A few days later

Walking with a dejected look, Wendy wandered here and there, while having her face covered by a veil. It had been two days now since her true identity had been discovered and she was simply walking around town, not really knowing where to go.

It must have been a long time since Seryu had told the rest of her former companions the truth. So if she went back to the Jaegers, Wendy was certain she would be killed by Esdeath.

Of course, she could always go to where Natsu and Gajeel were. However, if she went back to Night Raid, she would have the constant feeling of having to confess to them for not having lived up to their expectations, even though she was the one who had insisted on doing this job. Wendy felt unable to admit her failure to Najenda.

Suddenly hearing her stomach growl, Wendy placed her hand on her stomach, before affirming.

"Calm down, I'll feed you."

Unfortunately, in addition to not having eaten anything for two days, she had nothing in her pockets that could be eaten or that would allow her to buy food.

"If this keeps up, I'm going to starve to death." Wendy remarked, sighing.

"Hey you! You look suspicious to me. "

At first surprised, Wendy eventually turned around when she realized that someone was talking to her. Behind her, Wendy saw two guards, who walked towards her.

" What ? "

"What does this veil mean?" One of the men asked. "Are you trying to hide your identity?"

"If that's the case, surrender immediately! You're under arrest."

Gritting her teeth, hearing this, Wendy had a hard time hiding her anger.

" For simply wearing a veil, these guys are ready to arrest anyone? Why? To get a reward? But how hideous is the legal system?"

Having no choice then, Wendy chose to flee rather than fight and began to run away.

" Hey ! Stop ! "

Continuing her run, Wendy ran down alley after alley in an attempt to lose her pursuers. However, when she turned into a small alley, she finally stopped dead, hitting someone.

" OUCH ! "

Stepping back a little, the child saw a rather elderly man in front of her, whom she recognized almost immediately.

" Vice-capitaine Tero ? "

"Huh?" The man wondered, looking down. "Aren't you a member of the Jaegers?"

"Quick! She's gone here." A voice said from a little further away.

"They're coming." Wendy said in fear, trying to flee.

However, grabbing her throat, Tero decided to stop her from fleeing.

" That … ? "

"Quiet! Don't try to resist me." He whispered to her. "I'll try to help you."

Arriving then, the two guards stopped as soon as they saw their target being strangled by one of their superiors.

" Vice-capitaine Tero ? "

"Bunch of incompetents." The man roared, directing his gaze at them. "Aren't you even competent enough to stop a simple girl? You're a disgrace to our army."

"Our apologies, Vice-Captain." The two guards apologized, giving a military salute. "She was faster than we thought and..."

"I don't tolerate any failure! Today, I feel generous! But know that next time, I will not be sonice with you! I will take care of interrogating this suspicious person! You, go and resume your guard."

"Yes, vice-captain."

And as soon as they were gone, Tero let go of Wendy, who was looking at him in surprise.

"Why did you save me?"

"Why? You didn't want me to help you?"

"Huh… I… Thanks! But…" Wendy began, her gaze lowered.

Seeing her stuttering and disturbed, Tero declared.

" Come with me. "

" What ? "

"I don't know why, but I feel like you need to sleep and eat something! Come with me! I'll make sure you can rest without having to run away from other guards."

"For the last time, we are not members of Night Raid." A man assured.

With his hands tied behind his back, just like another man and a woman, the latter stared at Seryu, while he proclaimed his innocence regarding what the young girl was accusing them of.

"We are just simple thieves! We have to steal if we want to eat! But we didn't kill anyone."

"So you admit to being evil." Seryu stated, glaring at him. "It doesn't matter if it's theft or murder! A crime is still a crime."

"Tsss, evil? How dare you say that when you're guaranteed three meals a day? We don't all have that privilege! In truth, you have no interest in the inhabitants of this city! Just like the other soldiers, you only think about accepting bribes to ensure a good retirement! So you can keep your morals."

A powerful punch pulverized his nose, and made him fall to the ground. Frightened by this, the other two thieves backed away as best they could, while Seryu's gaze showed nothing but hysteria.

"Never say again that I don't care about the people of the Empire! It's people like you who don't understand what I do to preserve peace."

Then holding out her arm, she let Koro bite it and replaced it with a long sword.

"I am the justice of this city." She roared, pointing the blade at the thieves. "It is my duty to kill the criminals that you are."

"No, please."

Having no mercy, Seryu prepared to behead them, when a voice in her head ordered her to stop.

"Don't kill them."

Immediately feeling a violent migraine, Seryu stopped her sword a few inches from the trio's faces, and gritted her teeth, a sign that something was causing her pain.

" Wendy? " she wondered, recognizing her voice. " Why do I hear her voice in my head? "

"Please!" the woman of the trio pleaded again. "We just wanted something to eat, that's all! We didn't hurt or kill anyone."

"Why can't you understand us?" One of the men asked. "The capital rejects beggars like us and we are forced to fend for ourselves."

Listening to them, Seryu found it harder and harder to fight her migraine, while her emotions fought against each other once again.

As usual, upholding justice and eradicating evil was paramount, and came before anything else. Yet, after these last two months, realizing the situation in the capital, staying by Wendy's side, Seryu found it increasingly difficult to continue establishing absolute justice.

Finally lowering her sword, she whispered.

"Meet in the eastern sector of the poor neighborhoods."

" Huh ? "

"There's a guy named Niks who lives there and has set up a sort of HQ with a bunch of other locals! That's usually where a free food distribution takes place."

Turning her back on them, she roared.

"Hurry up and get over there before I decide to kill you."

It didn't take much for the trio to hurry off. Hearing them leave, Seryu could only show frustration in her eyes, understanding very well what had just happened.

"Even when she's not here, Wendy still manages to bore me with her sweet talk! I can't tell the difference between good and bad anymore."

Standing there thinking, Seryu jumped when a hand placed on her shoulder.

"Hey, Seryu! Where are the guys we captured?" Wave asked.

"Huh? Them? They took advantage of my lack of vigilance to escape."

"What? Are you kidding me?"

Suddenly grabbing Koro, Wave's best idea was to open the teigu's jaws wide before half-engulfing his head inside.

"Don't tell me you let him eat them?"

"If that were the case, this area would be filled with blood." Seryu retorted, snapping her fingers.

Immediately beginning to struggle, Koro managed to escape from Wave's hands and ran before jumping into Seryu's arms. Turning around, the young woman was about to leave, when Wave questioned her.

"Seryu…what happened with Wendy?"

"Huh? What do you mean? I came into her room just as she wanted to leave us, quitting like a coward! Since I wanted to stop her from leaving, we argued about it before fighting! She managed to escape and that was it."

"And why would she suddenly resign?"

"What do I know? Maybe because she couldn't stand to see us killing people."

"Seryu! I don't know why but I feel like you're hiding something from us."

"Tsssss, you're wrong." Seryu roared, walking away from him.

Seeing her do it, Wave wondered.

"Does Wendy's departure have anything to do with the discussion I overheard between Esdeath and the Prime Minister? What does Seryu know that I don't?"

Sitting at a table across from Tero, Wendy said.

"I shouldn't be here."

"And why is that?" Tero asked, pouring whiskey into two glasses.

Taking his own, while Wendy refused her drink, he drank it in one gulp, before asking.

"Okay… what was a Jaeger like you doing on the street trying to hide her face, to the point of being chased by soldiers?"

"Don't… don't pretend to ignore it." Wendy said. "You know very well that I'm wanted."

"Okay! Okay! It's true that I know you're wanted for desertion."

" What ? " Said Wendy.

" My... desertion? Shouldn't I be wanted for treason and complicity in terrorist acts instigated by Night Raid? "

"Just know that leaving a letter of resignation behind you won't change much! Once in the army, you stay there until you retire! That's the downside of becoming a soldier."

" Resignation letter? But... But then Seryu didn't tell the others that I was part of Night Raid? But why? I thought she hated me."

"Wendy, why did you leave your group? From what I heard, you guys make a great team."

"The army wasn't what I thought it was! Killing people is impossible for me! I would even say that it disgusts me! We only have one life! So I don't understand why we have to kill each other! I refuse to do it! But Esdeath and Seryu don't seem to understand that."

"On that point, I understand you! There is nothing worse than taking someone's life! In fact, the first time I did it, I threw up in front of my superior! Seeing me like that, Ogre was not happy."

"Ogre? Were you on Captain Ogre's orders?"

"Yes! And I bitterly regretted it! That man was a real monster! A bastard of the worst kind! He had no consideration for me, he didn't even remember my name! Every time he called me it was usually ''Tadpole''! Knowing that I was influenced by that guy makes me sick! And I wasn't the only one! Your friend, Seryu is a good example of that."

"I know! And it pisses me off too! I want to change this empire! And yet, I quickly realize that I am incapable of it! I don't have the strength necessary for that! I wasn't even able to change Seryu's behavior! I feel... I feel completely useless."

"Wendy, to be honest! I wonder if trying to change the empire is a good idea! Know that people have died with the same goal as you! Like the former captain of our army! He was my former superior before Ogre replaced him! In wanting to bring justice, he arrested a good number of criminals who corrupted the police with money in order to be left alone! Because of this, he ended up getting killed, along with his family."

Then staring at Wendy, he stated.

"No offense, but can a little girl like you really make a difference?"

" It's … It's … " Said Wendy.

Suddenly, the door to Tero's office flew open, revealing a man.

"I finally found you, Wendy."

Turning around then, Wendy could only be surprised, recognizing the face of her former superior: Lieutenant Furrick.

" Lieutenant ? "

The man had a slimmer figure than before, as if some of his muscles had melted away, while he held a new club, slimmer than the old one, making it less heavy.

"I was surprised to hear that you left the Jaegers! I didn't know you were such a coward! But whatever..."

Staring at Wendy, he stated.

"You and I, we're going to fight... like before."

Needing to sort out her thoughts, Seryu headed to the church where her father was buried. But upon her arrival, she was immediately greeted by the group of children, who cried out.

" Onee-san est. "

"Onee-san, are you playing with us?"

"Can we have fun with Koro?"

Then, seeing that Seryu was alone, a little girl wanted to know.

"Nee-chan isn't with you?"

"No!" Seryu replied curtly, not wanting to talk about Wendy at all.

"Why?" the girl insisted. "Where is she?"

"Why should I know that?" Seryu roared, suddenly letting out some of her frustration. "Am I asking you these kinds of annoying questions?"

Noticing, too late, that she had just gotten angry with her, for no reason, Seryu saw the young child back away, before starting to sob.

"Oh, sorry Natasha! I didn't mean to be mean! I... I..."

"From what I can see, you seem troubled."

Coming forward in turn, Mory was present in front of Seryu and him.

"Seryu! Tell me what's going on."

Coming face to face, Wendy and Furrick were now in a deserted alley where no one was going to disturb them.

"The rules of this fight are simple," the lieutenant said. "You win and you can leave! I win and I'll take you back to base."

"When I was a soldier, we've fought a good ten times already," Wendy retorted. "And I've always won."

"That was before! Don't you even dare think about taking me lightly."

With a scream, he ran towards Wendy before swinging his club. Dodging the weapon without any problem, Wendy nevertheless felt the weapon graze her face, while a powerful current of air was felt in her hair.

" He's faster than before. "

Closing his fist, Furrick swung it forward, and managed to hit Wendy right in the stomach. Spitting saliva, the young girl stepped back while holding her stomach. But she didn't even have time to moan in pain before Furrick attacked again. Unable to do anything but step back, Wendy tried to dodge his blows one by one while the man attacked with a rapid cadence.

" Rather than just relying on his strength, he worked on his speed as well as lightening his weapon in order to increase the number of hits he can land! He's really doing everything he can to beat me. "

Feeling her foot suddenly hit a rock, the girl fell to the ground, and had to roll into a ball to dodge Furrick's club.

"Hey, can I ask what's wrong with you?" the lieutenant roared. "You're not focused at all! I feel like I'm fighting a wimp."

Raising his club again, he aimed its top towards Wendy's head.

" SKY DRAGON'S WINGS ! "

Placing both palms against Furrick's club, Wendy managed to stop the latter. However, by putting all his strength into it, Furrick matched her and threatened at any moment to crush his club on her head.

Grimacing from the effort, Wendy felt her arms slowly bend as Furrick's club advanced towards her head.

"I...I'm not going to hold on."

"Don't mess with me." Furrick growled. "I know you're capable of much more than that! You want to surpass the Jaegers? Surpass Esdeath with that strength? Don't make me laugh! What could you do against her?"

" Beat ... Bear her. " Said Wendy.

"Louder! I can't hear anything."

"Beat her." Wendy repeated.

" And how ? "

"Using all my power! Yes, I will… I will…! In the name of Fairy Tail and Night Raid… I will win."

Then increasing the strength of the air currents surrounding her palms, she ended up amplifying their power to the point of throwing Furrick, in an instant. Retreating several meters, Furrick got back to his feet, all the while wearing a smile.

"Yeah! Now this is starting to be a real fight."

Immediately running towards Wendy, he swung his club at her as Wendy positioned her hands back.

" Magie anti-dragon, BLACK DESTROY TORNADO ! "

Forming in her palms, a black tornado appeared, before she directed it towards Furrick. Not having time to stop, the man ended up being hit by the attack. Trying to resist its power, he was quickly ejected into the air, before hitting a wall. Letting out a groan of pain, he then crashed to the ground.

Catching her breath, Wendy looked at her hands in surprise.

"I created... a black tornado?

Hearing Furrick complain again, she immediately ran towards him, before placing her palms on his body. Beginning to heal him, she apologized.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to go so hard."

"Stop apologizing for a moment, you little idiot." Furrick advised her. "Pitying your opponent can be the worst form of insult to him."

However, smiling afterwards, he affirmed.

" Let's go. "

" Huh ? "

"Go find the Jaegers! You want to change this empire? Then do it."

" But I … "

"You can do it, Wendy." Furrick assured her.

Once healed, he stood up, before retrieving his club. Then leaving, he affirmed.

"Show me what the justice of your dreams is, Wendy! I'll be there to see it with my own eyes."