Chapter 22: The Search for the Crystal

Maxim sat at his desk, books and papers scattered around him, yet his mind wasn't fully on his studies. Despite all the breakthroughs he'd had lately, there was something else lingering at the back of his thoughts. Lila. She'd become an important ally, but there was more to it than that. The way her eyes lit up when she looked at him, how she always seemed genuinely interested in what he had to say—it all made him feel something he wasn't ready to acknowledge.

He'd always thought she was out of his league. Lila was beautiful, wealthy, and from a family that could probably set her up with anyone she wanted. Meanwhile, Maxim felt like just another student, fumbling his way through this newfound power and trying to keep up with everything life was throwing at him. Why would someone like her be interested in him, let alone care about his strange ability?

But lately, there had been moments—glances, small gestures—that made him question if maybe she felt the same way. He couldn't let himself believe it, though. She had everything; he had nothing to offer her, not really.

Shaking his head, Maxim turned his attention back to the topic that had been occupying him for days: mana storage. His attempts to store mana in regular objects had failed, and it seemed clear now that he needed something special, like the crystals from the fantasy stories he used to read as a child.

Lila had said she'd look into it. She had connections through her father's business, and Maxim felt a strange mix of hope and nervousness as he waited to hear from her. His logical mind told him it was impossible—real magic didn't work like it did in books. But his experiences were proving otherwise. Maybe there really was a crystal that could hold mana.

A knock on his door broke his concentration. It was Lila, standing there with her usual confident smile, though there was something different about her expression today—nervous, maybe?

"I think I found something," she said, stepping into the room.

Maxim's heart skipped a beat. "You did?"

She nodded, her eyes glimmering with excitement. "There's an auction happening in a few days. My father mentioned a rare crystal that's going to be on sale. It's said to have some... unique properties. I don't know the details yet, but it sounds like what you're looking for."

Maxim felt a rush of adrenaline. This could be it—the breakthrough he needed. But alongside that excitement came a wave of anxiety. The auction sounded exclusive, probably expensive, and there was no way he could afford to bid on something like that.

He opened his mouth to thank her, but Lila cut him off with a grin. "And don't worry about the details," she said. "I'll handle it."

Maxim blinked, surprised. "You will?"

Lila's cheeks reddened slightly, and she quickly glanced away. "It's no big deal. I want to help."

Maxim felt a knot in his chest tighten. He wasn't used to people doing things for him—especially not someone like Lila. It made him feel like he owed her something, and that wasn't a feeling he liked. But he couldn't deny how grateful he was.

"Thank you, really," he said quietly.

Lila smiled again, though this time it seemed softer, more genuine. "There's one more thing," she added after a moment's hesitation. "My parents are having a family lunch this weekend, and, well... you're invited."

Maxim blinked in surprise. "Me?"

Lila nodded, looking slightly embarrassed. "Yeah. I... kind of mentioned you to them. As my... friend."

Maxim's heart skipped a beat again, though this time for a completely different reason. Friend. He knew that wasn't exactly how she had phrased it to her parents, but he didn't press the issue. The fact that she was inviting him at all was overwhelming enough.

"Are you sure?" he asked hesitantly. "I mean... your family..."

Lila laughed, though there was a hint of nervousness in it. "Don't worry. They won't bite. Besides, it'll be fun. It'll give you a chance to... you know, relax a bit."

Maxim wasn't entirely convinced, but the way she looked at him, with that mixture of hope and something else he couldn't quite place, made it impossible for him to say no.

"Okay," he said finally. "I'll come."

Lila smiled, her eyes gleaming again, and Maxim couldn't help but feel that maybe—just maybe—he wasn't as out of her league as he thought.

---

That evening, Lila sat in her room, thinking over the day. She couldn't help but remember the moment Maxim had saved her during the school trip—the way his arms had wrapped around her, the look in his eyes when their gazes locked. For a second, it had felt like time had stopped, like the whole world had disappeared, and it was just the two of them.

Her heart raced at the memory. She tried to push the feelings down, tried to convince herself it wasn't real, that Maxim had only done what any good person would have. But every time she saw him, those feelings bubbled back to the surface, unbidden and unwanted. It wasn't supposed to be like this. She wasn't supposed to fall for someone like him—someone her family wouldn't approve of.

And then there was the bigger problem—her slip-up in front of her parents. She had panicked, feeling cornered by their constant pressure to find a "suitable" partner, and had blurted out that she already had a boyfriend. And, for some reason, Maxim's name had been the first thing to come out of her mouth.

Now, she had no idea what to do. Maxim had no clue that she'd pulled him into this mess. And the lunch... oh, god, the lunch.

How was she going to explain this to him? Should she tell him beforehand, or just hope that he went along with it?