The night was inky black, with a silver moon hanging high.
On a forest path outside Magnolia, Ezreal walked leisurely, the soles of his boots crunching on the gravel.
The night wind rustled through the treetops, occasionally mixed with the chirping of insects.
His goggles rested on his forehead, and his golden eyes reflected the moonlight, appearing exceptionally bright.
Suddenly, he stopped.
"Such a moonlit night is perfect for a chat," Ezreal tilted his head slightly, a smile playing on his lips, "Isn't it time to come out and meet?"
Behind him, the tree shadows swayed slightly.
Black robes fell silently, and Jellal's figure emerged like a ghost.
He stood three paces behind Ezreal, his blue hair glinting coldly in the moonlight, his face calm to the point of indifference.
Ezreal turned around, his gaze falling on him, his smile still gentle: "What should I call you?"
"Mr. Siegrain, who has withdrawn from the Magic Council."
Ezreal paused, his smile deepening slightly, "Or rather, Jellal."
"You are indeed no ordinary person." Jellal's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly, "Call me Jellal."
Ezreal asked with a smile, "It seems you came specifically to find me?"
Jellal nodded, his voice low: "Ultear told me everything."
"Oh?" Ezreal raised an eyebrow, "Then why did the news say you injured her?"
"An act," Jellal said calmly, "To allow Ultear to continue as a double agent, lurking in the Council, without being suspected by Grimoire Heart."
Ezreal nodded thoughtfully: "I see."
"Ultear doesn't want to leave Grimoire Heart just yet," Jellal continued, "She said you still need her help to gather intelligence."
"Besides arranging for her to guide you in completing the Tower of Paradise, Grimoire Heart also had her collect intelligence from the Council?" Ezreal asked.
"Mm," Jellal's gaze flickered slightly, "I pretended that I discovered I had been deceived, so I injured Ultear, allowing her to relay this message back. This way, she won't be suspected."
Ezreal chuckled softly: "Ultear is really going all out."
"She asked me to convey it on her behalf," Jellal looked at him, "To repay your kindness, she will fully assist you in gathering intelligence on Grimoire Heart."
"That's indeed quite good," Ezreal shrugged, "However, regarding intelligence, just do your best while ensuring your own safety."
He paused, then asked: "How is the Tower of Paradise?"
"Destroyed," Jellal's voice was calm, without a ripple, "I gave money to dismiss everyone who was building the Tower of Paradise."
"That's truly a decisive way of acting," Ezreal smiled, "So what are you going to do now? And why did you come to me?"
Jellal was silent for a moment, then finally spoke: "Atonement."
"Atonement?"
"These past years, I have done wrong and hurt many people," Jellal's voice was low and firm, "Even if I was deceived, a mistake is still a mistake. If I don't do something, I won't be able to forgive myself."
Ezreal watched him quietly, without interrupting.
"I came to you because I want to entrust you with something," Jellal finished, then turned slightly.
From the tree shadows behind him, three people slowly emerged.
A girl with a cat-ear headband, her face showing a hint of shyness; a man with a square face, dressed in a sharp suit, his gaze steady; and a dark-skinned teenager with brownish-yellow hair, his eyes sharp.
Ezreal's gaze swept over them one by one, the smile on his lips deepening.
"Millianna, Wally, Sho," he softly spoke their names.
Jellal was slightly startled: "You know them?"
"I've heard of them," Ezreal smiled, without explaining further.
Jellal was silent for a moment, then still introduced them one by one: "This is Millianna, Wally, Sho."
He paused, "They are all… Erza's childhood companions."
Ezreal nodded: "I know."
They were all characters who appeared in the original work, and Ezreal could recognize them all. Although their strength wasn't very high, they were among the few individuals connected to Erza.
"I want to ask you to look after them," Jellal's voice was low, "If possible, I hope you can send them to Erza."
"You're not going yourself?" Ezreal asked.
Jellal's gaze darkened slightly, and he shook his head: "I don't have the face to see her."
"You're really a stubborn person," Ezreal looked at him, then, after a moment, sighed softly: "Alright, I promise you."
He turned to the three, his smile gentle: "Hello everyone, I'm Ezreal, a Mage of Fairy Tail."
Millianna nodded timidly, Wally steadily extended his hand and shook his, while Sho merely grunted, but the wariness in his eyes relaxed slightly.
Ezreal withdrew his gaze, then suddenly asked: "Why isn't Simon here?"
Jellal's eyes suddenly narrowed, and he gave him a deep look: "You really know a lot of things."
"You could say that," Ezreal shrugged.
"Simon…" Jellal said in a low voice, "Before I left the Council, I used the Council's resources to find the whereabouts of his sister."
"His sister?" Ezreal raised an eyebrow.
"She's still alive and has joined Mermaid Heel," Jellal said, "Simon went to find her."
Ezreal nodded knowingly: "I see."
He hadn't thought of it immediately, but when Mermaid Heel was mentioned, Ezreal had some impression.
Mermaid Heel only appeared in the Grand Magic Games arc later in the anime.
It was a guild composed purely of female Mages. Simon's sister was that S-Class Mage who wielded the demon blade 'Unrivaled', and also possessed exquisite gravity magic.
Her name seemed to be Kagura.
Her strength was far greater than her brother's; even without using magic, simply relying on martial arts and swordsmanship, she could overpower many Mages.
Among the female characters who appeared in the anime, Kagura was considered one of the top powerhouses.
Ezreal felt genuinely happy at this moment because of his influence.
Ur was revived, and since Ultear would actively explain the situation to Jellal, it proved that the mother and daughter had also resolved their misunderstanding.
Ur had seen her disciple again, and also her daughter.
Jellal, too, because of Ultear's awakening, had destroyed the Tower of Paradise and liberated the enslaved laborers.
Simon was not killed either, and the siblings also had a chance to reunite.
Although he felt that the original plot had already changed, and the two main opening stories now seemed to be gone, Ezreal did not regret his actions.
What plot, what plot.
It was best for good people to live well, and within one's capabilities, not to let regrets and pain appear around them.
Ezreal looked at the calm Jellal, then his gaze fell on Millianna and the others behind him, and then slowly looked into the distance, the smile on his face sincere and gentle, "This is good."
The night wind blew, and the tree shadows swayed.
Moonlight spilled over the figures, casting outlines of varying depths.
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