Sebastian had come to the Avengers headquarters to retrieve the second-generation wand-making device stored there. Upgraded through his and Tony's collaboration, the device now operated like an assembly line, capable of producing over a hundred wands in a single day, provided sufficient materials were available.
These wands, however, were basic models, lacking any special enhancements and crafted from ordinary spirit-infused wood—standardized wands. For a wand perfectly suited to its user's needs, manual craftsmanship remained ideal. While the machine followed the wood's spiritual grain, a skilled mage could imbue a wand with far greater precision.
Sebastian's magical system required wands for amplification and learning, a hallmark of his teachings. Like textbooks, wands were essential, one per student.
With a wave of his hand, casting Accio, Sebastian summoned the second-generation wand-making device, stowing it for transport. As he prepared to leave, he received a message from Wanda.
[Sebastian, I heard you're back. We're heading there now.]
Reading the message, Sebastian's fingers tapped a reply, informing Wanda he'd wait for her. He left the laboratory and entered a public lounge, ordering a lemon soda water. Sitting by the floor-to-ceiling windows, he gazed at the azure sky, lost in thought.
Natasha joined him, holding a drink, and sat opposite. "Sebastian, how's it going with Wanda lately?"
"Pretty good," he replied. "But we're both busy, so we don't get much time together."
"That's just how our work is," Natasha said.
"Natasha, how are Wanda and Pietro doing here? Are they adjusting? Whenever I ask Wanda, she says she's fine, but I'm not sure if that's true."
Natasha sipped her drink before answering. "Honestly, Wanda and Pietro are doing alright. Training can be tough, but everyone's friendly, and their day-to-day life is mostly smooth. The issue is recent online leaks about their past work with Ultron and the Shadow Council. The information appeared out of nowhere—we couldn't trace its source. It's put them under a lot of pressure. We've shielded them from real-world backlash, but you know we can't block every comment online. They're definitely aware of it."
Frowning slightly, Sebastian asked, "So, is someone targeting Wanda and Pietro specifically, or using them to attack the Avengers?"
"I think it's the latter," Natasha replied. "Shortly after their info surfaced, details about Banner and the New York battle at the old Avengers Tower popped up online too. People are starting to boycott Banner, Wanda, Pietro, and even Vision, claiming he could become another Ultron. Some extremists are saying there'd be no super-criminals or Shadow Council without the Avengers. Whoever's behind this is hitting hard with public opinion."
Taking a sip of his lemon soda, Sebastian said, "If it were a magical issue, I could try something, but this isn't my expertise. Still, the Avengers weren't formed for public praise. It doesn't matter what they think—as long as we know we're doing right by them."
Natasha smiled warmly. "You've got a good perspective."
They sipped their drinks, and soon a Quinjet landed on the nearby tarmac. Tony and War Machine touched down, followed by Steve and others exiting the jet. A silver blur flashed by—Pietro, carrying Wanda, appeared beside Sebastian. Wanda greeted Natasha, then sat next to Sebastian, looping her arm through his.
"Sebastian, when did you get here?" she asked.
"Just arrived," he replied. "I grabbed some equipment to take back to the magic school."
"Speaking of the school, how's the construction going?" Wanda inquired.
"It's coming along well," Sebastian said. "The initial phase is done. Now we need qualified teachers and students. Teachers are being trained, and students are being scouted. Once both are ready, classes can start."
Before he could continue, Fury's distinctive, rhythmic voice cut in. "Sebastian, what's your criteria for selecting students? If possible, could you pick some from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s training camp?"
Fury took a seat beside Natasha, facing Sebastian directly.
Looking at Fury, Sebastian replied, "Train mages for you? It's not out of the question, but that depends on the five hundred scouts I've sent out. If they deem candidates suitable, whether from S.H.I.E.L.D. or the Avengers, I'll accept them for training."
"And if they're from HYDRA or other groups?" Fury pressed.
Sebastian didn't answer directly. "My school's selection criteria are: first, ages twelve to eighteen; second, independent and willing to learn magic; third, no malice or ulterior motives toward the school. Meet those, and they're in."
Everyone caught Sebastian's evasion, but he and Fury continued as if nothing had been sidestepped, chatting casually.
"Twelve to eighteen is a wide range," Fury said. "Can you really teach magic effectively across that span? And who are these 'scouts' choosing students? What's their standard?"
Sebastian was about to explain when he sensed something. Turning to the sky, he spotted a tiny black dot rapidly approaching.
Smiling, he said, "Well, this is unexpected. I didn't think we'd find a suitable candidate here. Fury, you'll see what my scouts are soon enough."
As he spoke, everyone followed his gaze. A raven flew toward them, seemingly about to crash into the glass. At the last moment, its body phased, passing through like black smoke and shadow, entering the lounge.
The raven circled the room twice, locking onto its target. It swooped down, landing before a teenage girl sitting in the corner with a tray of food. Staring at her, the raven opened its beak and spoke!
"Vina Cantro, you possess the hidden power to wield magic. Welcome to Hogwarts!"
A gentle feminine voice emanated from the raven's beak. A wisp of black smoke poured from its mouth, swiftly coiling around the wrist of the girl named Vina Cantro, forming a small raven mark that faded into her skin.
Its task complete, the raven took flight, circling Sebastian once before swiftly departing.
Observing the raven's actions, Fury signaled for agents to escort Vina Cantro, a sixteen-year-old S.H.I.E.L.D. academy intern, for a medical check. Turning to Sebastian, he asked, "So, you've one-sidedly decided she's joined your magic school?"
"Not quite," Sebastian replied. "That's just a mark of eligibility. A month before the school opens, I and other teachers will personally visit the qualified candidates to confirm their interest. If they agree, we'll provide the school's location, and someone will guide them there."
As Sebastian spoke, Wanda and Natasha exchanged a glance, then stood and left the lounge.
"So, this… Miss Vina already has that eligibility?" Fury pressed.
Sebastian nodded. "Yes, she's qualified. But, Fury, if you're planning to assign her any missions, I'd advise caution. At the school, we'll assess students' aptitudes to determine their magical specialties and tailor their curriculum. We'll also screen for malice or ulterior motives toward the school. If someone has other intentions but poses no significant threat, there'll be no issue. However, if they harbor harmful intent, their memories will be erased, and they'll be returned to their original lives. So, if you're thinking of giving her tasks, proceed carefully—or don't blame me if she's sent back."
"That's quite a potent threat," Fury remarked.
"It's not a threat," Sebastian corrected. "It's a warning."
Fury shook his head with a wry smile, thanking a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who brought two plates of fruit. Popping a cherry into his mouth, he addressed Sebastian again. "Sebastian, what's the true purpose behind your magic school?"
Sebastian met his gaze. "Fury, even if I told you, you wouldn't fully understand. In a sense, my goal in teaching magic transcends Earth. It's tied to the world of magic itself. Does that make sense? I can assure you, my purpose won't harm innocent people or Earth. Beyond that, I can't make promises. Also, I'll be stepping back from Avengers missions to focus on the school. If you need me, have Tony contact me—he knows how to reach me."
Fury was dissatisfied with the vagueness of Sebastian's response, feeling it revealed little. Yet, he couldn't force more out of him. Even now, Fury didn't view Sebastian as an enemy—just his spymaster instincts kept him wary.
Their conversation paused as Tony and Steve, having finished debriefing, joined them. Thor was absent, having left Earth to wander the Nine Realms after his breakup with Jane Foster. Banner was also gone, likely due to the chaos he'd caused in New York, retreating to a remote location known only to a few.
The Avengers had suffered significant strain from the Shadow Council's attack.
With Tony and Steve's arrival, Fury dropped the earlier topic. The group chatted casually, planning to grab lunch together when Fury received an urgent call from Coulson.
Fury answered immediately, his expression grave as he addressed Coulson, whose face bore visible scars. "Coulson, what happened to warrant an emergency call?"
"Director, we were attacked by superhumans," Coulson reported. "There were many of them, organized. I don't know where they came from. Most critically, Skye—the agent who gained powers after touching the Obelisk and breaking free from petrification—was taken. It seems she was their target."
"Skye… the superhuman with a Level Seven clearance?" Fury clarified.
"Yes, that's her," Coulson confirmed. "Her abilities are extraordinarily powerful, on par with the Avengers. If those people exploit her, it could be catastrophic. Skye's powers could easily trigger a massive earthquake, causing devastating disasters."
"Understood," Fury said. "I'll deploy the Avengers to locate Skye. Send any intel or leads you have for reference."
"Will do," Coulson replied.
Ending the call, Fury turned to Tony. "Stark, you heard that? We've got an urgent situation. A large group of organized superhumans attacked Coulson's team and kidnapped one of his superhuman agents, a woman named Skye. Her abilities are dangerous—if misused, they could cause a major disaster. We need to find her, bring her back, and, if possible, dismantle that organization."
"Sounds like a hassle," Tony sighed. "Fine, I've got nothing else going on. I'll help." He glanced at Sebastian. "Sebastian, can you divine their location? That should be easy for you, right?"
"I can try," Sebastian began, but his expression shifted suddenly.
What a coincidence—trouble here, and now a distress signal elsewhere?
If it wasn't a coincidence, it suggested the same mastermind—or at least allied forces—behind both incidents. If true, that spelled serious trouble.