“Mrs. Bze,” Charles began, folding his hands on the table. His voice, as always, was gentle, but there was a firm undertone. “Do you know how to contact Carter Sde?”

  Logan, sitting nearby, snorted, his gruff voice adding a sharp edge.

  “After yesterday, a lot of people have questions for him. Especially after that bloodbath.”

  Naomi looked up from her teacup, her blue eyes calm, though Johnny caught a flicker of irritation.

  “Carter has kept his distance from people for a long time. He fears his power and prefers to avoid contact.”

  “Yesterday’s behavior didn’t look like a recluse,” Logan shot back, but Naomi ignored him, taking another sip of tea.

  “In any case, Logan, I don’t have his phone number. But if Carter reaches with us , I’ll let him know you’re looking for him,” she said, her voice almost zy, as if the expnation bored her.

  Charles nodded briefly, ever diplomatic.

  “Thank you. But let’s return to a more pressing matter. Mrs. Bze, how do you suggest we handle the Phoenix?”

  Johnny noticed Jean, sitting across from him, flinch. Her eyes were filled with a mix of fear and confusion.

  “Based on my family’s experience,” Naomi began, setting her cup down, “I can offer some advice. Fighting an aspect of infinity is like running headfirst into a wall—painful and pointless.”

  Her blue eyes softened as they nded on Jean, her voice growing warmer.

  “I’m sorry, dear, but you’ll have to become the Phoenix’s vessel.”

  Jean froze, her lips parting slightly, but no words came.

  “As I said a month ago,” Wanda chimed in, her voice steady, almost indifferent, “my prophecies always come true.”

  “Prophecies are fine,” Naomi countered with a faint smile, but her face quickly turned serious. “They help prepare for tragedy. But as Logan said, we shape our own tomorrow.” A glint of confidence appeared in her eyes as she looked at Jean. “We’ll find a way to handle this. Even the aspects of infinity aren’t all-powerful if you py it right.”

  “Do they have rules?” Charles asked.

  “All magic has rules,” Naomi replied, her stern gaze shifting to Jean. “Remember, the key is to constantly fulfill the Phoenix’s purpose. It’s an aspect of restoration. If it’s chosen you, you must use its power to heal and rebuild. It could be repairing the school, helping in a hospital, or something else. The main thing is not to sit idle.”

  Charles gave a calm nod.

  “I’m confident we’ll find a way to channel her abilities properly.”

  Jean bit her lip before speaking softly.

  “But what if I can’t?”

  “You mustn’t let that happen,” Naomi answered grimly. “If you do, the Phoenix will take over your mind. You’ll lose yourself, and the consequences will be catastrophic.”

  “But I can handle it… right?”

  “The Phoenix is a power gods dream of possessing. But you’re mortal, Jean,” Naomi expined as gently as she could. “This bond will eventually lead to your demise.”

  “But how?” Jean bit her lip harder. “Isn’t Carter Sde as old as Logan? I could just dedicate myself to work! There will always be people who need healing!”

  “Our curse doesn’t just attract the Spirit of Vengeance; it also grants us a unique body capable of containing it,” Naomi said with a sad smile. “It’s not a physical trait but a spiritual one. Unfortunately, no genetic enhancements will help you.”

  “Can’t she heal herself?” Charles asked.

  “Theoretically, yes,” Naomi nodded thoughtfully. “But it’s more like constant self-resurrection, and there’s no guarantee the Phoenix won’t leave forever the moment she dies. We can’t take that risk.” She turned to Jean, her voice firm. “When the Phoenix appears on Earth, Dr. Strange and I will perform an exorcism ritual. We’ll have only a few days to save you. But it’s an extremely complex ritual, and there’s no room for error.”

  A heavy silence filled the room. Wanda broke it with her even tone.

  “What’s to stop the Phoenix from possessing Jean again after it’s expelled?”

  “Aspects of infinity aren’t sentient, but even they have certain rules,” Naomi replied, her expression serious. “They don’t use the same vessel twice.”

  “And where will the Phoenix go next?” Wanda asked.

  “Hopefully far away from our pnet,” Logan grunted.

  The adults spent another hour discussing the details, but no new conclusions were reached. Johnny stayed silent the entire time, mentally adding the Phoenix to the list of enemies capable of frying his skeleton.

  Jean initially tried to contribute to the conversation, but after hearing about the inevitability of her situation, she froze. Her lips trembled slightly, and her fingers nervously toyed with the edge of her sweater. She wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.

  Wanda observed everyone with an air of indifference.

  When the discussion ended, Charles thanked Naomi for her help, and she promised to teleport to the school immediately when the Phoenix manifested. As Johnny said his goodbyes, his gaze met Wanda’s. Her face remained impassive, but deep in her eyes, Johnny caught a flicker of doubt. She quickly looked away, as if afraid he’d notice.

  When the st guest disappeared behind the door, silence settled over the room. Johnny leaned back in his chair, studying his mother intently.

  “Maybe now you’ll tell me,” he began with visible calm, though his tone carried a note of persistence. “Who is Carter Sde, and why did you call him a Ghost Rider?”

  Naomi squinted slightly before correcting him.

  “Phantom Rider. Carter is indeed one of our retives, and he bore the curse… back in the 19th century.”

  Johnny noticed the shift in her tone to one of irritation.

  “No one alive today was supposed to know about him. Damn long-lived mutants!”

  She bit her lip, as if scolding herself for the slip.

  “You used him up to protect me,” Johnny concluded coldly, his gaze piercing hers.

  Naomi sighed, though a trace of pride shone through her smile.

  “That’s a mother’s duty.”

  Johnny didn’t take his eyes off her, and she, it seemed, had no intention of looking away either.

  “Carter has been dead for a long time, trapped in a time loop,” she expined. “But due to a temporal paradox, any oracle will cim he’s alive and wandering somewhere on Earth.”

  Johnny smirked, his expression darkening.

  “The perfect scapegoat.”

  Naomi matched his grim smile.

  “One fming skeleton looks much like another. No one can tell if it’s an old man or a young one. I’ll always cover for you, Johnny. But, as you’ve seen, the bloodhounds are already on your trail.”

  Johnny nodded, though he burned inside. He knew his mom had protected him today, but how long could this trick hold up? He would need to be more careful.

  After a brief pause, he asked, “You’re a candidate for Sorcerer Supreme? Seriously?”

  Naomi snorted, her gaze softening, though her tone carried a hint of mockery.

  “Your mom hasn’t spent the st ten years just running a bookstore.”

  Johnny frowned in thought before asking, “And when were you pnning to teach your kids mystical arts?”

  “After they finish school,” Naomi replied firmly.

  “That te?”

  “I started even ter,” she said calmly but then added more sternly, “Magic is a responsibility. Like a weapon. Do you really think I’d teach my kids a fireball spell so they could accidentally burn down the school?”

  Johnny shuddered involuntarily as he imagined his brother Danny showing off magic in front of his cssmates. His mom’s logic was rock solid.

  Naomi softened her tone slightly as she added,

  “If not for our family’s curse, I wouldn’t be rushing with you either. But for your nightly life, you’ll need every tool avaible.”

  They began heading toward the storeroom where she kept her magical books and tools.

  “Do you believe Wanda’s predictions?” Johnny asked, trying to sound casual.

  Naomi hesitated for a moment, as if weighing the question.

  “Divination is a rare magic. I’ve never encountered it personally, but I know it exists.”

  “So, everything she said is true?”

  Naomi sighed, her face darkening.

  “I have no idea. Did you hear what they call it? Not magic, but a mutation. Utter nonsense! How can a strand of DNA predict the future?”

  She shook her head, as if trying to dismiss the thought, then stopped and looked at Johnny closely.

  “And why are you asking?”

  “Just curious to learn something new,” he lied, keeping his expression neutral.

  But inside, he was boiling. If Wanda’s prophecies were accurate, then who was the one who would kill her in a year?

  /////

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