Picking up a guardian

Max knew he will get the grandmaster rank, so he did not care much. He also took notice that the different master alchemists looked at him very differently right now. He advanced from a fellow alchemist to a senior or a mentor figure to those people. After the test was finished the news were forwarded for the higher ups and now it was the time to pick a guardian. Max was not sure if this so-called guardian could really defend him against real danger, but he was sure that another high mage will be useful for sure. He looked around the different old men that stood with agitated faces. It was a big thing to become a guardian of a grandmaster alchemist. It was also a chance to live more. All of those people were peak level mages, but they will leave this world pretty soon. 

Max walked around those people and after feeling the auras of those people carefully he said: "Thank you for coming today. I am a high mage myself and I can feel your power levels. I can also feel that only two of you have a stable foundation."

Max pointed at two people and the rest of the old men felt really depressed. Some of them knew about their condition and some of them did not. After Max picked the two people all of the rest of them were told to leave.

Max picked the old man from the Starlight academy that he saw before. Max was sure that this guy was a fighter and that was exactly what he needed. He needed a warrior because he was sure that a war was coming over and if he did not have enough power he could die. The other person was much younger, and he was from some kind of noble family. Max was not sure who he was so he asked both the men: "Can you introduce yourself? What are your specializations?"

The two men looked at each other and Max saw that the younger old man gave way to the one from the Starlight Academy. The old men in the academy uniform said: "My name is Greg, and I am the vice president of the order hall. My speciality is combat, and my element is earth. I served in this academy for centuries."

Max looked at the other person and he started to introduce himself as well: "My name is Anthony, and I am a noble from the Tesla family. My speciality is alchemy, and I am a fire mage. I serve my family with different alchemical products. I am an alchemist myself."

Max nodded. It was not bad as well. After that he said: "I need my guardian to be under my full control. I would not make the guardian to do any atrocities or go against his principles, but in some cases I would need him to just go after me and obey my orders. It is of the most importance for me. If we will agree on this, I can take you both as my guardians. I don't mind. I have more of such pill. I have a few. The only thing is that I will be your new clan and family. Not the academy and not your noble family should be above me. My word is the rule. I know that my terms are harsh, but you need to understand that if you follow me, I will give you a legacy for your element for the supernova skill and teach you how to flight. There will be also more skills that will be available to you to study at the high mage level. When I will create alchemical products for high mages you will be one of the first people to get them. I will treat you like family."

Anthony looked troubled and said: "I am sorry grandmaster Max, but I cannot leave the family. If something will change, I will be sure to contact, you! Congratulations on becoming an alchemy grandmaster. You are my inspiration! I will take my leave now!"

Max just shrugged. He saw that this old man had a few more decades to live so he may come sometime later. He looked at the other old man and asked: "What about you? He has some time to live, but it seems that you don't. Do you agree to my terms?"

Greg looked at Max and asked: "Is there a possibility that I will have to hard the empire or my academy? Could I come to visit my family and relatives from time to time?"

Max answered: "If they will attack me than you will need to help me. You will be on my side. I see no reason for me to attack the academy or the empire. As for taking a leave to see your family and friends. There is no problem. The only thing that It will happen when we have to possibility to do so, and it will not be for months. A few days of reunion should be ok."

The old man had a big problem deciding. It was ok for him to come to visit his family for a few days when it was possible, but going against his empire or academy was a real problem. 

While the old man was contemplating Max said with a changing expression: "Old man, I think you are dying." 

Max felt that the powers of the old man started to diminish in a fast speed. The old man that was very sturdy a few moments ago started to lose power. The old man was shocked. He started to feel the same as well, but he was sure it was just of him being old and maybe catching a cold or something. 

Max sighed and said: "Old man I understand your concerns. I will not go against anyone if they will not try to harm or kill me. Also, if you die you could not protect anyone. Choose quickly. If you agree we will have an agreement signed before you try to breakthrough."

Greg took a few minutes to think about it. He was stubborn, but not stupid. Feeling his death just around the corner he lowered his head and said: "Grandmaster Max, I hope you will take good care of me and did not lie to me right now. I agree!"

After that Max quickly signed a magic agreement with Greg when they both wrote their conditions. It took a few more minutes. The old man looked very bad. He was very pale and his life force was just leaking out. 

Max said: "All right old man. First take this invigoration pill. It's of a grandmaster level as well. You need to take it and then take the pill I did right now to get you to a level of a high mage. The invigoration peel will boost your vitality for around an hour. Do not waste this time. Try to breakthrough as fast as you can. If you are too slow, you will die! Good luck!"

After that he did not talk. He shoved the invigoration pill into the old man's mouth and the old man swallowed, while panting. He was in deep shit right now. After a short time, the vitality came back to the man white and troubled face. After that happened, he took the pill and started to breakthrough. Max asked all the people to leave and made a blocking array to block any outside intervention. The old man was left in the room alone with Max. Max just waited and waited. After around an hour Max got into the array and shouted: "Old man if you don't do it now, you will not do it in this life. MOVE YOUR ASS!"

The old man got the point and just went all in. It was very risky move and Max saw that some of the old man's organs were hurt, and bones broke because he just made a forced breakthrough. Max also saw that the old man did overstrain himself quite a lot, but he did survive. After he finished with the breakthrough he just fainted. Max did not call the medics. He just shoved a peak level healing pill and another vitality pill into the old man mouth and moved them go into the man's belly with his magic powers. After a few moments the man woke up. He was dizzy and still a little weak, but he was now visually like a 50-year-old man with grey hair.