Noah raised his hand, and a vast magic circle shimmered into existence above the clearing, spreading across nearly the entire field.
The moment the circle activated, the grass beneath it bent flat against the earth as if pressed down by an invisible weight. Kagura's eyes widened in surprise.
"Is this… gravity magic? Gravity magic on such a huge scale?"
"I've dabbled with it before," Noah said casually. "It's very useful for daily training. But if you overuse it, it might stunt your growth."
"Stunt our… height?" Kagura and Erza both stiffened, clearly alarmed.
Noah gave a wry smile. "My magic power is stronger than yours, both in quality and quantity. Naturally, the effect I create is heavier. Besides, I said long-term use could affect your height. Short-term training won't hurt."
"Oh… I see." The two girls nodded, though their doubtful expressions showed they weren't entirely convinced.
"Anyway," Noah clapped his hands, "come inside the circle and test it for yourselves."
The three of them stepped into the field of magic. At once, their bodies sank slightly, movements becoming sluggish as gravity pressed down on them.
Erza tried lifting her arm, frowning. "My body feels heavier. It's hard to move."
"Same here," Simon muttered. Kagura also nodded in agreement.
"Then this level should be fine," Noah concluded. "Once you've adapted, I'll increase the intensity little by little. Kagura, pay close attention you'll use my gravity as a reference for your own magic."
Kagura lifted both hands, comparing Noah's spell with her own. She pointed at the enormous circle overhead with her left hand, then traced a much smaller half-circle with her right. "There's such a huge difference. Brother Noah's field is massive, and mine feels tiny in comparison."
"That's only natural," Noah reassured her. "I've studied magic much longer, and my magic power is stronger overall. But truth be told, I haven't practiced gravity magic much since I learned it. If you keep working hard, you'll surpass me sooner than you think."
Hearing that, Kagura's worried expression softened into a faint smile.
The group began their training inside the heavy field, every movement slower and more exhausting under the increased pressure. For Kagura, it was double duty pushing her body while also concentrating on sensing how Noah's magic operated.
By the time the sun rose high over the trees, their clothes were soaked in sweat. That was when Kana finally arrived, stretching as she joined the group. "Sorry I'm late! Don't mind me I'll catch up."
They wrapped up their physical drills and shifted to magic practice. Since Noah had already studied all of their types of magic, he was able to guide each of them directly. Whenever Erza, Simon, Kagura, or Kana stumbled, Noah calmly explained his casting methods and shared his insights.
At noon, they returned to Noah's house for lunch. The meal had been prepared by one of Noah's thought-bodies, sparing them extra effort. After eating, everyone took a short nap before heading back to the forest clearing.
That afternoon, their focus shifted to meditation. Sitting beneath the shade of tall trees, they closed their eyes, letting a cool breeze sweep over them. The air carried away the weight of fatigue and cleared their minds, helping them connect with the flow of nature itself.
Refreshed, they returned to spell practice, repeating the drills from the morning. Questions arose, and Noah patiently answered each one.
By evening, they bid each other goodnight and returned home, only to rise early and repeat the same routine the next day.
Days passed in this steady rhythm exercise at dawn, meals together, meditation under the trees, and constant practice.
It was during this period that Laxus returned from a commission and joined the training group. His arrival added an entirely new element: sparring matches against Noah.
Since Noah's real strength far outclassed Laxus, he split off a thought-body and suppressed his magic to match Laxus's level. Even so, their duels shook the clearing, sparks flying as lightning clashed against Noah's controlled power.
For Erza, Simon, Kagura, and Kana, watching those battles was eye-opening. They saw firsthand the intensity of high-level wizards, and it broadened their horizons beyond anything they'd imagined.
One evening, after another day of training, a message arrived from Makarov.
"Noah," the guild master's words were brief but firm. "Return to the guild."
Noah went to the guild, where Makarov handed him a thick stack of documents.
"Here's all the information you asked for," Makarov said gravely. "But judging from the nature of your request, what you're planning sounds dangerous, doesn't it?"
Noah flipped through the pages and shook his head slightly.
"It's not that dangerous. With my strength, it's more of a hassle than a real risk. The problem is that there might be several so-called 'big shots' involved, and when that happens, I'll probably need your support, Grandpa."
Makarov exhaled through his nose and gave a small smile.
"Whatever it is, you can always count on me."
Finishing his read, Noah tucked the papers away and looked up seriously.
"When the time comes, I might uncover something that shocks people. I'll need you to publicly support me, Grandpa. Otherwise, I'm afraid some will cover things up or refuse to cooperate."
"Then send me what you discover," Makarov replied. "I'll make sure your voice is heard."
"Alright then. I'm ready to go."
"Be safe, Noah."
"I will, Grandpa."
After leaving the guild, Noah returned to the training grounds where Laxus, Erza, and the others were still practicing. He explained that he had to leave for a while and handed each of them detailed notes he had compiled personalized guidance tailored to their magic. With their thanks and farewells behind him, Noah set off toward his destination.
He ran, warped, and teleported in bursts, his enhanced body, tireless stamina, and vast reservoir of magic carrying him forward without pause. Fatigue never caught him; he pressed on relentlessly until he reached the border of a desert.
By nightfall, the wind howled across the dunes, sweeping up clouds of sand and grit. In the distance, half veiled by the storm, a crescent-shaped structure rose stark against the horizon. This was one of the places he had come to investigate.
Suddenly, alarm bells rang out from the building, followed by a faint announcement carried on the wind. Noah's sharp ears caught every word:
"Subject 3373 has escaped. Magic levels rising rapidly..."
Noah narrowed his eyes. It seemed fate had placed him here at the perfect time.
He cloaked himself with concealment magic and crept closer to observe.
From afar, he spotted a small figure bolting across the sands. A girl barefoot, dressed only in a thin light-blue dress, short dark-purple hair flying behind her as she ran. Tears streaked her cheeks, and her trembling voice carried through the night.
"Mom... Mom..."
Seeing this, Noah's chest tightened. This was the one he had been searching for. But to avoid alerting pursuers or startling her, he stayed hidden, shadowing her movements from a distance.
The girl eventually stumbled out of the desert and into the cover of a forest. Once Noah confirmed no one was following, he finally stepped out of hiding and appeared before her.
The girl froze at the sudden sight of him. Though he bore no resemblance to a pursuer, her instincts screamed caution. She edged back a step, clutching at her thin dress.
"Who are you? What do you want?" she demanded, her voice trembling.
Noah raised an eyebrow and sighed.
"That's what I should be asking you. Running through the desert at night, barefoot, wearing almost nothing... aren't you freezing?"
The little girl blinked, confused by his concern. Noah waved a hand dismissively.
"Forget it. Clearly, you've been through something. If you don't want to talk, I won't force you. But at least put this on before you catch cold."
He pulled a coat and a pair of shoes from his storage and held them out to her gently.
The little girl stayed silent. She accepted the coat and shoes without a word, slipping the coat over her thin shoulders before settling down on a nearby rock. With quiet focus, she bent down to put on the shoes.
Before she could finish, Noah walked over and crouched in front of her. Without asking, he gently took hold of her bare feet.
The girl's eyes widened in alarm. She gasped and tried to yank her feet back, but Noah's grip was firm steady, not harsh, as though he wasn't about to let her escape but also had no intention of hurting her.
Her voice quivered with both fear and anger.
"W-what are you doing? Let go!"
Noah glanced up at her, his expression calm.
"Relax. Your feet are scraped and raw from running barefoot in the desert. If you force those shoes on, you'll only make it worse. Let me check them first."
The girl froze, staring at him suspiciously. His tone wasn't mocking or cruel just steady, like an older brother scolding a stubborn sibling.
Noah sighed, pulling a clean cloth from his pocket. With practiced motions, he brushed away the sand clinging to her skin and muttered softly.
"You're trembling all over, but still trying to act tough... stubborn little one."
His hands glowed faintly with healing magic, warm light soothing the cuts and blisters on her feet.
The girl flinched at first, then blinked in surprise as the pain dulled. Slowly, her guarded gaze softened just a little.