Welcome to chapter 3.
Erza
She had run out of clean water days ago, her mouth was dry and tasted like dirt. Her food was inedible due to her dehydrated state, it would become a clump in her throat to the point where she would choke and gag. She was certain, due to the amount of time she had thrown up in the past few days passed, that she had no longer any food inside of her. She felt her skin loosen around her bones and when she had caught a glimpse of herself on her blade, she saw that her eyes had hollowed out. Her russet like orbs glaring at her like an insane individual. She looked like a barbarian.
The second crisis that hammered through her tired mind repeatedly, was that she had no solid suggestion as to where she was. She found it easy to believe that she was hallucinating due to her lack of liquids, and the blaring heat of the sun, that even through the trees managed to make her sweat out the last of her liquids as time went on.
How could I be so stupid and not stock up more? She queried, hating herself for making a deathly mistake. She would die if she did nothing. She would die in the woods and the wolves would feast on her flesh before anyone found her.
She needed to make sure that did not happen.
With all her might, she managed to climb a mountain path that she found herself on. Midway up, she stopped to rest. She looked around her, able to see the view that laid behind. She was on a high mountain - she implored her mind to try and think of all the mountains in the world of Fiore. She guessed that the mountain was one of the larger ones. That narrowed it down, thankfully. She was either in the Eastern Mounds, or she was nearing the Kingdom of the Sky.
A shock swiftly fluttered through her body. The Kingdom of the Sky… her father's home. She swallowed whatever saliva her body had left, wishing it was nothing but a cool goblet of water. Her stomach clenched when she thought of food, as if the very idea made her body wish to collapse.
If I am to die, so be it… but I will not die before trying to live! She told herself, as if she was internally screaming at her body to venture onwards.
It was a day later, when she managed to make it to the second village up the mountain. Her father's home. The kinder village. The village that when they found her, half dead and shaking due to a fever, took her into a local doctor's home, where she was cared for instantly. She was hydrated, and herbal medicines were given to her through a soup. She slept for days. She eventually sweated out her fever.
It was when she awoke, that the King's guards asked to see her. She weakly told them why she had come past their borders. Why she was here… She had forgotten the reason long ago. Why did she walk away from this Kingdom? Why did she wish for nothing more than to live a lonely life on the road?
Did fate bring her here? Did fate wish her to come here for a second chance? Mend the past she had severed so long ago now…?
Did death not wish to touch her with his kiss yet? She did not know, but she was suddenly filled with a thankful emotion. She did not cry, though. She managed to keep that in her soul. She nodded to the men, mentioning that she was born in this village.
It was then that the doctor recognised her. Smiling happily that he saved the life of a former person who lived in his village. The King's Guards nodded at each other, muttering. Erza had not heard them, but moments after they left, they returned. The one with dark red hair and one eye said with formality, "The King wishes to speak with you, M'Lady."
"The King…?" She asked, suddenly awake with surprise. "Why?"
"Do not question it, you get used to his randomised reasons to proceed with certain courtesies." He replied with a bored tone in his voice, as if he had to explain the King's reasonings on a regular basis.
He said I would get used too it… what did he mean by that? She questioned. Do they think that I will stay here? She almost wished to scoff. She resisted, thankfully for her. As a moment passed, the curtains of her room opened. The Guards bowed and named the person entering the room. "All Hail the King, King Jellal Fernandes, the first of his name of the Kingdom of the Sky."
Erza remembered bowing her head out of respect, causing her head to spin by a fraction. She swallowed hard, peeping up through her red hair and blushed. Luckily her curtain of hair hid her bashfulness. The man in front of her… was one that had never seen before. His eyes were tawny in colour, with flecks of green that were just like the trees surrounding the kingdom in colour. They held something within Erza's heart instantly… by how warming, and welcoming they were. His facial tattoo told her a thousand stories of his past… it was like she knew him in an instant. Her heart fluttered, she clenched her stomach from under her sheets.
The King… was so different. And a tick of time later, he kissed her hand, and then her cool palm. A common way to greet a woman in these parts. His eyes never left hers, as if he was assessing her reactions. Was she a barbarian? Was she tame? Was she still able to keep her own spirit alive? She hoped for the latter to be prominent.
He then asked her if the weapons in her holster were hers, she answered yes, proudly, lifting her head high. He smirked, he then questioned if she could wield them. Again she contemptuously told him that she was known as Titania, Queen of the Fairies, known to be able to run down a hundred men swimmingly by herself with her swords. She was feared by many. Something she only half enjoyed.
It was in that second he seemed fully pleased with her presence, his voice was tender and soothing. "I've heard of you, Erza Scarlet, your strength isn't unascertained to me. In fact, it is like a friendly reminder to broaden my Kingdom's views on women and men." He smiled, crows feet crinkled at the edges of his eyes. Causing Erza to wonder how old the King was - Possibly in his mid twenties - if not thirties.
"What are you implying?" She wondered out loud.
He sat on her bed, the guards at the door seemed suddenly on edge. Erza realised it was due to her sword being right beside her bed. They thought she would kill him, without thought. Did they really believe she'd do such a savage thing? He sighed deeply and smiled, "Be one of my men, my warrior. Be my private knight - with a person like you, I would surely be safe to the end of my days." His expression told her that he was not fooling with her weakened mental state. Yet she felt uncertain.
"Why?" She muttered.
"Because… It must be fate, don't you think? That you came back here, to your place of birth and that we met. And with fate, we must grace it and use it to our advantages." He smirked, running his fingers through his hair tiredly.
It didn't take her much more thinking to agree. His reasoning made complete sense, though she did not like the idea of staying near the village that she was brought up in, she however saw a purpose to protect someone.
Her King… Her intriguingly beautiful and strong King. A person she swore from that day on to protect with her very life.
She had been by his side now for a few months, she hadn't expected it to feel so natural, but it did. She stood by his side most of the day, he worked, signing paper work, having meetings with the accused, visiting the orphanage not far from the castle and giving their weekly allowance. She watched him do his work, he was so graceful in doing it, like he didn't have a care in the world. People did stare at him in wonderment. Why was a King so loyal? Kings were usually seen as something to be feared for their strength, not loved for their sincerity and devotion.
And she did question, quite regularly the same query as them. Why was he so loyal? Why did he do it?
She never had the courage to ask such a thing of a man who saved her. She had not earned the right, not yet.
She awoke at dawn, her head was tired from the previous evenings late hour. She had spent the night sharpening her weapons, sewing any patches in her armour and waterproofing her boots. She was sore when she had opened her eyes, her back claiming than extra hour in bed would do no harm, though she dared not to consider it for a moment. She couldn't rest, not when she had promised the King to rally up the monthly rents from neighbouring villages. She had a job to do and she wasn't planning to let anyone down.
She bathed quickly, pulling her slightly damp hair in a ponytail before dressing in her usual daily armour and ventured to the kitchens for some breakfast. The cooks were already up, giving pleasant conversation to the Knight of the King. She ate her porridge and honey before drinking the rest of her tea. She stood, putting her dishes in the washing bowl, even to the protest of the staff before bowing and leaving the kitchen. Though she still caught the whispered, "Odd girl," as she left.
She paid no mind, because she was an 'odd girl,' that she knew.
She was given a cloak when she arrived at the stables minutes later, the chill to the morning air was refreshing, though the dampness of her air caused her to shiver. She put on the hood of her cloak to protect herself, rallying up the four members of the Brotherhood belonging to the Kingdom of the Skies. They stared at her, knowing that they had no choice but to follow her reign, though she could tell that they wished to protest. Sighing deeply, she mounted her horse and clicked her tongue twice. The horse started moving, "Follow." She told them sternly, they instantly followed suit.
The morning was brisk and windy, like the usual mornings within the confinements of the Kingdom of the Sky. She found it a good way to awaken, with mornings as wondrously chilly as these. Sometimes she caught herself just standing by the opened window a for a few moments each morning before bathing, just to wake her body up properly before her day truly started.
They rode down to the mid point of the mountains, an hour or so passed before they arrived at a wooden fence that circled around an entire village, populating several hundred. A guardsman asked for their credentials, showing them, they were allowed within the fencing.
Erza found an odd comfort whenever she came to the first village below the Sky Palace, everyone offered them warmed bread and heated wineskins, and paying their taxes fully and without much complaint. Erza would always buy some bread from the baker, and some flowers for her room from the florist next to him. Both of which smiled at her, thanking her for her generosity. She would wave them off, thankful that the first village never took too long to receive all payments.
It was the second village down the mountain that caused her expression to dull.
The second village was further down the mountain, they would always ask if they had the right date to give in their tax. Accusing them of making them all pay twice in one month. Erza despised the people in the village, especially when the drunks came from their taverns and spotted her on her black stallion.
"Hey, why isn't it… the red haire-d w-whore of the-the ki-ing!" They slurred happily to themselves, Erza paid them no mind… at first.
Another laughed and smacked his leg as if the other had cracked an amusing joke, "I heard she sucks-s his-s d-dick twice! Twice a day!" He howled with laughter, he hiccupped and drank from a filthy wineskin.
The third nudged the other two, "Maybe… we should ask her to acc-company us all t-to our b-beds!" He snorted nastily, green mucus dribbled from his nose. "S-She could fuc-k us all and s-show u-us w-what t-the k-ing sees in h-her!"
The first too speak added, "I bet s-she can't even wield her s-sword!"
Erza narrowed her eyes, she would not usually retaliate in such a manner, but when her King was mentioned in such a foul way, she couldn't contain herself much further. She drew her sword and levelled it under the first man's neck. Her hair falling in front of her hair, the cool morning in this village was humid and foggy, she could see her hair had picked up some of her sweat on her temple. "Rephrase what you just said to me, villager."
"I-I dunno what-cha mean, ma'am!" He hiccuped.
"Oh? But you seemed so sure a moment ago, please, I won't bite. I can't even wield a sword, remember?" She spat.
"L-Listen you h-half blind b-bitch!" The third man yelled, "Y-Your King is a w-weakling if h-he fell for your big tits and tight womanhood s-so easily!" He laughed, "S-show us that you c-can wield a sword, i-if you're so tough!"
And with that, she hardly took a second to flip the sword over her forearm and holding onto the shaft securely before hitting them all in the forehead with the blunt handle. They all fell over, drunken and confused they yelled after her as she joined back up with the Knights.
"Do think that too be wise, Lady Scarlet?" One Knight mumbled, his voice tired.
"Erik, I did not ask for your input, thank you." She snapped, "Are all taxes collected?"
"Yes, ma'am…" Erik mumbled, it was as if a tail suddenly went between his legs. Probably being told off by a woman hurt his soft ego.
Erza sighed, her horse stepping in front of them, "Shall we be off then? I wish to train before lunch."
"Yes, ma'am." All them mumbled.
They arrived back at the palace when the sun was about to be in the middle of the sky. Its heat was something new that Erza hadn't learned to bare yet, by the time they got to the stables, she was sweating all over. She removed her cloak and carried the money to the treasurer who thanked her, before going back to her room, changing into some lighter armour before returning downstairs.
The rest of the military were practicing when she came downstairs, they all were shirtless in the courtyard, making do of the little space they had to practice. When they all spotted her, they looked around nervously for their shirts. She made a disgusted sound and rolled her eyes, "I am not a woman who gets easily flustered by the sight of under matured men." She told them, picking up a wooden sword eyeing a younger boy in the corner, who was watching them all. "You, boy." She beckoned him.
"Yes, ma'am?" He widened his eyes in horror, she sighed, he gulped, "I mean, Lady Scarlet?"
She walked to a thick wooden post that people used to see how quick they could swing their blade. It was dented with past hits, but it was still as solid as an ox. "I want you to count me, understand? Two minutes on the clock, I want a solid answer of how many times I can swing my blade, got that kid?" She eyed him, his gaze was full of shock and nerves.
He finally nodded, "O-Okay, t-two minutes!"
"Start... now!" She said as she swung the sword over her forearm, catching it in her hand before hitting the post repeatedly, swing the sword around her torso, under her legs, around her neck and shoulders, making sure she can grab her blade in whatever angle she may find herself in. She was furiously sweating by the end of the two minutes, the suns heat caused her skin to start lightly tanning.
"How many!" She snapped, panting a little.
"Ninety hits, ma'am! I-I mean Lady Scarlet!" He squeaked. "You were so fast, I may have mis-counted or… missed a few in general…" He looked away shyly.
She looked at him whilst she panted, relaxing a little as she stood. She put the sword down and walked over to him, "What's your name?"
"Me? I-I'm Romeo, ma'am. I-I mean…."
"I know what you mean, call me whatever you wish. I am no lady, not formally anyway." She smiled, kneeling in front of him. "Romeo, thank you for your help." She winked, "You helped me practice, I'll remember that."
He slowly smiled, looking as if a weight fell off his shoulders. "T-Thank you ma'am!"
"L-Lady Scarlet!" A man called her, she looked over her shoulder nonchalantly and raised a brow. He ran towards Romeo, shoving him behind her legs as if he was embarrassed that he was there. "I am so sorry, did Romeo do something wrong? I'll punish him as soon as he gets home!" He laughed nervously.
"No."
"What?" He widened his eyes.
She stood up to his level, "You asked if he did something wrong, I am saying he did not. What gave you the idea that this child who is just sitting there, helping with preparing armour, is doing something wrong, I have no idea." She smiled politely, "I was thanking Romeo for his help, nothing more." She nodded to the child, "Thank you again." The child nodded and grinned behind his supposed father.
She sighed, realising that the stares from the fellow Knights meant they weren't comfortable with her being there. She shook her head, walking away from them all with her head held high. She did not let them see the tears in her eyes.
Once she had bathed and ate some lunch, she went to see the King for their daily talks.
His door was locked again, he disliked people disturbing him if he was truly concentrating on something in particular. She had learned to knock three times if it were here coming to see him. She put a strand of loose hair behind her ear, biting her lip and waited patiently for him to answer.
He mumbled for whoever was there to enter, meaning he hadn't really responded to her knock, he was obviously busy. The door unlocked, and footsteps retreated back towards the back of the room. She sighed and slowly opened the door.
"My King," she bowed, her eyes peeping up at him at his desk.
He didn't look up from his mountain of cream coloured papers that seemed to hide him from her sight. She managed to see his head of blue hair, but that was about it. Everything else was unseen due to masses of contracts and acceptance letters that seemed to swallow him. She smiled lightly as he finally looked up when he realised who spoke.
He stood up and blushed, she always wondered why he did that around her. She did not understand it, personally, but she did find it quite likeable to see it. The colour to his cheeks made him look healthy and young.
"Erza… I didn't know where the time went, it's midday already?" He seemed unsure, as if he didn't believe the god of time himself for a moment. He looked to his grandfather clock which sat in the corner, gathering dust. It said that it was indeed midday. "Oh…" he rubbed his eyes, "Last time I looked, it was midnight."
Erza raised a brow, "Are you saying that you've been up since that time?"
"Well… There's so much to do…" He mumbled, childishly. "I didn't see daybreak, I've been looking at paper all day."
"My King…" She said worryingly, walking slowly to his desk.
"You know I hate it when you say that," He smiled kindly, "You know I prefer you too call me by my real name."
She took a deep sigh, "That's hardly professional…" She shrugged, she saw his eyes beg her, she gave him and mumbled. "Jellal."
"That's better," he grinned as if in relief. He picked up a piece of paper and walked to the window seat, patting the space beside him. She blushed lightly, her cheeks looking as if they were pink roses. She shakily walked and sat beside him, her back straight and her eyes never wondering to him. He cleared his throat, "A Knight was attempting to speak to me earlier, I acted as if I did not listen, but truly I was. He said something quite… unfathomable." He peeked up at her for a moment, seeing she was not looking at him, he looked back on his sheet of paper. "He said that you attacked three men on the lower village, after they spoke too you. Is that true?"
Erza swallowed and looked too the floor, "They were speaking illy of your majesty." She said formally, "I was only doing my job in protecting your name." She mumbled, she could feel his stare on her face.
"What were they saying to make you angered? I know you, Erza, you do not anger unless it is something drastic." She could feel his gaze on her strengthen, it felt like fire.
She cleared her throat, she tried to hide her blush behind her hair. "They were hinting that me and Your Grace were… bedding each other." She bit her lip, "I got angered because I know that no such thing is possible." She mumbled, "Saying you would do such a thing, it made me despise the earth they stood on."
He was silent for a moment, standing from the seat and walking to the middle of the room, putting the document he was holding prior back on the desk. "Well," he finally said. "It is right for that fact that it is impossible for me to bed such a warrior." He smirked towards her, "Though it isn't the worst rumour that has been spoken of me, Erza."
Erza nodded, understanding perfectly. Though Jellal was the eldest son of the King, he wielded a different magic to what was traditional to the Kingdom. After all, he had a different mother to the younger Princess who had those traditional gifts. People disliked that a King didn't have the Sky powers, the ability to control air as their own. It was as if they were waiting for to renounce his title for his sister, whom to them was more worthy.
Some say that Jellal wasn't the King's son, instead, he was a bastard that the Queen bore from a night from someone else. An Adulterers son, some called him. Erza knew if such rumours were said of her own mother, she would've acted upon it. But unfortunately, she did not know her mother, and she was not in the same position as her King.
"All the same," She spoke, finally. "I stand by what I did, no one will speak illy of you in my presence and get away with it unpunished."
He chuckled to himself at her words, she felt as if she had said something wrong at first, but he instead bowed his head to her. "I am glad I have a friend who wishes to protect my honour so gracefully and efficiently, Erza."
She cleared her throat, "Is there anything else, Your Grace?"
"Well…" He smiled, "I was hoping you'd accompany me to a joined hunting party this evening. A short venture, I am sure. It will be trip joined by the King of the Lightning Kingdom. A reassuring ally, I am thankful to be a reoccurring reason we have won so many wars in the past." He scratched his head, "I for one, do not want to go there without a friend."
She tried not to retaliate to the word 'friend' being used so freely, she didn't know if she had succeeded in doing so, but she all but hoped. Friend? Her to him? They were friends? "I will go there and protect you, as I always do…" She smiled a small smile, "Your Grace."
He rolled his eyes, walking to his desk where he sat back down. "It's Jellal…" He retold her, "please… that is all. I would prepare for our venture tonight, it will be in a few hours."
She nodded and bowed, "Of course… Jellal." She stood straight and left his office with her back straight, a few moments later, she heard the door lock.
She had cleaned herself up by the time she had to leave for the hunting trip. She polished her armour and boots. Her sword and dagger were gleaming and she had even re-stringed her bow and sharpened her arrows encase she was asked to hunt. She set her gear on her armour before putting on her cloak and riding boots. She walked out of her room and walked back to the stables for the second time that day.
The King was grooming his gloriously white stallion, who nuzzled him in hopes to be granted another carrot. Jellal laughed and petted him softly before spotting Erza from the other side of the stables. He waved her over, he looked gradually more exhausted as Erza approached him. She prayed he would sleep well tonight, for more his sake than anyone else's.
She bowed, mumbling his true name lowly so no one else thought of her to be rude and unprofessional. He smiled, her small progression into their friendship pleased him. He helped her on her horse, though he knew that she did not need it, he couldn't help but want to be a little closer to her. He took in her scent, musk, cake baking and roses… she smelt divine. Like home.
It took three hours to venture to the meeting point of the hunt, the forest was thick, even for a mountain based Kingdom. The Kingdom of Lightning sat home on the older twin mountain of the Kingdom of the Sky. The meeting point that sat between the two kingdoms, was named The Forest of Pan. Though small, the forest was home to many of a wild beast and other natural fruits that begged to be hunted and eaten by the prey that were humans.
For the entire time they rode, Jellal aimed to speak to Erza. She did comply, though it wasn't easy for her to melt into his friendly chatter. She hadn't many friends growing up, the very idea that her first true friend would be her King, worried her.
"Who taught you to fight?" He questioned, his voice tearing her from her worries.
She swallowed, "My father." She straightened her back, "He wished for a son, I came instead. So he made a son out of me." She eyed the King, "He didn't make a Knight, the old King denied him that right. So he was a warrior like myself for a while, before meeting my mother. He roamed the entire world before settling back in his home Kingdom."
"Like father like daughter," he teased lightly with a wink.
She found herself smiling at that, "Yes, like father like daughter… sir." She swallowed again.
He eyed her, "You have a question for me, I wager." It wasn't a question, it was as if he saw right through her.
She shrugged, "It is nothing of severe importance…."
"Tell me, or do I have to order you?" His mouth turned upwards into a knowing smile.
Damn you and your knowledge of my thoughts! She grumbled to herself before letting out a massive sigh. "Why do you find it such an important dynamic to spend most of your days behind a desk or in an orphanage? It isn't that I find it a negative prospect, a King who cares for his Kingdom, but what I do find odd is that you do care so much for a Kingdom that seemingly does not one hundred percent accept you."
He took a moment to watch her, assessing her. As if to find any more questions lurking within her eyes. He couldn't find any of importance at that moment, so he looked away and looked ahead. His face was completely somber when he spoke, "Because, I want to prove everyone wrong. Not for my sake, but for my mother's, for my father's…for Wendy's…" He looked sad at the mention of his younger sister's name. "I want to prove that I am worthy, because they've put their faith in me. I am doing this for my family's name. Not my own acceptance." He smirked suddenly, "Also, I despise the very idea that King's should be feared. I used to think that, do not get be misunderstood. I used too hate every single person in my Kingdom. They hated me, so why not? But now, I see that they were expecting a King to hate them, to wish upon their suffering. I saw the wrongs in that, and instantly sought to fix that insight." He looked back to her, "Does that answer your question, Erza?"
She nodded slowly, "Yes, it does. Thank you." Her heart thudded as it heavily laid in her chest. She felt like he had entrusted her with his darkest secrets, her mind swirled as they rode on.
He nodded in return, his eyes setting to the path in front of them which opened up into a circle of field within a forest edge. There, flags belonging to the Kingdom of Lightning flickered in the breeze. Their emblem shimmered brightly, golden in the afternoon lighting.
Like King Jellal, King Laxus Dreyer only brought with him several of his own men. A woman sat beside him under a cloak that hooded her face almost completely. Her presence though, made Erza uneasy. As if she could feel her black entity accumulating from her very being. She had to keep an eye out, it seemed, for this hooded woman.
Jellal and Laxus dismounted their horses, meeting in the middle and hugging in a brotherly manner. It was no lie that the two Kings were good friends, like brother's in reality. They spoke between themselves for a few minutes, laughter bellowing from their private chatter. Erza felt warm when she saw Jellal's smile, it was the first time he had laughed like that for a long while. It was simply welcoming.
"Now now!" Laxus laughed, "I must introduce you to my new warrior, and you must introduce yours! Isn't it odd we both chose women!" He laughed even louder then before, Jellal's eyes flickered to Erza and nodded before returning back to Laxus. Laxus doing the same to the cloaked woman.
Erza dismounted her horse, pulling off her hood and letting the breeze lift her hair. She walked to Jellal's side, her hand slipping to her sword without anyone noticing. A precaution she had taken to since agreeing to protect the King's life. It was almost second nature.
Jellal smiled to her, "Laxus, let me introduce my warrior, Erza Scarlet. Better known around Fiore as Titania, Queen of the Fairies."
Laxus widened his eyes, speechless. "The Titania!?" He looked to Jellal for confirmation, when he nodded, he shook her hand and kissed her gloved palm. "Pleasure, I can assure you." He gave her a dark look, as if she was secretly undressing her with his eyes. She tried with all her might not to narrow hers in return.
Laxus straightened, his warrior stood beside him, still cloaked. He gestured happily towards her, and then mumbled. "Remove your hood, where are your manners?"
"Very well." She said, her voice was smooth and sweet. Erza knew she had heard that voice from somewhere before…
And suddenly, as she pulled off her hood. Erza felt the previous five years come back to her, though they came back like a bullet from a fired gun. Hitting her, causing her head to hurt and heart to ache. Her eyes widened, and a small gasp escaped her throat. Her hand slid to her waist, where the scar there tingled from the memory.
"Mirajane…" She whispered.
"Hello, Erza." She smirked menacingly. Her bright blue eyes and white hair shining in the light, the wind causing both of their hair to lap in the wind. The woman was someone Erza wished never to see again. She may look sweet to the naked eye, she always sounded kind and caring, her facial expressions even at that moment did not look deadly, but that was because this woman had many faces. Her human one however, wasn't able to make men quake in their boots and urinate themselves. But even the memory of the power Mirajane wielded scared Erza to the depths of her soul.
She assessed Erza and crossed her arms, "I am surprised you're alive. After all, I did slice you up pretty bad last time." She then gave her a look which Erza would always remember, "But then again, you did deserve it… aren't I correct?"
Erza managed to spit out her words through gritted teeth, "I did nothing that wasn't needed. Your actions were completely unjustified."
She narrowed her eyes, "Hmm." She put her hood back up, "Just be warned, I will take what is mine…"
Erza swallowed hard, a lump forming in her throat, she glanced to Jellal before putting her hood back up as well. "I don't doubt you'll try." She turned and took a five minute breather by her horse.
How did you find me, my past? Why are you tormenting me now… when my present is so wondrous in comparison?
I hope you enjoyed the chapter, I will edit it when I get home from college if there needs to be any changes, that includes some from previous chapters. I found Jellal and Erza's relationship really difficult to write out, hence one reason why this chapter was so heavily delayed. But I hope it worked out! Next up, Mira. (I wonder what happened between the well loved mages to make them hate each other!?) Remember to review, I really love reading your comments. See ya next time :)