After several tumbles into the water, Gray gradually got the hang of it.
He was already skilled in Ice-Make Magic, and his control over magic power was much more refined than Natsu's. He stood steadily on the sea surface. Although still a bit shaky, he could barely maintain his balance.
"Hmph, that's all there is to it."
He smugly glanced at Natsu, who was still struggling with the water on the shore.
"Damn it! Even the underwear ice block..."
Natsu's eyes blazed with fury at Gray's smug expression. He roared and charged towards the sea again.
Splash!
The result remained unchanged.
Repeated failures frustrated Natsu. He suddenly remembered that Mirajane seemed to have explained something to Lucy earlier, so he immediately turned and ran towards her.
"Mira! Quickly tell me how to do that!"
"Oh, you want to learn too?"
Mirajane still wore her gentle smile and patiently repeated the principle she had just explained to Lucy.
"...Evenly attach magic power to the soles of your feet, utilizing the surface tension of the water..."
"Magic membrane... adhesion..."
Natsu's brain was clearly unable to process such complex information, but he grasped a few keywords.
"I get it! It's using magic power to stick to the water!" He roared, as if enlightened, and charged into the sea again.
Although his understanding of the principle was muddled, the single-minded determination of this simple-minded creature was not to be underestimated.
Splash!
"Again!"
Splash!
"I don't believe it!"
Time and again he fell into the water, time and again he charged. Perhaps it was his stubborn personality, or perhaps his fire-attribute magic power was naturally more volatile, but he took much longer than Gray.
Finally, after an unknown number of mouthfuls of seawater, Natsu successfully stood on the sea surface.
"Ohhh! I did it!" He excitedly waved his fists, letting out a roar of victory.
Ryoma, who was enjoying a wave massage while resting on the waves in the distance, lazily opened one eye.
Seeing Erza, Gray, and now even Natsu standing on the water, an ominous premonition arose in his heart.
His leisurely vacation time seemed to be coming to an end.
Sure enough, Natsu's first action after succeeding was to direct his battle-filled gaze towards Ryoma.
"Ryoma! Let's have a showdown!" He roared and started to move, preparing to rush over.
However, as soon as he took two steps, the sea surface beneath him gently swayed. Just this tiny undulation instantly froze the fighting spirit on Natsu's face, replaced by a visible pallor.
"Ugh..."
His face turned green, all his strength seemed to drain away instantly, and the magic power membrane under his feet immediately disintegrated.
Splash!
This time, Natsu did not charge again. Instead, he paddled back to shore with both hands and feet, his face filled with apprehension and lingering fear. He lay on the sand, pale-faced, looking as if he had narrowly escaped death, no longer daring to glance at the sea.
Ryoma looked at his appearance, a smile involuntarily curling at the corner of his lips.
So that's it. This has also become his mode of transport?
This truly is an unexpected surprise.
Gray wouldn't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He walked on the sea to the shore, looking down at the limp Natsu with an infuriating smile.
"Yo, fire-breather, what's wrong? Looks like a certain idiot isn't doing so well."
"You bastard, what nonsense are you spouting!?" Natsu instantly bristled and lunged forward.
"Are you looking for a fight?!"
But as soon as he reached the water's edge, seeing the rising and falling waves, his steps abruptly halted, and that expression mixed with dizziness and nausea reappeared on his face.
Gray smiled even more happily. He ran backward on the sea surface, continuing to provoke.
"A fight? Catch me first, you idiot."
With that, he turned elegantly and swiftly moved away on the sea, leaving behind a series of triumphant laughs.
"Damn ice bastard! Just you wait!" Natsu could only stand on the shore, roaring in impotent fury.
Gray felt refreshed. This was probably the first time in many years that he had managed to completely suppress Natsu in both words and demeanor, with the latter utterly helpless.
This feeling... it was amazing.
However, his good mood did not last long. A figure appeared silently beside him.
"Gray."
Gray's body stiffened, and the smile on his face instantly froze.
He stiffly turned his head, only to see Erza had appeared behind him at some point, staring at him with her undeniable eyes.
"Our beach volleyball game is suspended. Now, we begin a new training regimen."
Erza's gaze passed over him, landing on Ryoma, who had just sat up in the distance, watching with an expression of amusement.
She extended a finger and pointed into the distance.
"Sea Challenge!"
"The two of us will hunt down Ryoma!"
"Huh?! Hey..." Gray's face instantly fell.
"This is excellent training." Erza's tone brooked no argument.
"It can exercise mobility in water walking, and also practice cooperation and pursuit in combat. It absolutely cannot be missed."
As soon as she finished speaking, she had already charged towards Ryoma, moving swiftly across the water's surface.
"Hey! Wait! Why me again!" Gray shouted helplessly.
But seeing Erza already charging off, he sighed and eventually followed. If he couldn't resist, he could only join.
Their movements naturally caught Ryoma's attention. He watched Erza and Gray constantly approaching, his eyelids twitching uncontrollably.
He knew it! Nothing good ever happened!
He helplessly sat up from the sea surface. It seemed that being forced to work today was inevitable.
A 2-on-1 sea chase battle thus unfolded.
Ryoma really wanted to exclaim, 'Why do your trainings have to involve me?'
This farce continued until the sun was about to set, and the exhausted Erza and Gray ultimately failed to catch Ryoma.
As night fell, the Fairy Tail guild members lit a bonfire, and everyone gathered around for a barbecue party.
"Meat! My meat!"
"I grilled that first! You fire idiot!"
Natsu on the beach had regained his usual vigor, fighting Gray over a piece of grilled meat. Lucy was frantically trying to mediate, while Mirajane smiled as she distributed grilled food and drinks to everyone.
Erza, having expended a lot of energy during the day's "training," was now lying on a beach chair, listening to her companions' commotion and slowly drifting off to sleep.
In the darkness, cold chains wrapped around her hands.
A familiar and terrifying scene reappeared.
A dark, damp stone cell, the desperate cries of companions, overseers wielding branding irons...
"Erza..."
Jellal's voice seemed to echo in her ears.
"For true freedom..."
"No—!"
Erza jolted awake from her nightmare, gasping for breath, her forehead covered in cold sweat.
The bonfire still crackled, and the party's noise had quieted down. She instinctively looked towards the sea and saw a few figures standing there.
It was Ryoma, Mirajane, and Lucy. They were talking in low voices against the sea breeze, the peaceful atmosphere forming a stark contrast to the turbulent waves within her.
As if sensing her gaze, Ryoma turned his head.
He said something to Mirajane and Lucy, and the two girls, understanding, nodded. They glanced at Erza, then turned and walked towards the hotel.
Ryoma took a step, walking across the soft sand until he stood before her.
"Had a nightmare?" His voice was calm, as if stating a fact.
Erza's body instinctively tensed, and she unconsciously straightened her back, as if putting on that invisible armor again.
"I'm fine, just a little tired."
Ryoma didn't press. He just watched the bonfire in front of them silently, like her.
The sound of the waves and the crackling bonfire slowly soothed the turmoil in Erza's heart.
After a long while, Ryoma spoke again, "Sometimes, the more you try to forget, the more you remember."