Max blinked in disbelief, dramatic tears forming in the corners of his eyes as he turned toward the black haired boy.
"You motherfucker... This is too much! Even I don't have something like that!"
The black-haired boy only shrugged, his face indifferent. "That's the only reason you're alive, believe me remember, it only took single punch to knock you out. Imagine taking forty one."
Max's fists clenched. He didn't know why, but he really wanted to punch this smug bastard again.
He was silent, overwhelmed by the revelation of just how powerful his spell had been. The sheer thought of it was mind boggling. The Way professor explained he could guess its a Big thing ? That might be something people would kill to get. He almost wanted to knock himself out again just to see if he could replicate it.
Professor Lysira, who had been standing by the window, finally spoke, her gaze distant. "Alright, I'll be heading out. The Sorting Ceremony begins in half an hour. I only came here to remind you two to keep quiet about what happened in the market."
Max suddenly perked up. "Wait professor! You haven't told me anything about the Sorting Ceremony yet!"
Lysira turned back around with a grin. "Ah, yes, the Sorting Ceremony. Don't worry, Mr. Stormhart, you'll know soon enough. Just make sure you're fully dressed and in uniform in thirty minutes. You'll be teleported directly to the main ceremony hall. It would be quite embarrassing if you were in the middle of changing when that happened."
Both boys visibly shivered.
"I will," they said in unison, then glared at each other and looked away.
"Why is this idiot mimicking me?!" Max muttered irritated.
Just as Lysira was about to leave, she paused. "Ah, yes, Mr. Stormhart, I almost forgotbyou haven't received your wand yet. I'll arrange for another professor to take you to the Runestone Market after the ceremony. A wand is an essential tool for a student."
Max fell silent. The black-haired boy raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued.
He doesn't even have a wand yet? he thought.
Max turned toward him. "You said you know how to make wands, right, Hairnet?"
The boy blinked, caught off guard. "Of course. I'm going to be the greatest wandmaker Eldarado has ever known."
Max didn't respond to him. Instead, he looked at Professor Lysira. "Professor, don't worry about the wand. He'll make it for me. I think that's fair, considering everything I've done for him."
Lysira and the black-haired boy both reacted with surprised expressions.
"Call me 'Daddy,' and I'll grant you the honor of receiving a wand made by my hands for free," the boy said with a sly grin. Inside, he was genuinely confused. Does this idiot even realize what he's asking?
Getting a wand made by someone was a big deal. It was personal. The first wand of a mage was something sacred. No one in their right mind would entrust that to someone untested, let alone a sixteen year old. Even he wouldn't have accepted a wand made by himself if he didn't know his own skills.
Max ignored the boy's comment, much to the boy's frustration.
Lysira raised a hand to stop them. "Mr. Stormhart, I understand that you two share a close relationship. Maybe his skills are impressive, but please, don't be impulsive. The first wand is a mage's foundation. It should be made by someone experienced."
The black-haired boy simply nodded in agreement, showing no signs of offense.
Max looked between the two of them, then noticed the boy trying to hide a grin. That spark of excitement in his eyes gave Max all the confirmation he needed.
"It's going to be fine, Professor. It's just a wand. If this idiot screws up, I'll just buy a new one." Max shrugged.
"What did you just say, you donut?! It'll be your lifelong honor to wield a wand made by me!"
"Donut?!" Max gasped.
The two boys started bickering again like kids in a schoolyard. Lysira rubbed her temple.
"Alright, enough. I'm leaving now. Get ready, and please don't cause any more trouble."
But before she could vanish, Max called out again. "Wait! Professor, one more thing."
She exhaled sharply, clearly irritated. "What is it now, Mr. Stormhart? I'm running late."
Max looked serious. The black-haired boy went quiet, sensing a shift in the mood.
"Do you have anything I can use to cover my eye? So no one else sees it?"
Lysira paused, her eyebrows lifting. "Didn't you say you'd never hide something that wasn't your fault? What changed?"
She studied him, wondering if fear had finally gotten to him. After all, he was still just a kid, and facing death changed people.
Max took a deep breath. "Yes, I did say that. And I meant it. I won't hide because people hate what they don't understand. That's their problem, not mine."
He looked at her directly. "But now I know something I didn't before. It's not just about me. It's not right when good people get hurt just because they stood up for me. I didn't understand that before because... no one ever did. But someone did this time. And they nearly died because of it. I can't allow that."
He looked down, fists clenched. "So maybe... until I'm strong enough to protect them too, I'll keep it covered. Call it cowardice if you want I don't care. I just can't stand that disgusting feeling when someone gets hurt because of me."
Even the black haired boy was silent now, glancing at Max from the corner of his eye.
Lysira was silent for a moment, her gaze unreadable.
"Interesting... Very interesting indeed," she finally said. A grin spread across her face, her eyes flickering with an different colour before returning to normal.
I'm not going to cast any concealment spells. If you ever decide to show your true self again, I want it to be on your own terms, not because of some magic you can't undo."
She flicked her hand, tossing something at Max. He caught it instinctively.
He looked down. "What's this?"
"Sunglasses," she said, already turning away. "They might suit you, Mr. Stormhart," she said with a smirk.."
Turned to leave, waving a hand behind her. "Time's ticking. Get dressed. You've got less than thirty minutes before the ceremony. And I swear, if either of you are teleporting mid change, don't say I didn't warn you."
She disappeared from the room in a flash.
The two boys stared at the space she left behind. Max turned the sunglasses over in his hands, thoughtful.
From somewhere far away, Lysira walked briskly down the hall, her expression unreadable.
"Two kids, only 16 years old, came back alive after brushing with death... This year's first batch of classes is going to be very interesting, she chuckled."
---