The thirty–kilometer run was soon behind Ethan. Not only had he finished it with ease, he even added a bit of extra weight to push himself further.
By the time Lyon finally stumbled back from training, the two of them returned to Ur's home together.
As soon as they entered, Ethan was greeted by an eager sight Gray hurried over, bowing slightly to them.
"Hello, senior brothers! My name is Gray Fullbuster."
Ethan blinked. So, it had happened already. Gray had become Ur's disciple.
He knew this was always destined, but to see it happen so quickly still surprised him.
After a moment of reflection, though, Ethan returned to calm.
Lyon, on the other hand, was caught off guard for a moment. Then, with a smirk tugging at his lips, he tilted his head and said with a trace of arrogance,
"Of course Ur accepted you as her disciple. Since that's the case, I'll acknowledge you as my junior brother. Remember this I am Lyon Vastia."
He deliberately pressed harder on the words junior brother.
Compared to Lyon's theatrics, Ethan kept it simple.
"My name is Ethan," he said neatly.
"Alright, everyone, come eat."
Ur appeared from the kitchen, carrying two trays of food.
After the meal, Ur followed her routine, lecturing them on the fundamentals of magic.
For Ethan, this wasn't particularly useful his immortal arts were far beyond basic lessons. Luckily, Ur seemed to realize his "innate gift" and often gave him personal guidance, encouraging him to explore and study on his own.
Ethan used the time to quietly practice his immortal techniques and occasionally borrow books from Ur's study, steadily deepening his understanding of the Fairy Tail world.
…The next day, training resumed as usual.
But this time, their group had grown by one. Gray.
At first, he was full of anticipation, curious to see what kind of magic training awaited him.
But the moment he saw Ur, Ethan, and Lyon begin the same meditation exercises as before bare-armed in the snow he froze, utterly dumbfounded.
His face flushed crimson as he stammered, then burst out angrily,
"What kind of training is this?! Why do we have to strip down for training?!"
"This is a special training method," Ur replied with a smile, amused by his embarrassment. "It increases your affinity with Ice Magic."
Although Gray still resisted in his heart, after hearing Ur's explanation he hesitated for a moment then finally pulled off his clothes.
The cold wind instantly lashed against his skin, making him shiver uncontrollably.
Before becoming the Ice Devil Slayer we all know, Gray's body had been no different from any ordinary child's.
Ethan found the sight a little funny. Still, he clearly understood what Gray's future would become.
"Steady your mind, focus your spirit…"
Ur stood beside Gray, patiently guiding him into the rhythm of meditation.
And it had to be said Gray's talent was indeed remarkable. Under Ur's guidance, he quickly entered the meditative state and began drawing in magic particles from the air.
On the other side, Lyon had also settled into meditation, even more diligent than before. His determination to surpass Ethan burned fiercely, making him train with greater intensity.
Ethan was about to find a quiet spot to begin his own meditation when Ur suddenly called to him.
"Ethan, come with me."
Following her to a quieter spot sheltered from the wind, he turned as Ur faced him with a rare, serious look.
"From today, I will pass Ice-Make magic on to you," she said solemnly. "Your talent is extraordinary. I believe that in your hands, Ice-Make can grow even stronger."
Ethan's heart raced with excitement, though he forced himself to keep his voice calm.
"I'll do my best!"
Ice-Make magic this was Ur's pride, her ultimate magic, the foundation of her strength as one of the most renowned Ice Mages in Fiore.
Ethan had not expected her to pass it on so quickly.
Truthfully, Ur hadn't planned to either. But Ethan's talent was too overwhelming to ignore. If she delayed his growth, it would only waste his potential.
"Ice-Make," Ur continued, her eyes reflecting both pride and hope, "is the freest form of magic. It is also the type of magic that most fully expresses a mage's heart."
"The strength of Ice-Make magic depends mainly on the mage's creativity," Ur explained patiently. "When a mage discovers the form that best fits their heart, Ice-Make can unleash limitless power."
She smiled faintly as she continued.
"For example Lyon. His creations are dynamic. He can shape moving bodies from ice, giving him flexibility and variety in battle. That's the essence of Ice-Make your magic reflects who you are inside."
With that, Ur began teaching Ethan the core knowledge and mysteries of Ice-Make.
Ethan, who truly had no foundation in ordinary magic, felt as though he were listening to a foreign language. It was like reading a book written in the sky.
Still, on the surface, he wore the mask of a serious disciple, nodding at the right times, eyes sharp as if absorbing every word.
Fortunately, his effort paid off.
As soon as Ur's words sank into his mind, the familiar voice of the system chimed.
"Ding. High-level magic detected: Ice-Make Magic."
"Immortal exchange available. Proceed?"
"Yes!" Ethan replied in his heart before the system had even finished speaking.
"Order received. Beginning immortal exchange…"
"Ding. Exchange successful. Congratulations to the host for obtaining "