It had been exactly two years since my lord embarked on his travels. During his absence, he entrusted me with the task of supervising the missions he assigned to Max. However, before leaving, he had a specific request - to awaken the dormant bloodline of spectrals within Max.
I had kept Max in the awakening pod for a year, following Sir Arya's guidance that Max's bloodline should awaken this month.
Why would I subject him to this process while Sir Arya was away? Well, Max's sister would undoubtedly have opposed it vehemently. This year-long ordeal was a form of physical torture, pushing Max's body to the brink of death by draining his life energy to trigger his body's defense mechanism, thus awakening his dormant bloodline.
This method, designed by Sir Arya, drew upon the past success rates of various techniques.
With a sense of hope, I murmured, "Now all I have to do is wait here and hope it succe—"
Abruptly, my words were severed as the awakening pod violently convulsed.
*tremble*
*tremble*
*crack*
*boom*
In a deafening explosion, the pod shattered into pieces. Fear clawed at my heart as I sprinted towards the wreckage. "Max! Are you alright?!" My voice trembled with anxiety, but I received no response.
As I reached the vacant space where the pod had once stood, an enigmatic figure emerged from the dissipating dust. It was a young man, his ebony hair cascading over a spectral, pale visage. His appearance was ghostly, yet paradoxically, he radiated vitality. But it was his gaze that sent a shiver down my spine, for it bore an otherworldly intensity.
Instinctively, I drew my blade, poised for self-defense. But what he uttered next left me utterly stupefied.
"*cough* Greetings, Master Akira. *cough* Damn it, I hate the smell of those potions! So irritating," he rasped between coughs.
"Max? Is that really you?!" My voice quavered with disbelief; he bore no resemblance to his former self.
"Huh? Yes, Master, it's me. What happened? Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?" Max's confusion mirrored my own.
"Here, see for yourself," I offered, conjuring a full-body mirror that mirrored my own curiosity.
"OH MY STARRS!!" Max's exclamation resonated through the room as he beheld his startling transformation.
In Max's quarters, we settled to discuss the next pivotal mission. Max had seemingly reconciled with his newfound appearance, his demeanor oddly imbued with pride.
"Max," I commenced, "prior to Our Lord's departure, he entrusted me with a series of missions for you to undertake. However, one mission bore specific instructions—he assigned it for you upon the awakening of your bloodline." Retrieving a scroll from my robes, I elaborated.
"This mission consists of two parts and carries a high level of risk due to the beings it might affect. So, you must proceed with caution," I cautioned him, unfurling the scroll for his perusal.
Max scanned the scroll and commented, "So, my first task is to steal a crystal from an old temple? That doesn't sound too dangerous," he scoffed, earning a sharp rap on the head from me. "Ow!!"
"This is not just any old temple; it's one of the ancient Mayan Temples. While it may presently be abandoned, it houses one of the mysterious crystals, the very one you need to steal."
"Why is it so important to us? Well, it possesses the unique ability to trap a very high-level soul. Our Lord called this crystal 'The Black Star.'
I can assure you that the real danger lies in the second part of this mission, which will only be revealed once you've completed the first part," I explained in a grave tone.
Max nodded in understanding. "I see. Lord Grey's plans truly go beyond my comprehension. He's so awesome!"
"Good. But first, take some time to adjust to and practice with your new body. Afterward, you can embark on your new mission," I instructed as I got up to leave.
"Yes, Master," Max replied, bowing respectfully.
"Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, Sir Arya said that once your bloodline awakened, you'd be biologically around 16 years old again."
"What! I'm 16 AGAIN?!?" Max exclaimed in surprise.
Somewhere in the dense jungles of Central America,
A mysterious figure silently navigated beneath the thick canopy of towering trees, where only occasional streaks of light managed to pierce through the dense foliage.
Max gracefully moved from one branch to another, utilizing his newfound ninja and ghost-like abilities to their full extent, His sharp eyes scanned ceaselessly, hunting for any sign of the concealed temple.
"Master, it has been three days since my arrival, yet I have encountered no trace of the temple. It's just an endless sea of trees; there's no sign of the temple," he reported in a tired and somewhat bored tone.
"Just keep searching the area, Max. According to the map, it should be there. Besides, with your new body, you don't need to eat or drink to survive, right?" I replied, reminding him of the benefits of his transformed state, which proved immensely useful for extended explorations.
Max sighed, resigning himself to the situation. "True, but I can't help but miss the taste of food," he lamented.
Suddenly, Max's tone shifted. "Hold on, Master, I believe I've located it!" Joy and optimism resonated in his voice.
"Congratulations, Max, it seems fortune favors you. Proceed with care and ensure the mission's success. I shall be your watchful guardian from the shadows, as always," I assured him before fading deeper into the obscurity of the jungle.
"Thank you, Master. I shall execute this mission with precision," Max affirmed with confidence as he eagerly stepped into the temple.
Unbeknownst to him, two cloaked figures silently trailed him into the temple, which sprung to life, sealing the doors behind them.
Max had no inkling that what began as a seemingly straightforward raiding mission would ignite a feeling within him that he had never truly experienced before—LOVE.
This unexpected emotion would alter the course of the future in unique and unpredictable ways, setting in motion a chain of events with far-reaching consequences.