Let's rewind time a bit…
Max had his eyes closed as he entered into a half-meditative state, sensing the flow of Ordena while attempting to shift its direction.
As a Sage, the most important aspect was to sense Ordena and after that, to redirect its flow.
If one was unable to change its direction, then there would be no point in attempting to perform Sage arts, as it relied solely on that.
As one would learn to redirect and change the flow pattern of Ordena, it would allow them to gain insight into the three great natural laws.
It is this insight they gained that would help them forge their path to becoming one with the Samsara.
Just thinking about the sort of power one could control at that stage excited Max to no end.
With that power, he would be able to change his fate, and more than that, he'd be able to murder that darn fox!
Those were his two agendas for living. That was why he kept on moving forward.
At that moment, he received backlash from meditation due to his excited state.
"Ugh… again." He pulled through the pain and continued. This time around, he focused more on the flow of Ordena in the crowd ahead.
That was when he sensed it…
Something akin to blood ties, he could feel the connection he had with a certain someone in the crowd.
There were like red lines that reached out, allowing him to grasp the exact location of the other party.
Max wondered. "Apart from mother and him… there's one other person I would have blood ties with."
Just then, he heard the voice of the other party. It was almost as though the flow of Ordena delivered his words straight into Max's ear, eliciting a smile from the latter.
"…Oh wow, it's been so long."
At that moment, he opened his eyes and got to his feet. "It would seem I have a reason to get involved."
***
"It's been so long… brother." Max had a casual expression as he held Cedric's fist. The latter was first surprised, then stunned before he was completely shocked.
"You…" Cedric remarked.
"Yes, me," Max replied before letting go of his fist. Cedric pulled away and then took a few steps back.
Laura heaved a sigh of relief. "Thanks for the save."
Max glanced at her. "Twice lucky you are. If I didn't have a connection to this group, you know what would happen."
Laura harrumphed but found no means to refute. Thankfully she was saved, else, there was no telling just how much damage Cedric's attack would have done to her.
Just the thought was enough to numb her body.
Most commoners were confused at the entrance of this stranger. Some probed him but found that he was seemingly normal, causing even greater confusion.
Meanwhile, the noble girl spoke up. "Who are you and how dare you say you have a connection with us?"
Max sized her up before chuckling. "How about you ask him?" he pointed to Cedric, the latter still in a daze from getting his punch blocked by Max.
The noble lady glared at Max but seeing as how the other party was serious and also noting how he was able to block Cedric's attack, she could at least tell that the other party was strong.
Thus, she turned to Cedric. "Cedric, who is that?"
Cedric pursed his lips and knitted his brows as he slowly replied. "...My brother… Maximilian Rion."
"What… Your brother?... I thought he was dead!" The noble lady exclaimed, shocked by the news.
Of course not only her, including the two blond males and their guards as well as the crowd that gathered. Everyone had varying degrees of surprise on their faces.
"So father was shameless enough to spread the news that I died?... Welp, I guess my return puts a damper on things." Max remarked.
Cedric glared at him. "…How dare you show your face here?... Why didn't you just die as we said."
Max grinned. "You would wish for the death of your brother?"
"You are no longer my brother… you are an outcast of the Rion family and I will not have your presence sully our name." Cedric said with a resolution.
Max saw the look in his eyes and felt his resolve. It was real.
"Do what you must, but do not expect me to hold back as well."
This elicited a chuckle from the noble lady behind Cedric.
Her reason for laughing?
She had just probed Max's aura and found that he had no magic whatsoever, he was essentially still a cripple, just like the rumors said.
"How dare a cripple like you attempt to fight a magician, what's more, one at Advanced rank?... Do you not know how to spell the word death?"
Her remark drew attention to Max as the few magicians around also probed him and realized that he was devoid of magic.
But those with common sense immediately thought of something, Dominic included. "But then how did he manage to block Cedric's death blow?... I sensed the power behind it and if I was the recipient, there's no way I would have been able to block it as he did."
The noble lady snorted. "Hmmph, it must have something to do with that slut Laura, she must have used some artifact to take away the force from Cedric's attack. Don't worry, you'll see how Cedric puts this cripple in his place now."
Even though her words were far-fetched, they chose to accept it as there was no other way to look at it.
A cripple blocking the full force of an Advanced rank magician with his normal body was basically impossible, after all.
But as Cedric stood in place, his eyes trained on Max, he knew what the truth was. "It was no magic artifact, I would have sensed it if that was the case… Max caught my attack with his bare hands… Just what sort of ability would allow him to do that?"