Lamia Scale, the ice trail

Chapter 3: Ice and Wind

Copyright notice: This fanfic is a work of fiction inspired by "Fairy Tail", created by Hiro Mashima. I do not own the rights to "Fairy Tail" or the original characters.

Author's note: English is not my mother tongue, so I apologise for any mistakes you may find in this fanfic. I appreciate your understanding and I hope you enjoy the story.

Chapter 3: Ice and Wind

A week later at the Lamia Scale training field, Maria couldn't help but feel admiration as she observed Tristan. The young boy, with a concentration that defied his youth, had managed to hold an ice sphere in perfect condition for more than ten minutes, even surpassing the challenge she had deemed difficult for any young mage. Now, with the stopwatch marking twenty-five minutes, Tristan remained unflappable, his ice sphere as firm and solid as his unbreakable determination.

Approaching Tristan with imperceptible steps, Maria contemplated the scene before her. "Incredible, Tristan. You've surpassed all expectations," she reflected silently. She remembered the first day when the task of keeping the sphere intact for ten minutes seemed impossible. Yet there was Tristan, defying not just his own limits but also the notions of his master, proving that even an experienced teacher could witness surprises.

Convinced that it was the right time to advance Tristan's training, Maria, without breaking the young boy's concentration, spoke in a soft but clear voice, "Tristan, until now you have focused your attention and magic on maintaining the structure of the ice sphere. It's time to take a step forward. I want you to completely shift your focus. Instead of merely preserving the sphere, concentrate on understanding and feeling every component that constitutes it."

Tristan, without losing focus, subtly nodded in acknowledgment of the new instructions. Following Maria's guidance, he began to redirect his attention toward the ice sphere he held in his hands. Maria watched with expectation, aware that this exercise was not just a step forward in mastering ice magic but also a crucial moment in Tristan's life. She was yet reluctant to reveal the true goal of the training for fear that her conjectures were incorrect and might give her student false hope. But she knew in her heart that Tristan would succeed. Unbeknownst to her, she began to sweat due to the anticipation.

With each hour that passed, Tristan delved deeper into the essence of ice, discovering its properties and components. Unbeknownst to him, his perception sharpened more and more. It was as if he could see, despite his blindness, each ice crystal and every molecule of frozen water, joined in the perfect form of the sphere.

Tristan had not yet realized that night had fallen; his complete concentration was on the ice sphere. As he managed to perceive each component of the sphere, his perception sharpened, turning the ice sphere into a part of his body.

At that moment of maximum concentration, Tristan experienced something he had never felt before. For a brief few seconds, thanks to the intense connection with the ice sphere resting in his palm, he managed to "see" his own hand in his mind. It was a perception different from sight, an image formed by the sensation of cold and the texture of ice against his skin, a mental image so clear and defined that it left him breathless.

Surprised, he lost his concentration, and the ice sphere dissolved in his hand, evaporating. Tristan remained still, astonished by the experience, his breathing became heavy and his energy rapidly depleted, leaving him exhausted.

Maria, who had observed the entire scene in silence, hurried to his side, her expression reflecting a mix of concern and amazement. "Tristan, are you okay?" she asked, supporting him with her shoulder.

"Yes, master... I'm just... tired. But... for a moment, I could 'see' my hand, through the ice," Tristan managed to say between labored breaths, his voice tinged with a mix of disbelief and joy.