[City of Magnolia]
A certain routine had subconsciously made its way into Ivan's life.
He would wake up at dawn, grab some food from meal hall, and meet Gildart's outside the Guild building. The two would then make their way towards the forest grounds, a place they had grown all too familiar with.
What had once been a small clearing that could fit maybe a wagon had now become large enough to fit the entire guild hall. Trees had been uprooted and tossed over to the clearings edge, where they lay stacked on top one another. It was a symbol of their two weeks under Makarov's tutelage, while the old man had stopped by occasionally, he tended to leave them alone.
The old man was giving them space to train on their own, be independent, Ivan appreciated it. And it seemed Gildart's did too, while his red-haired friend had not fully awakened his magic yet, he was getting better with controlling his magical power and channeling it.
Gildarts stood a few feet away; in both hands he carried large tree logs. He was doing one of Makarov's exercises, lunging down on each leg as he walked across the clearing, sweat trickling down his brow. Gildarts had defiantly got more daring in how much weight he used while exercising, he was pushing himself hard and Ivan would make sure he didn't hurt himself or others.
Footsteps sounded from behind Ivan, he turned. Then covered his ears.
"LUNCH TIME!" Makarov yelled, his words enhanced with magical power to reach Gildarts.
The sudden sound caught the oaf of guard and lost his balance falling over. The two logs thundered to the ground, reaching across the entire clearing. Ivan was about to help his friend up, but he didn't have the chance as Gildarts quickly jumped to his feat his face red.
He walked over towards them yelling. "GRAMPS! I was doing something dammit!"
Makarov walked over towards the sole rock in the clearing and hopped on it. He waved his hand and a wooden table from the meal hall appeared on the grass; it was covered in food. All meat accompanied by vegetables and other dishes. Ivan smiled, Gildarts soon quit his rambling and dug in.
Makarov smirked down at Gildarts.
For a while there was silence as the two young men dug into their meals without thought, Makarov seemed to be ok with just watching, staying quiet until the table was cleared of food. He then laughed as Ivan and Gildarts fell to their backs fool of food.
"Oh my, I feel like I have a food baby." Ivan muttered
Gildarts look at him. "A what?"
Ivan pulled up his shirt revealing his plump round stomach that was sticking out, while muscle could be seen covering it from one angle it might appear Ivan was about to give birth. Gildarts laughed at Ivan's joke, he too lifting up his shirt, admiring his own food baby. Makarov watching the two just laughed along.
For a time, the three just laugh in the clearing outside Magnolia. They stopped laughing only for a moment before laughing yet again, smiles plastered all over their faces. When that was over, they talked, Makarov asking them how their training was going, Ivan giving a cheeky reply that got Gildarts all heated and Makarov laughing. There was even a moment when the two teens started fighting each other in a joke battle of sorts. Eventually that all ended and the three of them all sat still, Ivan and Gildarts leaning on the rock which Makarov sat on top of. If Ivan could have, he would've frozen that moment, taken a picture maybe, done something to have the opportunity to look back, but he couldn't. So, he just enjoyed it for what it was.
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It was an odd feeling, time passing by slowly, but also fast.
It felt like only yesterday when him and Gildarts had just broken into Makarov's secret stash looking for some drinks. Now though they were in a much different place. Two weeks had passed by slowly when they had first started training. Now though, it was going by fast.
A single week turned into two, then two had turned to three and three into four. In total it was a months' worth of training and the results were apparent.
Ivan had his shirt off currently, it was a very hot day, the sun was bright and air humid. He was admiring his physique in the lake's crystal blue water, his arms had gotten bigger, so hand his chest, he'd even lost some fat and his body looked tone. In his past life he had gone to the gym, worked as best as he could, but never had he looked this good before. He smiled to himself. Then he turned to find Gildarts behind him charging directly at him.
He slammed into Ivan sending him feet into the air and right above the water. Ivan took a deep breath as he glared at his friend, then he smiled. Maybe weeks ago, Gildarts who have gotten Ivan, maybe even now if Ivan was a normal wizard, but no. This was now and Ivan Dreyar was no regular wizard.
His arm shot up and he took in a breath. Darkness formed around his bare feet, condensing tightly to his skin. His feat skittled against the water, though he did not fall in, instead he hovered smiling smugly at his friend before extending his arm, darkness covered his hand. Then Gildarts staring stupidly at his friend started being pulled. He tried to run away, but Ivan had planned for that, darkness shot from his hand sticking to his friend's calf. Gildarts fell to the ground, turning to look at his leg.
"DAMMIT IVAN!!!" He screamed trying to get up.
Ivan laughed as he pulled his arm back and the tendril of darkness followed suit, pulling Gildarts hard into the water. An explosion went off as Gildarts collided with the water. Then for a moment there was silence Ivan hovered above the water, confused.
The he felt magical power from below, a shadow was swimming up, fast. Though before Ivan could move Gildarts hurled himself out of the water enveloped in magical power smiling. He threw a one punch then followed by another, trying to hit Ivan while falling, he didn't. Instead, he just fell back into the water. Resurfacing his head popped up.
Ivan raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing?"
Gildarts smile turned evil. "WATER FIGHT!"
As he said those words water seemed to bubble up from just below him, then dozens of explosions happened at once. Ans Ivan lost control of his magic, falling into the water. Though Gildarts was not done, not yet.
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AUTHOR THOUGHTS BELOW!!!