Chapter 79: Nirvana's Collapse, the Unfulfilled First Love (3)
"The New Council?!"
"It's already been established?!"
Lucy and Gray were shaken at the sudden appearance of the New Magic Council.
Yajima had once mentioned that most of the old council had resigned and a new body was forming, but none of them imagined it would appear so soon, so organized.
Lahar adjusted his glasses with a single finger and addressed the alliance calmly.
"We were reborn to safeguard law and justice. We will not repeat the weakness of the previous Council. Therefore, no evil will ever be tolerated."
"We didn't do anything bad!"
"Yeah, that's right!"
Natsu and Happy shot back in protest. Fairy Tail might cause plenty of trouble, but never had they acted with malice or evil intent. To be met with military force felt unjust.
But Lahar didn't waver, continuing in the same even tone.
"I know. Our objective is the capture of Oración Seis. Hand over the ones known as Hoteye and Angel."
"W-wait just a minute!" Jura started to intervene, but Ciel and Hoteye quickly stopped him.
"Jura, let it be."
"It's alright, Jura."
"…Richard-sama."
With a solemn face, Hoteye (Richard) spoke to Jura and the others.
"No matter if my eyes have been opened to the light, my past sins don't simply vanish. I want to start over from the beginning."
"…."
"I feel the same. It's not that I've seen the light, but this second chance at life—I want to live it clean."
"...Sorano-sama."
Angel (Sorano) nodded, agreeing with Richard. Even if she hadn't been changed by Nirvana's magic, she had already died once and been given another life. A life tied to Ciel's, after receiving half of his soul. She couldn't allow herself to continue as a criminal.
Understanding their resolve, Ciel and Jura nodded silently. They knew what this moment meant to the two former enemies.
Before the restraints were placed, Jura offered Richard a chance for hope.
"If that's the case… let me find your brother for you."
"R-really?!"
"What is his name?"
Richard's face lit up as he quickly gave the information he had always carried with him.
"His name is Wally. Wally Buchanan."
"Wally?!"
"What?!"
At the name, Erza, Natsu, and Happy immediately thought of a familiar man. Erza, especially, knew him well.
"If it's that man… I know him."
"What?!"
"No way?!"
"He's my friend. Right now, he's traveling across the continent."
Tears welled in Richard's eyes as he stared at Erza. Her smile and nod confirmed what he longed to believe.
And then the emotions he had suppressed for so long burst out all at once.
"Ahh… Is this the miracle that only comes to those who believe in the light?! Thank you… thank you so much… thank you!!"
Richard dropped to his knees, covering his face with his hands as he wept—like a penitent before God, confessing sins and begging forgiveness.
Years spent in crime, gathering money, searching fruitlessly for his brother… and now, when he chose to repent, the miracle appeared. He silently offered up a prayer of gratitude.
….
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
With Richard restrained, it was Sorano's turn. Ciel watched, an unexplainable heaviness in his chest, as she stepped toward the Council soldiers.
As the ropes were fastened around her, Sorano looked back and made a small request.
"Let me… just speak to him first."
She stepped closer to Ciel.
"What's that face for? Were you worried you wouldn't get to rest after all this?"
"…Don't be ridiculous. You are a criminal. I feel nothing for you."
Sorano only gave him a bitter smile, replying softly.
"Then why are you making that face?"
Her hand brushed against his cheek. Ciel flinched, his expression pained. He himself didn't understand these emotions, and that ignorance filled him with unease. So, against his own heart, he lashed out with denial. Sorano understood, and let him keep the lie.
"That's right… But you know what? They say first loves are never fulfilled."
"…."
"So don't torment yourself."
"I… I am…"
"Uwoah?!"
"Kyaa!!"
"Ahem… how embarrassing."
"Man!"
Ciel opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, Angel (Sorano) tugged at his collar and pressed a light kiss to his cheek.
His eyes widened in shock at her sudden boldness, but as the unfamiliar warmth spread through him, he slowly closed his eyes.
When she pulled back, Sorano gave him a radiant smile.
"This is my small token of thanks—for giving me a new life."
"Sorano…"
"I believe we'll meet again someday. Until then, please stay well… my master."
"…."
With that, Sorano was led away in chains, taken into the Council's waiting carriage.
Everyone's faces flushed with embarrassment, their eyes darting away, but Lahar's sharp gaze fixed firmly on Ciel.
"Even if it is only an honorary title, as one who bears both the Council's recognition and the name of a Saint Wizard, you ought to be more mindful of your actions, Ciel Illusian."
"…Those are empty titles you forced upon me. I have no obligation to let you meddle in what I do."
Lahar's words carried no malice—only concern. He had risen to his current position by completing missions that Ciel once left unfinished, building his sense of justice atop the foundation Ciel had created. To him, Ciel was a hero. And because of that, he hoped desperately that Ciel would never fall into corruption.
But Ciel, unable to resonate with those feelings, only scoffed and turned his back.
"Are we done now?! Then hurry and dispel this spell! I'm gonna burst if I don't go!!"
Ichiya, believing everything had finally ended, shouted in urgency. But Lahar only lifted his glasses with a cold gleam in his eyes.
"No… Our true mission was never Oración Seis."
"Huh?"
With deliberate motion, Lahar pointed his finger toward one man.
"Infiltration of the Council… destruction… and even the launch of Etherion. Compared to that, Oración Seis are nothing. The true criminal stands right there."
"…."
"You, Jellal. Step forward. We've been authorized to kill you should you resist."
Lahar's words left no room for doubt. Their presence here was not to dismantle Oración Seis or to halt Nirvana. They had tracked Jellal's survival, and came here for this moment.
At Lahar's command, soldiers stepped forward, magic-suppressing shackles gleaming in their hands.
"No way…!"
"Hold it right there!"
Natsu and Wendy flared with anger, voices cracking with disbelief.
"That man is too dangerous. We cannot allow him to walk free a second time—never again!"
At Lahar's gesture, Jellal silently stepped out of the binding circle, offering no resistance as the soldiers clasped the shackles onto his wrists.
"Jellal Fernandes. You are under arrest for the crime of treason against the Federation."
"Wait! Jellal's lost his memory! He doesn't remember anything!"
"Under Article 13 of the Penal Code, such circumstances cannot be considered."
"But… but still!!"
Wendy's desperate cries rang out, her small body trembling with protest. She couldn't understand. She knew the past couldn't be erased—but how could they punish someone who didn't even remember committing the crime?
As she tried again to plead, the one who had remained silent until now finally spoke.
"It's alright… I won't resist."
"Jellal…!"
"…I couldn't remember until the very end. I'm truly sorry, Wendy."
"Once… you saved this child."
When Wendy struggled to put her feelings into words, Charle spoke in her place, briefly explaining the connection between Jellal and Wendy.
Jellal listened, then shook his head, unable to recall.
"I see… I don't know how much pain I've caused you all. But to hear that I once helped someone… that, at least, makes me glad."
"..."
"..."
At his words, Ciel and Erza both fell silent, watching him closely.
Just before being led away, Jellal gave them a faint smile.
"Erza, Ciel… thank you, for everything."
"..."
"..."
As he turned to leave, Erza's fists trembled.
She couldn't accept it.
After finally pulling her friend back from the nightmare, finally bringing him back into the light, how could she just stand by and let him be dragged once more into darkness?
Her eyes burned with fury.
"Do you have nothing else to say?" Lahar asked coldly.
"..."
"Your fate is either death or life imprisonment. You will never meet anyone again."
"That can't be…"
"No…"
Erza's eyes widened further at Lahar's words, dread and a nameless pain rising within her.
And then—
"He's not going anywhere!!"
"Natsu!"
"Wait—the opponent is the Council!"
"Out of the way!! He's our comrade! We're taking him back with us!"
Erza's eyes flew wide open at Natsu's reckless charge.
The Council soldiers moved to block him, but Natsu barreled through, pummeling them aside as he fought his way toward Jellal.
"Go, Natsu!"
"Guh!"
"Gray?!"
When attacks rained down at Natsu's back, Gray could no longer hold himself back. He too threw himself into the fray, clashing with the soldiers.
Natsu and Happy froze for a moment at Gray's sudden support.
"That's how it is—when Natsu makes up his mind, nothing can stop him! Honestly, I don't like it either! He helped stop Nirvana, and not a single word of acknowledgment for that?!"
Gray wasn't denying Jellal's crimes. Those couldn't simply be excused.
But Jellal had risked everything to stop the catastrophe of Nirvana. Sending him straight to prison without so much as a word of gratitude for saving them all—Gray couldn't accept that.
Spurred by Gray's words, Jura and even Ichiya stepped forward.
"He's right. To arrest him now is unjust!"
"I hate to admit it, but without him, Erza would only suffer more!"
"Bah, I don't even care anymore!"
"Aye, sir!"
With Jura and Ichiya joining the fight, Lucy, Happy, and the other members, who had been hesitating, all threw themselves into the struggle too—resisting the Council soldiers, fighting to take Jellal back.
Hoteye (Richard) and Angel (Sorano) had acknowledged their sins and willingly stepped inside.
Their decisions could not be stopped.
But Jellal was different—his crimes were not born from his own will, but from being ensnared by Zeref's phantom. To drag away a man who didn't even remember himself—it was unthinkable.
"Please! Don't take Jellal away!"
"Come here, Jellal!"
"Natsu…"
"You can't leave Erza! Stay by her side—always! For her sake! So come here!"
"..."
"We'll be together! It may have been brief, but you're our comrade!"
"Arrest them all!! Interference with official duty and aiding a fugitive!"
"Jellal!!"
Surrounded by soldiers, Natsu stretched out his hand toward Jellal.
But Jellal could not take it. Instead, he only bowed his head, tormented by guilt at Natsu's words.
Unable to watch any longer, Lahar summoned the reserve forces, intending to arrest the entire alliance.
Then—
"Enough!!"
"That's far enough."
Mist coiled around everyone's bodies, halting their movements.
What followed was Erza's cry, and a single quiet word from Ciel.
At the sound of the two, everyone—soldiers and guild members alike—turned their eyes toward them.
Erza raised her hand high, commanding all to cease fighting.
"I apologize for the disturbance. I'll take all the responsibility. Take Jellal… away."
Natsu and the others, brimming with defiance, wanted to object. But faced with Erza's anguished expression, not one could say a word.
As the mist cleared, Lahar adjusted his glasses, his cold eyes locking on Erza.
"This is not something that can be resolved by one wizard claiming responsibility. Everyone here is under arrest—"
"Lahar. Then let me take responsibility."
"Ciel… you."
At Lahar's words, Ciel pulled the badges of the Council and the Ten Wizard Saints from his pocket and tossed them at him.
"Lahar, for the sake of the respect you once held for me, I ask that you overlook this matter. As a price—if you can call it that—I return these to the Council."
"...Ciel Illusian. I admired your meticulous nature and the way you judged evil without hesitation. I was overjoyed to learn you were still alive. But to see you swayed by emotion like this… I cannot understand it."
With that sharp rebuke, Lahar turned his back, calling off his soldiers. Tossing the badges back at Ciel, he added:
"I understand your intent. This time, I'll let it go. Consider it my thanks—for it was thanks to you that I stand here today. But… there will not be a second time."
Lahar and the soldiers departed, and the matter was, for now, settled.
As the prison carriage disappeared into the darkness, Jellal halted for a moment. Something had returned to him. He turned his head toward Erza and spoke one last time.
"That's right…"
"Hm?"
"It was the color of your hair… Farewell, Erza."
"…Yes."
At Jellal's final words, Erza lowered her head, whispering a last farewell of her own.
....
「I am Jellal Fernandes.」
"Phew~ it's hard to breathe out here."
"You're one to talk. And what's with 'Willy Buchanan'? I'll forget it in no time."
"Erza, what about you?"
"I'm Erza. Just… Erza."
"That's kind of plain, isn't it?"
"W–what are you doing?!"
"Ohh! That beautiful red… Yes, that's it! Your name shall be Erza Scarlet."
"How can you just decide someone's name like that… so selfish…"
"Erza… Scarlet…"
"It's the color of my hair. This way, you'll never forget it."
....
Separated from my comrades, I sat atop the ruins of Nirvana's collapsed citadel, burying my face in my knees as memories of Jellal resurfaced.
I wanted to stop him from leaving.
But I couldn't.
If I saved Jellal here and now, my comrades too would be placed in danger.
Past sins cannot be undone.
"Jellal…"
"Erza?!"
While I was lost in memories of Jellal, a voice called to me from behind.
Ciel.
I had slipped away alone, but now he came and quietly sat by my side.
"…Judging by the downpour, it must be a summer shower."
"…What are you talking about…?"
I looked up at him, bewildered, as he smiled faintly while gazing at a sky where the sunrise shone brightly.
Just as he said, the heavens were clear—yet torrents of rain were falling.
I followed his gaze, and my vision blurred. Hot rain traced down my cheeks.
"Yes… a fierce downpour indeed."
For the first time in my life, I found the answer to this unknown feeling… Yet just as she said, first loves are never meant to come true.
"Honestly… how foolish. Why do we smile, get angry, or grieve over such feelings? I don't understand. Was Mira waiting for me with feelings like this? During those three years…"
The sorrow of losing Jellal… the grief of losing someone precious was not mine alone.
Though brief, Sorano—the woman who had taught Ciel the emotions he lacked—had undeniably carved a place deep in his heart.
Though he wished not to admit it, he held himself together, hiding his pain and restraining Natsu and the others.
He could have resisted more fiercely than anyone, could have driven everyone to flee. But he didn't.
Because he knew it would have been wrong… that it would have betrayed their will.
"Erza…"
I embraced Ciel tightly.
And then, I wept.
I wasn't the only one in pain.
Ciel was suffering too.
The man who never showed his feelings, who always hid behind a smile, was crying before me.
"If you grieve, then I will support you. We're partners. So right now—"
"Erza… I'm sorry… I… I can't endure this feeling…"
"You don't need to say it. I already know. So for now… let's just lend each other our shoulders."
Ciel, whom I thought to be unshakable, unreadable, was no different from me.
He was no superhuman.
Strong, yes, but still human.
Until now, he simply hadn't known what his feelings were, and had faltered, afraid of them.
Realizing that, I felt ashamed of myself for having only leaned on him as a comrade.
"…It's okay to cry now. I will… too."
"…Erza, I'm sorry. I'm… so sorry… I couldn't do… anything…"
"It's alright… it's alright…"
Bathed in the crimson morning light, we clung to each other and wept.
That sunrise—painted in a red more beautiful than any sky we had ever seen—wrapped us in its warmth.
As if to comfort us, it shone with a tender yet passionate glow.
.....
First, about the ring scene from the previous chapter.
There's no need to assign too much meaning to the ring being placed on the ring finger or to the ring's ability itself.
To clarify:
Ciel placed the ring on Sorano's right ring finger.
In contrast, when lovers exchange vows, the ring is placed on the left ring finger. This is said to symbolize love, because in ancient Egypt they believed a "vein of love" connected the left ring finger directly to the heart.
On the other hand, the right ring finger represents stability. It's meant to bring peace of mind during times of unease, fear, or anxiety—not romance.
As for the ring's curse, it grants semi-immortality.
When the contract is first formed, it can trigger resurrection and heal wounds, but its healing effect only activates once. This means if the wearer later suffers severed limbs, severe burns, or illness, they won't recover. Unless death occurs, they may be forced to live with that suffering for the rest of their life.
And since human lifespans are finite, if one dies of natural causes and revives, but the other passes away, the bound lifespan will vanish as well. In short—it's essentially a curse of shared fate.
When I wrote that Ciel might one day regret it, I was referring to this.
That's the explanation regarding the ring scene from the last chapter.
Now, the Nirvana arc will wrap up in the next chapter.
I apologize if Ciel and Erza handing Sorano and Jellal over to the Council didn't feel like the "refreshing" scene you might have expected. But as wizards of Fairy Tail, openly opposing the Council would put their guild itself in danger, so they had no choice but to let them go.
Still, I believe the way Ciel and Erza supported one another's silent burdens showed a truly strong partnership. Both share the same painful truth—that their first loves could never be fulfilled.
For Erza, it was Jellal, whom she cherished since childhood.
For Ciel, it was Sorano, who was the first to make him realize the meaning of love.
In the end, both carried an unfulfilled first love, just as the subtitle of this chapter suggests. But isn't that how it always is? After all, they say first loves rarely ever come true—something I think both men and women can understand.
Next time, the Nirvana arc will conclude, and then we'll move straight into the Edolas Arc.
There, Mystogan will have his little payback on Ciel for what happened back in the "Battle of Fairy Tail." And I expect the tone will be lighter, with some comedic moments—especially Ciel finding himself in some rather awkward situations.
So please look forward to the upcoming Edolas Arc!
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