She blinked for some seconds; her eyes slowly opened, and a little groan escaped her lips as she felt her sleepiness leave her. She softly raised her head up, lying on his chest; she looked at him, and without really realising, she was stroking his hair. He groaned tenderly, leaning for her touch. She smiled as she secretly allowed her ten more seconds. His breath sounded deep, too deep for him to be awake.

She eventually pulled her hand out and started to move away, but he immediately brought her closer to him.

" Humm…Stay "

She smiled. Still half asleep, his wish sounded like a capricious whisper. His face brushed hers several times, and she nestled into the crook of his neck to avoid any accidental contact with his lips. Instead, she was greeted by his musky, minty scent and lulled by his steady breathing, feeling drowsy again. She wished time would stop; for the first time in her life, she was at peace. She wished life would be that simple.

"Don't be childish."

She softened her voice, unsure of who she was really talking to, but carefully, without waking him, she tried to pry his strong arms away from her.

"Just five more minutes, love."

Since when did he have so much strength ?

"Good morning."

" Morning "

"Good morning, girls," greeted Erza.

Wendy was wearing a nice white shirt under her purple dress with black wood tights. She and Carla took place at the table Grey and Erza had already settled. The hotel had a huge veranda with French windows in wrought iron styled with Art Deco motifs, which served as a showcase for the restaurant.

"This hotel is really lovely," said Wendy, mesmerised.

A waiter had come to take the girls' request. And they began to chat around a light conversation.

"At what time did you get back yesterday?"

Carla's question has drawn the attention of Wendy.

"Oh yay, I forgot Lucy. So were you finally able to give her the key ?"

She felt his gaze on her, but Erza didn't look at him. Don't think, just answer quickly.

" Terribly late. So no, she was sleeping."

"Oh, so she stayed with Natsu."

Wendy turned as red as a tomato and uncomfortably looked down, staring at her breakfast plate while Carla glared at Erza and then at Grey. Erza lightly nodded in answer to Wendy's assertion, purposely ignoring Carla's astonished glare.

"So, how was the coffee shop you tried yesterday?"

Then girls began to tell them how marvellous the drinks were and the place too. Wendy explained how overwhelmed she had been hearing her song pass in the shop.

She had finally accepted Sheila's request some months ago, and the two girls had registered their song "met's love angelican". The first single for the sisters of the sky. Even if she had hesitated, she didn't regret it. It had been a special moment, and singing with Shelia had reminded her of the time when they still fought together. They were perhaps no longer bound by magic but had found another way to keep their friendship alive.

Erza smiled softly as Grey bragged about being friends with a pop star, and Wendy turned red as a tomato, saying he was exaggerating. Then they have been interrupted by Natsu and Lucy's arrival.

"Hello, everyone," said Lucy with a bright smile as she took her place next to Erza. Violently contrasting with Natsu, who groaned a sort of "hello" that made everyone laugh. Apparently it was too early for him and Happy, who was sleepily snorting on his shoulder.

"So the two of you are back?" He talked dryly.

"Yes, and sorry for the key's stuff. I thought we would be back sooner."

"It's forgotten, Erza. And it was for the best in the end; otherwise you would have had no bedroom at all. I'm rather feeling sorry for having taken Grey's bed."

"It's okay, Lucy. Can I borrow your key? I will take a shower and change clothes before we go, and my suitcase is still in this bedroom."

"Oh yeah, of course."

She handed him the card, and he left.

"So what's the plan for today?" asked Natsu.

They first exchanged the information they all recorded and decided on a plan. Thanks to Natsu and Lucy, they know there was suspect activity in the northern district. Wendy and Carla had a surprised conversation about a healer mage who illegally exercised his profession. Erza connected with the injured mage of the wanted squad. This healer had been expelled from the medical order and was now healing in the shadows. A discreet man and really oblivious about money. Lucy quit them after Erza began to establish the programme of the day. She wanted to change clothes too and had some stuff to take in her luggage that was settled in the bedroom she should have had .

"Well, let's make three groups: two who searched the healer and the other who tried to localise the fugitives."

"Are you sure focusing on the healer is a good idea?"

"He knows where they are; getting the address will be faster than scouring the neighbourhood."

"Fine, how do we do?"

"You and Happy look for the healer; Grey, Wendy and Carla search through the neighbourhood and interrogate habitants, and Lucy and I will seek him."

"So, you came back late yesterday."

"Indeed, I did."

"Oh, Erza, just tell me. What happened"?

They were following the large avenue looking for an old and poor block of flats.

"Sometimes I miss the time when I scared you so much that you barely dared ask me anything."

"Sorry, but it was years ago. Now we are friends, and I dare be curious about you, but if you feel uncomfortable or that I'm too indiscreet…."

"Fine, just ask your questions."

" Yes ! "

Lucy was so cheerful that it sounded almost ridiculous, but Erza internally smiled.

"So what were you and Grey doing yesterday?"

"We worked."

"Until the night?" She was sceptical.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but yes."

" You didn't even have dinner or something ? "

"Why would I have dinner with Grey?"

"Maybe because you are flirting a lot lately."

"Oh, really?"

Lucy hesitated.

"Okay, you are maybe not flirting, but you can't deny that you have a mutual soft spot for each other."

"We are friends."

"Just friends?"

" Childhood friends if you prefer. But it's just semantics."

Lucy nodded, puzzled. Erza made a sign at her to turn on the street, so she followed her without really thinking about what she was doing. She was too preoccupied by her mind. She thought a lot lately, maybe too much. Actually, she was overthinking because of Natsu. Denying, desiring eventual implied meaning in their conversation. She was exhausted.

"How do you manage to only be friends? You obviously care a lot about him, as he does; he is special to you, undeniably, and yet we are only friends."

Erza was going to tell her that it was intrusive. Lucy was her friend, but the redhead still had her privacy, and for some reason she didn't understand, she didn't want to talk about her relation with Grey. Or more precisely, she didn't want to open a door to her heart that she purposely kept closed, trying as hard as she could to forget it by pushing it out of her consciousness. But she didn't say anything because Lucy was not talking about her but herself. This "we" was her and Natsu.

"Grey and I have been friends since childhood; we are mutual pillars. It has always been that way. But for a deeper answer, I think friendship is based on love. You naturally love your friends; however, this love can turn into something else and become stronger. Friendship is then a choice. You can follow your heart and be honest or take your distance to make this love faint."

Lucy was surprised, even a little astonished, that Erza, more than anyone else, opened up to her with such sincerity. Among them, she was the most conscientious with words. Lucy had noticed it almost immediately; it was one of the details that contributed to this captivating aura that emanated from her : an elusive mixture of sagacity, charm and danger.

Erza chose her words, and as much as it served her eloquence, it contributed to enforcing this eternal armour by establishing a distance between who she was and who she let show. She hid her heart far from words. But it seemed she was making an exception for the blond because it was obvious that she had understood Lucy's troubles even if she had the respect to pretend not.

Lucy didn't add anything, and the conversation just died in the silence of her thoughts.

Lucy never knew how Erza had gotten the address, but she had apparently found a way because they stopped in front of a rather ordinary building in the old town, and without even looking at the names on the intercom, they went in. Third floor, first door on the left. Erza said a word in a language Lucy couldn't identify, and the door opened.

Lucy didn't expect to find Eligol, the fallen angel, in the middle of a ruined apartment. He hadn't changed much since their last meeting. He was a man consumed by regret in search of himself and finding solace in the study of medicine and healing magic. She was amazed by the collection of books he had accumulated. A trunk still half full in the back of the room, a sign of a move left hanging. She supposed he must have moved often, never in one place for too long. His whole life seemed suspended between a fragmented past and an uncertain future.

She soon understood that he had become a wheelwright, a shepherd for damned souls in search of respite. He cared for dying bodies that morality no longer cared for, those who had found themselves on the wrong side of the fence. From angel of death to the saviour of the outcast souls of the society. It was ironic. An ironic redemption.

He explained to them where to find the mages they were looking for; he would not help them in the future. It was only out of consideration for the little dragon hunter who had saved his life. Now he did not want to be taken to task anymore; he stood above the conflicts that tore men apart and was content to help those who had no one else to turn to without asking questions. Neither good nor bad.