Jellal stood at the edge of the sea of trees with Wendy on his back, eyes tracking the black streak that had shot across the sky and vanished beyond the clouds.
Only after he was sure the oppressive dragon wings were truly gone did his shoulders finally sag a little.
"…Whew. He's gone."
Jellal let out a long breath. To his own surprise, a faint sense of relief washed over him—like he'd narrowly escaped disaster. He'd genuinely been afraid that Ishgar's Shane might also be some unreasonable madman.
If Shane had refused to listen and insisted on tailing him back to Edolas, Jellal honestly didn't know what he would have done.
Because his world was already on the verge of collapse.
That evil dragon hanging over the world.
That father whose mind had been warped by magic, whose ambition had reached across parallel worlds—
Just thinking about it made Jellal feel bone-deep exhaustion.
"Focus on what I can do right now. Don't think too far ahead!"
He rubbed his face hard, forcing himself to steady up.
Then he tilted his head slightly and glanced at Wendy sleeping on his back.
Her little face was smudged with dirt. Even in sleep, her brow was tightly knit—she'd clearly been terrified by what just happened.
"I'm sorry, Wendy," Jellal murmured, guilt flickering in his eyes. "I still have things I have to do. I really don't have the time or energy to take care of you."
He had to keep moving. He had to keep fighting for his world. Dragging a child along would only put her in even greater danger.
He needed to find somewhere to leave Wendy safely.
Jellal stood still, scanning the endless forest, thoughts racing.
Then he remembered the ruins he'd passed on the way here—there had been signs of human activity.
"Maybe… there's a mage living in hiding there."
Decision made, he turned and disappeared into the shadows of the trees with Wendy on his back.
Meanwhile, high above—
The wind roared, kept out by the invisible barrier around Shane, leaving only a low, rumbling rush.
The ground below blurred like a spinning lantern. In the distance, the outline of a nearby station already came into view.
Shane glanced down at the person in his arms, remembering that Ultear had said she needed to get back to the guild quickly.
"Hey—want me to drop you off at the station?"
With wings, he had no intention of taking the train like before. He planned to follow the tracks all the way back to Magnolia in the air.
No boring ride, faster too. If he pushed it, he might even make it home before eight.
Ultear's head was drooping now, her cheek weakly pressed to Shane's shoulder.
After taking Shane's "gut-punching" and then Jellal's "Skyscraper," she wasn't in great shape.
It was hard to believe she'd been full of energy a moment ago—arguing, sniping, and launching sneak attacks.
"…Put me down," she said, eyes half-open, her mind sluggish but still trying to sound rational. "I need rest. Find an inn near the station. I'll sleep, and we'll deal with things after I wake up."
For reasons she couldn't even fully explain, she just didn't want Shane seeing her like this—weak and messy.
Shane rolled his eyes.
"This is when you decide to be polite with me? If you need rest, why would we go to an inn? Coming home with me is way more comfortable."
If he actually left her at the station, she'd probably fall asleep on the roadside five seconds later.
"Annoying," Shane muttered. And he didn't bother asking again.
"Hold on. I'm speeding up."
Before Ultear could offer even the faintest protest, his dragon wings snapped wide and magic surged.
He shot straight over the station like a black meteor and blasted toward Magnolia.
Magnolia's eastern outskirts, the cabin in the woods.
Night had deepened. Outside, the insects' chirping sounded unusually clear.
In the bathroom, steam fogged the air—
Erza stood under the showerhead, warm water washing over her.
"Yeah… hot springs are still better," she muttered, shutting off the water and grabbing a towel to dry her wet hair.
With Shane gone, the outdoor hot spring pool was just cold water—useless.
"Shane's been… running around a lot lately."
Her movements slowed. Her eyes dulled a little.
She knew he was busy with serious things—missions, training—but she couldn't help feeling low anyway.
She missed traveling with him. Taking requests together. Sparring together.
"It feels like… it's been forever since we worked as a team."
She stared at herself in the mirror and puffed her cheeks in irritation.
"Fine. When he gets back this time, I'm teaming up with him for a request—finally!"
Decision made, her mood improved. She snapped her fingers.
"Requip."
Light flashed. Her naked body was covered in a simple white cotton pajama set.
She slid into her slippers and was about to head to her room when—
Whooo—
A strange gust-like sound came from outside.
A huge wing membrane slicing through air—heavy and powerful.
Erza knew that sound far too well.
"Shane's back?!"
Her eyes lit up. She didn't even care that her hair was still damp. She ran to the entryway and yanked the door open.
"Shane, you're b—"
The word back died in her throat.
Moonlight spilled across the doorstep.
Shane was drawing in his massive black wings—
And in his arms—
Ultear lay with her eyes closed, arms wrapped around Shane's neck, bonelessly curled against his chest.
Her head rested in the hollow of his shoulder. Her black hair tangled with his shirt.
It looked—
…intimate.
"…?"
Erza froze, fingers stiff on the doorknob.
A strange tightness clogged her chest.
"Oh! Erza!"
Shane looked genuinely happy to see her.
"Didn't expect you to be waiting at the door!"
He couldn't help thinking how considerate Erza was—so much better than the "bad woman" in his arms who did nothing but cause trouble.
"You… what is this—?" Erza's gaze flicked between them, voice hesitant.
Shane thought she was worried he'd been hurt, so he waved a hand quickly.
"Oh, don't worry. I'm fine. It's just this one—"
He gave Ultear a slight bounce in his arms. "Ultear got hurt. And she's not totally clear-headed. I'm letting her rest here for one night."
"H-hurt…?"
Erza opened her mouth.
What she wanted to ask was: What happened out there? Why does it feel like your relationship got… this "good"?
But seeing Shane's completely open, even mildly annoyed expression, her question shifted into something else:
"I thought you said you wouldn't be back for a while. Why are you home so early?"
"It went smoother than expected," Shane answered casually.
He changed into slippers and carried his half-conscious "human accessory" toward the guest room. "Could've been even faster, honestly, but I figured if I flew too fast she'd start throwing a tantrum midair again."
He spoke like he was complaining, but the way he lowered her onto the bed was unusually careful—gentle, controlled.
"If you'd left me at the station—" Ultear's eyes snapped open the moment she hit the mattress.
She didn't sit up, just lay on her side, pale but still stubborn. "I'd already be asleep in an inn bed and waking up right now."
"Yeah, sure." Shane instantly punctured it. "Then why were you dozing with your chin on my shoulder like you were about to drool? Don't take advantage and then act righteous."
"You—"
Ultear shot him a glare, but she was too tired to keep fighting.
They bickered back and forth, barbs flying so fast Erza couldn't even squeeze a word in.
Standing in the doorway, she tilted her head, honestly confused.
Why did their relationship feel both hostile… and somehow weirdly close?
Something about this didn't add up.
Erza thought about it, couldn't find the answer, and decided to stop trying.
"Anyway, we have a guest," she said briskly, defaulting to Fairy Tail hospitality. "I'll make some tea. If you're injured, something hot should help."
"I want some too!" Shane immediately popped out into the hallway and sidled up to Erza. "I'm dying of thirst after flying."
Then he remembered Ultear was right there and pointed back at the room. "She's about to pass out. Tea is pointless—give her warm water, that's enough."
Inside the room, Ultear's ear twitched.
Her fist clenched under the blanket.
She told herself tea before sleep was bad anyway, warm water was healthier—but coming from Shane, it sounded like pure, smug shade.
"Childish man," she muttered, rolling over to face the wall.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Sleep. Recover. Leave at dawn. Escape this place that made her blood pressure spike.
But the universe hated her.
The moment she closed her eyes—
Bzz.
A faint magical vibration buzzed from her pocket.
A communication lacrima.
Ultear's heart jumped. Sleep vanished instantly.
She sat up, and just then, Shane appeared at the door holding a steaming cup.
"Shh."
Ultear raised a finger to her lips—a strict be quiet gesture—and shot Shane a rare, deadly-serious look: Stop. Don't come in.
Shane paused, eyebrow lifting. But he obediently stepped back into the shadow by the doorway.
Only after confirming privacy did Ultear take a steady breath and pull out the lacrima.
Magic flowed in. An image formed.
A long-haired, long-bearded old man. His right eye covered by an eyepatch.
Even through the projection, the aura was oppressive—solemn, commanding, suffocating.
Hades.
The master of the dark guild Grimoire Heart.
The moment the connection opened, Hades' aged, emotionless voice filled the room.
"Ultear."
"…What is that state? So bedraggled—what have you been doing?"
~~~
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