The process of teaching magic was rather dull and tedious.
Fortunately, Yuri and the other two had real talent, and with Weston's guidance they each awakened their magic in less than two days.
Among them… Yuri awakened Lightning Magic, able to summon lightning for attacks.
Warrod awakened Wood Magic, able to create trees and vines to hinder and bind enemies.
Precht's magic was the most unique: he could freely alter the form and nature of his magic power, wielding it as a weapon.
After learning their magic, the three practiced for a few more days and soon mastered their respective spells.
Precht even drew on his old combat habits and personal strengths, inventing a fighting style that shaped his magic into throwing knives or chains to pierce foes, then detonated the magic power to strike the enemy.
Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.
Seven days later.
The Fairy Tail seventh-anniversary celebrations ended, and they bade farewell to the villagers.
The six of them piloted a small boat away from Tenrou Island, heading for the nearest port city: Hargeon.
Situated at Fiore Kingdom's southernmost tip, it was a thriving fishing port.
Before Weston's group even reached the shore, they saw all kinds of fishing boats moored along the wharf, masts standing in dense rows, flying flags emblazoned with fish patterns that fluttered in the cool sea breeze.
Up close, they spotted middle-aged men with white towels tied round their heads, bare-chested and sun-bronzed, shuttling between boats and carts, hauling barrels and crates.
Inside those barrels and crates were freshly caught seafood.
To keep the catch fresh, the fishermen had filled them with seawater, but as the stevedores moved the cargo the water inevitably sloshed out, soaking the grey stone-paved road.
In moments the puddles evaporated in the heat.
The briny scent of seawater mixed with the fishy odor of shrimp and fish soon permeated the entire dock.
Watching the scene, Weston fell silent.
After a long while he looked down at the pretty girl who stood a head shorter than him.
"Mavis, are you sure you don't want shoes?"
Mavis shook her head. "No, I like going barefoot, it feels better."
"On the island you said you could feel the soil and grass; I understood that, as there's nature everywhere. But this is a filthy, chaotic, smelly dock!"
"Here, two steps and your feet pick up billions of bacteria!"
As Weston spoke, his face took on a look of bitter grief: "What if you step in someone's spit…"
"Enough, Weston, stop!"
Zera quickly clapped a hand over his mouth. "You're disgusting! I'm about to throw up my lunch."
Yuri and the others beside them chimed in: "Yeah, yeah, how are we supposed to eat after that?"
"Hey, hey…"
"Try thinking about me for once!"
Weston raged, tears in his eyes: "You only lose one meal listening to this, but if this isn't solved I'll never be able to eat again!"
Idiot, you won't "never" be able to eat… Wait!
You mean you won't be able to eat "meals," not that you can't eat anything else, right?
Half a minute later.
The six of them hurried through the dock.
"Weston, we're past the dock now, can you put me down?"
Mavis lay across Weston's back, arms looped round his neck, legs hooked over his strong arms, her bare feet swinging in the air as if eager to feel the cool ground.
"This is the market; the sanitation's no better than the dock. Stay put a while longer."
"But I can see you're sweating…"
"It's hot!"
Behind them Yuri snickered. "It's only April, how hot can it be? Maybe you're just… lacking stamina?"
"Me, lacking stamina?"
"Give me a break!"
"I'm sixteen, not twenty-six, this is the peak of a man's vitality!"
The market was bustling, stalls packed side by side.
Most displayed silvery fish, lively shrimp and crabs.
A few sold not seafood but nautical gear for the fishermen; compasses, ropes, knives, waterproof canvas, you name it.
Crowds bustled to and fro, shouts and haggling rising and falling, brimming with the noise and energy of life.
"What a lively city!"
"So many people!"
Mavis, who had never left Tenrou Island, sparkled, pointing at a fisherman-uncle in the distance and shouting excitedly.
"Zera, look, a real fisherman!"
"Is he super good at catching fish?"
"I wonder whose fishing skills are better, his or Uncle back in the village?"
Zera drooped her eyelids. "Theirs, obviously. These men fish for a living, while our village uncle's never even left the island…"
By the time Zera finished, she found no one beside her.
Looking around, she saw Mavis had already directed Weston elsewhere and was wandering off.
The girl stamped her foot in frustration.
"She… doesn't listen at all!"
Yuri and the others watched with gentle, amused smiles.
"Well, it's Mavis's first time on the mainland; of course she's excited."
"Weston's surprisingly calm though. He did say he dreams of adventuring everywhere…"
Precht gazed after them. "He's older and served as Tenrou Island's 'Planner' for seven years, so he's more mature and steady."
The rest nodded in agreement.
"Sounds like you know from experience?"
Precht rolled his eyes. "Who do you think has been making all our plans?"
Yuri pondered for a dozen seconds. "Uh… you."
Warrod chuckled, turning to Precht. "So you're pretty steady yourself."
"Haha… you've had it rough!"
Yuri clapped Precht's shoulder, grinning broadly. "But with Weston and Mavis around, you can relax from now on."
True… Choosing to become Wizards and join Fairy Tail really was the right decision!