The Time Magic Gael used was based on the innate talent and hidden attributes that came with the Arceus template. Therefore, there weren't many taboos when using it, nor was the price so great. After the town was roughly repaired, Gael raised the Magic Staff in his hand and pointed.
Swish!
He disappeared from the spot.
—
Two days later, deep within the Endless Snow Mountains in the far north of the Ishgar Continent, the cold climate meant that cold winds and snow blew all year round. But deep within the mountains, there was a small cabin with smoke rising from it. Inside the wooden house, whose eaves were covered with thick snow, was a scene of steaming warmth. Orange-yellow flames burned in the stove, but no wood was placed in it.
The originally spacious dining table now seemed a bit crowded. A simple wooden stand supported an iron pot, and below it was a ball of flame burning out of thin air without wood, continuously heating the iron pot above. Fresh vegetables, fresh pork, and the meat of Ice Demon Sheep were cooking in the iron pot, looking like a simple hot pot. The aroma of meat filled the entire room.
Gray and Lyon sat on one side, constantly swallowing saliva while staring at the meat slices and vegetables boiling in the pot. At the same time, they looked at the clock on the wall to see if it was time. Gengar was also sitting properly on a chair, opposite Gray and Lyon, but the constantly moving corners of its mouth clearly showed it was also impatient to start eating.
Ulu sat opposite Gael. Compared to the delicious food in the pot, Ulu was more amazed by Gael's Magic: "It's truly magical. Wood that isn't afraid of fire."
Ulu raised her hand and touched the wooden stand supporting the iron pot, feeling the high temperature of the orange-yellow flames, and also feeling that this wooden stand contained no Magic power. But this wooden stand was something Ulu had watched Gael use Magic to grow from this wooden dining table. Wood that was afraid of fire, under the effect of Magic, grew supports that weren't afraid of fire. This was the charm of Magic.
Gael said with a smile: "I always like to study some strange things in my free time. They are all just useless Magic."
Ulu shook her head and said: "How could it be useless? It's quite impressive. Speaking of which, the Fiore Kingdom is not close to here. Why did you think of coming here?"
After all, something like Deliola was something the Magic Council didn't even bother with. Gael looked up at the time, saw the expectant eyes of Gengar, Gray, and Lyon, announced that they could start eating, and then looked at Ulu and replied: "How to say it... There's a little girl in the Guild who came to find her family. But a certain bastard who is a father hasn't come back. That poor little girl started to drown her sorrows in alcohol. She's only eight years old, but she's already become a little drunkard. How can this go on?"
Ulu's eyes widened, and she clearly already thought of it: "That guy's child? I really can't tell. That kind of dissolute guy actually has a child..."
"Wait! He doesn't know yet, does he?!" Gael shrugged helplessly. The corner of Ulu's mouth twitched slightly, and she couldn't help but complain: "That really is a bastard. He did a good deed, but he's so irresponsible. But I don't have any clues here either. The last time I saw Gildarts was a year ago. That bastard even wanted to partner with me for a mission then. But I refused."
Gael nodded, picked up a piece of Ice Demon Sheep with chopsticks, dipped it in some seasoning, and put it in his mouth: "That guy is just like that, it's his nature. Fortunately, this area in the north is sparsely populated. If there's any powerfully skilled Magician, I believe we'll get news very quickly. There's no rush to find him, that guy will pop out himself."
Ulu's expression was strange as she looked at Gael and said: "Powerfully skilled... I estimate that for a while, on the Ishgar Continent, it will be the legend of you, the Magician who defeated Deliola alone."
Gael's movements paused, and the corner of his mouth twitched: "It's fine. You get used to it. Speaking of which, are you interested in joining Fairy Tail? Your strength is so great, living like this in the deep mountains is a bit of a waste."
Ulu's eyes darkened, and then she sighed: "I don't plan to join a Guild anymore. If it's not necessary, I don't even want to participate in Magician battles. What's the use of Magic, no matter how strong? I was powerless to protect what I wanted to protect."
Looking at Gray and Lyon, who were competing with Gengar in hand speed and stuffing their mouths full: "Being able to teach these two until they graduate will be enough. But your Guild is really strange. Do you recruit everyone you see?"
Gael nodded and said: "So that's how it is, you suffered a blow? Is it convenient to talk about it?"
Gael actually knew the reason Ulu became like this was a series of misunderstandings caused by her daughter's death. But he couldn't just say, 'I've seen the plot, your daughter isn't dead,' so he could only guide Ulu to speak.
Ulu didn't know Gael's inner thoughts, glanced at Gael, and didn't hide anything. She spoke about her daughter's death and the purpose of living the rest of her life, which was to teach Magicians who could promote the development of the world in the future.
Hearing this, even Gael had to admire Ulu's ideal. To some extent, Ulu did indeed achieve it. Although Gray's combat power didn't account for a large proportion in the early stages, in the later stages, he was one of the main forces, and Gray also participated in many key battle points to achieve victory.
After listening to Ulu's narration, Gael pretended to ponder for a moment, and then asked Ulu for a drop of blood. Ulu was a little surprised, but didn't say anything, instead extending her hand and placing it on the table.
Gray and Lyon had also just heard Ulu's ideal, and at this time, they were looking at Ulu with admiration, while also curious about what Gael wanted to do. They saw Gael take out his Magic Staff and point it at Ulu's finger. A drop of blood floated out.
Gael looked at this drop of blood, a trace of Curse Magic power appeared at the tip of the Magic Staff and entered this drop of blood.
At the same time, in the East of the Ishgar Continent, within the strongest Dark Guild hidden here, 'Grimoire Heart', Ultear, who looked nine-tenths like Ulu, had long hair. Just like the maiden-like Ulu, she was practicing the Lost Magic, 'Arc of Time'.
Suddenly, Ultear's heart violently twitched, and intense pain spread throughout her body, but this pain only disappeared in an instant. Ultear's expression was startled and uncertain, covering her chest, gasping for air: "What's going on?!"
"Is there something wrong with my body? Or is it... Magic?"
Could it be a side effect of 'Arc of Time'? It shouldn't be... This kind of small-scale practice couldn't harm her body.
Ultear couldn't figure out the reason and didn't dare to publicize this matter, only practicing more carefully.
Meanwhile, in the small wooden house in the Endless Snow Mountains, Gael slowly opened his eyes and looked at Ulu: "You're sure you saw your daughter's corpse, right?"
It seemed like a question. Ulu was stunned, she wasn't stupid either. Looking at Gael saying such inexplicable words, an impossible thought appeared in her mind.
Ulu suddenly stood up, staring at Gael in disbelief, her voice trembling: "Yes... I saw her with my own eyes at the time... Could it be..."
Gael nodded and said: "That was Curse Magic just now. I cast it targeting your bloodline. I can feel that the Curse was indeed cast out, as for the location, it's probably in the East of the Continent. If you don't have a second daughter..."
Saying this, Gael stopped. There was no need to say anything more.
At this moment, Ulu was unable to think. Gael's words echoed in her mind. Tears kept streaming from her eyes, and she kept muttering: "She's not dead... She's not dead..."
Large tears fell on the table, it was clearly silent crying, but Ulu showed a smile.
Ulu raised her face, which was crying tears of joy, and looked towards the East outside the window, her tone more determined than ever: "I'm going to find her!!!"