Max stood in the middle of Merlin’s training chamber. The room was circular with runes on the walls. In the center of the room, a large magic circle was on the floor, glowing softly.

Merlin walked around the circle, and then he stopped in front of Max, his eyes narrowing as he spoke. “The spells you’ve learned so far have been child’s play. You’ve done well for a beginner, but you’ve barely scratched the surface of what real magic is capable of.”

Max could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He had a feeling that this training session was going to be unlike any he had experienced before. “So, what’s the plan? More Fireballs? Or are we stepping things up?”

Merlin’s lips twitched, almost forming a smirk. “We’re stepping things up, indeed. But before we even think about casting higher-level spells, we need to build your mana pool and control.”

With a wave of his hand, Merlin made the glowing magic circle flare to life.

“This circle enhances your connection to mana,” Merlin explained. “But it will also test your limits. I want you to summon your mana, Max. Pull it from the deepest parts of yourself and hold it.”

Max, without saying anything, simply nodded and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, he felt the familiar warmth of his mana moving within him. Slowly, he began to draw it out. His body began to glow, and the air around him shimmered as the mana got out.

“Good,” Merlin said. “Now, increase the flow. More mana, but keep it balanced, and hold it!”

Max focused harder. He drew more mana, feeling the power move through him, but the more he pulled, the harder it became to keep it from slipping away.

“Focus, Max,” Merlin said. “Don’t let it overwhelm you.”

Max grit his teeth, pushing through the pressure. His vision blurred slightly as he struggled to maintain control, but he could feel his mana pool expanding, stretching further than it ever had before.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Max hit a wall. The pressure became too much, and with a gasp, he lost control. The mana he had been holding onto exploded outward, sending a shockwave through the room. Max stumbled backward, his legs shaky as the energy dissipated into the air.

Merlin didn’t flinch. “Not bad for a first attempt,” he said. “But you’re still nowhere near ready.”

Max was breathing heavily. “That… was intense.”

“You’ve been wasting your mana on petty spells. If you want to master real magic, you need to be able to draw far more than that without losing control.”

“What’s next?”

Merlin smirked. “Next, we’re going to push you even further.”

With another flick of his wrist, Merlin summoned several glowing orbs that floated around the room. Each orb different from one another.

“These are mana probes,” Merlin explained. “Each one is designed to test different aspects of your magic. You’ll need to absorb their energy without losing control. Too much, and it’ll burn you out. Too little, and you won’t get the benefit.”

Max watched as the orbs floated toward him. “Alright, let’s do this.”

The first orb, a glowing blue, approached him. Max extended his hand, feeling the chill against his skin as he tried to focus on absorbing the energy. It was difficult at first—the cold seemed to bite him, to force its way into his body—but with enough concentration, he managed to absorb the energy, letting it merge with his mana.

One down.

The next orb crackled with lightning, and as it neared him, Max could feel his hair stand up. This one was harder to absorb—the energy was wild, chaotic, and didn’t want to be controlled. Max gritted his teeth, focusing harder as he reached out, trying to pull the electric energy into his body. Merlin watched him struggle, not wanting to help him in any way. The orb resisted, sending jolts of electricity through him, but eventually, Max managed to absorb its power as well.

Two down.

The third orb was the hardest. It burned with intense heat, flames around it that burned Max’s skin. He could feel the heat on his skin, trying to push him back, but he stood firm, taking it head-on. He had already mastered Fireball, so fire magic wasn’t new to him, but this was different. This wasn’t just casting fire—it was absorbing raw, uncontrolled flame.

Max grunted as he absorbed the fire energy, his body shaking and sweating from the heat. Sweat poured down his face, but he refused to let go. Slowly but surely, he felt the fire’s power become part of him, merging with his own mana.

Finally, with a gasp, Max finished absorbing the last orb. He fell to one knee, panting heavily, his entire body trembling.

Merlin stepped forward, a smile on his face. “Not bad, Max. You’re getting stronger. But this is just the beginning. If you want to reach your full potential, you’ll need to keep pushing yourself.”

Max looked up at Merlin. “I can handle it. What’s next?”

Merlin smiled at Max. “Next, we see just how much you can take.”

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Name: Max

Class: Mage

Level: 34

HP: 230

Mana: 190

SPELLS:

1. Fireball (Level 3):

* Damage: 35 fire damage

* Mana Cost: 25 mana

* Effect: Targets hit may suffer from burning (20 fire damage per turn for 10 seconds unless extinguished)

2. Ice Lance (Level 2):

* Damage: 40 ice damage

* Mana Cost: 20 mana

* Effect: Slows movement for 5 seconds

3. Shield Spell (Level 3):

* Effect: Creates a highly resilient barrier

* Mana Cost: 40 mana

4. Healing Light (Level 2):

* Healing: 50 HP

* Mana Cost: 30 mana

5. Teleport (Level 2):

* Effect: Instantly transports within 20 meters

* Mana Cost: 35 mana

6. Brazilian Agony (Level 2):

* Effect: Removes all hair in targeted area, causing severe pain and distraction

* Mana Cost: 30 mana

7. Solar Flare (Level 2):

* Damage: 20 light damage

* Mana Cost: 50 mana

* Effect: Temporarily blinds the target and nearby enemies for 7 seconds, causing disorientation

ATTRIBUTES:

* Vigor: 160 (+40)

* Mind: 150 (+20)

* Endurance: 130 (+20)

* Strength: 110 (+20)

* Dexterity: 100 (+20)

* Intelligence: 145 (+20)

* Faith: 85 (+15)

* Arcane: 80 (+15)

“Don’t give up! Keep going, I believe in you!” Merlin tried his best to motivate Max.

“This type of training wasn’t what I expected,” Max thought.

“You’re slacking! Keep going! You’re so close to breaking the record!”

Max stood in the middle of a small chamber, sweat dripping down his forehead.

In front of him was a wooden table, and on it, stacked high, were hot dogs. Piles and piles of them, grilled sausages lay comfortably in a soft, warm bun, covered with mustard and ketchup.

Merlin stood off to the side, his eyes focused on Max. “You’ve got this. Don’t give up now!” His voice bounced off the chamber walls.

Max gulped, wiping his hands on his robes before reaching for another hot dog. His stomach was already full, but the way Merlin was watching him made him push through and give his all.

“I never thought my training would be… eating hot dogs,” Max thought, taking a bite. The hot dog was tasty, and the flavors fit together perfectly, but each bite seemed to add more weight to his already stuffed stomach. “This is getting ridiculous. How is this supposed to make me a better mage?”

But Merlin’s voice broke through his thoughts. “You’re slacking! Don’t you want to break the record? You’re so close! Just a few more.”

Max’s vision began to blur as he forced down yet another hot dog. His stomach made weird noises and he could feel the sweat pouring down his back, he was trembling.

With each hot dog, the room felt like it was closing in on him. The air became harder to breathe, as Max pushed himself as much as he could. His hands shook as he reached for another hot dog, his vision now darkening at the edges.

Suddenly, he couldn’t take it anymore. Max fell to his knees, clutching his stomach, pain moving fast through his body. The last hot dog slipped from his hand and rolled off the table, landing on the stone floor with a soft thud.

“I… I can’t…,” Max gasped, tears of pain moving down his face. He felt defeated, his body refused to cooperate any longer.

Merlin walked over, a look of amusement on his face. He crouched down beside Max. “You did well. But there’s something I should tell you…”

Max looked up.

“This wasn’t training,” Merlin said, a smirk at the corner of his lips. “I just wanted to see how many hot dogs you could eat. You’ve officially broken the hot dog record in this world, but unfortunately for you, no one gives a shit.”

“You… you tricked me?” Max’s voice was weak.

“Think of it as a lesson,” Merlin replied, patting him on the back. “Always think things through.”

“You’re crazy man-” his stomach finally reached its limit. He leaned over, and with a groan, he puked all over Merlin’s shoes, the remains of the hot dogs splattering onto the floor.

Merlin stared down at his now puke-covered shoes. “Well,” he said dryly, “that’s one way to end a challenge. Remind me not to stand so close next time.”

Max wiped his mouth. “Next time?” he muttered, still trying to catch his breath as he slowly staggered away. His legs were wobbly, and his stomach still producing those weird sounds from the overload of hot dogs, Max tried to move carefully not to puke again. He couldn’t believe he had fallen for Merlin’s trick. As he made his way down the corridor, he could still feel the taste of mustard in his mouth.

Merlin, however, followed behind him, casting a spell under his breath. With a quick flick of his wrist, the vomit on his shoes disappeared, leaving them spotless once again. “Next time, Max, I’ll make sure it is something even more challenging.”

Max groaned, not even wanting to think of what Merlin might have in store. He turned back to face the old mage. “Please, no more food challenges. My stomach can’t handle it.”

Merlin laughed, a deep, hearty laugh that echoed through the corridor. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ve got plenty of ideas that don’t involve food. Maybe next time we’ll try something more… mentally stimulating.”

“Mentally stimulating? Like what? Solving a hundred riddles while standing on one leg?”

“Now that’s an idea! But, no. I was thinking more along the lines of something that’ll test your magic. Maybe a little duel between us. I’ll go easy on you, I swear!”

“Uh… maybe we can just stick to regular training?”

“Regular training?” Merlin scoffed. “Where’s fun in that? You’ve got to be prepared for anything! Life’s full of surprises, and so am I.”

“Fine, fine. But can we at least have a break? My stomach needs to recover from this... hot dog fiasco.”

“Alright, you’ve earned it. Take a rest, and when you’re ready, we’ll continue with something a bit more... magical. Your room is right there behind the corner.”

Max smiled weakly, grateful for the time to rest, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that the next training session would be just as crazy. As he headed to his room, all he could think about was what adventures awaited him with Merlin for the next four years.

Max’s room was small but cozy, hidden away in a quiet corner of Merlin’s house. The walls were out of smooth stone, with a few enchanted lanterns casting light. A wooden bed with thick blankets stood in one corner, and next to it a small desk, covered with spellbooks and scrolls. A small window was just in front of the table giving a nice view of the hills outside. The walls were hidden by shelves, filled with more books and scrolls.

Max approached the bed slowly. The thick blankets invited him to join them. Max sat on the edge, pausing for a moment to steady himself before swinging his legs up. The mattress welcomed him with a gentle hug, and he let out a sigh of relief as he sank into it.

Max pulled the blankets up, their warmth covering around him. He lay back, resting his head on the pillow. His eyes closed, and the gentle scent of some herbs reached his room, making him relax.

Before he knew it, he fell asleep, his breathing steady and slow, and the comfort of his bed pulled him into a nice, cozy slumber.