Chapter 33: Getting to Know Each Other
The mother and daughter's sobs slowly subsided. Ur wiped away her own tears and remembered the boy who had come with Ultear. She asked, "Who is that boy who came with you? Was he also captured by the Magic Development Bureau?"
Ultear sniffled and wiped her tears with the back of her hand. Her voice still thick with emotion, she replied, "No, I don't know who he is either. I met him after I escaped. He gave me clothes and shoes to wear, used his magic to help me run all the way back, and he was the one who brought me straight to you just now. Otherwise, I would have misunderstood you, Mama."
Ur looked closely at Ultear's clothes. She was wearing a thin, light-blue dress underneath a thick, white coat that reached her knees. On her feet was a pair of fleece-lined white sneakers that looked very warm.
Remembering Ultear's description, Ur pressed, "That boy was casting magic to help you the whole way back?"
"Mhm. That magic made my body feel very light, so it didn't take much effort to walk."
As Ultear described the feeling, Ur deduced that the boy must have been using Gravity Magic. But to be able to cast a spell so stably while on the move, and to maintain it for such a long time... that boy had to be an incredibly powerful wizard. The idea of such a young and powerful wizard seemed almost fantastical. Had she been so isolated training in the mountains that she had been completely left behind by the times?
Having just been reunited with the daughter she thought was dead, Ur's emotions were still in turmoil, and her mind was racing. It took her a while to focus again.
Ultear didn't notice her mother's daze. After answering, she greedily burrowed into her mother's embrace, taking in her scent. It was so warm, so comforting, so safe.
Ur pulled her thoughts back to the present. She picked up Ultear and started walking towards Noah and the others. "We have to go and thank that boy. If it weren't for him, you might have run into all sorts of danger, and we would never have been reunited."
Ultear wrapped her arms around Ur's neck and pressed her cheek against her mother's. She didn't want to be separated from her for even a second. She just gave a muffled reply, "Oh."
As Ur approached, Noah and the two boys focused their attention on her. Looks like the two of them have finished talking, Noah thought. She's probably coming over to ask me some questions.
Ur walked up to them, but the first to speak was not Ur or Noah, but the black-haired boy. He asked Ur impatiently, "Is this the daughter, Ultear, you mentioned before? Didn't you say she was dead? How is she here now?"
Ur, holding Ultear with her right arm, punched the black-haired boy on the head with her left.
"Ow!"
Tears instantly welled up in the boy's eyes. Ur said, exasperated, "Don't be in such a hurry. First, let's all get to know each other."
She held Ultear up slightly and said to Noah and the others, "This is my daughter, Ultear."
Then, pointing her left hand at the two boys, she said to Ultear, "These two are my disciples. The one with black hair is named Gray, and the other is Lyon."
Finally, she looked at Noah with deep gratitude. "My name is Ur. Thank you so much for bringing my daughter back to me! Without you, we would never have been reunited. I truly don't know how to thank you!" Ur thought about how her daughter had misunderstood her and had been about to leave. If Noah hadn't physically dragged her out, her daughter might have carried that misunderstanding with her forever, and the two of them might never have seen each other again. Thinking of this, her gratitude towards Noah deepened.
"My name is Noah. I was just lucky enough to run into Ultear, that's the only reason I could help her. It's also the result of her own efforts. After all, if she hadn't escaped, I would never have known she needed help."
Noah waved his hand dismissively. If he hadn't happened upon Ultear during her escape, saving her would have meant infiltrating the facility, which would have been far more difficult.
Ur smiled and didn't say anything more. No matter what, it was Noah who had helped Ultear. She would keep this gratitude in her heart and do her best to help him if he ever needed it.
She turned to Gray and Lyon. "My daughter, Ultear, was born with too much magic power, which caused a constant high fever. I searched everywhere for a cure and finally learned that the Magic Development Bureau could treat this illness. So I entrusted my daughter to them, hoping they could cure her."
As she spoke, the calm she had just regained began to crumble. She said, her voice filled with rage, "But when I went back later, those damned bastards lied to me and said my daughter was dead! In reality, they were secretly using my daughter for experiments! Those bastards don't deserve to live!"
Ur's emotions flared, and her magic power began to leak out uncontrollably. Gray and Lyon immediately found it hard to breathe, gasping for air. Ur noticed and quickly reined in her power, allowing the two boys to finally take deep breaths.
"I got too emotional. Are you two alright?"
Lyon, seeing the power Ur had unintentionally displayed, thought to himself, Ur really is strong. I was right to study under her.
Gray, however, continued to ask questions. "So what happened now? Did Ultear escape?"
"Yes. A small accident happened, and she was able to get out. Then, with Noah's help, she finally found her way here, and we were able to reunite."
"So what are you going to do now, Ur?" Noah asked, deciding to make his own proposal. "I plan on infiltrating the Magic Development Bureau, gathering evidence against them, and making them pay the price they deserve. Want to come along?" Noah knew that having Ur—a victim's mother and a wizard powerful enough to be considered a candidate for the Ten Wizard Saints—on his side would be a huge advantage.
"Of course," Ur said, her teeth clenched. "I will make them pay. I will have revenge for what they did to my daughter." She looked like she wanted to charge over there right now and tear the people at the Bureau to pieces. But then she looked at Ultear in her arms, and at Gray and Lyon beside her. She had to make sure they were safe before she could act.
"I have a friend nearby. I'll take the children to stay with them first, and then I'll go with you."
"That works," Noah nodded. "That will make it easier for us to move when the time comes."