Captain Loke did not die from the attack but he was left in a coma and the only suspect in the stabbing was Juvia. It was not long before her case was brought to trial unfortunately Juvia could not afford a lawyer and to make matters worse several witnesses claimed that they had seen her practicing witchcraft.

"She's an evil witch who summoned a demon to stab the captain!" They said.

"That's ridiculous!" Juvia said. "I have no such abilities and what motive could I possibly have for trying to kill that man?"

"It's obvious that you were infatuated with the captain so you sought out to seduce him but he was engaged so he rejected your advances which led to you trying to kill him with witchcraft." Judge Zeref said.

"It's not true! I hardly know that man!"

"Then why did you meet with him at a local brothel?"

"We just ran into each other on the street. The brothel just happened to be there."

"And what about witnesses claiming that you have been using sorcery? Playing with fire, talking with spirits, creating potions and charms."

"They're lying! I have done none of those things! Please you must believe me!"

But she was found guilty and was sentenced to hang the next day. Unknown to all, Invel had paid those witnesses to lie and say that they had seen her practicing witchcraft because he wanted her to die. That is of course if she rejected him. On the night before she was to be executed he went to visit her in her jail cell.

"Why are you here?" She asked him.

"Because I have come to save you." He told her.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm willing to tell Judge Dragneel that you were possessed by a demon when you stabbed the captain and that I had successfully exorcised it from your body. If I told him that you would be set free."

"But that would be a lie and besides I didn't stab him."

"It doesn't matter if you or didn't your guilty in his eyes but I can save you from death and eternal damnation. But I can only do that if you make me a promise."

"What promise?"

"Promise that once you our saved you shall forsake everything in this world, live in the cathedral with me, allow me to cleanse your soul, and be mine."

"You can't be serious."

"I've never been more serious about anything in my life."

"But I'm a gypsy. You're disgusted by people like me."

"But you are not a gypsy by birth. You were once pure and innocent until those vermin corrupted you, allow me to save you."

"It doesn't sound like saving to me. It sounds more like an eternal hell."

"Are you refusing my offer?"

"Yes I am! I'd rather die and be reborn in heaven than live on earth with you!"

"Then die you shall!" He snapped before walking away from the jail. "Die like the last witch who spurned my affection."

In the morning he returned to the cathedral to check on Gray. He found him sitting on the balcony gazing out to watch the people gathering in the square.

"Hey Invel what's going on down there?" He asked.

"They're going to hang that gypsy witch today."

"You mean Juvia?" Gray suddenly turned very pale. "But what for?"

"The wicked woman tried to use witchcraft to kill a soldier."

"But there must be some mistake, she wouldn't do that."

"Of course she would! She's a gypsy!"

"There must be some misunderstanding."

"I saw her do it with my own two eyes!"

"I don't believe that! She wouldn't! She couldn't!"

"Are you calling me a liar?" He asked in a threatening tone.

"No but...Maybe you made a mistake."

"I never make mistakes."

"Still do they have to kill her? Why can't they just lock her up?"

Gray hoped that if she had been sentenced to jail then maybe she would have been freed by that mysterious vigilante who had been sneaking into prisons at night.

"She's a witch Gray! A witch cannot live otherwise she'll cause destruction! Now I must go and attend to business with Makarov. Stay out of trouble while I'm gone."

Gray just couldn't believe what he was hearing. He knew for a fact that Juvia was much too kind and good to hurt anybody. She had come to his aid when he was being tortured and she spoke to him like he was a human being instead of some deformed animal. A person that kindhearted was capable of witchcraft or murder. Why she was basically an angel in a human body and he wouldn't let that angel die.

Meanwhile down below in the town square Juvia's hands were tied and she was brought before the executioner wearing nothing but a tattered white dress. People kept sputing insults at her, calling her a witch and a whore. It broke her heart that so many people could harbor so much hate toward her. However among one of the spectators was Jellal who had to be held back by soldiers to keep him from rescuing her.

"You can't do this!" He shouted. "That trial was unfair! She didn't have a proper attorney!"

"Silence you scoundrel!" Zeref ordered.

"I will not! You would hurt an innocent child! You would see her murdered by your lies!"

"Be silent or I'll have you hanged next!"

"Jellal don't interfere." Juvia said. "I don't want you to die too."

"I won't let them do this to you Juvia! I can't bear the thought of you dying!"

"I'll be alright Jellal. I'll be alright."

She began to pray to God that her death would be quick and painless. She prayed that he would forgive her for all the sins she had committed in life and that he would welcome her into the kingdom of heaven when she died.

"No! I can't let you die! You're too good!" Jellal pulled a knife from his pocket and stabbed a soldier in the foot, he then darted for the stockade only to be shot in the shoulder by another soldier.

"Jellal! No!" Juvia screamed in terror. "Oh no! No!"

She was so overcome with shock and horror over what had just transpired that she fainted.

"Leave his body for the rats. He doesn't deserve a burial." Zeref said. "And now it is my civic duty to sentence this unholy woman to die. Executioner! Take her life!"

The executioner moved her body upward and placed the noose around her neck. He then prepared to pull the rope and the lever that would caused her to drop and snap her neck. Suddenly out of no where, Gray swung down from the cathedral and landed on top of the stockade. The soldiers tried to stop him but they underestimated how strong Gray was. He threw the soldiers off the stockade, took the unconscious gypsy girl into his arms, and ran back inside the cathedral, knocking out anyone who tried to stop him with one punch.

"You can't kill her now!" He shouted once they were inside. "The laws of sanctuary protect her from you!"

"Men seize the cathedral!" Zeref ordered.

"We can't sir." A soldier said. "The church is a place of peace, the military may not enter."

"Damn!" Zeref cursed. "Then place a guard at every entrance, the minute that woman or that man sets foot out of the cathedral kill them!"

"Yes sir!"