Polaris had always been strong-willed. That stubbornness defined her. But with such a strong personality came an almost hypersensitive pride—especially when it came to people she admired.
So when Henry, the mage she respected deeply, casually remarked that she was "pretty good," it struck a nerve.
Her mood, already a little fragile from the earlier confrontation with the X-Men, instantly shifted. A fire lit behind her light green eyes—part indignation, part rebellion. She clenched her fists and puffed her cheeks, clearly dissatisfied.
But no matter how she felt, Polaris couldn't refute him.
Not truthfully.
The X-Men had cornered her. The Mutant Association labeled her a threat. She couldn't defend herself against any of them—not completely. She was struggling. She wasn't strong enough yet.
That truth stung more than any insult.
Still, she responded, her voice clipped and defensive. "Master Henry, you're right. I guess I am pretty good…"
Henry caught her stiff tone and raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? You don't sound convinced."
Polaris dropped her gaze, face slightly flushed. "No, I'm convinced."
Henry chuckled and leaned back. "You know, there are four fundamental forces in the universe—strong nuclear, weak nuclear, gravitational, and electromagnetic. And you can control the magnetic field. You've been handed dominion over one-fourth of the universe's fundamental interactions, and yet you can't handle a handful of mutants? How is that not... a bit underwhelming?"
Polaris went silent.
She wanted to protest. Desperately. But she couldn't.
After a long pause, she managed to mutter, "That's because I have mental health issues. My powers are harder to control because of it."
Henry didn't scoff or dismiss her struggles. But he didn't let her off the hook either.
"Maybe," he said. "But you haven't trained either, have you? You know your situation. You know you're hunted. And yet you haven't taken the time to strengthen your control?"
Again, she was speechless.
Because he was right.
There were reasons for her weakness. Valid ones. But excuses couldn't save her in battle. She knew she needed to be stronger—had always known.
That realization hit her hard. Her gaze turned firm, her back straightened.
"I understand now," she said solemnly. "I'll train harder. I won't let anyone catch me off guard again. Next time someone comes after me, I'll take care of it. You won't have to lift a finger."
Henry smirked. "Glad to hear it. But don't forget you're still my housekeeper. Just don't train so hard the laundry piles up."
Polaris laughed softly. "I'll manage."
That small exchange lifted the last of her anxiety. Henry's words, though blunt, were never cruel. He wasn't mocking her weakness—he was pushing her to be more. To grow.
She appreciated that.
"Master Henry," she said, her voice softer now. "I know you only said that to help me. Thank you… for standing up for me in front of Professor Xavier. That meant more than I can say."
Henry waved it off. "It's nothing."
She paused again. "If you don't have anything else for me, I'd like to begin practicing my abilities now."
Henry nodded. "Go ahead."
Without another word, Polaris turned and marched to her room. A few seconds later, the door closed behind her.
Inside, she immediately began training.
"I'll get stronger," she whispered under her breath. "Just wait and see. No one's going to push me around ever again."
She repeated the phrase like a mantra as she focused her power, guiding the magnetic fields in the room with increasing precision.
Back in the living room, Henry caught her words easily. His hearing had sharpened noticeably after weeks of soul training. Little perks of magical evolution, he supposed.
He smiled faintly.
Having someone around, someone who trained alongside him—even if only in spirit—wasn't so bad in this strange world.
He stood up, ready to head to his study and continue his soul refinement rituals. But before he could move, the doorbell rang.
He turned instinctively—but before he could even take a step, the door creaked open on its own. A faint surge of magnetic energy rippled through the room.
Polaris.
She had opened the door remotely using her powers.
Henry blinked. In all the time she'd stayed with him, she had never once done that. It almost made him forget she had the ability.
"Huh," he muttered, raising an eyebrow. "That's actually a pretty handy skill."
Before he could reflect further, a familiar voice echoed from the hallway.
"That's weird… why is nobody answering the door?"
It was unmistakable.
"Stark," Henry said with a sigh, just as Tony Stark casually strolled into the apartment.
Tony paused upon seeing the open door. His confusion faded as he spotted Henry lounging on the sofa.
A grin spread across his face. "Ohhh—my mystical friend! There you are! Where the hell have you been for the past month?!"
"Traveling," Henry answered nonchalantly.
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Traveling? Where to?"
Henry thought for a moment. "The universe."
Tony blinked. "…Excuse me?"
"The universe," Henry repeated calmly.
Tony threw his hands in the air. "Of course. Why not? You know, most people mean Hawaii or Europe when they say they're traveling. But sure—leave the planet. Mage problems."
Henry smirked.
Tony shrugged and plopped down on the couch beside him. "Anyway, I didn't come here to argue about your intergalactic vacation. I came for a drink and a chat. Where's your super-talented housekeeper? She's usually hovering nearby."
"In her room," Henry said.
Tony nodded, then called out loudly, "Miss Lorna, could you bring me a drink?"
A moment later, a green, shimmering aurora-like glow slid out from beneath the door and shot across the living room.
Tony sat up straight, eyes wide.
"What the hell is that?!"
He watched as the glowing green light floated to the kitchen, opened the fridge, grabbed a can of Coke, and gently placed it on the table in front of him.
Tony stared.
"...Huh?"
His jaw dropped.
"L-Living ghost? Haunted Coke? What sorcery is this?!"
Henry chuckled. "Relax. That's not me. That's Lorna."
Tony blinked. "Wait—what?!"
"She's a mutant. She can manipulate magnetic fields and metal. That was just her showing off while training."
Tony leaned back, speechless for a moment.
"So let me get this straight," he said slowly. "You went on vacation to space, you came back, and your housekeeper now moves soda cans with telekinesis?"
"Magnetism," Henry corrected.
Tony ran a hand through his hair. "Unreal. And here I thought I had all the luck."
Henry grinned. "Jealous?"
Tony crossed his arms. "A little. Okay, a lot."
He glanced toward the door Polaris had disappeared behind, then turned back to Henry. "You know… next time you find a beautiful, loyal, and superpowered assistant, could you maybe send one my way too?"
Henry raised an eyebrow. "What would Pepper think?"
Tony winced. "Okay, fair point. Let's call it a hypothetical."
Henry just laughed.
It was strange, he thought, how the absurd could so easily become normal. A mutant housekeeper, magical Coke delivery, and casual visits from billionaire superheroes—just another day in the life of a mage.
And somehow, that life didn't feel so lonely anymore.