Gray led Juvia and Carla up a ladder which took them to another level of the cathedral. This one had plenty of statues, bells, and stain glass windows.

"My this place is a lot bigger than it looks outside." Juvia said. "How long have you lived here?"

"All my life."

"What happened to your parents?"

"I don't know. Invel says that I was abandoned here when I was a just few months old. He took me in and raised me when no one else would."

"So you don't anything about where you were born? Or who your father was? Or your mother?"

"Invel always that she was the one who left me here. He said that she was to afraid of me. Of what I was. I'm a demon you know."

"Did he tell you that?"

"Yes."

"Well you don't really believe that do you?"

"Of course I do. I mean look at me. Don't you see a monster?"

"No."

"No?"

"No. I see a man who has arms and hands and fingers like me. A nose, a mouth, two ears, and a pair of legs like me. And he has the most gentle eyes I've ever seen. Sorry I don't see anything that convinces me that you're not human."

"Well look at these markings, these scars, they're pretty much all over my body."

"So?"

"And these didn't come from an accident, I was born like this."

"I repeat so?"

"So I'm not normal."

"Well just because you're not normal doesn't you're not human. Just look at me. Look at my clothes and my hair, it's blue. Is that normal?"

"No...Not really."

"Okay now do you think I'm not human because of that?"

"No but that's just a hair color."

"And these are just marks on your body. I won't lie to you, at first glance you did frighten me but I never thought for one moment that you weren't a human being."

"Seriously?"

"Yes. Invel shouldn't say that you're monster because it's not true."

"How do I know that I can believe you? That you actually see me as a human being? That you're not just pitying me?"

"Well..." She thought for a moment then smiled when she got an idea. "If I really thought that you were a monster would I do this?"

She then planted a soft kiss on his blackened cheek causing him to flinch away in shock. Juvia started laughing.

"What's so funny?" He asked.

"Your face is all red. I'm sorry, did I embarrass you?"

Gray's face was burning red all over and if his face had gotten any hotter he might have been blowing smoke out of his ears.

"I...I'm not embarrassed." He said desperately trying to hide his face in his shirt. "It's just that...I've never been kissed before."

"Oh...Well if it's any consolation you're the first man I've ever actually kissed. Unless you count my father." She giggled.

"Really? I'm the first? Huh...And I thought gypsies were..." He stopped talking when he realized how insulting he was about to be.

"Tramps? It's okay you're not the only one who thinks that."

"I don't...I mean...Invel always said that-"

"That gypsies are tramps? Thieves? And devil worshippers? I'm not surprised by that but he's wrong you know. Not all of us are like that. I love God and I've never stolen anything but I can't say the same for Jellal unfortunately."

"Who's he?"

"He's the leader of the gypsies and he brought me up after my parents died. He's a good man but he has sticky fingers."

They laughed at her joke.

"You know you're not at all what I expected a gypsy to be." Gray said.

"Well maybe you shouldn't believe everything Invel tells you."

"Gray where are you?!" An angry voice shouted.

Speak of the devil, the archdecon came running upstairs into the room.

"What is she doing here?" He asked getting more angry. "Gray what have I told you about disturbing those who come to the truth?"

"I-I-I..."

"It's not his fault." Juvia said. "I followed him up here. I wanted to talk to him."

"I see." He said calming down. "However he has chores to do. Now get going."

"Yes sir." Gray said leaving.

"Must you speak to him in such a cruel way?" Juvia said.

"I have no choice. It's the only way he'll learn."

"Learn what?"

"Not to give in to the darkness in him."

"What darkness? You say he's a horrible monster and yet he's gentle and harmless."

"You don't know him. You don't know where he came from. He was born from an evil union."

"That doesn't make him evil."

"Hmm...Tell me why is it that you show no fear or disgust when you're around him?"

"Because I see him for what he really is. A lonely and frightened man who just wants to be accepted."

"If you can see that in him then maybe you're not as twisted as I thought you were. After all you weren't born a gypsy. Maybe...Maybe I can help you reach salvation."

"I don't understand."

"Perhaps you could stay here and let me teach you."

"I...I don't think that would be a good idea." She said stepping away from him.

"Why is that?"

"I've seen the way you look at me."

"How dare you!" He snapped at her. "Accusing me of having such thoughts! I should've known that someone like you could ever be capable of any real goodness! Remove your sinful self from this holy place at once!"

Carla jumped into Juvia's arms, trembling with fear at his outburst. Juvia stroked her comfortingly while keeping her distance from Invel.

"Alright I'll leave but could you at least let me say goodbye to Gray?"

"No! And he shall have nothing more to do with you! Now leave!"

Juvia only glared at him then left taking Carla with her. Once she was gone Gray returned.

"Did she leave?" He asked.

"Yes. I made her."

"Why?"

"Because she was a gypsy and she was in our church! She would have tainted this holy place!"

"I don't know...I mean she was nice to me."

"Oh was she now? Well what do you know about people and their feelings?"

"Feelings? I...I don't know much about that but she said I was human. She said that I wasn't a monster. She..." His hand went to his cheek. "She kissed me."

"What?!" Invel shouted.

"And she smiled when she did it."

"Do you have impure thoughts about her?!"

"No! Of course not!"

"Why would you let that filth touch you?!"

"It wasn't like that! It was just a peck on the cheek."

"Gray people like her prey on people like you! They manipulate and decieve! With no remorse! They only care about themselves! People like her aren't capable of real love!" Invel then composed himself. "But of course I can't expect someone like you to see through her facade. Someone like you is prone to give into people like that. I must leave you now but I warn you, never think of her again. She will only bring about your end."

"Yes sir."

"Good now get back to work."

Gray nodded and left to do his chores once again feeling hurt and sad. Was Invel right? Was she just decieving him? Using him? Was it all and act? No. No it couldn't be. She saved him. She treated him like he was actually a person. She cared for him. He could see it in her eyes. They held a sincere kind of love and compassion that no one could ever fake. And it was that love and compassion she had that gave him hope that maybe, just maybe he could be accepted.