Chapter 9 : A new home
Author note : you can find more of this where it came from (my mind !) but since I can't give you access to it, Patréon's the next best thing ! Use this link : https://www.patre*n.com/user?u=66371596 or search for Cathbel on the website.
Enjoy !
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It's been about a week since Beast came to the house. I'm still not at 100% but I'm feeling much better than before. Although I really wish I didn't have to take the food supplement… They taste awful !
Finally, Doreen and I decided to confront Skye about why she was so withdrawn. At it turns out, her foster family are thinking of sending her back… This means that she'll probably have to leave school. And of course, this also means leaving us ! No wonder she looks so depressed. Apparently, it's been a long time since she's had any real friends. And now… She's afraid and sad of leaving us.
At dinner that night, I talk about Skye's situation to my parents. Frankly, I'm not sure why… No, that's not entirely true. The fact is that I hope my parents can somehow do something about this.
My dad demands :
« It's sad, Nathan, but… What do you want us to do about it ? »
My mom shoots him a look as if saying 'it's obvious, isn't it ?' Though it was not obvious. I know my mom and dad don't use magic to solve mundane problems. Because that's a sure fire-way of getting on someone's radar. Moreover, the reason why masters of the mystic arts were allowed outside Kamar-Taj was actually contingent on this. Otherwise, the Ancient One could come to your home… If she severed your connection to mystical and dimensional energies, you'd get off easy. Apparently, the old sorcerer supreme had, more than once, had to kill her former students. So… Kaecilius wasn't… or rather won't be the only one to have betrayed her.
Finally, the serious expression on my father's face is erased, replaced by a mischievous one.
« Oh, right ! » My father slaps his forehead and turns to my mom : « Honey… Have we finished that ? »
A similar smile appears on my mother's face and I start to get annoyed. I mean… The curiosity is killing me (not literally) and I just know that they won't spill the beans before having me work for it ! That's just how they are ! It's amusing to them and infuriating for anyone else subject to their little plays.
« Yes, dear ! I do believe we did ! I think we should hear the good news in a few days. »
« Great ! So… Maybe the young miss Sutters' problems will resolve itself, won't it ? »
« Maybe ! »
Their smile slowly deepen as my own expression deadpans. Finally, they both simultaneously let out a guffaw. After a short while, they - finally ! - explain :
« We've been working on an application to become a foster family ever since you told us about Skye's situation. We've had an inspector from their service visit the house a few times. » My mom says.
« The woman was happy with what she saw. We both work, live in a comfortable home with an obviously happy son… Though your little runaway stunt made her ask a few questions. Still, in the end, she concluded that we would be a good home. Of course, she didn't say this in so many words… But I did have a dream. » My father continued.
I still, hearing all of this. In essence, they are telling me that I will become Quake's foster brother ! The brother of a future SHIELD agent, daughter of an inhuman and an enhanced, both with problems or source of ones.
Some part of me is happy while the other is dreading the future…
* * * * *
Nowadays, I'm working on Eldritch magic. Now, the best way to describe it would be… being a Green Lantern without a need for a ring that needs to be recharged. Of course, it's more complicated than that. Every construct is composed of an intricate spell array determining its form, durability and power and could be fitted to carry additional… options. A magical poison or a curse, something to empower the wielder. Of course, the alteration would only complicate the spell further and just the creation of constructs is already hard enough.
Now, the reason I'm speaking about this is… I have this idea of using Eldritch magic to remedy one of my weakness : my traveling speed. In most stories and comics, any self-respecting hero (and even some villains) had a way to quickly move around. Spider-man has his web-slinging, Hulk just jumps very high and far, Thor and Iron-Man fly, and Captain America uses vehicles. So does Batman in DC…
The last option might be doable in a few years as was the creation of portals, Doctor Strange's style. Unfortunately for the latter, creating portals is something which requires focus and high-speed calculations… Something I'm not keen on using during combat. And I don't exactly have anyone backing me up to buy or build one-of-a-kind battle bikes or cars… Parking your personal Toyota or Ford on the site of a villain attack was… Well, stupid ! Not to mention very unprofessional…
And so, I decided to use the means at my disposal. Mainly, my ink and the magic taught to me by my parents. First, I've created symbols to improve my speed and even worked on a flying one. The first one had mixed success. I could increase my speed fourfold, almost five, but at the cost of draining an insane amount of liquids and calories. It was still usable just not for prolonged periods of time. As for the second… At best, I managed to create a hovering symbol but I still didn't have much control over the flight part of it.
So, now I'm working on magic and more specifically, the Eldritch magic I've been working so hard on. Contrary to most forms of magic, this one didn't require the sorcerer to draw energy from dimensions ruled by powerful entities, nor any contracts. It just needs power, knowledge, wits and mental fortitude.
I've just finished working on a variant of the eldritch whip designed to work like a grappling hook. It was almost simple. All I had to do was remove the burning part of the spell and add a component to shorten the whip when it's wrapped around something solid. It works and all that's left is for me to train in using it.
However, I wasn't satisfied with just that. I wanted something to move fast on foot in large open space. Now, this is what I'm working on now…
« The support of the wheels is still creating an unnecessary amount of friction… Not to mention the sound, it's slowing me down ! » I say as I write my observations in my notebook. « Spell variant number 13 needs adjustments. Moving on to spell variant number 14 ! »
With a flurry of my hands towards my feet, the light constructs shift from 4 in-lined wheels on the soles to 2 sets of parallel wheels coming out of the sides of my shoes. Then, I start skating around in the empty warehouse. My father, on the side is looking at me. This particular warehouse isn't disaffected… Normally, that is. Currently, however, my father has taken us to the mirror dimension making us the only two people inside. Contrary to what is portrayed in movies, it's not so easy to find an warehouse that is both empty and safe to use. The ones that are safe are often home to a few homeless or even an entire community and those that were empty were often used for nefarious activities by gangs and/or villains.
Thank the One-Above-All for magic ! Now, we have a large open and empty space to work on spells and train martial arts. Though, I don't like getting beat up… I understand that it's a necessary skill to learn in this crazy world.
Anyways, I'm actually working on a spell construct to create skates. But not just regular skates ! Considering that I lived in New York, in a world of Super-heroes, villains and nefarious organizations bent on world domination, I needed a way to get around anywhere. If I have to reach the rooftop of a building, if I have to move quickly indoors, I needed to be highly mobile.
So, the spell construct contained gravity manipulation properties, inertia and vector amplification etc… Meaning, the spell was designed to make me adhere to a surface my feet were in contact with. I also added a gliding effect if and when I had to attempt long or high jumps so as to arrive safely at my destination. And now, I'm going through the different versions of the spells, to see which one's the best for me !
My dad looks at his watch and starts. He urges me :
« Come on, Nathan ! It's time to welcome your new foster sister ! »
My hands still in the air as I'm drawing the constructs around my ankles. I still find it weird how they talk about Skye. I can't bring myself to consider my sister, especially since I found her very hot… Young, but hey ! Tell that to my hormonal body !
I dissipate the eldritch construct and follow my father out the door where he brings us out of the mirror dimension. Then, we climb in his car. The drive is mostly spent in silence on my part. However, dad is teasing me, trying to get a rise out of me for some reason. I'm guessing that, since he too, was young once, he knows of my inner struggle. And it's obviously fun for him to torment me…
So, I ignore him and continue thinking about my spell. Calculations and theories are running through my mind as my father continues to chatter in the driver's seat. It's very annoying, but if I say anything, he'll consider it his win so… I'll just keep my mouth shut. Even though I can't easily calculate like this.
Thankfully, we finally arrive home. And I see Skye sitting on the front step. She's obviously not sure where to go or what to do. On the other hand, I'm surprised to see Doreen with her, acting as upbeat as ever, standing beside her. Well, more like she was trying to cheer her up or something.
I close the door and ask my Squirrel-like friend :
« What are you doing here, Do ? »
« If Skye's seeing your home, I'll come too. Duh ! » She says as if it's completely natural and I'm an idiot for asking the question. In Doreen's logic, it's probably so. Still, I'm a little annoyed by her comment.
I heave a deep sigh before I advance. With a smile, I look at my two best friends and announce grandly, with a little bow beside the door :
« Welcome… To the Norrson Home ! »