Max was following Nick into a large room of the castle. Nick turned on the lights showing a few racks of clothing
"Since you've been here for a while you need to pick out some more comfortable clothing don't worry the rest of the students are doing it as well just check out the stuff and take what you like, since the kingdom has already gotten a ton of this stuff."
"Don't worry about the price of it," he repeated
"So why would we need this?" Max asked confused by the generosity
"Well it's probably mostly going to be used under some light armor" Nick pointed to a corner table where a few different chunks of metal coverings were for vital areas.
"You can choose some stuff like that it really depends on your personal style for combat," he explained
And Max accepted that
He was looking at the clothes for a short while until he found one he was interested he looked at it and asked a question
"What's this one made of?"
Nick glanced over "That one is made of a giant fire spider's silk, so it's pretty strong and fire-resistant its also soft and light."
Max thought for a bit "I guess I chose this one."
He looked around and didn't need any armor but got a few pieces of leather gear.
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Max had gotten closer to his teammate and was talking to his new friend in a private section of the halls next to her room
"So Denava?" He asked checking her name
"You can call me Alcia. That's my first name."
(Al see a"
Max looked perplexed "So Alcia is your first name?"
"Yes" she confirmed
"Cool so Alcia do you have any hobbies?"
"Yeah I used to knit and create sculptures" she answered in a gloomy manner.
Max nodded
"But I don't really anymore because,"
She raised her hand to emphasize its state
But it just confused Max because he didn't quite grasp that it didn't function right.
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A few days went by and Max had gotten closer to his friend to the point where she invited him to her room after a few minutes of talking
Max followed her into the room. Which they toured.
She walked him around it and his attention was caught by a set of silver knitting needles
Alcia noticed his interest "Those are a family heirloom. I used to love to knit but I can't anymore ." At this point, Max knew of her messed up arm and hand
Max thought "You know I kinda know this technique I learned from my grandmother it's for knitting… but with one hand."
She looked at him "What?"
"Do you want me to show you?" He asked
"Yes of course"
He sat on her bed and went on explaining the basics of it and how it worked and she centrally gave him a set of wooden knitting needs and a ball of yarn to show her, though his handiwork was less than ideal for anything it showed her that it actually worked.
She was ecstatic about it and this allowed her to get closer to him a small bonding experience.
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Aura control issue-max and John
"Nah man I heard that the Duke's son here tried to fuck her"
Max tried not to grit his teeth hearing about what the duke's son did to a classmate of his, Amary apparently he tried to pressure her to have sex and harassed women on a daily basis.
He had heard tiny rumors and noticed she was off that day and still a bit sad but just assumed it was a girl thing or she was homesick
"But that was just what I heard," John said glancing down at his arm where he usually had a watch before the reincarnation.
"Shit, I think I'm about to be late."
John said as he dashed into his class
Max clenched his fist 'That motherfucker he didn't answer my questions. I'm going to kill someone some people. Fuck!"
Max almost lost his composure letting some of his aura slip out
It was intense and extremely intimidating even terrifying the guards, Who flinched
But it did not pass through the thick doors
The guards reacted to the intense aura by frantically pointing their spears toward Max
The dark-haired menace glanced at the spear tips as if he was disappointed. 'What are they going to do with that?' He thought
Max was confused by that and simmered down walking off
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After a short day of training (mostly cardio) Max was left with a bit of extra time so he checked if his newest friend was available
He looked around the halls and saw her
And started talking and went to their usual place
A circular table in a designated area for meeting and talking.
After a few minutes of talking and a bit of joking Alcia eventually talked about her past
"We were attacked by a neighboring noble. They raided our villages with no real warning it only took a few days for them to arrive at our doorstep. They lit the castle on fire." Her eyes started to turn glassy
"All of my family were killed. Murdered in cold blood." She whispered
"I tried to escape but a burning pillar landed on my arm." She pulled up one of her sleeves revealing the burnt flesh of her left arm"
"And my face too" she whispered touching the mask, lightly grazing it
Max listened and tried not to feel anything, controlling his empathy
"I'm so sorry," he said putting his hand on her shoulder not discriminating against her for her scars like many would
"I wish I could've helped." He muttered trying not to let the sorrow drown his voice and reached his hand around her back giving her a half hug.
He gave himself a moment to compose.
"But no matter what. I won't ever judge you for your scars I don't mind what… it's ."
He was at a loss for words trying to express himself, something that he rarely did
"I will accept no matter, is what I'm trying to say," he stated making eye contact
"Thanks," she said
"I don't mind," he said looking at her
She took off her mask and showered her face
And Max looked befuddled
Alicia looked down feeling shame assuming she was being judged "I um am sorry" She apologized for what she believed was scaring or disgusting the man and was about to put the max back on
"No stop" Max grabbed her hand stopping her "I'm not.. Disgusted or whatever it's just that you look pretty decent" Max said looking at her face on one side it was mostly scared but on the other she looked fine, beautiful in fact
He felt time shift when he saw her icy eyes somehow contrasting with her pale skin and burned flesh it was mesmerizing.
She blushed lightly
"Thanks"
"Yeah it's not that bad," Max said immersed in analyzing.
"Better than me," he said
Alicia's lip twitched "Well you look a bit better than average."
Max smiled thinking that she just wanted to make him feel better and ignoring that the people in this world look much better than average.
And let her put the mask back on
"I have a question," Max said gently, The tone bordering between question and statement
"What is it?" The former noble asked
"That mask. it hides your scars right?"
"Uh I mean…" he thought
"You dislike those scars right?" he tried to seem as non-disrespectful as possible
She looked down
"I mean… uh…" he composed himself "
I heard in magic class that healing magic can fix scars can I try? I don't think will heal your arm, and if it doesn't work you can still wear the mask ." Max started sputtering at super speed putting his hands up defensively
"Y-yeah I would like that" she meekly said
"Okay great" Max looked at her "Can you please take off the mask?"
She awkwardly gripped it with her palm in the center and lightly lifted it off her face
"Thanks," Max said
The dark-haired magician raised his hands slowly happy to end the dialogue and took a breath out.
Shining particles of yellow light formed around his hands and he started to focus on a slow flow of precise energy to heal her.
The light blocked off the sight of her face. They both closed their eyes, she was scared and wanted to keep her eyes intact, him focusing on doing it.
After just a few seconds he stopped "Are you good" he asked as she opened her eyes
She waited for him to tell her how it went but Max was staring quietly.
She assumed the worst and was about to put the mask back on when Max intercepted her "No it's fine just…" He trailed off assuming she could put it together.
Max realized something 'It would make sense for nobles to look better than the average person but damn plus no inbreeding makes this!'
She set down her mask "T-thanks"
"You're welcome," Max said with a smile
"We should get you a mirror," Max said and got up, gesturing for her to follow, and that she did trailing him to her room with her head down.
They arrived at her place and got in. Max races to the oval mirror rimmed with silver decorations the patterns a mixture of the sun and fire
She eventually looked at herself in the mirror and sadly smiled seeing how she looked and resisted the urge to pick up her mask.
She tried not to cry and hugged the healer.
Max who wasn't exactly used to public or any display of affection just patted her head lightly as she drove her head into his shirt.
'Good thing I'm wearing deodorant… I don't even really need it though do I?' Remembering how he did that just to make him smell fresh 'Aww adorable' he thought looking at her 'I feel like I might feel emotions… did I shave today?'
He lightly hugged her back reciprocating the action
Later on missions, she didn't need that mask and he had to reintroduce her to their teammates That being just a random girl who sometimes participated and a man who primarily used wind and healing magic, a dry person.