Chapter 285: A bit of talk

Max shrugged lightly, his expression calm but firm.

"I can return to the guild, sure. But with your mother there? It's impossible."

He sighed, shaking his head.

"She'll kill me the second I show my face—probably before I even take a step inside."

Alice's smile faded, her gaze lowering as a shadow of sadness flickered across her face.

The conflict between Max and her mother…

It was something she couldn't fix.

Something that had torn them apart in ways she hadn't been able to prevent.

Max saw the shift in her expression and sighed softly, squeezing her hand.

"Don't worry about your mother for now.""

His voice was gentle, reassuring.

"Let's talk about you. How have you been?"

And just like that—

They talked.

For half an hour straight.

About everything and nothing at all.

Alice talked about how things had been in the guild since he left, about her training, her frustrations.

About how her mother had taken away her holowatch, about not getting any information about him anywhere in the guild.

Max listened, occasionally teasing her, occasionally just watching her speak, soaking in the sound of her voice.

They laughed.

They reminisced.

For a moment, it felt like they had never been apart.

Like the past four months of separation had never happened.

Like they had just picked up from where they left off.

Then, somewhere along their conversation, Alice suddenly grinned, her eyes shining with excitement.

"I knew it was you the moment I saw that masked person in a suit!"

Max raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Alice nodded, proudly.

"That was the suit I specifically picked for this occasion."

She crossed her arms and huffed playfully.

"And you wore it."

Max chuckled, shaking his head.

"Of course, I did."

His smile softened.

"How could I forget something you bought for me?"

There was no teasing in his voice this time.

Just genuine fondness.

Alice's cheeks warmed slightly, but she kept her composure—barely.

She cleared her throat, looking away for a second before saying, "It looked good on you."

Her voice was quieter, a bit hesitant, as if embarrassed to admit it.

Max, on the other hand, grinned.

He leaned in slightly, his tone mockingly smug.

"Me? I know I look good in anything."

Alice rolled her eyes, about to push him away—until his next words caught her off guard.

"But you? Today you look gorgeous."

Alice froze for a second.

Her eyes widened slightly before her face turned even redder.

"You think so?"

She asked, looking down at her dress, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

Her fingers lightly brushed the fabric, as if trying to smooth it out.

Max nodded without hesitation.

"Yup, a beauty indeed."

His voice was honest, certain, without the usual teasing edge.

Alice's heart skipped a beat.

She smiled—

Not her usual, playful smile, but one that was softer, warmer, more genuine.

Max watched as Alice smiled so freely, her laughter ringing softly in the air, filling the space between them with warmth.

And for a moment—

He felt something deep inside his heart shift.

A strange, unfamiliar feeling.

Something he couldn't quite name—

But something that felt too good, too right.

And yet—

He knew.

All good things must come to an end.

And so would this moment.

He took a quiet breath before speaking.

"I have to go now, Alice."

His voice was gentle but firm.

Alice's carefree expression stiffened.

Her smile wavered, then slowly faded away.

Anxiousness flashed in her eyes.

"Go?"

Her voice was softer now, tinged with uncertainty.

Her fingers tightened slightly around his hand, as if trying to hold onto the moment before it slipped away.

"When do we meet again, then?"

Max sighed.

A heavy, reluctant sigh.

He shook his head slowly.

"I don't know."

His eyes met hers, filled with a quiet sadness.

"It's very difficult for us to meet right now."

He hesitated, but he had to say it.

He had to be honest.

"I'm part of the Black Lotus Guild now. They treat me well."

His fingers tensed slightly as he continued.

"But I don't think I can return to the Phoenix Order Guild anytime soon… or if ever."

Alice's shoulders stiffened.

Her grip on his hands tightened.

Her heart sank—

A heavy weight pressing on her chest.

"Then this is our last meeting?"

Her voice trembled just a little, filled with an unspoken sorrow.

Max hesitated, his throat tightening.

He didn't want to lie to her.

Didn't want to give her false hope.

Finally, he nodded.

A slow, reluctant nod.

"We won't meet but you will see me around."

Alice's breath hitched—but she didn't say anything.

Max sighed quietly, glancing at her saddened face.

"I plan to join the exploration team led by the King of the West and Envoy Lucas to the Mourning Depths later."

His voice was calm, but there was a hint of resolve behind it.

"I don't think I'll be able to see you after the birthday celebration tonight."

"Mourning Depths? I'll go too." She had spoken so quickly, so firmly, that it took him a second to process it.

But when he did—

He immediately shut the idea down.

"Nope."

His response was instant, final, and absolute.

"You can't go there."

Alice frowned, about to protest, but Max continued.

"The least requirement to enter the Mourning Depths is Seeker Rank battle strength. And you…"

He paused.

Something felt off.

His brows furrowed.

His instincts tingled.

He had expected to sense her strength like he always did, expected to feel the familiar presence of her aura.

But now—

He couldn't.

At all.

His eyes widened slightly, his expression turning serious.

"Huh? I can't see through your strength? What happened?"

His tone became sharp, wary.

Was something wrong with his senses?

Or…

Had Alice changed?

Alice's eyes sparkled mischievously.

Then—

She giggled, stepping back as she lifted her chin proudly.

"Seeker Rank?"

She repeated, amusement dancing in her voice.

And then—

She let her aura explode outward.

A wave of energy pulsed from within her, spreading through the air like rippling heat.

Fiery winds whirled around them, blazing with golden-red light, carrying an unstoppable pressure.

Max instinctively braced himself, his coat fluttering under the force of her energy.

And what he sensed—

Shocked him to his core.

"Level 2 of Seeker Rank?"

His voice came out stunned, almost disbelieving.

That—

That was impossible.

He had thought his leveling speed was fast.

Had thought that he was ahead of everyone else.

But compared to Alice…

He couldn't even hold a candle.

Alice smiled knowingly, placing her hands on her waist as if to say, "Behold my greatness."

"Hehe~ I've awakened my Phoenix Bloodline."

Her voice held pride, but also warmth.

A confidence that came not from arrogance, but from certainty.

Max's mind raced.

Her bloodline…

Yes, he had known about it.

Had known that it had been dormant for years.

But now—

It was fully awakened.

And this was the result.

He muttered, almost to himself—

"Your bloodline… of course."

Everything clicked.

Her insane growth.

Her unparalleled power boost.

Max's expression remained solemn, his mind racing as he tried to understand what had happened.

"How did this happen?"

His voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge beneath it.

"How did you awaken it?"

Alice hesitated.

For the first time in their conversation, she looked uncertain.

Her fingers curled slightly, gripping the fabric of her dress as she searched for the right words.

And then, after a brief silence—

She spoke the truth.

"After I heard that you were almost killed by my mother… something happened to me."

Her voice wavered, but she forced herself to continue.

"I—I lost consciousness."

Max's eyes darkened.

His heartbeat slowed.

A sinking feeling settled in his chest.

"And when I woke up," Alice continued, "my Nirvana Phoenix Bloodline had already awakened."

Max's hands tightened into fists.

His breath felt heavier, his pink eyes flickering with something dangerous.

"What happened to you?"

His voice was low, demanding.

Not out of anger—

But out of concern.

He needed to know.

Had she been hurt?

Had she been tortured by the pain of her awakening?

Had she—

Suffered?

Alice bit her bottom lip, her fingers trembling slightly.

She shook her head.

"I don't know."

Her voice was softer now, filled with an uncertainty that gnawed at her.

"Mother won't tell me anything about it."

Her gaze dropped, frustration flashing across her features.

"Big Brother Anton only told me that after hearing the news about you being stabbed by Mother, my emotions went completely out of control."

She swallowed hard, recalling that moment.

The devastation.

The anger.

The grief that felt like it would consume her whole.

"And somehow… that triggered my bloodline."

She clenched her fists.

"Mother later helped me fully awaken it, but I don't remember anything from that time."

Max's heart twisted.

He could see it—

The pain she had gone through.

Even if she didn't remember it, her body did.

Her soul did.

And it must have been unbearable.

Without a second thought—

He moved.

He pulled her into a tight embrace.

Holding her firmly, protectively, desperately.

His arms wrapped around her as if trying to shield her from everything.

"I—I won't ever make you feel that way again."

His voice was low, filled with raw emotion.

"I promise."

Alice's breath hitched, her body stiffening for a second—

Before she nodded gently, pressing her forehead against his chest.

She closed her eyes.

And for the first time in months, she felt at peace.

Max, however—

Couldn't feel at peace.

His mind was storming with thoughts.