Maxine was somewhat nervous as they drove up to a mexican-themed restraunt. Amanda had talked about how wonderful her boyfriend was the whole drive there and it quickly became obvious that she loved him. However Maxine was too nervous for some inexplicable reason to feel happy for Amanda. No, time to think about that now. We have arrived.

After getting out of the car, Maxine scanned the interior of the restraunt and instantly realized why she had been so nervous. Red and orange was dancing in his eyes like burning embers. It was something Amanda hadn't mentioned about him. It was possible he asked her not to since she had virtually mentioned everything else about him, including how well-muscled he was. This effect in his eyes was a physical manifestation of his skill in using his fire attribute and was only visible when the user wanted it to be or during combat. That level of skill can't be attained with a few months of practice. Fully mastering an attribute like that takes years of training to achieve. Is he trying to find other reincarnators by showing off? He has to be. There is no other reason to reveal his prowess. That must also mean his encounter with Amanda was staged! He wanted her to find him.

Unfortunately, Maxine could no longer get out of eating at the restraunt by saying that her mother wanted her home for dinner, so she reluctantly entered the restraunt with Emily and Amanda. However she wasn't as nervous as before since she discovered that Chris' cultivation was only at bronze rank nine. He wasn't as big of a threat as she had feared. 

As soon as they entered the restraunt, Chris gave Amanda a loving gaze. It wasn't until after Amanda and Chris hugged each other that Chris noticed Maxine. At that instant, Maxine expected to feel killing intent coming from him, but instead all that she detected from him was oddly pity and overwhelming curiosity. She barely noticed that Emily was giving Chris a curious look.

After Chris and Amanda parted from their hug, Chris asked, "My love, how has your day been?"

"It has been great," Amanda responded happily and leaned in to kiss Chris, "And it just got even better." He revealed a huge grin.

"Good," Chris said he extended his hand torwards Maxine, "I take it you are Maxine. Amanda has told me quite a bit about you and showed me a few of your fan websites." 

Maxine stared at the hand like it was a viper. She still hadn't gotten over her fear of men entirely, but she was still able to force herself to shake his extended hand before saying, "Thanks, but a lot of those pictures were taken by ametures and are not all that flattering." She had seen enough on the fan websites to know the truth of that.

"Completely the opposite," Chris corrected with a slight smile, "Although the skill of the photographers was lacking, there is no mistaking the beauty that you possess."

"You are quite the charmer. I can see why Amanda is so fond of you," Maxine said honestly, but she started to feel uncomfortable since more than half of the restraunt's occupants were staring at them, "Could we get seated now? Having a bunch of people watching us is beginning to feel a bit uncomfortable." 

"That's fine by me," Chris said and the four of them quickly sat down at a table.

After making their respective orders, Amanda and Chris began flirting with each other. Maxine did her best not to listen in, but still heard a few parts about their planned evening activites. It was as if they wanted to have an audience. Or he could be distracting Amanda, but I have no idea why he would want to do that. Maxine shrugged to herself and continued to wait on their dinner. 

However after a few minutes of listening to them flirt, Maxine felt Chris contact her with spiritual sense, "Hello, I wanted to have a private chat with you." So, he was trying to distract Amanda. However he didn't cease flirting with Amanda.

"Why?" Maxine asked with her spiritual sense.

"Your actions are strange for someone with your history," Chris answered.

"How so?" Maxine asked.

"For starters, you didn't ask or comment about my eyes nor did you act in a way that revealed that you found them odd. But your girlfriend did. I am guessing by your inaction that know what they signify," Chris stated.

"I just figured they were part of your abilities," Maxine countered, "Everyone is different afterall."

"But that isn't the only thing that I found odd about you," Chris continued as if Maxine hadn't responded, "I admit that I am not a very intelligent man, but I have either witnessed or heard of your actions to defend others on multiple occassions in the past few months. You are even willing to teach others how to defend themselves. Those actions have prove one simple fact. That is that you are a genuinely noble-spirited girl and have no evil tendancies in the slightest bit."

"Of course, I am not evil," Maxine responded, "I am a thirteen year old girl."

"A thirteen year old girl whom by all rights should be terrified of every man she meets after the five years of abuse administered by her drunken father," Chris amended. How the fuck did he know that?! I know for a fact that incident where dad went to prison didn't go on the news. On second thought, it is possible that a few of my more obsessive fans know and told him.

"Your point?" Maxine asked.

"My point is that there is no way that you should have been able to do the things that you have done," Chris calmly stated, "Not with the psychological damage that you should have sustained from that bastard. It led me to belive that you are like me. Someone that has had their mind send back in time from a distant future. Originally after I discovered this, I was intent on finding you to prevent whatever caused your mind to break in the original timeline." He must have met Maxine in the previous timeline. Seriously, how fucked up in the head was she to ellicit pity from the man whose lover she killed.

"So are you saying that you are from the future?" Maxine asked in a disbelieving tone.

"You could say that," Chris answered, "But so are you." He has to be guessing. There is no way anyone that knew about my 'visions' would have told anyone without the proper security clearance. 

"Why do you say that?" Maxine asked.

"I read the surface thoughts of a few officers on the base," Chris answered, "Although most of what I learned was from listening to the thoughts of General Cullen complaining to himself that you should be in some undisclosed location for safe keeping and not running around risking your life in combat. Clearly he believes you are a prophet, but the both of us know better." And there is a perfect example of unethical use of spiritual sense. Why didn't I think of that? In any case, he might know how I described my visions. That is probably how he figured it out..

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

"Fine, you got me," Maxine said in defeat through her spiritual sense, "I am a reincarnator. Happy now?"

"Very," Chris answered with his own spiritual sense, "Although I would be a lot happier if I knew who is really in there." Of course he would ask that. He probably encountered the Maxine in the other timeline and is guessing that I am not her reincarnation. 

"Maxine Levings," Maxine answered flatly, "Pleased to meet you."

"That isn't what I meant and you know it," Chris said. 

"Your right. I do know that, and I refuse to answer." Maxine answered that way because she really didn't want Chris to know. It was humiliating enough that Patrick and Jack knew.

"Why not?" Chris asked.

"Because that isn't who I am anymore and I have accepted that fact," Maxine responded.

"If that's the case, it shouldn't be a problem since that is no longer you," Chris reasoned. What kind of fucking logic is that?!

"Stop pestering me, hothead!" Maxine snapped in anger without thinking and flinched internally immediately after at her own mistake. Hothead was the nickname she gave to Chris in the previous timeline and she was the only one that called him that consistently. 

"Hothead?" Chris asked in a confused manner with his spiritual sense. An instant later, Chris paused while flirting with Amanda and started to snicker as he appeared to realize something. Finally, he could no longer resist and started laughing uproarously. 

"Chris, what's so funny?" Amanda asked curiously.

"Oh, I just remembered something hilarious, but it's the kind of joke that isn't appropriate for these two girls to hear," Chris answered while wiping his eyes, and he told Maxine via spiritual sense, "Amanda noticed that we were chatting, but thinks I just wanted to get to know you. I will contact you at a later date, Maxwell." 

"I see," Amanda said with a smile and glanced off ot the side, "It seems our dinner is here."

The waiter gave Maxine the chicken enchilada nachos that she ordered and Emily got a fajita. However Chris and Amanda were sharing what Maxine could only describe as a huge burrito that took up most of a dinner plate. It was framed by chopped lettuce, tomatoes and avacado slices. Those two love birds began feeding each other as soon as their plate was placed on the table. Maxine ignored the two of them as she dug into her own meal, but used a small portal in her mouth to switch between eating with her main body and her clone. She wanted to savor the taste with two bodies at once.

After watching of Amanda and Chris feed each other, Emily seemingly became inspired to feed Maxine some of her fajita in the same manner. Maxine was only too happy to play along and fed some of Emily her dinner in return. While they fed each other, Maxine could feel several curious stares sent their way, but she didn't care as long as this made Emily happy. However it still bothered her somewhat when she heard the clicking of cellphone cameras. No doubt this scene will be posted on one or several of the fan websites dedicated to me and if there is a reporter present, it will be on celebrity news. I have almost no privacy. It's the price of being a celebrity. 

"You two look adorable," Amanda said happily, "Don't you agree, Chris?" Maxine felt a light blush grace her cheeks as she turned back to face to her own meal. Emily was blushing lightly as well.  

"Yes, they do," Chris agreed while nodding his head, "At least, they did until you said something." 

"True enough," Amanda said to Chris before she asked Emily and Maxine, "So what are you two going to do after I take you home?" 

"I was going to visit the hospital and heal some of the people there," Emily said cheerfully before Maxine could say anything. At hearing that, Maxine revealed a knowing smile. Emily always did like to help people when she could. I am glad that trait of hers is still there.

"What about you, Maxine?" Amanda asked.

"I will accompany Emily to the hospital," Maxine announced which made Emily smile, "After that, I guess I will go home, do my homework and train for awhile before I go to bed."

"You are going to train more?!" Emily exclaimed, "Don't you have enough strength as it is?"

"Not really," Maxine answered, "Or do you expect the essence beasts' strength to stagnate while humans get stronger?"

"I see your point," Emily answered.

"Good," Maxine said with a small smile, "Now let's finish up eating and get you to the hospital. I believe recipients of your healing would appreciate your arrival sooner rather than later. I know I would."

"Alright," Emily said as she started to dig into her meal eagerly and Maxine did the same. However Amanda and Chris went back to feeding each other playfully.

After finishing their respective meals, Maxine decided to pay for everyone's food. It was her idea to take Amanda out today anyways and she had alot of cash to spare since she took on so many students. It amazed her that Chris didn't say anything when she offered to do that. He normally wasn't the one to shirk on paying for what was owed.

Once the meal was paid for, Maxine and Emily bid farewell to Amanda and Chris and took off to the hospital to give the two lovebirds some more time alone. It made no sense to have Amanda drive them around when they could run faster than her car. Once they arrived, the nurses greeted Emily and mentioned that a few people in the Intensive Care Unit could use her healing powers. 

Maxine followed Emily to the Intensive Care Unit and watched her heal some poor man that had multliple castes and bandages covering his body. Maxine scanned him with her spiritual sense and found that he had several broken bones and a few lacerations. However Emily effortelessly began mending his bones back together and closing the lacerations with her essence. She didn't heal the wounds all the way for some reason, but Maxine guess it was because Emily couldn't sense the injuries that clearly using her spiritual sense. The rest of the people in the ICU had undergone an extremely invasive surgery. However Emily was still able to heal the majority of their injuries beautifully, but it did drain her quite a bit to heal so many people at once. 

Once Emily was out of essence, Maxine watched as the patients and staff thanked her for helping them. Emily smiled happily through it all.  However Maxine was startled when some of the staff offered to pay Emily and she declined it. 

After the nurses went back to their duties, Emily pulled out her phone to check the time and came up to Maxine before to say, "Maxine, we really need to head back home now. Grandpa will start to get worried if I stay out too much longer and I think your mom might start to worry as well."

"Alright," Maxine answered as they started to make their way out of the hospital, "I think it's alittle silly for them to worry about us. We can completely deal with anyone that might want to mess with us."

"Maybe, they are just worried that we might accidentally hurt someone while defending ourselves," Emily said as the two of the exited the hospital.

You may be right about that," Maxine agreed, "Do you need me to walk you home?" 

"No, I should be fine," Emily answered and took the initiative to give Maxine a kiss on the cheek, "See you at school tomorrow." Emily started to trot off torwards her house.

"Bye," Maxine said happily as she touched the cheek Emily kissed while smiling fondly. Maxine simply stood there as she watched Emily head home and made certain she was out of sight before heading home herself.

Once Maxine got home, she noticed that her mother wasn't there. That's odd. It's six thrity. She should be home by now. Maybe she is visiting dad again. I don't understand why she even visits that asshole, but I guess love has blinded her long ago to what kind of man he really is. In any case, I shouldn't worry until it gets much later at night. Might as well go to the shadow world to cultivate and experiment.

Maxine went straight to her room and widened the portal to the shadow world before jumping into it. Once there, she turned to face her main body that was sitting cross-legged infront of her before shifting her focus back to her main body.

Maxine opened her eyes and started at her clone before she activated her Shadow Lord form. The transformation occured very smoothly. Her mastery of this had improved to the point where it was as easy as flexing her fingers. Ahh, much better. This should make experimenting and doing my homework a breeze. It's too bad that I can't maintain this form indefinitely. Otherwise I would keep it active all the time. I wish I knew why it gets harder to stay this way after two hours, but the time I can maintain this form has been getting longer the more I use it. In any case, I need to ask Hellen something. It was something that has been nagging me in the back of my mind for nearly a month and I just recently figured out what it was.

"Mom, do either you or Guan know how my Twelve-Headed Hydra King bloodline can be awakened?" Maxine asked.

"I thought you wanted to avoid it awakening," Hellen said.

"Indeed, I don't want to awaken it," Maxine answered, "I want to know how so that I can avoid it."