ᴇᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ •• ғᴀɪʀʏ ᴛᴀɪʟ²

19

In the middle of her words, Gray suddenly chuckled and leaned his head back. His lips smiled widely, making her questioning his action. "Faking that-this is so like you, Rae. Always prioritizing others before yourself-How could I not be in love with you? I swear you're making me lose my sanity, Rae King. Ah, I've never wanted to be another man so bad." Her breath hitched when he raised her face with his finger and dangerously leaned closer. Their foreheads touched each other. He didn't mind if she lost her magic-she was still a powerful woman he knew.

"Let's tell them everything, yeah?"

Rae instantly shook her head, her body straightened up and she held his hand. "You can't. I-I can't tell them! They will lose their hopes! I don't want to be seen weak by Haruka and Lucy. They-they mean so much to Rae King, I'm sure she wouldn't want that." Still believing in the fact that she wasn't that Rae King, Rae begged and pleaded to keep it as a secret. "Please, after all they have been through-please just give me time, I'll work really hard to remember everything! Trust me-I'm trying, I already gained a few memories-I remembered you had helped me before to open the door!"

The Ice Mage was conflicted. She should tell them the truth, he was sure that everyone will accept her the way she was. No one would be disappointed with her like she claimed. No one dared to question her identity because they all love her. "Rae, it is important to tell them everything-they can help you regain your memories back. Wendy, we can ask Wendy to try to heal your memories. If that plan fails, we can ask Lucy to find any spells to help you. I'm sure Ares, Poseidon and Artemis are able to help you. It's not okay to hide this, what if something endangers you?"

The girl was persistent. "Please, Gray. I'm begging you. I don't want to look at their faces, they will be really upset!"

"What about Jellal? Do you intend to lie to him? He was really overjoyed, Rae."

She shook her head. "No. Especially not him." Taking a deep breath to chase the voices away from spouting nonsense in her brain, Rae figured she had to tell him everything what she had to suffer months ago. All those days spent inside the forest alone with the creatures and demons kept asking for her blood. Rae was being used like a livestock, she would be harmed and then healed. She couldn't find anything to eat, she could have died but the demons kept her alive. She didn't know if it had any relation with the huge red creature, Surtur that had kidnapped her.

"I used to look at this mark." She stared at her Fairy Tail insignia. "I used to wonder if I have someone to save me. During those hell days, this was the only thing that I held on to. I heard these voices in my head, calling for a name that was unfamiliar to me but I knew, they were looking for me. So, please Gray. If I'm really your Rae, please don't tell anybody. I want to find the real reason why I left Fairy Tail and being captured in that forest. I am afraid if it's something more. What if I was kept there for safety? Because it's strange of how humans were unable to enter the forest yet I can survive there. I'm not saying I have any lead but I want to investigate more."

Gray would never admit it out loud but a selfish part of himself was actually happy and glad that she didn't want to tell Jellal the truth. He was glad that she decided to trust him only and it was a secret just between them. He knew he was being selfish but that's the only way he could have a closer relationship with her. He wanted her to rely on him alone and that's what's going to happen if she chose to keep this as a secret from others. The urge to be close to her was overwhelming. Gray closed his eyes for a moment and eventually, said his decision to go along.

Rae expressed her happiness and accidentally jumped on him for a hug. Not that he minded. Gray held her back carefully as she kept saying thank you. Rae didn't know what she's feeling at that time but it was confirmed that Rae King definitely had a feeling toward the guy. What kind of feeling it was? She didn't know, yet she knew, Gray Fullbuster was an important person to her in her life. He was her close friend and she pitied him for waiting for her. "I'm sorry, you had to experience all the pain alone. I'm sorry for hurting you. I promise I never meant to."