"Weston!"
"Why are you so late picking me up today?!"
"As my attendant, don't you have any self-awareness?"
As expected, Zera launched into a barrage of complaints the moment she appeared.
The girl had tied her long hair into a ponytail, wore a freshly washed and gleaming shirt-and-skirt set, and carried a pink messenger bag decorated with cute stickers at her waist.
"Also, can't you wear something a little cleaner?"
"Do you know the other students say you dress like a beggar and completely ruin my reputation…"
Weston naturally wouldn't stoop to arguing with a little kid; instead he flashed a bright smile and bowed theatrically.
"Got it!"
"Many thanks to the Young Lady for using her pocket money to buy me new clothes."
Zera froze on the spot. "Huh? No… when did I ever say I'd use my allowance to buy you new clothes?!"
Weston blinked and replied matter-of-factly, "I'm your attendant; if you think the way I dress embarrasses you, then of course you have to take full responsibility!"
"All my clothes are tattered; if you want me to look decent, we'll have to buy new ones."
"But I don't have any money, so naturally you'll have to pay for them."
"Remember, if I look good, it's your face that gets the glory!"
Though Zera looked glamorous on the outside, she was actually a foolish young miss; after a bit of Weston's smooth talk, she lost the ability to think for herself and simply followed his logic.
"What you say… does kind of make sense."
"B-but I don't have that much pocket money…"
Mentioning her "weakness," Zera's voice instinctively dropped.
"Why not just ask the Chairman?"
"He adores you; if you tell him you want more allowance, he'll definitely give it."
But you absolutely mustn't say it's to buy me new clothes, or the plan is doomed."
How about telling him the teachers want to buy workbooks…"
Even Weston felt he was being horribly wicked!
Exactly like some sleazy blond punk sweet-talking an innocent girl!
Utterly sinful!
But, gotta admit, it was kind of exciting—heh-heh-heh… "Is that really okay?"
"Perfect! Absolutely perfect!"
Laughing and chatting, the two headed toward the distant village… Tenrou Island was an isolated isle at sea.
Geographically it belonged to the Fiore Kingdom, but the royal reach was short; whoever controlled the island depended purely on their own ability.
The islanders called themselves "Descendants of the Tenrou Wolf," guarding the treasure known as the tenrou jade for generations.
The Tenrou people built a village on Tenrou Island.
Its population was small—barely three hundred households.
Besides, a few families lived scattered elsewhere on the island in twos and threes.
The children Zera went to school with every day were the sons and daughters of these residents.
In total, only a little over a thousand Tenrou folk lived here.
Most villagers, whether in the settlement or scattered outside, were ordinary people; the only real fighting force on the island was the Red Lizard Magic Guild.
Compared with commoners, Mages were far stronger.
Their presence protected the villagers from the island's beasts and from invaders coming from elsewhere in the kingdom.
In daily life, the Mages also offered considerable help to the villagers.
One could say the entire island community existed because of Red Lizard.
Once Red Lizard was gone, they would lose strong protection and aid, life would turn very hard, and they'd have no choice but to move away.
The island's Schoolhouse stood to the east; the village lay to the west.
The two were far apart, separated by a forest; on foot the walk took about half an hour.
When Weston and Zera left the Schoolhouse and crossed the woods, a lively village sprang into view.
They entered the village and headed straight for its center, where the Red Lizard guild was located.
Red Lizard looked like an utterly ordinary wooden tavern.
On its roof perched a huge carved lizard, striking and majestic.
Zera pushed open the guild's door and walked straight in; Weston didn't follow, instead turning his gaze to a small figure outside the tavern.
Judging by looks, the little girl was about Zera's age—five or six.
But unlike clean, neat, and stylish Zera, this child was filthy all over.
She had short pale-blond hair with a cheeky cowlick, clothes even thinner and older than Weston's, and no shoes on her feet.
The girl was straining to hold a broom nearly twice her height, sweeping fallen leaves outside the tavern with meticulous care.
"Mavis, how are you today?"
Weston walked up and greeted her familiarly.
This girl was Mavis Vermillion—the future first master of Fairy Tail.
At this moment she wasn't yet the famed "Fairy Strategist," but merely a six-year-old living on others' charity, powerless and surviving by doing odd jobs for Red Lizard.
"Of course I'm good!"
Hearing the voice, Mavis stopped and looked up.
Her eyes sparkled and a faint smile curved her lips.
In Weston's memory Mavis was always so upbeat, facing life with boundless optimism; no hardship seemed able to crush her.
That was what he admired most about her.
If he were in her shoes, he'd probably be cursing fate and plotting revenge on society.
"Have you eaten?"
"I had a rice ball at noon."
Mavis straightened proudly, as if this were something to boast about.
Weston knew that rice ball was likely her only food for the entire day.
So he reached into his coat, pulled out a carefully wrapped cloth bundle that was still faintly warm.
"Then… here, take this."
"What is it?"
"Grilled fish."
"It might be a bit cold, but it'll fill you up. Take it and eat; I'll help sweep."
For Weston, who had already awakened his magic, catching fish in the river wasn't difficult.
He'd go to the river, pick a target, then compress a huge mess of information and shove it into the fish's brain; the fish would faint from data overload and float right up.
"Grilled fish?!"
"For me?!"
Mavis exclaimed, eyes suddenly shining, a glittering drool escaping the corner of her mouth.