CHAPTER 70

Today the Magic Council will pass judgment to Jellal. They have already met the man yesterday morning and they have all listened to his plight. The Magic Council then spend the rest of the day convening among themselves about what was the right course of action to take. The meeting lasted late in the night, and when they exited the council room they sent a rune knight to inform Makarov and his group that they would meet in the first session early in the next morning.

Jellal was the first one to wake up. He opens the window of his room and he looks at the rising sun in the distance. He is confident that he would be a free man today. Erza had given him the courage and determination to plead his case yesterday and he believes that everything he told the council members would make him taste freedom. He got himself ready and exited his room.

Since Jellal's identity was something of an issue if found in public, the Magic Council had decided to let the three individuals stay in a house owned by the Magic Council itself. The house would usually become the living quarters of any foreign ambassador who wishes to have an audience with the Magic Council. But since no one is using it at the moment, it became the accommodations of Makarov and his group.

Since Jellal was the first one to be up, Jellal decided to prepare some food. He cooked some bacon, eggs and prepared some hot coffee. The moment he was done, Master Makarov followed by Erza entered the kitchen.

"I prepared some breakfast. Let's eat before we meet the Magic Council", Jellal said as he prepared the table.

Makarov and Erza took a seat and began to eat their breakfast.

"Are you worried about the verdict today?", Makarov said as he took a sip of his coffee.

"Not really, I already told them about my circumstances and right now I believe everything will be all right", Jellal replied.

Makarov just nodded at Jellal's statement. The rest of breakfast was spent in comfortable silence. They soon got themselves ready and went to the Magic Council Headquarters.

The moment the three of them were inside the building, they immediately felt something was odd. The rune knight in-charge in making sure that their entry was kept secret would on occasion spare the three of them a questionable gaze. As if he knows something that they didn't. Makarov immediately took this as a sign that something was wrong. He just hopes that nothing bad will happen to Jellal's verdict.

The moment they entered the room, they could immediately see the gazes of the Council members. For a while, they just look at the three people who entered the room. There was a weird tension in the room, and Makarov and his group could feel it.

It was only broken when Yajima spoke up and said, "Now that's everyone is here, let us begin". This caused the five members of the Magic Council to take their seats which were on an elevated platform on the other side of the room. The Magic Council was usually composed of 9 members but after the events that led to Etherion, 2 members betrayed them, i.e. Siegrain(Jellal) and Ultear while 2 more were removed due to misuse of power. For the time being, only 5 members made up the current Magic Council of Ishgar.

The first one to speak is a tall and fit elderly man with long graying hair and a long beard. He was moderately clad in fitted armor; he has an ornate cape draped over his shoulders. This person is none other than the current Chairman of the Magic Council, Gran Doma, "We have heard your case Jellal and quite frankly, we sympathized about your situation. We have discussed it at length yesterday afternoon until late in the night...We were inclined to agree to Master Makarov's plan...however".

Makarov's plan was to tell the people of the Continent that Jellal is the twin brother of Siegrain and the reason why he was never seen in public is that he and Siegrain had a falling out. This in turn has soured their relationship. During this time, Jellal became the disciple of Master Makarov and decided to train away from prying eyes.

"But it seems that other matters have complicated your request for out leniency", Gran Doma said.

"What do you mean?", Master Makarov said with interest.

"Last night a report was sent from Freesia Town. An S-rank mage of Fairy Tail attack civilians and promptly had a battle with a fellow Fairy Tail member, Elfman Strauss. The battle resulted in the destruction of town property", Yajima stated to Makarov and his group.

"What?", Makarov said with shock in his voice.

"Now we find ourselves unsure if we should accept your request. Your guild has continuously cause problems for the Magic Council and now one of your members has openly attacked civilians! Right now, I am more inclined to send the rune knights to apprehend Laxus Dreyar. Heck, I might as well put Elfman on the list for fighting in public property!", Org stated. He is an elderly man with a long beard, as well as a mustache. He has pointy ears and has a habit of keeping only one of his dark-colored eyes open at a time. He currently holds the second seat in the Magic Council.

"Elfman and Laxus fought?", Erza stated with a narrowed brow. She knows that Laxus had been unbearable as of late but she never thought that he would attack civilians and openly fight a member of the guild. Suddenly a scary thought came to her mind, "What happened after they fought? Is Elfman okay?".

"After their battle, Elfman was left in Freesia Town, the man is said to be extremely wounded. Currently, our reports said that he is in the hospital of Freesia Town where his injury is being treated", Yajima answered.

"Now, I no longer like the idea of agreeing to your request because of this incident. This may cause a precedent towards any current and future members of The Wizard Saint. They would just knock on our doors and demand something from this honorable council, while simultaneously causing trouble in the Continent of Ishgar! That is something I do not want!", Michello said. He is a man of the same height as Yajima but the most interesting about him is probably his cat ears and cat-tail.

Suddenly everyone in the room felt strong magical energy crashing on them, the room began to shake violently. Yajima immediately saw who was the one responsible for such an event and said, "Makky stop this! This is not helping Jellal or Fairy Tail!"

Makarov did not care, he showed anger on his face and he said, "The event that happened yesterday and the thing that we are asking now are two different things! I will deal with Laxus myself, that I promise you. But I want you to give Jellal a fair verdict!".

It was at this moment the Magic Council remembered why Makarov Dreyar was given a Wizard Saint Title in the first place.