The next few days things went back on schedule now and again Alexander's father would come spar with him or give him pointers on how to use a sword. Finally, at the dinner table, Elizabeth spoke up, "Do you not get lonely, son? At your age, even your father had friends he would often spend time with." Alexander never really thought about anything besides magic since arriving in this world, and the thought of having to make a friend and play kid games was disturbing to him. Alexander could see the hopeful glare in Elizabeth's eyes, and Alexander replied, "I honestly never thought to try, Mom." Elizabeth said, "It can be scary meeting new people, but it only gets scarier as you get older. Go while it's still fun. Alexander said I will try as soon as I finish my morning exercise. Elizabeth shook her head, marveling at Alexander, saying, "You better stop, or your father's gonna rub off on you." Alexander just thought to himself, I wouldn't mind that.
Alexander finished his morning exercise quickly and freshened up right after. Alexander decided to use some kids as a smoke screen to be able to do more stuff. Just as Alexander thought this, he saw some kids playing nearby and tried to casually enter the mix of their little game of tag when a kid said, "No one said you could play." Alexander, embarrassed by the whole situation, just shrugged his shoulders and hands as he tried to make his exit, but an obnoxiously big kid was blocking his exit. The snobby little kid said, "Hey, Tommy, teach that kid some manners and make him run to his mommy." The hulking big child was tall, sporting a mini jock build with a high and tight hairstyle. Tommy looked at Alexander and said, "You're gonna get it." Alexander could see that punch coming a mile away. Before the boy could fully extend, he jumped up and punched the kid in the nose, leaving a big red mark on his nose. Tommy dropped to the ground crying frantically, saying, "It hurts. It hurts. I'm telling my father about you!" Tommy got up and ran home with blood flowing down his face. Alexander got anxious about this new development and decided to act like a bandit and get out of there. While Alexander was running, he bumped into a kid with a cloak on. The impact of their collision sent them both on their butts. Alexander's detect mana picked up a constant mana signature from him. Alexander said, "I apologize." The kid stood up a few inches taller than Alexander, adjusting his glasses and brushing himself off before replying, "No need for apologies; the fault is ours equally." The kid adjusted his glasses a few more times and said, "Interesting I thought Viviane and Lancelot were the only anomalies." Alexander interrupted, trying to get a few words in, saying, "Excuse me," but at this, the kid just put his hand up to stop him from talking, rubbing his chin with the other hand. The kid began to speak again. "What if I am wrong and he doesn't have magic? This is quite perplexing indeed. I know what I can do. Yes, that would work quite well". Alexander was confused by the strange kid talking to himself, who now was sharply focused on him. That look made Alexander nervous, but the kid just walked over and said, "Shake my hand, please." The look on his face made Alexander question his intentions. Alexander was at the ready in case this got ugly. Alexander shook the boy's hand and could feel a jolt as it went back to the boy; he ripped his hand away. The kid was completely unfazed by his reaction and said, "Come with me; you're special. I know some other special ones." Alexander, puzzled by all of this, said, I don't even know who you are." The boy adjusted his glasses again, saying, "Right, I am Merlin, and you?" Alexander said, "I am Alexander." Merlin said, "Now will you come with me?" Alexander noticed that Merlin wasn't like other kids; his face was devoid of expression as if he was constantly looking for a solution. Alexander said, "And if I say no?" Merlin peered back at Alexander, then to the sky, falling backward as if he was doing a trust fall with someone. Merlin hit the ground with a thud as he reached for the clouds as if he grasped something. Merlin spoke up as if nothing he did just affected him, saying, "Then it can't be helped. Wouldn't you like to meet other kids with mana?" Alexander was shocked at this revelation. Merlin just dropped a bombshell casually. Alexander said, "I never said I had mana." Merlin bluntly said, I just took a peek at your mana channels; honestly, not bad." Alexander was angry that Merlin violated his privacy but was interested to see other kids wielding magic. Alexander caved in, saying, "Fine, lead the way." Merlin led the way, not being one for formalities; he just stayed quiet. Merlin brought Alexander to a house at the corner of the village. When they entered, they went into the basement, and Alexander saw a young woman so elegant with a frosty look. Her hair was curly, and blond with blue tips as if they were blue flames. Her eyes were a light blue, almost white, soothing and heart-melting, contrary to the cold look she wore. Alexander couldn't help but be captivated by her beauty.
Merlin tapped Alexander on the shoulder, saying, "Did you hear me?" Alexander replied, "Not at all." Merlin repeated himself without hesitation, " This is Viviane; she is unique too. It's rare for humans to have any magic before they become a teen." Alexander nodded his head, looking at her in admiration. Viviane just scoffed and said, "What?" clearly not happy with all the staring Alexander was doing. Alexander replied hesitantly, "I'm sorry, I just… I have never seen a more beautiful woman." Alexander and Viviane's faces both turned beet red. Vivian just remained silent, covering her face with her scarf. Merlin adjusted his glasses, saying, "Interesting.". Alexander questioned him, "What's interesting?" Merlin wore a fake smile, saying, "It's nothing." Merlin turned his back and began speaking to himself out loud, "If Lancelot said the same thing, she would've struck him in the golden nuggets. Interesting. I must investigate this further. Merlin turned around and adjusted his glasses again for extra measure. Viviane shook her head, saying, "We can hear you every time you have an internal monologue. You're so quiet, you know." Alexander laughed; it relieved a lot of stress to know that she had a distaste for Merlin's solo conversations. Merlin just adjusted his glasses again, saying, Oh right. I should probably work on that. Everyone laughed, easing the mood even more. Merlin adjusted his glasses again. This time his smile was gone, and he said, "It's time to have our daily meeting." Alexander just looked at Viviane, who just nodded her head, acknowledging the meeting, saying, "Merlin has his quirks, but he is extremely knowledgeable." Alexander just shook his head. Merlin began talking: "Everyone here has a strong desire to get to the pinnacle of magic. Viviane has a pure affinity with water magic; the only downside is that it's initially very weak until you get stronger. I've come up with a regime to fix that issue now that you have better water control. The goal for today is to see what affinities Alexander has and to strengthen his connection to them." Alexander was taken aback, saying, "Why would you want to strengthen me? We're strangers." Merlin spoke freely: "Because free stuff costs the most. Naturally, one day I will need your help in return; consider it a down payment or investment. Alexander said, "Well, can I at least know what it is?" Merlin thought about it and said, "My goal, my ambition, is a simple one: I just want to reach the pinnacle of magi. Will you help?" Alexander shrugged and said, "I can try, but if you get shady, I'm out." Merlin, for once, smiled what appeared to be a genuine smile. Merlin brought out a crystal ball and said, "Place your hands right here." Alexander put his hands on the crystal ball, and a rainbow shined brightly across the ball. Merlin adjusted his glasses, saying, "I've never met someone with so many perfect affinities besides myself. Tomorrow come here so we can duel. I want to assess your power, Alexander felt a little cocky saying, "I might be too much for you." Merlin said, "Oh, how about you spar with Lancelot before that? It should even the playing field a lot." Alexander said, "Alright, whatever. See you tomorrow.
Alexander began walking home when suddenly a big burly man began to give chase to him, but unfortunately for the man, Alexander took off like a bolt, darting to his home and locking the door. The man spotted Alexander's home and started banging on the door. "Come out here, ya lil shit." Quicksilver came up the stairs from his private study so fast Alexander could feel the wind ripple. Quicksilver wasn't one for words; he kicked the door off its hinges, letting it fly with his aura exerting maximum pressure, causing the man to struggle to breathe. Quicksilver grabbed the man like he was holding a piece of trash. The man squirmed, saying, "How dare you attack a captain?" Quicksilver, even more pissed, threw the man on the ground and flicked something past his face so hard that it made a small smoke cloud, cutting the man's face a little with blood running along his cheek from the cut. The man realized something was off as he looked at the thing he threw, and it was a captain's insignia too, then he noticed the star next to it symbolizing the elite division. The man, realizing he had no more leverage, panicked, saying, "Please don't bully me. I just came to teach your son a lesson; he picked on my son and his friends.
Quicksilver, understanding the gravity of the situation, combed his hands through his hair, saying, "So it's like that, huh? Alexander, get over here!" Alexander went to his father reluctantly. Quicksilver said, "Did you hit some kids today?" Alexander said, "I hit 1 kid today." Before Alexander could finish his sentence, Quicksilver punched him, sending him flying. Alexander got up, dusting himself off. Alexander was so angry because he didn't even get to explain himself. Quicksilver Raised his voice, saying, "Go apologize to those kids right now!" Alexander braced himself to take another punch, yelling back. "No!" Quicksilver drew his hand back to hit him again when Elizabeth grabbed his arm, and with her voice trembling, she said, "What are you doing?" Quicksilver said, "He's gotta be taught a lesson; he was hitting other kids." Elizabeth replied calmly, "Did you ever ask him what happened?" Quicksilver calmed down, and everyone could breathe a little easier as his aura was deactivated as he said, "Well, he admitted to hitting him." Elizabeth shook her head in disbelief, saying, "You didn't even think to ask him what happened.". Elizabeth hugged Alexander, saying, "Now what happened?" Alexander told them everything as he planted his face in his mother's chest to hide his tears. Elizabeth comforted him. Quicksilver looked at his hands as they started trembling. Once he realized his blunder, he fell to his knees, punching the ground.