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Chapter 13: Cause and Consequence

Horrible. It was the only word that could describe Jellal's current condition. His heavy lids opened to set his gaze on the sticky fluid drenching his coat, before they darted to Jose, who was smiling maniacally.

Delightfully, Jose grazed his thumb over Jellal's cheek, as if concerned for him. The action stirred unwanted memories resurfacing, invoking an involuntary shiver. "For a second there, I thought you died on me, you poor thing. Oh, how your awakening pleases me, Jellal!"

Jellal remained silent, confused about Erza's whereabouts and how Jose ended up keeping him captive. Had no one really tried going up against the guild master? Did nobody know that Erza was in danger and that he was utterly helpless?

There were unspoken words in their conversations. The younger mage held out his palm and shot out rays of light directed towards Jose. The magic destroyed everything but the target.

He felt the dull headache resulting from the gash. His head fell back against the wall as he breathed heavily. No sounds escaped him because of the sharp pain in both his head and abdomen.

Jellal felt like a dead man reliving his murder.

It took a few moments to recompose himself, and when he did, his eyes were squarely fixed on his captor. "What drove Erza to such extremes? And where is she now?"

"You mean her attempt to kill herself? It was foolish, honestly. Just a speech about love and friendship and all those sickening things. None of that is my concern, anyway. She's probably dead." Jellal's eyes widened, to which Jose lightly chuckled. "Oh, you don't remember? I can't blame you, with the injury and blood loss.

"I left her to die."

Jellal suddenly felt sick to his stomach. Jose forced him into a wall after Jellal found his footing. The resulting action caused his skull colliding with the wall. He would laugh if off later and call it a panic reflex for impulsively trying to escape. But now. he needed to find Erza.

Blood seeped out of his mouth and he closed his eyes, taking deep breaths as he tried focusing on anything but the feeling of broken bones. His rib cage hurt every time his diaphragm expanded and contracted. Everything hurt.

"You dishonour the title of a Wizard Saint, young boy. The Magic Council should have reconsidered giving the honorary to such a delicate thing." Jose mocked. Jellal glared at his captor, who showed no interest in reacting to his attempts to intimidate Jose. "Prove to me you are worthy of such a renowned reputation."

The younger mage attempted a short, humourless, laugh. "Is this what our quarrel is about? Is this why you're attacking an entire guild, over something so...trivial?"

Jose held his hand out, producing Shade after Shade. "You're desperation for fame has no bounds, little one. Not only are you a Wizard Saint, but a councillor as well? You truly are driven by greed."

Jellal leapt on instinct to dodge them, being able to evade the attacks through simple staggering leaps. Jose observed his skills firsthand, impressed. "Careful, that wound looks horrible. It isn't even properly bandaged. Erza, oh that pathetic girl."

"She did everything beyond her capability considering her injuries, you don't have the right to say anything about that, not after what you've done."

"True, I must admit she was quite strong to hold up her own against me. But that doesn't change the fact that she's dead."

Jellal clutched his blood-stained abdomen and stood up again. "She wouldn't die that easily. I'll reach her...somehow."

Jose sent him flying to a wall when he attempted to escape. The magic tightened around Jellal's neck, suffocating him. He eventually fought them off as his fingertips produced energy from the stars to oppose the hollow creatures. They all disappeared when the bright light engulfed him. Jellal fell backwards, while Jose prodded closer towards him.

"Ah ah ah, you're not going anywhere until you give me answers. This can go two ways; either you give me what I want, or die by my hands. And your death will not be an easy one."

He tried remained calm, trying not to dread over the idea of Erza drowning.

"Where does the Magic Council store the artifacts belonging to Zeref?"

Jellal froze, knowing full well of the information being asked for.

His reaction to it was as natural as possible, but not enough to fool Jose. "Artifacts? I don't recall the Magic Council having to do with anything of the sort."

"Don't lie to me, Jellal. I know the council stores these items. The geezers are predictable, which is why I can't get enough of them. If Ishgar really believes the Magic Council is powerful, they're deluded."

"You must have connections with powerful people to have such knowledge."

Jose was amused by Jellal's front. "Oh Jellal, now I see why they keep you as the face of the Magic Council. You're a ridiculously good liar. I bet Makarov doesn't even know the kind of work you do."

Jellal sighed, "I already told you that I know nothing about it."

"Oh, but you do." Jose tapped Jellal's head with a long finger, causing the Wizard Saint to sneer at him. "You bring so much value to the Magic Council, they couldn't have found anyone better for the position. You have an incredible eidetic memory, which is why the council is so keen on keeping you. Even after this war—if you make it out alive—they'll gladly accept you. They don't care if you've violated a law, they see you as a weapon.

"Not only that, you also happen to control Etherion, that much isn't hidden from the world. You do realize what would happen if your life were to end now, right?"

Jellal felt relieved he knew nothing about Face, and rather, assumed he was a seal for Etherion. "That may be so, but I don't have anything to do with the collection of Zeref's artifacts."

"Tell that lie to someone else, not me."

Erza closed her eyes in the water, feeling her lungs suffocate. She remembered the exact same feeling when her eye was taken out.

The poker lit up, and the guard used it for her right eye. She hadn't given answers about the plan to escape.

"It was me! It was only me!" she screamed, not wanting to involve anyone. She had told the truth, but they didn't believe her. "Filthy liar," was the only phrase she could make out.

In one harsh movement, one of the guards held her in place while the other poked her in the right eye. She shuddered and cried. Her right eye looked hideous. She was afraid. Erza wouldn't stop crying or relenting.

"Who was it?" they asked. She panted heavily, shaking her head furiously.

"It was only me!" she yelled again. Her throat was dry, and her lungs burned from the pain. They already stripped her of one eye, she would've rather died.

Then Jellal found her. Everything was a mess. She looked horrible, but he still helped her. She couldn't help but notice he was also shaking.

"What did they do to you?" he asked.

She refused to talk about it. Reliving the memory felt like suffocating in the ocean with no way out. That is how she felt shackled to her past.

"No," she whispered.

Erza woke up on the shore of Magnolia. Mirajane bent over Erza in an attempt to get rid of the rest of the water she was coughing out.

Her entire body was soaking wet, and her armour was slightly rusted. She gagged and keeled over, spitting out the rest of the saltwater. Everything about it felt disgusting.

"Erza," she breathed the words in relief, brushing the sand off her vibrant hair. "I thought we lost you for good."

Erza looked at her hands. There was no blood, no evidence that Jellal was left to die by the hands of Jose. "Where is he?"

"Jellal?"

The S-Class mage recalled the events minutes before she was thrown into the sea. Her voice turned frail and she clutched Mirajane's hand tightly. The sudden grip surprised the barmaid. "We need to save him, Mira! He's not okay! Jellal's going to...to..."

He was dead last she saw him. Her knuckles turned white at the memory and she started crying again. "He died saving me!"

Mirajane froze. "Erza, what are you saying? Jellal can't be dead. He...how could you even suggest that?"

"I saw with my own eyes! I was going to kill myself to avoid being turned into Jose's minion. And just when my sword almost drove into me, Jellal intervened and he..."

She was at a loss for words, wondering what Jellal did to deserve any of it.

"I killed him, Mira. I'm his murderer!"

Mirajane's blank stare caught her off-guard. There were no empty words that could comfort her. Erza was beyond broken, and now so was she. "You."

A sword from Erza's space dimension clattered to the ground. "Please, I beg you. End my life. I can't...live with myself knowing I killed my closest friend."

He was more than my friend. And I hurt him beyond anyone else.

Oppositely, Mirajane threw the sword out of reach and grabbed Erza, hauling her up. "You know, you remind of myself the night Lisanna...died."

Erza studied her gaze, and noticed she was smiling. "Why are you..."

"Because you don't have faith in his ability. He's alive and well."

"He's still a human, Mirajane. None of you understand! Jellal can die, he's just as human as we are."

Mirajane looked up at the Super Giant Mage Phantom MK II. "I can get in and reach Jellal. Perhaps put Jose under a sleeping spell—if it has any effect on him. There's a reason why Jose hasn't annihilated us yet. He's occupied with Jellal."

Erza stumbled when she stood up, unsure of anything. "If that's the case, I'm going to see for myself if he's alive."

"Erza, you're in no condition to fight right now." Mirajane studied her comrade's appearance, pale and fragile. Her hair remained tangled and wet, sporting injuries raw and red.

"I need to find help. One person isn't enough to confront him." Erza scanned the guildhall only to find everyone dispersed on the battlefield. She couldn't walk that far. She looked up to see one mage fighting off the shades on the Giant Mage. "Simon."

"I'll make you tell me everything." Threatened Jose.

Even if I knew of what you asked for, i would never give you it. Take my life, torture me...you will never get it."

Jose held his arms out and struck Jellal with Shade Entangle, causing multiple Shades to loop around him and squeeze his magic energy out of him. Jellal closed his eyes to numb the excruciating pain. "I'm going to show your guild how exactly how excruciating your death will be."

Jellal opened one eye with a great degree of difficulty. "I gave my answer, and it will not change."

In truth, Jellal was apprehensive for Erza and everyone else. How did Jose manage to turn the tables so easily? At this point it was Fairy Tail against one mage. He was winning, and Jose took pleasure knowing Fairy Tail was in ruins. He released Jellal moments later, as if abandoning the idea. His enemy's life was more valuable than ever, especially with the information he possessed.

Within the blink of an eye, Jose came up with yet, another idea. Giving a sly smile, he suggested, "It wouldn't hurt to check on Erza to see if she's alive, now would it?"

From this, Jose got the precise reaction he wanted. Jellal stilled. His expression contorted into one of concern and fear. What frightened the young mage even more was how Jose drew accurate conclusions from a simple expression.

"I see, so you love her? Who knew you had it in you to have feelings for someone. Oh, the wonders of love." He hummed.

Jellal's throat constricted. "Wait! This has...nothing to do with her. Hurt me if you will, but Erza has nothing to do with this."

Jose studied him precariously. "You never learn, do you? To get what you want, you must take what's most precious from your enemy. And what better than to take the lives of those dear to us?"

"I don't love her!"

The older man cackled, "I wasn't born yesterday, Jellal. I have loved as well, and we'll do anything to protect them. Even denying our feelings."

A magic circle appeared in front of Jellal, where Erza collapsed onto the floor. Her breathing was laboured, but she was still alive and well. In another place and time, he would be relieved to see her. Not now, in front of Jose.

"No," he hissed. Like a plummeted bird, wounded from all the battles and adversaries.

Erza registered his surroundings and turned her head a second time to find Jellal in front of her. She cried out. "You...you're still, here. Alive!"

She still registered his presence and no longer feared. Both of them looked at each other with thousands of unsaid words. Her smile soon turned into a pitiful cry, grateful.

"No, Erza. Don't come near me." He whispered as he witnessed Jose grab the S-Class mage from her throat.

She let out a strangled scream, trying to reach out for him. Before him was not Titania, but a girl with a past she could've move on from. Jose easily controlled her movements. "Move any closer and I will end her life."

"Release her!"

Jose hummed in delight. "Oh, look at that expression of yours. You look like you're ready to murder me." Erza pulled at her captor's firm grip, but ended up straining against the mage. "Look at him, Erza. Look at what you've done to one of your own comrades.."

She noted the way Jellal was struggling to remain on the brink of consciousness. Slumped against a wall, breathing heavily, blood seeping through the cloth she wrapped around him.

Jellal heaved a breath before saying, "Don't listen to him, Erza. It's not your fault."

She stared at the floor momentarily before making eye contact with Jellal. Her Titania front resurfaced, trying to remain calm despite the situation screaming panic. "I'm sorry, Jellal. I—I should've known this would-"

Within seconds, Erza was driven against the opposite wall with an overwhelming force. Her eyes went wide before they blacked out.

Jellal watched in shock as she slumped to the ground, scoffing at his helplessness and the irony of the situation.

Jose studied her boringly for a long minute before concluding, "She's not dead. At least, not yet." Jose loomed closer towards Jellal in an attempt to mock his weak state. "Now tell me where the artifacts are located."

Jellal didn't stop looking her way, the question clouding his better judgement. "I already told you...I don't know where they are."

"A smarter man would tell me where they're located. If you haven't already noticed, Erza is here for a reason. The only way you'll get her back is if you comply with my request. Otherwise, I'll end her life."

"No."

"Yes. And unfortunately for you, I'm not a patient person."

Simon rushed towards the only place he memorized in the forest. Porlyusica chose an inconvenient location for her house, especially in dire times like this. He barged into the door and found a bandaged Makarov swinging his legs off the bed.

When the medical specialist noticed Simon's presence, she scowled. "Shoo! Don't you know this old man needs his rest!?" shouted Porlyusica.

Makarov's eye roll told Simon otherwise. He seemed unbothered by Porlyusica's strictness. "I'm fine."

Simon cleared his throat. "Sorry about the intrusion. There are urgent matters at the moment."

"This had better be quick." She mumbled unpleasantly.

Simon ignored her comment, "Jose...according to Erza, he captured Jellal. Erza was telling me about how she was..." the words seemed like a taboo, "the cause of his death, until a magic seal appeared underneath her and took her away."

Makarov raged at the news, "Where is he!? Don't tell me he's dead!"

Porlyusica pummelled the guild master's head to the ground with a swing of her broom. "Calm down. Considering a Wizard Saint is going against another Wizard Saint, things shouldn't go too bad for Jellal."

Simon further clarified, "Jellal sustained a serious injury, there's no way he can fight Jose in that condition. He saved Erza when she tried killing herself."

"I have to reach them."

"Makarov, you need to have faith in him. You can't fight, not after what Aria did."

The guild master paused for a moment. "He's always been a reliant mage, Porlyusica. Nobody will come save him when they assume he can fend off for himself."

The physician remained silent for a long moment before concluding, "I suppose it is urgent."

Never have words from Porlyusica sounded so unlike her until now. It had Simon questioning her knowledge about Jellal's capabilities.

"Your silence does not sit well with me," Jose said into the eerie room.

The situation put Jellal into a compromising situation, one he didn't know how to get out of. "I have no recollection about what you speak of."

Jose sighed, he left Jellal's side and went towards Erza, extending his arm out to suck the life out of her. There was no resistance, not when she was unconscious. "I'm sure she'll turn out to be a powerful Shade once I extract her soul."

He immediately reacted upon Erza's involvement in this situation. She was the scapegoat, and she would pay the price for his decisions. Jellal had also taken an oath to keep such information confidential in the Magic Council. Telling Jose could land him in lifetime prison, or worse.

They would probably execute him for treason.

But Erza. She was so much more important. Imagining her death had been a nightmare to simply dwell on.

He clenched his jaw as he carefully spoke, "I'll tell you where it is."

Jose quirked an eyebrow, "What was that? I don't think I heard you properly."

Jellal reiterated in a louder voice, "I'll tell you where the artifacts are."

Jose halted his advances on her, rolling his eyes as if the resistance annoyed him. "Honestly, you wouldn't have to go through so much trouble if you had just cooperated from the beginning."

"But you need to come closer, so I can give you the seal. It's transferred through Body Link."

The dark mage never felt happier in his life, pleased by the idea of Jellal succumbing to his wishes.

Not only that, everything was going just as planned for him. "I knew there'd be a seal, and you councillors hid it somewhere in Era I presume? Assuming there isn't another place. Era seems too obvious, in my opinion."

Jose was having the time of his life that he didn't realize Jellal absorbed the ethernano from his surroundings. There was such a small window of opportunity for escape for the young mage, and he would not let it go to waste. The guild master extended his hand out. "Well, extract the seal and hand it over to me."

Jellal slightly tilted to the right. "Meteor."

He raced towards Erza and grabbed her, using the window above her to leap out of the Giant Mage. They roughly landed on a sandy terrain, but it was better than being trapped like rats in a facility, with so many enemies and no escapes.

He gripped her forearms, slightly shaking her to consciousness. "Erza, please wake up."

There was no response, so he searched for a heartbeat.

"Jellal?"

He turned his head to the source of the voice, and found Mirajane rushing to the barely alive mages. She held her hands over her mouth, "What happened to the both of you?"

"We need to get out of here, now."

"Not so fast." Jellal's stomach dropped when he heard the same dreadful voice. "Thought you could buy some time by running away, Jellal? Think again."

Jellal pulled the unconscious wizard closer to him. "I never intended to give you what you wanted from the start."

"Then I'll take it by force!" Jose shouted, extending his palm towards Erza and Jellal. "I'll kill Erza and make you regret your decision! Perhaps her death should be slow. Yes...every time she's about to die, I'll keep her on the brink of consciousness. The cycle will repeat until she dies of exhaustion!"

"I'll never allow you to hurt her again. I swear it."

"Big words for a small boy. Resistance is futile, and that barmaid can't do anything either."

Jellal shielded Erza with his body, prepared to be annihilated with whatever spell Jose planned to use.

Mirajane pulled on Jellal's arm, trying to get him to move. "You have to run! That spell will kill you for good!"

He stared down at Erza's fragile frame. "Mirajane, there isn't enough time."

"Do you...intend to die?"

Mirajane took his silence as confirmation, and pulled harder. "It doesn't matter if you're hurting. You have to run!"

The both of them felt nauseous at his presence. Shade's effects were as such since it was a sinister form of magic. "Mirajane, you have to find help."

"Let me take you and Erza!"

"We're dead weight, Mira. You won't escape in time. I can protect her, rest assured."

"But you're going to-"

Jellal quickly interrupted her, "It's a bit late to wonder what will happen to me, isn't it? I've run out of magic energy, and I can barely move. We're in the worst situation possible."

Jose extended his arm out, and by the looks of it, the spell's diameter could destroy the entire forest behind them. He lost all composure while casting the spell wildly. "This is where your journey ends, children! Dead Wave!"

Mirajane's shrill could be heard from all around, begging for somebody to save them, to not let it end this way for Jellal.

The spell boomed towards them, the intensity of it startled the mages. Even those fighting by the ruinous guildhall could witness the spectacle. And it was unbecoming of a fate for a Wizard Saint.

The warmth ahead of them seemed surreal, as if it were a fate they shouldn't have been subjected to. But when Jellal opened his eyes, he could feel the sticky blood dampen his coat. A few clumps were on Erza's clothes too. She seemed peaceful in his unconscious state.

The Fairy Tail guild master stood between Jose and Jellal, protecting the injured Wizard Saint. Jose grinned.

Makarov blocked Jellal's view from the front. "Go to Porlyusica."

Surprised and left with unanswered questions, he got up with Erza in his arms. Mirajane followed Jellal as he carried Erza alongside.

"You dare run away from this fight?" Jose sneered, attacking Jellal with the Shades.

He barely managed to dodge the attacks, stumbling along the rocky terrain despite himself.

The air around them became suffocating when the two guild masters faced head on, with magic power beyond many of the mages in either guild.

Jellal glared defiantly at Jose before hauling Erza on his back and taking off with Mirajane.

Once the three mages were out of earshot, Makarov sighed in contempt. "I didn't expect you to go this far, declaring a war on Fairy Tail."

"What did you expect? Did you really think I'd stay quiet after we fought last time?"

Humiliation, that's the only thing that drove Jose to such extremes. He hated when Makarov boasted about his guild, especially about Gildarts, who was rarely in Magnolia. What angered him more was when the names Laxus, Mystogan, and Jellal became widespread across Fiore. Erza followed shortly, and he could see firsthand why they called her Titania.

"There were other ways you could've settled the score with me."

Jose ran his long fingers through his hair before laughing. "This is how I decided my revenge. For six years I haven't attended any guild meetings because of the humiliation. No matter now, I will turn the tables today."

"You haven't changed one bit." Makarov's aura sent powerful waves around his enemy.

"I take it you're angry?" mocked Jose, looking at Makarov through calculating eyes.

"Angry? Beyond that, words can't explain the disappointment I feel. Jellal never looked so vulnerable...what did you do to him?"

"To tell you the truth, I didn't do much damage to him compared to Erza. His own actions resulted in his condition. If he hadn't taken the hit, Jellal might've had a chance against me. He's so entertaining to watch. You should've seen the look on his face when I told him Erza was dead."

Makarov had to admit, Jose knew well how to manipulate people during their most vulnerable moments. In all his years raising Jellal, he had never seen the Wizard Saint so emotional.

Jose took the opportunity to attack him by extending his arm out, creating a blast that reached Magnolia. The spiral of dark magic engulfed Makarov, who defended himself by forming a shield.

He came out of the blast unharmed, surprising Jose. Makarov spoke, "You would've been just as capable of a wizard of you strayed from your cruel ways."

"But even so, I'm powerful enough to annihilate both you and Jellal. You never were interested about the concepts of magic, were you? It's a simple matter of aligning yourself with power. And if I am powerful in the darkness, then so be it."

Makarov sighed. "But you don't need to use your powers for evil, if you used it to help others, you would benefit the world. There wouldn't be this war."

"Are you trying to preach to me? That's absurd."

"I'll give you to the count of three to surrender yourself to Fairy Tail. Then I won't attack you. One."

"Is that a command? Your threats don't scare me. Let's see what exactly your measly tricks can do to me."

"Two." A light gathered in Makarov's palm, and he grew into a giant. Jose still stood his ground, remaining passive as he crossed his arms.

"You and I are on par with each other. There's no way I'm going to kneel down to you to show your superiority. In fact, Fairy Tail should bow down to me, I took out two of your greatest wizards, that proves my point."

A giant seal appeared over the Giant Mage, shocking Jose. "Three."

Makarov activated Fairy Law, sending light crashing down to the Giant Mage, and the ruined guildhall of Fairy Tail. Jose was defeated in one strike, with his hair gone, along his hat, which was nothing more than a pile of rubble. The Shades disappeared from their very existence, and Jose growled.

In the far distance, Jellal and Mirajane witnessed the wonders of the spell.

"What was that?" she asked.

Jellal looked over his shoulder and found the guildhall cheering loud enough to reach their ears. "Fairy Law. It is one of the three great spells of Fairy Tail. It affects those who are an enemy to the caster."

"The three grand spells," Mirajane said slowly, unable to recall a phenomon explaining it in the guild archives.

Mirajane uncomfortably watched Jellal carry Erza on his back. She held out her hand expectantly, waiting for him to hand Erza over.

"Do you want me to carry Erza?" offered Mirajane. "That wound is going to get worse if you keep on carrying her."

"It's...fine." He insisted, hooking his arms under Erza's legs securely.

Mirajane struck Jellal to the ground with a single swing of her leg, causing Erza to roll away from him. Trying to reach for her hastily, Jellal watched as Mirajane took Erza in a fluid motion.

He got up, trying to contemplate Mirajane's actions. If she had been so eager to bring Jellal down one day, now was not the time to do so. Not when he was bleeding out.

Then again, it sounded a lot like something Natsu would do.

Mirajane offered him an explanation. "You're wounded, I could tell it was painful to carry Erza. Besides, you're in no condition to exert yourself, look at that gash." He tilted his head down to glance at his bloody abdomen, and could feel every organ. The feeling gave him shivers. "It's a miracle that you're still alive."

"I'm not the one unconscious. If it weren't for my shortcomings, Erza would be fine."

"Don't be ridiculous, she's injured because she wanted to help. I know you feel guilty for what happened, but none of this was your fault." She slowed down so he could catch up. "What did he want from you, anyway?"

"...it was a personal grudge against me. He used a Fairy Tail mage to provoke me." The explanation didn't sound sufficient to him, but Mirajane found it plausible.

"Is there really that much conflict between Wizard Saints?"

He shrugged, "Jose doesn't get along with anyone, namely Makarov."

"There's a lot of politics involved in these things, I still don't understand why you're part of the Magic Council."

"Because sometimes you can't have the geezers ruling the magical body. And at this point, I don't know what the council's going to do once the war's over." Jellal took Jose's words into consideration. Even though the mage was an enemy to him, he was right. Ironically, the Magic Council was very predictable.

"You have an incredible eidetic memory, which is why the council is so keen on keeping you. Even after this war, if you make it out alive, they'll gladly take you in. They don't care if you've violated a law, they see you as a weapon."

"You need rest," concluded Mirajane.

Jellal nodded in agreement. "You're right. It's been a long day."

Porlyusica's house blended in with the other trees, but Jellal easily pinpointed the location, dropping dead at the porch when she opened the door.

Porlyusica gaped at the collapsed mage, who passed out from the exertion. "I'll take him inside, you take the girl and lay her down on the bed to your right." She instructed Mirajane, who obliged. She slowly carried Erza inside, struggling to set her down.

The older woman sighed, dragging Jellal inside. He looked somewhat tranquil, despite the injuries. "I swear, you outdid yourself this time."

She laid him down on the bed adjacent to Erza's with the help of Mirajane. She couldn't help but notice the deep gash between his ribs.

"How long was he conscious in his current state?"

Mirajane recalled the time she pulled Erza out of the water. "Perhaps an hour. I..." she nervously bit her lip, "I wasn't there when any of this happened."

"I don't understand how Jellal's still alive. Anyone else would've died from so much blood loss."

"He's even crazier than Erza. They both heal in no time, and their endurance levels are off the charts."

"Yes, I've healed him when he was younger, and I've seen quick results. That kid is quite peculiar. I still can't believe he became a Wizard Saint and a Magic Council member. Feels like he was eleven just yesterday."

Mirajane looked at her in bewilderment. "You knew about that? I'm surprised, you never seemed fond of people."

"Don't get me wrong, you humans are a ridiculous bunch in Earth Land, but it'd be contemptuous if I hadn't attended his ceremony. After all, he sent me a personal invitation. I was surprised to see his progression in magic, despite being a self-taught mage. Even those who had the luxury of attending a school had never come close to his potential." She placed her hand on Jellal's wound, feeling the energy repair his innards.

"He sustained some serious damage, but he should be fine if he heals in the coming days." Porlyusica gingerly stripped Jellal of his coat and skintight shirt beneath. She grabbed a roll of cotton bandage and wrapped it around his stomach expertly. She murmured a few things inaudibly as she tossed the bloody outfit into an empty hamper.

Mirajane frowned, "Doubtful he'll get much rest, he's going to be trialed by the council soon."

"Even so, they'll certainly give some leeway to one of their own people. Then again...this is the Magic Council we're talking about." She tended to Erza's injuries, applying a medicinal ointment over her limped arms. "The worst that could happen is Jellal being stripped of his title."

"We just have to hope for the best."

Jellal turned his head to the side when he woke up, watching Erza stretch out on her bed as if she had gotten up from a long slumber.

"So you're finally awake?" she asked slowly. Relieved, but most of all, grateful.

His eyes flickered to the window behind her. "It's raining." She nodded. "I guess we're stuck here for a while."

"Mirajane went to get a change of clothes. We can't have you wearing a blood-soaked coat."

"And Porlyusica?"

"Investigation has officially begun. So she's at the temporary camp built near the guildhall, giving her statement. I already gave mine..." The last few words were a small voice as she clutched her arm with her other hand.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

She kneeled down and rested her head against the bed. Her fingers shook from recalling the last few hours. "I..."

Upon seeing her petrified state, Jellal caught her as she collapsed to the ground. Her breathing consisted of normal breathes before she experienced a retching feeling in her throat. She cried and sank to the floor. "Erza, what's wrong?"

He couldn't make out the words she mumbled until he realized she was repeating the same terms. Murderer. Unworthy. Selfish.

"I...almost killed you. Jellal, you—bled to death because of me. I-I'm afraid of being near you, please!" she pleaded, almost hysterically. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"

Jellal came to an understanding after watching her. He had known her long enough to study her patterns of behaviour. She always had a tendency to pin the blame on herself, to make herself feel worse for other people's shortcomings. Perhaps if he hadn't saved her last minute, they both would've been fine. She wouldn't be crying in his arms right now, asking for forgiveness. "Nothing was your fault, Erza. You saved the both of us. And you're the reason why I'm still alive. Nobody else suspected I was in trouble except you. Thank you."

"I could have avoided it if I was stronger."

"No," he said immediately. She looked up in surprise. "You took a shot from Jupiter, and fought two of the most powerful mages in Phantom Lord. You are beyond that, Erza."

His abdomen was bandaged, and it made her wonder if any of it hurt to even think about. "I never wanted you to get injured, Jellal. I regret it all...how did it come to this?"

At this, he laughed. "I suppose it was the worst situation we could imagine."

She felt the mood brighten up considerably at his words, laced with reassurance. She reached up and gently embraced him, making sure to not apply any pressure to his bandages.

Erza sank her face into his shoulder. "I promise I will do everything to keep you safe. I won't let you suffer."

He could feel the wetness on her cheek and returned the hug, content with her words. To him, her silent whispers became his prayers, and she, his salvation. Words were hung in the air, but even so, they filled the gaps of the things they needed to say.

The door burst open to reveal a gleaming Mirajane, watching as Erza got off the bed and straightened up, not in the slightest embarrassed about it. She quickly wiped her eyes and realized she had been crying.

For Jellal, he found the vulnerability new and unlike him. It was the first time anyone had seen him so disheveled, and never had he been close to death as he had been now.

Surprisingly, Mirajane's snarky remarks never came up, nor did she care to tease them about anything. She seemed exhausted, if anything.

Watching Jellal, she waved a hand awkwardly. Yes, it had been a long day for Mirajane after witnessing two of her friends almost die. She felt the need to say something for leaving them there. "I hope you're resting well, especially since you and Master are required to make an appearance at court in the morning."

"Tomorrow morning?" Erza asked in disbelief.

"Yes, which is why Porlyusica gave me strict orders to keep you in here for the night, since you're in no condition to walk. Same goes for you, Erza." She informed, before tossing a frock coat and a pair of slacks to Jellal.

Jellal thanked her and watched her drag Erza out of the hut, seeming relieved that Erza recovered quickly. She always had a knack for it, one that Jellal never understood.

Erza and Mirajane hadn't interacted much after Lisanna's death, so he found it odd that they'd suddenly grown closer. He would argue that they were more-so friends than enemies in their younger years.

He wasn't surprised to see the doorknob handle turn a few minutes later, but didn't expect to see Porlyusica. She was relieved to see he was in new attire.

"Well, how are you feeling?"

"Better than before."

The answer didn't set well with her, but she wasn't going to interrogate him further. "I'm making you stay the night so you can recover. It doesn't matter how important your excuse is because you're in no condition to walk."

"I had never known you to be fond of hospitality, Miss Porlyusica."

"Believe me, I'm not one for keeping visitors." She gave a small sound of disapproval before sitting down on her chair.

"How'd the interrogation go?"

"It was fine, they were more so concerned about the injuries you sustained. It seems word got out about your battle with Jose."

Jellal sighed, "I'd hardly call it a battle."

"Whatever it may have been, you were on the brink of death. I had never known someone to survive such a severe injury."

He watched the old woman pick out a book from her large bookshelf. "They expect no less from a Wizard Saint, and I agree with them. Jose was after confidential information in the Magic Council, which is why I'm being called in as early as tomorrow morning."

"I see. Though, I don't understand what the mages try to accomplish with the information."

"I do not know any better than you. A handful of are obsessed with Zeref's ideologies. It makes little sense because he's believed to be dead. Zeref's significance lies within his inventions rather than his reputation.

"I have no say in the matter, but this Zeref person sounds like trouble. Here, take this." She handed him a book titled Enchantments. Jellal stared at her in awe.

"Where did you get this from? I can't find these in the Magic Council archives."

"That is not of your concern. Use this book to practice enchantments, as it'll come in handy for the future. If you're in a weak state, the spells you cast will be stronger, while exhausting the same amount of ethernano. I assume that was your shortcoming for your previous battle."

"Yes, I suppose it was. But I don't know if I can perform this kind of magic."

"It doesn't come naturally to anyone, but a prodigy in magic such as yourself can master this in no time. It requires a lot of attention during battle, but it's definitely worth trying."

Jellal nodded, using his telekinesis to flip through the pages while the book floated in the air.

"You can use magic now?"

"Well, I was able to when I was up against Jose. But I must admit, that exhausted all my magic energy. I didn't realize wounds slowly released ethernano out of your body."

"That is correct, which is why you should get them treated before the opening absorbs the ethernano out of your body. That explains why you collapsed on my doorstep."

"Did I?" he gave a sheepish grin before returning to the book.

His eyes fluttered to the door to reveal Erza, who walked in while Mirajane waved at her from the crack of the door. If one thing was clear, neither of the two S-Class mages anticipated staying the night with an old woman who lived a hermit lifestyle.

"What's that book about?" Erza stood behind him, reading the contents with ease. "Enchantments?"

He nodded, while she watched the page flip by itself. "I might use it in my spells, though I'm doubtful I'll be able to enchant pure magic energy."

"What about the stars and seals you use? Plus, Heavenly Body Magic isn't the only magic which you can perform."

"True, but it's more powerful than the four elements of magic I've practiced. I'll figure it out as I test it." The book closed and landed on a small table beside Jellal's bed.

Erza sighed, "It's night, we should get some sleep."

Porlyusica concurred with Erza. "You should rest up. And, I don't want to hear anything once the lights are out."

They both nodded, pulling the covers over them. The two Fairy Tail mages smiled at each other before closing their eyes.

The sound of the gavel hammering the wooden platform echoed throughout the Fiore branch of the Magic Council. "This courtroom is now in session." The amphibian croaked. Jellal never imagined he would be trialed for fighting back in a war in response to Phantom Lord's hostility.

The amphibian held out the paper for the opening statement, which wasn't something that you needed to read off a paper. "Before us is the defendant, Jellal Fernandes. Please take the stand."

All the councillors remained passive, eyeing Jellal as he waited to listen to his charges. The room went silent for long moments as the councillors went through the overview for the war.

Chairman Crawford spoke, "Jellal, you're here today charged with two major violations as a member of the Magic Council. You were involved in a war as one of the Ten Wizard Saints and left the Magic Council without the dismissal of the chairman. According to the reports submitted by both Phantom Lord and Fairy Tail, you were unconscious for about an hour, followed by an interrogation by Jose. A specific report had a witness being held responsible for your injuries.

"That witness was none other than Erza Scarlet, who pleaded guilty for attempted murder."

Jellal had never imagined her to blame herself for something she never did. It explained Erza's absence in the morning. "You misunderstand. I intervened when she was about to drive a sword into her heart..."

Thinking about the memory brought back his train of thoughts of unpleasant memories. Belno pitied him, having an inkling of what his past was like from Yajima.

"You were closer than ever to being a dead man, Jellal." Org scolded, emphasizing the importance of the Wizard Saint's life.

"I understand my decision was unbecoming of me, but what would happen to Erza if nobody came to help her?"

Yajima said, "She would be dead."

The chairman was not appeased by his reasoning. "You have to understand the value of your life! Had you been hit any closer..." he contained himself, knowing that there were many people in the courtroom oblivious to the existence of Face.

The formal court trial had turned into a brawl between the councillors over Jellal's innocence. Crawford silenced them with a hand and narrowed his eyes at the defendant.

"The reports also mention that you were kept captive for quite some time. Tell me, what was Jose after?"

Jellal registered the iciness of Crawford's tone, wondering how he knew Jose was after information related to the Magic Council. "What makes you think he would have any business with me?"

"Come now, Jellal. You could tell he was after some kind of information. There is a reason he kept you captive, and not Master Makarov."

None of the councillors caught on to what Crawford was trying to fish from Jellal. The question allowed Jellal to come to a conclusion.

The chairman had a connection with Jose. And now that Jose had blown his cover, Crawford was going to throw him away like the pawn he was. And in this case, Jose would be sent to prison.

"He was after the magic seal to the archives. How he knows about the archives being contained by seals is a mystery to me. But it would be suffice to say that one of the higher ups informed him of it."

There were whispers circulating around the room, wondering aloud who was the traitor. Chairman Crawford kept quiet about it, not needing to look at Jellal twice to know his intentions of bringing up the information.

A few moments of silence passed by until Crawford concluded, "Jose is answerable to that, I suppose. Whether or not you disclosed any information is something I need to confirm with him. Now, about the other issue..."

The words never had to be spoken for him to catch onto Crawford's next concern. "I confess to have violated a law in the Magic Council. I was not neutral in this war, despite being told to be so."

Crawford raised a brow, "And you are willing to accept any consequences for such actions?"

Even if I have to resign from my position?

"Yes." He conceded. Makarov would be at a loss, especially with the lack of information he gained through Jellal's intel. But when he thought about it again, Mest was also spying on behalf of Fairy Tail.

But Jellal hadn't seen him in a while.

"I'll decide for myself if you keep your position after I finish the hearings. For now, you are to be detained until further notice."

Jellal did not acknowledge hearing anything Crawford had said, leaving the room with the Rune Knights. He opened the door to find Rune Knights supervising Jose. He looked much older and miserable.

Startled, he flinched away upon meeting Jellal's gaze. Being powerless, he had no choice but to hope Jellal's innocence wouldn't work against his favour. "For someone who won this court trial, you seem very unhappy."

The young mage looked at Jose momentarily, "I haven't won. But, with you in prison for the next few years, I will not have to worry about you meddling with Fairy Tail mages."

A huff of breath filled the air. "I thought I left you both nothing short of dead."

Upon mentioning yesterday's events, Jellal smiled cruelly. It was twisted and nothing like his usual self. "Yet here we are, alive and well." The older man scowled. "For next time, if you want to be more subtle in your involvement with Chairman Crawford, then don't come to a councillor and entertain them with information that will land you in jail."

The former Wizard Saint's eyes rounded significantly at the revelation. There was no room for denial or protest. Jellal had him figured out. "How did you know?"

"Intuition, I suppose."

With that, Jellal left the courtroom, somewhat content with the information he gained.

The final piece of evidence which would mark the end of Crawford's reign as Chairman of the Magic Council.

We love an overpowered Jellal. He's an absolute hunk (even on the verge of death).

As always, reviews are appreciated. Thank you for them. :)