Maverick saw Edward standing beside his desk, with a few items pced on top of it. He couldn't focus on them, his mind too anxious.

  Edward raised an eyebrow and smirked. "What, you think I brought you here to scold you or something?" he asked, joking.

  Maverick sehe lighthearted tone in his voice, and his ay slowly began to ease.

  "Rex... holy, little Rick, I meant every word I said." Edward spoke more openly now that they were alone. "You have no idea how many vultures are cirg around my daughter, trying to win my favor. Now, I simply brush them off since she's in a retionship with you."

  "Is it that bad?" Maverick asked.

  "Very... not just from America, but from Europe, and believe it or not, even from Russia and Asia. A bunch of leeches. The only reason I don't erase their families is because they at least know better than to act stupid.

  If anything bad happeo my daughter during their little tricks, I'll remind them why I'm called the Lion of America."

  Edward's words sent a chill down Maverick's spine. He uood his teacher was talking about the greedy families seeking to marry Isabel for favors, but somehow, part of what Edward said seemed aimed at him as well. Maverick quickly pushed the thought aside.

  'Teacher is definitely not giving me a warning... yes... probably...' he thought inwardly with a gulp.

  Edward gave his apprentice a momentary gre before smiling. "Now, the reason I brought you here is because of these..." he said, pointing at the items oable.

  Only then did Maverick take a good look at the items oable. They were all clearly magical, with two of them familiar to him and one he wasn't quite sure about.

  "Give me your ste ring..." Edward said, holding out his hand.

  Without hesitation, Maverick handed over the ring on his fi had e from his teacher in the first pce.

  "These are the gifts I've prepared for you," Edward said. "Think of it as a graduation prize, since I'm pleased with your progress over the past half-year." He picked up the first item.

  It was a ring, looking far more impressive than the one Maverick had been wearing before.

  It was shaped like a crow with its wings spread, f a full circle. A rge bck gem sat on tht above the wings, almost like the crow's watchful eye. Two smaller bck stones were set where its eyes would be, giving it a striking, mysterious look. Overall, it looked really cool.

  "All of these were made by a friend of mine, one of the best crafters and a powerful alchemist," Edward said, handing the ring to Maverick, who took it carefully.

  "Pce a drop of blood on the gem, then wear it and send your mana into it," Edward instructed.

  Maveriodded, using magiake a small cut on his thumb. A drop of blood formed, a it fall onto the gem. He then slipped the ring onto his left middle finger and began eling his magito it. Though the ri loose at first, he k would auto-adjust si was a magical item.

  One sed.

  Five seds.

  "Don't stop. Keep feeding it mana," Edward advised.

  Maverick tinued, nearly a minute passing before the ring respohe rge bck gem and the two smaller ones glowed a deep crimson, and slowly, the ring resized to fit his finger perfectly.

  He turned his hand, rotating it both ways to get a better look, then g his teacher, waiting for the expnation—he k had to be more than just a stylish piece.

  "Fifty cubic meters of ste—five times what your previ held," Edward began, smirking at his student. "And that's just the basi."

  Mavericed at the ring again, waiting for Edward to eborate.

  "Like the heir rings of most a wizarding families, this one is now bound to your blood. Aside from you, only a desdant of your choice will be able to use it, and it will respond solely to your mana. Even if someone else gets hold of it, they'll never access its tents. Not even someo my level."

  Maverick's eyes lit up with excitement, but he quickly calmed down a listening. Ihough, he was thrilled.

  "If another witch or wizard tries to wear it, they'll be in for some serious pain. Even a Marquis would find it unbearable. For a King, it would still hurt, but not much of a problem." Edward smirked.

  "Do all a families have this kind , teacher?" Maverick asked.

  "Not all, but most. And in some of the most noble, oldest houses, the magic is even stronger. Wearing the heir ring of another family is sidered a serious taboo in the magical world," Edward advised.

  "One more thing," Edward said, stretg out his hand toward Maverick.

  Legilimens!

  Maverick's eyes widened. He never expected his teacher to cast that spell on him. But a moment ter, he felt the ring respond, as though it were c his mind. Nothing was visibly ging, yet he sensed a shield f around his thoughts, slowly draining his stamina. He didn't eveo use his

  Magical Sense or Occlumency; the ring was successfully blog Edward's probe.

  Maveriderstood what his teacher was doing and g him, waiting for an expnation.

  "That was a mental probe, at the level of a typical Marquis with det mana trol and Legilimency skills," Edward expined. "Y will automatically guard your mind from any wizard below Marquis level. A powerful Marquis or a King could break through, but by then, you'd be fully alert. And with your owal shields, you won't o worry."

  Maverick looked down at his ring, then back at Edward. "Thank you, teacher," he said, gratitude showing on his face.

  Edward waved his hand dismissively, though he wore another smirk. "There's more..."

  Maverick was genuinely surprised now. His new ring was turning out to be quite overpowered.

  Edward nodded, noting his student's surprise.

  He tinued. "It's also a reverse Portkey," he said, catg the expected fusion on Maverick's face.

  Maveriew of Portkeys, but this was o him.

  "Never heard of it, have you?" Edward said, reading his face. Maveriodded.

  His teacher chuckled. "Of course not. But it's exactly what it sounds like—only with one dition: only Kings with trol over space use it."

  Maverick frowned. "By 'space,' you mean like when you tear the air?"

  Edward nodded. "Yes. Teically, the power of spad spirit awakens at the Marquis rank, but you only gain real skill with it after reag King rank."

  He g his student, raised an eyebrow as if remembering something, then brushed it off. He was used to Maverick's genius.

  "Marquises barely use space manipution or mental attacks. It's just a tickle pared to the full potential, so you won't see them bother with it. None have mastered it well enough for bat before reag King level."

  Edaused, then added, "Well, unless someoo prove otherwise, like you did with mana trol and perception."

  Maverick was beyoed. He'd never read about any of this in his books—two alents waiting when he advao Great Magus.

  He gave his teacher a sheepish smile but held back his thoughts.

  "Anyway," Edward tinued. "The reverse Portkey is a st-resort lifeline. You send yito the ring like this..." Edward demonstrated the specific rhythm Maverieeded to follow.

  "Once do'll ey ring, and I'll know your lomediately. Only use this when absolutely necessary. It'll drain your stamina for several days while it recharges, and you won't be at your best until it's fully recovered."

  Maveriodded, uanding. "I hope I never o use it," he said.

  "Yes. I hope so too," Edward agreed.

  "Now, onto the item," he said as he turned back to the table.

  It was a broomstick, sleek airely bck from hao bristles. At the top, a carved crow's head with gem-like eyes gave it a fierce, watchful look. he bristles, a sturdy foot grip was attached, a secure hold for any daring rider.

  Maverick observed the sleek, powerful-looking broomstick. It was unlike any Quidditch broomstick he had ever seen.

  "Yes, as you see, this is a flying broomstick," Edward began, pig it up and handing it to Maverick. "This one is special. It accelerates from zero to 1,300 kilometers per hour in just ten seds, breaking the sound barrier. It reach top speeds of up to 2,000 kilometers per hour, with superb band precision, and it hover up to 10 kilometers high."

  Maverick's eyes widened as he heard the specs. This was far, far beyond the capabilities of a standard Quidditch broomstick.

  "How?" he asked, puzzled, looking up at his teacher.

  Edward smirked. "You guessed it. This would be cheating on a Quidditch pitch." He chuckled. "These broomsticks aren't released to the publily witches or wizards with top-notch mana trol and perception ha. Marquis-level mages, and even then only those with excellent trol, are lised to own one."

  Maverick gripped the handle, his hands trembling with excitement.

  "Lised?" he asked.

  "Yes," Edward replied. "They're never for sale. First, you'd need a lise, then you'd go to the craftsman to request one."

  "But... I don't have one," Maverick said hesitantly.

  Edward chuckled. "Well, I happen to be one of the few who grant a lise. Your mana trol is more than enough to hahis. I'll teach you the basi the training room ter."

  Maveriodded. His teacher was a cheat himself, he thought with a smile.

  "Store it in y, a me show you the third item," Edward said, turning back to the table.

  A bck bracelet. No, it looked more like a wand holster.

  "Like the ring, drop a bit of blood and el your mana into it. It has the same security funs, minus the mental shield," Edward expined, handing it to Maverick.

  Maverick wore it on his right arm, letting a drop of blood fall onto it before eling his magic. The bracelet immediately adjusted to fit his arm perfectly, with no disfort at all.

  "This one is very special. Now, i mana in this rhythm," Edward instructed, showing Maverick the pattern.

  Maverick followed along, and the bracelet began to morph, like tiny nanobots, c his entire body. Startled, he took a step back.

  In seds, he was fully bck, like a e. If he had to describe it, it looked like the Bck Panther suit from Marvel, but with the addition of a bck cape, simir to Batman's.

  He twisted around, iing his new look, then walked over to the mirror on the left wall to see himself fully.

  His head was pletely covered, with his eyes glowing faintly crimson. Thankfully, there were no panther or bat ears, he thought with relief. His entire body was matte bck, with an intricate feather-like pattern woveifully over the surface. The cape, reag down to his knees, added a menag edge to his look.

  "Like it?"

  Maverick, lost in admiration of his new look, snapped back at Edward's question.

  He turo his teacher. "Incredible... I don't have the words," Maverick said.

  Edward smirked. "Well, like the other two, it has some special funs as well," he began. "First, it make you invisible and also suppress yi leaking, giving you eveer camoufge.

  "It has two looks. Let me show you the patterns to i magic to activate ea."

  Edward demonstrated to his student.

  "You already know how to activate the first form—I call it stealth mode. To activate the sed form, i magic like this," Edward demonstrated.

  Maverick repeated the pattern, and his suit began to shift.

  In just three seds, his look had ged.

  Now he wore a cssic wizarding robe over a bck shirt and bck pants. Though traditional, the same delicate feather pattern adorhe shirt, pants, and robe, giving them a refined look.

  Maverispected his neearan the mirror.

  "Teacher, I've been meaning to ask... what's with the crow theme? The ring, the broom, and even this," he said, gesturing to the suit. "They all have crow-like designs."

  Edward scratched his head, giving a sheepish smile. "Well... I thought you'd like it, so I did it to surprise you. I've been waiting for you to ask," he chuckled. "You do have a thing for crows..."

  Maverick's brow twitched as he coughed. "I... I don't..."

  "Yes, you do. You put crows or ravens in nearly all your spells. Even in your illusions, you scatter those birds everywhere..."

  Cough, cough.

  "Never mind, teacher. I really do like all three items. I don't know how to express my gratitude to you..." Maverick's tone grew serious as he met his teacher's gaze.

  "If there ever es a day you need my help, teacher, I swear by my magic, I will be there for you and your family."

  Edward's expression softened. He regarded Maverick seriously, not ughing it off this time.

  After a moment, he walked behind his desk, took a seat, and looked at his apprentice.

  Maverick fell silent, sensing the gravity in his teacher's gaze and feeling that something important was about to be said.

  Edward met his eyes, resting his on his hands, elbows oable. "I only ask ohing iurn. Take care of my daughter, to the best of your ability."

  Maverick's eyes widened slightly in surprise.

  "I don't care if, iure, you find more wives," Edward tinued. "But she es first. She's your priority. And you'll need her sent before marrying anyone else."

  "Don't make her sad. That's all I ask of you."

  Maverick's face turned solemn. "I promise. I, Maverick Caesar, hereby swear by my magic to take care of Isabel Garling, to love her, to keep her happy to the best of my ability." He raised his wand, sealing the oath with magic, even surprising Edward.

  "You didn't o make it a magical oath. You're my apprentice, and you know I trust you, little Rick," Edward said with a faint, helpless smile.

  "I know, teacher. And... I don't have any pns for polygamy. Not now, at least," Maverick expined.

  Edward waved his hand. "I don't mind. It's ong powerful wizards, with very few exceptions. But just make sure Isabel is your priority, and that you have her sent."

  Maverick didn't know what to say. He truly hadn't sidered marrying multiple women. He hadn't even thought about marriage at all until retly. He pushed the thoughts aside, figuring that only time would tell.

  "I swear, teacher."

  "Good..." Edward said, standing up. "Let's head to the training room. No, outside. I'll give you some basi riding your broom," he added, walking to the door. Maverick quickly followed.

  They spent nearly an hour training, and Maverick quickly got the hang of trolling the broom. It heavily involved the two key talents: Magical-Energy Manipution, which shielded his eyes and body against air resistance, and Magical Sense, for maneuvering. Thanks to his strong mastery in both, he learned flying with surprising speed.

  After the lesson, Edward told Maverick to head bad get some sleep. Tomorrow, he and the Garling family would be traveling to the UK—to his home.

  ——————————

  Author's Note:

  Just a quick update — up to Chapter 65 is already avaible on P AT r30n!

  PAT r30n [.] / RyanFic