Academy Library

Max and Dylan were walking side by side now, Mark's food was also dropped on the floor but he didn't act as hotheaded as Max. He was following behind the two but didn't request a free meal, he would just pay for another one himself.

"I am again very sorry for what happened" Dylan apologized once again to Max but also to Mark, he was able to see that the latter also had his food thrown on the floor.

"To make it right I guess I have to do something else... what would you say about an invitation to eat with me and some other second-year students? I can think of something while eating" Dylan offered Max, he wanted to make it right somehow but didn't know how.

"It's completely alright now, there is no need for any other compensation. I was just mad because someone got to my food before I did..." Max tried to crack a joke to lighten the mood. He now just wanted to get away from him.

"Haha! Alright then, have a good day" Dylan accepted Max's proposal and went away after patting him on the shoulder.

Max didn't want to mend with other people especially when he knew that they were a lot stronger than him. As such he breathe a sigh of relief when he saw Dylan leaving them.

"Let's go, I barely have any appetite" Max walked away soon after while Mark had yet to mutter a single word ever since this whole deal started.

The two boys finished their meals and finally left the cafeteria, this place didn't leave them with a good first impression.

"I'll be going to the library, see if there is anything related to my element, do you want to come along?" Max asked Mark which was currently thinking, he didn't know if he should go back to the dorms and start meditating now or do something else.

"Hmm... I'll tag along then, I think I should first learn more stuff as well before doing anything else" Mark realized that Max had a great idea, if all he did was train and gather magic particles what good would it do to him, having no idea of how to use them.

They walked for a while and stopped at a large entrance above which, written in beautiful calligraphy, were the words 'Library'.

Max and Mark went inside and began looking around, Max wasn't looking for anything in particular, browsing the shelves full of books for something interesting that will also benefit him while Mark was looking around for earth magician books, something that could help him in a faster evolvement or ability books that will help him on the offensive.

'Let's see' Max looked around the place, finally arriving at a category that interested him.

Max looked around for books and finally found one which was quite thick. Enveloped in a blue case, on the front of the book wrote 'Magic Theory Vol. I' while on the back it said 'Everything you need to know about magic' which left Max intrigued. Max began reading it and soon found himself absorbed by the feeling of wanting to know more.

Mark left after a while but Max didn't even notice. Seeing Max so absorbed in the book the former didn't announce his leave, he went back to the dorms to meditate and was currently doing so.

Max finally read through the entire book, or more exactly the first volume that talked about 'The first stage of a Magician' as quoted in the book. Max found out that High-Tiered individuals weren't even close to being the strongest people on the planet, High-Tier was just the beginning of a struggle as written in the book but there wasn't any more information on the second stage or any other stages that existed, which in turn made Max disappointed.

'The entire body and magic particles of a mage change as he becomes stronger. First mana is in the form of particles, then you enter medium-tier, and the mana form changes from particles to gas...' Max recalled the first step in being a magician, the promotion from a low-tier to a medium-tier.

After Max was satisfied with the amount of knowledge he retained from the book he looked around, spotting a window and after seeing the dark sky outside, realizing that it's night.

'I should get going...' He thought, getting up from his seat and going towards the bookshelf where he took the book from. After some consideration, Max placed the book on a higher spot, hiding the book behind other ones as he wanted to be able to read from it any time he wanted.

'I'm not going to be able to learn the entire book in one go, I'll put it back in the correct place after I memorized it all.' He said after realizing his selfish behavior, trying to make himself feel better about his action.

He left the library and made his way towards the dorms while still thinking about the content of the first volume. 'Where could I find the other volumes?' Max wondered but he couldn't think for too long as he felt his body hitting something solid.

"Whoah!" Max stumbled backward trying to balance himself and as he did he saw two people looking at him. They were obviously older than Max, they were at least second years from the looks of it.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings" Max apologized pretty fast after realizing, he knew that he didn't have the strength to fight any people from the second year and higher.

"It's alright, don't you know that it's late? Go back to your dorm already" The man that Max accidentally hit spoke. He had white hair and blue eyes, while a beautiful and symmetrical face accompanied the traits of the man. He was wearing black leather armor that was quite large for him from what it seemed but it still held on to his slender body.

"Thanks for looking out for me," Max thanked the man as he made his way forward.

Max made his way around the man. The man was not moving, as if waiting for Max to go around him which confused Max as he went by.

"Hm?!" Just as Max went around him the man was shocked for a second but then executed a crescent kick, the target was Max of course.

Max wasn't able to react with his body but Matt was fast enough, placing himself in between Max and the kick of the man.

With a loud thump Max was flung into the air, flying alongside Matt for a few seconds before coming to a stop.

"What the hell!" You said it was alright!" Max, surprised by the man's actions, yelled. Even though Matt was able to block the hit, Max still felt the explosive power behind it. 'It could've broken my bones!'

He was mad but knew he wasn't in any shape to fight. After half a day of reading, his body became sore, not taking any breaks to stretch out showed its effects. Thinking about it, Max didn't even stand a chance from the beginning as the man might at least be able to use elemental abilities, something above what Max is able to do for now.

Max took hold of Matt and then swiftly got into his fighting stance. He knew that he couldn't beat him, it was just he won't let himself be beaten so easily.

"Relax, I was just testing something, you don't have to wo-" The man was interrupted as a kick made his way in his stomach. He spat a mouthful of saliva as he began flying backward, faster than even Max did.

"Is this some kind of provocation Ernie? You know that-" The faintly familiar voice stopped as he looked at Max but then continued "You know why so I don't have to explain". The familiar man was tall with muscles that bulged under his armor. He turned around, facing Max as he began addressing him.

"You should go to your dorm Max, this mess doesn't concern you at all." The man was looking at Max and that is when the latter was able to identify the former.

"I wasn't going to stick around either" Max turned around and began walking toward his destination. He couldn't turn back before as the other might jump and attack him, but with Dylan there, Max for some reason confident that he won't get hurt.

Seeing Max walking away, Dylan looked towards the individual named Ernie which was laying on the floor gripping his stomach. The latter had his eyes rolled upwards and his body would sometimes twitch slightly as if proving that he was still conscious and in pain.

"I think it was a given to not touch those under my protection" Dylan began walking towards Ernie slowly, waiting for the latter to get better. Ernie stopped twitching and his vision became clear enough to see Dylan walking towards him.

"I-I'm so-sorry" He muttered pitifully while trying to get away from Dylan but he wasn't able to get away. Dylan reached him grabbed his head, turning it around, wanting to be able to see Ernie's eyes.

Droll and vomit were flowing down from Ernie's mouth which made an unsavory sight that also brought a sour or acidic smell. Dylan's eyes glowed red as he warned Ernie one last time "Don't mess with me".

***

Max was currently in front of Mark's door, he wanted to see if he was still awake, maybe talk with him about what he learned at the library but stopped his hand just before knocking.

'I got the chance tomorrow, I'll not bother him at this hour' Max thought, he was aware that he might be meditating or sleeping, disrupting either isn't a good thing.

Max turned around until he was in front of the next door with the characters 'M-42' carved on it. He went inside and placed Matt on the weapon rack then went to the bathroom and after doing his night routine he sat on the bed, placing himself in a meditating position.

He slowly concentrated on gathering the magic particles around him.

'I'm not even at the starting point' He muttered in his mind. His motivation increased after realizing that there is a lot to work towards.