Another little girl appeared in the glass. This one had blonde hair and was dressed much finer than the last child, though she was equally pretty. And also like the last girl, she had been gathering flowers but they were daffodils instead of lilies.

"That is Lucy Heartfilia. Poor thing doesn't even remember her mother, she was only three when she passed." Erza said.

"How did her mother die?" Natsu asked.

"Her mother was an adventurous spirit, I knew her very well. She loved to explore and travel. She was a kind of teacher who wanted to share her knowledge with others. But sadly one day as she was coming home from one of her travels, she was attacked by a drunkard who wanted her gold necklace. As he was ripping it off, he shoved her to the ground and she hit her head on a stone. Her death was instant."

"Does she still have her father?"

"Yes but he's a very complicated man."

"How do you mean?"

"He loved his wife dearly and he loved his daughter just the same, but since her mother's passing, Lucy has been kept very close. She's not allowed the grounds of her house."

"What about school?"

"She's homeschooled by tutors."

"What about friends?"

"No friends, unless they happen to be the children of men who have their own stores or land."

"Why?"

"His own father was a slave and when the war freed him, Mr. Heartfilia began work as a sharecropper. Over time he eventually established his own general store which made him very wealthy but very proud. He thought himself too grand for everyone, even those who knew him during his poorer days. He lavished his wife and daughter with expensive gifts and kept company with the biggest fat cats around. He expected to have the best of everything."

"So what does that mean for her?"

"It means someone like you wouldn't be allowed to play with her. You're a servant's son."

"So? What's wrong with my father?"

"To myself and the lord, nothing. He's among the finest men I've ever known. But to someone like Jude Heartfilia, he's too common to be associated with the likes of him."

"That's stupid." Gray said.

"Indeed but a lot of wealthy men are like that. Even your father."

"My father doesn't have a problem with Igneel and he let's me play with Natsu all the time."

"Yes. Silver has no problem with you having a friendship with someone of a lower status. But he'd never let you marry a servant's daughter or any working class woman."

"Marry? Who said anything about me getting married?"

"You're expected to wed once you become a man. Landowners typically want their property to stay in the family and heirs are needed for that to happen."

"Heirs?"

"Children of your own Gray and you need a wife for that."

"I don't want a wife."

"Not now of course. But someday."

"Am I supposed to get married when I grow up?" Natsu asked.

"Well no doubt your parents are hoping that you'll find a wife in adulthood, but unlike Gray's parents, yours will let it happen in it's own time."

Natsu looked back at Lucy.

"Will Lucy get married when she grows up?" He asked.

"Yes she will and her father will accept no less than the cream of the crop."

"He wants her to marry corn?"

Erza chuckled.

"No, it's a figure of speech. He'll want her to marry a man who's just as rich and well off as he is. Someone of good breeding."

"Breeding? What are we, dogs?" Gray asked.

Erza chuckled again and started to speak but stopped when they heard a voice shout. Their attention was brought back to the glass.

"Lucy come here!" It was a richly dressed man who shouted and once the girl called Lucy ran to greet him.

"Hello Father." She smiled.

"Why are you not in your room studying?"

"I wanted to pick some daffodils. Levy said it was alright. She said I had studied well enough yesterday and this morning."

"Is Miss McGarden your parent?"

"No."

"Then that means it's not up to her weather you can stop your studies or not young lady. It's up to me. No daughter of mine is going to go through life without an education."

"But I am getting an education Father."

"Oh no, not right now. Right now you're running wild in the fields like some dirt poor girl. And right after it's rained, look at your shoes and your dress, they're muddy. I buy all these expensive clothes and you get them dirty."

"I'm sorry Father."

"Just get back inside and I'll have the maid clean you up. As for me, I think I'll have a chat with Miss McGarden."

Lucy's teacher, Levy McGarden was barely a child herself. She was only fourteen years of age, but she had such a great sense of intellect and learning capability, the she was already able to serve as an English teacher for children. Specifically children with parents who kept them out of public school.

"What do you think you're doing telling my daughter to stop studying?"

"I meant no harm Mr. Heartfilia." She replied. "Lucy is extremely bright and she's been learning, and studying so diligently. I didn't see anything wrong with letting her take a break."

"I will decide when she takes a break."

"Of course sir. My mistake, it won't happen again."

"See that it doesn't."

"He's not a very nice man, is he?" Natsu asked.

"Not to his employees that's for certain." Erza said.

"She needs a friend."

"She does."

"I wanna go talk to her."

"Not a good idea Natsu. If Mr. Heartilia sees you on his property he'll whip ya."

"He'll never catch me. I'm way too fast. I can run anyone."

"Anyone except me." Gray said. "I'm faster than you."

"Are not."

"Are to."

"Are not."

"Are to."

"Are not."

"Are to."

"Are not! I'll race ya right now to prove it!"

Erza allowed them a moment to play and rough house, then she taught them a few more lessons, and come the afternoon she sent them back home. Which she was very wise to do so because her cousin Minerva was expected to pay her a visit. Not out of fondness mind you, but family has to keep each other updated on important events. Though Erza could hardly call Minerva family.

"Honestly Erza, I still can't believe you're trying to teach magic to two common boys." She complained. "It's a disgrace to our family."

"Says you." Erza replied. "Grandfather Makarov sees no harm in what I'm doing."

"The old fool." She scoffed. "The years have turned his brain to mush."

"Watch yourself cousin, Grandfather is still very cross with you for those locusts you set upon Hector Lockser's farm. Why in the world would you do such a wretched thing anyway?"

"Because I wanted to. I thought it would make him sad and it did." She smiled sadistically.

"You're heartless, Minerva. Just like Uncle Jiemma and Uncle Ivan. You better not try Grandfather's patience too much, otherwise he may seal you away like he did them."

"Mind your own business Erza!" She snapped. "Besides you should be more concerned with those boys of yours."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because I don't think I like the idea of them learning magic. In fact I think I don't like them at all. Maybe I'll turn them into field mice and feed them to my hawk."

"Minerva I warn you, if you harm one hair on their heads, I'll put you in a jar and you know I will."

Minerva glared at her.

"Curses on the day I let you comb my hair. I should have known that it was a ploy to steal a lock of it."

"That's right and I still have that lock of your hair and I've been saving it for the day you step out of line, and doing anything to hurt my boys is stepping out of line. So if you know what's good for you, you'll leave them be." She warned. "Now tell me, what goes on in the family?"

"Not much. Though Gajeel has left his post again. He thinks that he's earned himself a little vacation."

"I just hope he doesn't get himself into any trouble like last time. Folks don't take a liking to him at first glance."

"Who can blame them? He's an ugly lump of flesh who causes misfortune and destruction wherever he goes."

Now Erza glared at her.

"Oh be off with you now! You hate-filled shrew! I cannot bear to hear your cross words a moment longer!"

Erza dismissed Minerva after that and continued with her work, hoping that her vile cousin would be wise to heed her warning. She also wondered what her other cousin, Gajeel, would be up to. He had been known to cause mischief but unlike Minerva, his actions were mostly harmless and bore no ill will. Though he could stir up quite a ruckus among people if he wasn't careful.

"He's almost as fool hardy as my boys." She thought. "Please don't be impulsive Gajeel. Do well to keep yourself discreet."