Chapter 2 Part 1

Magus in Marvel

Chapter 2 Part 1

By: Pineappl3

I sighed for the nth time before turning around to gaze at my mother. Her face held a pleading look and quivering lips in the shape of a pout. "I do not see the need for going to school. I'm dying and I would rather enjoy my time."

Flinching at the word 'dying' Hilda changed her expression. Giving a sigh of her own she patted the empty spot on the couch next to her. Willing to indulge my Mother, I moved to sit next to her.

"Balder, please. Make some new friends. I'm positive you will enjoy it. I won't be around very much in the near future so I don't want you to laze about. Please? For me? Your dear Mother?"

Trying once more to convince me, but this time with an expression I've learned to be called 'Puppy Dog Eyes,' Hilda took my hands into hers and gave it a small squeez. "Alright. Fine," the words escaped my lips in a hushed tone. "But. Don't expect me to try in these classes."

Finally relieved of tension, Mother's shoulders finally relaxed. She slumped back into the couch and a smile filled her face. "You start school tomorrow son. It's not far so you can walk. Get some fresh air. You will be attending Midtown High as a Senior."

Obviously more excited than myself, Hilda shook with enthusiasm. "I'm going to regret this aren't I?" Standing up from my seat, I tried to make my way to my room. Before I could though, I was slapped on the back.

"You better enjoy it punk. You only get to be a Senior once!" She mumbled something else after but by this time I was too far up the stairs to discern what it was. Entering my room, I found Nixie conversing with Athena.

"What are you ladies up too?" Raising my brow as I questioned the pair, I moved to sit on my bed. "Never mind I'm sure I heard somewhere that this is 'Girl Talk' and I as a man wouldn't understand.

With a puff of her cheeks, Nixie just stared at me. Athena on the other hand just laughed. I noticed it sounded much less synthetic than before. 'Evolving very very quickly. Good.'

"Nixie, did you prepare the materials for the Mana Gathering Tattoo? I know gold is not very easy to get but it's not impossible." Making an expression that showed me she had forgotten, she quickly ran over to my wardrobe and pulled out a box.

Hastily opening it, Nixie began to channel mana into the contents within. "I forgot to saturate it in mana, forgive me Master." I gave a shrug and then a chuckle.

"We are on a timeline, but you do not have to rush. It's normal to forget. Just don't make a habit of it. You are already leagues above Malcolm and my old familiar. Athena, order Nixie a phone so you can remind her."

Looking over to the screen of my Mother's laptop, I see the image of Athena nod. "It will arrive tomorrow Father."

Giving her a nod of my own, I crossed my legs to begin meditating. "Nixie, wake me once you have finished preparing everything. I want this Mana Gathering Tattoo before morning. I'm advancing quickly, but not quite fast enough."

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Nixie POV

As I channeled my mana into the gold scraps between my fingers, I occasionally stole a glance at my Master. I was thankful for him choosing me and I would gladly serve him for life. He has yet to ask about my life before I became his familiar and I was grateful for that.

Life before was difficult. I was a part of a hivemind at the bottom of a faraway realm. I was but a single drop of water in the ocean and I was never sure if my thoughts were my own.

That was until recently when I heard a summon. I took a chance to escape and I was happy I did. Master bestowed me a name and with that, this world bestowed me a form.

I was saddened by the fact I could not assist my Master in adapting to this world as we were both new residents. Despite this my position did not fall in my Master's eyes. He cared for me, and I could feel myself grow stronger every time he progressed.

Being a familiar was a strange feeling for sure, but I welcomed it. It was vastly different than being in a hive mind. Although I was connected to my Master's mind, I knew what were my thoughts and what were his.

At the time of my summoning I had been merely a few inches tall. Master told me it was of no consequence, but I wanted to be of better use. So using my manipulation of water I grew my form with help of the magical metal spout that seemed to never run out of water.

Feeling that the gold would no longer accept my mana, I began to prepare the rest of the materials for my Master's tattoo. I set the gold aside and filled a bowl with some water from my body.

According to Master, my body is made from water 'flavored' mana. It was stained with my personality and more importantly when separated the water retained the mana. It was perfect for potions and for rituals.

With the bowl filled with the mana infused water and the gold set off to the side, I took a large pen-like device apart. This small machine would allow me to inscribe the tattoo on my Master.

Filling a cylinder that would house the magical ink with the prepared water, I took a single gold fragment and dropped it inside. Firmly affixing the cylinder back to the pen, I made my way over to the bed my Master was meditating on.

"Everything is ready Master."

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Baldur POV

"Nixie make sure you take care of everything we need with Athena. I want a list of possible locations for my Magus Tower soon. I feel my advancement is not too far away."

Saying what I had to say, I left my Mother's house through the front door. Taking a moment to bask in the warm rays of the rising sun, I began my walk to school.

'I better find some talent to recruit here or this will be for nothing. Young minds are the easiest to imprint on and to teach after all.'

Thinking of finding a promising student at this school raised my excitement from non-existent to acceptable levels. 'Allies would be good. I'm weak and it never hurts to have people who look up to me.'

Remembering the gift my mother had gotten me for agreeing to attend school once more, I fished out the strange pod like device. Opening the top I took out the ear plugs contained inside.

'Bluetooth. Strange name, useful invention.' I took out my phone and commanded it. "Athena, play my playlist."

"♪ Carry on, my wayward son. There'll be peace when you are done. Lay your weary head to rest. Don't you cry no more. ♪"

'Music on Earth is soo much better than music in Azum. How did I live before this?' Nodding my head along to the tunes the whole way to school, I eventually stopped before the front office.

"Excuse me Miss?" Standing in front of a plump Asian-American woman well past her prime, I put on an act that I assumed a teen from this world would act like. "I'm new here and I um need my schedule."

The woman gave me a once over before clearing her throat. "Name?"

"Balder Michaelson." I answered quickly. "I'm not going to be in trouble for being late am I? I don't even know where my class is." Feigning a panicked expression I inwardly cringed when she chuckled.

"Don't worry your pretty little head. Just let me print this out and I'll have someone from your class escort you." Inspecting the woman closely, I managed to find her ID. I fidgeted a little then pretended to work up the courage to speak.

"Thank you so much Mrs. Brown." Responding to my thanks with a smile, she clicked a few times with her mouse and the printer behind her whired to life. Moments later I held a small sheet of a paper in my hands.

"You have Calculus AB, AP Biology II, AP English V, AP American History, AP Economics, Engineering and AP Chemistry in that order. Wow. I must say. You must be very smart to take all these classes."

"These are not even the dual credit classes though. I was told those are as hard as real college classes." I gave her an inquisitive look and she gave me a hearty laugh.

"Honestly hun, AP classes are the same level as those dual credit classes. The only difference is AP classes have more work and you have class everyday of the week. Dual credit has classes three times a week."

I visibly deflated. "Oh. Great." 'Good thing I told Mother to not expect anything more than me going.' Broken from my thoughts by a knock on the door, I turned around to see a young man.

He was taller than me, but his face screamed out he was still a child. With messy brown hair and eyes that reminded me of coals, he looked like he perfectly fit the description of a highschooler I'd read about online with his jeans and graphic tee.

"Sup." He nodded at me and turned his focus to the woman behind me. "This the new dude?"

"Yes Johnny. He is taking most of the classes you are so If you could show him around that would be great."

Johnny seemed to think it over for a second before responding. "You got it Mrs. B. New kid lets go." The boy turned around and began to walk away. With a wave indicating to follow, I quickly turned around to face Mrs. Brown one last time.

"Thank you so much ma'am for the help. Have a good day." Rushing to catch up with Johnny, I took in my surroundings. The hallway I was in was covered head to toe in pasty white paint, and the lockers that stood in front of them had a nasty green paint.

Even with the halls mostly empty, I could easily notice quite a few students sneaking around trying to avoid detection. A few moments later my guide finally spoke up. "So new kid, what's your name?"

"You can call me Balder or whatever really." Peeking down the hallways we passed, I stopped once I sensed a certain 'flavor' of mana. 'Fate mana? Does this school have a prophet? I will need to investigate this."

A few snaps woke me from my stupor. "Yo Bald, can you hear me? We arrived." Frowning at the terrible nickname I was given, I regained my wits before stepping into the classroom behind Johnny.