Chapter 2: The Puppeteer

Principal: You lot are in quite a bit of trouble.

Said the Principal to Max as he settled back into his wooden armchair, his gaze unwavering. He slowly ran a hand through his blue hair, scratched his stubble, and picked up a piece of paper. After a moment, he fixed his eyes on Max once more.

Principal: Well, spit it out, lad. Got somethin' to say for yourself?

Max remained calm, he closed his eyes for a moment and then spoke with his usual smile.

Max: There is no excuse, what I've done was a rueful act, but it was necessary for my mission.

Principal: And what would that be?

Max (smiles): To gather attention.

Principal: Well, you've certainly managed that, haven't you?

Just then a loud thud was heard outside the closed doors of the principal's cabin; from there stormed in a dwarf.

Big Ol' Johnny: Ach, Max, ma' boy, I've been lookin' fer ye, laddie!

Max smiles awkwardly and greets his employer, the principal took one look at the dwarf and spoke with a stoic expression.

Principal: It's good to see you, John

The dwarf stares at the principal, his optimistic smile suddenly turns to a frown and he speaks in a low voice.

Big Ol' Johnny: I go by Big Ol' Johnny now. I'm takin the boy with me.

The principal expression was still stoic, his expression narrowed and he spoke with a low grunt.

Principal: Do what you wish with him.

Big Ol' Johnny grabbed Max's wrist and dragged him outside the cabin, they walked through the empty corridors only to spot Ms. Elara who was shocked to see the dwarf in a place like this.

Elara: Where do you think you're taking the boy?

Big Ol' Johnny: Oh, buzz off ye old hag!! This is much more important than some perfume lesson.

Elara, clearly offended, threw a potion at the dwarf feet who had just passed by her, his feet instantly froze to the ground, the dwarf looked at her, Elara tried to hide a small smirk beneath her stoic expression but failed; the dwarf returned her smirk with a final warning.

Big Ol' Johnny: Ya gonna regret this big-time lass.

Elara removes the glove on her left hand and throws it on the ground, the dwarf sighs in disappointment, he then easily breaks free from the ice and dashes at her at full speed. Elara threw another potion but Johnny suddenly disappears, Elara's gaze widened in shock but it was already too late, Johnny gathered his mana to release an explosion powerful enough to shatter the entire corridor.

As the dust settled, Elara took a deep breath and exclaimed as loud as possible.

Elara (angrily): WHAT THE HELL, YA TRYNA KILL ME OR SOMETHIN!

Hearing her voice the dwarf eyes narrowed, he began to charge up another explosion, Elara stood still, her eyes narrowed in determination and a smirk appeared on her face; as soon as the dwarf released the second blast it was absorbed, the dwarf immediately recognized this handiwork and perused his lips, he turns to find the principal standing right behind him.

Principal: We have a no-fight policy in our school, that applies to the teachers and to outsiders as well.

The principal's eyes were fixed on the dwarf, his expression stoic yet his fists clenched, the rising tension was finally brought down by Sir Ronald's entrance.

Sir Ronald: Ah! Master John, fancy seeing you here.

Big ol'Johnny: I trust you've been good, laddie

Sir Ronald: HA! You know me too well; I'm as fit as a fiddle.

The dwarf smiled at his former student and left without uttering a word, before leaving her whispered something in Ronald's ear, and then left without Max. And so, began Ronald's intense training regime with the first years.

It began with an intense thirty-minute warmup with push-ups till failure, right after that, squats till failure, and then finally a two-minute sprint; for recovery, a fifteen-minute break was granted.

Max sat with his peers, every one of them breathless and glistening with sweat, relaxed as they complained about the sudden change in Ronald's training regime.

Boy 1 (pants): What the hell!! Ever since that dwarf left Mr. Ronald's class have been no different from hell.

Boy 2: I agree, even hell would be kinder.

Boy 3: Max, aren't you tired?

Everyone's attention shifted to the certain group of people who sat calm, despite the intense training, they didn't break a sweat. Max ignored the question and went back to his plan.

Amy: But still, how do we know Avery's ready?

Max (smiles): Fear not, she has an amazing teacher.

Amy (chuckles): And who would that be?

Max (smiles): Me.

Amy (sighs): Very well then, if you insist; but don't blame me if she dies.

Max returned the comment with a smile, after the fifteen-minute break came sword practice. As usual, Max was paired with Avery.

Max: Don't overwork yourself.

Avery (pants but then smiles): Don't worry about me, I'll be fine.

Max: Listen, Avery, I have something to tell you…It's something private.

Avery: Then we'll talk it out after the classes.

Max's gaze widened but he returned Avery's suggestion with a nod.

During the night, as Max entered his room alone, he found Avery sitting on the dining table, two empty glasses with a bottle of champagne and a fancy dinner, Avery wore the dress Max had selected for her during the party. Max smiled and took a seat right across the table.

Max (smiles): I guess I am a little underdressed for the occasion.

Avery: No no, it's fine, this was kinda out of the blue…sorry, I-I had to inform you first…I

Max (chuckles): It's okay Avery, I was only joking.

Avery: Ah, haha.

Avery

What do I do now, I did invite him as per plan, and now I only need to make him drink the wine, b-but how? I really should've made a solid plan.

Max

Well, this certainly is awkward, what could her motive be to invite me all of a sudden out of the blue, could it be to poison me (chuckles) that won't really work, too bad for her.

After a long silence, Avery suddenly spoke up.

Avery: Is the food okay, Max?

Max (smiles): Did you make it?

Avery: I-I tried.

Max (chuckles): It's delicious.

Max saw a smile carve up Avery's face, yet she didn't stop fidgeting with her hand, Max sighed and finally decided to drink the wine. He poured wine in the two glasses and passed one to Avery.

Max: Let's make a toast, to us!

Avery nodded and the two drank the glass.

Max

Hmm, not poisoned, I don't feel any after-effects too, so…not poison, but the wine does taste good, another glass won't hurt.

They both drank another glass and chatted, Avery finally opened up to Max and soon the couple finished the whole bottle, after a while both felt a sudden heat inside their bodies, Avery, still heavily intoxicated began removing his clothes slowly.

Max realized these were the effects of an aphrodisiac. He also felt a sudden urge to mate; the tension increased between them even more, Max sighed and then smiled, he then simply shrugged and gave in to the effects.

Max gently kissed Avery's neck, she let out a moan, a sound unfamiliar to her, Max took another sip of the wine and kissed Avery; Max then suddenly carried Avery in his arms and their intimate night of passion continued in their bed.

The scene shifts towards Vernon and Amy who seem to be watching over Pip in the library and accommodating themselves with Kamui.

Vernon: So…Kamui right?

Kamui (stoic): You must be the doctor.

Amy (tries to hold her smile): Hold still!!

Pip: NO, I WANNA MEET BIG BRO!!!

Vernon steps in behind Pip and touches his head, Pip falls asleep as soon as Vernon touches him; Amy quickly grabs him and places him on a chair.

Amy: Couldn't you have done that before!!

Kamui (stoic): You must be Max's girlfriend.

Amy smiles and then blushes thinking that as a compliment, Vernon scans the library looking for Max, and finally speaks.

Vernon: Speaking of which, where is Max?

Amy (sighs): He certainly has picked up a sense of tardiness ever since he left.

Kamui: We can wait.

The three of them ended up waiting the whole night.