The Clock Tower, in the office of the Head of the Department of Modern Magecraft, Waver and Reines sat opposite each other. Between them were prepared cups of tea and snacks, neither of them touched the food though as a silent contest raged on.
"Are you really… pregnant?"
The first to break as Waver, his gaze turning stern as his words carried a faint wish, a hope, that all this was nothing more than the usual teasing and jokes.
"What if I am?"
Reines neither affirmed or rejected the thought, instead, remaining vague, she maintained an air of mystery around her.
Waver's eyes squinted, he tried his best but alas, the mist that surrounded Reines was just too dense for him to pierce through.
"Oh my, are you that desperate? I know you were into younger women but this is something else~"
"Maybe I learned from the best"
"Oh please~ James was quite adamant about his desire to dominate mature and powerful women. Why else would that little girl from the east stop wearing short, pleated skirts? Oh! Now that I think about it, how do you think those monsters would react when they hear about their teacher's mysterious disappearance?"
The "random thoughts" that Reines blurted out had caused Waver, who was mid-sip to almost spit out his tea.
Fortunately, he was able to hold himself back-
Unfortunately, his choice had led him to start choking on his own spit and tea.
"Cough- cough- Damn it! I forgot about them!"
Waver ignored his unsightly display, he did not mind Reines' chuckling. It's been a long, yet short two decades since then. He's already used to the constant teasing, at least, Reines was a sadist who only wanted to see others suffer, it wasn't something he could not endure.
If there was anything in the world that would make Waver falter, it would be the offhand remarks that a certain white haired bas- Lord, would say from time to time.
Waver did not mind having his dignity tossed in the mud, it's not like it mattered to him. But there are things he holds dear that he won't let anyone disparage.
The Lord was one of the few people who easily saw through him. He twisted the respect Waver had for "that person", his desire to stand alongside "him", into a desire of "flesh and lust".
Trampling on his own honor was something Waver could ignore, but to even try and taint "that person's" honor…
"tsk!"
Holding back his thoughts, Waver felt a sense of calm and unease at the same time.
When his thoughts started to derail, he knew that the man, James, had not truly perished. His existence had not disappeared from this world… at least his marks were still present.
Unfortunately, Waver was still unable to do anything about it, the marks were a subtle curse, one that did not obey the rules of conventional magecraft.
'He really was such a person, an anomaly, whatever his origin is… it's something that few could ever hope to understand or compete with'
"His marks still exist, this could give us some time. I believe the Marshall won't leave such an important matter alone"
Calming his mind, Waver sighed as he turned his gaze towards Reines, who gave him an exasperated look as she said-
"Took you long enough, I really can't understand what kind of quality you had made James take you into "that" class"
Waver shook his head, his expression turning to one of defeat as he replied.
"You know I never wanted to be part of "that" class, yet here I am, acting as the "class president"-"
"And you forgot about your "classmates"? What a responsible precedent you are~"
Silence, after that short exchange, Waver and Reines did not speak anymore.
"I'll talk to the Marshall, you handle the kids"
Reines broke the ice, she stood up and left, her steps slow and deliberate, exuding an aura of calm grace. Waver stared at her figure, her movements and the swirl of mana around her, as Reines reached the door and opened it, Waver spoke up-
"You better handle the matter of the child well… James may have been someone nobody could touch but now…"
To his words, Reines simply smiled, she turned towards Waver, her eyes giving off an indescribable light as she replied.
"Oh little Waver, if you really think that way then you've wasted all these years being James' top disciple. That man was, after all, never one to leave things to chance."
With those words, Reines proceeded to leave the room but as her foot stepped out, she paused, turning her gaze back towards Waver as she said-
"Also, take note of the action that the Einzbern's little witch, Little Red and White would be doing in the coming days. Take particular focus on White, the Einzeberns little witch won't do anything big for the moment, she's quite cunning in that regard. Little Red should be able to communicate with James' or have some assurance of his fate if she had not gone mad yet while White… she's the one most likely to cause a scene after the "one person who could suppress her" disappears"
After saying those words, Reines paused, she thought for a moment before adding-
"White's matter could be handled with the help of "those two" if worst comes to worst, only the Marshall could make a difference"
Finishing her words, Reines walked out and disappeared, Waver, left in the office, felt a headache coming.
The names she was given…
"Those are all "top students", why can't the crazies be among the bottom of the class?"
Thinking of the "classroom" that only a true monster could handle, Waver felt lightheaded. He did not want to think about anything anymore. Alas-
*BOOM*
A familiar surge of mana exploded, a loud explosion, and an all too familiar voice suddenly resounded from behind the closed office door.
"PROFESSOR!"
— IN THE MARVEL UNIVERSE —
"Following that, we have updates on the recent gas explosion that caused devastating losses at the Camelot Hotel and Casino. Investigators have confirmed that an open pipe had been neglected and the built up of gasses have caused not only the explosion but the horrendous deaths of more than a hundred guests at that time. Due to the scale of the event, investigators have reason to believe that more bodies are still hidden underground."
"Authorities are still waiting for the gas to be cut but due to the location of the incident, more than 50% of Las Vegas would be expected to have their gas supply cut if that should be done. Experts have suggested various methods and congress has began talks on the reliability of leaving something as with great potential for harm in the hands of private individuals"
"On other news, reports of gang violence and crime have lowered in Hell's Kitchen, but the head of the NYPD has this to say about those numbers…"
In a small diner close to Midtown High, Cindy and Felicia were unaffected by the reports. The problems of gas leaks, politics and gang violence, all of these were distant problems to the two teens. Especially now that a bigger, more personal issue has come up-
"So you found out who was stalking you and it turns out to be a recruiter?"
"Mhh-hm"
Felicia had a stern look on her face as she asked confirmed her friends words, Cindy on the other hand just continued drinking her smoothie, nodding her head in affirmation as she answered with sounds.
"CIndy… then why was she on top of the abandoned office building?"
Upon hearing her friends question, Cindy parted her lips from the plastic straw. She placed her cup on the table, eyes rolling she answered.
"Apparently she was looking at me from the principals office. She was scouting for talents, it just so happened that the principal saw us from the office window so~ he started to talk about my achievements while pointing at me having friends and "being social", apparently they needed someone who was not only smart but also 'sociable'. "
Cindy's words calmed Felicia down, the worry and panic she had were gone but in its place-
"Pfft-"
A laugh, she couldn't help but laugh at what Cindy said causing a reaction from her-
"HEY!"
Cindy was annoyed, she had long expected this reaction from Felicia. In fact, that was the reason she avoided talking about the reason why she felt weird that day. When she asked the agent and principal… at first they weren't really aware of such stalking but when Cindy clarified the time and place-
Well, the two adults awkwardly told her about the incident of them looking out the window that day. It was a normal act, after all, when looking for someone you would also do the same right? Though they weren't looking for Cindy, their actions did not contain any malice…
That was of course only applicable when the observed individual did not say something along the lines of-
"I felt someone staring at me"
Of course Cindy did not blame the two adults, in fact, she had endured worse observation from others. Moreover, when she recalled that day, the "stare" that was directed towards her was really just "observing".
Unlike the perverted eyes that felt as if they wanted to strip her, the gaze that day, although she did not see it, really just felt like an observer.
Because of that experience, CIndy knew that Felicia would have a field day if she ever found out about it…
But, her dear "Friend" just had to be such a busy body. Even when she said it was alright, Felicia just kept on pressing until she had the full picture and could make her own assessment.
On one hand, Felicia's nature made Cindy like her and even respect her. But…
"Sometimes I really just get annoyed by it"
She commented before pouting her head and picking up her smoothie to start drinking it again.
Felicia had stopped laughing after hearing Cindy's words, wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes, she let out an exhausted sigh before asking.
"So did you accept?"
Cindy ignored her but Felicia's piercing glare was really pressuring her. With a mix of reluctance and annoyance, Cindy turned her head as she gestured-
" 👌 "
New York, in a dimly lit space, with walls that looked like it was a cathedral's hall of worship, James stood before a large cocoon of light. Within the space, only the cocoon was the source of faint azure light.
Inside the cocoon was the figure of a man, completely naked, his body riddled with scars. His chest was calmly going up and down, a sign of life. Looking closer one would realize that aside from the fact that he was in a cocoon and naked, everything else appeared as if he was just- sleeping.
Slumbering within the confines of an egg, further observation would make one realize that not only the man, but even the cocoon was- beating.
It followed the rhythm of the man's breathing- no the rhythm of his beating heart…
James observed this all, a look of keen interest on his face as he had an uncharacteristic serious expression on.
At this moment, two shadows rose from the darkness, rippling for a moment before revealing two figures.
A man dressed in pure black with eyes as dark as the abyss and a woman with long golden hair and- angel wings.
When the two individuals arrived, James, without turning back, asked.
"So how was LA?"
Immediately the two answered-
"Boring"
"Annoying"
One felt it was lacking but the other felt it was a chore-
"V, I know LA is filled with the darkest of human desires, but! Within the darkest depths exists the brightest of lights!"
James spoke like a conman, yet his words seem to be able to easily deceive the young blonde.
Then, turning his gaze towards the other person in the room, Black, he showed a bright smile but, before he could even speak-
"My Lord, as much as I would like to be of greater assistance, watching over V is a task which even I… My Lord, please send me to the Middle East instead. I heard whispers about a certain conspiracy involving Stark Industries, Tony Stark and his beloved uncle, Obadiah Stane- I believe this would be a great boon to you."
Hearing Black's response, James shook his head, he did not give him any orders and instead turned his attention to V.
"Let's have that talk for later Black, for now, V, give me a "seed", you know the drill"
Black did not say anything about James ignoring him and V did not resist as she simply willed a single speck of light to float from her wings to James hand.
"Thank you"
Taking the "seed', James approached the "egg" that had Frank Castle inside it. As he inserted the golden "seed" into the capsule, a bright flash of golden light enveloped the whole room. A heavy air of life permeated the area causing all shadows to vanish.
"My Lord… is this really necessary?"
Black spoke up, his eyes holding doubt as he stared at Frank Castle. Yet, James' response to his loyal butler was-
"Do you trust me?"
Black did not continue, instead he vanished from the area, despite the golden light making all shadows vanish, that of Black's remained, in fact it grew even darker-
"To allow them the ability to "speak against" their creator, are you trying to become a God?"
V asked, she stared at James curiously, she had long noticed the interactions between James and his countless Homunculi but the chance to ask him did not come. James was either busy thinking of various matters, or he was in a situation where even when asked he could not give a proper answer.
Right now, James was in a secluded space, an area where only he, V and maybe some homunculi could access.
It was a safe space, one where no one could interrupt or listen in to their words.
"Nope~ but aren't you also one of them?"
James casually replied, but his answer came with a question
"I'm different"
V answered, she did not elaborate, not that she had to. James turned away from the "egg" and stared at V.
Her golden hair and angel wings were practically glowing at this moment.
"How does it feel to connect to such a powerful Ley Line?"
James asked, his smile not fading but a cunning light flashed in his eyes. Yet, the answer he got from V was-
"Meh"
After giving such an answer, V smiled back at James who let out a chuckle as he responded.
"Yeah, it's really not that great, though it's the only one we could access- for now at least"
V noticed the hints James left in his words, with nothing else to do she asked-
"Why not take it all?"
James shook his head.
"I'm not that stupid"
"..."
Silence reigned once more, unfortunately, for two individuals whose greatest asset came from their ability to read thoughts without doing any invasive action, such exchanges were- the norm.
Moreover, this was not really the moment to talk, the golden light slowly dimmed and within the "egg" the figure of Frank Castle had been visibly altered.
The marks on his body that detailed his magic circuits have turned golden, unfortunately, they did not grow in number. Seeing the result of his test, James let out a regretful sigh while muttering.
"I guess it's time to take more invasive methods…"
James then raised his gaze, staring at Frank he smiled as he said-
"I'll leave that matter to you- Frank~"
V did not react at all, instead she turned to Black who was still in the room, hidden in the shadows.
James had already moved to another room, without addressing them or giving them directives, V decided to follow James' arrangements as she asked Black.
"Bring me back to LA"
But contrary to her expectations, Black refused her as he said-
"I'm sorry V, but this task would be handled by Red, I have more pressing matters to attend to"
With that Black vanished into the shadows as a crimson shadow took his place revealing a man with a similar face and build to Black, he wore the same black butler clothes but instead of an abyss of darkness, his eyes held a crimson abyss that raged with madness, yet his expression and air was calm.
"Please follow me V"
V nodded to Red, after which a crimson shadow enveloped them both before disappearing from the room.