Façade | Jerza

14 | The Show Must Go On!

Ever since the war ended, Fairy Tail made fast progress to repair the guildhall. It was only a day since the battle concluded and the request board had been restored by Mirajane and Max. Everyone celebrated the return of it, specifically Nab.

Mirajane and Erza were in charge of budgeting the money given by the Magic Council to cover the expenses of the construction of the new guildhall. Lucy half-considered taking the money under their noses, but considering the two women were S-Class wizards, that was a high improbability.

Her payment for her rent was due soon, and the request board barely had any jobs available for a mage like her. And simply put: all the jobs fulfilling her rent money were too advanced for a novice mage for her to take alone. Not that taking Natsu or Gray along ever helped, they would argue in the middle of a crisis.

Sitting on the bar stools, she wailed. "At this rate, I'll be kicked out of my apartment!"

Mirajane stirred a spoon into the coffee she offered to Laki, who described the drink as, "poison that would never quench her thirst."

The She-Devil smiled at the commentary, finding it very like her to say something so unpleasant. Turning to Lucy, she slid a glass of orange juice in her direction. "Why the long face, Lucy?"

"I can't go on any job that will pay my rent and it's due in a few days! The landlady's been cranky ever since I moved here, and she doesn't understand! Greedy businessmen and their nature."

Mirajane slid her hand under the counter, where multiple drawers lay. She produced a job request, paying a good hundred thousand jewels. "Don't call it quits yet, Lucy. I have the perfect job for you." She allowed the Celestial Mage a moment to examine the paper. "I think you should bring along as many people as you can, it's more fun that way."

"You mean more destructive?"

"It's impossible to destroy anything with a job like this!"

Lucy half-considered it, and when she read the contents of the request, it seemed mildly entertaining. "You're right. Nothing can go wrong with a play."

"I think you should especially take Erza, she admires the art of acting. She's a wonderful actress, if you ask me."

Lucy gave it a thought, and considered it. Erza aced everything, be it fighting many opponents simultaneously to the simplest of tasks. A bit lopsided in her fashion statements, but a talented mage, nonetheless.

Their small talk was interrupted by a loud bang. Mirajane and Lucy turned around to confront the source. Erza chucked a barrel at Laxus threateningly, which ended up being hurled at Gray when Laxus sidestepped it. "How dare you?"

With Jellal gone to the Magic Council for his court trial with Makarov, she was the only one left to deal with Laxus. His arrogant tone resounded the guildhall's remains. "You heard me loud and clear. This guild is full of weaklings, especially the two of you." He pointed at Jet and Droy. "You two were Phantom's personal punching bags. You know, I'm glad I never bothered learning your names."

He turned towards Mirajane and Lucy. "Which brings me to the worst of them all, the rich little princess wanna-be wizard."

Mirajane placed her hands on her hips, "Laxus! You need to shut up. You hadn't bothered helping us, despite knowing Master was sick and we were at a massive disadvantage."

"Quit your whining nonsense, Mirajane. Tell me, did Jellal come to help you? Is that why you resorted to asking me for help?"

At this, nobody's anger was nearly comparable to Erza's. "Jellal did more than you could ever imagine! He...he was about to die fighting for Fairy Tail. You will never understand the pain he had to endure for this war. You can't compare yourself to him!"