Chapter 4: First Outing

It was finally a weekend, as the rest of the school was planning to do something fun, tensions rose between two individuals; to help ease off the rising tensions Max makes his way towards The Rusty Mug to meet Uncle Joe, as he enters the tavern, he is overwhelmed by the rush inside, Max somehow made his way past the crowded tavern and finally finds Uncle Joe.

Max: Hey!! Uncle Joe…

Joe: Oh, Max…wait…I'll get back to ya in a sec.

Max waits of Uncle Joe and even lends a hand, soon the day turns into night and the tavern is finally closed, as the employees leave Joe takes out a bottle of wine and the two have a seat.

Joe: So, what did you want to talk to me about?

Max: Well…I…

Although hesitant at first, Max slowly starts to reveal the position he has gotten himself into after a few bottles of wine, Uncle Joe's expression was nonchalant the entire time but his hands shook as he gulped almost half of the wine the bottle, after taking a deep breath, Joe finally spoke.

Joe: So…directly to home base eh?

Max: uhm…yeah…whatever that means.

Joe: W-well…it's okay…d-don't panic…deep breaths, yeah, that's it, take deep breaths.

Max: …I think I'm way past that phase right now.

Joe finishes another whole bottle of wine and finally calms down.

Joe: Well, there is no use of making it weird now, if a kid is born, you'll have to raise it.

Max: That is inevitable, what do I do now, she won't even look at me let alone talk to me.

Joe: Then just tell her how you truly feel.

Max: What do you mean by that?

Joe: Well, do you feel apologetic?

Max: …No.

Joe: Good?

Max: Not really.

Joe: …Then what do you feel?

Max: Well…It's a weird feeling, whenever I see her…I feel comfortable yet…not comfortable, but not in that sense, I think I feel something in my stomach, that's all.

Joe (smiles): Well, that my boy, is called love…or it could just be gas.

Max (smiles): I think it's the former.

Joe: The best thing to do now is-

Just before Joe could continue, The Rusty Mug's door was smashed down by two individuals who appeared out of the blue. The one responsible for the damage was a short red-haired kid, he could be a year or two younger to Max, the boy wore tattered brown robes and some kind of a metal gauntlet on his right hand; the second child was dressed in similar attire but had silver locks and golden eyes, he seemed to be timid and reluctant to stop his hot-headed friend.

???: Alex, it's just an old man and some dude, I can take em down no sweat!

Joe smirks at Max and tells him "Do you wanna take care of this?", to which Max replies "Sure, I could use a warm-up.", Max then cracks his knuckles and steps forward, the red hothead smiled and dashed right at Max punching him in the stomach and causing him to fall, the kid smiled thinking that it was all over but to his surprise Max stood up and grunted. This was gonna be a long night.

On the other hand, Louis was up and with Doc and Kamui in the library. As Doc went on to bring Louis up to speed, he also tells him how Max wouldn't have given a rat's ass if he had died.

Louis: No…It can't be…he…he saved my life.

Vernon: Max is just pulling off a nice guy facade, deep down he is a bad person.

Louis: Well, what's your proof?

Vernon: Well, I have Kamui here.

Louis: YOU THINK I'LL BELIEVE A COMPLETE STRANGER.

Amy suddenly pops into the conversation from behind Louis.

Amy (sighs): Y'all can't stay calm a second without me. Louis, tell me, how do you feel?

Louis: Fine actually.

Amy (smiles): Why don't y'all come with me?

Amy leads them into the forest where she instructs Louis to conjure up a fireball using mana, confused at first, Louis decides to do it anyway, as Louis tries to pour mana into his right hand, he feels it circulating inside his entire body, overwhelmed he tries to release the mana as an attack only to create a fireball bigger than he had ever before, Amy quickly absorbs it and smirks.

Amy (smirks): Enhanced mana capacity, enhanced physical prowess, enhanced endurance and so much more; these are the perks of have a Prince of Hell inside of you.

Kamui was flabbergasted seeing a frail kid producing that much power, moreover, he was immediately mesmerized by it. The four then left the forest and Louis had the idea of checking out The Rusty Mug to which everyone obliged, they talked and bonded as they walked towards the tavern as they got close to it, Kamui observed that the doors were wide open which he thought was strange at this hour, the four rushed inside only to see Max sparring with a kid.

As the kid tried to hit Max he failed, no matter what he did he couldn't even touch Max, just then Amy calls Max.

Amy: MAX! Quit playing with him.

The kid lost his concentration and turned towards the door only to black out the next moment.

 Amy: Look at what you did!

Max: Well, if it wasn't for your wild card entry he would've dodged that.

Amy: Huh! What's that supposed to mean?

Vernon: Guys, I think he's regaining consciousness.

As the child regains consciousness Max gets close to his face and asks him a series of questions to make sure he didn't get amnesia after that hit.

Max (smiles): Welcome back to the world of the living Roran. Alex told me a lot about you.

Amy: Well, technically showed a lot about you (whispers to Max) "You know, him being mute"

Max: Yes Amy…thank you, anyway, you boys must be hungry.

All of them sit in one big round table Amy and Max bring out some leftover dishes which were warmed up, Roran apologizes to uncle Joe to which he nonchalantly nods his head and then smiles at him, as the food came in they all ate, they are for seconds and thirds, Roran even asking for fourth! After the meal, uncle Joe insisted on his famous tarte tatin, which he went back to whip up from scratch in the kitchen.

Roran: uhm, Mr. Max.

Max (smiles): Just call me Max, I'm not that old.

Roran: …What was that technique you used.

Max: Oh, that was just simple defence.

Roran: S-so can you teach me.

Max (smiles): Are you ready to learn.

A cold sweat drops from Roran's temple as he nods and shakes Max's hand.

Max: So…what's with the gauntlet.

Roran: Nothing…just make me look cool.

Max: Alright then, forest, tomorrow, at dawn.

Roran complies to Max's instructions with a simple nod, Max retreats back to the lake and spends his night drinking there, Amy introduces herself and her friends to the duo and Pip rests in Max's bed. Avery nonchalantly stares out the window, her eyes dull yet focused on something out there…