Chapter 3- The Day After…
The sun rose, its rays striking Avery's face, forcing eyelids open, half-awake, she turned to the other side to find Max cooking breakfast as usual; staring at him, she zoned out.
Max came up to her and snapped his fingers, Avery realized how close Max actually was, she realized that she wasn't wearing anything below her blanket and that Max himself was half-naked.
Max (snaps his fingers again): You have a terrible habit of zoning out, eat your food while its hot.
Max then took a spoonful of the hot porridge he had just prepared and fed it to Avery as she was still trying to contemplate.
Avery (trying to speak with a mouthful): M-Max.
Max: Hush, don't speak with a mouthful, it's a bad habit.
Avery obeys and finishes the porridge in her mouth first, she then takes a deep breath and finally speaks.
Avery: What happened last night?
Max (shocked): How much do you remember?
Avery: W-We were having wine.
Max
Was I too rough last night? Or could it be the effects of the aphrodisiac? Is it even possible to be so rough with your partner that she forgets the good time? Or is this a trick question? If it is, then HOW THE HECK am I supposed to answer this?
Avery: M-Max, Max, MAX!!
Avery's voice snapped Max back into reality, after contemplating through a thousand possibilities on how the situation could be handled without any unnecessary drama, Max finally spoke.
Max (smiles): So…basically…we did it.
Avery (tilts her head in confusion): Huh? What did we do?
Max, realizing there was no easier way to put it got closer to Avery and whispered the details in Avery's ear, he could feel Avery's cheeks getting warmer by the minute as he specified the details.
Avery (embarrassed): N-no, i-it can't be.
Max (smiles): Trust me darling, (he leans closer to Avery's ear and whispers yet again) you were practically begging for it.
Avery's cheek flushed red as she covered her face to hide her embarrassment, Max rubbed her back to comfort her and gave her a pillow to let out her emotions, Avery takes the pillow and lets out a muffled scream with a dreadful cry.
Max: Feeling better.
Avery (sniffs): I-I guess.
Max: …
Avery: M-max, I-I' am sorry.
Max (smiles): Don't be…I take full responsibility for my actions.
Avery: B-but if someone gets to know, y-you might get kicked out of the dorm room.
Max (smiles): Don't worry…I'll figure something out.
Avery stares at Max's determined face, his eyes hiding a cascade of emotions yet his facial expression remains stoic, Avery extends her hand and grabs Max's giving him a reassuring smile as he stares back in confusion.
Back at the library Amy finally wakes up, she stretches her back and lets out a groan followed by a yawn. She looks around only to find that Pip is missing, she tries to wake Kamui up but he seemed to be lost in his own reverie, Amy looks around for Vernon but to no avail; she concludes that Vernon has taken Pip.
Just as Amy was about to open the library doors, Max pushed them hastily from the other side, smacking Amy's nose.
Amy (holding her nose to stop the bleeding): HEY, WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL!
Max: Oh, I didn't see ya there.
Kamui appears from behind Max out of the blue.
Kamui: You finally decided to come.
Max (smiles): I trust you had a good night's sleep.
Kamui smiles slightly, a slight "humph" was barely even heard from his mouth. From the open door then appeared Vernon with Pip on his shoulder, as soon as Pip spots Max his ears twitch with joy, he jumps from Vernon's shoulder, performs a backflip, and then runs towards Max's arms
Pip (exclaims in excitement): BIG BROTHER!!
Max catches the young boy as he jumps into his arms and embraces him tightly. Pip then fell asleep in Max's embrace leading Max to wonder why the boy was so tired.
Vernon (stoic): He refused to sleep or eat the whole night.
Max (smiles): As expected, the beastmen really do take loyalty very seriously.
Vernon (clenches his fists in anger): Is this a joke to you?
Max (smiles): Hmm, not really…but it is pretty funny.
Vernon: You were the one who brought him here, do you not care for his well-being?
Max (smiles): I do have a doctor with me, don't I? And besides, I feed him and give him a proper place to sleep, I do expect some attachment in return.
Max leaves the library with Pip in his arms, before leaving Max adds a final remark to the doctor's concern.
Max: By the way doctor, don't take things so seriously here, this is school, not a hospital.
Vernon clenches his teeth in anger but then takes a deep breath to regain his composure.
Max goes back to his room and puts Pip on his bed, he accidentally looks towards the bathroom as he was about to leave only to see Avery, bare-skinned and wrapped in a towel. Max quickly averts his gaze and Avery slams the door shut in embarrassment.
???: Quite clumsy, isn't she?
Max: Hmm
Max let out a huge sigh and closed his eyes, his spirit was instantly transported to a desolate realm; a realm of ruin, a realm of chaos, and one of darkness. As he walked through the ruins unfazed and with a nonchalant expression, he was suddenly teleported into a grand castle.
Max (smiles): I love what you have done with the place, it gives a certain vibe, no?
???: You finally answer my summons, why now of all time?
Max: Well, though you were bored, you know, a thousand years of loneliness can make even the holiest of saints insane.
???: Humph, I can feel the seal weakening, once your reserves are drained, I shall reunite with my physical body and destroy you…the man responsible for all the evil in this world.
Max (smiles): That is if you can get someone to drain my reserves and you already know this for a fact, I'm the strongest there is.
???:…
Max: Whoops! Look at the time, gotta go, byee.
As Max opens his eyes only to realize that Pip was wide awake and staring at him, Max tilted his head in confusion and Pip mimicked him, he tilted his head to the other side and Pip mimicked him once again, Max noticed that Pip was wagging his tail in excitement; knowing what it meant, Max sighed and the next thing we see is Max in training grounds where Pip enjoyed playing with him and Sir Ronald.
As Pip rode on Ronald's shoulders he screamed with joy, just then Amy snuck up behind Max.
Amy: The kid looks up to you.
Max: Hmm.
Amy: What do you plan to do with him after he locates Lucifer.
Max (smiles): I plan to dispose of him.
Amy: Like I did with Alec?
Max looks at her with a blank expression on his face, he then chuckles.
Max: I'm surprised you still remember him.
Amy (smiles): He was my brother after all.
Max: Ha, I'm pretty sure he would've been stronger than you if he was alive.
Amy: Guess we'll never find out.
The duo chats for a while longer till Pip runs over to Max and Amy, he embraces both of them tightly, Amy is shocked by the sudden display of affection and a small smile is suddenly displayed on her face.
As Pip leaves, Max leans over to Amy and whispers in her ear.
Max (whispers): You're not getting soft, are you?
Amy: Ha, you wish.
Max smiles back at Amy and leaves thinking that this is the last he'll be hearing of this conversation, but little did he know the dark secret Amy was hiding from him, a secret that would change Max's life for the better or for the worse.