***Hyperion Empire***

***Imperial Academy***

After morning training with Kana and Arthur, Max returned to his dorm. Kana had taken Adrios for the day, so the young Soltain had plenty of time to himself today. Arthur went to breakfast with Kana in hopes to talk to Juliet, yet Max preferred to stay back and spend a longer time soaking in the warm waters of the bathhouse. He was suspended, and he was going to enjoy every moment of it.

Max rested a damp towel over his head as he thought about what he could do today. Trisha had told him the Draconian Research League had its own room inside the Third Club Building, so he considered investigating that. He also now had time to stretch his light manipulation. Although satisfied with current results in being able to disguise his sword so opponents couldn’t see it, there was more to be had.

The new technique had its weaknesses. Though a sight based restriction was the most glaring deficiency. Anyone he couldn’t see would not be affected by the spell, anyone he didn’t recognize or was disguised would be able to see the sword. That was issue number one, he either had to address his sight limits as a human or rework the spell from the ground up. A thought of using his Satele side in conjunction with the spell crossed his mind, the ‘Mind’s Eye’s’ greatly increased visual perception and awareness, but that was just another rhetorical solution in the multitude of possible tests running through his head. Max found himself disappointed that none of his ancestors tested light towards its delusional capabilities.

His family’s ancient texts and books about light manipulation had all been centered around either devastation or rejuvenation. His ancestors were creative sure, finding new ways for light to burn, maim, or erase their enemies, but very rarely thought outside of its battle intensive aspects. Save his namesake. Knight General Maximus Soltain occasionally spent time tinkering with light magic and had created a very small number of unique spells and techniques to use at any time. Though it could hardly be considered anything more than a hobby to the older Soltain, a large contrast to his own grandson's unquenchable thirst for everything new magic. The general had invented a light based movement technique and light-channeling to the weapon, yet both of these spells were of the same variety; alteration magic.

General Soltain was also very tight-lipped about his light magic movement technique, and Max had very seldom seen it used. Apparently, even Jacob didn't even know how to use it and he doubted the older man taught Skylar. When Max had asked if his grandfather would teach him the move, he immediately felt like he had entered into a trade negotiation and was forced into multiple concessions until they had settled on a deal to share each others new techniques when the younger Soltain had completed his own.

There was hope there. Now that Max had finally finished a part of the larger invisibility spells he had planned, he had something to be traded. Perhaps, if he was lucky, he could convince his grandfather to spend more time trying to create new variations of light based alteration magic. If the older man could provide his own insights while he and the boy both worked to expand upon the Soltain element it would help Max greatly.

The rejuvenation category of Soltain magic was about as stunted as it could possibly be. Healing came naturally to all Soltains, and in Max's mind, the books about healing with light basically all said ‘If you're truly Soltain, healing we’ll be as easy as breathing’. They were all so redundant, each claiming that Soltain’s were descendants of the Sun God, and that healing would occur if you just channeled mana and thought about the injury you wanted mended. Perhaps they were truly blessed by the God of Light, because healing with light magic really was that easy for Max.

He could perform every recorded and named spell in the Soltain House texts by the age of eight. The spells weren’t really different, they were each just a distinct way to attack or defend with light, sometimes changing the point of exit, but most of the time using the hands to fight. All the devastation magic was as simple as picturing the spell in his head and then pointing his hand or even his foot in a direction. Light shields, beams, blasts, flares, barriers, fires, bursts, and all the like were child's play for the young Soltain, and each of his attacks were always bigger than the last.

While Max could make a ‘Light Barrage’ as fast as his grandfather, his spell was always stronger, unless he actively chose for it not to be. He could heal as many injuries as his father, and would use far less of his own mana. Max smiled remembering the time when he and his father held a competition in the recruit’s barracks after they returned from a hard day's training.

When it took Jacob a minute to heal a bruised eye, Max finished in a couple seconds. Each of the recruits had at least suffered from exhaustion and fatigue, and Max had replenished their stamina with just a touch. When his father looked at him with shock, Max had no issue reminding Jacob why he was the best. The soldier’s made jokes at their Lord’s expense, and Max soaked in the praise.

The vast majority of mages with rejuvenation abilities could not repair an amputated limb to its full state. In the Hyperion Empire, the two most common healing mages were either mages that used the water element to clean and clear wounds, or mages that beseeched the god Sol for his blessings. There was no way the water users could recover a limb to completion, while regular light users only so rarely were fortunate enough to regrow fingers.

Regrowing limbs costed Jacob a major portion of his mana, and during the war against Aarus and the Sudites, all he could usually afford to do was heal his allies. Jacob had written how it took him a whole hour to completely grow a limb like a leg or an arm, and after doing so he would feel flagged. When a Soltain Knight lost his arm during a bandit subjugation in the Satele Province, Jacob asked Max to give healing the man a shot.

Jacob had expected his son to be able to heal the man, even regrow his limb faster than his own abilities, but he never expected Max to do it so quickly. Within minutes, the man’s arm had regrown all the way to the wrist in the eyes of over twenty Knights and servants. In less than a quarter of an hour, the previously injured Knight was fit to return to service. The man spun his arm around and thanked his Young Lord while all the spectators cheered. Max still remembered his father’s face as he put his hands on his hips and yelled “Who’s next?”

Max had more than just an affinity to light magic, that much was clear. Light magic was his unarguable strength, a strength he sought to expand upon. He had all the time in the world to work with his mother and her family to improve his eyes, but right now he was under the impression that he should perfect his strengths to mask his weaknesses. Devastation and rejuvenation were great, but they were only a small part of magic in the grand scheme of things.

Alteration and delusion. That was his next step. His bending of the light to disguise his sword was a start, but he had a long way to go. He would hopefully acquire his grandfather's light-based movement technique when he returned home, and expected to often exploit that as a bridgehead for future exploration. Max sighed in contentment as he held his right palm above his eyes, his head slowly sinking into the water. The tattoo on his palm was small, yet he was surprised Kana or Arthur had not questioned him about it yet. The jagged and perplexing markings of the Draconians always caused Max to think about the limits of magic.

Effectively mastering the unexplored parts of light magic was a goal for the immediate future. It was a realistic and possible goal. Expanding upon the sword, his air affinity, the art of enchanting, and his eyes were also reasonable objectives, but he knew it wouldn’t be enough. He craved for more, and the Draconians once held so much more. Keeping his friends safe and secure would always be a priority, but Max recognized long ago that the two were anything but helpless.

They would both grow to be powerful, and Max rationalized they would be able to defend themselves from the majority of threats the world could possibly produce. So, Max realized, he would need to get strong enough to crush the threats they couldn’t deal with, even the enemies that would only give them a bit of trouble. For that, he would need to constantly think outside of the norm, pushing past what was seen to be the limit and looking beyond.

Max grabbed the towel off his head and dunked himself into the warm water. He would go to the club room today, explore the “research” they had so far and learn what he could.

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Walking down the carpeted corridor in nothing but a bath towel was a guilty pleasure for Max. The dormitory was quiet, with all of the students required to go to class. Max couldn’t help but enjoy the time with himself and his thoughts as he approached the wooden door marking his room.

Quickly glancing at the enchanted paper slip he placed between the doorway, he concluded no one had attempted to enter his room. A rather simple enchantment in itself, his Master Silvia had taught him how to set the paper to burn to a crisp if it was bent, moved, or folded in anyway. She explained how it was a simple but effective trick to use to determine if someone tried to enter your residence through the main doorway.

His dirty uniform he had placed outside the door was gone, so he assumed it was being cleaned and would be returned to him after lunch. Max opened the door and let the paper burn itself out. Throwing his towel on his bed, he stood in the buff as he noticed his foot was on top of a folded envelope reading Maximus Soltain II. Picking up the folded envelope, he opened it and read the contents.

Maximus Soltain,

As a student conscripted to the Academy Code of Conduct, you are hereby summoned to undergo review through the Board of Discipline. You are charged of breaking rules under the Student Interpersonal Behavior section of the Academy Code of Conduct and will be questioned and reprimanded as deemed appropriate by the Board representatives. As per administration direct mandates, your immediate guardians have been informed of your summons and will again be informed of the subsequent judgement post-review. You are requested to be in attendance for the hearing by the eighth bell’s chime.

Hyperion Imperial Academy Board of Discipline

Max faux-pouted. They were going to tell his parents before he was even judged? How was that fair?

“Life isn’t fair boy.” Max softly repeated his grandfather’s words to himself. The man had some good sayings, ones that were easily etched into the young Soltain’s mind.

The naked boy then stretched his body and threw the letter on his bed alongside his wet towel. He scanned his closet and internally argued on which of his identical Academy uniforms he would be wearing today. As the battle in his mind raged on, Max heard a knocking on his door. Absentmindedly approaching the door and slightly opening it, he noticed his cousin standing on the other side with an unreadable face and an envelope in hand.

Max, either having forgotten or not caring, chose to just leave the door open and return to his closet without saying a word. Arthur took that as a sign to enter and was graced with the sight of his cousins bare behind before he disappeared behind his closet doors.

“You know, normally people wear clothes when they invite others into their homes, unless of course they have something else planned. Alas, I’m sorry to inform you but I simply don’t see you as more than a friend.” Arthur joked as he closed the door and sat in the nearest chair, rubbing the tiny head of Zecarth.

Arthur was only rewarded with a boyish grunt emanating from inside the closet. The Satele heir quietly waited for his cousin to reappear as he thought about what could happen at the hearing. He was hardpressed to admit it, but he had messed up. The board was surely going to find it curious how Julien constantly admitted they had attacked first while he could guess the rest would argue the opposite.

Arthur was confident his spell would have now lost its effectiveness, and anything regarding the fight would be erased from Julien’s mind. He would remember nothing, and at the review he’d be practically useless.

Max walked out of the closet wearing his uniform pants and threw the long-sleeve shirt over his hardened torso. “Did you get the same letter I did?”

Arthur glanced at the opened letter and envelope on the bed and nodded. “You mean the summons? Yes, I did.”

“They told our parents! My mom’s going to kill me once she find’s out I got suspended.” Max complained as he brushed his still damp hair with his hand and wrapped the Academy jacket over his shoulders.

Arthur shrugged. “My parent’s won’t care. They might ask me why I took certain actions but I doubt I would be punished.”

Max sat on the side of his bed and started putting on his shoes. “If I were so lucky. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Aunt Joan and Uncle William mad.”

Arthur closed his eyes and leaned fully against the back of the chair. “Oh they get mad, though only at each other. Like most of my family, they mask their emotions around others or in public, and let it simmer until they can release them amongst those they trust. My father and mother are no different. I am sure if you think about it you’ll realize Aunt Sophia is the same. Emotional around family or matters of the family, apathetic everywhere else.”

Max stood up and stretched his body again. “Huh. I guess so.”

“We have some time before the hearing. What do you want to do?” Arthur asked, also standing back up and opening the door.

“I was going to go visit the club room.” Max answered.

Arthur grinned. “Speaking of clubs, you would not believe who happened to join the Strategic Board Games League, just this morning actually.”

Max raised an eyebrow as the two moved through the quiet corridor in the boys dormitory. “Who?”

“The beautiful Juliet Granitas of course, she is just as cavalier as you are. All I needed to do was express the importance and possible benefits of numerous strategic iterations and scenarios for someone like a king or queen and let her own pride handle the rest. It also didn’t hurt to challenge her in a game of wits, she is a girl who wants to be recognized for her own qualities, not that of her own family’s, and I am happy to oblige.” Arthur explained as the boys moved down the smooth wooden stairs towards the main floor.

Max was a bit surprised on how much effort his friend was putting in wooing the princess. Sure, she was pretty and smart, but she didn’t particularly stand out to the young Soltain. Perhaps it was because his thoughts were largely focused on another girl, but it was still remarkable to see his usually lethargic friend put so much effort into something. Max inwardly shrugged, maybe Arthur was seeing something he wasn’t, it wouldn’t be the first time. “I thought students couldn’t join any clubs after yesterday? How did Juliet join this morning?”

Arthur smirked and held the door for Max as they both walked outside and allowed their eyes to adjust to the brightness of the day. “We are talking about the Imperial Princess, my friend.”

Max chuckled and scratched his nose. “You’re right. Stupid question.”

“Before we go to the clubroom, I need to stop by and pick up the notes for the initial investigation made by the good Sergeant Lockenfell.” Arthur said suddenly, shifting the mood to a more serious one.

Max followed his cousins thought, he had a lot to do today and the hearing was only a part of it. He would not let the possibility of punishment stop him from moving forward. The boys eventually settled into a smooth pace and Max lightly pushed his friend’s back. “Lead the way then.”

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Before the eighth bell’s chime, which signaled just past midday, Arthur and Max approached the Administration Building. Like the rest of the buildings on campus, it was large and white, spotted with windows and intricately carved depictions of trees amongst other things. Two guards stood at the main entrance of the building, each wearing shining plate armor and holding silver polearms.

Max shook his head at the constantly recurring color scheme. The capital city loved its bright colors, white and silver being the most prevalent. The guards glanced at the two heirs but said nothing. Max pushed the heavier looking doors open and both he and his cousin walked into a large room primarily lit but the sun beaming in from above. Marble encompassed the floor, though the design didn’t appear to be any form of art. To Max, the squiggling and mismatch of shapes looked like they had allowed an infant to draw on their marble floor. It was certainly unique.

The large room was quiet, and a nameless woman working behind the only desk centered in the middle of the room glanced at both boys. “Maximus Soltain and Arthur Satele I presume?” she asked delicately yet with a firm tone.

Both boys peeked at each other and slowly nodded without a word.

She stood up and gestured them to follow, leading them down a number of corridors where they passed a sign that read Student Discipline with a rather long quote after talking about how an Academy only works for the students, creating leaders and such. Max didn’t care to do more than skim it, his opinion of the Academy had hardly changed since he first arrived.

“Right this way please.” The woman instructed, opening a door for the boys and leading them to a room with four tables. One table looked to only be able to cover for one person, while the other three had enough room for multiple chairs. The largest table of the four was placed towards the back wall, with three chairs facing the two other large tables with the smallest by itself to the side.

Seven faces either angry, scared, or both, turned to look at Max and Arthur. The seven teens Max and Arthur had ‘immobilized’ looked in good health now, save a couple who had noses that looked if only slightly lopsided. Max grinned back at the seven taller students with satisfaction, they obviously remembered him. Hopefully some wouldn’t have learned their lesson, pummeling them into the ground a second time would be no less fun than the first.

As the two young heirs slowly moved by the eight larger students, Max practically battled them with his eyes while Arthur observed Julien. The teen seemed to have all of his mental faculties, but he was staring at Max and Arthur with curiosity if nothing else. He clearly did not feel the same enmity towards the boys then the rest of his cohorts.

After sitting down, three adults walked into the room and sat behind the largest table facing the students. They had no nameplates, and the only thing Max knew about them was that they represented the Board of Discipline based off the plaque in front of the table.

The man in the middle, a tall and thin man with a pair glasses, spoke first after the three seated. “We will begin with opening statements. Is there anything either sides would like to say now?”

Max and Arthur both turned at the sound of the brown haired teen he remembered kicking the beastkin on the ground. Like a couple of his friends, his nose was now fixed, but there was a small protrusion on the right side. It was barely noticeable, but it was there.

Everyone in the room sat in silence to wait for the boy’s opening remark. The teen clinched his fists and ground his teeth to speak. “W-we were t-the one’s who attacked first. Th-those two were just defending themselves.”