Lord of Cinder in American Comics

Welcome to the designated recuperation center for the Undead, Ashbringers, and Faded Ones. Group number: 483542220

2022-03-22 00:03

## Chapter 130: Wanda and Pietro (2)

Constantine immediately revealed where the two had come from, and Pietro stood in front of Wanda, shielding her as she left through the door.

But this is Ringed City, where can we run to even if we try to escape?

The brother and sister pressed themselves against the wall, closing their eyes and waiting for Constantine's decision.

However, after a long time, they did not feel any change. When the brother and sister opened their eyes, they found Constantine sitting at his desk, frowning as he looked at the scroll, as if the two of them did not exist.

Wanda asked timidly, "Sir, you don't blame us?"

Why blame you?

"Hydra is a notorious terrorist organization that has been infamous since World War II!"

"Just a terrorist organization, a rat hiding underground. We are mages who protect the security of dimensions and prevent demons from invading. This kind of enemy is a bit..."

Constantine didn't continue speaking. Wanda and her brother understood that this was to save face for them. After all, in front of the mages who maintained the security of the dimensions, these organizations that had tried to dominate the earth but had been defeated were no match for them.

Pietro held Wanda's hand; the siblings didn't exchange words. Their unspoken understanding and years of shared life allowed them to comprehend each other's meaning through mere glances.

Wanda emerged from behind Pietro, and the two stood at attention opposite Constantine's desk, like students facing a question from their homeroom teacher.

“Sir, we are only temporarily under the protection of Hydra. Baron Strucker sent us here just to make up the numbers.”

Wanda's explanation failed to elicit a response from Constantine, who didn't even look up as he stared at the scroll.

After a brief silence, Wanda continued, "We joined Hydra only to gain the power of revenge. We'll do anything to avenge our enemies."

"For revenge? Then you should join the Darkmoon Knights. Those Darkmoon lunatics are capable of anything."

Constantine, with his head bowed, replied with a sentence that left Wanda speechless.

Putting down the scroll, Constantine looked at the bewildered brother and sister before him and sighed, asking, "What do you think a mage is?"

What defines a sorcerer? In the minds of Wanda and her siblings, who haven't received formal education, a sorcerer is someone who throws fireballs or releases energy waves. Perhaps only research-oriented individuals like Fitz and Simmons could answer this question.

"Magicians are explorers of the unknown, people who embark on a research journey. They may have great power, as you might imagine, but power cannot be subjugated by desire."

Constantine's explanation undoubtedly banished two young souls filled with hatred into the abyss, and to Wanda and her siblings, it was a rejection of them.

"I understand, sir. We will apply to the dean for permission to leave tomorrow."

Wanda's forlorn tone left Constantine somewhat puzzled.

"Are you misunderstanding something? I meant that studying magic requires humility, and one should not be blinded by hatred. I didn't mean to stop you from seeking revenge."

Constantine's explanation instantly brightened Wanda's spirits, who had been looking down.

"You won't stop our revenge, sir? You're even allowing us to study here?"

"Why should we stop you? Now that you've entered Dragon Academy, you're naturally students here. Students should focus on their studies. Besides, Hydra is no trouble at all for Dragon Academy. If I wanted to, I could destroy Hydra with just a word."

Having been accepted by Constantine and the Dragon Academy, Wanda and her brother finally felt their own existence. In the past, they had been hiding everywhere and living a life of hiding and eking out a living with Hydra, which had made them used to lies.

But at this moment, Constantine's confidence and nonchalance made the brother and sister truly examine themselves. Furthermore, Constantine's words revealed his protectiveness and favoritism towards them.

Having received a positive response, Wanda and her siblings finally felt relieved. Their ramrod straight posture relaxed.

"So, sir, what brings you here?"

Having put aside her reservations, Wanda began to inquire about why Constantine had extended an olive branch to the two of them from the very beginning.

Unexpectedly, Constantine became serious and stared at the two of them, saying, "It's about your physical problems."

Physical problems? What problems do we have? But since Constantine said it, it must be true, and the two began to wait anxiously for Constantine's verdict.

"To some extent, you two possess exceptional talent."

What I thought was a death sentence turned out to be good news about my talent.

"Then you tell me, Pietro. You have the talent of a speedster. Perhaps you can't reach the speed of the fastest speedster in the world, which can travel through time and space, but with training, reaching supersonic speed is not a problem."

And you, Wanda. You were born to be loved; once you sign a pact with the dimensional lords and become their agents, you will gain limitless power.

After explaining the two men's talents, Constantine further explained the meaning of speedsters in other worlds, such as the X-Men or the Flash.

"Quicksilver, I like this name. From now on, my codename will be Quicksilver!"

Young people who haven't yet outgrown their teenage years quickly cast aside their worries and become obsessed with their cool nicknames.

Wanda, however, began to worry about her own talent. Becoming an agent of a dimensional demon was not a good thing.

In the original comic book universe, Wanda was born with chaos magic bestowed upon her by the demon lord Chthon. In the film, however, it was Baron Strucker who used gems to enhance the two characters' abilities.

In Constantine's eyes, Wanda possessed a naturally excellent physique, capable of absorbing powerful magical energy. Perhaps this was the source of her ability to gain the Scarlet Witch's control after being modified by the Mind Stone.

Just as she was getting worried, Constantine's words calmed her down.

"Don't worry, even dimensional demons have to think twice about the power of a mage. Even if they come after you, I'll stand in front of you. If all else fails, I have an even more powerful being behind me who can help. Everyone has a powerful backer, right?"

Constantine's words made Wanda feel instantly taller, after all, when you are most worried, someone is willing to stand in front of you and shelter you from the wind and rain.

Pietro took Wanda's hands and said, "And so am I, sister."

After explaining things to Wanda and her brother and sister and putting their worries at ease, quite some time had passed, and even the old woman carrying the tortoise shell had come to urge the two of them to go to sleep.

Only after the old woman's constant urging did Wanda and her brother reluctantly leave Constantine's office.

"Thank you, teacher."

Wanda's last words before leaving made Constantine feel genuinely happy. However, looking at the teaching plan he hadn't completed, his joy turned to pain.

## Chapter 131: What is the Strongest Mage?

The next day, the entrance to the Feleneru Church was filled with students waiting for class early in the morning.

However, after waiting for a long time, the teacher still didn't appear.

Just when everyone thought that there would be some different time requirements for classes at the Dragon Academy, Constantine, rubbing his sleepy eyes, arrived here, led by a ringed knight.

"Alright, alright, here I am! Go back and tell the teacher that I taught according to his requirements. We agreed that I would only schedule the first few classes, but the rest of the content is up to them."

It wasn't until Constantine stood at the entrance of the Feleneur Church that the Ringed Knight nodded in affirmation, acknowledging that he had heard Constantine's words.

After the Ringed Knights left, Constantine, who had never taught a class before, looked at his dozen or so students and couldn't help but tap his aching head.

"Um, can anyone tell me what the most important qualities a mage should possess?"

"Research ability?" This uncertain question came from Fitz, who, along with Simmons, was among the first to arrive at the church entrance. As fellow researchers, they were most keenly aware of the importance of in-depth research.

"Strong self-control."

This was Wanda's answer. After last night's instruction, she deeply remembered Constantine's words about not succumbing to desire.

Among the crowd, only Natasha showed a helpless smile.

"That's all true, but it's not the most important skill you should have. The first lesson you learn as spellcasters is how to train your bodies."

Only a strong body can contain the energy of magic, and only a strong body can persevere on the path of a researcher.

So, why don't you all run a lap around Ringed City first, work up a sweat, and I'll go find you a tutor.

After saying that, Constantine turned and left, leaving those who came to learn magic somewhat bewildered.

Did he skip class? It's probably just an excuse to avoid attending. Who can run a lap around such a big city? By the time they finish, it'll be lunchtime…

Various criticisms arose, after all, Constantine needed someone to lead him to class, so it was understandable that he would leave students standing still and find excuses to skip class.

However, some people in the crowd chose to heed Constantine's advice. As soon as Constantine left, Wanda and her siblings began to run.

Seeing that someone had started, Fitz and Simmons also began to move. Natasha, on the other hand, hid in the crowd; an agent's job is to avoid being in a conspicuous position as much as possible.

Running around Ringed City is no easy task. In addition to the towering buildings, Ringed City also contains abyssal mud pits and mining areas.

The group began running around the circular wall, watched by the Knights of Harland as they climbed over the stone mountain beside the abyss, then passed through the mining area amidst the chilling roar of the unknown creature, climbed back up the cliff they had come from, and finally returned to the circular wall.

And the prophet's words came true; when they finished running, it was indeed past lunchtime, and they didn't even make it to dinner.

Constantine and the other teachers met these guys, who were covered in sweat and practically crawling into the cafeteria.

Those who successfully completed the lap originally thought it would be a welcome and celebration, but upon seeing them, all the teachers who hadn't had a chance to be introduced to them shook their heads and left the restaurant.

The teachers' rejection and disappointment were the biggest blow to these students who wanted to learn magic.

After finishing dinner in a dull and quiet atmosphere, everyone returned to their dormitories.

Lying in bed, Simmons asked Wanda, who shared a dorm room with him, "Are we really that disappointing? The wizards in the dining hall look at us like we're trash."

Wanda, recalling Constantine's encouragement and teachings from the previous night, replied to Simmons, "It's because he had high hopes for us that he showed that expression when he saw our weakness."

"Maybe you're right, we won't have to run another lap tomorrow, will we?"

The next day, the Ringed Knights, who had been waiting there, were taken to another location after they had gathered at the entrance of the Feleneur Church.

This place is located almost at the very center of the entire Ringed City, on a stone mountain with its top flattened.

Constantine and another man in a tattered coat, carrying a katana, were waiting there.

Upon seeing the students arrive, Constantine asked everyone the same questions as yesterday.

"Can someone tell me how to kill someone the fastest?"

Faced with the consequences of yesterday's inquiry, and given Constantine's evasiveness, no one offered a response.

After a while, Fitz spoke up from the crowd: "With a gun."

“That’s right, with a gun. Add five points for Fitz, if the points are useful.”

Constantine praised the answer and took out a silver M1911.

"Durable, timeless, and battle-tested, the M1911, .45 caliber, seven-round magazine, the most effective tool to kill a man. So, who wants to come up and try shooting at the expert next to me?"

With a melodious and rhythmic tone, Constantine finished introducing the weapon in his hand and stated his requirements.

However, this requirement left the students baffled. Shooting a passerby, even though the passerby was carrying a knife and didn't look like an ordinary person, the power of firearms was not to be underestimated even for these people who had undergone military training.

"Is no one going to volunteer? Natasha, you come."

Just as a teacher might not be able to find anyone to answer a question in class and has to pick the person they know best, Natasha became Constantine's choice.