Precht scrambled after her, following the sound of her feet and the glimpses of blue ribbon and blond hair that trailed behind her as she turned corners. By the time he caught up with her, she was standing on the roof of the cathedral and attempting to reason with the massive skeleton.

"Yuri, can you hear me?"

A vicious roar was all she received in response.

"You have to stop this! You're hurting innocent people! We came to protect them! Think about how many lives are at stake!"

The townspeople were running from the dragon's path of destruction, sweeping up toddling children who fell behind in their arms.

"Please Yuri! I know deep inside you're a good person who wouldn't hurt anybody!" Mavis was in tears. "Please, Yuri, you have to stop and listen to me!"

The giant bone dragon lumbered closer to the cathedral. Suddenly, a bright blue vortex of energy began to concentrate in its massive jaws, and Precht sprinted towards Mavis.

He leaped down from the building with Mavis in his arms just as the energy came darting towards them, shattering the cathedral's tall stone arches.

He glared down at the little girl. "You can't be so reckless!"

She blinked in surprise, still processing what he had just done. "You... you just saved my life!"

He put her down and looked up at the dragon. We're all treasure hunters. We know the danger that accompanies the job, and we accepted the consequences long ago. "That thing is not Yuri. It's a monster and a threat to everyone here. Our only choice is to use our magic, to kill it before it kills us."

"You're wrong." Mavis looked down at her feet, and her bangs fell over her eyes. "I know Yuri's still in there." She grabbed hold of Precht's sleeve. "I'll save him, and I'll save the city, but nobody is going to die today."

"How?" Precht growled in frustration. Damn it, Mavis, I want to save him too, believe me... "It's impossible!" We can't afford to throw away this many lives for your childish ideals - these things only work out in your books, Mavis. Not in the real world, not outside your little library on Tenrou Island.

She began to walk towards the dragon. "I just need to get as close to him as I can."

"It's too dangerous!"

She turned to look back at him, her usual childish demeanor gone. "Walking hand in hand with danger, without fear. Isn't that the treasure hunter way?"

"But you aren't a treasure hunter!" The last thing they needed was to lose Mavis too. He'd been able to protect her before from men in a bar and even the occasional wizard - but this, this was completely different.

"I am." Mavis gazed upon the desolate scene of destruction, the crumbling town of Magnolia before them. "I've looked, for so long. My treasure is right here, and it's more valuable than anything else! My friends mean everything to me."

Her friends...

"So I can't let Yuri be taken. No matter what. Because what I treasure most in the world are the people closest to my heart!"

... we are her friends.