18 No longer a Trash

After everyone was seated, Maids instantly brought the food to the table and served them.

Ashton spoke after they had started eating "Max, I heard you went to the training hall a while back. Do you... perhaps want to start training again?"

Everyone looked at Max silently with different thoughts running through their heads 

"Yes, father. I want to train again." Max said after thinking for a while. Although his initial plan was to live a leisurely life but after knowing more about this world, he decided that he should also strive to become strong if he wanted to live his life the way he wanted.

"Good... good!" Ashton heavily nodded with a smile on his face.

"How about I assign some special body trainers to teach you. That way even without mana, your body will get stronger and in the future when your body has strengthened to some degree and is capable to hold mana, I'll arrange for some elixirs for you. That can help you to sense mana better. Then you can..."

Ashton excitedly gave out his suggestions but before he could complete his sentence, Max interrupted him.

"Father that won't be necessary. I'm able to sense mana now and I think I'm capable of fighting novice mages now." Max said calmly but no one was calm after hearing this. All of them looked at him with surprised expression before their expressions turned weird.

William burst out laughing "Hahaha, Since when did you become so delusional Max? Sense mana? Fight novice mages? You don't even have an ounce of mana in your body and your affinity with mana is absolutely zero. Who are you kidding here? Ha ha ha." Noah and Mark also wore mocking expressions.

Mina, William's mother glared at William to stop him from speaking further. Although what he said was rude and hateful but this was also true.

Anna, Emily and Ashton had pained expressions on their faces thinking that he was finally unable to bear the mockery of his siblings and to console himself made this story in his mind.

Looking at their expressions Max smiled wryly. Most probably they won't believe anything he said to convince them so he extended his hand with his palm open and closed his eyes.

Mana started to swirl around his palm and in the next moment, a small transparent ball of mana had materialised above his palm. This was what he learned from the library before 'How to gather mana for novices'. He just followed what he read and here we are. but as he wasn't any familiar with mana or any spell, tens of mana points were consumed to conjure this mana ball. His breathing became a little forceful and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Everyone was dumbfounded by this turn of events. Ashton, Emily, Anna and others rubbed their eyes to see whether it was an illusion but the mana ball was still there on his palm rotating.

William who was mocking him just now, Noah and Mark had their eyes wide open in disbelief.

William muttered "How... how is this possible? Weren't you just a useless trash? How can you?..."

Ashton quickly collected himself and burst out laughing loudly, Mana around him became restless "Hahahaha! Good... good... very good... my son isn't useless anymore. Hahaha Hannah our son isn't useless anymore." Tears trickled down from his eyes. He had never been so happy as he was now.

Anna was smiling happily and Emily also had a subtle smile on her lips.

It took some time for Ashton to calm down. He then looked at Max and said "Good son. Tell me how do you want to train or anything you need. I'll provide it." He didn't ask how he was able to change like like. Because it didn't matter how he achieved this, all that mattered now that he could also cultivate.

Max pondered for a while. He didn't know anything as to how he should train so he said "I don't know how should I proceed ahead, father. Maybe I should start by gaining better control over mana."

"It's fine. You can ask Emily or Anna to teach you that as they will stay here for a few more days before going to their academies and I'll also try to help you when I have time." Ashton said while looking at Emily and Anna who nodded her head silently.

Anna happily said "I'll help you, Max."

Max smiled at her. Although she was two years older than him, she behaved like a child in front of him.

While they talked, Mark was gnashing his teeth silently. He didn't look happy at all. He has a constipated look on his face. Noah and William also seemed unhappy. They couldn't understand how someone with zero affinity, suddenly be able to cultivate.

...

...

After dinner, Max returned to his room. Lilly was not here so she must have returned to the maid quarters.

'I'll have to arrange for her to live with me.' Max thought.

He lay in his bed thinking about all that happened in these two days since he woke up in Maxwell's body. While thinking this, Slowly he fell asleep.

When he woke up, it was already late in the morning. He yawned and streched his body a little and then walked towards the bathroom. After a while, he came out and get dressed. He didn't wear his usual robes but choose to wear pants and a full-sleeved shirt, however, the design wasn't the same as Earth's clothes, it resembled them and it was very comfortable to move around in them.

While he was getting ready, Lilly came into his room after knocking.

"Good morning young master!" She greeted him and stood a few feet away from him.

Max looked at her to see her beautiful and adorable face which had a shy smile adorning it. She was fidgeting while standing, clearly anxious.

Max was amused to see her act like this. He then spoke, "Good morning Lilly! Did you sleep well?"

Lilly was caught off guard and flustered "Y-Yes young master!"

"Good. So you don't have problem walking around  due to what he did last night, right?" Max asked in a teasing voice.

Lilly blushed furiously and shook her head.

Max chuckled and didn't tease her anymore. "Let's go and have breakfast. Today we have to work hard." He smiled and led her outside.

They had breakfast together at the dining table because no one was there except for them. Lilly kept refusing but Max insisted.

After that Max tried finding Emily but couldn't and ended up coming across Anna.

"Max, What are you doing here?"

"I was looking for..." Anna didn't let him complete his sentence and spoke excitedly.

"Oh, I know you were looking for me to help you learn fighting and become adept at using mana right?"

Looking at her expression Max didn't want to make her sad so he nodded. It made her smile widen. She grabbed his hand and led him to the training hall.