Façade | Jerza

33 | Guilt Consumes

Hi All.

We are very far along in the story, and because my plot has dragged on for so long, it is likely that many readers lost track of the central themes. Therefore, I compiled a doc outlining the three main plots. I took snippets from each chapter to show the progression of the main plot, as I also added a lot of fluff (but also important to the development of our characters!)

Link for the document is here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9EccSAv2n84JMhuv08U-xOTb4pRyt1bQ9mXUM_a7Hg/edit?usp=sharing

This is not a mandatory read. It is only there to serve as a recap. Though, I would highly recommend reading my author's note on it, as it sums up the point I want to drive home.

Without further ado, I present this update!

Year X791

"Mama?"

Porlyusica scowled at the child, startled by the title used on her one too many times. "Eugene, how many times did I tell you not to call me that?"

Eugene flinched at her harsh tone. Compared to how free-spirited and rebellious the Fairy Tail guild was, he had turned out to be the exact opposite.

She had raised him like she envisioned Jellal would have been like as a young child. Soft-spoken, polite, but there was a confidence Eugene lacked that Jellal naturally had in his younger years.

When she looked into his honey eyes, the young boy spoke volumes of intelligence.

Just like Jellal.

"I'm sorry Miss Porlyusica." He corrected, walking over to a small table where Porlyusica framed a photo of Jellal and Erza.

She had gotten a Sorcerer Weekly magazine that had featured the engaged couple. She would never forget the date, initialed at the bottom right of the frame. Eugene traced the frame and gazed at it almost enviously.

"Can they even be called my parents?"

Porlyusica frowned upon his incessant questioning of Jellal and Erza. However, she had one thing to say. "If they didn't save you, you would likely be dead. Or with that lunatic of a biological father you have."

Eugene laughed at her word choice. "So I have three sets of parents?"

"I fail to see why this is a laughing matter."

Eugene glanced up at her. "I'm joking. You're my only parent in this world."

Porlyusica had no words. Maybe if Jellal were still alive, she would think he had some nerve to leave her with this child for seven years.

Then again, they were supposed to come back in late December in X784 to get Eugene.

Would that have been possible? There was commotion about Jellal being wanted by the Magic Council. They failed to keep the matter entirely secret. Anti-Magic Council factions were likely responsible for the leakage of the news.

The Magic Council was susceptible to crumbling the more such news came to light.

"I don't know what they saved you from, but they indeed did it out of love."

As he longingly stared at the photo of Jellal or Erza, he could not help but linger at Erza's warm countenance longingly.

As though she felt like a mother.

Erza was not alone when she woke up on Tenrou Island.

Jellal's weight was on top of her, but he was still...