Out of concern that Brain or Ultear might be close to Jellal, Shane decided not to march straight up to him. Better to slip into the tower first and scout.
Beside him, Gray stared up at the structure that practically speared the night sky and couldn't help breathing, "This whole thing… you guys really built this?"
Surprise flickered through Shane's eyes too. "I burned it down to the frame before I left. Didn't think it'd still be standing. Tougher than it looks," he said, in a tone somewhere between impressed and regretful.
He soon pulled his gaze back, beckoning to Erza and Gray. "Come on. Quietly."
With his current senses, it was easy to lead them in without a sound.
Inside, though, the layout didn't match his memories.
He followed old habits toward the supervision area, but stopped short where the detention block ought to have been. Confusion tugged at his brow.
"Weird. The old prison block… looks like it's gone."
At the end of the corridor was a strange wall; the whole layout was different.
Rebuilt entirely? Shane scratched at his head. If every level had been rearranged, finding anyone was going to be a pain.
Blundering around like a headless chicken inside here was too risky; they'd spook someone for sure.
"Can't we just grab someone and ask?" Gray suggested.
Shane thought it over. Crude, but effective.
He nodded. "We'll have to. Find a lone overseer and 'politely' ask for directions."
They hid at a corner bend, holding their breath and waiting.
It didn't take long before slow, steady footsteps echoed down the hall.
Shane raised a hand—signal to move. Erza and Gray lowered their stances, ready.
The moment the figure turned the corner, Shane sprang like a leopard—one hand clamped over the man's mouth, the other locking his body. Every sound was snuffed out.
"Wait, Shane!" Erza called suddenly, stopping Gray as he lifted his hands to cast Ice-Make.
"What?" Shane glanced back—just as the person in his grip heard his name, jerked and tried to thrash free, voice muffled in his palm.
"Hold still," Shane snapped, glaring and tightening his hold.
In that instant, by the dim corridor light, he caught a familiar profile and one very familiar mess of chestnut hair.
"…Shô?" he blurted, uncertain.
The moment the restrained boy heard that, he froze—then thrashed even harder.
Shane grimaced and quickly let go.
"Bastard, Shane!" Shô growled as soon as he was loose. "After all this time, that's how you say hi?"
"Didn't expect it to be you," Shane said with a sheepish smile. "We were about to grab an overseer and ask what's changed."
Shô shot him a look, grumbled under his breath a few times, then calmed enough to ask, "What are you doing back? And Erza too? Don't tell me things didn't work out and you ran back here."
"No way," Shane snorted. "We're here on business."
He stepped aside and made introductions. "This is Shô, an old friend from the Tower. This is Gray, our guildmate from Fairy Tail."
Gray nodded once—a basic greeting.
Rubbing his still-numb face, Shô's gaze swept over them. The initial excitement at reuniting faded quickly into focus. "If it's business, let's talk in my room. It's not safe here."
The speed of the shift made Shane glance at him sideways. The kid had grown up.
Shô's room was in a quieter mid-level corner. Small, but tidy, with a bed and a simple table and chairs.
"Not bad. Your own room," Shane commented, looking around. "Beats sleeping on stone with the rest of us."
"That's because Jellal's in charge now," Shô said casually, then straightened. "So. Out with it. You didn't come back just to visit, right?"
Shane nodded. No point circling. "Where's the man teaching Jellal magic? We found out the real hand behind the Tower might be him."
Shô's smile vanished. His mouth tightened. "You sure?"
Shane nodded, face grave.
Shô stood, paced the little room, brow knitted. "All we know is some man showed up and took Jellal as a student. He's very secretive—never shows himself. We don't even know his face."
"Careful, huh… No wonder he's dodged the Council," Shane thought.
Out loud, he said, "Second question: I don't want Ultear to know I'm here to see Jellal. Is it safe to go to him now?"
Shô thought, then shook his head. "She's not near him right now. But there might be eyes around. That woman's sharp."
At the mention of "Ultear," Gray's ears twitched. He glanced at Shane, a silent question in his eyes.
Shane caught his look and answered with a small, not now flick of his gaze. Gray sucked in a breath and held his tongue.
"So is there any way to reach Jellal safely? Or, if that man shows up, can you let us know?"
"I can," Shô said after a moment. "Ultear doesn't pay much attention to me or Wally. We can move around more freely. We'll find a way to get word to you."
He fell quiet, then added, more sober, "So when you do find Brain… what are you planning to do?"
Shane smiled, clapped a hand on his shoulder. "What else? Kill him."
Shô stared for a beat, then nodded. The trust in his eyes was plain. After last time—the rebellion Shane led—he'd come to believe anything the other boy said.
"Figures. That's your style," he said, sounding oddly relieved.
They spent the night crowded into Shô's room.
It wasn't big. Gray nodded off leaning against the wall. Erza and Shane stayed up whispering with Shô, trading stories of their time apart.
At first light, Shô slipped out, clearly too restless to sleep much.
Shane moved to the window and looked down.
The work site at the base of the tower was already busy.
He watched closely. These workers were nothing like the ones he remembered.
They wore thick winter clothes; cheeks were flushed and healthy; their movements were strong. None of the sunken, hollow-eyed look of slaves.
Had Jellal really carried out sweeping reforms?
"Shane, look," Erza said quietly at his side. "There aren't any children. All adults."
He scanned again and confirmed it. Not just that—there were no snarling overseers in sight. Workers took breaks, drank water, chatted. Some even leaned against piles of stone for a moment's rest.
Standing there, he felt a strange, heavy satisfaction.
It hadn't all been for nothing.
"These aren't slaves," Gray muttered, rubbing sleep from his eyes as he joined them. "They're just… construction workers."
Just then, the door hinges squeaked.
Shô was back.
~~~
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