you think something's happened to them?"
"That's the only other option." Jellal admitted dreadfully.
"I can sniff Levy..." Natsu managed through his pain. He leaned against the guildhall's structure before gagging. He pointed further into the town where Simon investigated the abandoned wagon last night. "That way!"
Natsu clamped a hand over his mouth as he led the mages to the designated location. Twice he tripped against himself. The trip was slow on his part because of the dull headache which resulted from the hangover.
The previous crowds Jellal came across in Magnolia Park increased dramatically. Jellal led his guild mates both through the crowd as they squeezed past the people until they were in the front lines. Cana and Makarov were present, eyes fixated to a tree.
Jellal could see Makarov's veins prominently through his skin and found no words could describe the guild master's fury. His eyes shot up to the grand tree of the park and found Levy, Jet, and Droy hanging from it. Their hands were bound against the tree with magic and their bodies smeared with their own blood. The blood's pattern resembled the Phantom Lord symbol. Jellal found no fault in the irony of the situation.
Erza wasn't being paranoid last night. Her concern was valid. Despite having a handful of sober mages, they weren't able to prevent the destruction of the guildhall nor save Levy in time.
The blue-haired mage sighed, "I take it the destruction of the guildhall was Phantom Lord's doing?"
Makarov's fist clenched tightly at the mention of their name. The others were unsurprised by the attack since the one-sided grudge between Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord was no secret.
"This means war," the guild master announced. The chanting that resounded around encouraged Makarov. However, it died down when Jellal's silence piqued everyone's interest.
They prompted him to speak, and when he did, only more questions arose.
"Declaring war will make Fairy Tail seem like the aggressors in the situation. This will most certainly involve the Magic Council, and that's the last thing we want."
The old man put a hand to his chin. "I was willing to overlook the guildhall's destruction to prevent conflict, but harming one of our members has crossed the line."
"As much as I want to exact revenge against them, my situation is compromised since Magic Council members are to remain neutral. You know it's a criminal offence if I do so otherwise, Makarov."
Erza interfered after hearing Jellal's protests. "How could you say that? They could've been killed!"
"I know," Jellal replied quietly. "I want to fight, but..."
He looked over at Makarov, who signalled for him to keep quiet. Jellal didn't know how to explain the situation to Erza if he couldn't say a word about his infiltration mission. He would join the war without a second thought if Makarov wasn't so desperate for information Jellal worked towards for years.
"I get it," Erza said in a clipped tone. "You value your position on the Magic Council more than your friends."
"Erza-"
"No," she held a hand out to him. "I don't want to hear your excuses. To think you would care about a position. Then again, you've been working towards your goals ever since. It would only make sense."
She spun on her heel and started walking away, leading the others. Simon clasped a hand on Erza's shoulder in an attempt to stop her. "Erza, just hear him out!"
The rest was inaudible to Jellal, but he knew she didn't want to him. The crowds cleared up when the crucified mages were taken down from the trees wordlessly by Jellal and handed over to Elfman and Cana.
Only Makarov remained behind with his arms behind his back. Nobody dared question Erza about the argument.
The guild master gave a giddy grin to lighten up the atmosphere. It didn't change Jellal's hardened expression in the slightest. "So, what's your plan?"
Jellal crossed his arms. "What do you want me to do?"
Makarov shrugged his shoulders and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Go to the council and act like nothing happened. The last thing I want is to have you being trialed for taking part in a war."
He found the Wizard Saint gone before he could further explain, causing Makarov to groan.
Erza couldn't stop thinking about Jellal's reaction to her words. He didn't make an attempt to assert her point, nor did Makarov mind his decision to stay on the Magic Council. She didn't know why that was, but it'd perhaps be best to not discuss the subject. Jellal never gave her clear-cut answers when it came to certain topics, especially the Magic Council.
As Fairy Tail raced to the Phantom Lord guildhall to find Lucy, Simon ran alongside her and tried stopping her numerous times.
"Erza, you shouldn't have walked out on Jellal like that," Simon heaved through ragged breaths. They continued pacing along the path leading to the guildhall. The vibration of an explosion caught their enemies' attention, and the members of Phantom Lord positioned themselves to defend their guildhall.
Erza furrowed her eyebrows in uncertainty. "Simon, I don't think this is a good time to talk about it."
"You've been thinking about it this entire time."
She was about to open her mouth to protest, but was interrupted by another explosion which resounded the guildhall.
Natsu ventured inside with Gray and Elfman. They simultaneously took out a handful of mages when they came across whoever they could find, seething in anger. The Dragon Slayer growled as the Phantom mages held out weapons in retaliation.
Bisca and Alzack supported them from behind, blocking the attacks thrown at Natsu. Erza tried finding the members of the Element 4, she scoured the place for anyone, but none of the members were present oddly enough.
Makarov used her as a distraction to make his way to the top floor, to settle things with Jose. The guild master trotted up the stairs and maneuvered his way around the establishment. In his opinion, Jellal would come in handy because he was on par with Jose. Even Jose himself wasn't able to discredit the young prodigy for becoming a Wizard Saint at sixteen.
Below him, Erza watched for any movements to see if anyone were hiding.
An explosion resounded behind her, where Cana, Macao, and Wakaba lay on the ground.
"Ice-Make: Shield!" Gray conjured up the barrier between them and the incoming attacks. The approaching waves of magic chipped away at the shield.
Erza, oblivious to the situation, continued to holler. "We have to keep fighting! So long as Master Makarov is up there, we will emerge victorious!"
That was the single bet she was hoping for, since there were no other S-Class wizards fighting alongside them. Mirajane tended to Elfman's injuries, holding him upright as Natsu continued springing off the walls to fight off mages.
Millianna looked from the corner of her eye and noticed Erza lost focus on her battle. Sho and Wally stepped forth in the front lines to claw at the members, fighting them with their fists and legs.
"Erza, you've got to concentrate!" Simon yelled over the chaos. Erza pinched the bridge of her nose and recollected her thoughts.
To her credit, she was able to spot Gajeel on a beam, along with Aria. The larger mage disappeared into the top floors, where Makarov entered the single room with a violent blast following his movements. The hallways crumbled around Makarov's girth when he used his Giant Magic.
"Jose!" he called out when he finally arrived in a room when a lonesome window. On there, Jose was perched on a chair reminiscent to the royal throne of Fiore, mocking the royal family. Upon his arrival, the other Wizard Saint stood up, unfazed by the menacing aura of his adversary.
"Ah, Makarov. What a pleasant surprise."
"I don't have time for jokes! Where is Lucy, and why have you taken her?"
Light rays sporadically shot from his palm and were directed towards Jose, who remained in his spot. The area was destroyed with parts of the chair chipping away. He emerged completely fine and his invisibility became more defined.
Realizing Jose was a Thought Projection, Makarov scowled. "Coward, come fight me like a man!"
Arrogantly, he responded, "Surely you're kidding, you don't stand a chance against me."
Baffled, Makarov was determined to prove him otherwise until another mage crashed below him, blindfolded. The Fairy Tail guild master recognized him as one of the Element 4, and the strongest out of all the mages. Jose's command was loud and clear, "Aria, deal with this pest."
Makarov opened his mouth to speak out against how he was referred to, but suddenly felt like he was inhaling poison, the kind that made him suffocate. Jose's Thought Projection disappeared as his rival paled until his face became green and eyes wide. Aria's magic sucked the magic out of the Wizard Saint and took a toll on his physical health. He laid on the ground, body twitching irregularly once he was paralyzed.
Aria used a strong gust of wind to send Makarov crashing down onto the first floor, much to Erza's confusion. "Master!"
She ran to his aid and knelt down to his level, carrying him in her arms. Gray and Millianna were at a loss for words; a warrior as strong as Erza was never this helpless.
She turned to her injured comrades, deafened by the wails and magic explosions. "We have to leave! Now!"
Everyone was reluctant to turn on their heels and retreat. She reiterated in a stronger voice. "That's an order!"
Her guild mates started fleeing, while Erza tried fighting off the remaining Phantom Lord members. "That means you too," he said, guiding her away from the mob of mages.
Gray stood in his spot before retreating with Wally, ignoring a question in the back of his head. He hadn't found Natsu in sight after grabbing a mage from the neck.
The Dragon Slayer ran as fast as his legs could carry him alongside Happy with a mage in his clutches. "I demand you to take me to Luce!"
Natsu didn't sound as authoritative as he should've. Where was Erza when you needed her?
"Who? Oh, the girl Master Jose kidnapped?" the captive asked with an attitude, "I don't know where she is."
Natsu pummelled him into the ground. "You will tell me!"
The man groaned, trying to recover his footing. Natsu picked him up with ease, glowering at the uncooperative mage.
It wasn't until after Natsu threatened him that he started leading him to Jose's headquarters. His base of operations were established separately from the guildhall where he resided. Not many members of Phantom Lord had even seen their guild master because he seldom visited them. The headquarters were limited to certain members, including the Element 4.
Once the tower was in sight, Natsu threw away the man nonchalantly.
Much to Jellal's dismay, the Magic Council meeting was delayed due to an unresolved jurisdiction in his absence. At least it wasn't Gajeel, who managed to show up at least once every two weeks. Jellal observed the odd relationship between him and Belno, which was unsurprising. She was like a second mother, warning Gajeel about the consequences of his actions. That airhead could stand to listen to a thing or two from her. He was never personally or emotionally involved with Gajeel and thought the Magic Council was being too lenient with his punishments. It wasn't even allowed to be called a punishment. Gajeel always had to memorize the rules he broke, which wasn't hard if you were Simon or Levy, but Gajeel had trouble; he would sit there spaced out until Belno gave up.
Thinking back to his research when he first begun work at the Magic Council, they gave him a practicable position which proved to be useful to Makarov. It involved Jellal translating ancient books and scriptures, which was most of his paperwork. Then he would have to write reports for the kingdom and the government about the regulation of magic in Fiore. By doing this, he was able to oversee how Toma dealt with diplomatic relations. His last task involved forbidden books only Jellal and Chairman Crawford could access. The chairman usually asked him to classify artifacts and records tracing back to Zeref. The idea sounded speculative to Jellal, but he was able to learn a handful about the Black Wizard.
After what seemed like days, the other council members came to a verdict about the accused, and deemed him innocent.
The councillors left the court in an orderly fashion. Their projections vanished as they came back to Era, conjoining the Thought Projections with their real bodies. Jellal knew Makarov wouldn't appease to his idea of informing the Magic Council, but it would buy them enough time to fight the war with Phantom Lord without a third party interference.
Chairman Crawford attended today's meeting with an agenda. He circled around the room as the members remained still, skimming through his book before halting to a stop. "Today's topic is about the activity of dark guilds across Fiore."
Jellal interrupted him with a stoic look, "Actually, from what I've heard around Magnolia today, Phantom Lord is the most pressing concern at the moment."
Belno's face fell at the mention of their guild, which was brought up along with Gajeel. "Can we ever have a day where that guild isn't mentioned?"
"This time it's concerning a potential war."
Everyone turned their attention to Jellal. It had been three years since any guild formally clashed with each other, and this war would mark the end of a peaceful reign by the Magic Council between legal guilds.
"Go on," prompted Belno.
In the centre of the room, he summoned a lacrima and displayed a visual image of the Fairy Tail guildhall. The members gasped, and it wasn't until he got a good glimpse he realized there was a cannon aimed at the guildhall.
"Who's controlling that thing?" Belno demanded an answer, unable to describe the moving headquarters. It now looked like a huge contraption designed by Jose for specifically this day to come.
The council members gave him blank stares as he asked, "Are you going to let me fight this war?"
The Jupiter Cannon scared everyone to their wits. Was Jose trying to execute the entirety of the guild? Nobody would expect him to take extreme measures.
Erza combed her fingers in her wet strands of hair as she rushed out of her shower in the guildhall and remained clad in a towel. She ran towards the cannon, requipping into her Adamantine Armour.
Simon reached out for her wrist, eyes wide in disbelief. "What are you doing?"
"Protecting the guildhall!" fiercely she jumped ahead and out of his grasp, knowing Jose would fire Jupiter any moment.
"Erzy, please stop. There's no point!" Millianna reached out to her friend with a stifled sob, but was held back by Wally and Sho.
Gray reached for Natsu's arms and pinned them from behind. The Dragon Slayer gulped in fear of her fate after the cannon would be fired. "ERZA!"
Lucy clasped a hand over her mouth and wondered what made him resort to such extremes. If it was true that the cannon could kill her, then she would die alongside them. Didn't he need to keep her alive to return her to Jude, anyway?
"There's nothing we can do, we just got to have faith in her." Gray reassured. His heart pounded in his ears and didn't help either of them in restraining themselves.
The diameter of Erza's shield increased tenfold when she attacked the two pieces of her Adamantine Shield together. She was strong enough to withstand the force, defending the guildhall as she stood her ground. The Adamantine Armour started breaking away as the cannon continuously hit the shield with full force.
She was almost done in, Erza knew in a few seconds the shield wouldn't be able to withstand the blast. She could feel its power, the ability to take so many lives. The very idea of guilds trying to kill each other infuriated Erza. In a matter of time, the shield broke apart as expected, sending her flying and rolling across the terrain. Unable to stand, Erza remained on the ground, breathing heavily. What remained of her armor soon vanished, and she was back to her white blouse and blue skirt.
"She saved us," remarked Macao. The deep pathway in front of them resulted from Erza unable to resist the blast for the last few seconds. Luckily, nobody else was hurt.
Cana frowned, "Yeah, but look, this might have done her in."
"Erza!" reiterated Natsu, rushing to her side. He noticed the lasting effects it had on her body. She tried getting up, but she only landed back onto the ground.
Jose gave a look of disapproval. "Makarov is out cold, and now Erza can no longer stand. Surrender Lucy Heartfilia, it's your only hope."
His thoughts were shared with Erza on Jellal's disappearance. He wasn't in sight, nor did he bother to come help. He had heard about Laxus' strength, but his ego rivalled his strength. Laxus would never help them if they begged him. He only ever did what was in his best interest.
Erza mustered up the strength to retort in response to his absurd idea. "We would never betray Lucy, you'd have to kill us first!"
Natsu piped along with her as his veins popped out in anger. "Yeah! So you can stop asking us because our answer is no! We're taking every one of you jerks down!"
Jose resisted the urge to shatter the lacrima into pieces. Their stubborn response bewildered him, especially since there wasn't someone on par with Erza at the moment. He had the Magic Council to thank; they kept Jellal's hands full. He wouldn't be allowed to walk into this war zone unless he gave up everything he worked for to get this far. Anyone who would consider a war far greater than their years of hard work was a fool.
Jellal being in Fairy Tail pricked Jose with jealousy. An ingenious man like him was exactly what he needed in Phantom Lord. In his opinion, such a resourceful mage should not have been put to waste over a guild like Fairy Tail.
Agitated by the retaliation, he released Shades into the air and watched as they floated towards the guildhall. That magic ability had contributed into earning his title as a Wizard Saint. Anyone who came into contact with a Shade would bleed until they died.
"This will work either one of two ways. My Shade Magic will take you down one by one, or you'll all be annihilated by Jupiter in fifteen minutes. And this time, Erza Scarlet isn't here to save you."
Macao gaped at Jose's threat. "Do you think he's going to do it?"
Wakaba nervously chuckled, "Course not."
"No, he will do it." Cana affirmed, looking over at the headquarters of the grand guild. She gritted her teeth, unsure of what to do. From the corner of her eye, she could see Erza struggling to get off the ground. Her injuries did her in, and with no one as strong as the female mage, they would die for sure.
Natsu collided his fists together, producing a flame. "Let's go stop that cannon, Happy."
"Aye sir!" he carried Natsu from the back of his collar, advancing across the water to infiltrate the control room. They snuck inside the Giant Mage through the muzzle of the cannon which reeked of remnants of dark energy. That's precisely what the blast consisted, and it left a foul smell. Happy flew Natsu to the control room until there was a pathway. The exceed's heart fluttered in excitement. His friend's ambition allowed him to embark on the journey full of danger. Perhaps it was also about the risky gamble they took on. With Makarov trying to recover and Erza out of the game, they didn't stand a chance. Jellal wasn't around to help them out, putting them at a massive disadvantage.
Natsu stopped short, realizing he stumbled upon the giant lacrima which was easily accessible. However, something felt odd about the atmosphere. He could sense another mage's presence, but that was expected of Phantom Lord. Jose took extra precautions to ensure his plan would be successful.
Belno sniffled at Jellal's proposal as a way to condition the Magic Council into allowing him to undermine a major law. "Of course you can't. As a Magic Council member, you're not allowed to take part in any wars. You're committing a grave offence if you do."
"Jose started this war, so it only makes sense if Fairy Tail fights back. A war between two Wizard Saints will only stir uncertainty within the mages of Fiore. They'll question the morality of those chosen for the title."
The Magic Council refused to let anyone within high ranks cause a pandemonium. It was for the sake of their reputation in being revered as the strongest magical body in Ishgar.
"We don't want three Wizard Saints being stripped of their titles, now do we?" Yajima countered, causing everyone to reconsider the decision.
Including Makarov, that would mean finding three replacements and an unstable government in the Magic Council. Now also wasn't the best time to leave, especially since Jellal was so close to his breakthrough for his infiltration mission.
"You're forgetting that I'm a seal for Face."
They all behaved as if this was news to their ears. Jellal felt his heart soar with triumph at their reactions. There was no way they would kick him out of the Magic Council now that he reminded them of his importance.
Chairman Crawford laughed. "We can do without one seal to Face. However, that would cost you your life."
For a proposal such as killing Jellal, the chairman was casual about it. Face was Ishgar's most powerful weapon and having two seals would make it much easier to access it.
"But you couldn't. Even if you all tried, it'd be impossible."
Michello opened an eye and shifted his weight onto his staff. "Stop beating around the bush. Do you want to fight with your guild?"
Everything Erza told him flitted through his memory. She valued Fairy Tail. She cared about her loved ones, and she couldn't stand to be so vulnerable without her magic. One day in her manacles taught her a meaningful lesson. Never again would she dare jeopardize her guild. Jellal saw eye to eye with her and didn't blame her for her rage. He understood the reasoning behind it.
The members studied him with mild interest and wondered if he would put eight years of studying to waste. He was willing to give up an important position for a childhood friend.
Jellal escaped the building with Meteor without a second wasted. It took a minute for the councillors to register what he had done, blinking at the spot which once held Jellal's presence. Chairman Crawford's mouth gaped open at his audacity. On top of fighting a war which ultimately resulted in automatic jail time for a councillor, Jellal left a Magic Council meeting without being pardoned, another crime.
He growled, "Tell the Rune Knights to go after him!"
The bells resounded around the Magic Council as everyone obeyed Crawford's orders without a second thought.
Everyone except Yajima.
"Let's crash this thing!" declared Natsu, before rushing to the lacrima, only to find his efforts in vain.
"Nu-uh-uh, I can't have you destroying everything." This man appeared in front of Natsu. His white and black hair stood out, tied back into a Japanese styled ponytail. Around his nose, there was a black streak of paint across his face. "Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Totomaru."
Natsu didn't know how to pronounce the name, so he tried not using his name. "Well Todomoru, prepare to be burned to a crisp."
The Phantom Lord wizard stared at him, "That's not my name!"
"Yeah? I was so sure I said it right. If you can't tell, I have a great memory."
They were both disrupted by the mechanized voice message, "Seven minutes until Jupiter fires."
The Phantom Lord mage rolled his eyes at Natsu's childish attitude. Happy tugged at his arm. "Fight him later, we have to stop that cannon from firing!"
"I know, I know! It won't take me long to wipe him out. Fire Dragon Roar!"
The whirl of fire changed direction, much to Natsu and Happy's shock. The fire looped around the latter and attacked Natsu. The Dragon Slayer groaned, propping himself back on his feet impulsively. "How can you do that?"
"Five minutes until Jupiter fires."
Totomaru changed positions swiftly, countering to Natsu's attacks with his own. Every time the Fairy Tail mage tried to close the distance, his enemy disappeared in an instant, using his own fire magic. He stood there, unspent as opposed to Natsu, who was panting from exhaustion. "I'm a fire mage too. I can control your fire, and anyone else's."
He summoned a blade, growing tired of using Fire Magic. They were both fast in dodging each other's hits, but Totomaru had the upper hand.
Natsu was ready to blow more fire, much to his enemy's amusement. "Are you seriously going to do that? I can control your fire."
"FIRE DRAGON- spit!" he blew raspberries at Totomaru, who went from cocky to disgusted in mere seconds. A scowl plastered his countenance when he wiped the spit off his face with his sleeve.
He summoned a fire with a foul smell and brought it near Natsu. Because of his remarkable sense of smell, Natsu got the most of it, doubling over while Totomaru attacked him.
"Hey man, that's playing dirty!"
"Oh yeah? What about your spit trick?"
"Two minutes until Jupiter fires."
Happy silently signalled his friend to stop the Jupiter Cannon. Natsu mouthed, "I'm trying."
The other mage was determined to push him aside, so he acted on a whim, pushing Natsu against a wall. The rosy haired man groaned, trying to find his footing.
"You can't control my fire!" he yelled, unleashing more of his magic energy onto him.
Totomaru approached him with a blade, slashing his abdomen brutally. The scent of his coat drove Natsu's senses crazy. He hollered while kicking Totomaru to the ground with even greater force. They both groaned in agony, unable to focus on each other.
"One minute until Jupiter fires."
The Dragon Slayer stood up, preparing to attack him full speed. But the headquarters of Phantom Lord served as a vehicle, triggering Natsu's weakness. He dropped on his knees and clutched his stomach. His innards burned as his flames died down.
Totomaru gawked at him, "Don't tell me you have motion sickness!?"
"Dragon...Slayer."
He collapsed to the floor with his cheeks puffed in desperation for air. His throat constricted as a wave of nausea angrily roiled over. Totomaru's footsteps became louder every time he took a step, flooding Natsu's ears. Everything about it spoke malicious intentions.
"Thirty seconds until Jupiter fires."
The wizard summoned a sword in his right hand, raising it so the edge remained an inch above Natsu's neck. "Say goodbye, Salamander."