chapter 2 : Ice Shell

For the next three years, Gray followed Ul's training and within the first few weeks, the woman was shocked and frightened at Gray's learning speed .

There was no need for repetition with him because he learned everything immediately and his intelligence was terrifying.

The accident that Gray had in the brain fortunately freed for him certain cerebral faculties normally inaccessible and limited for normal humans, he had a understanding speed far from what a human could imagine and his memory was perfect.

He trained hard because even though Ul had openly told him that he was a genius, talent was definitely not enough for him.

With Ul he trained but even without her he trained until she ordered him not to and he obediently agreed to the satisfaction of his master who taught him that rest was highly beneficial for his training.

However, Gray had a thirst for knowledge in the art he was being taught and to avoid antagonizing his master in the future, he had asked Ul for permission to read some of the books and grimoires in Ul's collection. 

Ul knew that Gray had a high faculty of understanding so she told him about some of the books that he shouldn't read at the moment until he knew which path his disciple was going to take.

Furthermore, Ul herself had not yet understood much of these books and didn't want her best disciple to venture into potentially dangerous or unknown path on her own, young mages had an attraction to forbidden experiments so she didn't want Gray to do that kind of thing.

Unlike him, Lyon read Ul's books without her permission and even if he didn't understand everything, he was satisfied with the little he learned because he was so thirsty for power.

Speaking of Lyon, he had developed a certain jealousy against Gray who was a true prodigy in the magic they were taught.

Gray had very quickly mastered the basics and could model static or dynamic creations with a certain ease to the point of catching up with Lyon in barely two months.

Over time, Gray started to smile again although it was rare and in Ul's company, he had a fierce crush on his master and it greatly amused Ul who was happy to see him smile from time to time.

She told them about her daughter, her loss and what had happened, Gray had felt very bad for his master even if he already had his own pain.

One day, in one of Ul's chests, Gray discovered a huge book that seemed extremely old with strange writing composed of runes but also glyphs and other characters he had never seen.

He had asked Ul about this book and she had told him that it belonged to one of his ancestors.

According to what was said in his family, the book spoke of powerful magic several millennia old but no one ever understood the alphabet in which the texts were written. He didn't insist too much and left this book in its place.

Gray was now 9 years old and his level of magic for his age was horribly frightening, he was a very high level genius who made his master proud.

Ul feared the day when Gray would realize her talent and leave, telling himself that he had nothing more to learn from her because she had become very attached to him.

The years of happiness came to end the day when, during an outing in town, someone close to them mentioned the fact that Deliora had been spotted in a certain area several tens of kilometers from their position.

When Gray listened to this, it was as if someone had pressed a button in his head and immediately, memories of his parents' deaths came flooding back into his mind.

Anger, hatred and the thirst for revenge were an emotional cocktail in Gray's mind that was frozen for several seconds before Ul challenged him with a stern look to tell him that it was time for them to go home.

This evening in the cabin, during dinner, a cold silence reigned as Gray couldn't eat anything and had a look of very calm anger hanging into space. Of course, Lyon and Ul knew what he was thinking.

Ul: I know exactly what you're thinking and know that you're far from ready. It's not time yet and you're still much too young.

Gray: Deliora...it's not far from here...if you and I go there then-(interrupted)

Ul: ENOUGH! (Sighs) Gray, you've always been talented and very obedient so I ask you to obey again. Give up on that idea…for now at least.

Gray: He'll cause other victims...

Ul: We can't do anything about it.

Lyon: But Ul, you are the strongest! You can beat him right!?

Ul: (sighs) Let's try not to think about it, Lyon there are mages much stronger than me on the continent and especially to the west of here.

Lyon: I don't believe you, I know you're the best. I found you for this…

Gray had enough and got up to head towards the bedroom.

Ul: Going to bed without dinner is bad for your workout Gray.

Lyon: Your "genius" seems very angry…

Ul: This is not the time Lyon, his reaction is normal after what this monster took from him.

They were surprised to see Gray come back with his backpack and Ul's heart skipped a beat, even Lyon was surprised.

Ul: May I know what you plan to do with this bag?!

"I will be forever grateful to you for everything you have done for me, master…" He said as he slowly bowed to Ul with deep humility.

Ul: Gray, that's suicide. Let's make a pact, wait until you're an adult to face him and I swear I will come to help you. We will implement your plan from earlier but this time you will be much stronger.

Gray: Forget my stupid plan, the idea of ​​putting yourself in danger in this revenge is stupid and selfish. If anything ever happened to you because of me, I would never be able to forgive myself. This revenge only concerns me.

Ul: Stop talking like an adult, you're just a child. Come back, sit and eat with us…please.

Gray: This is the first and last time I will disobey you master...

He turned around to try to leave and Lyon stood up seeing that Gray was serious while Ul stood up.

Ul: If you ever walk through that door then I will disown you as my disciple...

Gray: The hatred, anger and darkness in me, Deliora implanted it too deeply. Lyon still needs you, as will certainly other students in the future. I'm going to kill Deliora or I'm going to join my parents in trying, out of the question to involve you. Farewell master...

He left the chalet while Ul and Lyon had serious looks...

"He said a lot of complicated words, he really read too much." Lyon said looking at Ul who had tears now falling from her eyes.

"Ice Eagle" Gray joined his hands once outside to create a large, extremely well detailed and realistic ice eagle before mounting his back and the eagle flew towards the area where Deliora was rumored to be.

From there everything happened as in the original story, Gray attacked Deliora but suffered a heavy defeat, a defeat heavy enough to send him into the rubble where he lost consciousness.

Later, awakened by sounds of battle, he saw Ul next to him with damaged clothes and a leg made with ice like a prosthesis , it didn't need to be a genius to understand what had happened.

" MASTER ??!!! Your leg !! WHAT…WHY ARE YOU HERE?! " He asked trying to get up but he had no energy left.

Ul: Gray, take Lyon with you and go far from here, I'm going to kill this monster.

Gray: It's way too strong...your leg. We can't do anything…

Ul: Take Lyon with you, this idiot tried to do something stupid (Ice Shell) and I knocked him out.

Gray: I'm not going to leave, I refuse to abandon you. Everything is my fault…

Ul: It's no one's fault, you said you wanted to resolve this alone and I followed you myself to save you. If my life is the price to pay for your happiness then I must act as your master.

Gray: STOP!!

"ICE SHELL" She cast the spell which was executed under the eyes of Gray who did not stop shouting at her despite the excruciating fatigue but it was too late, Ul's body turned into ice and fractured as Deliora was encased in ice.

Gray: (crying) Stop the spell...please. From now on, I will obey completely. I promise but please...STOP THE SPELL! Master, stay with me...

Ul: There's nothing to be sad about, I'll still be alive in this ice for eternity. You must promise me to move forward and honor our magic.

Gray: Okay, I'll do whatever you want but don't leave me...Master!!

Ul: Your sorrow, your darkness, I will seal them away from your heart.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO" Gray screamed as Ul disappeared entirely and Deliora was encased in the gigantic block of ice.

"MAAAAAASTEEEEEEER" Gray screamed before a horrible pain invaded his head like during the first awakenings after his coma, the pain of having lost his master was much too strong.

He lost consciousness and was later awakened by Lyon who had an excited look on his face as the monster seemed to have been defeated.

Gray: Lyons?

Lyon: Where is Ul?! I knew she was the strongest. One day I will definitely surpass her.

Gray: She...(tears fell from her eyes) she's dead.

Lyon: What?!

"She sacrificed herself to lock away Deliora..." Gray said as tears began to fall from his eyes.

Lyon: You're lying...you...IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!!

Gray:…

"All of this…IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU!! » He screamed in tears while hitting Gray with a punch, Gray without even resisting fell on his back and Lyon chained several punches to Gray who showed no resistance.

"IT'S YOUR FAULT, IT'S YOUR FAULT, IT'S YOUR FUCKING FAULT..." he shouted as he hit Gray over and over again.

He was so angry that he created an ice sword and glared murderously at Gray but upon noticing that the latter wasn't even resisting, he couldn't do anything and threw the sword away to scream in frustration.

"I never, ever want to see you again. Everything would have been perfect if we had let you die that day near your parents...I lost my goal because of you" Lyon said with hatred before leaving on his own.

Minutes, hours, Gray didn't know how long he was there but he got up, looked at the huge block of ice before leaving too.

He returned to Ul's chalet where he lay on the bed like an empty shell in complete absence of emotion because his heart had been frozen by the loss of his master.