In a rural, countryside setting, Gray and Ultear could have a more laid - back relationship development. They might help the local farmers with their magic. Gray could use his ice magic to preserve crops during hot days, and Ultear could use time - magic to speed up the growth of plants in a controlled way. As they work together for the good of the community, they would share stories of their pasts, and their relationship would slowly turn into a deep friendship with mutual respect.
If they were in a modern - day city setting, their relationship might start as a comical one. Gray being all about his ice - making and Ultear with her time - magic could cause some hilarious misunderstandings. For example, Gray might accidentally freeze a coffee shop Ultear was about to enter, and she would be annoyed at first but then find it funny. Eventually, they would bond over protecting the city from magical threats that start to appear.
Imagine a setting in a magical academy where Gray and Ultear are both teachers. At first, they might be rivals in teaching methods. Gray is more hands - on and strict, while Ultear is more experimental and lenient. But as they face challenges like a group of unruly students with powerful but uncontrolled magic, they start to combine their approaches. This would lead to them realizing they can learn a lot from each other, and their relationship would evolve into a collaborative and friendly one, with a hint of admiration for each other's skills.