It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single mage in possession of Zodiac keys, must be in want of a partner.

However little known the feelings or views of such a mage, or said mage's comrades, may be upon first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that the mage is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their children.

"My dear Mavis," said her love to her one day, "have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?"

Mavis replied that she had not.

"But it is," returned he; "for Macao has just been here, and told me all about it…despite that unfortunate incident I had last I was at the Park," Zeref trailed off.

Mavis made no answer.

"Do not you want to know who has taken it?" cried the misunderstood wizard impatiently.

"You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."

That was invitation enough.

"Why, my dear, you must know, Macao says that Netherfield is taken by a young mage of a strong guild from the north of Fiore; that she came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it that she agreed with the young Miss Strauss immediately; that she is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of her servants are to be in the house by the end of next week."

"What is her name?"

"Juvia."

"Is she married or single?"

"Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single mage of a strong guild; four or five thousand jobs a year. What a fine thing for our boys!"

"How so? How can it affect them?"

"My dear Mavis," replied her love, "how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of her partnering one of them."

"Is that her design in settling here?"

"Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that she may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit her as soon as she comes."

"I see no occasion for that. You and the boys may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for you are as handsome as any of them with that immortality of yours, Miss Juvia might like you best of the party."

"My dear, you flatter me. I certainly have had my share of youth, but I do not pretend to be any thing extraordinary now. When a wizard has been as cursed as I have been, he ought to give over thinking of his own interests."

"In such cases, a wizard has not often much talent to think of."

"But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Miss Juvia when she comes into the neighbourhood."

"It is more than I engage for, I assure you."

"But consider our boys. Only think what guilds they would have access to. Sir Rufus and Lady Minerva are determined to go, merely on that account, for in general you know they visit no new comers. Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for us to visit her, if you do not."

"You are over scrupulous surely. I dare say Miss Juvia will be very glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure her of my hearty consent to her partnering which ever she chuses of the boys; though I must throw in a good word for my little Natsu."

"I desire you will do no such thing. Natsu is not a bit better than the others; besides it was for him this curse came to be and I am sure he is naturally not half so powerful as Gray, nor half so ambitious as Laxus. But you are always giving him preference."

"They have none of them much to recommend them," replied she; "they are all destructive and arrogant like other wizards; but Natsu has something more of stubbornness than the others."

"Mavis, how can you abuse the boys you care for in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves."

"You mistake me, my dear. I have high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these hundred years at least."

"Ah! You do not know what I suffer."

"But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young wizards of strong guilds come into the neighbourhood."

"It will be of no use to us, if twenty such should come since you will not visit them."

"Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty, I will visit them all."

Mavis was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humor, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three and one hundred years had been insufficient to make her love understand her loyalty. He was less difficult to understand. Living four hundred years with a curse, causing death when he only wanted to bring life and longing for death himself he was feared and avoided by the greater wizarding world. The business of his life now was to get his wards into a respectable guild; its solace was his unruly hair and depressing monologues.