" And you were attacked by the set of Night Raid. " Understood Esdeath.

Looking down, Wave was beside Kurome, who was resting, lying in a bed. Even if Wave had managed to protect her without the least injury being done to her, his comrade's body must have spent all her energy to fuel those of her puppets. Currently, she needed a lot of rest.

" Yes ! In wanting to protect Kurome from a surprise charge from the enemy, I found myself separated from the others and it was the latter who fought against the enemy! I ... I ... "

Clenching his fist, he roared in frustration.

" If I had been there, none of this would have happened! Night Raid could never have taken advantage and Bols… Bols, he… "

Suddenly placing a hand on his shoulder, Esdeath asserted.

" If you got injured in combat, and you still came back to protect Kurome, then he has nothing to be ashamed of! Wave, twice saved your comrade's life and, without that, who knows if one of you would still be alive at the moment? You did very well and you have nothing to regret. "

Having trouble hiding his guilt, Wave ends up looking at his comrades who were with him. Aside from Wendy, all of the remaining members of the Jaegers were present, listening attentively to what had happened to their comrade.

Finally, finding no need to hide it, Wave cried.

" General, I saw Tatsumi. "

" Tatsumi? " Repeated Esdeath, with a more enlightened look. " What do you mean ? "

" He was alongside Night Raid and wore Incursio. "

" Huh? Tatsumi was a revolutionary? " Wondered Seryu.

" For this reason, Night Raid knew in advance what teigu we had and study all our weak points. " Remarked Run.

Silent, meanwhile, as she dreaded this kind of revelation, Esdeath preferred to think rather than open her mouth to vent anger.

Then coughing, Kurome winced, a sign that her body was making her suffer.

" Kurome! " Wave was frightened.

" I will get Wendy. " Suggested Seryu. " Before you got there, she said she wanted to rest in her room. "

" Who else have you seen who is not known as working at Night Raid? " Wanted to know Esdeath

" Huh ... there is a big guy with horns on his head and fighting with a big mass. " Wave replied, referring to Susanoo. " And another who seemed to be handling the fire! This man was named Natsu. "

As she was about to leave the room, Seryu stopped, while Wave had just uttered a name that was not unknown to her.

" Natsu? " Repeated Esdeath. " He was handling fire? "

" Yes, he could create fireballs in his hands and throw them, like a wizard. "

" The man I fought at the palace. " Understood Esdeath. " So he is alive! And to make it all up, he is a member of Night Raid. "

" And that's not all ! I think another organization is working with Night Raid. "

" An other organization? Which ? "

" Fairy Tail or something like that. "

"Fairy ... Tail ?" Wondered Seryu.

Suddenly, a whole puzzle is built in her head.

"I'm part of Fairy Tail!"

"My name is Natsu Dragnir. ''

"The man I fought said to be called Gajeel.''

Frozen, for a few more seconds, Seryu finally leaves the room. Next, Koro amused himself by leaping around her to take him in her arms, but stopped that immediately when he saw her face.

Pure hatred. That was all it had to do while Seryu roared.

" WENDY! "

Sitting on the bed in her room, Wendy remained motionless, staring blankly, only staring at an envelope in front of her.

Thinking again and again of what she had witnessed, she had lost all desire to want to continue this work. Seeing people die after being tortured ... to see Esdeath rejoice in the deaths of these people ... to see such an act of cruelty without being able to do anything to stop her ... Wendy didn't want to relive that.

It was for this reason that she fixed a letter of resignation which she had written herself since her transfer among the Jaegers. Having kept it in her room for all this time, she ended up taking her out now that she wondered if she should stay at the coasts of Esdeath.

"What to do now? Esdetah scares me and I want to leave here! But if I do, what will I look like when I return to Night Raid? I would just be seen as a coward! And puid, I'm not even sure Esdeath would let me go. "

Lost in thought, she suddenly jumped, as the door to her bedroom suddenly opened.

" Huh? " Wendy wondered, when she saw Seryu entering her room. " Seryu, but what ...? "

Feeling a hand grasp her at the level of her throat, Wendy found herself banged against a wall with enough force to make the whole room tremble. Thus strangled, while her feet gesticulated above the ground, the child could only be surprised, while Seryu's gaze only showed hatred towards her.

" Se ... Seryu? W ... Why? "

" Traitor! " Roared Seryu, clenching her teeth so hard that she thought she heard them crack. " How could you betray me? "

" You… betray? "

" Wave met your friend: Natsu. " Informed Seryu. " And he was among the members of Night Raid! You knew it, didn't you? "

" But… Seryu… "

" And the second is part of it too, right? The one who attacked Wave and whose name is Gajeel! I also remember him now. "

Tightening her grip more and more around Wendy's neck, she made her suffocate while continuing.

" Natsu from Fairy Tail, this is how he presented himself to Wave, just like you did with me! So Fairy Tail is an organization working on behalf of the revolutionary army? "

" Seryu… let me explain. " Begged Wendy, trying in vain to make her let go.

" Be quiet, you dirty traitor! Now I understand everything now! You stayed with me just to spy on me! You didn't want me to kill the other criminals because they were your friends, did you? From the start, you led me by boat and you even managed to corrupt my justice! And I also bet you alerted Night Raid to the slightest of our attacks! Great job, because of you, Bols is dead! "

Then ceasing to struggle, Wendy froze on hearing the last sentence.

" Bols… is dead? "

" Yes ! By your fault, traitor! You fooled us all! I could never forgive you. "

" Seryu ... I ... I ... I didn't mean to betray you! I just wanted to help change the empire. "

Immediately grabbing her skull with her second hand, Seryu began to exert strong pressure between her fingers, intended to crush her head.

" So you admit! You little ..."

" Seryu stops! I thought we were friends. "

Then stopping for a moment, Seryu ends up staring at Wendy, while affirming.

" Me too ... I thought we really were! But ... I would never be the friend of evil! And then, after all, all of our friendship was just a lie on your part, right? "

" No ! Of course not ! I never lied about having enjoyed being your partner. "

" Stop lying! You piss me off even more. "

Staring at Wendy with a hateful look, she roared.

" I will kill you, here and now. "

Unable to moan in fear, Wendy finally hears her.

" Koro, NUMBER 3. "

But, despite reaching out, nothing happens.

" Koro? " Wondered Seryu, turning around.

Having witnessed the whole scene, Seryu's dog seemed lost in what he had to do. Even though this was an order from Seryu, he still couldn't understand why he had to help her kill Wendy, when the child had always accompanied them on their patrols, while sometimes offering him food.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Wendy managed to surround the palm of her hand with wind, before flattening it against Seryu's chest.

" That … ? "

Then hit by a strong gale, Seryu was propelled against a wall of the room, before collapsing to the ground.

" Bitch! " She roared, however, pretending to get up. " You will pay for that. "

Not waiting for her to recover, Wendy ran to her bedroom window and jumped out. Then, helped by a strong draft, she gently dropped onto a roof before running.

" Co ... Come back here. " Seryu ordered, trying to crawl on the floor.

Unable to do anything, she turned to Koro before roaring.

" Why didn't you attack her when I asked you? Why ? "

Unable to answer her, her companion stood still while Seryu suddenly punched the floor.

" Why ? Why ? Why ? "

Finally stopping, she let her hand rest before her eyes, wanting to know.

" Why, Wendy? Why did you betray me? "

Turning her gaze towards Wendy's bed, Koro jumped on it before picking up something that was on the latter's cover. Then approaching his mistress, he held out his hands to show her his discovery.

" What is that ? " Wanted to know Seryu, in constant that he was holding a letter written by Wendy. " A letter of resignation? "

Finally coming out of Wendy's room, Seryu met Run in the hallway, as he ran towards her.

" Hey, what's going on? I seemed to have heard a great crash. "

Remaining silent, Seryu walked past him, without telling him anything.

" Seryu! Where's Wendy? What happened ? "

Stopping then, Seryu felt like a battle of emotions unfolding in her head, that looked like it was about to explode. She had a terrible migraine, while she had the greatest difficulty in containing her rage. She wanted to kill Wendy and make her pay for manipulating her. However, for some reason that she herself didn't know, she didn't feel happy to kill her as she would have done with another criminal. Finally, making a choice, she ends up handing a letter to Run.

" I fought against her and she managed to run away. "

" Fight? Why ? "

" She wanted to leave the Jaegers. " Affirmed Seryu, while gritting her teeth. " She suddenly decided to resign and was about to run away! I didn't agree with that and wanted to knock him out to keep him from leaving! But she still managed to flee. "

" What? But … ? "

Placing Wendy's letter of resignation against Run's chest, Seryu then turned to leave. Heading towards her room, she closed the door just behind her, before dropping to the floor. Once done only, Koro stayed behind while Seryu ended up exploding in tears.

Having no more strength to run, Wendy stopped on a roof of a house and dropped on it. Lying like this, she tried to forget everything. Yes, to make his brain stop working. Let him stop repeating, in a loop, everything that had just happened. However, this was impossible. So victim of her own memories, Wendy finally started to cry while she asked.

" Natsu… Gajeel… Why did you kill Bols? "

Thinking then of the big fellow, who had first frightened him with his mask, Wendy sobbed more, while the news of her death ravaged her more than anything else.

" No, I ... I didn't want him to die! He didn't deserve it! He had a family! "

Then she cried because of her sudden departure from the Jaegers. Currently, she was certain that Seryu had already explained everything to the others and that Wendy was now considered a traitor.

"Wave! Kurome! Run… they too must hate me now. "

Then hitting the ground with her fist, she wanted to know.

" What must I do now ? " Najenda entrusted me with a mission and I couldn't even successfully complete it. " I can't go back to the others to tell them that I failed! I would be seen as incapable. "

But as she continued to cry, the sky above her darkened as time passed by little by little. Still, even the weather did not seem to calm Wendy's sobs, as she thought of the last thing that saddened her.

" Seryu… is it true that we are not friends? "

" Natsu, what does that mean? " Got angry Najenda. " It seemed to me that all my orders were clear. "

Facing her, not feeling any form of fear this time, Natsu said.

" Well, I decided not to listen to one of them. "

" And why ? "

" Because killing this man seemed pointless to me. "

" Useless? " Roared Mine, advancing towards the mage. " No, but are you delusional? This man is our enemy. "

" It's a Jaeger. " Approved Lubbock. " It was because of his group that Spear died. "

" So what ? " Wanted to know Natsu. " Is it by deciding to kill all our enemies that Spear can come back to life? I refuse to believe in his death! I refuse to give up on her! She was everyone's companion and my friend! However, I refuse to let his death turn this into a bloodbath. "

As a result, looking down, he finally stared at the body of Bols, who was unconscious and tied up at his feet. True, the man was still injured because of Natsu's attack. However, compared to what Wave and Kurome might have thought, the man was well and well.

" This man is not a bad guy! I don't know much about him, but he has a family! A family that seems to love! If I hate to kill people, I hate destroying families above all. "

" Natsu… I know you're right. " Affirmed Tatsumi." Among the Jaegers, Bols is surely the most generous of them! However, what do you want to do with him? If he is our enemy, it is so that his family can be protected! He will never become our ally, even seeing the true face of the Empire. "

" It's not a question of making an ally or not! " Retorted Natsu. " It is a question that he is human, just like us! He has feelings; feel emotions; have as much right to live as we do! Okay, he took countless lives and I could never forgive him for that ... "

Staring at Najenda, he said.

" But I still think that everyone, who has not lost all their humanity, has the right to a chance. "

Suddenly joining her hands, Najenda exhaled at length, before confessing.

" You are getting on my nerves ! You piss me off with a force… "

But preferring not to continue a battle that was not going to find a winner, she declared.

" If it backfires, be sure it is I who will not forgive you, Natsu. "

" What? " Cried Mine. " Aren't we going to keep him here? "

" No choice ! It is far too important to entrust him to another base! We're going to put him in the basement and Natsu will be responsible for looking after him. "

" Thank you. " Cried the salamander, making a smile appear on his face. " This is how you have to react. "

But hearing Najenda growl, he quickly picked up Bols' body to go with it.

Finally, after five minutes, having put Bols in a cell in the basement, the boy muttered.

" I wonder nevertheless if I am not making a mistake. "

" Don't worry ! " Cried Happy. " Now that he's tied up, what do you think he can do? "

Going away then, the duo prepared to leave the room, when they heard.

" Why ? "

Turning around, the boy could see Bols straighten up a bit, showing that he was aware.

" Hum? " Said Natsu. " Why are you alive ? I purposely avoided your vital organs and that's what saved you. "

" No ! Why did you decide to spare me? We don't even know each other. "

" Who knows ? " Asked Natsu, pretending to leave.

" You are a friend of Wendy's, right? "

Making the duo stop for the second time, Bols saw the two friends turn to him before asking him.

" How did you guess ? "

" To tell the truth, I had doubts for you! However, when I saw your friend with black hair fighting me, I quickly saw that he had similarities with Wendy! You don't use a teigu, do you? "

" Yeah! We use magic. "

Nodding slowly, Bols noticed.

" So, Wendy is one of yours. "

" That's it. "

" Fairly, I was expecting something like this from him. " Said Bols.

" What do you mean ? "

" From the first time I saw Wendy, I immediately noticed that she had no place with us! No, not because she is a child! But rather, because she is a pure-hearted person who cannot bring herself to hurt someone without feeling guilty! I always wondered why she wanted to work with us! But now I understand, she works as a spy, doesn't she? It's clever! Who would suspect a big-hearted kid as a Night Raid spy? "

" Are you mad at her? "

" No ! " Assured Bols. " For the simple fact that Wendy has done so much for me that I could even forgive her for acts much worse than that! She saved my daughter and I would be forever grateful to her! Besides, I know very well that her real goal is to save the empire! To tell the truth, I always feared that she would try to look too high to simply meet an obstacle which will eventually kill her. "

Hearing him, Natsu ends up putting his hand in his pants pocket, to remove a ball of paper.

" If you want to know everything, it's for Wendy that I spared you. "

" Hum? What do you mean ? "

" Before fighting you, she sent us a letter! In it, he has information on all the Jaegers, as well as all of your positive points! And, at the end, a sentence in which Wendy almost begs me not to kill you. "

Staring at Bowls, Natsu asserted.

" Even if she was just supposed to spy on you, Wendy sees you all like her comrades and refuses to let one of you die! That's why I decided to give you a chance! A chance to be able to return home, after this war is over. "

Then getting up, he started to leave, when Bols cried out.

" One last thing ! If you see Wendy… "

Reluctant for a few seconds, he said.

" Tell her " thank you '' from me. "

Smiling, hearing this, Natsu assured him.

" Don't worry! She will have your message! "

Staring at a grave in front of him, Gajeel had stayed in front of it since Spear's body lay there. He had no idea why he was staying here. Why the loss of Spear created a void in him? But, in any case, he knew he had to be there to keep him company, until he was certain that God finally left him behind to join his father in paradise.

Thinking of meeting them, the man couldn't help but notice that they had then shared many moments together. As if to want to repay her the debt she owed him, Spear had always been the first to come to him, whenever he was injured. As if she hoped to be able to replace Bulat, she had always volunteered to be his partner, for his training. In fact, she had always been with him since joining Night Raid.

However, it was her last sentences before he died that haunted Gajeel.

Suddenly planting his fingers in the ground, Gajeel ends up grabbing a handful of soil, which he crushed in his hand.

" I haven't been there! I haven't been there for her! "

" Gajeel! " Said Lily, while he was right behind him! " You had done a lot for her! You saved her life and gave her an opportunity to avenge hers! And that, she never regretted it! Even if it was short, the time she spent with us will never be forgotten! "

Remaining silent in the face of these words, Gajeel ends up asking.

" Do you think she is watching us from where she is? Do you think we can see her again one day? Do you think we can resuscitate her once the empire is defeated? "

But before Lily could say something, Gajeel answered on his own.

" No it's impossible ! Nothing can bring her back among us. "

Clenching his fist, he roared forcefully.

" And that's why I'm going to accept his last request! So that she can rest in peace, I would be the one who will end the days of Honest. "

Then turning to Lily, he cried.

" No time to hang out! Now we're going to train twice as hard as usual! And you will see that nothing can prevent me from crushing these generals. "

Smiling, hearing this, Lily said.

" I recognize you there! And once we win, let's make sure she has the right to a funeral worthy of her! Spear will then be seen as a heroine. "