"Wendy, please listen to me," Erza whispered urgently, keeping her voice low and steady. "I promise I'm not going to hurt you. I just need you to understand."

Wendy's eyes darted around in panic, searching for an escape, but Erza kept her carefully in place, firm enough to stop her from running, gentle enough not to scare her further.

"Okay," Erza said softly, trying to slow everything down. "I'm going to take my hand off your mouth. When I do, don't scream, alright?"

Wendy nodded. Slowly, Erza removed her hand from the girl's mouth, keeping her movements calm and deliberate.

"Good," Erza said. "Now, addressing the elephant in the room, I'm not a soldier, I'm a woman. And you can't tell anyone. Not Jellal. Not Romeo. No one."

"But... why?" Wendy asked hesitantly. "Why are you pretending to be a man?"

"Because women aren't allowed in the army where I come from," she said. "And if I go as myself, no one will listen to me. I need to reach the leaders. I need them to stop a war." Her voice tightened slightly. "This was the only way I could think of. I know it's... not ideal. But I didn't have a choice."

Wendy blinked, absorbing that in silence. Before she could respond, a voice echoed through the trees.

"Wendy! Where are you?"

Jellal was looking for her. Erza stiffened instantly. She raised a finger to her lips.

"Please," she whispered, urgency returning. "You have to trust me. If he finds out, everything falls apart. I could be arrested and executed."

Wendy hesitated for only a moment—then nodded again, slower this time.

Erza moved quickly now, pulling her shirt back into place and tightening the bindings beneath it. She tucked her hair up as best she could, wrapping it up in some leftover cloth.  She was almost done when the crunch of leaves signaled Jellal's approach—closer now, just beyond the trees.

"Wendy! There you are. I was worried."

Wendy emerged from behind the tree, her expression feigning innocence.

"I was just... um... looking for some berries."

Jellal raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.

"Berries? In that direction?" He glanced at Erza, still concealed behind the tree. "What are you doing back there?"

Erza's heart raced as she scrambled for an excuse.

"I was just... checking the area for any threats. You know, as a good lieutenant should." She adopted a deeper voice, trying to sound convincing.

Jellal narrowed his eyes, suspicion etched on his face.

"A good lieutenant wouldn't hide behind a tree."

Erza stepped out, striving to maintain her composure.

"I was just being cautious. We can't afford to let our guard down, especially with children around."

Jellal studied her intently, and Erza felt the tension thickening the air.

"Fine. But if you're going to be part of this group, you need to act like it. No more hiding."

"Understood," Erza replied, relieved that he seemed to accept her excuse, at least for now.

As they made their way back to camp, Erza felt a mix of gratitude and anxiety. She had managed to keep her secret for the moment, but she knew it wouldn't last forever. She needed to prove herself and earn Jellal's trust—not just for her sake, but for the mission's success.

While shedding her armor made training easier, she still had to push herself to keep up with Jellal, who was stronger and more experienced. On top of that, maintaining her disguise as a male soldier added an extra layer of stress.  Jellal was patient but skeptical. She seemed unprepared, inexperienced, and clumsy. Although he recognized 'his' potential, he doubted how long it would take for 'him' to realize it. From Jellal's perspective, it could take months, maybe even years.

"I tell you, Romeo," Jellal said later that evening, watching from a short distance, "I've seen many men struggle with combat training... but this one, I'm not sure there's even a word for it."

Wendy frowned. "Jellal, that's not nice."

"Maybe not," Jellal replied calmly, "but it's the truth."

His gaze shifted toward Erza. She was practicing again. A wooden branch served as a makeshift weapon as she repeated the stance he had shown her earlier. She was trying—clearly trying—but her movements were stiff, unbalanced, uncertain. Each step looked like she was thinking two seconds too late.

Romeo scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"I mean... if he's a lieutenant, I'd hate to see what the captain is like."

"Romeo," Wendy said quickly, then hesitated. "Don't you think you're being a little too hard on her— I mean, him?"

Jellal raised an eyebrow at the slip but said nothing.

Wendy quickly continued, "Everyone starts somewhere. Maybe he just needs time to adjust. You were a beginner once too, remember?"

Jellal let out a small breath, running a hand through his hair.

"I know," he admitted. "I'm not trying to be cruel." His eyes stayed on Erza as she stumbled through another stance. "I just can't shake the feeling that something is off about him."

Romeo tilted his head. "Off how?"

"It's like he's trying too hard," Jellal said quietly. "Like he's performing instead of learning. And that makes me uneasy."

Wendy glanced toward Erza again, then softened slightly.

"Maybe he's just nervous," she suggested. "You are kind of intimidating."

"Intimidating?" he said. "I'm just trying to keep everyone safe. In times like these we can't afford mistakes. Or deception."

Jellal walked away, Romeo turned slowly toward Wendy, suspicion sharpening in his gaze.

"You know something, don't you?" he said, folding his arms.

"What do you mean?" she asked lightly.

"Don't play coy with me," Romeo said. "I can see it in your eyes. You know more than you're letting on."

"I just think he deserves a chance," she said, forcing a small shrug. "That's all."

"Are you hiding something? If you know something," he pressed, stepping closer, "you should tell me. It could be important."

Her hands tightened slightly at her sides.

"I can't," she said quietly. "I promised I wouldn't say anything."

That made Romeo pause. Then his expression shifted—less serious now, more playful.

"Alright then," he said. "How about a deal?"

Wendy blinked. "A deal?"

"If I can tackle you," Romeo said with a grin, "you tell me everything you know. If you win, I drop it."

Wendy's lips twitched.

"You've been trying to tackle me since we were toddlers," she said. "And I've always beaten you."

Romeo scoffed. "Is that a challenge?"

"Always."

They both dropped into stance at the same time.

"On three," Wendy said.

"One..."

"Two..."

"Three!"

Romeo lunged forward immediately—but Wendy was already moving. She sidestepped cleanly, redirected his momentum, and sent him straight to the ground.

"Ha! Pinned ya!" she declared with a grin.

Romeo groaned. "Hey—let me up!"

She stepped back just enough to release him.
The moment she turned away, she sensed it. Romeo rushed her again. Wendy ducked low and sweeping his legs out before pinning him a second time.

"Pinned ya again."

Romeo lay there staring at the sky. "Okay, okay! You win!"

Wendy laughed, breathless with the small burst of excitement. "That's what I thought."

Romeo huffed. "Geez, how are you always able to beat me this? I'm a boy, I'm bigger than you."

"Actually, for the last 12 to 13 years, we've been the exact same size. But by all means, feel free to try again in ten years."

Romeo groaned but took her hand.

"Fine," he said. "I'll drop it... for now. But I'm not done. I'm going to figure out what you're hiding, Wendy."

Wendy just smiled sweetly.

"Good luck with that! You know I'm a master at keeping secrets."

As they brushed themselves off, Erza watched from a distance, a small smile creeping onto her face. The bond between Wendy and Romeo was heartwarming, reminding her of her own childhood with Mirajane and Laxus.

Oh, how she missed them. And her mother. And Makarov. She longed for the innocence and camaraderie of those simpler times, when the world felt less complicated. But the weight of her current mission pressed heavily on her shoulders. Shaking off her nostalgia, Erza refocused on her training. She had a goal to achieve and couldn't afford distractions.

With renewed determination, she picked up a branch and practiced her stances, striving to refine her movements. Each swing felt awkward, but she was resolute in her desire to improve. She couldn't let anyone see her falter; she had to embody the strength and resilience of a soldier.

Meanwhile, Jellal observed from a distance, still uncertain about Ezra. He wanted to give 'him' a chance, but he also needed to ensure the group's safety.

"Maybe I am being too hard on him," he thought, watching Ezra struggle. "He is trying his best, after all."

He continued to watch intently until sundown, then declared that training was over for the day. Later that night, as he drifted off to sleep, he found himself pondering what to do about 'Ezra.'