"So, could I trouble you to call the others here?" Kael said calmly, turning toward Sho and Millianna with a faint smile. "If I go myself, I'm afraid their fates… might not end well."
"You have no right to order me around!" Sho snapped, glaring at him. "I'll never betray my comrades like Erza did!"
"Oh?" Kael chuckled. "You've got spirit. I like that. But…" His smile faded. "That's not really your choice to make."
The moment his words fell, Sho's body was engulfed in golden light.
"W-What the—?! What did you do to me?!" he shouted, struggling. "My body… I can't move it!"
No matter how hard he fought, his limbs refused to respond. His magic pulsed uselessly as he stood frozen, like a puppet. Under Kael's subtle control, Sho's hand began to move on its own — sending a signal to the others nearby.
"Kael?" Erza's voice trembled.
"Don't worry," Kael reassured her softly. "He's just sending a message. Nothing more."
Erza looked lost — torn between disbelief, guilt, and fear.
Meanwhile, with Gray and Juvia...
"What? They've been found already?" Gray's voice tensed as he spoke into the communication lacrima. "Got it. I'll head there right away."
He lowered the device and turned toward Juvia — who stood protectively before a masked man, both of them ready for combat. The area around them was scorched, the aftermath of several powerful explosions.
The masked man suddenly raised his hands in surrender. "My name is Wally," he said. "I was once one of Erza's comrades. Come with me — the situation has changed."
"What…? Erza's old comrade?" Gray muttered, eyes narrowing. Memories flickered — a younger Erza, standing silently by a riverside, tears streaming down her face.
"Gray-sama," Juvia whispered softly, leaning closer. "When the explosions went off, he held back. He didn't try to kill us."
Gray studied the man carefully, then nodded. "Alright. Lead the way."
As they followed, Gray unknowingly reached out and took Juvia's hand.
She froze, cheeks burning crimson — but she didn't pull away.
Elsewhere...
On another side of the resort, Natsu was mid-shout when the square-faced man — Wally's partner, a blocky man named Sawyer — received the same signal.
Without hesitation, a loud BANG! echoed through the hall.
The shot hit Natsu square in the chest, knocking him backward. Before he could recover, glowing cubic bindings wrapped around his body, suspending him midair alongside Happy.
"Alright," Sawyer said gruffly, hoisting them both under one arm. "Time to move."
He marched off toward the location Sho had transmitted.
Back at Kael's location...
"Now then," Kael said, turning back toward Sho with calm amusement. "They're all on their way here. So, Sho — after forcing your friends to come, are you still in any position to condemn Erza for betrayal?"
"Shut up!" Sho growled. "You forced me! I didn't choose this! Erza's different — she chose to run away! She did betray us!"
He glared up at Erza, his eyes blazing with hurt and anger.
Erza couldn't meet his gaze. Her hands trembled, clutching her arms tightly across her chest as tears welled in her eyes.
Kael crouched down beside Sho, his tone softening.
"Then let me tell you something, Sho. Back then, Erza was just like you. Jellal threatened her — using your life as leverage. She never betrayed you. She was forced to choose between her friends and your safety."
Sho froze, disbelief flickering across his face.
"Think about it," Kael continued. "Is the Erza you know — the one who protected you, cared for you — capable of abandoning anyone? You really think she'd do that?"
"N-No… that's impossible…" Sho whispered, his voice cracking.
Kael's words sank deep. Sho's anger began to falter, replaced by confusion and faint realization. His memories — Erza shielding them from pain, her gentle voice — flooded back.
Then, a deep voice echoed from the doorway.
"He's right," said a tall man stepping into the light. "Jellal isn't the man you think he is."
"Simon…?" Erza's eyes widened.
"Long time no see, Erza," Simon said, his tone calm but heavy.
At that moment, Wally entered the room, carrying Natsu and Happy. He set them down quickly, freeing them from their restraints, then rushed over to Sho and Millianna, shielding them protectively from Kael.
"Everyone's here now," Kael said quietly, straightening up. "Good. This is the perfect time to clear the air — once and for all."
"Kael…" Erza whispered, eyes filled with confusion. "How do you know all this? You just said things that only Jellal and I should know…"
Lucy and Cana exchanged a glance, both silent, realizing this situation went far deeper than any of them had imagined.
Kael turned to Erza. "I faced Jellal earlier. He tried to stall me — using the lives of everyone in this town as hostages. His goal was to keep me busy while his people captured you."
"I see…" Erza breathed deeply, her eyes darkening. "So it's come to that."
She took a slow step forward. The faint shimmer of magic surrounded her as a flash of light engulfed her body — in the next moment, she was clad head to toe in her signature armor.
"Sho, Millianna, Simon, Wally… it's time I told you everything."
Everyone fell silent.
Erza's Past
"It began with the cult of black magicians," Erza said quietly. "They called themselves the believers of the Tower of Heaven — the R-System. To build it, they enslaved villagers and children, forcing them to work day and night on a remote island.
"They said it was to perform a forbidden spell — one that could resurrect the dead. But for that, they needed countless sacrifices."
She paused, her voice trembling. "That's where I met all of you — Sho, Simon, Millianna, Wally. We were children, living in darkness, surrounded by death. Anyone who disobeyed orders… disappeared."
Lucy and Cana stared in shock, unable to speak. Even Juvia's usual cheer faded to solemn silence.
Sho and Millianna leaned against Simon's arm, trembling as old memories clawed their way back.
"Among us," Erza continued, "was a boy named Jellal. He was kind — brave. He fought back against the guards, gave us hope. But during an escape attempt, he was captured while protecting me."
Her voice broke slightly.
"He inspired us to fight… but we were weak. The guards overpowered us. Then, an old man — the one who always looked after us — stood up to protect us. He won… but at the cost of his life."
Tears slipped down Erza's cheeks.
"It was then that my magic awakened. I led another rebellion and freed the prisoners. I told everyone to escape by ship while I went back for Jellal."
She looked down, fists trembling. "But when I found him… he had changed. The kindness in his eyes was gone. Something dark had taken over his soul. He spoke of reviving Zeref — and claimed the Tower was his destiny."
She shut her eyes tightly.
"He said if I told anyone about the Tower… he would kill you all. Sho. Simon. Millianna. Wally. I couldn't risk your lives. So I stayed silent. I… ran away."
Her voice cracked completely now, tears streaming down her face.
"I'm sorry. I abandoned you. I betrayed our promise. I was too afraid."
Sho clenched his fists, his voice shaking. "No… no, that can't be true! You're lying! That can't be the reason all those years—why did I—why did we suffer for nothing?!"
Simon placed a comforting hand on his back. "It's true, Sho. Everything she said is true."
Sho's shoulders trembled. "Erza… my sister… the one I loved most… What have I done?"
Erza knelt and wrapped her arms around him. "It's alright. You were just a child. I'm the one who failed you. You've suffered enough, Sho."
Around them, Lucy, Cana, and Juvia wiped their eyes quietly, the weight of the past pressing heavy on their hearts.