John's eyes suddenly lit up. He politely greeted Fenris, and even put away the lighter he had been idly toying with, something he rarely did.
Ever since they had returned from Alkali Lake, Pyro's attitude toward Fenris had undergone a complete one-eighty.
And on top of that, Fenris had been dropping by the training grounds every so often to haul the lot of them up and beat them down in sparring matches, which only made John admire him more and more.
"You're not the type who can't handle losing, are you?"
Fenris smiled and sat down beside John.
On top of improving his own strength, occasionally playing the role of a spiritual mentor felt pretty good too.
"Of course not. It's just… teacher, you have such overwhelming power. You might not understand me…"
John hesitated, as if unsure how to continue.
After speaking, he carefully lit his lighter, then raised a hand. The tiny flame immediately swelled in his palm.
The fire danced in the air, strikingly beautiful and eye-catching.
"All I can do is control fire that already exists. I can't actually create fire myself."
John extinguished the flames with a gloomy look, then turned to Fenris with confusion written all over his face.
"Teacher, is the reason I keep losing to Bobby because my power just isn't as good as his?"
"That's part of it."
To John's surprise, Fenris answered directly.
"What?"
John froze. He had thought Fenris was about to tell him something encouraging, like to believe in himself.
"Bobby's ability may look similar to yours, but in reality, his level is extremely high."
Fenris spread his hands, making it clear he was only telling the truth.
At the school, Iceman Bobby and Pyro John both had outstanding powers. One controlled ice, the other controlled fire. They were both young mutants Professor Xavier was focusing on as the next generation.
But Bobby was actually an Omega-level mutant, with an incredibly high ceiling. As his powers developed, the things he would eventually be able to do were beyond anything Pyro could even imagine.
"So there's no need to be upset about losing to him. If he keeps growing, there'll only be a handful of people in the whole world who can surpass him."
Fenris spoke evenly.
"Bobby… is really that strong?"
John blinked, unable to believe that a classmate who had once seemed evenly matched with him could warrant such a high evaluation from Fenris.
"Of course. Even Professor Xavier and Magneto rank below him. At the school, only Jean Grey, and maybe Ororo too, are stronger than Bobby, so…"
"So if I can fight him to a draw, that means I'm actually pretty amazing too?"
With Professor Xavier and Magneto now serving as his comparison points, John's expression immediately brightened at the thought that he had beaten Bobby most of the time before.
Bobby really was strong, but that did not mean he was weak.
"You could look at it that way."
Fenris suddenly smiled and patted John on the shoulder.
"And besides, you don't need to get too hung up on the fact that you can't create fire."
"Why?"
John immediately looked up.
He still cared about that a lot.
"John, the fact that all fire can answer your call is a gift that belongs to you alone. A pianist doesn't need to make the piano keys himself to still play the most moving melody in the world."
Meeting John's gaze, Fenris spoke slowly and clearly.
"Every person's power has limits, but what we can accomplish doesn't stop at the limits of our power."
"There are plenty of things Pyro can't do, but John can do with ease."
Fenris's words struck John like a hammer blow. It was a way of thinking he had never encountered before.
Fenris casually pulled out a box of matches and handed it to him.
"Try lighting one the most primitive way."
"Okay."
John reached out with trembling fingers and struck a match. The tiny flame swayed gently in the breeze.
"See? Even without his mutant power, John can still bring fire into existence."
Fenris bent down, picked up the lighter John had dropped on the ground earlier, and placed it back in his hand.
"Because the real you is stronger than any ability."
"This…"
Watching the tiny match burn out so quickly in his fingers, John suddenly fell silent.
"Your power is only a tool. You can use Pyro as your codename in battle, but only John can decide what kind of person John is going to become.
A weapon defined by flame, or a guardian who uses flame to protect the school and everything he holds dear."
That whole familiar set of lines succeeded in pushing the hotheaded, radical Pyro into deep thought.
Seeing the contemplation on the other boy's face, Fenris nodded in satisfaction.
"Teacher Fenris, I understand now."
After a long while, John's brow suddenly relaxed, and he shot to his feet.
"My power might really never be stronger than Bobby's, but I can still take responsibility for protecting the school, just like the Professor does."
"Mm."
Seeing this rebellious kid, who had once been the type Magneto could easily lure away, finally change his heart, Fenris nodded with satisfaction.
"But teacher, for someone as powerful as you… where is your limit?"
John changed the subject abruptly, his face full of anticipation.
He wanted Fenris's answer more than anything.
"My limit is my power."
Fenris shrugged as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"You're the one overthinking things. I don't need to worry about that much."
"…"
John's face darkened.
Why did he suddenly feel like he had just been played?
"Hahaha!"
A burst of hearty laughter suddenly rang out from nearby, drawing Fenris's attention.
The training off to the side had just ended. The mist dispersed, Logan retracted his claws, and with a bruised and battered face, hauled Colossus back to his feet.
"Now that was a satisfying fight."
"Hm? Fenris, when did you get here?"
"Just now."
Fenris smiled. He was just about to say something when Colossus suddenly charged toward him with excitement written all over his face.
"Teacher Fenris, let's fight!"
Before his words had even finished, a steel fist as big as a sandbag was already swinging down at Fenris without the slightest hesitation.
Bang!
A dull impact rang out. Fenris caught the blow with ease, twisted at the waist, and drove a heavy punch forward, sending Colossus flying.
"Awesome!"
With a strange yell, Colossus vanished into the distance.
"They really are still just kids."
Ororo walked over with a smile on her face.
"Fenris, what brought you out today?"
"I'd been by myself too long. Came out to clear my head."
Now that he could open dimensional gates, Fenris was able to absorb the radiation from several reactors at the same time.
Once his deal with Nick Fury was done in a couple of days, as long as his magic improved enough to let him maintain even more dimensional gates at once, his pace would get even faster.
"Mm."
Ororo smiled, about to say something, when her expression suddenly stalled.
A moment later, she lifted a hand and pointed in a certain direction on the grounds.
"Fenris, the Professor just told me someone from outside is here looking for you. They said it's urgent."
"You should go."
(End of Chapter)
[Get +30 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]