We found the woman Macao called "Sherry" very shortly. She appeared to be very tired and worn out.

"What is your business here, attacking my men?" Jellal asked, pointing his sword at Sherry's chin. I flinched, feeling a little bad for the young woman. 

Sherry looked up at the king from the ground. "Sire, I have something to deliver. I didn't mean to kill your knight. I swear, I'll return to Bosco. Just please..take this."

"How can we trust here?" Natsu muttered.

"Sire," Wendy said softly. 

Jellal whirled around and faced the younger girl. "Yes?"

"She's a Druid..Please..let her go.."

"May I see the delivery?"

With trembling hands, the pink-haired woman handed the gold token to Jellal. He studied it carefully, making sure it wouldn't explode.

"Who is this from?"

"The Disir, sire."

"The Disir?"

"No one is above the Disir, however royal."

Jellal frowned and reluctantly said, "Very well. Since you are a citizen of Bosco, I won't execute you. But don't come back."

Sherry smiled weakly. "Yes, sire."

~ ~ ~

"That was kind of you," I remarked.

"I made a promise to that little girl's spirits a while back," Jellal recalled. "They do seem similar.."

"Maybe siblings?" I suggested, but Jellal was too busy staring at the coin.

"May I see?" Porlyusica asked.

Jellal handed the older woman the coin.

"It seems to be a runemark," she said almost immediately.

"Sherry said the 'Disir' sent it to me. Who are they?"

"They are the highest court of the Old Religion and they interpret the word of the Triple Goddess. When they cast judgment it is final. This runemark seems to contain the guilt of a man, but also the path that god had chosen for him."

"The guilt of Jellal?" I asked worriedly.

"It doesn't matter what these Disir people think," Jellal said offhandedly. "I can choose my own path, not them."

"Sire, you can only choose your path once you repent and appease the gods. Then you can change fate."

"We should visit the Disir," I murmured. "Just to be safe."

"These aren't even my sins!" Jellal said, growing angry. "These are my Father's sins!"

"I know, but for the sake of Fiore-"

"I will, Erza," he replied with a sigh. "You know I will. Go tell Wendy and the others. We're leaving now."

~ ~ ~

I visited Igneel the afternoon and asked him about the runemark. I also asked him why Jellal was being judged if he had done nothing wrong.

"It is the Triple Goddess who has decreed Jellal's fate, and the Disir are just her servants. The Runemark itself will predict Jellal's death," Igneel said gravely.

I forced myself not to cry. "So..Jellal's going to die?"

Igneel studied me carefully before saying, "Young sorceress..Everyone dies at some point."

"But Jellal's not going to die anytime soon, right?"

"I cannot say. I am not a Seer,"  Igneel continued. "But I do know that the fates of Jellal and Wendy are bound together like ivy around a tree and that you must kill Wendy when you have the chance."

~ ~ ~

"Which way now?" Jellal asked.

"Uh.." I tried to remember what Porlyusica said about the location of the Disir. 

"Please don't tell me you forgot," Gray groaned.

I slid off my horse and took a couple steps forward. "Thyre,"  I whispered.

My vision turned black and a trail of glowing footprints began to become visible. They must have been Sherry's. I blinked and my magic sight stopped working.

"This way," I pointed.

"I thought you..never mind," Jellal whispered, shaking his head. "Sometimes you're really cute, but other times you can be very...odd."

If only he knew.

I smiled, clambering onto my steed. "It's all part of my charm."

"You must be odd if you think she's cute," Natsu said, jabbing a finger in my direction. "Yesterday, she beat up three trainee knights for not paying attention during training."

Jellal grinned, pleased by the thought.

Soon enough, we approached the cave. We could hear whispering inside the cave. Wendy and I exchanged nervous looks. There was obviously a sort of magical force inside the cave.

"Let's go," the king said, unsheathing his sword.

"We should leave our weapons out here," I suggested. "It's disrespectful to bring weapons into a magical creature's home."

"That's just a myth," Jellal said, signaling for us to enter. Sighing, I sheathed my sword and followed.

As we entered, Natsu picked up a small piece of cloth and laughed, "Even I can sew better then this!" He threw it on the ground and stepped on it.

We soon reached a small pool of water, where the three women, the Disir, were standing.

"I am King Jellal of Fiore," Jellal announced, throwing the coin at their feet. "What does this runemark mean? Why am I being judged?"

I winced. I had never heard Jellal speak so coldly before. 

"We are nothing but the messengers of the Triple Goddess who has been angered with your actions," they said in unison. "You are a good king, fair and just, but just like King Faust you have denied the Old Religion and persecuted its followers."

"Magic is banned," Jellal stated.

"Accept magic in your kingdom. Bow to the Old Religion or destruction of everything you most value and the fall of Fiore.  Become an obedient follower of the Old Religion," the first woman said.

"And you came with weapons to a holy place," the second woman accused.

"Don't you dare accuse our king and threaten him and our kingdom!" Natsu said angrily.

The third Disir held out her hand and Natsu collapsed to the ground. Gray and Wendy pulled out our swords. I pulled out my sword too but remained cautious.

The second Disir threw her staff at Jellal, but before I could move Wendy blocked him. She fell to the ground in pain.

"Retreat!" Jellal yelled, picking Wendy up. Gray and Gajeel managed to lift Natsu up as well.

They began to run out of the cave.

"Tell your king to accept magic or face the death of Wendy Marvell. Choose wisely, Zarina," the first Disir whispered.

~ ~ ~

When I told Jellal what the Disir had told me, he decided to send Natsu, Gray, Gajeel, and the unconscious Wendy back to the castle. He said he would camp out here, with me, and think about how he would respond to the Disir.

"Which option should I choose?" he finally asked, watching as I started a fire.

Deep down, I wanted him to accept the Old Religion. I wanted magic to return to Fiore. But instead, I told him, "You know which one is right, Jellal. If Wendy dies, she'll die a noble death, but if..if..magic were to come back..there would be chaos."

Kill Wendy when you have the chance...

Even if that means not allowing magic to be allowed in Fiore? Wasn't that why I was helping Jellal complete his destiny in the first place? So magic would return?

"Would Wendy want to live in a dreadful, country of magic?" I asked.

He nodded slowly. "You're right."

I looked away, hoping he wouldn't see my tears as I choked out, "Magic will never have a place in Fiore."

~ ~ ~

"She's in a coma," Porlyusica said. "Only the Disir can reverse it. Where are King Jellal and Erza?"

"They're staying near the cave for the night. Jellal's going to tell them his answer at dawn."

"I see," she murmured.

~ ~ ~

I lay, curled up beside Jellal. He was sleeping soundly, probably feeling guilty about losing his newest knight so soon. Meanwhile, I stayed away, thinking about much more.

Thinking about how the destiny and prophecy were complete opposites.

Thinking about how Jellal was destined to die.

Thinking about what he would say if I revealed I had magic.

Thinking about how I had to act strong and pretend to be happy.

Pretending to be just a king's knight. Not the most powerful sorceress that would ever walk the lands of Albion.

~ ~ ~

When Jellal said he would tell them his answer at dawn, he meant dawn. As in, the second a single ray of sunshine poked out from the horizon.

We walked in silence to the cave, weaponless, where we knelt before the Disir.

"I apologize for yesterday," Jellal began, his voice quiet. "I was arrogant and inconsiderate."

"And your decision?"

"I will never follow the Old Religion," he whispered. "Magic will never be allowed in my country. Magic killed my mother. It killed my father. It will not kill me."

"I see," they whispered, watching me. I lowered my gaze nervously. "What a pity."

~ ~ ~

When we returned, Wendy was waiting for us.

"Wendy?!" Jellal exclaimed. "Y-You're alive?!"

"You must've made the right choice!" Natsu exclaimed happily.

~ ~ ~

I walked straight to Porlyusica's office, not even bothering to hide my tears. "It was a test! A damn test and I failed to give Jellal good advice!"

"I'm sorry," Porlyusica whispered, embracing me.

"This was my punishment for not getting Jellal to follow the Old Religion. The Triple Goddess has punished me. Now I know for sure Wendy will kill Jellal."