Snow and ice swirled, and goose-feather-like snowflakes fluttered in the wind; as far as the eye could see, everything was a vast expanse of white.
"Where is this?"
Gray regained consciousness and took in his surroundings.
Just as he felt the scene before him was so familiar, a rustling sound ca from beside him.
Turning his head, he saw Lyon, who had just woken up, climbing to his feet.
"Gray?" Lyon called out blankly, also looking around, "Where is this?!"
The two exchanged a glance, imdiately confirming the thoughts in their hearts, which were shaken to the core.
They hadn't expected that while they were just on Galuna Island, they would now be in the place where they lived with Ur as children.
Wait, Ur... right, Ron said he'd let him see Ur, so where was she now?
Gray and Lyon began searching anxiously through the snow once more.
In the distance, a familiar and deeply missed figure appeared in their sight.
A woman wearing a jacket and trousers, with short dark hair and a very capable appearance, was currently leaning against a large tree with her arms crossed, a gentle smile curling her lips as she watched them quietly.
Ur!!!
Gray and Lyon's breathing stopped instantly, their pupils contracting sharply in a split second.
A mont later, with excitent beyond words, the two imdiately broke into a run toward Ur, as if she might disappear if they were even a second late.
However, as they drew near, they subconsciously slowed their pace.
The excitent and longing in their hearts turned into unbelievable trembling and caution when faced with her at close range.
Ur sized up the two disciples before her, looking them over carefully from top to bottom and bottom to top several tis, until their images were thoroughly etched into her mind.
"I really didn't expect..."
Ur sighed softly, her gentle gaze filled with relief, pride, guilt, and sadness... a mix of complex emotions.
"The two little brats from back then have grown so big now." She raised a hand to asure their height and said softly, "It seems... I've missed too much."
There was regret for what she had missed in her tone, but even more so, there was joy at her disciples' growth.
Seeing that the two weren't speaking, Ur tilted her head and teased.
"What? Ten years apart and you don't recognize ? Gray, Lyon."
"Ur—!!!"
Hearing his na, all of Gray's reason and strength collapsed instantly, and he could no longer suppress his emotions!
Like a child, with reddened eyes, he scrambled forward with ten years of longing and the excitent of reunion, lunging to pull her into a tight hug.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Ur!"
Gray wailed loudly as guilt, self-reproach, and longing erupted completely at this mont.
"If it wasn't for ... if I hadn't been so headstrong... you wouldn't have... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
He buried his head in the crook of Ur's shoulder, repeatedly saying he was sorry—it was the guilt for his master's sacrifice caused by his childhood recklessness.
"There's nothing to be sorry for. Didn't I tell you, Gray..."
Ur gently stroked Gray's head, soothing his agitated emotions.
"I will live on, turning into ice, living forever..."
"I saw it, Gray. You've found a group of wonderful companions."
Once Gray's emotions had gradually stabilized, Ur gently pushed him away and pointed not far off.
There, Ron and the others were acting as witnesses, watching this long-awaited reunion with great interest.
"It seems you've listened to my words and moved forward toward the future."
Gray, whose face was still stained with tears and snot, turned his head to look after hearing Ur's words.
His face changed instantly!
As expected, the next mont he heard soone's familiar, boisterous laughter.
"Wahahahaha! I saw it! I saw everything!"
Natsu clutched his stomach, laughing so hard he doubled over and rolled around in the snow.
"That guy Gray! He was crying so hard just now, even his snot was coming out!"
"Ahahahaha! When I get back, I'm definitely telling everyone at the guild! The Ice-face actually cried!"
Happy joined in from the side, mimicking Gray by wiping away tears that weren't even there.
"Gray is so pitiful, crying like a three-year-old!"
The two jokers mimicked him perfectly, and even Erza, standing nearby, couldn't help but let out a knowing smile.
'Hey, hey...'
Ron watched Natsu laughing unrestrainedly, thinking about how Natsu would act when he reunited with Igneel.
'When that ti cos, it should be even more interesting,' Ron thought, stroking his chin.
Seeing this, Lucy quietly moved a few steps away; one look at Ron told her he wasn't thinking of anything good.
"You two bastards—!!!"
Gray's face instantly turned the color of pig liver, and countless black lines appeared on his forehead.
The previous touch and sadness were instantly replaced by anger and sha; he couldn't wait to rush over and teach Natsu and Happy a lesson.
But before he could act on those thoughts, he heard Ur's laughter in his ear.
"Hehehe... Gray, your friends... are really interesting."
Gray looked at the happily laughing Ur, then at the wildly laughing Natsu, and shrugged with a helpless expression.
"Honestly... a bunch of idiots."
He muttered under his breath, but a smile unconsciously curled at the corner of his mouth.
After the laughter and teasing, Ur composed herself and turned to look at Lyon, who had been silent the whole ti, standing there with his head bowed.
Sensing the gaze landing on him, Lyon's body trembled slightly; he didn't dare look up, let alone look into Ur's eyes.
The obsession of ten years turned into boundless guilt and fear the mont he saw Ur.
He feared her scolding, and even more, her disappointnt.
With a somber face, Ur walked toward Lyon step by step.
Feeling her approach, Lyon lowered his head even further, his whole body so tense it was stiff.
"Ur..."
He called out softly, like the buzz of a mosquito.
Ur just looked at Lyon in silence, not saying a word.
The atmosphere in the snowy field montarily beca tense.
Seeing this, Gray's heart tightened, and he was about to speak up for Lyon.
Thwack!
A crisp sound rang out in the silent snowy field.
Ur rcilessly gave Lyon a flick on the forehead, making his body tremble.
"Idiot!!!"
Her scolding carried the anger of soone disappointed by another's failure to live up to potential.
"Do you know why I had Gray tell you I was dead? It was because I was afraid you'd waste your life trying to undo Iced Shell!"
Ur's voice was filled with anger, heartache, and deep helplessness.
"I never expected you would fall into an obsession with surpassing and waste your ti. You really are an utter idiot..."
Lyon looked up guiltily, staring blankly at the Ur who was berating him, wanting to say sothing but unable to find the words.
Just when he thought she would continue to lecture him.
Ur took a step forward, her stern expression softening, a hint of heartache flashing in her eyes.
She spread her arms and pulled Lyon into a tight embrace.
That familiar and warm embrace caused Lyon's stiff body to slowly relax.
"It's been hard, hasn't it, Lyon..."
Ur's voice was gentle and calm as she lightly patted Lyon's back.
"In this world, there are many Wizards stronger than ."
"Don't limit your vision to ; go out and see more of this world."
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