If you have already played an RPG, you certainly have met, at one time or another, this kind of character. The jackass abusing weaker people without any reasons.

Maximilian has had, for years and years, a severe frustration building up each time the story, the game itself, didn't allow him to really acted against them. He was condemned to watch them, to followed the story, and suffered their actions without being able to do anything against it.

So this explained the little smiled he had on his face for a second before retrieving his serious expression.

All around him, there were different kinds of feeling. Four soldiers on the side of the one that just flew into a wall had drawn their weapons, menacing him with swords, spears and arrows. The expression on their faces was clearly hostile at the moment.

The bearded man next to Arca had a worried face, certainly fearing what would happen next. The other soldiers were looking the scene from a bit around, ready to draw their weapons at need.

Arima was surprised by the speed at which the big man had moved to intervened, she simply hadn't seen him getting from next to her to punch the soldier in the face.

Alariel and Arca had seen him moved, the quick reaction, the speed he had. What surprised them was the fact they had just barely been able to follow his movements. Arca, especially, was looking at the soldier Maximilian had punched, then at him.

*How? When? I barely saw him arrived before he punched him. Should have I prevent it? Could have I prevented it?*

"What the hell? Don't move a muscle bastard!"

Not listening to the punched soldier's companion, Maximilian turned his back to them to looked at the panda girl, still on her knees on the ground next to Milne. The panda girl looked up hesitantly, her Emerald green eyes fixing the profound blue ones of the man who just saved her.

He smiled warmly at her.

"Are you alright?"

She didn't say a thing, just shyly nodded her head before looking down. The soldier ordering him started to approach.

"Hey! Haven't you heard m..."

"YAARG! MY NOSE IS BROKEN!!! WHERE IS HE? I'M GOING TO CUT THIS FUCKER'S HEAD OFF!!"

A hand on his bloody nose, the soldier Maximilian had punched got up, vociferating. As his tiny eyes stopped on him, Maximilian took a second to examined him.

*level 17, a light physic, more of a rogue style fighter...he looks like a rat. Dark brown eyes, pointy nose...now broken, a light moustache and a tiny goatee beard, greasy black hair...my god he must be the star of parties...I don't care what your name is, dude, I'm calling you ratman*

"I'm right here."

"YOU! DO YOU HA..."

Maximilian interrupted him.

"Please stop screaming, your voice is horrendous."

"WHAT?!"

At Maximilian words, Alariel coughed in her fist, suppressing a laugh, as did Arima with her two hands. The man continued speaking, although at a normal volume this time. Was it because screaming was hurting his broken nose or something else, Maximilian didn't know and, frankly, didn't care.

"You punched me, you broke my nose. Don't you know I am a soldier of his majesty? "

A very unpleasant grin appeared on ratman's face as he pointed at Maximilian.

"Attacking a soldier his a crime, and the punishment for that is death. Do you have something to say? If you beg on your knees, I might be generous."

He stopped talking, waiting for Maximilian to get on his knees. Maximilian looked around as if not believing him.

"Seriously?"

He turned and looked at Arca, who still hadn't say a thing.

"Is he seriously asking me to kneel before him?"

She though a moment before answering.

"That's the law, attacking a guard is a serious crime in our kingdom. Death is a possibility if the attacked guard is badly hurt."

"Oh...and what can be done if I don't want to kneel before a hitting child bastard?"

"What?"

It was ratman again.

"What child? She's nothing more than a slave, it's not as if her life mattered anyway. You're not actually thinking protecting a slave is a reason to hurt a soldier of his majesty...are you that much of an idiot?"

Ratman laughed a bit, a laughed at least as unpleasant as his face. Maximilian turned once again to Arca.

"If he continues talking, I think I'm going to punch him once again."

At his words, the soldiers on ratman's side put themselves in attack position.

"Don't you dare! You already attacked one of us, we won't let you do it again."

Maximilian raised his hands to his shoulders level.

"Okay, I get it..."

Maximilian walked some steps to the side and put down his scabbard with his sword, also his gauntlets, then turned back to face the soldiers and ratman.

"I don't want to hurt any of the brave soldiers protecting lady Arima, but I'm sure as hell not gonna kneel voluntarily before someone as despicable as you. So if you want me to kneel, come and make me. I, on my honour, swear I will not use magic to defend myself, only my bare hands. You have three chances to make me come to my knees before I fight back, what do you say?"

"What I say?"

Ratman pushed the other soldiers to come facing Maximilian, one meter away from him. He took out a cutlass from behind his back and smiled at him.

"I'm gonna make you kneel, and squeal at the same time."

Arima was going to say something to stop ratman's action but Alariel stopped her, beckoning her to stay silent and observing the scene.

Ratman charged at Maximilian, cutlass pointed at him. At the last moment, Maximilian made a slight step on the left, making ratman lose balance and fall down as he passed next to him. Impassible, Maximilian talked to him.

"That is one chance lost, you still got two..."

Standing up, ratman growled.

"You...you liar! You said you wouldn't defend yourself for three attacks!"

"And I didn't. You seriously cannot blame on others the fact you cannot stand straight, but rejoice, you still have two chances."

"You asshole!!"

Once again, ratman charged at Maximilian, who this time stepped on the right at the last moment, making the attacker once again falling down.

"I'm beginning to think you like the feeling of the ground on your face. I don't judge, but isn't it cold?"

As he looked around, ratman could see some of the soldiers laughing a bit, while the four on his side were clearly not knowing what to do. As he looked at Maximilian, the man could see ratman's dark eyes tainted red by exploding blood vessel, he clearly was furious.

"I'M GONNA KILL YOU!!!"

This time, he did not charge passed him. He stopped just before him and attacked, one time, two times, three times. Slashing, hitting, at least trying.

Each time an attack came at him, Maximilian was evading it, the difference in stats and level was clearly too much for ratman to even dream of hurting him.

"WHY WON'T YOU DIE?!"

As he attacked with to much force, Maximilian turned on himself, evading the attack and making ratman felt once again on the floor, landing before the panda girl.

"And once again you're on the floor...and that's three times you failed to make me go down on my knees, should we proceed? Or are you finally gonna admit your wrong doing?"

As ratman looked at the panda girl, Maximilian knew he made a mistake. Surprisingly quick, ratman got behind her and put his cutlass on her neck.

It was at that moment all the soldiers in the room get on Maximilian's side. Even the four who were siding with him at first weren't pointing their weapons at Max anymore.

Arca intervened, clearly not pleased with ratman's actions.

"Soldier! Even if the law is a bit light concerning violence against slaves, a murder is still a murder. You will stop your action this instant."

"You shut up, filthy semi-orc. Why should I, a human, listen to an under species kind like you? I've been dragged in this god forsaken place with promises of fame and fortune, but all we've found is death, nearly nothing valuable, and now this nobody here dares to hurt me? I won't be quiet about it, I want retribution! "

"Okay"

It wasn't Arca who spoke. The insult of ratman clearly annoying her, she was trying to calm herself and didn't have time to do anything else. It was Maximilian who spoke to ratman, Taking the attention back on him.

"What did you say?"

"I said ok, you want wealth, I may have something for you."

"...show me, and don't try anything funny or she gets it."

Joining gesture to words, he pressed the blade on the girl's neck, slightly cutting her, making her whimpering a bit as her white fur slightly tainted red.

"Don't worry, nothing of the sorts. Here, let me show you."

Getting back to his stuff he had put on the ground, he took his sword in hands.

"This is Falemgeril, a sword even a king would dream to handle."

"That's your wealth? A freaking sword? Do you take me for an idiot?"

"This is a weapon that would sell for several gold coins, far more if you find the good people."

"He's right..."

All eyes came upon Alariel, the one who just talked.

"If it is indeed the sword Falemgeril, the sword who killed giants, so his worth would be enough for a man to live the rest of his life in richness. But how could you find it? It has been lost for centuries..."

"Yeah, how could you come in possession of something so valuable? Where did you find it?"

"Here, actually. Down inside this place, it was waiting for someone to retrieve it. So, what do you say?"

"I say it must be a fraud, I don't think someone like you could find something as valuable as that. And even if it was true, why trading a treasure like that for the live of a lowly slave? It doesn't make senses."

"It's just because we don't have the same scale value. I'll choose the life of this girl over any pile of gold, it's as simple as that. Here is my offer, you release the girl and I let you take it."

The panda girl looked at him an instant, ratman was clearly not understanding his point of view. Still, after a good minute, he finally spoke.

"Alright, I'll take it. Throw it to me, don't come any closer."

"You sure? It's kinda heavy..."

"Don't try to fool me, you won't get closer."

"Okay, I throw it and you lay down your weapon at three, okay?"

"Okay, one, two, three!"

Maximilian threw the sword as the panda girl was released. Arca was going to charge, but he stopped her.

Ratman got in position to intercepted the incoming weapon. Maximilian smiled a bit.

"You know, Falemgeril is the kind of weapon legend talk about. Not only because of the power it has..."

Ratman reached to catch the falling weapon, coming straight at him.

"...but also for the strength you must have to even hope to lift it off the ground."

In a heavy sound, Ratman fell on the ground, screaming, his arm crushed by the heavy weapon he had tried to catch. The weapon had pursued on his falling trajectory, taking him with it. The light soldier didn't have a chance to lift it up. Maximilian stepped forward, approaching ratman, who was whimpering on the ground. Taking the sweetest and calmest voice he could make, Maximilian stood next to him, slightly leaning other the ratman to look at him in the eyes.

"I thought you wanted it, why don't you take it?"

"AARG, MY ARM, MY ARM!"

"Don't you want it? It's a fine piece of equipment you know..."

"TAKE IT OFF! IT'S CRUTCHING MY ARM!"

"You want me to take it back?"

"YES! YES! TAKE IT."

Easily taking the swords off ratman's arm, Maximilian reattached it on his belt.

"Thank you for this profitable transaction."

Maximilian got away from ratman, helping the panda girl to stand up.

"It's over now, come with me. I will look at this wound on your neck."

"You...you will pay for that..."

Turning around, Maximilian looked at ratman, on his knees, with a rolled parchment in his hand.

"Hear my words, one day I'll find you again, and I'll make you pay for what you've done today."

"Yeah yeah, better bring a fucking army with you."

Ratman opened the scroll and read what happened to be a teleportation spell, then disappeared before the soldiers had time to caught him.

"Lady Arima, I think your group just gained a lot of prestige right now..."

"What do you mean?"

"Isn't it better for the good being of a group if there is not rat to be seen?"

Alariel couldn't suppress a good laugh at that, soon followed by the bearded and some other soldiers in the group. The incident passed, all got back to their business.

Maximilian made the panda girl sit in front of him. Slowly and precociously, he examined the light wound on her neck, relieved to see it wasn't that bad, blood not even running down anymore.

"It's okay, it won't bother you at all, let me just put this bandage around you neck..."

"Master...there's no need to worry yourself with a lowly slave like me. I...I'll be fine."

Thanking him, she stood up and got away, going back to setting up the camp, just like she was doing before.

Maximilian was looking at her when Arima and Alariel came back to talk to him.

"What you did there, it was very brave of you."

"It was nothing, really. I only did what I felt was right."

"Nonetheless, I still own you my sincere thanks. Slavery isn't something I can go against in my position, but I don't like it at all."

"If you don't like it, how come you have one in your group?"

"I...I"

"I think I can answer that."

Seeing the hesitation of the little noble girl, Alariel took charge of the answer.

"It's not my lady's fault. The composition of a royal searching group has been the same for dozens of years now. At least two guardians for the royalty, one for the magic problems the group could come across, and the other one for those more...physicals I should say, two dozen of soldiers, ready to fight when needed. A chemist or doctor, to handle the poison and other wounds. And finally, at least one slave whose work is to...well, do what we could tell her to do, be it transporting, aiding in the camp, or even..."

"Sexual service, I suppose?"

"Yes, although that last part as been prohibited by my lady for this journey. Even if the law won't let her go without a slave, at least she made the man of the group stay away from her."

Hearing that, Maximilian smiled a bit to them.

"That's honourable of you. Understand that I'm not here to tell you how to do what you do, but there are things I cannot watch happening and stay quite about it."

"Thank you for understanding it, I'm glad we c..."

Lady Arima was interrupted by her stomach crying out loud that she was hungry. It was even surprising Maximilian to hear so many noises coming from a little girl. He looked a bit at the lady's tummy before looking back at her face to see it turned bright red.

"I...Oh god, I'm so ashamed of myself. Please forgive me. Before we were interrupted by this impolite soldier, I was gonna suggest to share our meal with you. It's the least we can do to thank you for what you've done."

The three of them were now coming back to the centre of the camp, were the bearded man was handing over the rations.

"It's very generous of you, may I ask what's on the men... oh"

A hunk of bread, a cup of water and... and that was all. Looking at Arima, Maximilian saw she was bothered by what little they had to offer.

"Please excuse the frugality of this... meal, the journey has been far longer than what we expected and, well, that's nearly all it is left."

Maximilian looked around himself, seeing the soldiers munching slowly on the little they have was just depressing.

"Oh no, this won't do."

Arima, Alariel, Arca and all the others around him looked at him. Arca growled a bit at his words.

"Be a man and take what's given to you, there's nothing else so no need to lament."

"Oh, my dear Arca. It would do you good to smile once in a while...you!"

Maximilian addressed the panda girl who, after having finished her work, was sitting by herself in a corner, a bit in the shadow, where the light of the fire barely reached, and his warmth not at all. She looked up and pointed at herself, not really getting why he was talking to her. Maximilian gestured her to come closer, what she did, looking down.

"My dear, may I have the pleasure to know your name?"

"I....I am named Lin-Lin, master."

"Very well, Lin-Lin. Could you help me? I want to make something to eat for everyone."

As she looked up, she could see the smiling face of the tall man, she didn't look at him in the eyes for too long, fearing a beating if doing so.

"I'm at your service, master."

"Thank you Lin-Lin, come with me. Okay everyone, please have a bit of patience, I and Lin-Lin will prepare something a bit more...consistent."

Arca laughed a bit, sarcastic.

"And what are you going to cook? The panda girl over there? I don't think she would appreciate."

Lin-Lin looked terrified for a second.

"Actually, I was more in the mood for semi-orc meat, would you share a piece of your ass for me to grill?"

Arca was taken aback by the man's answer, Alariel was laughing and Arima didn't know what to do. The soldiers wouldn't dare to laugh at that, not wanting a beating from their captain, but it was clearly hard for them not to.

Maximilian took Lin-Lin with him to a place a bit on the side of the camp's centre, where he had one or two meters free to work. Under the amazed eyes of everyone who was watching (Arca, Arima and Alariel plus some soldiers and Lin-Lin), he took out what he would need for the preparation. Frying pan, cauldron, he would use all the meat and vegetable he had found on the different creatures he had killed earlier. As he was preparing the mushrooms, he heard someone in the group talked.

"Just how deep is that bag exactly?"

The question was coming from the bearded man, clearly impressed by the number of things Maximilian was taking out.

"It's infinite, I can store what I want inside...well, nothing too big or alive, but everything else is fine."

"Impressive, where did you find that?"

"Deep down, near the place where I found Falemgeril."

"Do you mind if I try?"

The others looked at him, questioning eyes on their faces. The bearded man shrugged.

"What? It's not every day I have the chance to try magic stuff."

Maximilian threw the Havenbag to him.

"Here, try taking something out."

The bearded man put his hand inside, searching around, he then turned the bag upside down, but nothing came out.

"But...there's nothing in there..."

"That's because I haven't especially given you the authorization to take something out. It's a protection against robbery, as long as I live, or until I gave it away, only I and those I deemed worthy can take something out of it, and only what I accept them to... what's your name, friend?"

"Me? I'm called Paron. Why?"

"Well, let's see... Paron, I give you the right to take out of the Havenbag the meat we will eat tonight."

All looked at him, then at Paron, who put his hand back inside before putting it quickly away.

"Aah! There's something inside!"

"Of course there is. would you mind giving what you will find to Lin-Lin?"

"Okay..."

Hesitantly, he took out a big piece of meat, as big as his fist, and looked at it a moment.

"Incredible, and it's not rotten or anything...how is it possible?"

"Magic, my dear Paron, everything I put inside stays fresh. Neat, isn't it?"

Paron gave the meat to Lin-Line who in turn brought it to Maximilian.

Piece by piece, Paron took out meat and gave them to Lin-Lin. She, very cautiously follow Maximilian instruction, fearing the beating she thought a mistake would bring.

At a moment, all of the lizard meat was taken out and ready to be cooled, Maximilian using it and the shrooms to make a similar meal he had made for himself the night before.

When Arima saw the little blue chest, she asked.

"That's a pretty piece, what is it used for?"

"That's where I keep the spices I use to cook."

"Oh, you have spices? It's been a while since I've tasted some. Since we left the castle actually."

"As it been for long?"

"A few weeks actually. But I heard they are quite expensive, is it alright to use them here? They usually are reserved for a special occasion, or when we receive special guest..."

"Well, tonight with me around the fire camp I have royalty, beautiful girls and women, valorous soldiers who made it this far in this hell of a place...I would say you are quite specials guests indeed."

At that he laughed a bit, followed by some soldiers, the mood lightened by the smell coming from the cauldron.

"Paron, check again in the bag, I think we could use more meat, seeing the number we are tonight."

"There's more? I thought you say that was all of the meat?"

"Yes, all of that animal's meat, the shroom lizard, but I have another kind of animal in there we can use."

As he took off the body of one of the four wings bats, he dropped it in a slight scream, making everyone looking at him, excepted Maximilian who was slowly using a big wooden spoon to slowly turn into the cauldron.

"What the hell? Is that a Quat's body?"

Maximilian looked over his shoulder and shrugged.

"Don't know, didn't really asked their names before beheaded them."

" "Their" names? How many is there ?"

"A dozen or two, give the body to me would you, I'm gonna empty them and fry them in their fat. Lin-Lin..."

"Yes, master?"

"Come here would you."

As she came next to him, he took her little hands and put them on the spoon, showing her the gesture she had to make.

"Help me would you, turn like this, slowly and at the same speed, so I can work on the rest."

"Yes, master."

sitting a bit on the side, he took one quat after another, emptied them, skinned them, and collected the little fat they had.

"I didn't know it was edible. how do you know it?"

"I used a scan spell. Very useful actually."

"You can use the scan spell?"

This time, the question came from a very interested Alariel, who hadn't say a lot since he began to cook.

"Indeed I can."

"Would you...would you show me?"

"Later my dear, I'm cooking right now."

"of...of course, sorry."

Having finished the preparations, Maximilian started frying the quats's wings in a frying pan, using their fat like butter / oil, and adding spices when needed.

"Oh my god, it smells so good..."

To everyone surprised, this came from Arca, who was drooling a little. Teasing her a bit, Maximilian asked.

"You sure you're okay with what I prepared? It's not panda girl's meat..."

"Oh shut up you, don't tease me like that."

"Sorry sorry, here."

Using earth magic to create stones plates and spoons, Maximilian served her a good portion of lizard meat with mushrooms and fried quats wings.

"Why me first?"

"Because if I try to give it to lady Arima first, you'll again accuse me of trying to poison her, but on the other side, you seemed to be to more impatient to taste it, so here you are. Do you want me to prepare an antidote just in case."

"Don't insult me. As if the possibility of poison would scare me..."

"Arca!"

This was coming from Arima, clearly not pleased with the semi-orc attitude.

"He did nothing but helping us since he arrived, and now he even prepared this meal, please be nicer."

Arca growled something resembling a "thanks for the food" before

taking a spoon full of food in her mouth and chewing on it.

There was a little silence in the group as if the companions of the semi-orc were waiting for any signs of trouble. With a very calm and polite voice, Maximilian couldn't help a little.

"So? Tasty enough miss Arca?"

Before the surprised eyes of the entire adventurers group, the semi-orc blushed a bit, closing her eyes, she swallowed what she was chewing before answering.

"It...it is the best food I've ever eat..."

"Really? That good?"

To Alariel's question, Arca answered with a nod, too occupied to eat what she had on her plate.

"Hard to believe? Try it yourself."

With a smile, Maximilian started filling plates, Lin-Lin serving to everyone. One after the other, the members of the group started eating and loudly manifest their contentment. Even the polite Alariel and Arima allowed their voices to be heard, even if it was followed by a bright red colour on the cheeks.

Using Maximilian's waterskin, Lin-Lin passed into the group to refill the cup and bottle of everyone, before coming back to Maximilian who was eating...and discovered a plate filled with food next to him. Looking left and right, she seemed to search someone or something.

"You've lost something Lin-Lin?"

"No master, it's just that I still have one plate and I cannot find who I forgot."

"You don't? But it's obvious to me, the only one who isn't served..."

Maximilian took the plate and presented it to her.

"...is you."

Lin-lin looked at the plate, then at the gentle blue eyes looking at her.

"For...me?"

"Of course. Here, take it. Come, sit with me, drink and eat, rest. You sure deserve it after the event of today."

Lin-Lin took de plate and sat, eating slowly.

"It's...good...so good."

Looking at her, Maximilian could see silent tears falling dawn her face. He reached and pat her head slightly, making her stop moving a bit.

"You've done good today, enjoy."

"Thank you, master, thank you."

Maximilian put a cup of water next to her before standing up and went to see how Milne was doing. Marta was with her, the soldiers had put some clothes under Milne to help her sat, and Marta was helping her eat, feeding her. Seeing Maximilian arrived, they smiled at him.

"So, how are we doing over here?"

Milne swallowed before answering.

"Pretty good actually, thanks to you."

"Ho please, what did I do? Cutting you a bit here and there, putting a bandage, making a meal? It was nothing, but you..."

Crouching next to her, he slightly touched the area where he had operated her, just checking if everything was fine.

"...you fought death, you resisted, you survived. Remember this day, because you'll be stronger from here on. They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and your experience with poison has certainly reinforced your body against it."

The two women looked at each other before looking back at him.

"Why would you refuse the thanks? As a soldier, my honour asks of me to offer you something for what you've done today."

"Oh, I don't refuse anything. Let's do that, one day, I'll come to you and ask a service from you, that day, you'll choose if you want to help me or not, is it okay with you?"

"I guess... but what service?"

Maximilian shrugged.

"Who knows. I don't even know myself right now, we'll see. Eat, drink and rest for now, the camp is secure and after tonight, you should be able to travel again."

"Thank you, for everything."

He smiled at them again before standing up and went back to where Lin-Lin was still slowly eating. He was thanked on his way by the soldiers enjoying their meal, to each he responded with a smile. As he sat near to the panda girl, Alariel, Arima and Arca came to them. Tapping on the ground with his foot, Maximilian made five stone chair get out of the ground, the fifth one coming straight under Lin-Lin who screamed a bit, surprised. Seeing her nearly falling, Maximilian caught her, helping her sitting straight. He then sat and gesture the three women to do the same.

"So?Was it tasty enough for those ladies?"

It was lady Arima who spoke first.

"Oh yes, thank you. It was truly marvellous, even if compared to castle food...If you don't mind..."

"No need to be shy with me lady Arima, speak openly."

"Alariel, Arca and I wished to speak with you. Even thought you helped us quite a lot, for that we're more than grateful, there is a lot we still have to discover about you."

"Discover about me? Forgive me if I'm a bit straightforward, but there are some things a little girl will never discover about me, for that you would have to ask you two friends over here."

At that Alariel laughed a bit, Arima didn't seem to catch the undertone, and Arca growled.

"Take care how you speak to our lady, your tongue may still be cut off."

"Please, lady Arca, forgive me. I'm the kind of man who is honest in his acts, but also in his words, no malice behind it I swear. So, lady Arima, what did you want to know?"

"Well, first thing first. What are you doing here?"

"I'm going up."

Once again, Arca got angry with his answer.

"Don't play with us, we expect a true answer, no going around the truth."

Arima, staying calm, put a hand on the semi- orc's leg.

"Please, Arca...sir Maximilian, what do you mean by that?"

"Exactly what I said. When I met your group, I was going up. I'm coming from the level down and I'm looking for the exit."

"But...how can you b..."

"Stop!"

Maximilian stopped the next question of the lady, making a surprised look appeared on her face.

"I answered a question, it is fair you do the same, don't you think?"

Arca stood at his words, reaching for her blade.

"Who the hell do you think you are? You nobody should be honoured to have the privilege to exchange words with my lady, and you would dare to make conditions? "

"Arca."

"My lady, let me get what we want to know from him. I will make him talk quicker and we wouldn't waste time."

"Arca, please."

Arima was trying to calm the semi-orc once again. Maximilian, for his part, was beginning to get fed up with her constant interruption, although a part of him found it funny.

"This isn't a good idea, lady Arca."

Once again, she smirked at him.

"And why is that?"

"Because I'm far more powerful than you. At a point you wouldn't stand a chance if you would fight me."

Arca didn't answer immediately, taken aback by the man's words. Before she had time to answer, Maximilian spoke to Alariel.

"You asked me earlier to show you my scan spell, can you tell me why?"

"Oh, to be frank, it is just a little test. This is a spell quite complicated to learn. I, for my part, had to learn it for an entire year before mastering it, and I'm an elf, my race is known for his proficiency with magic."

"Is that so? A test you say...If you want. I could say that you are level 38, your short temper friend here is level 39 and lady Arima is level 7. To be frank I didn't bother analysing your group further."

The three women seemed impressed, Arca and Arima turned to Alariel, waiting.

"It...it is right, so you truly pocessed that kind of magic to...but why were you bringing that up?"

"Can you tell me how far you've mastered this spell yourself?"

Alariel straightened herself, visibly proud of herself.

"Well, without bragging, quite well actually. I can observe and analyse any creature or living being until a level thrice mine."

Arca arched an eyebrow at that revelation.

"Really? Last time we checked, it was twice your level, when did you perfectioned yourself?"

"A bit before we started the expedition actually, impressive don't you think?"

Arca looked at Maximilian, a predatory smile on her face.

"Scan him."

Arima tried to oppose.

"Arca, it's not polite to analyse someone like that without their consent."

"Sorry lady Arima, but he insult me, I won't let it be. Do it Alariel."

Alariel looked at him an instant and, seeing Maximilian simply staying there with a little smile on his face, she lifted her mage staff and.

"Scan!"

Maximilian observed a bit the magic circle forming around him.

*Oh? Interesting. It doesn't do that when I scan things...maybe because of the difference in level. But it's kinda pretty, I'm almost jealous. *

The magic circle stayed around him some minutes. Alariel, eyes closed, clearly using all her knowledge in this spell to try and read his level, her concentrating face had something attractive.

*She is a beauty to begin with, so it's not difficult for her to look fine while doing that I guess. Ah, she seemed to have finished.*

Finally giving up, she put her staff back on the ground, breathing deeply.

"I...I can't read it. I can't read his level."

"WHAT!?"

Arca took a step further and placed herself between Maximilian and Arima, her sword in hands. Lin-Lin, for her part, was trembling in her seat. Maximilian put a hand on her head and pat her.

"Don't worry, everything is fine."

"Oh no, everything isn't fine. Where did you find an artefact allowing you to protect you against a scan spell? Those are a thing only spies use!"

*An artefact? Oh, I understand, she cannot accept the fact I could have a level thrice Alariel's. I can't really blame her, I still find it hard to believe myself sometime.*

Maximilian shrugged then stood, walking away.

"Follow me Arca."

"And why would I?"

"Because I'm gonna give you what you seemed to want since I arrived here."

"And what could that be? Are you going to flee now that we've discovered you secret?"

"Flee? No no, it's not my style..."

He looked at her, the sparkles of gold in his eyes shining an instant.

"I'm gonna give you a chance to fight me."