"So do we have a deal?... Will you help me save my daughter?" Ryuk pressed with an expectant look on his face.
Max pondered for a moment as he stared long and hard at the old man that came to him with such a peculiar request.
Coming to a decision, he sighed helplessly as he retracted the flow of Ordena to his staff, causing it to retract to its normal size.
Putting it away, he spoke up. "… If you stick to your words of imparting your techniques to me then I can think about it."
Ryuk nodded in understanding. "…At least, that's better than outright rejection. In any case, I will be waiting for your decision."
He rose to his feet as he prepared to leave. Just then, Max followed up with a question.
"But why me, though?... Why pick me to save your daughter's life?... You can't tell me it's because I helped you this afternoon. After all, I have a feeling that you could have ended those nobles if you wanted."
Ryuk chuckled. "I'm not such a bloodthirsty person, but you are right, it's not because you saved me. Would you believe me if I said that it's because you are a Sage?"
"I do. But what if I cheat you?"
"I'm not worried about that, what I'm worried about is if you'd be able to survive long enough to gain the power you need to help me," Ryuk said with a grim expression.
Max felt the urge to question Ryuk but decided against that as he has a feeling the latter would not give him a reasonable answer.
Ryuk turned to leave but paused as he asked one last question. "Why did you choose to become a Sage?"
Max replied without hesitation. "To become strong enough to change my fate."
Ryuk nodded. "A noble goal. I will help you inch closer to that as long as you help me. I hope you give me a favorable response when the time is right."
Max did not say anything more and for a moment, felt that nothing more needed to be said.
Ryuk glanced back at him and both men exchanged looks before the former took a step forward and went on his way.
Max watched him jump from one roof to another before he finally dropped to the ground and then made his way toward the outskirts of the city.
Max took a deep breath. "Well, that was a lot to take in… Hah, I guess I should be on my way back."
He was about to leave when he realized that the energy fluctuations from the domain he felt while facing off against Jason, were still present.
Max frowned. "The technique is still active?"
He closed his eyes and spread out his aura for a moment before moving from his position.
A few seconds later and he was standing in an alleyway, his attention on a piece of paper stuck on the wall.
Based on the inscriptions on the paper, Max could tell it was a talisman.
Reaching out, he peeled it off the wall and used his sense to appraise it.
"So this is the source… and here I thought it was a Reality law technique. I still have much to learn." Max shook his head as he realized that what he had initially taken for a domain law technique was a domain technique of the Darkness attribute.
Talismans were not exactly a new thing for Max as he had learned a bit about them from Frog grandpa.
Talismans were created by imbuing a dimensional being attribute to an imprinted symbol, this way the Summoner would be able to utilize the attribute without a need to use Will Assimilation.
This was common amongst Magicians as not all people were as benevolent as Max to allow them to complete a summoning without getting in their way.
"He must have poured a lot of effort into this." Max thought as he stored the talisman away.
In a way, it was a pseudo magic artifact, one capable of creating a domain.
Even though Max was unable to use it, it would still be a good help for Lara, thus he kept it safely in his jacket pocket before taking his leave.
With that, the quiet neighborhood returned to normal.
By the time Max got back to Webber Villa, It was already in the wee hours of the morning but of course, the sun was not yet out and it would take a few more hours before first light.
He had just snuck into the villa compound by jumping over the fence when a familiar voice called out to him. "You are back."
Max turned to find Lloyd standing a few meters away from him.
The two exchanged looks as both tried to appraise the other.
This continued for a minute before Max broke the ice. "You were waiting for me?"
Lloyd nodded. "Mn, I was worried that you wouldn't get back on time, so I decided to wait."
"…Alright. Well, I delivered the letter so I'll be going to bed now." Max said as he walked away, passing by Lloyd as he hastily made his way toward Lara's location.
Just then, Lloyd's voice stopped him in his tracks. "Don't you have anything to say to me?"
Max halted in his tracks. "… Is there something you'd like to hear?"
Lloyd was speechless for a moment. "…Since you have nothing to say, then I have something to ask."
Max sighed as he turned to face Lloyd. "Go on."
"Why did you accept my request even when you knew that everything I said was bullsh*t?" Lloyd asked with a serious expression.
Max remained silent at first, causing Lloyd to grow tense as he felt that the boy before him was offended by what had transpired but Max's next words casually did away with his worries.
"Because you are someone my mother trusts and so I am willing to trust you too."
Lloyd furrowed his brows. "Just that?"
Max nodded. "I believe in my mother's intuition so I could at least tell that you wouldn't intentionally put me in harm's way."
"Your mother is still married to Lord Frederick Rion… are you sure trusting her intuition is best?" Lloyd pressed eliciting a chuckle from Max.
"She has her reasons. I believe if she had a choice, she would surely leave, but she can't."
"…You are quite knowledgeable for your age."
Max flashed a smirk. "But of course, it is only natural. Don't worry, when I get strong enough to get to the bottom of things, I'll fix everything so that my mom can divorce that self-absorbed bastard.
"Then I'll allow you to court her as much as you want."
….
An awkward silence descended as Lloyd stared blankly at Max. He had just stopped himself from drowning the brown-haired teen in spit for his shameless words.
How the fuck do you have the audacity to play matchmaker for your mother after you rejected our plans to matchmake you with Laura!
Lloyd felt the urge to bitchslap Max but he stayed his hands and only gave Max a 'friendly' glare before calming his nerves.
Max felt a chilly sensation move through his spine but he shook it off.
"You should get some rest," Lloyd said as he turned to leave. This time, it was Max's turn to stop him.
"I have a question."
Lloyd turned to him, feeling exasperated. "What is it?"
"I want to know… is it only humans that have ever existed on Midgard?" Max asked, filled with curiosity.
This question was because of a certain statement made by the old man, Ryuk. Max didn't know why but he felt it had a deeper meaning thus he chose to ask about it.
"… Are you asking because of Ryuk?"
Max nodded. "Yes."
Lloyd gestured for Max to follow him.
"Where are we going?"
"To the garden… We have a lot to discuss." Lloyd simply replied as he led the curious teen to a secluded part of his property.