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Chapter 3. A magnetic attraction

Six days later

Erza's behaviour didn't become normal after her return. On the contrary, in the next few days things were getting worse.

Natsu and the others noticed that the red-haired mage was extremely abstracted. She didn't pay attention to anything around her and even avoided meeting her friends. She didn't want to speak with anybody. Her silence caused them anxiety. When they asked her about her mission, the only answer they got was "It was successful." And that was all. Erza gave them no other explanations.

Not only Natsu's team but also the other guild members noticed that something was wrong with her.

"I'm afraid Erza doesn't look well these days… What is going on with her?" asked Mirajane.

"We don't know, Mira-san," replied Lucy. "And to tell you the truth I'm very concerned."

"We asked what was wrong with her but she made no answer. The only thing she said was "I'm okay". But she obviously isn't okay," added Happy.

"Yes, her behaviour is very strange. It is unusual for her to be so quiet and abstracted," said Levy.

"Erza is in this state since she was on a mission alone," said Lucy. "Maybe something has happened during that mission… Who knows? She doesn't want to explain us. And how can we help her when we don't know what the problem is?"

"Whatever is the reason, I'm going to find it out!" vowed Natsu.

"Don't force her, Natsu. Maybe it will be better if we leave her in peace for some time," said Cana.

"Cana is right. When Erza feels herself ready to tell us she will do it," nodded Mirajane.

-ooo-

Erza loved her friends and didn't want to trouble them but she knew that she just couldn't tell them. They wouldn't understand. So she wanted to be alone and avoided their company. Never in her life had she felt herself so totally confused. The red-haired mage didn't understand what was going on with her.

In fact, she hadn't had a lot of work during the mission with Mystogan. When they had reached their goal, the man had found the monster earlier than her. She had heard the noise of their fight and had run at that direction. But when she had managed to found the masked mage, the monster had already been defeated.

The mission was successful but there was something very strange. She and Mystogan practically hadn't talked on the way to the mountain and back to Magnolia. But words hadn't been necessary for their communication. Erza had the feeling that she had never got on so well with somebody…

The truth was that she felt an unexplainable attraction to the masked mage. What was the reason, she couldn't say. Was it his fault or hers? The girl didn't know. Her sixth sense told her that he has something strange about him… something familiar… Well, it might be only a consequence of the fact that he had the same face as Jellal Fernandes… Yes, maybe that was the explanation… But she wasn't absolutely sure.

Maybe it was only her imagination but it seemed to Erza that almost every night she saw Mystogan's figure on her window. It happened usually just before daybreak. He cast a glance at her and sighed heavily. After that she heard his steps moving away slowly.

"What does he want from me? What is this strange behaviour of his?" she asked herself time and time again. "And more importantly… What is going on with me? Why do I feel a magnetic attraction to him? Maybe I'm enchanted by him? But how is this possible? No, this is ridiculous… It just can't be."

And the worst thing was that she couldn't stop thinking about Jellal Fernandes. Her heart was breaking on two.

-ooo-

"Master, I have to ask you something…" said Erza with hesitation.

"What is it, Erza?" asked Makarov without looking at her. He has just returned from a meeting with the members of the Magic Council and looked really tired.

"I would like to know what is going on with… one person…"

"Who are you talking about?"

"He is… Jellal Fernandes."

The master cast a glance at her. He didn't expect that question.

"Why do you ask me about this man, Erza?"

She hesitated for a second and her face blushed. "Because… well… He is my childhood friend and I am… concerned about him… "

"Well, I know only that he is in the prison… I can't tell you anything more."

The red-haired girl sighed.

"I shouldn't ask…"

The magnetic attraction to Mystogan that Erza feels has its explanation. These three chapters were only the introduction. The main part of the story will start in the next chapter.

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