Max slowly woke up.
His entire body ached.
Especially his right arm.
It was heavily bandaged and connected to several strange pieces of medical equipment that beeped softly beside the bed.
"…Ah…"
He blinked slowly.
"What happened?"
Most of his memories after using the Entity's power were fragmented.
Like trying to remember a nightmare through thick fog.
The door suddenly opened.
Charlie rushed in the moment she realized he was awake.
"Oh thank Lucifer!"
She practically threw herself at him in a hug.
"You're awake!"
Max winced slightly from the pressure before chuckling weakly.
"Yeah…"
He rubbed the back of his head.
"Guess I went a little too far."
Charlie immediately pulled back, worried.
"A little?!"
"You scared everyone half to death!"
Max glanced around the room.
"How long was I out?"
Charlie sat down beside the bed.
"Two weeks."
Max froze.
"…Seriously?"
Charlie nodded.
"Every single one of your girlfriends came by."
Her expression softened slightly.
"They took turns staying with you."
"Sometimes all at once."
"They kept hoping you'd wake up while they were there."
Max blinked.
"…That's actually really sweet."
Charlie smiled.
"It was kinda romantic, honestly."
Max slowly sat up in bed.
His body still felt weak, but manageable.
Charlie hesitated for a moment before asking—
"What kind of magic was that?"
Her eyes were full of curiosity.
"That was the most powerful magic I've ever seen."
Max immediately decided lying was safer.
"…Contract magic," he said.
"I borrow power from things willing to lend it to me."
Charlie looked impressed.
"And concerned."
"Well… everyone was pretty angry about the cost."
Max looked down at his bandaged arm.
"Fair."
Charlie tilted her head slightly.
"Can I ask you something personal?"
"Sure."
"What exactly are the requirements for being part of your harem?"
Max nearly choked.
Charlie continued quickly.
"I mean—is it manipulation? Magic contracts? Are they only allowed to be with you? Stuff like that?"
Max immediately raised both hands defensively.
"Whoa, hey."
"I've never tricked anyone into loving me."
He smiled faintly.
"Honestly, I'm still surprised they all treat me this well."
He thought for a moment.
"Actually…"
Max slowly stood up from the bed.
"Maybe it's easier if I show you."
Charlie's eyes lit up instantly.
"Ooo, unique magic?"
She practically leaned forward.
"I love seeing non-destructive magic."
Max chuckled.
"That's probably the first time anyone's said that about my abilities."
He snapped his fingers.
The room filled with glowing rings of light.
Beautiful floating circles of energy appeared around them.
Some burned brightly.
Solid.
Complete.
Others were faded.
Incomplete.
Like unfinished possibilities.
Charlie stared in awe.
"…They're gorgeous."
Max nodded.
"This is basically my love magic."
He pointed toward the completed rings.
"The solid ones are people who genuinely love me."
Then toward the faded ones.
"These are possible connections."
He sighed.
"Though honestly the ability triggers way too easily."
To demonstrate, he grabbed several faded rings and crushed them in his hand.
They dissolved into harmless light.
Charlie watched carefully.
"So it's not mind control?"
"Absolutely not."
Max shook his head immediately.
"It just… accelerates feelings that were already possible naturally."
Charlie relaxed slightly.
Then tilted her head innocently.
"…Do I have one?"
Max paused.
"…Yeah."
He pointed.
"You and Vaggie."
Charlie blinked.
Then immediately blushed.
At the same time—
Max looked toward the door.
"And Vaggie, you can stop pretending you aren't listening."
The door slowly creaked open.
Vaggie stepped inside looking embarrassed.
"…I wasn't spying."
"You were literally standing outside the door."
"…Fine."
Max smiled slightly and reached toward the floating rings.
Two rings drifted forward.
Charlie's and Vaggie's.
Unlike the others—
Theirs were already much more solid than they should've been.
Max noticed immediately.
Interesting.
"I'm not interested in ruining relationships," Max said calmly.
"I treat all my girls fairly."
He held the rings gently.
"If you two are uncomfortable, I can destroy these right now."
Charlie looked thoughtful rather than upset.
"Well…"
She glanced at Vaggie.
"That doesn't mean we'd have to stop being together, right?"
"No," Max answered honestly.
Vaggie crossed her arms.
"…I'm still not sure about this."
"That's fair," Max said.
"If you don't want this, I stop it here."
Vaggie stared at him for a long moment.
Then finally asked—
"How do we know we'd stay together?"
Max smiled slightly.
"That part's easy."
He summoned a contract into existence.
"Once someone fully commits to being with me, they get to add a clause entirely of their choosing."
Charlie blinked.
"…Any clause?"
"Yep."
"The contract mostly just prevents betrayal and cheating."
"The rest is up to you."
Vaggie looked at Charlie again.
Then sighed.
"…As long as we stay together…"
"And you protect her…"
She looked back at Max.
"…I guess I don't completely hate the idea."
Charlie brightened immediately.
Max smiled softly.
"Actually…"
"I got gifts for you two."
Charlie perked up instantly.
Max reached into his shadows and pulled out the stuffed wolf pup plushie.
The tiny black-and-red plush looked exactly like his old wolf form from Charlie's childhood.
And tucked gently in its mouth—
Was the family photo.
Charlie froze.
"…How did you…"
She carefully took it.
Her hands trembled slightly as she stared at the picture.
Lucifer.
Lilith.
Her.
Together.
Happy.
"…Thank you," she whispered softly.
Then hugged the plush tightly.
"I'm putting this in my room immediately."
She hurried out before either of them could see her getting emotional.
Vaggie watched her leave quietly.
Then slowly turned back toward Max—
Only to suddenly notice the halo floating beside him.
Her entire body stiffened.
"…How did you get that?"
Max raised an eyebrow.
"Vaggie."
"You fight like an angel."
"You use an angelic spear."
"And you literally look like one."
He shrugged.
"I'm more surprised nobody else figured it out."
Vaggie looked away awkwardly.
Max stepped closer.
Then gently placed the crimson halo above her head.
It floated there for a moment—
Before dissolving into light.
A soft glow appeared beneath her eyepatch.
Vaggie froze.
Slowly—
She reached up and removed the eyepatch.
Her missing eye was restored completely.
Perfect.
Like it had never been lost.
Vaggie just stared silently at her own reflection in a nearby mirror.
"…Why?"
Max smiled softly.
"This is my gift to you."
"No strings attached."
"No blackmail."
"No obligation."
He looked toward the hallway Charlie had gone down.
"I just think you deserve to see her with both eyes."
Vaggie's throat tightened slightly.
Before she could speak—
Max stepped backward into shadows.
"Now if you'll excuse me…"
"I should probably go reassure the others I'm not dead."
And with that—
He vanished.
Leaving Vaggie standing there silently, touching her restored eye while emotions she wasn't ready to process all hit her at once.