Three days. Jellal and his family had been traveling for three days. They took trains by day and stayed in inns by night. Still, only Jellal knew where they were going and no one bothered to ask . . . yet.

Jellal was taking his family to Cottonwood, a town just outside of Fiore in the neighboring country of Seven. This current train ride that they were on would be their last. He knew his family was tired and slightly annoyed by the three-day long train rides, but this was necessary. His family didn't understand, but this long journey was needed to save Simon. Hopefully, Erza won't get upset about the outcome.

"Jellal," Erza called as they exited the train. "where are we going? I've been patient up until now, but, please, tell me." She looked at him with pleading eyes which Jellal could never turn down.

"Uh," He took a deep breath and chose his words very carefully. "we're going to see a healer, a very special healer; one of the best."

"What's his name?" Erza countered.

Crap! Jellal hadn't expected her to ask that question. What am I suppose to say? "Asclepius." He blurted out. He technically wasn't wrong.

"Asclepius?" Erza mumbled. "That's a strange name." She eyed Jellal, "And this is safe?"

"Yes." Jellal nodded. "I promise."

The family walked through the, what was foreign to them, town. The town was quiet and not many people were in the streets, unlike Magnolia. The people seemed reserved and gave glances towards the Fernandes' as they walked by. "What the heck are these people staring at?" Riko mumbled to herself. Takeshi, who was next to her, paid the people no mind. His eyes were focused on the ground, or rather his feet, as he walked.

"Mommy, are we there yet?" Yumi whined. She was holding her mother's hand, sucking her thumb.

"Not yet." Erza replied with a soft smile. "How much longer, Jellal?" She asked, looking at her husband.

"Uh, ten more minutes." Jellal answered, avoiding eye contact.

The family approached an apartment complex and followed Jellal up the stairs to the right door. Jellal's hands were sweaty and shaky. Everything's going to be alright. Just relax. He took a deep breath before knocking on the door. What was mere seconds felt like hours as Jellal waited for someone to answer the door. He heard heavy footsteps coming towards the door and he bit his lip. Please, let this go well. It's for Simon's sake! It's for Simon's sake! Jellal heard his heart beat louder and louder as the door knob turned and the door began to open.

Erza waited, somewhat impatiently, for Jellal to knock on the door. For some reason, it seemed like he had to build up courage to simply knock on a door. What's the matter with him? She didn't say anything because she sensed his uneasiness. He's been acting weird ever since- Erza clenched her jaw remembering her little boy who had died of malaria. She knew that Jellal was upset about Simon, but this uneasiness felt like it was directed to another problem.

A familiar sense of magic power snatched Erza away from her thoughts and concerns. She hasn't felt this presence in years which is why she had a hard time figuring out who this person was. She knew for a fact that she had felt this presence somewhere before. Jellal said this guy's name is Asclepius, right? Erza doesn't recall ever meeting anyone ever by that name. So why does this presence feel so familiar?

The door is opened and the person standing in the doorway wasn't what Erza was expecting. It all floods back to her.

Explosions, explosions, and more explosions. "Rapture Magic takes one's magic power and explodes it within the person. The more magic power you have, the greater the explosion and the more it hurts. Fitting for a use-to-be S-Class Mage, don't you think? You're just a walking bomb for me to play with."

"Kill the girl, but spare the boy."

"Requip! Heaven's Wheel Armor." Erza prepared herself and then attacked with Blumenblatt. Her eyes widened when she saw that her attack was useless. Every sword that she threw had been sliced. Every sword. "Impossible," she thought, "he . . with just one sword!"

Jellal cleared his throat to get rid of the uneasy feeling he had. The surprised person standing in the doorway didn't help get rid of the feeling mostly because he sensed tension coming from Erza. Deciding to get straight to the point, Jellal broke the awkward silence. "Hello, Rick. I need a favor."