"Child, what is your name?"
Luv looked at her with curiosity, but remembering how important she was to Jay, he stood up properly from Jay's lap and offered his hand with the careful formality of someone trying very hard to make a good impression. "Hello, my name is Luv! It means the love of both my mom and my dad. What is your name?"
The Ancient One took the child's small hand in hers, feeling the warmth of living flesh, the trust implicit in the gesture. She patted his head gently while speaking in a tone that carried unexpected softness. "It's good to meet you, Luv. My name is the Ancient One, but you may call me Yao."
Both Mordo and Wong's heads snapped toward their teacher in perfect synchronization, shock evident on both faces. They were hearing her true name for the first time in all their years of study, realizing just how completely she'd accepted this child under her protection.
After shaking Luv's hand with proper gravity, she looked back at Jay. "What do you need from me, Jay?"
Jay's relief was palpable as tension drained from his shoulders. "I want to be sure everything's alright with him mystically and spiritually, considering his origin."
The Ancient One nodded, then began chanting mantras in Sanskrit, her voice rising and falling in patterns that made the air shimmer. She produced multilayered spells with a magnitude of precision that surprised even Mordo and Wong, who'd never seen their teacher work with quite this level of focused intensity.
The magic wrapped around Luv in ways that looked nothing like the simple scans she performed on students, this was deeper and more thorough, examining him at levels that touched soul and the fundamental structure of his existence.
Luv's eyes went wide with wonder as the golden light surrounded him, and instead of fear or confusion, pure delight spread across his small face. "Whoa! Look at all the pretty sparkles! They're warm! Dad, are you seeing this?"
His small hands reached out to touch the light, fingers passing through geometric patterns that reformed around his touch, and he giggled with the uninhibited joy of childhood wonder.
The Ancient One couldn't help but smile despite the seriousness of her examination, watching this child react to mystical forces with the same enthusiasm most children showed for toys.
"The patterns move when I touch them!" Luv's voice carried amazement that made him bounce slightly on his feet. "Can I learn to make the pretty lights too? Please? I promise I'll be really good at it!"
"Perhaps someday," the Ancient One said while her spells continued their work, examining, measuring, ensuring nothing was wrong beneath the surface. "If your father permits it and you show the dedication required, I would be willing to teach you the foundational arts."
The examination lasted several minutes that felt longer, golden light flowing over Luv in waves while the child experimented with touching different patterns, laughing each time they reformed around his fingers.
Finally, the light dimmed and faded completely, drawn back into the Ancient One's hands as she completed her assessment.
Luv clapped his hands together with pure delight at the magical show he'd just witnessed, completely unaware of the profound examination he'd just undergone. "That was so cool!"
"I've examined him thoroughly. Mystically, spiritually, and physically, he appears stable. The genetic combination that created him has settled into a unique but cohesive whole. His potential is indeed vast, but it's dormant for now, waiting to emerge as he grows and learns."
She paused, choosing her next words carefully. "However, I must stress this, Jay: his development needs to be monitored constantly. The combination of Franklin's reality-warping and Nathan's telekinetic potential, when they eventually manifest, will require extremely careful guidance. One wrong step, one moment of lost control, and he could accidentally reshape reality around him without meaning to."
Jay nodded gravely, the weight of that responsibility settling on his shoulders like a physical burden. "I understand, Master. That's why I wanted your assessment. Domino and I won't let anything happen to him or anyone around him."
Then the Ancient One's expression shift, becoming serious again as concern gave way to curiosity. She leaned forward slightly. "Now then, what's with the child playing with one of the strongest weapons of Kamar-Taj as if it were a toy?"
Wong quickly stepped forward, professional composure reasserting itself as he explained. "Master, Jay appeared in the courtyard and tasked me with the child's care so he could discuss important matters with you in private. While I was showing Luv around, he saw light from Master Mordo's practice session, and when we went over..."
Mordo continued, his voice carrying embarrassment that made his ears turn red. "It was my mistake, Master. I set my artifact down to discuss the child's origin with Wong, and when I wasn't looking, the child somehow grabbed it and activated it. In his excitement to show it to Jay, he just ran toward the hall where he'd last seen his father."
The Ancient One turned around, her foot beginning to tap in that distinctive pattern that every Kamar-Taj student had learned to fear, a rhythm that preceded severe consequences for carelessness.
Both Mordo and Wong appeared genuinely worried, exchanging quick glances that silently debated who should speak first and whether throwing themselves on her mercy would help.
But Jay gestured for them to calm down, then whispered something in Luv's ear with exaggerated secrecy, cupping his hand around his mouth.
Luv nodded enthusiastically, understanding his mission. He ran to the Ancient One with the determined waddle of a five-year-old on a quest. Tugging on her robes to get her attention, he looked up at her with those impossibly innocent blue eyes.
When he spoke, his voice carried such genuine remorse that it could have melted granite. "Pewase don't be angry, Grandma Yao! I'm sowwy!"
Jay and the others could literally see a virtual arrow pierce the Ancient One's heart.
Her fury and strict demeanor broke like glass. She knelt and hugged Luv immediately, consoling the child with soothing words and gentle touches, assuring him she wasn't angry at all, that he'd done nothing wrong.
While embracing the Ancient One, Luv peeked over her shoulder and gave Jay a thumbs up with a glint in his eyes that looked far too calculating for someone his age.
Jay returned the gesture with a conspiratorial wink.
Mordo and Wong stared at the exchange, recognition slowly dawning on their faces as they realized what they'd just witnessed. A new monster was being born right before their eyes, and they both silently cursed whatever fool had coined the phrase "blood is thicker than water," already feeling bad for Luv's future enemies who would have to face both Jay's cunning and this child's apparently natural talent for manipulation.
The Ancient One finally released Luv from the hug, straightening up with a soft expression that lingered as she looked at the child. Then she turned to Jay, her demeanor shifting back to business though warmth remained in her eyes.
"You'll do fine," she said finally, her voice carrying certainty that came from centuries of judging character. "Both of you have the love and strength needed. Just remember, when his powers do manifest, bring him here immediately. I would be honoured to train Luv."
Luv tugged on Jay's pants, his attention span for adult conversations thoroughly exhausted. "Dad, can we go play now? Grandma Yao said I'm okay!"
Jay smiled down at him, ruffling the hair that had so painstakingly styled Jay's own into chaos. "Yeah, buddy, we can go. Just let me say goodbye properly first."
He turned back to the Ancient One, bowing respectfully with hands pressed together. "Thank you, Master. For everything. For examining him, for accepting him, for not hitting me with that newspaper."
The Ancient One's lips twitched with amusement despite herself. "Don't push your luck on that last point."
Jay picked up Luv, settling the child comfortably in his arms as blue light began gathering around them. "We'll visit again soon. And I'll keep you updated on any developments."
"See that you do," the Ancient One said. As the teleportation light consumed them both, she added quietly, "And Jay? Congratulations. On your family."
The words reached him just as the light flared, and Jay's smile was the last thing she saw before they vanished.
The Ancient One stood alone in her chambers with Mordo and Wong hovering uncertainly nearby, the silence profound after the chaos of the past hour.
Finally, Wong spoke carefully. "Master, that child..."
"Is exactly what Jay said," the Ancient One interrupted gently. "An innocent life given a second chance. And under Jay and Domino's care, he'll have the guidance and love he needs to become something wonderful rather than something terrifying."
Mordo cleared his throat. "But the power, Master. If he truly carries both Franklin and Nathan's potential..."
"That aside", she added with the faintest smile, "having the child learn here occasionally might do us all some good. Kamar-Taj has become too sombre lately. A little chaos could be refreshing."
Both Mordo and Wong exchanged glances that clearly said they disagreed with that assessment, but neither were foolish enough to voice that opinion aloud.
The Ancient One's smile widened slightly. "Now, I believe you both have training sessions to conduct. Unless you'd prefer to stay and help me recover from my 'old age,' as my student so kindly pointed out?"
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