We see Max working as both a wood carver and a bladesmith. Never thought that Max would sharpen swords and weapons, huh?

Chapter 11: Max at Work

By the next day, Max was busy sharpening a few swords and daggers and after that, he checks them to make sure they're sharp and one little touch on the tip of the sword indicates that they're sharper and he starts polishing them for that just brand-new shine. After that, he puts them on the handle, which he hand carved himself and places them where the other swords could be in.

"Hey, Max."

Max turns around and sees Akashi coming in there and he said, "Hey, Akashi. What's up?"

"Just thought I would take a little walk around to see you at work, sharpening swords and things." Akashi replied.

Max could tell by those expressions and he said, "Want me to sharpen your katana?"

"Please?"

Max chuckled softly and knew that this was coming, but he's not one to complain a lot about being his personal sword sharpener and sure, "All righty."

Akashi brings him his katanas and he said, "Thanks, Max."

"No problem. They're in good hands." Max replied, with a smile.

As soon as Akashi left, he began sharpening those katanas and he had absoultely no problems being a go-to guy for sharpening his weapons and after a few minutes of sharpening them, he takes a little look to make sure they're sharpened up.

"Hmm...could use a little more sharpening up." Max muttered, as he's looking.

He resumes sharpening a little bit and after that, he looks at them and touches the tip of the katanas and he could see that it's sharpened and said, "Yep. Sharp like a hawkeye."

After that, he comes outside and saw Akashi waiting outside the building and he said, "Here's your katanas. Extra sharp, just how you like them."

After he gives the katanas back to Akashi, he began to test them out to see if they look twice as better and as the reflections of the sun reflects on the sword, it almost made Akashi's sight go on haywire and he said, "Yep, they're sharpened. Most definitely."

Max chuckled softly at this and said, "Glad you like."

"Thanks, Max."

Almost immediately, Saori comes by and she sees Max and Akashi standing there and she said, "Hey, Akashi. Hi, Max."

"Hello, Saori." Max replied, happily.

Saori giggled softly and she looks up at the building and asked, "This is where you work?"

"Yep. I'm a bladesmith and wood carver." Max replied.

That impressed Saori to the full extent that Max is a blademaster and a wood carver and she said, "Looks like your goal of being a wood carver came true."

"Yeah, I was an apprentice and then I turned into an official wood carver for a few years and then turned to bladesmith after that." Max explained.

She was definitely happy to see Max reach his goal and his dream come true and she said, "That's amazing, Max."

"And on top of that, I'm Akashi's personal sword sharpener...because he was pretty much the one that got me started on being a bladesmith while I was still an apprentice." Max added.

"Wow. My brother has started up something for you." Saori said, looking at her brother.

"I still couldn't believe it." Akashi added.

Minutes later, Max showed Saori around to where Max's workstation is and she widened her eyes to see so many swords, katanas and daggers he had sharpened and mounds of wooden weapons he carved himself and that completely surprised her that he made it all possible.

"How long have you been doing this again?" asked Saori.

"Woodcarving? About 18 or 19, I guess. And bladesmith mastery...the same time I was mentored by the person who brought me into woodworking." Max replied.

"That's impressive." Saori added.

"You like them?" asked Max.

"Yep. I would really love to see you make those things in person." Saori replied.

Max chuckled softly at this and he said, "Well...you can drop by sometime and watch."

Saori then spots something that's covered udnerneath and as she went closer to it, she asked, "Hey, Max? What under here?"

"Uh...I wouldn't do that. They're...they're not finished yet. I still need to paint those." Max said, in a nervous panic.

As she unveiled the cover, she was completely shocked when she saw a carving figure of Max and Saori holding hands together and that made her really surprised and touched that he had made this and she asked, "Did you...did you make this?"

"Um...yeah. I sorta made it a few days ago with me and you in mind. Sorta left it unfinished because I needed to paint those." Max replied.

Her heart deeply melted when she took a look at those and it lets her know that she still loves him a whole lot and she said, "It's really beautiful...even when it's unfinished."

Max blushed in response to that and he said, "Thanks. I didn't really want to show it to anyone because besides the fact that it wasn't complete, but that I was gonna keep it...until you came back."

"You're so sweet. I can't wait to see what it looks like in color." Saori said, smiling.

"I'm glad you like it." Max replied.

Just then, they heard someone come in and when Max turns around, he sees his teacher coming in and he said, "Master Zingao...what brings you here?"

"Well, I came over to do some work. Was I interrupting something, Maximus?" asked Zingao.

"Uh...no, sir. This is my girlfriend, Saori." Max replied.

"Hello." Saori said, smiling.

Just then, he recognized her from somewhere and figured that this was the girl Max was thinking about and talking about and said, "Saori Okami, right? Max has been telling me all about you."

"Thank you, sir." Saori replied.

"Your brother's Akashi, right? Tell him he still owes me 95 yuan for that chair he broke." Zingao added.

"Right. I'll keep that in mind. Well, it was nice meeting you, sir." Saori said, politely.

She walks away but not before saying bye to Max and after she left, Max lets out a deep sigh and said, "Isn't she beautiful?"

Zingao chuckled and said, "Akashi's right. You two are meant to be."

Yes, they are. Don't they make a cute couple? Master of Stories; Saori, Akashi, Miyo and others...wouldn't you agree? Stick around for more!