Façade | Jerza

26 | Freedom

He felt nothing when he returned to Magnolia, now an ex-councillor. The decision was easy for him, since his other option was to sever ties with Fairy Tail. He could feel Belno and Michello's eyes' trained on him as he exited the Magic Council, as if knowing what stopped him from devoting his time to the council.

Erza.

He found her at the kitchen counter, with the child in the basket, expectant when he entered his penthouse. She seemed overjoyed by simply looking at the child.

"Jellal," she greeted quietly. "How was work?"

His word choice was very specific, "Different."

She caught onto his hushed and observant demeanour, meaning there was more to it than the eye. "Oh? That's a new answer. I'd be happy to hear all about it on our way to Zentopia."

Jellal averted his gaze to the baby, who was sound asleep. "I'd rather not talk about it right now. He's our priority, and I want to make sure we can reach the mother with no interference or suspicions."

Especially from the prying eyes of anyone like Cardinal Lapointe.

"Right, let's not get ahead of ourselves."

She held the basket this time, knowing their path would be among people, and attracting attention was the last thing they wanted to do. Jellal would only use his former position to gain permission from the church to see Michelle. After that, he was sure the tabloids would release news of his decision.

"Erza, remember that Zentopia is a friend to no one. They will imprison us if we act against them on their grounds."

"I know. Their doctrine is very influential in Fiore, I would expect nothing else. I've heard they also have their own army, and that neither the kingdom nor Magic Council govern them."

"Correct, and now that I think about it, Cardinal Lapointe seems suspicious. His traces are reminiscent of Zero."

"The leader of the Seis?" Erza asked.

"Yes. I'm not sure if they're linked, but he disappeared before our mission with the alliances. I'm not sure if he's hiding in the church, or if he's missing in action, but either way, that place is not safe for us."

The mages walked side-by-side at the Magnolia Train Station, trying to navigate through the swarming crowds. Jellal concealed himself with a cloak and stepped into the train, finding an abandoned compartment. He slid the doors shut in the private sectors once Erza came inside, and sighed in relief.

"If the Magic Council has no influence on them, as you say, then how can you guarantee they'll let you see Michelle?"

"The Magic Council was involved in her case to an extent, and technically, it's not officially closed. In fact, the government has many court hearings to do for the trial."

Erza clenched her hands into the fabric of her skirt. "But something tells me this is wrong. She threw him off that bridge, intending to kill him. So why are we returning him to such a mother? Isn't his life going to be more miserable?"

It's the dream we had, isn't it? he wanted to say. She knew as well as he had what they were referring to. Yet, the words wouldn't escape, because Jellal feared for that reality.

"Erza, something tells me she did that to spite her husband."

"But even if she wanted to exact her revenge against him, couldn't she have done it without killing him off? That seems so horrific, Jellal."

"Let's...hear her out. In that courtroom, Jerome could not convince me she was a woman who wanted her child dead."

Neither of them knew of a more viable solution. Even if they reunited mother and son, what if she rejected him and left him to Jellal and Erza?