Beside him, firelight flickered.
Above, the stars glimmered.
Yuri stared blankly for a long while, his thoughts drifting who-knows-where, before finally coming back to himself and turning to Weston.
"What a shame we can't use magic."
"Otherwise I might've wanted to join Fairy Tail."
After the speech just now, his treasure-hunting heart had wavered.
If Precht hadn't spoken up in time, he'd almost forgotten he was a Treasure Hunter, something bound to make his two teammates anxious.
That was why Yuri said this now, to prove his 'innocence' to them in his own way.
But... Weston's next words shattered Yuri's little scheme, rocking the resolve he'd only just recovered.
"Actually, you don't have to feel it's a pity."
"If you want to learn, I can teach you magic myself!"
"Eh??"
Weston smiled and nodded, as if to say, 'You heard right.'
"Not just you, Yuri, but Precht and Warrod too."
"If you're willing, I can teach you how to sense magic power and awaken your magic."
"Magic comes from the heart; someone with firm conviction and strong willpower can definitely become an excellent Wizard."
"I can see all three of you are exactly that kind of person."
"In short, you have high magical talent."
"If you study magic, you'll surely become powerful Wizards in the future!"
Yuri, Precht, and Warrod were all left dumbfounded by Weston's speech, their minds reeling.
What... did he just say?
That as long as we're willing, he can teach us magic?
That we have high magical talent?
The three of them had lived eighteen years and never received such high praise from an outsider.
"A-are you serious?"
Yuri asked, his voice hoarse.
"Of course I'm serious!"
"You all heard me, next year I plan to move the guild onto land and officially apply to the Council."
"The villagers can't bear to leave this place and probably won't come with me; by then Fairy Tail might be down to just Mavis, Zera, and me."
"If you join, our numbers would double at once, making it easier to rebuild the guild out there."
"And right now, if you sign up, you'll be founding members when the guild is re-established!"
"When Fairy Tail becomes the number-one Magic Guild in Ishgar, your names will rise with it and resound across the world!"
"So?"
"Join us!"
Faced with Weston's sincere invitation, Yuri fell silent; Precht and Warrod were quiet too.
At that moment, all three of their hearts wavered.
Keep being Treasure Hunters, drifting without a home—hunting, stealing, reselling treasures, maybe dying on some hunt, unmourned, even scorned?
In this world, 'Treasure Hunter' is just another name for 'Grave Robber'.
Or take a bold leap, make the switch and become Wizards, start a venture with like-minded dreamers, live a grander life, chase greater self-worth?
It didn't seem a hard choice at all!
Yet, because they'd only just reminded each other not to forget their purpose, none of them answered right away.
"Let... let us think about it..."
Yuri forced a smile. "Your invitation came out of nowhere; my mind's a complete mess right now."
"We'll still be on the island for a while, and you need time to ready a ship for the mainland, let's sail together and give you our answer then."
"Would that be all right?"
Weston laughed heartily. "Of course that's fine!"
"A decision that shapes your whole future deserves careful thought."
The banquet ended with host and guests all delighted.
Late at night, the bright moon hung high.
In the square the bonfire still danced amid a table littered with dishes and cups.
The villagers were dead drunk and exhausted; some simply collapsed in the square and slept.
North of the village, Yuri, Precht, and Warrod were already geared up. Guided by moonlight they headed for the altar they'd heard about from the village children that day.
Normally the noisiest and most boisterous, Yuri was strangely quiet tonight, lost in thought.
Precht and Warrod wore much the same expression.
Each knew what the others were thinking, yet none spoke it aloud.
At last they arrived at the door of a temple.
The shrine looked ancient; its surrounding stone columns stood open to the sky, worn by years of wind, rain, and sun, now so battered they seemed ready to collapse at any moment.
Further on, they saw a green stone wall carved with a totem.
The totem showed a wolf-like beast: white fur, green eyes, wreathed in flame-clouds, majestic, slashing at its foes.
Presumably this was the divine beast said to guard the island: Sirius.
In the totem, Sirius's brow had been hollowed out and something inlaid, glinting under the moonlight.
"Look, quick!"
"There's something in Sirius's forehead!"
Sharp-eyed Precht was first to spot it. "That has to be the treasure we came for: the Tenrou Jade!"
Warrod cheered. "Great, let's grab it and get off this island!"
With the treasure so close, their worries lightened a little.
"Yuri, stop thinking about that stuff!"
Precht clapped Yuri's shoulder and strode toward the altar with Warrod.
"Taking the treasure is why we came."
"The Tenrou Jade is an S-class treasure; if we get it, we'll be famous among Treasure Hunters!"
"Sell it and we'll earn a fortune—enough to live high for half a year!"
"If we can't bear to sell, we can keep it as a souvenir."
Yet Yuri stayed rooted, head lowered, feet as heavy as lead.
The two halted. "Yuri?"
He let out a long sigh, as though resolved, and slowly spoke. "Say... Precht, Warrod."
"Is everything we have now really what you want?"