Chapter 248: Released from Prison
Jellal had come to tell Noah that the "Tower of Heaven" plan was about to begin, and Noah needed to prepare.
Noah stood in the corridor for a long time, thinking, before he finally headed to the trial chamber. Just as he arrived, he saw Erza being escorted to the door. She looked visibly relieved to see him.
They were led inside. Noah, as Erza's "family," was directed to the viewing gallery, while Erza was led to the defendant's stand.
Noah took his seat and looked at the nine members of the Magic Council. He immediately saw that all of them, like Yajima, were Thought Projections. Their real bodies were clearly still at headquarters.
Yajima smiled and nodded at Noah, who returned the gesture. Siegrain also offered him a brief, encouraging smile. The other councilors, however, looked at him with expressions ranging from neutral to openly hostile. Noah knew Fairy Tail's reputation wasn't good here, but he didn't care. He just kept a polite smile on his face as he memorized the faces of all the councilors he didn't already know.
A frog-like staff member banged a gavel. "The magic trial will now begin."
"Defendant, Erza Belserion, please approach the stand."
Erza stepped forward.
The Council Chairman, a portly man with a huge white beard, spoke. "Defendant Erza Belserion. In the Eisenwald terrorist incident, you are charged with the partial destruction of Oshibana Station, the destruction of the Clover forest and mountains, and 11 other counts of property damage. According to eyewitnesses, the suspect was a female wizard in armor—"
Noah glanced at Erza. Even in her plain clothes, her armor was her most obvious feature. As an S-Class wizard, she was a high-profile enough target to make an example of.
The Chairman was about to continue when...
BOOOOM!
The main doors of the chamber exploded inward, sending shrapnel and dust flying everywhere. Erza's hair whipped around in the blast.
"What is the meaning of this?!" the Chairman roared.
As the smoke cleared, a figure stood in the doorway. He was wearing shoddy, cobbled-together armor, had a green stuffed duck on his right arm, and a head of scarlet-red hair... though a tuft of familiar pink hair was sticking out from under the wig.
He leaped into the room. "I'M THE ARMORED WIZARD!" he roared, dancing around and breathing fire. "If you think you can catch me, then come and try!"
The Council, and Erza, just stared in stunned silence.
"Yeah, that's right! I'M ERZA!" Natsu yelled, blasting a nearby wall. "If you've got a problem, say it to my face!"
Yajima just sighed. Siegrain was actively trying to hide his laughter.
Erza, however, was blushing, and she lowered her head in embarrassment. Noah just smiled and shook his head.
"Are my 'crimes' really more important than the lives of the Guild Masters?!" Natsu shouted, pointing at the Council.
The room was silent. The Chairman let out a long, weary sigh.
"Heh!" Natsu grinned, thinking he'd won.
"Seize them both and throw them in the cells," the Chairman said, his voice full of resignation.
"I... I am so very sorry," Erza said, bowing deeply to the Council.
"Erza, why are you apologizing to these jerks?! Wait, no, I'M ERZA!"
Erza, her face bright red, ignored him. She bowed one more time, then punched Natsu in the face, knocking him out cold. She then proceeded to drag his unconscious body out of the room, following the guards. As she left, she glanced at Noah, who gave her a small wave to let her know it was fine.
"What a farce," one of the councilors muttered before his projection vanished. The others quickly followed. Siegrain nodded to Noah before disappearing, leaving only Yajima.
"That was Natsu, I presume," Yajima said, walking down to Noah. "He's certainly... energetic."
"That's Natsu," Noah agreed, as they walked out together.
"He's got heart, I'll give him that," Yajima sighed. "But he's a handful for you and Makarov."
"He's fine," Noah said. "Aside from the... destruction."
"They'll be held for a day. You can go see them. And don't worry about the damages to the chamber. I'll take care of it."
"Thanks, Yajima. See you later."
Noah watched Yajima's projection fade, then found a guard, got the location of their cell, and made a quick stop at the cafeteria before heading to the prison.
He found Erza and Natsu sitting across from each other on the cell floor.
"I don't even know what to say to you," Erza was saying, pinching the bridge of her nose. "This was just a formality."
"A... formality?" Natsu looked completely lost.
"It was a 'procedural arrest.' The Council had to look like they were doing their job to maintain public order. They were never going to punish me. I would have been released today. But now, thanks to you... heh."
"WHAT?!!" Natsu shrieked.
"Honestly..."
"I-I'm sorry..."
"But," Erza said, her expression softening into a smile, "I was... very happy."
Natsu just looked away, embarrassed.
"I was happy, too," Noah said, walking up to the cell. "Even if the result wasn't great."
"Noah! What are you doing here?!" Natsu yelled.
"I told you I was coming to the Council, didn't I? I was in the audience when you made your grand entrance. Was my presence that unnoticeable?" Noah mused.
"So, what's the verdict?" Erza asked.
"You're both being held for a day," Noah said, teleporting himself inside the cell. "And the damages to the chamber..." Natsu looked like he was about to be sick. "...are being covered by Yajima."
Natsu's wallet was safe.
"Alright, let's eat," Noah said, pulling out the containers of food he'd brought. "It's not every day you get to try the Council's cafeteria food."
"It's... not bad," Erza said after a few bites. "But the guild's is better."
Natsu just nodded, his mouth full.
"That's because our cooks are always trying new recipes," Noah said. "They drag me in to 'consult' all the time."
Natsu, who was starving after his long day, didn't talk, just inhaled three full portions of food. After they'd eaten, Noah sat and chatted with them until it got late. He then pulled out some bedrolls from his storage, and they all went to sleep.
The next morning, Noah teleported out. A few hours later, the guards released Erza and Natsu. The three of them headed straight back to the guild.
"Ah, the air of freedom! It's great to be back!" Natsu yelled, running around the guild hall.
"Would you shut up and eat your food!"
"You're too loud!"
"So... it was just a procedural arrest?" Lucy asked, slumping onto the bar. "I was worried for nothing."
"The Council has to keep up appearances," Mirajane said with a smile.
Natsu was still running around until Noah grabbed him and shoved him into a chair.
"It's good to have this atmosphere back," Sorano said. "It was so gloomy yesterday after Erza was arrested."
"It really is," Ultear agreed.
"Oh, look who's back," Noah said, his eyes on the guild entrance.
"Who?" Erza asked. Before he could answer, a wave of powerful sleep magic washed over the guild.
"Urgh..."
"So... sleepy..."
One by one, the guild members slumped over, fast asleep. Only the S-Class wizards—Noah, Makarov, Ultear, Erza, Mira, and Sorano—remained awake, though the girls looked groggy.
A moment later, the doors opened, and a figure in a black cloak, his face wrapped in bandages, stepped inside.
"Mystogan," Makarov said.
Mystogan ignored him, walked to the request board, tore off a job, and brought it to Noah to register.
"I'm leaving," he said.
"Wait, Mystogan," Noah said. "Come back in two days. I need to talk to you."
Mystogan paused, gave a single nod, and walked back toward the door.
"Hey! Aren't you going to undo the sleep magic?" Makarov yelled.
"Five..." Mystogan said, not turning. "Four... three... two... one..."
As he vanished out the door, everyone in the guild suddenly woke up. Except for Natsu, who was still fast asleep, drooling on the table.
"That feeling... was that Mystogan?"
"That bastard!"
"His sleep magic is as strong as ever."
"That was Mystogan?" Lucy asked, rubbing her eyes. "I didn't even see him."
"That's right," a voice said from beside her. "One of the top candidates for the strongest wizard in Fairy Tail."
Lucy turned and saw Loke. Loke, realizing who he had just spoken to, yelped and leaped away from her as if he'd been burned.
~~~
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