Thanks for the feedback on the first chapter, I love to see how you guys like the setting ^^

I hope you like this chapter too, I had a lot of fun writing it! Thanks for proofreading CJ!

It was quiet in the guild. Quieter than it would ever be. The threat of war with an impossible enemy pressed on the mages and led to everyone wandering around aimlessly. Some had chosen to stay at home, but most members wanted to stick together in this anxious situation.

Zeref had temporarily called his troops and remaining Spriggan Twelve members back and there was no way to tell when they'd be back for revenge and their ultimate goal: the Lumen Histoire.

Cana carefully closed the giant door behind her, feeling gazes pry into her that she'd never felt before. Nobody had come to check on her after her partner was thrown in jail, even worse, they seemed to avoid her like the plague.

She dragged herself towards a table on which Lucy was seated by herself as well. Uncomfortably she sat down next to her. She hadn't spoken to Lucy ever since the incident. Somehow it felt as if her friend partly blamed her

'How is Brandish doing?''

Startled, Lucy turned towards her. Her expression hardened when she saw who sat beside her.

''Why don't you go ask her yourself?'' she sneered, ''since visiting jails is your thing now.''

Cana was dumbfounded by her reaction. She knew she held a grudge against Mest, now, but to involve her as well?

''How could you not have seen this coming?'' Lucy asked, not making eye contact.

''What do you mean?'' Cana felt estranged from the person next to her. It was unusual to see her friend so distrustful.

''There must have been some signals, some behaviour that seemed off...'' Lucy continued, ''you two have been non-stop together the last week.

An upsetting feeling welled up inside the card mage's guts. ''Do you seriously think I knew about him planning a murder without letting you guys know?!'' She let out while tears welled up in her eyes. Her increase in voice volume drew in more attention than she'd already created with her presence.

Like a hunted animal, she looked right and left. All her friends, who had always been there for her, none of them felt like someone to turn to right now. On their faces were no trustful smiles anymore, just suspicion and disappointment.

''It's just really hard to believe, Cana. This was our last chance and August's assassination must have been planned quite recently.''

She pushed herself away from the table and paced her way out of the building. Tears dropped down the path towards the guildhall's gate as a million thoughts went through her head.

There was just one person left who'd believe her, no matter what. The only problem? Nobody knew about his whereabouts.

She had made up her mind; she'd go home and pack her bags. There was no time to lose. A war was on the verge of breaking out and the guild's strongest warrior was nowhere to be seen.

Finding Gildarts was her last hope of making things right.

The sound of a wall crumbling echoed through the empty cellblock, wakening Mest from his shallow slumber. He blinked, still not used to the lack of light below the ground. In the faint light of the almost burned-out torches, he could make out a moving shape on the floor in front of his cell.

Someone was breaking in.

Confused, he sat upright on the stone bench and immediately reached for his head, which had started to throb with ache. His body had started to take a toll after all the emotional damage of the past few days.

Why on earth would someone break into an empty cellblock? To sneak into the council building? That doesn't make any sense, as no members were at work today. He tried not to think too hard, but he couldn't stop his mind from theorising. Could it be...that someone is trying to break me out?

Heavy footsteps followed, approaching in a menacing pace. A dark shape entered his field of view and looked up to his prison number plate.

''My, my, prisoner 100977, how the tables have turned,'' a raspy, all too familiar voice resounded as purple eyes peeked through the bars.

Mest could feel his blood curdle. ''Erik...''

A groan of disproved escaped from the man's mouth. ''You know that's not my name, pesky councilman. Look at you,'' he mused, ''resurrecting the council on your own just a few months ago, and now you're rotting away in its cells. How ironic.''

''Shut your damn mouth and leave!'' Mest backfired.

''How did it feel?'' Cobra asked with a sly smile, clearly enjoying himself.

''Felt what?''

''Killing,'' he almost growled as he pronounced the word.

''You're a monster!'' Mest let out.

''You know what, maybe I am.'' He shrugged and locked eyes with him. ''But so are you.''

''I told you to get lost!''

''I have an offer,'' Cobra said as he made himself comfortable against the wall, ''but it might take a lot to convince you, it seems.''

He reached inside his cloak to reveal a curved dagger.

''If it gets ugly, I might have to use your tactics against you.''

Mest was powerless. He realised that all too well. Magicless, drained and chained up. Flashbacks of him putting a knife on Erik's throat a year ago welled up inside his aching mind. He groaned in frustration. Karma really was a bitch.

''You're just doing this to let me owe you a favor, aren't you?'' he asked.

Cobra narrowed his eyes to a deadly glare.

''Do you really think I hadn't noticed you ratted me out to Jellal as soon as I got out of jail?'' he hissed through his pointy teeth. ''you used me to repay your own debt to him.''

Mest gulped. He knew.

''So, I wouldn't call us even,'' Cobra let his dagger roll between his fingers. ''...yet.''