Chapter 26: The Calm Before the Storm

Maxim stood in front of the mirror, tugging at the sleeves of the button-up shirt he'd hastily thrown on. It wasn't exactly his style—too formal, too stiff—but it was the best he could do. Lila had invited him over to her parents' house for dinner, and the last thing he wanted was to make a bad impression by showing up looking like he didn't care.

But that was only half of his concern. The other half? Well, that was the crystal. He couldn't stop thinking about it. Could it be the key to controlling mana, to storing it? Or was he chasing after something that didn't exist outside of fantasy novels?

He sighed, giving his reflection one last glance. "You look fine," he told himself, though he wasn't sure he believed it.

The knock at the door startled him. He opened it to find Daniel, grinning as usual, but with an almost teasing glint in his eye.

"Wow, man, you clean up nice! Going somewhere important?" Daniel asked, eyes glinting mischievously.

Maxim shot him a look. "You know exactly where I'm going, idiot."

Daniel laughed. "Relax, bro. You've got this. Just be yourself—well, maybe not too much yourself. But hey, if things get awkward, just think about all those crystals we're gonna get our hands on."

Maxim rolled his eyes but couldn't help smirking. "Right, because talking about magical crystals at dinner is going to go over so well."

"You never know, maybe her parents are into that sort of thing," Daniel said, still laughing.

Maxim shook his head and grabbed his jacket. He was nervous, no doubt about it, but he was also curious—about Lila, about her family, and about what she had said the other day. She had mentioned the crystal in passing, like it was no big deal, but to him, it could be the breakthrough he desperately needed. The question was: did she know more than she was letting on? And if so, how could he find out without giving away too much?

The Dinner

When Maxim arrived at Lila's family home, the first thing that struck him was how different it was from what he had imagined. It wasn't overly grand or imposing, but it was elegant in a way that spoke of old money, the kind passed down through generations. The kind of place where people expected certain standards.

Lila greeted him at the door, looking effortlessly beautiful, as always. She smiled at him warmly, but Maxim thought he noticed something else—was it nervousness?

"Hey, you made it," she said softly, stepping aside to let him in. "I hope you didn't have too much trouble finding the place."

"No, it was fine," Maxim replied, though his heart was racing. Being this close to her was always more distracting than he cared to admit. He was trying to keep his cool, but every time he looked at her, that became more difficult.

As they walked through the hallway, Maxim caught glimpses of family portraits, art pieces, and a few antiques that seemed out of place, like relics from a forgotten time. Lila's parents clearly had taste—and probably expectations to match.

"I should probably warn you," Lila said suddenly, glancing up at him with a slightly sheepish look, "my parents... they can be a bit much. But they're good people, really. They just... want what's best for me."

Maxim nodded, unsure what to say. He could feel the weight of the evening pressing down on him now. It wasn't just dinner—this was something more. Lila's invitation hadn't been casual; it had been deliberate, and now he was walking into a situation he wasn't entirely prepared for.

"Don't worry," Lila added quickly, as if sensing his anxiety. "They'll like you. I promise."

Maxim wasn't so sure.

The Family

Dinner was, as Maxim had feared, more formal than he was used to. Lila's parents, especially her father, seemed to scrutinize him with every glance. Her mother, though polite, asked questions that felt probing, as if she were trying to gauge exactly what kind of person he was.

Still, Maxim did his best to stay calm and answer politely. But beneath the surface, he couldn't stop wondering about the crystal. What if this was his only chance to ask? What if this crystal could be the one thing that would help him control his mana, to finally make sense of all the power surging inside him?

Lila, for her part, was doing her best to steer the conversation away from anything too personal, but it wasn't long before the topic of her future came up.

"So, Lila," her mother began, looking between her and Maxim, "have you given any more thought to your plans? I know your father and I have certain... ideas about what would be best for you."

Lila's face tightened slightly, and Maxim could sense her discomfort. This was clearly a conversation they'd had before, and one she wasn't thrilled about.

"I've been thinking about it," Lila said carefully, glancing at Maxim as if searching for support. "But I'm not rushing into anything. I still have a lot to figure out."

Her father's eyes narrowed slightly, though he remained silent. The tension was palpable, and Maxim suddenly felt like he was intruding on a private family matter.

Then, out of nowhere, her father turned his attention to Maxim. "And what about you, Maxim? What are your plans? What do you hope to achieve?"

Maxim swallowed hard. This was it. The question he had been dreading. He could feel the weight of their expectations pressing down on him, and he had no idea what to say.

"I'm... still figuring that out," he said honestly, meeting her father's gaze. "I've been working on something lately, something important, but it's... complicated."

Lila's father raised an eyebrow. "Complicated, you say? And does this 'something' involve my daughter?"

Maxim's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't been prepared for that. He glanced at Lila, who was staring at her plate, clearly uncomfortable.

"In a way, yes," Maxim replied, trying to remain calm. "But it's more than that. I've been working on... understanding things. Learning how to harness certain... energies."

Her father's expression didn't change, but Maxim could tell he wasn't convinced. "Well, I hope you find what you're looking for, young man. But remember, in the real world, success is often measured by more tangible achievements."

Maxim nodded, feeling the pressure mount.

After what felt like an eternity, the dinner finally came to an end. As they left the dining room, Lila caught up to him, her expression apologetic.

"I'm sorry about all that," she said softly. "They can be a bit intense."

Maxim smiled, trying to brush it off. "It's fine. I expected it."