Chapter 25: The Unseen Strain

Maxim couldn't shake the frustration from their trip to Rukovna. The cracked stone had been a harsh reminder that this path wasn't going to be simple. Yet, it had been a clue—a hint that he was on the right track. The problem was finding something that wouldn't break under the strain of his mana.

Back home, Maxim and Daniel sat in the old warehouse they had been using for training. Daniel was still fired up from their journey, eager to push the boundaries of what Maxim could do. But Maxim's mind was elsewhere, still running through the possibilities of materials that could store mana.

"So, what now?" Daniel asked, breaking the silence. He was sitting on an overturned crate, drumming his fingers against his knee. "We know regular stones won't cut it. What about metals? Or some kind of alloy? Something super strong."

Maxim sighed. "Maybe. But I don't think it's just about strength. The stone cracked because it couldn't handle the energy. It's like... it resisted the mana."

Daniel frowned. "What are you saying? That we need something that doesn't just hold up, but actually... works with the energy?"

Maxim nodded slowly, his thoughts still piecing together. "Yeah, something like that. It's like the material needs to be compatible with mana, not just strong. But how do I figure out what that is?"

Daniel leaned back, thinking hard. "Well, we could look into old legends, right? Magic artifacts, stuff like that. I mean, there's gotta be something we can use as a reference."

Maxim gave a half-smile. "You've been watching too many movies, man."

But Daniel was already pulling out his phone, scrolling through websites about magical relics and ancient talismans. He was determined to find something, and Maxim couldn't help but admire his enthusiasm.

Maxim stood up, feeling restless. "I'll test some metals tomorrow, see if anything responds. I've got some leftover scraps from a project." He glanced around the warehouse, thinking about what other materials they could try. Maybe something more refined, something crafted with care rather than raw, uncut stones.

"What about synthetic materials?" Daniel asked suddenly. "I know it sounds crazy, but what if modern tech is the answer? Some hybrid of magic and science?"

Maxim paused, the idea catching him off guard. "Like... what? Some kind of advanced tech that can store mana like a battery?"

Daniel shrugged. "It's worth a shot, isn't it? I mean, if rocks can't hold it, maybe we need to think outside the box."

Maxim mulled it over. The idea wasn't as far-fetched as it seemed. In their world, the lines between magic and technology were often blurred. Maybe there was a way to combine the two.

But all of that would have to wait. There was something else looming on the horizon, something far more immediate. "Before we get too deep into this," Maxim said, "I have a bigger problem to deal with."

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

Maxim sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Lila. She invited me to her family's place for dinner. I don't know why, but I get the feeling this isn't just a casual meal."

Daniel smirked. "Well, she is into you, right? Maybe it's just a way to spend more time together."

Maxim wasn't so sure. Lila was a mystery to him. She was smart, charming, and completely out of his league, and yet she had invited him to meet her family. That was huge. But Maxim had no idea what to expect or how to handle it. And on top of that, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this dinner than just meeting the family.

"I don't even know what to wear," Maxim muttered. "I can't just show up looking like some random guy from the street."

Daniel laughed. "Don't overthink it. Just be yourself. You'll be fine."

Maxim nodded, but the anxiety lingered. The idea of sitting across the table from Lila's parents, trying to make a good impression, while simultaneously dealing with the weird dynamic between him and Lila—who he was trying desperately not to fall for—was enough to make him lose his appetite.

And then there was the other, much bigger issue. Lila's casual mention of a special crystal. It might be exactly what he needed, but what if it wasn't? What if he spent a ridiculous amount of money on it, only for it to fail, like the stone back in Rukovna?

Maxim couldn't afford to make a mistake. Not now. But it seemed like no matter what path he chose, everything was leading him straight into uncharted territory.

Later That Night

Maxim lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind refused to settle, flicking between thoughts of magic, materials, and Lila. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the image of her from his mind—the way she had looked at him with that playful smile, the way her eyes seemed to see right through him.

He groaned, turning over in his bed. "You're an idiot, Maxim," he muttered to himself. Lila was amazing, but she was also way out of his league. There was no point in getting attached, and yet... he couldn't help it.

He grabbed his phone and quickly texted Daniel. "We're testing the metals tomorrow. I've got to figure this out."

A reply buzzed back almost instantly. "Got it. Let's make some magic happen, bro. You've got this."

Maxim smiled, feeling a flicker of hope despite the chaos in his mind. Maybe Daniel was right. Maybe there was a solution waiting out there, and maybe, just maybe, everything would fall into place.

But for now, all he could do was take it one step at a time. Starting with dinner at Lila's.

And finding the crystal... before it was too late.