That person... was the famous Titania, Erza?
S-she was captured that easily!?
Juvia's mind was in turmoil. Overwhelmed by shock, she desperately pressed herself behind the broad tree trunk, held her breath, and prayed she would not be discovered.
"Let's go." Hughes tucked the card into his clothes and stepped onto the riverbank first. "Jellal's still waiting for us."
"Erza-chan's finally coming home, meow~"
"Tch, I thought we'd have a tough fight on our hands. That was much easier than I expected."
They left one after another, while Simon deliberately stayed at the back of the group.
As he passed the large tree, his steps paused briefly, and he cast a casual glance behind it.
Juvia went rigid, convinced she had been discovered. The magic power inside her immediately stirred, ready to burst forth.
Yet Simon merely looked away as though nothing had happened.
Out of everyone else's sight, he opened the fist hanging at his side. The bracelet he had taken from Erza's wrist dropped silently beside the tree.
Then, as though nothing had happened, Simon followed the three ahead without looking back.
The four figures headed out of town along the path and soon disappeared around a street corner.
Only after a long while did Juvia cautiously peek out from behind the tree.
"...A-are they gone?"
She glanced warily from side to side again. Once she was sure no one was around, she slowly emerged from behind the tree.
That man just now... he must have seen Juvia, right?
But why did he pretend he hadn't and just leave?
She looked uncertainly in the direction he had disappeared, only to catch a glint of something in the sunlight out of the corner of her eye.
Juvia crouched and picked it up. It was a silver bracelet engraved with