Since all the members of Fairy Tail were children, Weston kept the rules pretty relaxed.
If the whole guild were a family, Weston would be the 'father.'
Usually laid-back, he turned a blind eye to the kids' antics, only stepping in for the big stuff and teaching them to do things with their own hands.
Mavis played the 'mother,' handling the small day-to-day matters.
She looked after the children's food, clothing, health, studies, and finally taught them how to take care of themselves.
As for Zera, she was the 'strict aunt,' dealing with the messy problems—no mercy, no exceptions.
The rest of the guild were the 'rowdy sons' and 'playful daughters'… The three adults covered for one another, tending to every corner of Fairy Tail so thoroughly that the members trusted them completely.
Weston and Zera's conversation reached Yuri's group loud and clear.
"That kid… is actually the guild master of this Magic Guild?"
Precht muttered, "Back in the forest the other youngsters all followed his orders."
"If every Wizard in this guild is a kid, it's not that surprising."
At his words, the three recalled the scene in the forest: Weston directing a crowd of youngsters hauling huge beasts back to the village.
Clearly he was at least the 'king of the kids,' maybe even the 'Hunt Captain.'
In terms of strength, he should be fine.
"But isn't this weird?"
Warrod voiced the question that had bothered him for ages: "Why are all the kids in this village so capable, while the grown-ups look completely ordinary?"
Just then, a clear voice sounded behind them.
"That's because the village children learn reading and magic from Weston at the schoolhouse. The adults never attended, so they're just ordinary people."
"I see…"
The three suddenly understood.
Wait, who's eavesdropping on us?!
A second later, cold sweat broke out on their foreheads; they spun around in panic toward the voice.
Behind them stood a girl of about thirteen or fourteen.
She had big, wavy blond hair, bangs in front and the rest cascading naturally, a cheeky strand sticking up on top. At each ear fluttered a wing-shaped white earring—playful and cute.
Her outfit was simple: a plain white one-piece dress, barefoot without shoes or socks.
Most striking were her bright jade eyes that seemed to hold twinkling stars, filling her whole being with spirit and life.
"You…?!"
"Crap, she heard everything!"
"Relax, we were only talking nonsense—look natural."
The three exchanged glances and instantly switched from panic to feigned ease.
"Who are you people?"
Head tilted, Mavis studied them with open curiosity.
"We… we're…"
While Yuri fumbled for an answer, Weston and Zera, still clawing at each other, shuffled closer.
"I picked them up on the way back. Claim to be shipwrecked sea merchants. Yesterday's storm washed them onto Tenrou Island."
"Shipwrecked merchants?"
Mavis's expression flickered; she plainly found the tale fishy.
For the past week, the seas around Tenrou Island had been calm and sunny. Where would a storm come from?
She was about to challenge their story when she caught Weston behind the trio winking at her with a secret smile.
After years together, the two could read each other like books.
Seeing his signal, she realized he'd already spotted the lie but had his own plans and was playing along.
Still, even knowing Weston had things in hand, she couldn't resist probing.
"You call yourselves sea merchants—so what goods do you usually trade?"
"Where did you last buy stock, which route did you sail, and where did you plan to sell?"
"What cargo earns the best profit in this season?"
"How do you normally store it?"
"…"
Feigning innocent curiosity, Mavis rattled off seven or eight razor-sharp questions that made the trio suck in their breath.
A thirteen-year-old girl with a mind this sharp?!
Had they not already endured Weston's interrogation, they'd have been stumped; thanks to Precht's earlier example, Yuri kept his cool and answered every one.
"Mm-hmm… I see. My sympathies for your misfortune!"
"Why don't you stay in the guild for now and build a ship later?"
"Uh… thank you."
The three instinctively glanced back at Weston.
These two… not only asked the same kinds of questions but offered the exact same solution—truly birds of a feather.
Before long, Weston introduced Yuri's group to the rest of the guild.
Tenrou Island had been isolated for years; strangers were rare.
Now three outsiders of about the same age had arrived, and their personalities clicked—
Warrod easy-going and good-natured, Yuri cheerful and quick to make friends, Precht standoffish but surprisingly gentle with children—
so in no time they were all mingling like one big family.
Soon Yuri, riding the wave of goodwill, began fishing for information.
"Ever since we entered the village we've seen everyone rushing about, and we just heard you mention an 'Anniversary Celebration'—are you holding a festival tomorrow?"
"Yep! Tomorrow is the Seventh Anniversary of Tenrou Village's founding—it's super important!"
"Seventh anniversary?!"
"This village was only built seven years ago?!"
Yuri and the others' eyes went wide.
Though it matched their earlier guess, hearing it from the kids still left them stunned—and intensely curious.
"So you all moved here just seven years ago?"
"No, we've always been Tenrou People, but seven years ago a disaster destroyed the old village and killed two-thirds of the islanders."
"The present village was built by the survivors."