A/N: Thanks for your reviews, Guest, kuroshiragami0, and moonshue (My heart is full of your kind words.) Thank you for your constant support.
To all readers: I am utterly grateful for the support this story has received. This is my longest story so far, and I am blessed to have such wonderful and warm reviews coming from you. I hope you'll love this update. Happy reading!
The lone tower stood imposing in the vast seas of the Caelum Kingdom, its silhouette a stark contrast against the turbulent waves that crashed against its rocky foundation. The cloaked figure arrived at the secluded tower, the salt of the sea air mingling with the metallic tang of blood as he cradled Erza in his arms. She was coughing blood, her body convulsing in pain. As he approached the entrance, two more cloaked figures rushed to his side, their faces hidden beneath their hoods.
"What happened?" the other hooded figure asked.
"Quick, use your magic to share her pain with me. It's the only way to give her some relief."
The other cloaked figure hesitated, her eyes wide with worry. "No, I—"
"Please, Meredy," he interrupted, his eyes pleading through the darkness of his hood. "If you don't, she'll die, I beg of you," he continued, pleading the pink-haired woman.
"Do it," the other cloaked figure instructed as she summoned a magic bubble from her magical orb.
With the other cloaked figure's words, she took his hand in one of hers while gently placing her other hand on the child. She closed her eyes and began to chant her spell, sharing the child's pain with the first cloaked figure. A soft, pink light enveloped them as her magic took effect. The first cloaked figure's face contorted in pain. He groaned as the pain started flooding his body.
Upon successfully summoning the magic sphere, the other cloaked figure turned to them and instructed. "Place her in the magical sphere immediately."
Carefully, he lifted the scarlet-haired child in his arms, her small body trembling in his arms, and gently placed her into the bubble of water. As the child's body was enclosed in the sphere, the magic of the bubble began to take effect. The runic symbols on its surface glowed brighter, erasing the scarlet marking on her frail body. Slowly, the pain that had contorted her face subsided, and her expression eased into peace. After sealing the magic sphere, the cloaked figure lowered her cloak, revealing her dark purple hair and red eyes, and turned to face the other two figures.
"It's a temporary solution to keep her magic at bay, but it will not hold for too long," she said, turning to the first cloaked figure.
"Ultear is right; she's stable for now," the other figure said softly as she stared at her spell start to dim and vanish.
"But we need to find a permanent solution if you want to save her," she said, lowering her hood and revealing her pink hair as she turned to face the first cloaked figure.
He was silent, still hooded, and watched her breathing become even and calm. He took a step forward and touched the bubble; his eyes fixated on the child's form within the sphere.
"What are your plans now, Jellal?" Meredy asked as she turned to sit on the chair nearby.
"She will look for her when she regains consciousness," Ultear stated as she watched him slump to his knees.
He hiccupped and clutched his head as the realization of his actions' futility sank in. Seeing the regret and despair in his eyes, Ultear stepped closer, watching him stare blankly at his own hands, tears dripping onto his palms.
"Why are you willing to change everything for her? You should leave everything as is." She paused. "You know you could never hide the irrevocable truth," she continued.
"The fact that Irene still named her with that same name is the very testament that despite her lost memory, she has already recognized her own daughter, Jellal," she said sternly as his shoulders shook with silent sobs.
"This shouldn't have happened if I had met her sooner. They should have never met each other," he said as he closed his eyes, remembering the events of the past.
Two centuries ago
Jellal stood in a daze in the shadow, his heart pounding as he watched the older scarlet-haired woman, consumed by a fit of insanity, strangle her daughter before his very eyes. The child's face turned blue, her tiny hands holding at Irene's little finger weakly. Panic surged through him, and he took a step forward, his instincts screaming at him to intervene. But before he could reach her and took a step forward, Irene suddenly stopped. Her eyes widened with horror as she realized what she was doing. Tears poured down her face, dripping onto her daughter's pallid cheeks.
"I-I can't… k-kill her," she said in a choked voice as she slumped to her knees, her hands loosening on her daughter's neck.
Soon, the child's color returned, and her eyes fluttered open. A faint whimper escaped her lips as she gasped for air, and Irene rose to her feet and stared at her face.
"My p-poor daughter," she bawled as she cradled the child in her arms, rocking back and forth, her own sobs wracking her body as she stared at her daughter's crying face. "I'm so sorry. Please forgive me." Irene whispered desperately, her voice breaking as relief washed over her.
She clutched her daughter tighter in her bosom and bit her lips, tears mingling with those of her child's own tears as it cried in her arms. "M-my poor daughter… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. Please, forgive me," Irene cried, her voice filled with self-loathing and regret.
Hidden in the shadows, Jellal bit his lip, a tear grazing his cheek as he clutched the hem of his cloak. How can I ever think of doing that? He asked himself, his convictions weakening as he observed Irene's genuine regret. The sight of Irene's raw emotion, the genuine sorrow for nearly harming her own daughter, stirred something deep within him.
A few minutes later
Ur and her daughter arrived with Sieghart in Irene's room. The two of them stopped in their tracks, eyes wide with shock, as they took in the scene before them. Irene, who had once harbored stark resentment against the life growing within her womb, now cradled the child lovingly in her arms. Irene looked up at them. Her face was streaked with tears, but a tender smile graced her lips. She held her daughter out slightly, her hands trembling, and looked at them with lips shaking as tears filled the corner of her eyes.
"L-look at her. She's so small and fragile." Irene said as her smile widened, looking at her daughter, who was now sleeping peacefully in her arms. Her small chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm against her own bosom.
"M-meet my b-beloved daughter, Erza," she said, her voice quivering with emotion.
Three months after her birth, the war against the rebels escalated. Alvarez Empire's forces crushed the known rebel guilds and annihilated any forces opposing the empire. They moved from the outskirts of Pergrande to the village near Fiore, Rosemary Village, far from the ongoing war of the empire.
One night, Irene was distraught when Erza developed a fever. She had tried everything to bring the fever down, even using her magic, but it only seemed to make the fever spike higher. Desperate and frightened, she called upon Sieghart for help as she rushed to the cathedral where he was working. Sieghart examined the feverish child and tried various remedies, but Erza's condition remained precarious.
"This is beyond what I can handle. Erza's core for mana is unstable, likely disrupted by the lost magic used to escalate her birth. She needs specialized care that I cannot provide here, Lady Irene." He said after minutes of silence.
"Then what can I do? I can't simply lose her, Sieghart." Irene asked, her voice trembling with fear.
"There is a secret society, the Bureau of Magical Development. It's where Ur took her daughter months ago. They specialize in treating children with special cores for mana. They can help stabilize Erza's magic."
"No, I can't afford to send her there," she answered immediately, dreading the thought of being separated from her daughter.
"It would be the best option, Lady Irene," Sieghart said, trying to convince her. "They are sages and have the knowledge and resources to seal her magic temporarily, giving her core the chance to stabilize without the constant exposure to ethernano."
Irene shook her head, her eyes flashing with anger. "No," she said sternly.
"Knowing her Belserion blood, they would surely harm her. They will kill my daughter without hesitation once they learn of her lineage. It's far too risky, Sieghart. Think of another way to contain her unstable core," she pleaded at the sight of her daughter's feverish, pain-ridden face.
"Then, you must not use your magic around Erza. It seems her body is too young to handle magic. Her underdeveloped magic core will be disrupted once she is exposed to magic, and knowing your immense magic, you should try to suppress it as it is silently hurting your daughter," he said, looking down upon arriving at the solution.
"What? You mean to tell me that my magic is hurting my daughter?" Irene was stunned, her eyes wide with shock.
"Her sensitivity to magic must be the side effect of using lost magic to hasten her birth," Sieghart explained.
"Fine, I'll stop using my magic around her," Irene insisted, her voice desperate.
Two months later
Irene found herself playing with Erza. She dangled a plush toy in front of her daughter, watching with delight as her daughter reached for it with tiny hands. Instead of grabbing the toy, Erza's fingers clasped onto Irene's long scarlet locks. Irene chuckled at her daughter's petty actions. But then, to Irene's astonishment, Erza laughed and mumbled the words, Mama, as she played with her hair.
"Ma-ma," she mumbled again as she brought Irene's locks to her face, playing with it.
Tears streaked her cheeks as she scooped her daughter into her arms, holding her close. Erza's giggles filled the room as she continued to play with more strands of Irene's hair, oblivious to the tears streaming down her mother's face.
"Oh, E-Erza," Irene whispered, her voice choked with tears of joy.
As she cradled her daughter, Irene felt a profound sense of peace wash over her. At that moment, all the pain, fear, and regret she had carried seemed to melt away. She had made the right decision to save Erza from her own resentment, to protect her from the dark shadows of their past.
"My beloved daughter," she said, kissing her forehead.
A year later
Erza's erratic magic grew increasingly worse. Irene's concern turned to desperation as she watched her daughter's tiny body shudder with surges of uncontrolled mana. Scarlet marks began to appear on Erza's skin. In a state of panic, Irene rushed to the cathedral and sought out Sieghart.
"Sieghart, you have to help us," she pleaded.
"Erza's condition is getting worse. I don't know how to contain it. I-I already suppressed my magic, so I don't know what's hurting her," she explained as she showed him her daughter's condition.
"It seems that we need to formally seal the child's core to alleviate her suffering. B-but I have no idea how to seal it as my magic can't use such powerful enchantment, Lady Irene," he admitted.
"I can use my magic," she suggested.
"No, it's too risky. Your magic is way powerful and the lost magic within her will surely reject your magic. It would complicate her condition," he said, seeing the scarlet marks on Erza's form.
"What should I do?" she asked, terrified at her daughter's dire condition.
"There are magic herbs located in the Caelum Kingdom. They are known as magic suppressants; they might help suppress Erza's magic." He suggested after pondering.
"But it's too dangerous for her to go with you. The journey to the Caelum Kingdom, which is filled with ethernano itself, could further disrupt her core if she's exposed to it." He added as he turned to face her.
"I can't leave Erza alone," she said and paused, staring at her daughter's face. "What if something happens to her while I'm gone?" Irene felt a flicker of hope but was immediately confronted with a new dilemma.
"Lady Irene, trust me. I'll vow to protect her with my life," he said earnestly.
Irene looked down at her daughter, whose tiny body was wracked with pain. She closed her eyes and turned to hold his hand, squeezing it and asking him to keep his word. "Please," she whispered, tears welling in her eyes. "Keep her safe. I can't lose my daughter."
Two days later
Irene returned to Rosemary Village after gathering the magic herbs for Erza. As she neared the village, an eerie silence filled the air. Smoke billowed from afar, and her breath caught in her throat. Fear gripped her heart as she saw the thick plumes of smoke rising from the village. Everything was burnt to the ground; the once serene village was now reduced to ashes. She ran through the charred remains, desperately searching for any sign of life. Then she saw him—Sieghart, half-dead and lying amidst the ruins, cradling a small bundle in his arms. She stumbled towards him, her legs weak with terror. As she drew closer, she saw that he was holding Erza's burnt clothes.
"No!" Irene wailed, dropping to her knees beside Sieghart. She reached out, her hands trembling, and took the burnt clothes from his grasp. "Erza... no, please no."
Sieghart's eyes fluttered open, his face pale and covered in soot. "Lady Irene... I tried... I tried to protect her," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
When Sieghart regained consciousness, Irene was at his side, her face pale and streaked with tears. "Sieghart," she pleaded, gripping his hand tightly. "Where is my daughter? Where is Erza?"
Sieghart's eyes filled with pain as he struggled to sit up. "We were attacked," he began.
"The empire's knights... they outnumbered us. I tried to protect her, but they overpowered me. They... they took her away after one of their batons glowed, sensing her blood on it. They didn't kill her, Lady Irene. They took her."
Irene's mind reeled with anger. Her body trembled as the reality of his words sank in. "They took her?" she repeated, her voice breaking.
"It seems that they have sensed her lineage," Sieghart replied, looking away in despair as Irene gritted her teeth in anger.
She rose to her feet, her body radiating with magic causing the earth to tremble before them. Without waiting for Sieghart to respond, she stormed out of the ruins of Rosemary, and teleported swiftly through the forest, looking for her daughter.
She soon came upon an Alvarez campsite, its presence confirmed by the banners stationed around it. Her heart pounded in her chest as she approached, her magic crackling with barely restrained fury. But as she reached the center of the camp, her heart sank. Someone had already attacked the campsite before her. The smell of burning flesh and smoke filled the air, and her eyes were drawn to a tent engulfed in flames. She stumbled towards it, her heart pounding with dread.
"No, no, no," she whispered.
Irene tore open the tent, and her worst fears were realized. Inside, she found the charred remains of the knights and, to her horror, the small, burnt body of an infant. The sight brought her to her knees, and her strength drained in an instant.
"Erza," she sobbed, reaching out to touch the scorched remains. "My p-poor daughter, no."
The world around her seemed to blur as she cradled what was left of her daughter, her heart breaking with every moment. The pain was unbearable, and she threw her head back as she let out a bloodcurdling scream as the agony of her loss tore through her soul. Her body shook with the force of her anger, her magic surging uncontrollably around her, eradicating the space and leaving a large crater as she released her anger.
"Damn it," he whispered.
He hastily hid in a nearby cave, his heart pounding as he watched Irene wreak havoc on the campsite. He rocked Erza back and forth in his arms, trying to contain her faint cries. Shit, Lady Irene must not know that she's still alive, he thought as he stared at her form.
"Kill me if it means saving her, Jellal."
He slumped to his knees as the cries of the child subsided. Fuck it! He cursed as he wasn't sure what to do. If he wanted to change the future, he knew he couldn't do it as long as they were in the same timeline. The temporary seal he had placed on Erza would only last if she were kept away from Irene. As long as you two are in the same proximity, the magic will surely wear off. I'm sorry, I had no choice. He thought as he stared at her solemn face.
"Please be safe, Erza," he whispered, tears streaming down his face as he prepared to cast the spell. "I will find you. I promise."
Jellal closed his eyes as he summoned the power of the stars, invoking the magic of the constellation of the pendulum clock, Horologium, the constellation of time. The air around him crackled with energy as he focused his magic, and soon, a bright scarlet tattoo appeared on his face, branding him for using the powerful forbidden spell. The brilliant light enveloped Erza, her tiny form glowing with the heavenly body magic as the spell took effect. He knew he was sending her away to another timeline, and the thought of not being able to be by her side made him look up to the heavens.
"Be safe, Erza," he pleaded, watching as she began to fade from sight. "I will find you, no matter where or when you are."
With a final surge of his magic, Erza disappeared, the light of Horologium taking her to another epoch. The cave fell silent, and he collapsed to his knees, exhausted as the spell consumed all of his magic.
Irene returned to the village, her heart shattered by the loss of her daughter. She found Sieghart, who had managed to make his way back to the dilapidated cathedral, still weakened from the assault. Dropping to her knees before him, Irene clutched the burnt clothing of her daughter to her chest, tears streaming down her face. She clasped the hem of Sieghart's clothes desperately.
"Sieghart, help me revive my daughter," she pleaded, her voice choked with anguish. "I can't live without her. Please, you have to help me."
Sieghart looked down at Irene, his own heart aching with sorrow. He knew the pain she was feeling, but he also knew the limits of his abilities.
"I-I'm sorry, Lady Irene," Sieghart said as he embraced her, letting her cry against his shoulder.
"I-it's all my fault," she whispered. "I-I killed her, my poor daughter,"
Hundreds of years later
Jellal continued to wander through the years, tirelessly searching for Erza. His relentless efforts to find her consumed him as the years took their toll. His once-short hair grew long and wild, and the tattoo around his right eye became more prominent. His journey took him through countless eras, each one offering hope but ultimately leading to a dead end. He traversed civilizations, always hoping to find the faintest hints of Erza's presence. Yet, every trail seemed to grow cold just as he felt he was getting close.
Until one fateful day, Jellal found himself in a desolate, snowy landscape. The cold wind howled around him, and the ground was covered in a thick blanket of snow. As he trudged through the snow, a horrifying sight greeted him. Charteris lay half-dead on the cold snow, stabbed by his own brother, Acnologia. As he disappeared from his sight, his heart raced as he remembered something. He gritted his teeth and used his magic to teleport Charteris to Zonia, a place where he knew Irene resided.
In the present timeline
While traversing through the forest, Jellal sensed it—a familiar presence that sent a shiver down his spine. His heart raced as he finally saw her as a young girl wandering through the forest, looking for something. It was Erza. She had grown, but there was no mistaking her. Jellal's heart was relieved as he watched her from a distance. But as soon as she tripped and fell to her knees, his heart lurched. She froze, her eyes wide with fear as a slithering snake approached her.
Without a second thought, Jellal acted. He summoned his magic, creating a blinding light that stunned the snake and prevented it from biting her. The snake recoiled, hissing in pain, and before disappearing from her sight. Erza blinked, dazed and confused by the sudden light. Just as Jellal was about to reveal himself, he sensed another powerful magic approaching. Alarmed, he realized someone was coming. He couldn't risk being seen, not yet. Reluctantly, he disappeared from her sight, blending into the forest's shadows.
He lost her again.
As he landed at the cave's entrance, Jellal transformed from a blue owl into his own cloaked figure. The echo of his arrival reverberated through the cave's empty walls. He took a moment to gather himself, his mind replaying the events he had just witnessed.
"I was beginning to wonder where you had gone, but it seems that you two have finally met," he said aloud, his words bouncing back at him from the stone walls.
He balled his hands into fists, memories of healing Erza flashing through his mind. He recalled the relief in Irene's eyes when she woke up and how Erza happily clung to her for an embrace. The sight had torn at his heart, knowing the danger that her proximity to Irene posed.
"How can I ever save you from such a fate, Erza?" he asked himself, his voice barely above a whisper as the image of Erza smiling in Irene's company played over and over in his mind.
Present
"Now that the seal is broken, Irene will surely recognize her own daughter once she sees her again, Jellal," Ultear said, her voice filled with concern.
"You can never keep the truth forever hidden," she added.
The cloaked figure continued to sob, his guilt overwhelming him. The memories of the past clouded his mind with sorrow and regret. He could barely speak through his sobs, but he managed to choke out.
"Sh-she asked m-me to kill herself to save her own mother, U-Ul."
A/N: WTFFF? This is the chapter that I have been gatekeeping for a while. To be honest, this is my favorite chapter. YES, YOU WERE ALL RIGHT! ERZA IS IRENE'S BIOLOGICAL DAUGHTER. It was expected, considering the clues I've left, but I wonder if you had seen this coming? Hmmm, please leave reviews! I'd love to read them, and they motivate me to write faster! Thank you for reading, and goodbye for now. See you soon!