Façade | Jerza

9 | Deliora

After returning from the eventful breakfast, Simon, Erza, and Jellal entered the guildhall, with Erza carrying her colossal amount of ingredients and armours with her.

Jellal was the only one able to confront the guild master when he was this grumpy. Though, Makarov found Natsu's antiques more amusing than anything else, so he couldn't possibly wonder why the guild master was furious right now. "Master, why the long face?"

"Bring those brats back home right now!" shouted Makarov, causing everyone to whisper amongst themselves.

Jellal looked at him quizzically, but he had to make a guess, Makarov was referring to Natsu, Lucy, Gray, and Happy.

Mirajane filled Erza in on the mission while Jellal watched the old man shout at nobody in particular. He was cursing at Laxus' arrogance, Natsu's foolishness, and Jellal for not coming back sooner. "Where were you all this time!?"

"Crocus," he said. Maybe now Makarov would remember the purpose of the trip.

While Makarov sputtered nonsense to Jellal, Mirajane explained everything to Erza. The entire guild was watching the guild master, afraid of falling victim to his tantrums.

Mira sighed, "So, there you have it. That's why he's angry. Laxus refused to fetch them, so Gray went after them, but he never returned."

Erza slammed her palm against a bench table, resulting in a hard slap with the clattering of her armoured hand. "They'll be punished gravely for going against the guild rules."

Cana continued drinking from a barrel while everyone else tried calming Erza.

Jellal grabbed her wrist, preventing her from bringing any more damage. "I think you're overreacting. They can deal with their punishment after they return."

"I can handle this myself, just watch me bring them back." Reassured Erza, as she dragged her luggage to a corner. It blocked part of the bar, but it's not like anyone was sitting near it. The closest person was Cana, who wasn't bothered by Makarov's fury. She was too intoxicated to even think properly.

With a hiccup, she said, "Erza's going to go haywire when she sees them. Do something Jellal. She's going to-"

Everyone searched around to find the mage gone with Erza. Mirajane smiled, "I guess he's one step ahead of you, Cana."

"It's...you." Gray's realization hurt him more than it should've. To see Lyon in the flesh, trying to undermine Ur's efforts to kill Deliora. His former peer was now an enemy—a threat to him, Fairy Tail, and the villagers around here.

The Fairy Tail mages along with Lyon's subordinates encountered each other in the temple after overhearing Sherry discuss the plans with Yuka. They'd been awfully careless, but cunning with the years of planning the demon's revival.

Lyon gave a curt smile. "It's been quite a while, Gray."

Lucy and Natsu watched in confusion as the two ice mages exchanged glares. Lyon was mildly interested in how Gray found him after long years of fishing for Deliora and finding out how to revive him. Fate was a cruel mistress.

"What are you doing here?" Gray asked, holding his breath to hear the evil deed Lyon committed. Every word sickened him, especially knowing that he wasn't capable of saving Ur years ago that he resorted to lying.

His former friend dryly laughed, "I'm surprised you haven't heard of it, especially since I'm fixing your mistakes from the past. One could say I've been leading my people to our wish."

"Wish?"

Lyon frowned, circling the mages and revealing some of his own people. He looked like an eagle circling his prey, "Think back to ten years ago when Ur died. To be more exact, when you killed Ur, our beloved master." The coldness of his voice didn't match the pretty words used to honour Ur's death.