Chapter 13: A few visitors
"Well.. shit. My house." Max was slightly irked as he looked at the destruction. Kaede was still standing on wobbly legs. A sword covered in wind in her grip. Mana was exhausted from holding her sniper rifle back out. Barely able to focus. Both Uzi's destroyed on the side. "Wow."
"Tch! I may have overreacted." Evangeline said. She had two rods still stuck in her. Her experience made it difficult for the two to put her down. Albeit, she took a serious beating. Several bullet holes that did not heal. And she was missing her left arm. "Can you get them to, I do not know, stand down?"
"Umm up to them really." Max was all smiles looking at them. He was very proud of the two. "I kind of wanna see if they can put you down."
*Ding Dong!* The doorbell went off. Max waved it open. Surprised it was Konoka and Setsuna who were there. A basket with treats inside. The two stared at the destruction and the dressed states of the three females.
"Bad time?" Setsuna asked. She eyed Evageline unable to separate the older version from the other mentally. 'Maybe it is her big sister?'
"No, a chance to see a nice little fight." Max was all smiles. But Kaede didn't want to fight in front of the two. Mana was tired and Evangeline's missing arm made Konoka nauseous. Seeing the three stand down, he was disappointed. "Ah, spoilsports of the young."
"A little help would be nice." Mana had deep gashes on her stomach. She was a little too close to Evangeline attacking. "My regeneration is too slow."
"Fine." Max moved his hand over her side. Slowly the flesh mended back in place. Unable to help himself, he ran his fingers along her ribcage. "Hmm, 27.. demon-wise. Human wise.. 18 maybe. Hard to resist getting a bite." He leaned down biting her neck.
"Eep!" Mana shrieked surprised she didn't push him away immediately. His scent caused her to go wild. But it wasn't as overwhelming as it was last night. Subtle and allowed her to gain control of herself. "There is company present."
"I do not care." Max said.
"Oh my." Konoka watched with sparkingly eyes. Setsuna was unbelievably embarrassed. 'What does it feel like to not care what others think?' The youngling wondered.
"Blasted arm." Evangeline attached it and was disgruntled as it didn't heal correctly. Lingering mana from Kaede prevented it. She looked at Max mixed with his "student" intimately. "She is still your student Max!"
"Just a rouse. Not really a student. Definitely too old just like yourself." Max gave her a critical glare. He felt Mana flinch and pull away. "Aww, too bad. Kaede, you finished running your spell yet?"
"You knew?" She looked surprised at Max. "Of course, you knew. I should have expected that. The spell is not that good. To hard pushing out her darkness or shadows. Whatever it is."
Max walked over and grabbed her hands. Slowly he generated a black wind to mix with hers. Kaede followed the tracing marks of where Max guided across her body. A purification and healing spell. Low level but effective.
All the aches and pains disappeared with each passing. Unlike Mana, Kaede just kept focusing on the spell. A slight blush in her cheeks. The two separated after a bit.
"I have much to learn." Kaede said.
"True. But you did great. Both of you did. Just need more experience with Mana. And she needs your stamina while using more of her power." Max waved his hand checking over her condition once more. "You need to stop rushing. Enjoy small victories before you die."
"Right. Heal Evangeline too. She can pay me and Mana back later." Kaede had a glint in her eye. She was up to something that Max would not mess with. "I will see to our guests." She turned to Konoka and Setsuna to follow her into the kitchen. The one place that is not devastated.
"I will.. go change and.." Mana just took off seeing Max stare at her unblinking. ".. make sure to tell Evangeline what she wanted to know earlier. That way she doesn't try to penalize us."
"So how do you want to be healed?" Max asked a little flirtatiously. "Like Mana intimately or professionally like Kaede?"
"Umm... the best way you.. ughh. Just heal me." Evangeline was not used to Max's forward approach yet. The only males she was used to were really the Old Dean and the members of Nagi's group. "Just.. mmpf!"
Make gave Evangeline a blood kiss. Biting the inside of his cheek and mixing it with his saliva as he kissed her. The fresh blood in her current state caused her to grab Max by the side. Her arm reattached in an instant and the wounds closed up.
From the kitchen, they had an audience of three young teens. Setsuna's nose actually bleeding with Konoka's. The two tentatively touched fingers unknown to each other. Kaede couldn't decide where she wanted to look. Her two classmates or her Master and Evangeline in an adult form.
"You are a bad man." Evangeline said pulling away. Her eyes were slightly dewey. "You know my past. What did you do to that man?"
"He was a fake. So I destroyed him. His Master still lives, however. But a blow to your old enemy is still a blow in itself." Max said. He understood she would figure it out. Which by her wide eyes she did. "You do not have the strength to take him/her on yet. I suggest you get stronger."
"I suppose I don't. The blood spell I saw.."
"It will make its way to me eventually. On the wings of doves of all things." Max smirked stepping away and admiring her form. "Definitely beautiful. You have very nice green eyes now. More brighter than previously. The result of now being a Higher Class Vampire. Small gift for training my students."
"Your blood." Evangeline touched her lips. Still feeling the aftertaste. A slight pain in her heart remembering Nagi. Thinking she betrayed him in a way. 'He left me! He even married that woman and had a kid! I hate this feeling!'
"You need to rest Eva. Too much stimulation can do that to a person." Max started fixing his house. Glad they didn't break the wards to the outside. That would have sucked. As his fingers danced backward mending things, 2 pairs of eyes rested on him. "Interested in actual magic and not the half-ass shit you currently know?"
"Gods' Cry School of swordsmanship..."
"Is something that you will never master really. You will bring it to the complete stage of what it currently has to offer but will falter in it. Because it is taught with kendo mixed in. And taught to you restrained in the beginning by her father." Max moved about restoring his house still. "As a part derived from playing more or less with others, it is lacking. Do not get me wrong it is formidable, but you practice against others with wood. A dull killing intent that is forged in relative safety is just that.. dull. It will never match true killing intent."
"I am just lacking is all." Setsuna said.
"You are right about that. So much self-doubt and unsure of yourself. It's slightly disgusting to look at." Mana had sat down and watched while eating one of the cookies when she came back. Evangeline returned to her teen form joining them. "You learn your sword to protect. Which is not bad. Definitely can reach the pinnacle that way. However.."
"However what?" Konoka asked. She wanted to know more for some reason. "Surely to protect is not a problem."
"Huh? No, I was lost in thought. Haaa, I will not make it out today. Which is fine. Absolute Repair." Mumbling the basic finishing spell and causing his body to itch was enough to not do magic much anymore for the day. "Various protective sword techniques. Just that one is lacking. Especially for a female. I mean, I can turn you into a male that would solve the gap. Actually would make you flourish after you regain balance of course."
"Regain balance?" Setsuna tilted her head.
"Because of a penis. You would have to learn adjustments to your footwork and walking because of the attachment. As well as the weakness that comes with it." Kaede said. Her mug blocked her mouth mostly.
"No! I am ok!" Setsuna yelled. Despite all the times she wished she was a boy. Having presented to her out of the blue she was against it. 'I am not so sure anymore. Things have changed lately.'
"Why not teach her?" Evangeline asked.
"Because what the hell is in it for me?" Max finished and went to sit with them. "I gain nothing from helping her in that avenue. Maybe a few laughs as she learns one of my or a friend's sword paths."
"Are you a swordmaster?" Setsuna asked. She received a nod. "How many sword arts?"
"Way too many. Some of them, I did not want to learn. Forced to when acting careless or stupid." Max's face scrunched up at a few memories. "Bad times. Really bad times. But they paid for it in the end. Whatever type of path of the sword you develop, remember to never break it. Changing and maturing is different. But never break it."
"What will happen if you do?" Mana asked.
"Destruction of the path at the most. Torment by the sword at the least. A few other things, but those are the most dangerous I can currently think of." Max rather not think about it. "An incantation of the Sword can show you which lies with your sword path."
"We have know idea how to do that. Do you Evangeline?" Konoka asked. She received a head shake of no. "I doubt my grandfather does or is willing to share it."
"What do I have to do Mr.Max?" Setsuna asked.
"Come with me." Kaede sat her cup down and stood up. She gestured toward a door in the kitchen. Typically to open the pantry but it led to one of the training fields. "I will show you for a price. No need to bother the Teacher with this. Besides, I need to practice some more sword techniques. I am lacking." Her voice was cold at the end. Eyes drifting to Evangeline.
"Do not worry, they can not kill each other down there. Spells are in place." Max said as he sipped. "Hmm, good tea. But I prefer lemonade with my treats."
"You should learn healing spells. If you are that worried. As well as attack spells." Evangeline said. "Your clan is not as nice as you think. On both sides. Your grandfather can only protect you so much. If you keep your head in the sand it will be too late to do anything when that time comes."
"I know." Konoka gripped her dress tightly. "Grandpa already told me about the clan, mentioning an arranged marriage again. He convinced them to not bring it up until I was at least in high school."
"Shitty stalling. First his daughter and now his granddaughter. How disgusting." Max was generally annoyed about it. It never sat right with him to decide the fate of others' love life like that. Especially with any say so from them. "Shitty traditions create so many problems. Such a shame."
"As long as she is your student, nothing for her to worry about." Mana ate another cookie. "If you were his disciple you would be completely protected. Or at least Evangeline's caliber can give some breathing room."
"I already received the book from Mr.Max. And my grandpa already receives so much from Ms.Evangeline." Konoka did not want to intrude too much. Seeing Evangeline stare at Max, she thought something was odd. Especially when Evangeline's staring at him intensified. "Umm..."
"You gave her a book. A spell book to read. Yes?"
"I did. So what? It was more diary than anything." Max had no idea what she was getting at.
"Then you my dear Konoka, can claim to be a Page in waiting." Evangeline said. A triumphant look on her face. "I am willing to vouch that Max did so. And since you had the book at the party as well, it solidifies the claim even more. As long as Max does not say against it, you are allowed what comes with someone studying from a Master."
"Such as taking some tests at an official magic branch. Not one here of course. Too many spies." Mana answered. "But Max just got here and is under a test though right?"
"Oh, you mean that nonsense. That is for that school. I already took the one here for Japan, Russia, Canada as well as America. So even if they find fault in the Association with me, I am covered." Max waved a few certifications in front of them. "Had it taken care of when I did the name change. Just had to wait for the results."
"So wait... You do not even care about completing the test?" Konoka asked.
"It does not matter. I will still be an official teacher no matter what." Max shrugged.
"Can I see your test results?" Evangeline asked. Max passed them over to her. "A near-perfect in America... and Canada. Top 20% in Russia and Japan." They looked at Max like a monster. But it came with old age.
"My Russian is rusty. And I suck at Japanese customs. Thus the reason you hear me speak without honorifics and I ask you to do the same." Max just continued to relax enjoying his day. "We are going to the magic side Saturday after classes are over. Time for some hunting and for me to buy some items."
"I want to come to!" Konoka said. "That way I can register officially. I am sure Evangeline will keep me safe until I learn."
*Thunk!* The door to the training room den closed. Kaede covered in wounds carried Sestuna with her. She was out cold.
"I will also help in protecting them. Setsuna is good. But she needs more of a killing intent." Kaede sat her down next to Konoka who started healing her. It was very sloppy from her nerves and fretting from the blood. "Haaa, so tired."
"Here.." Max passed over a small Elixer. ".. it is Heart Boom Elixer. Quite spicy but increases blood circulation as well as blood production. Something you need to keep up with your wind training."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
FrozenTidez
FrozenTidez Name: Maxmillion (Negi) Springfield
Class: Ancient Sorceror
Realm: Transcendent Sorceror
Str: 25
Con: 40
Dex: 25
Int: 55
Wis: 45
Cha: 22
Spells: Growth, Wayward, Tresspass Alarm, Traps, Vines, Curse, Summoning
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone