Ever since becoming Ur's disciple, Lyon had always been somewhat arrogant. After learning Ice-Make magic and defeating a few ordinary magical beasts, his pride had only grown stronger.
But after fighting Ethan, he was thoroughly defeated. If Ur hadn't intervened, he might not have lived to see another sunrise.
"Don't be discouraged," Ur said gently. "There are always people stronger than you, and the sky stretches higher than we can see. In this world, there are countless powerful mages. Being defeated is nothing unusual."
"Besides, didn't you once say you wanted to surpass me? If you truly want to defeat me one day, you'll need to regain your confidence and work even harder to grow stronger. Otherwise, you'll never catch up."
Ur touched Lyon's head softly, comforting him with her calm voice.
Then she turned toward Ethan, her lips curling into a warm smile.
"Speaking of which, I still don't know your name. My name is Ur Milkovich, and this is my disciple, Lyon Vastia."
"My name is Ethan," he answered.
"Ethan?" Ur repeated thoughtfully. "According to the bet, we should give you a magic spell. But before that, may I ask you a question?"
"Maybe." Ethan nodded lightly.
"I want to know why do you want to learn magic?"
Ur's expression grew serious as her sharp gaze fixed on Ethan.
"Of course, to protect myself," Ethan replied without hesitation.
"To protect yourself?" Ur studied him for a long moment, then her lips curved into a beautiful smile that could move anyone's heart.
"Then, Ethan would you be willing to become my disciple?"
Her words left Ethan completely stunned.
What was this? Searching endlessly for a way to connect with Ur, only for the chance to come knocking on its own?
Moments ago, he had been wondering how to draw closer to her, even considering using Lyon as a stepping stone to form a bond. He had nearly decided to abandon the thought altogether for now.
Yet to his surprise, Ur herself had extended the invitation.
Ethan was dumbfounded. "I… I don't understand. Why would you "
"Why so many questions?" Ur interrupted firmly before he could finish. "I see your talent, and I want to take you as my disciple. That's all you need to know."
The reason why Ur wanted to take Ethan as her disciple was very simple his mastery over Ice Magic was absolute.
What she had just witnessed was enough proof. Ethan had not only shattered Lyon's Ice Dragon, but even transformed its fragments into blades of ice that struck again, doubling the damage. That level of control was not something ordinary children could ever achieve.
Moreover, Ur could see that the magic Ethan used, this so-called Profound Ice Crack, was far from simple. To command such a technique at his age required extraordinary talent. It was precisely because of this that worry stirred in her heart.
If such a gifted child were to be lured away by the Dark Guilds, then one day he might become a disaster for the entire continent of Ishgar.
Aside from his talent, Ur had also observed Ethan's character.
Children of his age, when fighting, often acted recklessly either striking too lightly or too harshly, without understanding control. But Ethan was different. From the very beginning, he had carefully restrained his strength. He had not truly injured Lyon, only taught him a lesson.
High talent. Good temperament. A clear sense of restraint.
All of this left Ur deeply satisfied.
"Understood," Ethan finally said, bowing his head with determination. "Then from today onward, I am your disciple. Please guide me in the days to come."
Ur's lips curved into a faint smile.
"I didn't expect you to really become Ur's disciple…"
A little out of breath, Lyon suddenly stood up. His expression was cold, but there was also a hint of pride in his eyes.
"But before that, there's something you need to understand," Lyon declared with importance. "I am Ur's first disciple. So from now on, you have to call me senior brother!"
By the time he finished, his serious face had already broken into a satisfied grin.
Although he had been defeated, if he could make Ethan address him as "senior brother," the idea itself felt quite pleasing.
But Ethan only stared at him silently, his voice calm and steady.
"You can't beat me."
"I joined the sect earlier than you!" Lyon shot back angrily.
"You can't beat me," Ethan repeated, still calm.
"…"
Lyon's face twisted, looking completely wronged.
...
Before night fell, Ur led Ethan and Lyon to the foot of a snowy mountain.
There, nestled against the white slopes, stood a large wooden house Ur's home.
That evening, Ur herself went to the kitchen. She roasted the Snow Wolf that Ethan had killed, and the three of them shared it as dinner.
For mages, the meat of a Snow Wolf was more than just food it was a rare tonic, rich with magical energy.
The meat of a magical beast contained an abundance of magic power, which mages could directly absorb.
As Ethan chewed the roasted Snow Wolf, he could clearly feel the magic within his body rapidly restoring.
Because his physique had already transformed into an Immortal Dao body, the power contained within the Snow Wolf's meat didn't go to waste. Instead, it was absorbed and converted into his own magic power, stored steadily inside him like a growing reservoir.
By the time the meal was finished, his strength had recovered noticeably.
After clearing the table, Ur walked over with a serious expression and placed a book into Ethan's hands.
"During your fight with Lyon earlier, I watched carefully," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Your magic looks similar to Ice-Make. You can freely mold forms, but the foundation of that magic is too shallow. It's effective for surprise attacks, but it isn't suited for common use."
She tapped the book lightly with her finger.
"Therefore, I want you to study this magic first, along with some basic techniques. Once you've built that foundation, I will personally teach you Ice-Make Magic."