There is a series that goes along with this, called Façade Shorts. It focusses on filling in gaps or scenarios briefly mentioned in the main storyline. Try giving it a read!
Thank you Amliha for being such a sweetheart! I appreciate you asking about me. I'm so sorry if any of you waited. I was just finalizing Jose and Jellal's interaction. On another note...poor Jellal, he'll never get a break.
Façade
Chapter 18: The Endeavour of Jellal
Jellal thought of countless scenarios about why he would be summoned at the Magic Council. The range of possibilities went from decent to horrible for Fairy Tail. They had destroyed one of the most ancient and popular historical sights in Fiore, and that would definitely not go unpunished. And to think it was done by none other than himself.
He arrived in Era and noticed unfamiliar faces around the Magic Council. The Custody Enforcement Unit graciously guided him to one of the meeting rooms, this one having a table with nine seats.
He studied the marble of the table, cold against him as he took a seat on the carefully carved chairs. The design of the meeting room was more precise and attentive to detail compared to the bland halls of Era.
The grand doors opened to reveal Org, Belno, Michello, Yajima file inside the room. They shuffled into the seats, surprised by the lack of people for today's meeting.
"Where are the others?" asked Jellal.
Org did not reply until everyone was seated. Only then he slid an envelope in Jellal's direction, sealed with a red stamp with the Fiore symbol.
"Our circumstances have been compromised," he started.
Jellal read the letter. It was from Toma, and he hadn't expected this letter so soon. He would imagine the royal family would defect Crawford from the council, but not so soon. "This is..."
"Jellal, you have been chosen as the next Chairman of the Magic Council. It's an honour bestowed upon you by King Toma E. Fiore himself. But having such a position would mean you would have to dedicate more hours in the Magic Council as a fully pledged member."
Multiple thoughts raced across Jellal's mind. His plans, the trial with Jose, him bailing out Chairman Crawford. Just what happened during the Harvest Festival?
"What happened with Chairman Crawford? Why is he not here?"
Org replied, "Well, there was talk between Crawford and Toma about him resigning, but I think it had to do with more than just that. His misuse of the law during Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord's war is what got him excommunicated."
"How exactly did he misuse his power?" Jellal was hoping that they had known what he had done in regards to his relation with Jose.
"It wasn't anything that would've landed him in jail. But he did not schedule hearings for all the participants of the war. By immediately declaring Jose as guilty without hearing him out, and forcing a powerful guild to disband, it cost the kingdom a guild. There's not many guild leagues in Fiore, as you know."
It made sense, disbanding a guild came at great costs should the kingdom go into war with another country, or perhaps another continent. Diplomatic relations between the continent in the west with Ishgar had been very strained. There was nothing friendly about it, which risked conflict.
"Hence why Jose's sentence was halved."
Luck had not been on his side today, at all. Jellal had practically conditioned Jose to agree to his terms because of the five year sentence.
And now it was being used against him. "Councilman Org...why was I not informed of this earlier?"
"You were not involved with Jose Porla's case, which is why this wasn't exactly necessary to inform you. But now that you're the next chairman, I suppose it makes sense that you keep tabs on everything."
The more pressing matter was Crawford leaving without punishment. Jellal had the chance to put him behind the bars, where he belonged.
He knew, Jellal thought. He was certain I had knowledge about his affiliation with Zeref, Jose, and other dark guilds.
Which is why he left the Magic Council before the Wizard Saint had the chance to do anything. And all because the Battle of Fairy Tail had been a major setback. In retrospect, having an entire day to simply plan a court trial and-
...no. Nothing would have worked. One day was not enough to prove a man guilty. But one day was enough for a criminal to escape. Oh, the irony of the situation.
The other concern about who gave Jose information was still circulating throughout the Magic Council, and since Crawford was gone for good, there would be no leads on that matter.
Maybe the others suspected Jellal to be the one offering information to Jose. In that case, an attempt to frame Crawford would essentially lead the Magic Council to believe Jellal was the biggest suspect.
And if he brought Jose to testify...everything would further add up as evidence against Jellal.
There was no chance of proving him guilty now. There was no guarantee Jose would still help him, leaving all odds stacked against him.
He studied the letter intently, rereading the contents. He couldn't believe it; the king had requested him to become the chairman. Traditionally, Fiore was the powerhouse of the magical world in Ishgar, housing the most powerful magical ruling body. Therefore, the royal family governing Fiore ultimately had the final say on the Chairman of the Magic Council. That's why there were hardly any council members from the others countries in Ishgar.
It's also why the assassination attempts on Fiore's royal family increased within the last decades.
Michello clutched his staff, leaning against his seat. "Well, Chairman Jellal, we have numerous things on the agenda. For instance, we need to replace the councillors who have completed their terms. You're looking at a good five seats to replace."
"Five?" Jellal studied him quizzically. With all the members gathered, there were only four seats left to replace.
"That's right," Yajima spoke up. "I'm leaving the Magic Council. I've got a new restaurant opening up. Besides, I'm growing too old for this position. We should consider younger candidates such as Jellal, they'll be a great addition to the Magic Council."
Belno snorted, "Nonetheless, I think Jellal will always be the youngest Wizard Saint and council member to have ever existed."
"Those words do me great justice," he replied. "However, there's something I need to clarify..."
He would have never agreed to becoming chairman in the first place. There were too many risks associated with it, especially with the endangerment of Fairy Tail. He could take on the role if he was not part of a guild, but his purpose for joining the Magic Council in the first place was for the sake of Makarov.
Arriving at the dungeon, he took a deep breath before approaching the mage of interest, who had certainly come to hate life in prison. The unknown caused him to worry more than before, because Jose was unpredictable now that Jellal had little evidence against Crawford.
"Oh goodie, it's the man of the hour," Jose said dully, before Jellal had the chance to acknowledge him. "What brings you here? Surely it's not the court trial, since Chairman Crawford has left."
Approaching the situation carefully, Jellal tried finding the right words to speak. "How did you find out about that?"
"This is the Magic Council, Jellal. People talk, and can't seem to get over this particular topic. So, I'm assuming your evidence against him is practically useless."
The Wizard Saint said nothing. There were no words left to exchange, not to a man who gained the upper hand.
"And the guards informed me that my sentence was halved due to the misuse of the law. How fascinating that the tables turned so quickly. It must be hard to be in such a compromising situation, Jellal. You probably wonder what plans I have once I get out of here, what my next move is against Fairy Tail, and the endless ways I'm devising my revenge."
"Revenge against us?" Jellal questioned.
"My quarrel is no longer with your guild, young man. This is only between you and I."
"Having more enemies is the last thing I need, Jose. Let's settle this in a civilized manner, then we'll part ways."
"My time in prison will always be my grudge against you." A long pause followed, before Jose added with a smile, "If I recall correctly, you were rightfully crushed by my wrath after making such foolish decisions. Anything for lovely little Erza."
Jellal would never want her to get involved with him if it meant danger. "Why bring her up? This has nothing to do with Erza."
"Because I will exact my revenge by hurting her. It seems you wouldn't mind being a martyr for my cause. But oh, you should see your face when she suffers an atrocity. Perhaps should I start by tearing her limb for limb? Or perhaps ruin that luscious hair? Or maybe..."
Jellal had no idea where he was going with the conversation, but Jellal's blood boiled when he said, "Her eye. From what I've heard, she has an artificial eye. Do you perhaps know the story behind it?"
"Don't even think about it," Jellal said lowly. "Because if you do anything to hurt her, I promise you won't live to see tomorrow."
"I expected as much from you. I do love a good challenge, though. You might as well be provoking me to hurt her."
His voice became a whisper. "Please." Knowing Jose, bantering back and forth would only fuel their hatred for each other. "Erza is innocent. She shouldn't be dragged into your schemes."
"That's your weakness, Jellal. Get rid of her, and you will be a force to be reckoned with."
The realization dawned upon him. Erza really was his weakness. Nothing else.
"Even so, I would never abandon her."
Jose hummed, "Tell me this. If the entire world was doomed, and the only way to save it is by sacrificing Erza, would you do it? Or would you save her, instead, letting the rest die?"
The question caught Jellal off-guard. He had never contemplated such a situation. "One person or the entire world..."
"This is what I mean. You should understand how this weakness can come into play. It is a decision you will end up wondering for the rest of your life. And it will haunt you, because you will never have the answer."
Jellal didn't know the answer to that question. He would want to say it would be the world, but...
Erza was just as important to him.
Jose smirked, "I suppose that's the end of it, then. The fate of an entire world can rest potentially in your hands. Choose wisely.
"And as for Crawford, I wouldn't try to bring him up if I were you. He's long gone, probably with a dark guild by now."
Jellal eyed him from the corner of his eye, "Do you know which guild he's affiliated with?"
"Even the closest of us cannot have that information."
By the look on the prisoner's face, the Wizard Saint concluded, "You're lying. There's something you know about him, but you won't tell me. I don't know what you'll gain by protecting him, but if you choose to do so, then so be it."
Then he walked away as if it was the easiest thing he had done.
Pacing back to the guildhall, Jellal stopped by a small Book Land, the local bookstore in Magnolia a few blocks from Fairy Tail out of curiosity. He wanted to see if anyone used his translations to publish it into a book. He entered casually and turned on his heel to scour through the Magical Law and Theory section. The person he least expected to see was Lucy, who originally came to grab a hair magazine for Cancer. She'd gotten caught up in Cana's predictions.
She felt him watching her reach for a book about the phenomena of love. Lucy whipped her head around towards him, cocking her head to the side at her embarrassing imagination coming to fruition. She thought a fateful encounter didn't exist. She didn't believe in those superstitions! But here she was, grabbing the same book as another person, just like she sarcastically predicted.
"J-Jellal!" she exclaimed, dropping the book by surprise with her mouth hung upon. Her fingers unconsciously twitched when she felt his gaze on her. "Were you the fateful encounter Cana predicted? ME? With a WIZARD SAINT?"
Poor poor Lucy. She was going to explode at the idea.
"Don't tell me you believed Cana. The cards are superstitions. That, or there's an underlying meaning in this fateful encounter."
"So, you're saying that it didn't have to be romantic at all?"
"That's one possibility," he mused.
Jellal turned back to his subject of interest, pretending that he hadn't witnessed her priceless reaction. There was actually another guy she ran into in the end, who may have been the one Cana predicted, which was devastating to her. She shook her head.
Lucy didn't want—she gave him a once over—him as her boyfriend.
"Sorry," the boy mumbled. "You can take the book."
She paused, watching as Jellal searched through the history genre about law and theory. She did just about anything to make him feel uncomfortable, just as he had. But that was probably her imagination, since Jellal didn't seem interested in her antics. Lucy whispered evil and incoherent thoughts before turning to the fellow author who reached for the same book.
"No, it's fine," she insisted.
"You can have it," he held it out to Lucy, waiting for her to take it. Much of her attention was to Jellal, who was well aware of her disturbing staring habit. In the heat of the moment, she shoved the book titled The Fateful Encounter into the writer's hands and ran away, after believing everything Cana told her. "No, really! Later!"
After searching for the genre and unsuccessfully finding any information, Jellal silently made his way towards the exit, much to the owner's dismay. He was a petite man with a friendly smile. This small bookstore didn't start to compare to the numerous books in his personal library in Era—much less the Era archives, with millions of books he could drown himself in.
The old man called out to Jellal as he left. "Not what you're looking for, young lad?"
Jellal smiled, originally he came to see if any information about Zeref was being kept on tabloids, especially through books. It would allow Jellal to continue his research on the Black Wizard. But he hadn't found anything, which was supposedly good since the bookstore owner wasn't educating people on immoral ideologies. Then again, that was a very subjective topic.
"I was just browsing around. Have a good day."
The man warmly smiled before waving at Jellal. He felt relieved the man hadn't recognize the Wizard Saint. It would prove difficult to get around Magnolia while walking like any normal person.
Right when he stepped outside, he bumped into a young girl who was carrying multiple boxes stacked on top of one another. All of them slid down and dropped to the ground.
Jellal bent down to pick them up, stacking them in an organized fashion so they wouldn't fall again.
From the periphery of the girl's vision, she recognized him in an instant, gasping. "Jellal? You're...here?"
Jellal assumed she was another girl who was an avid reader of Sorcerer Weekly. Predicting this was the case, he tried finding an excuse to leave, so he wouldn't draw any more attention. "I should get going."
"Wait!" she cried out, only the feel her hair whip in her face from Jellal's speed, producing masses of wind. Wendy gaped at him, on the brink of tears due to his reaction. Did he not recognize her? Perhaps she was seeing things, or maybe he forgot about her? The last thought seemed the most reasonable.
Jellal couldn't help but feel bothered by his encounter with her, wondering if she knew him. Was she an escapee from the Tower of Heaven by chance? Or maybe it was a figment of his imagination? She didn't seem like someone who had the time to acquaint herself with all the famous wizards in Ishgar.
He reached the guildhall within seconds, a flash of light to the civilians of Magnolia. It was a tiny and peaceful town, compared to the noise of the train station near his place. It was worth considering living in the town. But as far as he was concerned, the idea was a future prospect.
Or so he thought.
Everyone in the guildhall paced around quickly as they got ready for their big debut on Sorcerer Weekly. Mirajane approached him at the front entrance. "Hey."
She had that same smile plastered on her face whenever she was up to no good. Jellal noted it before speaking to her. "Mira, what's going on?"
"Sorcerer Weekly is coming to the guildhall soon. We're getting featured in the next issue."
Jellal's forehead creased slightly at the news. "Oh, really?"
"Something wrong?"
He crossed his arms. "I'd argue that's a problem. We've been nothing more than a nuisance for the Magic Council, and now they're going to hear about more of Fairy Tail's madness in the news."
Mirajane felt the need to offer her two cents, shaking her head. "My thoughts differ on the matter. Think of it as a diversion from the damage caused by you in the Kardia Cathedral and Magnolia."
Jellal's eyes momentarily flickered from her gaze to the set of documents bunched in her right hand, rolled up neatly. Uninterested, his attention came back to her, who seemed concerned.
"You look devastated by the news," she pointed out.
Jellal didn't make any movement or sound to show his impending reaction. He tentatively noticed Levy studying the S-Class mages as they conversed. "The idea doesn't sound half bad."
She thinly smiled, "Then I'm sure you won't have any objections to my plans for you."
He said nothing as Levy approached them when Mirajane gave a signal. With her back turned to Levy, she crossed her fingers and motioned her to join them, going noticed by Jellal.
He raised an eyebrow at her suspiciously.
Levy grinned widely, approaching the two with a newfound mischievousness. "Jellal, ever since you've defeated Laxus, Mira and I have been wanting to compensate you. Well—the entire guild feels the same way."
Jellal didn't like the smiles that came with the kind words. "Thank you, but I assure you it's unnecessary. I had a personal quarrel with him to begin with."
"Nonsense! Take your new house as a token of our appreciation."
His eyes widened by a fraction. "My new house?"
Mirajane stepped aside to reveal a man as old as Gildarts with round glasses and a moustache. Jellal's jaw almost dropped. "This is your new landlord, Ruchio. He owns the penthouse we've chosen for you. If it makes you at ease, he also owns Fairy Hills."
"You realize this is more work for me than a convenience?"
Mirajane clasped her hands together. "Well, you won't have to pay for that empty place you live in. You never occupy the other rooms, it's such a waste of space. This apartment is closer to the guildhall and is cheaper compared to your old rent; only five hundred thousand jewel!"
Levy gaped at her. "We never discussed the monthly rent, Mira. That is a lot. Even Erza has a hard time paying it off."
"Nonsense, Jellal's case is different. He earns a lot as a councillor, aren't I right?"
He didn't show any movement, unconcerned with her knowledge. Like Erza, she went to many extremes just to get what she wanted. "I'm not fond of the idea."
"You'll be thanking me later. That, I promise."
He duly noted that nobody had heard of the Magic Council reforming. It was perhaps the only time the council hid the news successfully.
The landlord extended his arm out to Jellal, who hesitantly took it. He turned to Levy and Mirajane. "Is it too late to talk you out of this?"
Levy apologetically nodded. "I'm afraid so. Mirajane used her transformation magic to impersonate you, doing all your paperwork for the estate."
If Jellal wasn't convinced that Mirajane had gone insane, now he confirmed his suspicions. "And why did I not have a say in picking the house I'm supposed to live in?"
Mirajane chuckled. "Because where would the fun be in that?"
"Then would you care to share the names of the people who went house hunting with you?"
"By that, if you're asking if Erza had a say in your house, she did."
Levy trailed off, wincing slightly at the mention of her. "Well...sort of."
"Gray, what do you think of this apartment?" questioned Mirajane, showing him a picture of the penthouse in a featured magazine. Juvia got a good peek at it from behind him.
"It's very luxurious," she commented.
"It needs more ice, otherwise I'm never going to be fully clothed." Said Gray.
The barmaid smiled. "And since when did that ever change? You're in your underwear right now."
He jumped out of his seat, observing his inappropriate attire.
She skipped over to Lucy, who was speaking to Cana about her love life. Cana had just announced that the second cutest girl in Fairy Tail never had a boyfriend, but it's not like Erza could comment about that either. "Ladies, what do you think about this?"
Cana swung her arm around Lucy's shoulders while inspecting the penthouse extra carefully. "Pricey."
"It's for Jellal."
Lucy slapped Cana's face away before nervously laughing. "Oh, Jellal?"
Cana loomed beside her far too closely. "Have you got the hots for Jellal now?"
"NO!" Lucy shrieked, recalling the embarrassing situation earlier in the day. Mirajane continued smiling. Taking it the wrong way, Lucy further clarified, "I swear it's not like that, Mira."
"I know how Cana can be, Lucy. You don't need to feel embarrassed. What do you think about it?"
"It's grand enough for a council member, that's for sure." She answered.
"JELLAL'S HOUSE?" yelled Natsu in disbelief. "Give me his address, Mira. I'm going to figh- see him right away!"
Mirajane snatched the magazine away for safekeeping. "I value my client's privacy. There's no way I'll give you such confidential information. But you can tell me your thoughts on it."
Natsu circled around the magazine as if he needed every detail for information. "So...where's the rest of his house?"
"These are the pictures of the interior, Natsu."
He cocked an eyebrow in disbelief. "Jellal's at least a hundred times bigger than this piece of paper. How can that be his home?"
Lucy blinked at him. "That apartment is not scaled to its actual size. They're just pictures. You're truly hopeless."
Natsu's mouth shaped into an 'O' once he realized what she meant, which took a few moments to register. Mirajane still managed to remain polite despite a snarky remark on the tip of her tongue. "Thank you for your input, Natsu."
"Anytime Mira!"
Levy watched as Natsu beamed with pride. "You're giving him false hope."
She gave a knowing look to the younger mage. "He deserves a pat on the back once in a while."
They languidly strolled around the guildhall, making a few trips with other people before concluding the search with Erza's opinion. She sat across Millianna with a spoonful of cake in her mouth.
Millianna stopped their conversation, while Erza continued rambling on about how she wanted to take Millianna to Crocus so they could meet Kagura again. It had only been two weeks, and she already Simon's younger sister. She went on about the unsettling goodbye, as if it didn't provide the closure she was hoping for. No tears from Kagura. Not enough time.
Not enough emotion.
That's what Erza knew she was lacking. She continued pouring her thoughts to Millianna.
"Meow, did you want something, Mira?" asked the cat lover.
"Yes!" she exclaimed. Who better to give advice about Jellal's new home than his oldest childhood friends? "See, I need to ask you if this is an ideal place."
She held out the magazine featuring the penthouse, while Millianna stared at it. "It's not enough...kitty."
"It's for Jellal."
Millianna reaffirmed her statement. "There are still not enough kitty decorations."
"Jellal likes cats? Note to self," mused the barmaid. "At this rate, Erza's the only person who can help me."
"Erza."
She was still so engrossed in her strawberry cake that she hadn't even noticed Millianna turned away to speak with Mirajane.
"Erza." Impatiently, Mirajane tapped her foot. The redhead wouldn't stop talking, it's as if she was planning a vacation.
"ERZA SCARLET!" she shouted. And finally, finally, Erza looked up at her.
"What is-" she cut off when Mirajane practically shoved the paper in her face.
"Is this a good place for Jellal?"
Erza nodded soundlessly, while Levy insisted to let Erza have a better look at the magazine, seeing that she ultimately had the final say.
The She-Devil laughed victoriously. "Now that we got Erza's opinion, we will definitely get it for him."
"Mirajane, that does not count. Erza probably agreed so you would stop suffocating her," defended Jellal.
Levy nodded. "I tried telling her the same thing, but does she ever listen?"
"Desperate times call for desperate measures. Besides, I'm nowhere near violent as her." Countered Mirajane.
"That, is a lie. Who knows what you'll do now that your Take Over has returned."
"You won't be saying that once you see your new place. I've recruited an entire army of men to help with the furniture setup. I'll be supervising them."
Jellal shifted his weight on one leg while crossing his arms, leaning against the wall. "And judging by the looks of it, they don't know that they've been chosen for this task."
"I may be guilty for not informing them ahead of time. However, now that I have my magic back, I can just beat them senseless until they agree to my terms."
Jellal sighed in contempt at the thought of Mirajane reverting to her old self. It would be just like the old days when she used to pick fights with Erza, and that one time Mirajane forced him to fight her. "I appreciate the concern, really. But couldn't you have at least informed me about this decision?"
Levy eyed Mirajane skeptically. "It's supposed to be a surprise, Jellal. All I can say is have faith in Mira's plan."
Jellal noticed Levy trailing off as she looked over her shoulder to find Erza in a purple dress. "It isn't plausible trusting the devil."
Mirajane gave a sour look in response, hiding her smile behind it. One of the things she liked about Jellal was his honesty. Erza had mentioned he was a terrible liar, and she could see firsthand that he only ever resorted to the truth.
"Suit yourself, you'll regret saying that once you see the penthouse."
Jellal noticed the malicious glint in her eyes. He needed to get away from his mindless guild mates before their lunacy became contagious. He wasn't prone to it, but feared that someday he might go insane because of them.
Jellal got off the wall and made his way towards Erza, noticing how her attire changed in front of a reporter. "Why did I have to change back? The dress I had on was much cuter."
Jason hurriedly captured Erza in different angles as she remained still. "No, this is perfect! I wanted to capture you in your natural beauty."
She glanced up at Jellal, who silently waved at her. Jason followed her gaze until he flipped in excitement before screaming maniacally. "I'm standing in front of the most powerful human wizard in Ishgar! THIS IS SO COOL! Do you both have time for an interview? I can interview both of you at the same time. You guys will be on front cover!"
Jellal closed his eyes before reopening them, as if he was losing every ounce of patience. "Mirajane," he called out in a hard voice, "this is your idea of diverting the attention from the Battle of Fairy Tail?"
She waved at him, unbothered by his clipped tone.
Despite the answer, he ushered the two to have a seat at the bar stools, which they did before he got started on their interviews. Notably Jellal, who was a mysterious man in the eyes of the public.
Although Jason was a huge fan of the two, Natsu caught his attention by chucking a plate of meat at Jason.
For the record, Jellal and Erza weren't going to be interviewed today. "It's the infamous Natsu Dragneel! SO COOL!"
"SO YOU'RE THAT REPORTER THAT ALWAYS WRITES THOSE BAD THINGS ABOUT ME!?"
Jason nodded his head vigorously, forgetting about Jellal and Erza's interview. "Yes, yes, YES!"
And then the fighting started, which was entertaining to Jason, but catastrophic for the rest of the guild.
Lucy tailed behind Jason, trying to capture his attention so she could get a picture or two in the magazine.
Jellal wondered what was going on in that woman's mind. Just moments ago he passed by Lucy and she mumbled something about marrying a news reporter and becoming the biggest model in Fiore.
"Finally," mumbled Erza, resting her head against the bar counter, facing Jellal.
He smiled, cocking his head to the side to get a better view of her face. "Tired?"
"No...just bothered lately." She did a double take when his smile faded into a mask where she couldn't tell what he was thinking. "Not that it's anything important!"
"You can always tell me if you have something on your mind."
She lifted her head up, only to lean into her hand propped up by her elbow. "It's fine, really. Did anything new happen at the Magic Council? You seem troubled ever since you arrived at the guildhall."
"A lot," he replied. "But I think Mirajane is the problem at hand."
"Mirajane's been very enthusiastic lately. She was asking everyone for their opinion on some place for you. When she asked me, Mira suddenly shoved the paper into my face, so I couldn't really give an answer."
"I figured as much." He turned back to Mirajane, who was observing him. She was waiting for him to accompany her and Levy for the dreadful trip to the penthouse they bought without his consent.
She changed the subject, finally confessing to him what bothered her. "You know, I still can't get my mind off of Mystogan. I...don't understand who he is."
"I'm just as clueless as you are, Erza. It's possible that Earth Land has a world parallel to it. But I wonder how he could travel between that rift. He also joined Fairy Tail at a young age, so that's no ordinary feat. Or the most believable option would be he used transformation magic."
She gave the options a long and hard thought. "But if he never resembled you, he wouldn't hide his face to begin with."
"That's true."
"Many things have been off lately. His appearance, the countless battles lately. Fairy Tail has been eventful these past few weeks."
"I want to find out where he's from."
Erza nodded. "Are you planning to track him down?"
The edge in his tone confirmed her suspicions as he replied, "Maybe."
Jellal turned away, eyes fixated on the wall across them. She noticed his troubling countenance and looked him squarely in the eye. Though not noticeable at first glance, his thoughts plagued him until he was dwelling upon something unpleasant.
"Hey, Jellal, are you okay?"
His smile fell, and he finally dropped the act. But he would always rather have her not worry about his internal battles. "It's not your burden to carry."
She smiled knowingly, "Alright, what's going on?"
Erza could see his internal debate about so many unspoken things. "You can tell me whatever's on your mind."
He looked up at her, "I..."
His silent treatment was nothing new. Jellal spoke only when spoken to. He preferred to communicate without speaking any words.
"I'll wait for as long as it takes," she whispered, taking ahold of his hands. "Jellal, you still have a habit of keeping things to yourself."
He looked up at her, "What else am I supposed to do, Erza? It's beyond my control."
"What's beyond your control?" she asked, barely a whisper. "You have a tendency to believe you can solve everything for yourself. Even when it's not possible. Why is it that we should worry about such things? What purpose does it serve if we dwell on the unsolvable?"
"But I had control of it all, had it planned out..."
Erza finally understood what he was referring to. "It's about Chairman Crawford, isn't it?"
His nod was all the confirmation she needed. "He left the Magic Council yesterday. Not only that, but Jose's sentence was halved due to Crawford's misuse of the law."
"So, you can't arrest him anymore?"
"No matter how I try to approach the situation, the only outcome of trying to prove him guilty will be me in jail. If I'm the one using Jose as a witness to prove Crawford guilty—the very man who sentenced Jose to a decade—then the Magic Council will assume I'm affiliated with him."
"I'm sure that's not all that's bothering you. Letting Chairman Crawford go means he's probably with some guilds who seek Zeref, and if that's the case, we can arrest him later on when we have solid evidence."
Jellal weakly smiled, "Somehow I'm convinced you can utilize Telepathy."
"You're easy to read," she countered, looking smug about it. "Now, what else is bothering you?"
"Jose's five year sentence. He..." remembering Jose's words made the threat so much more real.
"Because I will exact my revenge by hurting her. It seems you wouldn't mind being a martyr for my cause. But oh, you should see your face when she suffers an atrocity. Perhaps should I start by tearing her limb for limb? Or perhaps ruin that luscious hair? Or maybe...
"Her eye."
Exhaling sharply, he decided against telling her anything. Only chaos would arise about Jose's plans for revenge.
"He was spouting nonsense," Jellal looked up at her convincingly.
She seemed to buy it, judging by the way her shoulders relaxed. Erza released him and sat back into her seat, never detaching her hand from his. "He probably was, it's nothing to worry about."
"Thank you for talking to me about it, I feel better about the situation."
"You really need a break from this all, Jellal."
"We should go a trip," he suggested. Erza's eyes instantly lit up.
"I've never been to Akane Resort, we should take the guild along someday."
"Provided they don't wreak havoc. Taking all of us on a trip would be rather counter-productive." His smile returned, and Erza would make a point about it.
"It's a more entertaining thought than anything in regards to the Magic Council."
Jellal rested his chin on his hand, "I'm going to hold you up to Akane Resort."
"Did I just hear someone speak about tourism?" Mirajane sang, appearing before them unexpectedly. Erza was forced off the stool and spun around to come face to face with the platinum-haired mage. "So, why the sudden discussion?"
"We need a vacation," Erza affirmed, quite proudly. Jellal would have preferred if she kept quiet about it, but alas, this was Erza they were talking about.
"Right...Levy and I are leaving with a group to help design Jellal's penthouse, and I want Erza to come along."
She could see Simon being dragged along with Mirajane. He idly stared out to the bar counter behind Erza, tensing now and then. Jellal hopped off his stool and intervened between the two S-Class wizards. "Only Erza?"
Mirajane gave a cruel smile. "It wouldn't exactly be a surprise if you came along. So you can spend the next few hours with Simon. I'm sure you both have a lot of catching up to do." She leaned into Jellal's ear, "Perhaps you both will settle the score like real men."
She sounded almost like Elfman. "What exactly do you mean by that?"
Slyly, she replied, "Oh, don't play coy with me, Jellal. You know what I'm referring to."
The comment took him by surprise, and Erza noticed, wondering what information he was told that garnered such a reaction.
Simon protested, having not heard anything between the S-Class mages. "So you're using me as the scapegoat?"
"Not really, no. It's just that the entire guild will be gone, so you might as well accompany Jellal. I'm sure that's better than Macao and Wakaba tagging along with him. Or would you rather be lifting couches with the other boys?"
"Erza comes with us," affirmed Simon.
Mirajane pulled at the Erza's arm forcefully. Her legs wobbled beneath the overwhelming force. "No, she stays with me."
Jellal glanced at Simon. "This can be easy or hard, Mira."
Mirajane was the one to answer, cracking into a grin. "Hard it is. Ladies!"
Erza looked around, seeing Cana, Laki, Levy, Millianna, and a reluctant Lucy surrounding them. Mirajane whirled Erza away from Jellal and Simon. Cana and Laki restrained her arms, leaving her to thrash her legs in the air. Soon, Millianna scooped her legs, using her magic to bind her legs. Now all she could fight with were her elbows. "Hey, what's going on? Put me down this instant!"
"Sorry Erza, we have some business to attend to." Mirajane was anything but apologetic.
Hesitantly, Lucy weakly protested, "Mira, is this really necessary?"
"Erza is in a league of her own, Lucy. Never cease an opportunity when you see one."
Simon prevented himself from being thrown into the heap of fighting. Although, he suddenly had the urge to fight them off. Perhaps this is why Natsu was so eager to fight.
"I said release me!" Erza struggled in their grasp, throwing a fit of her own as Laki struggled to keep her in place. Cana fell over, causing Laki to lose her footing, landing face first onto the floor. Erza elbowed Cana and pleaded for Laki to stay on the ground. Unfortunately for her, Levy and Millianna enthusiastically restrained her from the legs.
Mirajane huffed, turning to the councillor. "You know, Jellal, that Bind Snake spell would really help us now."
He wanted to ask her how she knew about the spell, but remembered it was what helped him defeat Laxus.
"Not a chance," he retorted, emphasizing every word to show how strongly he condemned the idea. Jellal would've fought everyone off Erza if there wasn't Levy, Lucy, and especially Millianna.
"Fine. I suggest you leave the guild before I recruit some people for the job."
Simon opened his mouth to speak against her, but Jellal was already moving outside, giving an apologetic smile to Erza, who growled at him in response. "There's no point in talking her out of this."
They were barely outside the guildhall when Mirajane transformed into her Satan Soul and started forcing people to volunteer for the job. She could've done it the angelic way, but Mirajane liked brutality.
She and Erza were a lot more alike than different.
Jellal turned to Simon, who uncomfortably met eyes with him. "Jellal, there's something I've been hearing about lately. It definitely should be brought up in the Magic Council, but I imagine speaking to you about it seems the safest thing to do."
"Is it anything confidential within the council?" he warily asked.
Simon shook his head stiffly, rubbing his hands together anxiously. "It concerns a dark mage who has been selling faulty potions to the public."
He'd heard about it, but everyone dismissed it as a diversion for the Balam Alliance, who were the real threats.
He continued when Jellal gave no further reaction, "It's a merchant shop which sells peculiar potions and charms."
"We're going right now."
"Now? But it's too obvious of a place. They want to bait us."
"I have a plan."
The fields surrounding the shop made it a perfect destination for an ambush. The shack was directly beside a forest. If Jellal had to guess, the supposed brewers who owned the store gathered resources from in there to make it look like they sold magical items. The forest hardly emanated any trace of magic energy, which meant that Simon was right; this place was their hideout.
"We can't go near it, there's something wrong about the entire situation," whispered Simon as they hid behind a large oak tree.
Jellal nodded in agreement, before watching a customer exit. The face was unidentifiable since they donned a cloak. But the broad structure and the way they carried themselves verified it was a male.
"It's poorly protected. One spell of Grand Chariot can obliterate the place." He paused, before adding, "And the people inside it."
"Sounds like overkill, but be my guest." Responded Simon, surveying the area for any movement, before gulping. They were busy trying to find any traps that neither of them looked behind.
Their skin tingled when they felt the presence of a dark wizard behind them. "Ah, what's this? More customers?"
Jellal pulled his hood over his head, feeling the oversized cloth conceal his tattoo before turning around. "Yes, we've heard about you from intel gathered from Eisenwald."
They both hoped that Eisenwald came into contact with the merchant at some point.
He nodded. "Ah yes, Eisenwald. Your blue hair caught me off guard. For a second, I thought you were the infamous councilman, Jellal. Isn't that his name?"
The Wizard Saint almost laughed. "It's not every day you get the chance to meet one, from what I hear."
Simon glanced at him, wondering how to play along when he knew nearly nothing about the topic at hand.
The old man adjusted his wizard-like hat before staring back at Simon with a malicious smirk. "Then perhaps you wouldn't mind revealing your face. It makes me quite suspicious that you covered yourself upon my arrival."
Simon hoped the man didn't recognize them. Dark guilds had a tendency to discern Fairy Tail mages.
Simon supplied, "He's earned a hideous scar during his time in prison. Acknowledging his face brings back horrible memories."
Jellal gave a knowing look to Simon. Both of them knew they were horrible liars, having been pointed out by Erza.
"Hm...is that so? You mean the red birthmark on his face? Such a shame."
Simon clenched his jaw, nudging his friend. "He found us out."
That was all it took. "Meteor!" Jellal sped into the enemy and flung the basket away from him.
He dropped to the ground easily, proving to be no threat—until he aimlessly flung a potion at Simon. The vial shattered against his arm and instantly the acid started corroding his skin.
Jellal's eyes widened at the damage caused. The merchant laughed. "I didn't know my potions had such catastrophic effects. What did I make it from, again?"
Jellal snarled at the man, grabbing his throat. "You're not even a qualified alchemist. You sell faulty batches of potions and charms."
"No charms. The council banned them in X780. Though, I'm sure you'd know, Wizard Saint."
Jellal released him and tended to Simon's injury, tearing his sleeve off and wrapping it around his arm.
Simon's eyes widened in disbelief. "...it's corroding my skin."
"Just hold still for a bit. We'll have to investigate the shop for any cures." They both started running towards the shop, but stepped back when Jellal recognized an enchantment cast around the shop.
"Wait, stand back."
The place exploded upon coming into contact with the runes, similar to the ones created by Freed.
When the smoke cleared and the sounds of explosions stopped resounding in their ears, there were two figures on the opposite side of the building.
"Good day, Councilman Jellal." A taller man spoke, accompanying a Rune Knight.
Lahar.
Jellal stepped in front of Simon, keeping his hands in his pockets. He observed the tall figure, dressed in religious clothing. He was no doubt a well-known person.
Lahar spoke first this time. "Councilman, this is Cardinal Lapointe. He's from the Zentopia Church. Though, I'm sure you already know. Zentopia's doctrines are heavily influential in Fiore."
Jellal nodded. "I've heard. What brings him here today?"
"Orders from Gran Doma to put the shop out of commission. I didn't expect to see you here, given that you never had any orders to investigate this area."
Cardinal Lapointe grinned, "Isn't this the young lad who destroyed one of our properties, the Kardia Cathedral?"
"I was not informed of the damage," Lahar blankly stated. Lapointe found him to be no fun, especially with his guarding stance.
If the Magic Council found out Fairy Tail mages were defeating dark mages without a job request, they would be penalized. "The job request was open to all guilds. I decided to take it as a member of Fairy Tail."
The Cardinal quirked an eyebrow suspiciously. "Really? To think there are other mages who wish to bring justice in Fiore. The Archbishop will be pleased by the news."
"Wonderful. Now if you'll excuse me, my comrade is injured. We should get going."
Lapointe studied the ruins of the hideout for the merchant before turning to Jellal and Simon. Using his magic, Jellal created a Thought Projection outside of Porlyusica's house and used it to materialize in front of there with Simon.
When they appeared at Porlyusica's door, she noticed an odd appearance and swung her door open. Jellal merged back and allowed Simon to enter the house first.
She observed Simon's appearance in disbelief. "Again? How many times are you Fairy Tail wizards going to keep knocking on my door?"
"Unfortunately, we don't know of any healers nearby. It's rare to find any." Answered Jellal sheepishly.
Porlyusica gestured Simon to the infirmary bed as he extended his arm out. She donned gloves on before inspecting it, gently tilting his arm to the sides.
"I don't see any bite marks, but the effects are similar to being bitten by a snake."
Jellal sighed. "The man who made it claims he didn't know what the potion would do."
"It corroded his skin, so some stellanium and herbs should heal his arm."
She went over to her table across the room, gathering a mortar and pestle in her hands as she crushed the stellanium into the mortar. Then she grabbed magical leaves and fungi, adding it into the mixture until there was an aroma of a forest permeating the hut. Jellal trotted over to her side and watched her make the potion. "Do you need help?"
"I've been doing this for years," she snorted.
She remembered the time he had flipped to the exact page that gave the recipe of how to create an artificial eye for Erza. "The spell calls for half a pint of blood. Where are you going to get that?"
Porlyusica took out a vial with a cork on top containing blood. "I take it from the decaying monsters in the forest and preserve it with oxygen. It's a better alternative than taking it from humans."
The corners of his mouth covered upwards. "An even better alternative would be water combined with salt and any harmless acid."
"What?"
"The substitute imitates the nature of blood, so it should work just fine. There's an abundance of all those materials." He gave her a knowing look. "How much longer will you be able to gather blood from those creatures?"
She exhaled sharply, following his instructions. He added, "The ratios should be equivalent to each ingredient's concentration in blood."
Porlyusica added the ingredients, feeling Simon stir and scratch his arm. She placed the items in a flask and added the crushed ingredients from the mortar.
Using her magic, she stirred it until it turned into a green fluid, holding it out to Simon. "Drink this. It should heal you within a few hours."
He took it from her with a small thanks and gulped it down, feeling the skin slowly repair itself.
"I should go inform the guild. It's almost evening."
She took his arm and started wrapping bandages around it, feeling the bursted blood sully the cloth. "You will do no such thing. The last I want is a bunch of lofty mages cramming into my house."
Jellal helped Simon off the bed. "Then I suppose we should go. He'll heal just fine in the guildhall infirmary."
Her throat constricted when they reached the door. Simon turned around. "Thank you, Miss Porlyusica."
She felt a small smile grace her features as they left.
"Stay safe."
After the other mages finished decorating the penthouse, they returned to the guildhall. The only people who remained were Erza and Mirajane. They heard the faint sound of the door knocking, and Mirajane anxiously opened it.
They'd been waiting for hours. Jellal would have some explaining to do once he settled inside. "Welcome home!" she chimed, meeting her eyes with...
"Aye, sir!" Happy exclaimed. "A little fishy would be nice."
"Happy? Have you seen Jellal anywhere?" Mirajane bent down to interrogate him.
"He's at the guildhall with Simon. The infirmary, I believe."
"Jellal's injured!?" Mirajane's voice boomed.
Erza eyed Mirajane before bursting out the door. She followed suit with Happy, wondering if anything happened to them. They reached the entrance, where Jellal made his way down the stairs in the guildhall. He stopped once he noticed their presence. Everyone else were filing out of the infirmary room as Erza stood there in shock.
Jellal called out to her. "Why the long face, Erza?"
She ran towards Jellal and stumbled across a step. Mirajane caught her from behind, but she still looked worried, inspecting Jellal. The only evidence was the torn sleeve of his coat. "What happened to you?"
He took a moment to register her question before chuckling. "I'm not the one hurt, it's Simon. I sent Happy to inform you, since you both remained at the penthouse."
Erza breezed past Jellal and squeezed through the mages who surrounded a bed, finding Simon asleep. His right arm was bandaged, rendering him defenceless for the time-being. She felt Jellal appear behind her. "Why is he like that? Don't tell me you took a mission! Jellal..."
"It was an unofficial task. We were going to destroy a shop that was illegally selling magical items, but I guess the Magic Council got there before us. Strangely enough, the Cardinal of Zentopia Church also paid a visit."
Mirajane and Gray joined them, sighing in relief that their friend was still sleeping. "Zentopia made an appearance yesterday. People are speculating that it has to do with the unstable condition of the council." Mirajane informed.
Erza exchanged glances with Jellal before asking, "I wonder why that is?"
Jellal smiled, unable to contain the mirth in his voice. "Crawford was excommunicated from the council. Therefore, the title was of chairman was passed on to a certain mage."
"It was you, wasn't it?" Erza concluded.
"Well, yes."
Everyone gasped at the revelation. "Does that mean...?"
"A pity I never accepted the offer."
They gawked at Jellal, who seemed uninterested in discussing the matter. Gray cleared his throat. But the person most affected by the news was the short old man hiding behind Natsu. "Jellal!"
"It's been a while since you've gotten worked up over something so trivial, Makarov."
"T-trivial? This would be life changing, and you turned down the position! Of course I'm disappointed." Makarov retorted.
Mirajane shook her head. "I think he's already got enough on his plate as is."
Makarov growled, "Explain yourself."
"Jellal also moved recently. Imagine downsizing from an extravagant estate to a mere penthouse. He must be upset!" Mirajane dramatically narrated, earning a quizzical look from Jellal.
The guild master gritted his teeth until he could no longer contain the anger. "All of you children! You foolish people!"
Erza placed a hand on his shoulder, patting it gently. "I don't think you're one to talk, Master."
He mumbled incoherently at Erza's accusation. Jellal concurred with her, "Seconded."
Makarov couldn't believe that nobody else was condemning the Wizard Saint for his actions. "Well," Mirajane said, "whatever our guild mates choose, I will support them every step of the way."
Erza nodded. "Jellal must have considered the decision tenfold than we did. He probably has a good reason to decline it."
They all smiled as the guild settled down, focused on Simon's recovery and the revelation about Zentopia Church.
The next morning, Gran Doma requested for Jellal's presence. With the penthouse near the guildhall and farther from Era, Jellal used Meteor to commute to Era rather than the train station.
He didn't expect to see Gran Doma lurking in the hallways, far away from his new quarters in Era. Gran Doma instantly recognized Jellal. The Wizard Saint stopped in his movements and watched as the chairman's heels clicked against the floor gracefully. The Rune Knights were dismissed by him, running in different directions to secure the place.
Jellal looked over Gran Doma's shoulder. "I see you've familiarized yourself with the Magic Council in a short amount of time. Impressive."
Gran Doma didn't smile—he never did. "Not as great of an accomplishment as you becoming a Wizard Saint and council member at a young age. It's no wonder King Toma offered you the position first. So tell me, why did you decline it?"
"Like I told the other council members, I'm not interested in such power."
"Really?" he studied the designs on Jellal's black coat. Beneath his coat was a plate of metal designed to protect him. "Or maybe you did it out of fear?"
Jellal clicked his tongue. "I can't draw unnecessary attention to my guild. I'm sure you'd understand, especially since they get on your nerves." He almost laughed at Gran Doma's baffled expression. "Don't look surprised, the Magic Council's dislike for Fairy Tail is no secret."
"Right, I should've known." He sucked in a breath. "However, I didn't call you out here to discuss Fairy Tail's antics. There's a plan of yours that caught my attention concerning the Balam Alliance."
"Ah, you mean the Allied Forces? It's currently being set into motion. King Toma's approved it personally."
"So I've heard, but this is new to everyone and I'm not sure how the mission will turn out. The guild masters have agreed to the idea."
"Which guilds have approved of the Oración Seis request?"
"There's Fairy Tail, Lamia Scale, Blue Pegasus, and Cait Shelter."
Jellal cocked an eyebrow out of curiosity. "Cait Shelter? I've never heard of them."
"Neither have I, but according to Master Bob, there's a girl that specializes in support magic. She can help the alliance."
"If Lamia Scale's part of this mission, then I suppose we already have a Wizard Saint on the mission."
Gran Doma shook his head. "No, Jellal. I want you to be there as well. There's another task I have for you."
He held out a letter to Jellal, recognizing the countless protection seals on it. Any physical traces of it would vanish once he read the contents of the letter. Jellal didn't take it. "You know, it's a little old-fashioned."
"My posture?"
"No, the note." He pointed out, further explaining, "The previous chairman would give me a task through word of mouth. It's safer that way, should the letter still materialize in the world."
"I see," he withdrew his hand and pocketed the envelope, clearing his throat. "In that case, it's a straightforward task for someone of your level. I want you to gather intel on Nirvana then destroy it while you're on the mission."
To this, Jellal stiffened. "Destroy...Nirvana? It's been untouched for decades, tampering with it could bring disastrous results."
"Believe me, I don't want to do this either. However, the Oración Seis have been hiding near Worth Woodsea. While we're under the impression that they're after Zeref's magic, they want to obtain Nirvana. I've heard from Org you're the only person who can unseal it."
"Then it should be a reason for me to not go."
"Hm?" the chairman suspiciously gave a side-glance. "I understand the risk factors, but you need to journey with the others, regardless. It saves us time and another trip to Worth Woodsea."
"What you're asking is likely to end up a catastrophe. If it's true that I'm the only person capable of accessing Nirvana, Brain will stop at nothing to find me."
Judging by the sound of his sharp exhale, Gran Doma became impatient. "What are the odds of him having that knowledge?"
"His magic, Archive," responded Jellal.
"Even if that's the case, as the Chairman of the Magic Council, I order you to seal Nirvana."
"Chairman-"
"Are you going to defy my orders, Jellal? We can charge you for treason if you don't comply with my demands."
Jellal gave a nod as acknowledgement, spinning on his heel. He wanted to say so much more to him than just walk away in silence. "Understood."
From the periphery of his vision, Jellal could see Lapointe listening in on their conversation.
"Find anything?"
The man who was asked grinned widely, holding an envelope in his hand. "The new chairman is dense," mused Midnight, tearing the top of the letter with his teeth. He dug his fingers into the envelope to retrieve the paper, cast with a protection seal.
He retracted his hand away from the paper, feeling his fingers tingle with pain from the sensation.
Angel boringly stared at her nails. "Seems like you're the dense one."
"Shut it, Angel," growled Midnight.
"It's true," she continued, unbothered by his threatening gaze. "Who wouldn't know there's a seal on that task? It's for the infamous Councilman Jellal, how can it not be heavily protected?"
Midnight paused before glancing at Cobra. "What happened to Naked Mummy?"
"Apparently they weren't able to pay up because they ran into Black Steel Gajeel."
"And what exactly did you do to them?"
He shrugged at the question. "Nothing out of the ordinary. I taught them an unforgivable lesson. One of their comrades died from their wounds. But I wouldn't worry about it."
Their master, Brain, strode into the room with a look of amusement. "Looks like you brought back some exciting news."
Brain extended his hand out and dispelled the protection seal, weakening the effects of it until it shattered.
"A predictable move from the council. But why would he abandon something so important?"
"He didn't," Midnight intervened. "I snuck into his archives. Though, I didn't escape it undetected."
Cobra sneered at him. "Exactly why I should have gone. I would have gathered intel from the geezer's mind and retrieve the letter without being noticed."
"Even Lord Zeref couldn't do something like that. It was hardly possible to get into Era, let alone pass the barrier protecting the council."
Brain watched them bicker until he raised his voice to speak up. "Nonetheless, you did a splendid job, Midnight."
"Thank you, Father." He bowed deeply before stepping back, letting him go through the writing. His smile widened as the others waited in anticipation.
Brain's lips curved into a smug grin, scrunching the letter tightly into his palm. "It seems the Wizard Saint is coming to me."
"To destroy us?" snorted Angel, picking the dirt off her nails.
"To unseal Nirvana." He corrected, ignoring her snarky remarks. He plucked the letter before ripping it to shreds. "A little old-fashioned to be giving a sealed envelope. Oh, how I love the foolishness of those on the Magic Council."
Midnight stared at the shreds of paper with a cold and calculating gaze. "I heard rumours about the next chairman being Jellal, but he rejected the position."
"A wise move on his part. Jellal doesn't want to attract attention, so he's lying low for now. However, he's also the closest thing to Gran Doma since he's a powerful asset to the council."
"So, what now?"
"From what I've gathered from the letter, they've arranged a team of mages to track us down. They're coming soon."
Cobra's smile widened. "Then why don't we pay them our respects?"