First Contract

In front of Max was Kaede Nagase. She was injured but nonetheless, she stood up tall and proud. Completely out of breath, she leaned against a tree to compose herself.

"I took out hostile ninja.. to prove myself. You are dangerous. Every time I thought I kept track of you during the week, I would lose you. You even pointed at me giving away my position." Kaede was more upset with herself than anything. "I improved but I almost died too many times to count."

"You are something else. The path of a ninja is that of bloodshed and subterfuge. To step into that is something else." Max said seriously.

"I know that! It was a childish dream at first. But, I can do so much. I want this future!" Her determination was enough to entice Max. But only that.

"But one master determines a lot. The Koga clan is yours is it not?" Max only remembered so much of her specifics.

"No. I am part of the clan by blood only. Born a generation too late, they will not teach me. Only a few things have been taught by my grandmother. And that was when I was little." Max gave a slight nod. To prove herself still, Kaede placed her hands in front and her head down towards Max. "Please... teach me."

"Look up and read the words in front of you, then we can continue furthur." Max made a contract that appeared in front of her. It was tied to his Reincarnation powers. Signing will put her soul in a contract. Torment for betraying, pain from trying to cause Max troubles. It would give her insights into Max in a way that would take years to understand otherwise. "This must be signed before anything else."

Kaede read it slowly and couldn't believe some of the clauses. But the benefits were too much to dream about. Unlimited growth as long as she tried. Genetic deformities would be removed and her body would return to a base level. Her hard work would form a base to move on from there.

As she read the bottom changed to what she wanted from Max. For him to be a faithful Master that teaches her. Unrestrained and never hampering her growth. As well as protect her from "Clan" laws that might show up later. He would become her "backer" from political problems. Both on a low level and a higher level.

Kaede agreed and her name wrote itself in there. But she herself took out a kunai and dripped her blood over her name. It seeped into it before her eyes.

*Poof!* The contract entered into her and Max.

"Very determined person you are." Max said. He separated his mind to go through her life in detail. One of the benefits he gets from her. As well as a boost to his power for later. Her very life experience would provide the power to cultivate his soul. "Come to my place later. I will provide you with your first resource."

"Eh, what about now?" Kaede looked at him with a smile on her face. "Gives me the chance to tell you about the ninja that were after you."

"Alright." Max outstretched his hand to her. She took it with ease.

*Teleport!* Both disappeared in an instant.

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-Max's Place-

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The groceries had just finished getting put away. Kaede opened her eyes to see the help disappear into particles.

"Ok, decide your primary element. Balanced is ok, but you are already in your ways somewhat. Mostly an idea already formed on how you wish to fight." Max a few books containing the different details to her. "Each has a specialization on what each element offer.

"Lots of books." Kaede said setting them down. She picked up the top one to go through. "Cyclone Mana technique. Techniques are mainly wind-based but have water and lighting properties. The lowest amount of Earth properties."

"Yeah... pretty devasting for one on one and area of effect." Max grabbed some water and sat on the couch across from her. Seeing her clothes are torn up, he fixed that. "Mend."

*Ding!* A low-sounding bell sound went off. Kaede's clothes were instantly back to normal.

"Thank you, mas.. Max." Kaede corrected herself. Calling Max by this name was the most appropriate. That is what the contract informed her. Looking at the others quickly enough time passed by. The first book was picked up again. Her choice had been made. The others vanished. "You have got to show me that."

"Basic technique. You have small traces of energy. I do not care what you call it. In the end, it is going to be called mana between us. It is respect towards this World. If one day you go to another, you will find it is called something else. Be mindful of that."

"Right!" Kaede closed the book and gave her undivided attention. Max went over the gestures she could use as a ninja to the technique. He then went off the scientific formula that would do the same thing. And finally on the chant that could do it. "The ninja signs and the chanting work for me. The formula was to much."

"Very well. Study them both to the fullest. We also have to work on increasing your grades." Max pulled a potion out of his inventory. "This is a brain potion. Take a tiny drop before studying to help you remember the material. The info will stick in your mind, but you still have to practice and understand it."

"Haaa thought this would give it instantly. I hate studying."

"Raise your grades up and you will be surprised what else opens to you." Max took a sip of his water as his left hand moved in different ways. "The bath on the top floor is ready for you. Soak in it to help your body understand mana. Read over the Cyclone Mana technique to help get you ready mentally. The contract will also rebuild your body in the meantime."

"Ok." Kaede gave a nod. "Ummm Mr.Max, my classmates." Kaede looked down while speaking. "I would rather not have to kill any of them. But I will if you order me to."

"I understand. If they get in my way, we will. Other than that, they should be fine." Max grinned as she walked upstairs. "Hmm not bad at all."

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A few hours later-

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Max had showered and changed into his PJs. They were made of spiritual thread. Completely retractable into his consciousness. And tougher than Kevlar. Kaede was still soaking when the doorbell rang.

*Bong Bing!* Max made no move to get up just unlocked the door with magic. In walked Evangeline and the Dean.

"Well well, stand against me, but still use what I shared with you." Max teased with a sneer. "Bitch you have a pair of balls most men could only dream of."

"Now now, Mr. Springfield, we came to talk nicely." The Dean said. "Save personal issues for later. It is not like she can go far. Limited to just the city." Evangeline said nothing as she didn't make eye contact. "I will get right to it. What do you know of what is going on?"

"Enough. And no reason to share really. But I will defend the school while I am "employed" there. As for people who contact me, I will kill them of course. Like those who attacked me before. And the ones lying in wait. So many people trying to find out information about me, it is flattering."

"Megalomesembria.. will be warned not to bother you." The dean said. They were the official governing body of mahora magic-wise. However the school generally operated independently still. "Just need a few guarantees."

"Pftt." Max scoffed but understood. "Cosmo Entelecheia, has not been eradicated. The magical governing fake group, or collective body screwed up ending them. As well as screwed up with the branding Arika and Ala Rubra. Scapegoats are only good if guilt is believable. Their new leader will kill so many."

"Do you know who it is?" Evangeline asked.

"The Life Maker is behind everything. As well as the puppet Nagi Springfield. Ala Rubra, has grown weak. They will pay for it when their enemies find them. Albireo Imma.. will pay soon enough." Max said lowly. A glass of water appeared in front of the two. "Drink, and see."

Despite the look on Max's face of cruelty, the two downed the "water" in one go. They believed he would not threaten them. No real benefit to poisoning them either. Both slipped into a coma instantly.

They woke up 14 minutes later groggy.

"Hmm, you did not harm us in anyway. But that vision.. was not pleasant." The Dean mumbled. "Their faces were to blurry to tell who they were. but some I could make out. Unconfirmed members, we were unable to deal with."

"Nagi.. is controlled. How are we going to free him?" Evangeline asked Max. Max just ignored the question. "Do you not care?"

"Nope. He is useless. Does not provide any help, only trouble. You go and save him. But I doubt it will work." Max watched as his door opened to reveal a cloaked figure. "I mean you allowed a member of Megalomesembria to enter my home. Such a terrible thing."

"I did no such thing!" Evangeline argued. The dean grabbed her shoulder and gestured for her to sit down. They both stared at the member of Megalomesembria.

"She did nothing. This was a joint effort by Mahora and Megalomesembria. I am Joseph." The person removed the hood to show a European young man. He had fairly decent magic. It could be considered at the elite level. "We would like your help after you.."

"Haaa, I do not care." Max yawned. "Megalomesembria and its allies are good at causing problems and blaming others. They can take care of things themselves as punishment for that cruelty. Just need to take it seriously is all."

"You are a recent graduate of Sorcery. I can understand if you are scared. But we can provide an excellent path for you to grow into."

"Decline. Each and every way. You can all buzz off." Max waved his hand. Joseph looked surprised. "The 50 other members around the area, they can not find my place really. I allowed you here to relay the message. Do this again, and well..." Max's eyes turned over. The large amount of mana shot out wrapping each member of Megalomesembria in a 100 miles up. This included the others besides the 50. "..I will have to report a few of your agents in the city. And all around the World. There are a lot of people looking for the criminal members of your group."

"To threaten the Megalomesembria.." Evangeline mumbled.

"There nothing and know it. That is why they had to blame everything on a stupid weak Queen and a small band of Mages." Max sneered. "If they were so powerful, would they not have been able to meet everything out in the open? Would they not have been able to appease the people?" He shook his head and wagged his finger at them. "They blamed instead of facing. And a kingdom that received such heavy damage because of a member of Megalomesembria was impersonated. How pathetic."

"How do you know this?" Joseph asked lowly. His face was pale at what Max revealed. 'How did all this information get received? Who else knows.' Collecting himself, Joseph made sure to not make a move. He needed the higher-ups to do so. "Negi.."

"It is Max." Evangeline corrected. Her gaze caused Joseph to quiver. "Surely your spies picked that up already. It would be best if you tend to your agents. Pure mana can cause problems if not treated correctly."

"Spoilsport. It is only the death of 343 agents. Megalomesembria has murdered so many more in a month alone." Max grinned as he retracted his mana. "Consider this a lesson. Never threaten or try to strong-arm me. A man who has nothing to lose can do terrible things. Way more than a corrupt organization."

"I... understand." Joseph excused himself and left. The door closed behind him as well as removing the location of Max's house.

"Max.. I think it best we continue this conversation another day." The dean looked to the upstairs staircase. Kaede was standing there with a kunai in her hands. "I hope you have not done anything untoward to her."

Kaede walked down after seeing everything was okay. Her position was in a spot where the kunai would have attacked Joseph in a blind spot. At the very tip was a concentration of mana. Enough to pierce his defenses.

"I am learning from him. I am his student in the arts."

"I see." The dean's eyes flashed as he got up. Evangeline was still sitting down, however. "Do not stay up too late." She gave a nod and waited till he left.

"I am sorry about before." Evangeline said with effort. "Just.. thought I was helping you."

"You are lying. But I do not care at all. " Max shrugged. "I know enough of your character that you can not be trusted with certain matters. Be happy in knowing that your Nagi is alive. But control by your "mother" so to speak." Getting up Max was going to rest for the night.

"Wait a second Max!" Evangeline cried. Kaede just watched everything silently. While in the tub soaking, Max had shown her everything that went on down below. Even the entire conversation. It was a simple spell. Calming down, Evangeline noticed the change in Kaede. "You have mana... how?"

"What will you give me if I tell you?" Kaede's eyes opened a little like a snake. She already received several missions from the contract. One was to get magical knowledge from Evangeline. 'Such a hard mission out the gate!'