Chapter 23: Going Through the Motions
Unimpressed eyes bore down on the humble pendant that sat on a dark red velvet cushion in a strange display for an artifact stored in a dark hole beneath the Magic Council's Headquarters. A simple length of twisted leather bore a dark orange pendant that seemed to move and shift in a cloudy rhythm within itself as it was collared around its rim in ivory that clung around its edges like gripping claws or gnashing teeth. Compared to everything else around it, buried deep within the Council's vaults, Jellal couldn't help but feel like it lacked a certain luster. What about this necklace proved itself to be near some of the most fearsome confiscated books from Zeref's library? What could it do that placed it around other artifacts that could empty a township in a moment? With his research proving to be nothing more than a few lines in fewer older books, Jellal couldn't help his curiosity piquing as he gazed down upon it.
Around him was stagnant save for the occasional shuffle of Rune Knights making their routes within the vast halls of the vaults. Had it been a month ago, the guards down here wouldn't be seen anywhere else other than the seat they planted their asses in at the start of their shift. Having Lullaby sneak out of their grasp without so much as a hint of suspicion tended to tighten up security. Had he known that he would need to smuggle something out of these vaults for his master, Jellal wouldn't have made it quite so easy for Lullaby to sneak out of their doors. Yet, even with the tightened security, Jellal had no concern in his ability to see the humble necklace hidden within the lacrima-powered barrier freed and sent to his master without any significant issue.
It would still be a pain in the ass.
Sighing, Jellal turned away from the artifact and made his way through the long hall that showed various trinkets and items stored and sealed away behind various intricate barriers. There were countless hallways that looked the exact same as this one did, stretching just as long and carrying things just as dangerous and more so. At first glance, Jellal would say that these vaults looked more like a prison or dungeon with rows and rows of the incarcerated, meticulously placed and barricaded from the outside world. He supposed, to an extent, that such a thought wasn't too bizarre to have. The true dungeons that were located beneath the Council's capital building were simply a turn away. It was as simple as turning right instead of left once you traveled down the flight of stairs that delved beneath the main building. Although it was impossible to be seen from the outside, be it civilian eyes or those trained to detect the intricacies of magic, it seemed as if the large structure of their headquarters stood atop a rocky elevation and nothing more. In actuality, should someone decide to rip away that stony shell, they would see the vast array of cells and vaults that the Council kept hidden.
With all of the checkpoints and identifications he had to give to the guards at various levels of the vaults, Jellal was finally able to reach the surface once again and walk amongst the spacious halls of the building proper. Waiting for him immediately right at the entrance to the underground passage was his four most trusted companions standing guard. Or, more accurately, Simon stood strict and unmoving while the other three were at various states of pacing that overtook them in Jellal's time below ground. It didn't take a single word for them to fall in line with him as he made his way through the well-practiced steps that led to the Council's Chambers.
Pushing himself through the doors and into the chambers, Jellal was surprised to see that there was only one other person waiting. It had become more of a natural pattern that Jellal would be the last to arrive, a pattern broken when Jellal looked around the brightly glowing room with only Crawford Seam standing in his lone position.
"Ah, what a pleasant surprise, councilman." Crawford greeted with some mirth in his voice, but his eyes stayed wide and showed the same look of heedlessness. After his conversation with the man in the library, Jellal found himself more conscious of the situation at hand as he stood on his glowing blue spot directly to the Chairman's left. "I had expected you to remain in the vaults for a little longer. That curious pendant has grabbed a nasty hold on your attention, councilman."
While the sound of those words remained no different than any others, Jellal felt his spine go rigid at them all the same. He wasn't worried and was far from being truly unsettled, but Crawford's curiosity in his movements definitely garnered more attention than Jellal had previously given the man. Still, despite whatever warnings his mind and body gave him, Jellal showed no pause in responding to the man with a calm smile pulling at the corners of his lips.
"You aren't alone in that, Chairman. I am just as surprised by this turnout as you are. When you mentioned that we held the pendant here in Era, I couldn't simply stand around thinking about it all day." Jellal responded with the same carefree disposition that became synonymous with him and him alone within these chambers. Crawford nodded in understanding, closing his round eyes for a delicate moment before they opened and stared down at Jellal with an intention that was lost on the younger man.
"Indeed. It would be a shame if something so peculiar was to slip from your grasp before you could get the worth from it." Crawford spoke slowly and his face remained unchanged, though the conversation was anything but. Understanding this shift, and what it meant, Jellal let his small smirk fall from his face to show nothing but the picture of impassivity.
"In times like these? Who's to know what could happen? We must take our opportunities as they present themselves." His voice lost the airiness it tended to carry, making the air around the two men thicken around them almost immediately. Before any proper reply could be made, a door across the room opened as more councilmen filed into the room. As places began to get filled and the quiet murmurs of their colleagues filled the stagnant air, Crawford left Jellal with one more comment before their meeting commenced.
"Wise words, councilman. Opportunity knocks but once. Ignoring its call could be devastating."
Those final words filtered into Jellal's head and replayed themselves through the length of the meeting that was held. Nothing within them was directly damning, but no words from a politician were directly anything. Try as he might, the true intention behind Crawford's words would be lost unless the man decided to explain it to him. Still, none of the hypothetical possibilities of those words comforted Jellal. Crawford knew there was something off about Jellal, that much was clear, yet the "how" of that was what Jellal found himself lost within. There had yet to be a chance for Jellal to slip up bad enough to earn any level of significant suspicion. Unfortunately, the meeting ended and saw the Chairman being one of the first to leave, ending any possibility of Jellal prying for any worthwhile answers.
With a grounding sigh, Jellal turned on his heel and walked out of the door he entered a few short hours ago. While he was fairly distracted through the length of the meeting, it wasn't as if he went through the thing deaf. In the wake of Natsu Dragneel standing strong before the entirety of Oracion Seis, it seems that another meeting with the Akuma is in order. Being the only mage on the right side of the magical law, Natsu held information that the Council would do just about anything for. As the man middling the conversation between the Council and the Akuma himself, Jellal was put in a very specific position of leverage that would unquestionably come in handy later. But first I have to know how the great, all-knowing Brain let a stray loose end go. A sarcastic scoff bubbled from within Jellal just as he was rejoining his friends stationed right outside of the Council's Chambers.
Again, it was more Simon stationed with the others lounging about themselves.
"Up and at 'em, boys and girl. We have a journey to depart on." His hands came together in a small clap, snapping the attention already focused on him into a heightened level of awareness. As he continued walking down the hallway, Jellal heard the scrambling of feet to fall in line behind him while he continued speaking without pause. "Because we're leaving deep into the afternoon, expect to be gone for the night."
"Oh, oh, are we headed to the beach?" The ever-excited innocent voice of Millianna squeaked from behind Jellal's left shoulder. He could practically feel the excitement rolling off the girl. "We'll have sooo much fun!"
"C'mon, Milli, use your head. They wouldn't send Jel-," Sho was cut off by an exaggerated clearing of Simon's throat. "Councilman Jellal wouldn't be sent to a random beach to have some fun. We're going with him on an assignment."
"But imagine how much more fun it would be," Wally retorted from the other side of the line they made behind Jellal, a certain level of disappointment flowing into his words. "Going to some beach and resort would let us dress all spiffy."
"More fun? We don't even know where we're going in the first place. If you three would wait and listen, then maybe the councilman could tell us where we're going." Simon joined the conversation with a stiff, reprimanding voice. He wasn't putting them down or shaming their friends, but Jellal knew that Simon was trying his hardest to condition the other three to better fit in with their assignment to his guard. Granted, it was hard to make an emphasis on those that grew up as slaves. Tongue lashings were easily ignored compared to whip lashings. It brought a smile to Jellal's face thinking about the headaches Simon would induce on himself for not realizing this.
"No, I don't think I will. Let's have a little mystique in our lives and simply see where our path leads us, yes?" A faux-foppish tone snuck into Jellal's call back to his friends before he led them through the Headquarters and down to Era. Taking Jellal's earlier warning seriously, there was a brief stop at his given dwelling for the proper necessities before they took passage on their rail toward Magnolia. Fortunately, for the sake of his own entertainment, Jellal's standing guard was too deep debating where they were heading to hear his call for tickets at the counter or read route signs plastered about the station and platform.
The discussion carried all the way until the announcement of their stop came overhead, with possibilities of snow-capped mountains, scorching deserts, tropical islands, and dense forests all being thrown about and aggressively argued either for or against. When the call of Magnolia rang out above their heads, a dead silence carried in the train car Jellal procured for them with no other soul to appreciate his mirth along with him as he fell into a fit of laughter at their looks of confusion.
"I'm a councilman, you idiots. I don't go galivanting across the land. There are talks to be had and information to be gathered, not battles to fight." He explained as he calmed himself properly, gladly looking upon the disappointment from the three across from him and even Simon on his left. Then, as he remembered the alternative responsibilities in Magnolia, Jellal made his back straighten and his tone level more seriously once again. "We will be making friends with the mages of Fairy Tail, but do not, for any reason, let any information slip. No matter who asks for it. Our positions are dangerous enough as it is. Do not risk it because of a loose tongue."
As his warning hung in the air with determined faces solemnly nodding at his warning, the train slowed to a stop at the Magnolia train station under the orange haze of a sun falling toward the horizon. Jellal easily slid from his seat and led his group toward the exiting door of their car, deliberately slowing and holding up their exit as his eyes caught an awaiting head of scarlet. Erza's eyes met his with a small smile and a shallow nod of her head in greeting as people from his train pushed past her on the platform. Remaining still for a few more moments, Jellal called out to his old friend over the dull rumble of the people around them.
"I thought I told you to meet us in Era next time we met?" Jellal called to her, earning him a bigger smile and a shake of his head. "I thought I'd bring the party here instead." He finished as he stepped from the car to let his confused companions file out along with him, only for a stunned silence to overtake them all as the platform was already thinning with people moving along with their business. Each side stared at the other as every eye turned glossy with unshed tears before an elated call broke the silence.
"Big Sis!" Millianna squealed as she launched forward and enveloped Erza in a mighty hug, her actions repeated almost verbatim by Sho who clung to Erza's opposite side. It was a delightful scene that Jellal enjoyed with a few feet of separation from the five body group hug that filled itself with cries and loud declarations that were unintelligible from the emotion bubbling up within them all. It took gentle shepherding from Jellal to see them toward the general direction of the Fairy Tail guild hall as he listened to tales be thrown around at incredible pace with little point to them. They simply shared whatever came to mind to make up for lost time, something the councilman was comfortable simply listening to. He heard of fantastical quests from the famous Titania that ended in personalized statues of gratitude and ornate behemoth horns gifted as payment for acts of valor. There were also stories of times long past that were edited, redesigned, and almost entirely changed from the original happenings as his guardsmen tried to follow his warning and impress their long lost sibling.
A walk that should have been no more than twenty minutes was stretched to nearly an hour, capped with a dramatic shove open of the doors to let the uniformed members of their group flood into the guild that they were just told so much about. Jellal watched the four of them, including Simon, look around the guild in a wonderment that only he could understand. They didn't have the most normal interactions with wizarding guilds in their lives, none of them being legal guilds, and they were astonished to see the overwhelming sight of rowdiness and freedom that was the total antithesis of Grimoire Heart. It gave Erza a moment to peel herself from their side and step next to Jellal as they lagged behind their friends a few steps.
"I had almost forgotten that you are all part of the Council for a moment." Erza said softly to him with an equally soft smile showing on her face as she looked at the back of their found siblings. "I imagine there is much that you all aren't able to share with me."
Jellal couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that Erza had done the job of providing a worthwhile excuse herself. Granted, that would be the excuse he would have given her anyway, yet there was some comfort in having it told to him instead.
"I'm sure in a more private setting words can flow more freely, but for now the Council must keep its secrets, my old friend." A conspiratorial smile stretched over his face as Jellal kept his gaze on Erza just enough to see the glare of annoyance sent at him before he walked through the guild to approach the bar that carried a Wizard Saint clearly enjoying his fair share of pints with a cloaked orange haired man next to him. Both of their gazes turned to the councilman as he approached them, the immediate guard pulled within their eyes clear and obvious to him. "Saint Makarov, I suppose you were expecting me one of these days, were you not?"
Airy and carefree came his voice, easily fitting in with the energy of the guildhall around him, but it seemed to fall flat at his immediate audience before him. The hard and heavy gazes of the guildmaster and his company showed no intention of matching Jellal's demeanor. The councilman let his attention linger on the cloaked man that held a level of quiet and unbending confidence within him, even as he leaned heavily on the bar top with a bottle heavy in his hand, that betrayed a prowess only left to the highest order. The fabled Ace of Fairy Tail is back. Jellal thought with a feeling that couldn't be placed. There was no reason to be concerned, it wasn't as if he was here to fight, but the insecurity that comes with a player of Gildarts Clive's level was one that could overtake even the most cautious of planning.
"Indeed, but I'm afraid we will have to wait a little bit, councilman. Our friend has taken to a young mage that he is adamant about training personally." Makarov explained behind the rim of his mug before he drank deeply from it. "I expect him to bring what's left of her over for dinner soon enough."
That brought a jolt of curiosity to the forefront of Jellal's mind. The Akuma has taken an apprentice? The thought was foreign to him, but with a glance backward to the four that walked with Erza around the guild hall brought a certain understanding to the front of his mind. Still, until he spoke with Natsu again, Jellal would come no closer in figuring out the man that seemed to be a reflection of himself.
With a glass how tinted? A bitter thought that echoed through his mind was ignored as he replied to the small man seated in front of him.
"That is probably for the best." Jellal's voice turned serious, something Makarov caught immediately as he looked up from his mug to meet his eyes. "We have some things to discuss before I hear Natsu's report on Oracion Seis."
A shallow nod rocked Makarov's head before the old man sent a look to the silent Gildarts Clive, a mass of words unspoken through a moment's glance, before the guildmaster leapt to the ground and led Jellal up the stairs to the right and back into his humble office. When Jellal took the rightmost chair before the master's desk, another tense silence settled between them. It seemed as if the tension would be the norm between the pair of Wizard Saints regardless of how Jellal presented himself. The distrust of the Council was deep within the old man's bones. There were, however, worse things than simple tension to deal with, so Jellal made no mention or care for it as he crossed his legs and sat straighter in his chair.
"As you know, I am here about the incident with Oracion Seis and the impressive ability for our friend to find himself in the center of things almost immediately." Jellal began, pausing only long enough to see Makarov nod in response. "However, there are other things in motion around us. There has been a threat found in the northern country that we fear will inevitably turn its attention south."
"And this threat is something that Fairy Tail will be called upon to deal with?"
"One of many, but one that I myself will push for first contact." Jellal clarified to the man immediately, earning him a narrowed glare. Holding his palms in front of him to appease the suspicion instantly leveled on him, Jellal quickly moved to explain before the old master let his tightened white knuckles go flying. "Although a member of the Council, I am young and unproven. Having a friend such as you and your guild to handle problems of great import will help establish myself further within the Council and it will give me some more freedom in certain subjects. Subjects such as the scrutiny your guild, or guild members, are and will be under."
Jellal knew better than to hide the more self-serving aspects of a political partnership between the two of them. Had he framed it as solely a way for Fairy Tail to be free of the constant reprimands and warnings that get sent their way, Makarov would instantly see through it. A level of transparency would be necessary to gain any significant foothold here. Sure, transparency within a realm of darkness didn't help much, but Makarov didn't need to know quite so much. Mutual benefit was all they needed to work for the short time it would be required.
"And I suppose this will solve your curiosity with Natsu?" A lazy raise of the eyebrow from Makarov was a stark contrast to the surprise that Jellal let slip on his face, earning a dry chuckle from the old man. "Come now, don't think I can't tell you're looking for something in him. There's a reason Yajima wanted you to come here and a reason you followed. Now, tell me about this threat to the north."
Forcing himself to move past the realization that Yajima did, in fact, have something else in mind when he made mention of meeting with Fairy Tail. Knowing that Makarov wouldn't be keen on spilling more information than necessary, the councilman was forced to turn his attention back to the matter at hand.
"Of course." Jellal uncrossed her legs and sat forward within his seat and looked purposefully into Makarov's eyes. "Deliora has reawakened in the ranges of Brago. Confirmed by councilwoman Ultear Milkovich and reported to be turning its attention south." Watching carefully, Jellal saw a fleeting gleam of sorrow cross the old man's face before it was buried within the otherwise stoic aged face. "While the beast isn't exactly racing down the mountain, it will eventually pose a threat to Fiore. The Council has contingencies for if it comes to such things, but for now we are hoping that a more reserved approach can be managed."
Jellal finished the rather informal briefing with a curl of his lips as this "reserved approach" was no secret to either man. He would offer Fairy Tail up as his solution, preferably with the Akuma at the helm, and the Magic Council will be forced to acknowledge both the effectiveness of the guild in matters beyond the traditional duties of a wizarding guild and Jellal's prudence in trusting an otherwise untrusted resource. It was, however, not the fell-swooping solution to Makarov Dreyer as it was to Jellal Fernandes. A tired sigh came and went through a tightly pinched nose as the older man took a moment to gather himself.
"You wish for my children to stand before one of the most devastating demons of Zeref in recent memory for a power play?" Gone was the accusation and heat that started the conversation, replaced by passive exasperation. Hearing the old guildmaster's tone, the silent and disgruntled acceptance that it held, Jellal felt his lips subconsciously curl further and stretch across his face. Thus is the reward of a finely laid plan.
While he wasn't placed in the Council to be a political powerhouse, or even a player beyond necessary to have enough pull to distract the Council in any dire matter, Jellal couldn't act like there wasn't some fun to be had in these games. Should everything play out as he hopes, he would be able to speak with more than a child's voice among the established members. Instead of skewing a conversation, he could lead one wherever he needed to with the weight of proven forethought and an ally that so-happened to be the strongest in Fiore.
Jellal's silent backpatting and Makarov's personal resignation were both interrupted by the sound of the office door opening.
"Hey, I brought the kid up." The loose and uncaring voice of Gildarts Clive broke through the short silence between the two Wizard Saints. Turning around, Jellal watches the middle-aged man lean out of the way to allow Natsu Dragneel to slide into the room. Sharp eyes caught onto Jellal's immediately but betrayed nothing else as he approached. Just as Gildarts was about to shut the door, Makarov called out.
"Find Gray, Gildarts. When I'm done here I will have some disturbing news to share with him." No other word or indication was needed before the door closed once again, leaving just the three of them. After taking a moment to regather his thoughts, Makarov gently motioned a hand toward the chair to Jellal's left with a warm smile. "Take a seat, my boy. I'm certain you already know what this is about."
Jellal's eyes kept track of Natsu as he quietly took the seat next to him, watching the nod of affirmation and the occasional glance toward Jellal as he did so. It was a surprising contrast to the meeting prior. No longer were Natsu's eyes so finely focused on him as if Jellal was going to strike at any moment. Gone was the impossibly tight tension within the man's body, betraying every discomfort Natsu hid within a stoic mask. As Jellal toned out the unneeded explanation of Natsu needing to share every detail he could, a nagging thought overtook his mind in the worst of ways. Surely the rabid Akuma wasn't domesticated in such a short time. There was a disappointment that came with such a thought, one that implied Natsu was simply one of many. To test this thought, Jellal opened the right half of his white jacket and sent a hand digging for a lacrima that they would be needing. His movements were sharp, quick, and all too much for a simple conversation.
Jellal's hand wasn't even able to grasp the lacrima in question before an iron, heating grip clung to his arm with a pair of eyes bearing down on him.
"Now, now, let's not get jumpy, Natsu." Jellal said with a smile, one of satisfaction at having a stray thought be proven wrong immediately, while his hand gripped the lacrima at a significantly more sedate pace. Whether or not Makarov was done covering the unnecessary details, Jellal removed the lacrima from his jacket and placed it on the desk before him as soon as Natsu freed his arm and poured a small portion of his magic into it. "Now, if you would kindly tell us every detail you can remember from your encounter with Oracion Seis."
When he half-heard his colleagues within the Council declare that he should come and retrieve another report from Natsu that could be compared to the report Lahar submitted from the incident, there wasn't too much expected. Natsu did not display himself as the most forthcoming person. He expected the man to briefly go over the fight, perhaps touch upon each of the Prayers' magic and abilities. Hell, if he mentioned Midnight at all or brought up Cobra's hearing then he would consider it a productive trip. Yet, as Natsu kept speaking, Jellal was almost caught stunned as he listened to Natsu explain the fight. Magic, fighting style, tendencies in battle, cooperative strategies, possible strategies that could be, and on it went until he reached the end where Wendy Marvel saved his life. When Natsu was finished speaking, there was a beat of silence before Jellal gathered himself and collected the lacrima from Makarov's desk, standing as he did so.
"Well, I can't ask for anything more than that, can I? I'll leave you two as I have to find rooms for my guard for the night before an early trip to Era. Saint Makarov, I trust you will keep yourself easy to reach over the coming days." Jellal didn't even wait to receive any reply from either man before he turned on his heel and walked toward the door of the office. A small, discrete smile of satisfaction came over his face as he opened the door.
Now he had something.
It was unmistakable, the young innocent eyes that looked up at him from the bar as he walked down the steps. Wendy Marvel, his mind supplied as he gave her a warm smile and a nod of his head before he turned to look out on the guildhall searching for his standing guard at the bottom of the steps. He spotted the four of them seated with Erza with a generous berth around them despite the guild still being fairly busy. Each of them had a plate before them, and it wasn't until Jellal got closer that he realized that each held a slice of strawberry cake that they all ate under the delighted watch of Erza.
"You're right, Erzy! This is the best ever!" Millianna cheered as she reached over and yanked Erza into a tight one-armed hug while precariously balancing a fork full of the desert in her other hand. Erza's response was nothing but a gentle smile as she chewed her own mouthful of the cake. It was only after Millianna released Erza that the Fairy Tail mage realized his approach, straightening herself almost immediately as she did.
"I trust everything went well with Master." She more of stated than asked, not entirely giving him much opportunity to respond. "I suppose it would be too late to report to the Council tonight and you all will be needing lodgings." Again, another statement in what was usually something more inquisitive. Taking the initiative in her own opportunity, Erza stood and turned to the door. It was only then that Jellal realized her plate was already picked clean as Erza left the other four scrambling to finish their own before following.
"I was planning on searching for somewhere to stay, but I assume you have something in mind?" Jellal called out to his old friend as he followed her out of the door of the guild, lagging his steps to allow his guard to properly catch up.
"Yes, there is an inn just up ahead that should be able to hold the five of you at a fair price." Erza led them only a few short blocks before stopping before the Dancing Feather Inn that sat along the length of the main road down the center of Magnolia. It was tightly held in place by the buildings around it, but stood four stories tall and well-maintained. Its wooden sign dangled above the door by a pair of chains that delicately clinked and clanged from the gentle breeze that blew through the road. Erza stepped in with a hand raised to stop him from following, and therefore halting the four that finally gathered themselves directly behind them. Only a few moments passed before Erza was walking back out with a pleased smile on her face. "There is enough room for each of you to have your own rooms and payment won't be necessary until the morning."
"How gallant of you, Titania, to aid the weary as you do." Jellal playfully mocked as he bowed before her, chuckling as he saw the tightened glare leveled on him. Proper goodnights were shared, fit with all the hugs that could be passed around before the five made their way into the inn and toward their rooms. Before Jellal could close the inn door behind him, he heard Erza call out behind him.
"Thank you, Jellal. I can't remember being so happy." Turning back, Jellal saw nothing but the truth in the woman's gleaming smile and teary eye that wasn't shielded by scarlet hair. Gauntleted hands were tightened within themselves and twitching with an energy to do something with themselves. Not trusting the right words to come from his mouth, or those words to hold the meaning she deserved, Jellal just smiled at his old friend before he made his way to his room in an exercise of futility. There was no sleep to be had for the councilman that night.
There was a pendant to steal out of the heart of the Council building, after all.
Opportunity was delicate. That was something Jellal learned quickly within his time as a member of the Magic Council. When he was a slave boy, when he was nothing but a glorified mercenary for Grimoire Heart, Jellal saw opportunity as something to take with both hands without any other care or thought. It was fleeting and it would miss him if he took too long to deliberate. As a politician, such recklessness was costly. A false step, a haphazard decision, or a hasty reaction saw to the end of everything. While maybe not a place to lose a life at the smallest misstep, the stakes within Era were still high. Careers could be ended, lives could be picked apart, and aspirations crushed under the boot of another who was simply more careful. Yet, even knowing this, Jellal found himself at the first opportunity to strike when it presented itself.
It was a mere two days after Jellal and his standing guard of childhood friends awoke in Magnolia to catch the first train back to Era. The goodbye to Erza was just as emotionally charged as the night before, coupled with a concussive hug that somehow caught the five of them at once to clatter against an unyielding breastplate. Everything seemed to line up too perfectly. While patience was important, decisiveness was just as. Once Jellal found the opening, he knew that he would have to wait an untold amount of time for it to line itself up again.
It started with the dire meeting to discuss the possibilities of Oracion Seis' next attack. After receiving the lacrima of the Akuma's description of the dark guild, lightly doctored to prevent some finer details away, the Council as a whole stood on more confident ground when it came to facing one of the Three. While on his way to the meeting, Ultear's timely call to tell him of Deliora's sudden change of mind to head directly south stopped Jellal in his tracks as he looked at his guardsmen that waited patiently for him. In a split second's thought, Jellal reached up and traced the marking over his right eye. Without hesitation, the four guards that stood within his office doubled with semi-perfect thought projections standing next to them. Solid enough to not be questioned by anyone, yet not taxing enough to limit their abilities. Once three of Ultear's lacrima were given, they were off.
Just as planned.
Now, as Jellal cleared his throat to call attention to his colleagues after they told of their most pressing thoughts of Oracion Seis, he felt the energizing tension of the gamble he was taking grip on his mind. "I understand that this is undoubtedly a pressing matter, but I have some dire knowledge from our missing colleague in the north." Jellal spoke seriously and with his eyes turning into steel as he met each and every one of their gazes. "Deliora treks toward the border of Fiore. I suggest immediate action to be taken to keep it from approaching before we are ready."
A chorus of self-contained mutterings overtook the chamber for a few precious moments. Jellal knew, however, that those precious moments saw much more than his fellow councilmen grumbling to themselves. No, he knew that those moments were paired with Rune Knights being bound within magical cards, wrapped within magic-canceling snares, and blinding in endless darkness as they were bypassed entirely as four bodies delved deeper into the heart of the Magic Council's Headquarters.
"Call on the Rune Knights, man the border as we've discussed, and begin preparing to make the call to the Saints. While we make our preparation to defend Fiore from this threat, let me send a team to take measure of how dangerous Deliora is to Fiore." Jellal spoke his plan with an air of authority. He didn't have the power to order anyone within these chambers to do anything, even in an emergency situation. Still, using the more popular solution to Deliora's trespasses, he knew that he would be given some extra pull to use his own idea.
"Even now, when Fiore is in danger, you intend to stick up for those ruffians?" Michello grumbled beneath a mustache pointed and rigid. His arguments weren't as volatile as they tended to be, knowing that he would only suggest what was already suggested: utilizing the Wizard Saints.
"Councilman Jellal has a sound plan. How will we know further preparations beyond first contact if we do not have a notion of strength. If he finds his contacts in Fairy Tail to be appropriate, then we should utilize them." Yajima spoke up easily in favor of Jellal's plan, making the man linger on the elderly councilman for a few seconds longer before his mind turned elsewhere. Take the left, ambush and neutralize the check guards until level 22. Leave one and the alarms will sound. Find the Pendant, neutralize the barrier, take the two around it, and Polygon Teleport to the surface. When clear, free the neutralized guards and wait. His mind went through the length of the plan as the other discussions around him came to a slowed halt.
"It seems we are in agreement, councilman. I suggest you contact those you need to and see to this threat immediately." Crawford spoke from Jellal's right, rounded eyes practically empty as he did. Just as the Chairman stopped speaking, an angry alarm called from above them. It took everything Jellal had to not let a smile split his face. Bursting through the door across the room, Jellal saw a sweaty Rune Knight heave out a breath before shouting.
"There has been a breach in the vaults!" Like a whip snapping overhead, that single sentence sent the council members around Jellal into swift action as they walked in hurried steps to follow where the Rune Knight just was. Jellal, not wanting to look out of place, followed behind only a step behind the rest. Just as he was out of the door, however, he heard the calm voice of Crawford Seam behind him.
"I hope they didn't steal anything too important besides your Pendant, Jellal." Crawford said simply, causing an icy chill to run down Jellal's back as he rigidly turned his head to find Crawford standing unmoved in his spot within the chambers. The man's head was slightly bowed with his eyes closed, peeking one open at his before he spoke again. "If it's something too dangerous, then I'd actually have to do something about it."
Sweat poured freely down Jellal's back and made his hairline heavier than he was used to as the man watched Crawford Seam walk opposite of where everyone else walked, uncaring of the alarms that still blared overhead. Jellal didn't have the time to respond, or rather he didn't have the faculties to regain himself before the Chairman leisurely walked out of the Council Chambers and left him alone with his spiraling thoughts. He knew. Crawford definitely knew. It was no longer odd implications within passing words. Jellal's position was lost entirely, despite being so confident in it. His mind went to Hades and his punishments, Ultear and her disgusted comments, to his friends that had just arrived and would be forced on the run already, and Erza who would no doubt hear of his treachery from Makarov Dreyer himself. Gritting his teeth and letting his face tighten into a furious scowl, Jellal walked out of the doorway of the chambers to follow the rest of his colleagues toward the vaults.
It won't matter. Once Master Hades's goals are seen to, none of this will matter. Slave. Dark mage. Traitor. None of it will matter in the New World.
Life has been fucking hectic man, I'm telling you. I probably havent finished a whole chapter in like 2.5 months, we're still eating away at the ones I've had backlogged for however long. Still, we here and it's gonna keep going. No doubt about it.