Chapter 114: Focus

Chapter 114: Focus

If you want to support me check out my patron at /athassprkr

I tend to upload drafts of early chapters on there to get people's opinions of them.

---------------

23rd February 2006, New York City

(Wanda Maximoff POV)

Wanda followed after her teacher as she left the Xavier institute. In truth, she was embarrassed, ashamed of her failure; her mission did not go according to plan. The teenager thought she was ready. This was a reality check and a big one at that. Jasmine may have told her that she had an extremely high potential, but Wanda always forgot how much time and effort it would take just to make it a reality. The teenager had failed her mission and her teacher had to get involved. Will Jasmine get rid of her now that she's proven to be a disappointment?

The Juggernaut had played with her. Wanda had almost forgotten what it was like to be afraid of dying. Her time on the streets made her accept that death was a very real possibility and that there was no sense in fearing the inevitable. When she lived with Magneto, she had nothing to live for, other than her brother that is. And even he abandoned her. When she was still in her cell in the vault, she sometimes wished to end it all. She had lived miserable life, perhaps her next one would be a peaceful one.

But when she watched as that monster of a man ran at her, she knew that this could be it. Her final moments. And she was afraid. Why was she so frightened? She had accepted death a long time ago. She was still trembling, even now. It didn't make any sense.

Jasmine obviously noticed, because she stopped walking and gave her a hug. It was soothing, and warm. Wanda broke down and started to sob, shoulders shaking. Jasmine ran her hands through Wanda's hair and the teenager felt a strange warmth in her chest. She must look like a child but she didn't care. She missed this; it was like having a mother again.

It took a couple of minutes for her to calm down and when she looked up to see properly, Wanda discovered that they were in her bedroom. They must have teleported. She hadn't even noticed anything.

"You alright, kiddo?" Jasmine asked.

Wanda didn't have the strength to speak and just nodded against her mother figure's chest.

"So, what was that about?" Jasmine questioned gently.

"I I was afraid," Wanda replied.

Jasmine chuckled, "What's wrong in being afraid? Trust me, if people were more afraid, there would be a lot of idiotic deaths." Follow current novels on novelb((in).(com)

Wanda sighed, "I haven't been afraid in a long time. Ever since my mother Anyway, isn't fear supposed to be a bad thing. It's better to be brave, right? I wasn't brave during the fight. I was just afraid."

"This, my dear little apprentice, is an Ankh. More precisely, it's an artifact I created a very long time ago to train my reality magic. Truth is, at first, I could only use reality magic using runes. But it was a fascinating field of magic, so I created this thing as an aide, a training tool so to speak. In its basis, it's a focus. Long ago, mages used specialized focuses for each field of magic they mastered. It was before Wands and Staves were invented, which normalized the designs of focuses all over the world. But still, a specialized focus is far more powerful than a wand when it comes to the specialization. People generally preferred wands because you can cast any type of magic with it, choosing practicality of power and performance. Not that anyone now remembers that it's an option. Specialized focuses are now a forgotten relic of the past."

Wanda nodded at the impromptu lecture, "So it's like training wheels. I'll use it to learn better until I can do it without it."

Plus, it kinda looked cool too. She could definitely pull it off and it would go very well with her outfit. Makes her look exotic and everything.

Jasmine nodded, "Yes, it is imperative that you do not overly rely on this tool. You'll get used to it and won't be able to cast anything without it."

Wanda looked at the weird cross thing, sorry Ankh, then looked at her teacher, "How do I use it exactly?"

"You can use it like a wand, but I don't recommend it. What I do recommend, is that you wear it as a necklace and channel magic into it while using your powers. It's easier to hide that well and you will learn to use your powers without relying on your hands and people won't know how much you need it to use your powers; that way no one actually targets it. It will just be a fashion choice. It'll also be a lot easier to use your powers when you get rid of the Ankh. But as long as you channel your magic into it, it will work. We'll train more using it later."

Jasmine removed her arm, leaving the artifact floating in the air, still pulsing in power. Wanda hesitantly grabbed it. She felt a sudden warmth in her finders. She raised the artifact above her head and brought it swishing down. A stream of red energy that's synonymous to her reality magic, shot from the circle on the top. The teenager felt like her a part of her was missing and this Ankh was it. This felt intimate, like making a new friend that would be with her for a lifetime. She could feel the Ankh thrumming in her hand, sending a pleasurable sensation through her hand. It obviously approved of her thoughts.

Jasmine clapped her hand and whooped in joy, "I knew it. A perfect match!"

Wanda didn't respond, entranced by her focus but Jasmine interrupted her musings, "Alright you little bugger, you can admire it later. It's late and you've had a very long day. You need to go to sleep. After all, you have school tomorrow."

"What! Already?"

"I may or may not have pulled some string with the headmistress," Jasmine replied cheekily.

"Fine, I'll go to bed."

Wanda then went to change into her PJs and Jasmine was waiting for her. She tucked her into bed, kissed her goodnight.

"Goodnight, Wanda."

Half asleep, Wanda muttered back, "Goodnight, Mom."

She hadn't realized what she called Jasmine, nor had she seen Jasmine's blinding smile as she heard her.