400 years

6

'Jellal? As in Jellal Fernandes?! The person who betrayed Natsu and started this whole incident?!'

Jellal's words flow like butter.. more like toxic butter.. "I hurried when i heard about the attack but it seem there was nothing for me to worry about."

Natsu then smirks with an amused scoff. "You worry? Don't make me laugh. I've never even seen you sweat."

As I watch Natsu smile at the man I knew as his betrayer, yet another person bursts through the curtain. This man's voice booms with compassion, 'Now he's probably genuinely worried. Unlike him..'

"Natsu! Are you injured?"

"The only injury I suffered is my pride in letting my assailant escape."

"I see."

'No way!?' Shocked at the fact I for sure remembered this face, I unconsciously say his name aloud.. "Sting Eucliffe!?"

With a stern expression, the once unknown loud name cocks a brow at me. "Aren't we outspoken? Have we met?"

'Crap! Did I really say that aloud? Well, it's not like I expected to meet two of Isghar's unifiers in the same night.' I gulped as his furrowed brows deepened, making me nervous. 'Yikes!' But to my surprise, Natsu scolded him.

"Let her be." Natsu said with a flick of his hand. "Her name is Lucy Heartfilia." Then as if he'd almost forgotten the whole ordeal. "Oh yes and she saved my life."

Surprised with wide eyes, Sting looks from Natsu and back towards me. "You saved Lord Natsu's life...? (His surprise shifts into a smile of a snake.) And you're such a slender thing. But it appears your courage makes up for it."

'That's a scary smile! I hope I didn't just get added to someone's list!' As I thought this, Sting notices the man named Jellal.

Sting's already scary look worsens. "Jellal, What are doing here?"

Jellal's eyes seem to flicker with delight, 'is this a game to him?'

"I was wondering the same thing. I didn't know you were in Magnolia. What about the campaign?" Jellal reported.

"When I heard about the threat to our lord's life I dropped everything to come here. But i never heard anything about you being in Magnolia." Sting sneered back.

"Are you implying something, Sting?"

"Can you swear before our daimyo that you weren't plotting anything, Jellal?"

Jellal didn't answer Sting. The two of them locked eyes, tension filling the space between them. 'Sting is already suspicious that he is responsible for the attack?'

"All men have secrets in chaotic times. Are you saying you act with no ambition of your own?" Jellal continued with a muted gaze.

"Stop being evasive! Confess!" Sting's eyes flared as his bald up fists released the tension, his knuckles cracking as his hands ready themselves.

'Is he going after his sword!? I was hoping for another nice guy, but he's not as a friendly as his looks suggest!'

"If I find that you played any part in this attack on our lord, Jellal, I'll show you no mercy."

Afraid of the blood shed, readied blades at their sides I blurted out, "I don't think it was him!" In hopes it would stop them. The two men turn their glances towards me, "What?" They exclaim in unison.

"I caught a glimpse of the man who attacked Nat- ah, Lord Natsu, but the drape of his clothes was all wrong." 'Not to mention Jellal is spotless.' I waved at Natsu who'd been watching with amusement. "And we were both covered in soot." We both still smelled of soot actually.

'I don't know who it was but Jellal wasn't in that temple.'

But instead of settling things, Sting then glared at me. "Lucy, was it? Stay out of this. We'll settle things with you later and learn why you've schemed to get so close to Lord Natsu."

"Excuse me! I was there by chance! I'm not the schemer here!"

Natsu, finally deciding to step in, "Enough, Sting. Regardless of what brings Jellal here, I am alive and well."

Sting bowed his head, "My apologies, Lord Natsu." He immediately let all tension from his hands drain, but his posture seemed to remain at attention.

'That got through to him. Sting Eucliffe was supposed to be one of Natsu's most trusted vassals. I guess i can trust these people are the real thing. But how do I get home..' I sighed to myself with this thought.