After the exam was finished max and Asta were told to go outside to meet with Yami and 2 other black bull members.
Asta: I can believe you actually want to join the black bulls max this is going to be awesome!
Max: I just decided to join to do Yuno a favor and look out for you.
Asta: well tell him that I will be okay I have my own grimoire and I have my own power.
Max: (that's exactly why I joined in the first place)
Yami: there you two are.
The two turned and saw Yami along with two other black bull members.
Yami: now that the exam is over I can finally go back to base.
Max: aren't you going to introduce us to them.
He motioned to the other black bull members.
Yami: huh? Oh yeah. The brown hair one is finral he's a womanizer and the one with the black lipstick is gordon don't expect too much of a conversation with him.
Finral: captain. Seriously?
Gordon: (hello)
Max: nice to meet you too.
Asta: so captain Yami where's the base and how long is the walk?
Yami: we aren't walking. Finral.
Finral: on it.
Finral took out his grimoire and a portal opened in front of them.
Asta: woah!! That's so cool!
Finral: thanks newbie this is spacial magic and with this we can travel to the hide out in a jiffy.
Max: well that's pretty useful.
Yami: enough talk let's go in.
They entered the portal and they ended up outside the a building that max felt like it wasn't a Normal building.
Yami: this is our base not too fancy and I like it that way.
Asta: so this is the black bull's hideout huh? It's so plain. But still so cool.
Max: it's looks alright to me.
Asta: alright!! if this is where I'm staying then it's my first step to becoming wizard king! Let's go-
Asta was about to rush into the house but max grabbed him by the collar stopping him.
He was about to ask what's the deal but soon an explosion rang out surprising Asta but not max because he felt sparks of energy being thrown around.
Even though mana and spiritual energy are two different energies mana still has a somewhat connection to the soul so thanks to that max can still sense mana but only if he really focused on his surroundings.
Inside the building were in simple terms a hyper kid, a punk, a hoe, a little eater, a sister complex kingpin, and a guy.
Max: what the hell did I get myself into?
Asta: holy. These are the black bulls?
Finral: are you serious!? There at it again!?
Gordon: I bet luck started it.
Asta shook away his surprise and stood proud and yelled out to introduce himself.
But no one heard him.
Max then felt surge of dark energy and he looked and saw Yami with his hand surrounded by dark mana.
He grabbed Asta and stood a few meters back.
Yami: I've had enough.
With one hit to the wall that made a massive impact max covered his ears and Asta followed suit along with Gordon and finral.
Yami: QUIT MESSING UP THE BASE!!!!!
With his loud shout everyone stopped what they were doing and rushed at Yami and thanks to max Asta wasn't trampled on.
They asked questions about having any new recruits while some asked for favors.
Yami: shut it all of you.
With that single word everyone stopped talking and with some quiet Yami can speak up.
Yami: well now that I can finally talk. We did get two rookies. Come here and introduce yourselfs.
Max and Asta were no being watched by the black bull members and Asta woke up out of his astonishment.
Asta: right!! I'm Asta from hage village it's very nice to meet you all!!
Max: I'm max McKnight I got lost while finding my way to the capital and I ran into Asta here.
Magna: so you two twerps are nobodies huh?
He was pushed aside by a blonde boy who max felt an instinct to get as far away from this guy.
Luck: hey you. Max right? you look strong let's fight.
Yami: luck don't start again. You and magna recked the building enough!
Luck: yes sir.
Max: (I might be judging too early but every instinct in my body is telling me that this guy isn't normal)
Moline: (it's not just you this guy feels like a beast wanting to be released.)
Yami: any you two get along with the recruits and don't try to kill them.
Asta: wait what?
Magna: didn't you hear him? Yami wants to make sure that you two get a good workout and that's my job. I don't know what you two did to impress the captain but you two don't seem that special.
He grabbed his robe and displayed the black bull's symbol.
Magna: do you see this? This is a robe that shows that you are part of the black bulls.
Asta: a magic knight's robes. So cool.
Max: ( I'm satisfied with my badge as an exorcist robes like that looks very annoying to have on. Plus I don't like robes brings back a lot of bad memories)
Magna: damn right it is. So do you want it!?
Asta: yes! Gimme!!
Magna: you max right? Do you want this robes to prove you're a member of the black bulls?
Max: not really.
Magna Asta and some of the others were caught off guard by max's response.
Magna: what do you mean "not really!?" This is prove that your a magic knight!!!
Max: I get it but me and robes are not good friends.
Asta: what do you mean by that?
Max: long story.
Magna: well if you're going to be a magic knight and a member of the black bulls you're going to wear it whether you like it or not!
Max: goddamnit.
Vannesa walk behind Magna and whispered in his ear and Magna nodded his head max didn't hear what they were saying but he didn't care too much.
Magna: well since you two are rookies then is up to me to test you in a baptism.
Max/asta: baptism?
Magna: yes a baptism this will let me and the others see what you're made of and we will decide if you two are worthy to join us.
Asta: alright bring it on!
Max: let's just get this over with.
Max and the others were a few meters away from Asta and Magna who were in an open field.
Magna threw a compressed fire ball at Asta and max was about to step in if Asta get injured.
But to his luck Asta used the flat end of the blade to repel the fire ball at Magna.
This time max decided to step in and he got in front of Magna and covered his arm in black matter and made a hand.
Max grabbed the fire ball and absorbed it surprising the others.
Max: what the hell Asta!? Are you trying to kill him!?
Asta: hey! I didn't even know I could repel magic!
Max: you have a big ass sword how could you not know!?
Asta: this thing doesn't come with guide lines.
The black bulls mages were just watching max and Asta arguing about Asta not knowing about his own abilities.
Magna: you two bastards.
Max and Asta turned and saw Magna who looked pissed off.
Max: oh shit. Asta I will come to your funeral if you die.
Asta: what the hell max!!!?
Magna rushed at Asta and he also intended to grab max but he backed away from his range.
Magna: you have a nerve you runt!
Max/moline: he's dead.
Asta: I'm sorry! I'm really sorry! I didn't know that I could-
When Magna showed his face he had a smile on his face but it wasn't a muderous smile it was that of a proud father like smile.
Magna: kidding.
Max/asta: huh?
Magna: dude you almost killed me yeah but even so I would have dispel my own magic. But still you actually repelled my magic right back at me. And let me tell you that was amazing.
Magna turned to max with the same smile.
Magna: and you that black arm of yours saved my hide even though I didn't need it thanks a bunch.
Max: well I didn't want my first day as a magic knight to start with a member dead.
Magna: ha ha ha. True but anyway you two pass the baptism.
Asta/max: wait what?
Finral: yeah this baptism thing is completely unnecessary he just does it to test out the new members.
Max: ah I get it so it's a form of rough greeting.
Magna: bingo.
Vannesa used her string magic to make a black bull robes and put on Asta who also got the symbol of the black bulls on his headband.
Asta: my own magic knight robes! So cool!!
Vannesa then looked at max.
Vannesa: I know that you said that you don't like robes so I'll customize your insignia of the black bulls.
Max: oh really? Well in that case make it an arm band.
Vannesa: alright.
She then used her string magic to make an small arm band with the black bull's symbol.
Max put it on his arm and he liked the design.
Magna: well I'll admit it's less noticeable but it should be alright since you are an official magic knight.
Max: happy to know that you acknowledge me.
While the others were talking to the new members a girl was watching them but she quickly dismissed them and went to her room.
After Magna led them to their rooms and he left to his own room.
Asta: see ya tomorrow max.
Max: you too.
Max looked at his room and it reminded him of his own room in the dormitory.
He decided to just go to sleep and hope that the next time he wakes up he would be back to his world.
However next morning he woke up and he saw the roof of his current room.
Max: well it was worth a try.
Max heard an impact sound along with a cry of pain and he recognized it as Asta's voice.
He got up and dressed himself and got out of his room to see Asta holding his forehead with a pillar in front of him.
Asta: morning max. Hey is it just me or was this pillar here before?
Max looked at the pillar and he does remember it wasn't there yesterday.
Max: no I'm pretty sure it wasn't here.
Magna: morning rookies.
They turned and saw Magna walking towards them.
Asta: hey Magna. What's with this pillar appearing out of nowhere?
Magna: oh that? It's no biggie it's just the building constantly changes every day.
Max: so the building changes?
Magna: yup and it rebuilds any damage we do to it that's why the captain did that thing because he knows that it will just rebuild the damage.
Max: huh. Neat.
Magna: anyway captain Yami wanted me to give you two a tour of the place though keep in mind that some of the places might switch when the building changes.
Max: so basically my room is actually moving around in the middle of the night. Damn that might be a pain in the ass.
Magna: I'll get used to it. Come on let me show you around.
Asta: alright let's go!
Magna showed them around the place and max had to admit even though it's not his cup of tea this world has its own uniqueness.
Thought he wasn't sure if he can share a bath with other guys because that's wierd as hell.
Not to mention the beasts that him and Asta have to take care of Asta was afraid of them but not max because their no different from animals who think they're the apex predators.
Currently they were in the dining room getting some food since it was still morning and they haven't eaten breakfast yet.
Magna: so what do you think of the tour?
Max: it was alright but don't each of us have a private bathroom?
Magna: no why?
Max: never mind (maybe because I don't want to share a bath with other males)
Asta: well I thought it was awesome there's so much stuff here compared to the orphanage.
Magna: oh yeah are you going write to them?
Asta: what?
Manga: write to your folks at hage village. Surely you would want to speak to them about your experiences.
Asta: I can't believe I forgot to write to them and I promised them too! Oh their going to kill me.
Magna: don't worry about it. What about you max? Are you-
Asta didn't hear Magna finish his sentence and he was curious on what made him stop and turn to max's direction to see him looking at his phone.
As for max he got out his modified phone by the EXO corporation that is connected to his spiritual energy.
He got it out to see if he can contact his folks but the results was that the call wasn't available to reach.
Max clicked his tongue in frustration and put his phone in his pocket.
Magna: max what was that?
Max: it's just a small magical tool. It's not important.
Asta: ok?
At that moment someone entered the dining room and max didn't recognize her as one of the members from before.
Magna saw the girl and he recognized her as the other rookie.
Magna: ah there you are. You two get up I need introduce you to the other rookie.
Asta and max got up and got closer to the girl.
Magna: meet the third rookie she actually joined earlier than you two.
Asta: wow you must have some crazy talent if you got into the black bulls. Nice to meet you I'm Asta from have village is nice to meet a-
Asta didn't finish because his hand was slapping away by Noelle who looked at him like he offended her.
Noelle: don't speak to me so casually pesent I'm royalty.
Max realized something since this an era we're technology doesn't exist and all the modern stuff that he knows didn't exist.
That mean that there would be kings and queens of a kingdom instead of the government.
Sure EXO corporation didn't work with the government but still at least they kept things in check and if he were to bet anything is that the royals are assholes.
Asta: wait you're a royal?
Magna: oh yeah I forgot she's actually a royal of the Silva family.
Max looked at Noelle's hair and he get why her family called themselves Silvia which sounds close to silver.
Max: so they called themselves that because of the hair color? That seems kinda lazy.
Noelle: how dare you insult me.
Max: first of all I wasn't insulting you it was an opinion and second of all I'm not here to argue about royalties that's a whole can of worms I don't want to open.
Noelle was listening to him until he brought up the can of worms part.
Noelle: did you call me a worm?
Max: no it's a-
She didn't listen to him instead she made a water ball aiming it at max.
Noelle: I'll teach you a lesson.
Magna and Asta told Noelle to stop what she was doing but she didn't listen to them.
Max had his black arms at the ready since the water is basically solidified mana he can drain it.
Noelle fired the ball of water at him and he enveloped his arm in black matter to absorb it.
However instead of hitting him the water ball changed direction and hit Asta and Magna who ended up being soaked.
Magna/asta: what the hell!?
Max was actually surprised by this because he could tell that she actually wanted to shoot the blast of water at him.
Noelle: it's not my fault you stood in the way.
Asta: that's it!
He got his grimoire and his sword and Magna had a fire ball at the ready.
Max saw that Noelle had a terrified look.
So he blitzed behind the two and knocked them out to stop them from attacking Noelle.
Noelle herself was surprised by the sudden safe.
He grabbed them by the robes collars and looked at Noelle.
Max: be lucky that I'm doing you a solid because I can hold a grudge against those who attacked me for stupid reasons.
After saying his peace he dragged the two meatheads out of the dining room.
Noelle just stood there but she noticed that her arm was shaking because of the scare Asta and Magna gave her when they were about to attack her.
The words of max of doing her a solid rang out and she clenched her fist in frustration.
Noelle: I didn't need his help.
Sometime passed and outside the forest was Asta and max who were training their swords skills together.
Max wrapped his jacket around his waist to not dirty it.
The two clashed swords and max had to admit even though Asta is basically a rookie he has good potential as a swordsman.
However not only that Asta's body is very strong almost like Sonia's abnormal body.
Asta: give it up max my sword is bigger.
Max's sword wasn't anything special it was a simple black katana with a black hilt.
Max: you're right it's bigger however.
The two charged at each other and Asta was about swing his sword down but max used his foot work to dodge it and he put the blade close to Asta's neck which the ash haired didn't move an inch.
The two stood still with max having a triumphant smile on his face.
Max: your sword may be bigger which you can do more damage but my blade is more swift and faster.
He got the sword away from Asta and he put the sword in his holster on which was tied to his belt.
Asta and max sat down and drank some water.
Asta: you're really good with blades huh?
Max: I'm still learning but I got the basics down.
Asta look at max's sword and he was curious to get a closer look.
Asta: hey can I look at your sword?
Max: sure.
He got the sword out of it's holster and gave it to Asta.
Asta looked at max's sword and he had to admit unlike his blade that looked dirty max's was clean and he actually felt its power.
Max saw Asta's big sword and like him he was curious about it but unlike him he wanted to get a closer look because he wanted to make sure that it wasn't causing any harm to Asta.
Max: hey Asta can I look at your blade in return?
Asta: huh? Yeah sure.
He picked up his sword and passed it to max who the moment he touched the blade it felt like it was draining him but he guessed it was manna but he still managed to pick it up and examine it.
Asta's sword was really dirty to an unbelievable level but he could tell that it was more of a coating than actual dirt.
He swung the sword to test its weight and it was surprisingly light.
Max decided to Asta if he feels anything.
Max: hey Asta do you feel anything when you touch this?
Asta: no why?
Max: because I feel like it's draining something.
Asta: really? I don't feel anything like that.
Max: huh.
He guessed that this must be some sort of anti magic sword because he remembered Asta easily breaking that arrogant guy's shell easily.
But all the sudden he felt an incoming energy and he used the anti sword to block it which then turned into water.
Asta: what was that?
Max looked at the water and decided to follow where it came from with Asta following him.
They got to a part of the woods where they saw Noelle looking at a target sign.
Asta and max watched as Noelle charged up a water ball and fired it at the target but instead of hitting it it went the opposite direction.
Max: (looks like it wasn't just a fluke she can't control her power.)
He was too focused on what he was thinking that Asta walked up to Noelle.
Asta: hey Noelle I saw what you did and I just want to ask if can't-
Noelle was caught off guard by Asta appearing out of nowhere but when he mentioned that he saw her using her magic she started to remember the ridicules and jabs at her.
She wasn't listening to Asta and she started to have a panic attack.
Max felt a flare up of energy and he saw Noelle's grimoire glowing brightly.
He acted quickly and grabbed Asta to get him out of the way.
And just in time because water started to gather around Noelle covering her in her in a water bubble.
Along with creating whirlpools drilling into the ground.
Max made black wings to fly away from Noelle's out of control magic.
Asta: what the hell is going on!? I didn't say anything bad!
Max: you didn't she's having a panic attack and that transferred into her grimoire!
Asta looked at the bubble and saw Noelle who wasn't moving an inch.
Asta: if we don't get her out of that bubble she's going to drown herself!
Max: if you're planning on helping her then you need to be careful.
Max though of an idea while dodging the whirlpools he then got an idea.
If Asta's sword drains or nullifies magic then maybe it can be used as a shield to get to Noelle.
Max: I have an idea take out your sword and hold it at the flat end.
Asta did what max told him to do and he changed directions and charged straight to a whirlpool.
Fortunately thanks to Asta's sword the water didn't slow them down.
Now that Max's theory was correct he thought of another plan.
He will build up momentum and throw Asta into the bubble and get Noelle out since he was sure that he won't make it far.
They kept on dodging/flying through the whirlpools and they got close enough to the bubble.
Max: I'll throw you into the bubble and I trust you to get Noelle out!
Asta: let's do it!
The max grabbed Asta's unarmed hand and spun around to build up momentum.
When he thought it was enough he threw Asta into the bubble.
Asta used the his sword to pass through the water and saw Noelle getting closer through his blurry vision.
But he pushed through and managed to grab her while getting the other side of the bubble that started to fall apart.
Asta: got her!
Max nodded and flew towards Asta and Noelle.
He made two extra arms with the wings remaining and grabbed Asta and the unconscious Noelle.
Asta: I was expecting us to somehow mess that up but it actually went well.
Max: tell me about it that magic nullifying sword is really useful when you need it.
Asta looked at his sword and smiled at max happy to know that someone actually called his grimoire useful and not weak.
Asta: thanks max.
Max he smiled back at Asta.
Max: no problem.
After explaining what happened to Yami and the others they had to do some cpr on Noelle because even though her mouth was closed she still had water in her body.
Luckily no one had to do mouth to mouth.
After Noelle woke up she was expecting ridicules but instead everyone gave her praise even Asta and Magna who were ready to ring her head a couple of moments ago.
It was night time and Noelle was thinking about what happened today this was the first time people had praised her and she didn't know how to take it.
However her thinking was interrupted by a small noise.
He looked at where it was coming from and saw max sitting in the balcony with his earbuds on listening to music and tapping his foot to the music.
Noelle tired to ignore max but a part of her wanted to thank one of the people who saved her from her panic attack.
But the prideful side of her didn't want to thank a peasant but for once she let go of her royal pride and approach him.
Max himself was in his own world but he sensed someone approaching him and he pressed a button on his earbuds to pause the music.
He turned and saw Noelle who had a recultant face.
Noelle: I'm saying this once! Thanks for saving me you and that idiot did a lot for me.
An embarrassed face was on Noelle but she quickly hid it under a prideful mask.
Noelle: you better appreciate that a royal is thanking you because that's the only thing you're getting from me.
Max: okay.
Noelle: huh? (Okay that's all he had to say?)
Max: I'm not that much of an overtalkative person but thanks for at least showing some humility.
Noelle: it not humility it's-
Max: look I get it your prideful person because your royalty or whatever.
Max's gaze changed and Noelle felt like he could read her from top to bottom.
Max: but I can tell that they didn't exactly treat you well because if you had a good life then you wouldn't have a panic attack.
Noelle wanted to say something but she couldn't because he was right.
Max: look I'm not trying to step boundaries with you but if you experienced bad comments don't listen to them and if you want you can train with me and Asta.
Noelle: you and that moron? no way
Max: I said if you want because I you need to get control of your magic and you need help. So it's either train or don't do anything. And let me tell you if don't train your magic you're never gonna prove anything to those who look down on you.
After saying his peace he left the balcony leaving Noelle to think about his offer and like before the prideful side of her wanted to say that he doesn't need help.
But on the other hand she was never properly trained to control her magic so if max could help her than maybe she can grow strong and prove that she wasn't a failure.
With those thoughts she left the balcony and went to her room and she was planning on at least consider max's offer.