Reincarnated As The Side Character

Maxwell's recovery was steady but slow, even with the aid of healing magic. The effects of his battle with Malacosteus had left him physically drained and mentally weary. Each day, he found himself gaining back a little more strength, but it became clear that even magic had its limits.

During his stay, Maxwell grew closer to his healer. She was around his age, with a kind demeanor that made the long days of recovery far more bearable. Her light hearted teasing and warm smiles created an easy friendship between them, something Maxwell found himself cherishing in the moments of his recuperation.

After two long weeks of rest and recovery, Maxwell was finally back on his feet, his strength restored. The time spent healing had not only mended his body but also deepened his bond with his healer. They exchanged phone numbers, promising to stay in touch. It was a small but meaningful way to maintain their friendship.

Feeling energized and ready to return, Maxwell wasted no time in heading out. His first thought was of Sidgroth, and with a grin, he decided for a surprise visit. His steps were lighter now, his determination stronger, as he made his way to Sidgroth's house.

As Maxwell approached Sidgroth's house, his absence didn't surprise him. He surveyed the area, Maxwell muttered to himself, "He's probably out on one of his patrols again."

It made sense, especially in light of the recent events. The disappearances that had plagued Calla Lily had stopped entirely since their confrontation with Malacosteus. Maxwell couldn't help but smirk at the thought—clearly, the monster was lying low, wary of crossing paths with Sidgroth again. The memory of their battle must have left Malacosteus cautious, knowing the protector of Calla Lily wasn't one to let his enemy's slip away twice.

"Well, let's get some food before we head out, Gladiolus," Maxwell said with a smile, giving the beast a pat on the head. Gladiolus let out a low growl, almost like a purr, as he followed Maxwell into the kitchen.

Maxwell rummaged through the pantry and began preparing a simple meal for himself. For Gladiolus, however, he prepared an abundant amount, knowing the creature's appetite demanded nothing less. The smell of cooking filled the house.

After finishing his meal and watching Gladiolus devour his own, Maxwell stood and stretched. "Alright, we're well fed and ready to head out. Let's go find Sidgroth." He headed for the door, Gladiolus following closely behind him.

Sidgroth sat on a bench, his warhammer resting beside him, as he looked around the town square. He held the phone to his ear, "Kana, I'm sure you've heard what happened here in Calla Lily recently."

"Indeed, the Forbidden seem to have returned," the voice on the other end said, smooth and composed. "Quite troublesome, as expected. However, before we go any further, let me guess—you're calling for my assistance?"

Sidgroth smirked faintly, his free hand resting on his knee. "Sharp as ever. That's exactly right. We're going to need all the strength if we're to deal with this threat quickly and thoroughly."

"I'm afraid I can't offer my assistance, not yet," Kana said. "There's still a great deal of work here in Magnolia that needs to be dealt with, and it's not something I can ignore. You're not the only one who's called Sidgroth. Vaos, The White Crusader, and even Juno have called. When I've resolved my current tasks, I'll reach out to you. Until then, all I can offer is patience."

Sidgroth was silent for a moment, he wasn't one to be easily dissuaded. He leaned forward, his warhammer resting against his leg. "And what if I help you with your current work, Kana? The sooner you finish what you need to do there, the sooner we can move forward, and I can lend my strength. You know, from our days back in the Void War, I've surprised you more than once."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. He wasn't about to back down, and he knew Kana well enough to understand that he would find his offer hard to ignore.

Finally, a soft sigh escaped Kana's lips, "If my assistance is that needed, then very well. You may come to Magnolia and help me finish what I've started. Once my business here is resolved, we can go to Legis and deal with whatever's waiting for us there."

"Sounds like a plan," Sidgroth replied, his mind already planning the next steps. He glanced around as he spoke, his eyes catching sight of Maxwell, who had been quietly eavesdropping from a distance. The moment their gazes met, Maxwell froze, his posture stiffening in surprise as he realized he had been caught.

"Come whenever you want," Kana said, as clear and composed as ever. "Just let me know when you're about to arrive in Magnolia so we can prepare. And make sure to contact Juno as well, she can teleport us straight to Legis once our work here is done. No need to waste time on travel."

Sidgroth's eyes shifted back to Maxwell, who was still standing awkwardly, trying to recover from being caught eavesdropping. With a slight sigh, Sidgroth spoke into the phone one final time. "Very well, I'll be in touch, Kana," he said, he ended the call. He stood there for a moment, glancing at Maxwell again, waiting for him to speak.

"H-haha, something important, Sidgroth?" Maxwell laughed nervously.

Sidgroth raised an eyebrow at Maxwell's nervous reaction but gave him a small nod. "I'm glad to see you're doing well, kid," he said, his tone a little softer now. "I suppose I'll be leaving in a week then."

"Wait, what? You're really going to leave me here alone protecting Calla Lily? I thought you were messing with me back then..." He asked.

Sidgroth leaned back, resting one hand on his warhammer. "You're gonna have your work cut out for you here, kid," he said, his voice firm. "But you've got potential. Just don't forget why you're here and what you're fighting for."

Maxwell ran a hand through his hair, exhaling a long breath. "But protecting Calla Lily by myself, especially with Malacosteus still out there..." He trailed off. "Do you really think I'm ready for that? I don't know if I can handle it."

Sidgroth met his gaze, "you've got more in you than you realize, kid. You'll figure it out—just don't let fear control you. You've come a long way already."

"What are you going to do before you leave, Sidgroth?" Maxwell asked.

Sidgroth looked at him with a thoughtful expression. "Firstly, I'll stay here for the extra week to see if Malacosteus shows up again. It's always better to be prepared," he said. "Secondly, I'm here to help you and teach you some more. Though, honestly, I don't think I'll need to teach you much. I've already passed on a lot of what you need to know." He paused, with a smirk, "And lastly, I'm going to train you—your real challenge is coming up. We're going to have a sparring match before I leave."

"A sparring match, huh? Can I hand in my forfeit right now?" Maxwell joked, a laugh escaping his lips as he imagined the inevitable thrashing.

Sidgroth chuckled, clearly enjoying the banter. "Don't be like that, kid. Who knows? You might surprise me and actually win," he said with a grin.

"Maybe if it was me and Gladiolus against you," Maxwell sighed.

"That's the plan, kid. You and Gladiolus will spar against me. I'll use it to evaluate both of your strengths and weaknesses." His tone was firm, but there was a tone of encouragement as well. "It'll be a good test for you both. I'm not going easy, so be prepared to push yourselves."

Maxwell let out a small sigh, rubbing the back of his neck with a grin. "Guess I don't really have a choice, huh? Well, I better start training for that sparring match, then. I don't want my defeat to be so embarrassing, especially if I end up face down in the dirt. A guy's got to have some dignity, right?" He laughed.

Sidgroth's tone shifted slightly as he turned serious. "By the way, I'm heading out on patrol now. But when I get back, we'll talk about what you discussed with Malacosteus and that new power you've got."

"Understood, Sidgroth, I'll be back at the house training." Maxwell gave a nod before he and Gladiolus made their way back to the house.

As they walked, Maxwell's thoughts drifted back to the battle with Malacosteus, still hazy in his mind. Fragments of that fight remained, he could still hear the voice of Malacosteus, commenting on his new power—energy absorption. A power he had never felt before, and one that was pulled from his previous life. The implications were starting to sink in, and the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became.

Malacosteus had said it was energy absorption, but for Maxwell, it felt like much more than that. The very concept of drawing in energy was foreign to him. And yet, it was as though this power had been a part of him all along, lying dormant and waiting for the right moment to awaken.

What troubled him the most was the fact that he knew the rules of this world. One Ornament per person, that was the law of the universe. No one could wield multiple powers that were distinctly different. Luck, which had always been his primary Ornament, was already an anomaly in itself. The power of energy absorption, that was something entirely new. The two abilities were different, and yet, somehow, they coexisted within him.

Maxwell couldn't shake the feeling that he was breaking some fundamental rule by wielding both powers. There had to be consequences as he thought more about it.

But for now, all he could do was continue training, honing his skills, and trying to understand what was happening to him.

Maxwell shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside.

"Best not to think about it. Time to focus and start training..."