Lin Mei blinked, confusion written all over his face.
Question mark?
He had never met Wolverine before.
"Wait… Are you talking about me?" Lin Mei asked, pointing at himself. "And since when do we know each other?"
Wolverine narrowed his eyes. "You don't remember? I'm Logan. I—"
"Logan."
Professor Charles' voice was calm but firm.
Wolverine froze mid-sentence. A beat passed before he sighed and shut his mouth.
Lin Mei glanced between Charles and Logan, his instincts kicking in.
"Something's off."
Wolverine knew him, that much was obvious. But how? Lin Mei was certain he had never met this man before.
And then there's that nickname… 'Little Witch.'
It wasn't just casual. It implied that Wolverine knew about his magic.
But that was impossible.
Lin Mei had never openly used magic in front of anyone at Xavier's Academy.
So how did Wolverine know?
His mind raced through possibilities. There was definitely a missing piece—something they knew that he didn't.
Before he could press the issue, Storm stepped forward, curiosity evident in her expression.
"Professor, what exactly is Lin Mei's ability? And… is he a new student?"
Her tone was both inquisitive and approving, as if she had already decided that Lin Mei belonged here.
Professor Charles smiled, his gaze settling on Lin Mei with an unreadable depth.
"Lin Mei's abilities are… unique. In addition to his mutation, he possesses other powers," Charles said, deliberately vague. Then, with a note of regret, he added, "However, it's unfortunate—he won't be enrolling as a student here."
Beast adjusted his glasses, frowning. "That's a mistake, Charles. You know young mutants like Lin Mei need a safe space to understand and control their powers. The outside world is dangerous for him."
Charles' expression softened, though a shadow of something unreadable lingered in his eyes.
"I understand, Hank," he said gently. "But Lin Mei's circumstances are… special. His path doesn't lie within Xavier's Academy. His powers, and the fate he carries, will lead him in another direction."
"A different direction?" Lin Mei echoed internally.
Charles' words were layered with meaning. He wasn't just talking about abilities—he was talking about fate.
Lin Mei's suspicions deepened.
But without more information, there was nothing he could do except piece together whatever clues he had. And the biggest clue?
Logan.
If anyone had the answers, it was him.
Lin Mei turned his attention back to Wolverine, his gaze sharp with curiosity.
Charles noticed immediately.
With a subtle cough, he redirected the conversation.
"Logan, before I forget—Scott is still waiting in the car for me and Jean. Could you go let him know we're back?"
Logan hesitated for a fraction of a second. His eyes lingered on Lin Mei, filled with something unreadable—nostalgia? Regret?
Then, without a word, he turned and walked away.
Lin Mei watched him go, arms crossed.
"Professor, why do I feel like Mr. Logan is holding a grudge against me?" he muttered.
Jean, who had been quietly pushing Charles' wheelchair, let out a surprised laugh.
A short distance away, Wolverine stumbled.
Clearly, his enhanced hearing had picked up Lin Mei's remark.
Charles chuckled, eyes twinkling with amusement.
"You'll understand in time," he said. "For now, why don't we take a tour?"
Jean took the lead, guiding them through the mansion's sprawling gardens.
Charles gestured around. "This estate isn't just our home—it's the heart of Xavier's Academy. It has witnessed the growth and transformation of countless mutants. Here, they learn to control their powers, face their fears, and stand against the prejudice of the world."
He gestured toward the towering trees and the well-kept pathways.
"Every flower and every tree here holds memories of those who have walked these halls—memories of struggle and triumph, laughter and loss."
Lin Mei took in the serene atmosphere. For the first time, he felt the weight of what Xavier's Academy truly was.
A sanctuary.
A family.
"A place of belonging," he murmured, half to himself.
As they continued their walk, Hank excused himself to return to his experiments, and Storm left to prepare for her classes.
Mutant students occasionally passed by, waving enthusiastically at Charles.
The atmosphere was lively and welcoming.
But then—
A sudden commotion.
A student came sprinting toward them, panic written all over her face.
Lin Mei's eyes narrowed. Something's wrong.
"Professor! Miss Jean! John and Poppy are arguing, and it's getting serious! I think they might fight—you should come quickly!"
The student's voice was laced with urgency.
Charles let out a small sigh and turned to Lin Mei with an apologetic look.
Lin Mei simply shrugged. "Go on. I guess this is just another part of the Xavier Academy experience, right?"
Charles shook his head with a hint of amusement. "Jean, let's go see what's happening."
Jean nodded, immediately pushing his wheelchair forward at a brisk pace.
Lin Mei followed, curiosity piqued. Is there really going to be a fight?
By the time they arrived, the tension in the air was thick.
"John! We're all classmates—you can't just mess with people using your powers!" Poppy shouted, stepping between him and a visibly shaken girl. "Didn't you see? Your flames nearly set Katie's clothes on fire!"
Nearby, Katie clutched her now-singed pink sweatshirt, looking rattled. This was no harmless prank—John had crossed a line.
But John, ever the troublemaker, merely smirked.
"Oh, come on. It's just a sweatshirt," he said lazily. "If it's such a big deal, I'll buy her a new one."
His dismissive tone sent a spark of fury through Poppy.
He took a step forward, grabbing John by the collar with both hands, his eyes blazing with barely restrained anger.
"John," he said, voice low but firm. "You're pushing it. You think just because you can throw fire around, you get to do whatever you want?"
The crowd of students instinctively took a few steps back, forming a loose circle around them. The energy crackling between the two mutants made it clear—things could escalate fast.
John, clearly provoked, narrowed his eyes.
"What's your problem?" he shot back. "You think your freezing powers make you so tough? Fine, let's settle it right now. Let's see which one of us is stronger—fire or ice?"
The challenge hung in the air, heavy and dangerous.
Poppy's hands clenched into fists.
He wasn't afraid of a fight—but this wasn't the place for one.
With a sharp exhale, he forced himself to step back, dropping his grip on John's collar. His glare, however, remained just as icy.
For now, he'd walk away.
But this wasn't over.