Marvel: A Tale of Shadows

A few days passed since Felicia's interview with Jean Grey. They spent the days training together with Black Fox. Then Ethan would go and learn magic with Frigga and Loki every few days. Today happened to be one of those days.

As Ethan was learning the basics of magic from them, Felicia was training with Black Fox and Silver. "That is all for today's training. I can not believe that Ethan was seriously sought out by one of those gods with awful personalities. What was the reason again?"

"I believe it was because he had become an apostle of something. He said it hurts his head so he sums it up to just an apostle of a spider goddess that doesn't exist in any existing pantheon." Felicia explained as she took a drink of her water.

"Hmm… Well, tomorrow marks the last day of Silver's training. He will be here right?" Black Fox asked while glancing at Silver Sable who was taking a chug of water.

"Yup. Are we going out to drink to celebrate afterwards, Silver?" Felicia asked.

"Yeah, going to Gada's Pub & Restaurant. Then I fly back to Sokovia the next day. As much fun as it is to be around you two I have an objective to achieve."

Felicia nods in understanding, "I know, just make sure you call whenever you are in town." Then as she was packing her bag her phone rang. Looking at the caller ID she did not recognize the number. "Hmm… I think I might have to take this."

Answering the call, "this is Felicia, who might this be?"

"Hello Felicia, this is Jean Grey with the Xavier Institute. If you are still open to it we would be ecstatic to have you tutor here on the weekends." Jean stated over the call.

Felicia's face lit up in excitement, "yes I am still available. I assume you would like me to start when the new semester comes around? What subjects will I be helping in?"

"Fantastic," Felicia could hear the rustle of paper, "yes, your official internship will start mid-August, tutoring for math and chemistry. But if it is possible we would like you to come and get familiar with school grounds, will that be possible?"

"Umm… yes it will be. I just need to know a day at least three days in advance," Felicia looked over to Black Fox who nodded in response.

"Okay… then how about the last saturday of this month. We will be going to a chess tournament our students will be participating in, then afterwards we will head back to the institute and show you around."

"That works for me, I suppose I will see you then?" Felicia asked.

"Yes, I will be there. Have a good day!" Then she hung up. Felicia put her phone away

"I got the internship!" Felicia smiled a bright smile.

—------------------------------------

Jean Grey stretched at her desk as she relaxed. She looked back over the various applications they had received. After Felicia Hardy there were at least twenty others that applied to positions that were open to outsiders.

Of those twenty others, the majority were a headache because they were either associated with secret organizations, like Shield, or several anti-mutant factions, like Friends of Humanity. Aside from Felicia there were only three others that weren't likely someone that would be bad for the school.

She looked over at the four names again, "an English Professor who is teaching weekend classes at ESU, Archer Pivesworthy. The Astrology Professor who plans to tutor weekends here for science and space sciences, Ginny Tes. The Psychologist who is an aunt of Kitty's, she plans to teach logic and social understanding, Melissa Pryde. Then there is the strangest of them all, Felicia Hardy. Never taught anything, or tutored. But is open to the idea of a path in teaching and enthusiastic in trying." Jean looked up at Ororo, "are you sure?"

Ororo only shrugged while looking at a file that was in her hand, "might as well see how she behaves. But the background check came in on her." She flipped through a few pages, "plenty of youthful mistakes, but she never openly displayed any anti-mutant behavior." She flipped through a number of pages before she stopped and raised an eyebrow. "Looks like she was staying at a sorority house until she suddenly moved when in her roommate's words, 'they tried to pull a harmless prank'." Ororo started shaking her head, "the whole police report is here. Did you say the boyfriend made the anti-telepath earring?"

Jean nodded while frowning, "yes, why do you ask?"

"Because when she moved here she became almost inseparable from her new boyfriend who seems to be incredibly mysterious." Ororro explained while tossing the folder onto the desk, "so how does it feel so far to handle all of this stuff?"

Jean sighed, "annoying, but then again I brought this on myself by deciding to do more outreach stuff." She sighed, "at least this has made the breakup easier." Jean heard a chuckle come from Ororo and saw her hiding a smile.

"Sweety, Scott was never good for you. Especially with that obsessive and defective personality of his. Not to mention, lately he has been displaying more and more anti-human behavior. It is honestly becoming a problem." Ororo explained to Jean, who only gave a sad smile.

"That is true, I suppose I will have to focus on work instead for the time being. How are your's and Logan's search for the hidden mutant testing facility going?" Jean wanted something to distract herself from her latest problems.

Which included a host of problems that were coming from the outside to stop her various outreach programs. Luckily, people like Ororo were making it easier. But it did not stop groups like Friends of Humanity and their puppet leader wherever he or she resides, from making conspiracy theories about every action Jean makes. Whether it is carrying out a joint initiative with Stark or participating in public tournaments with other schools.

There was also Scott Summers, also known as Cyclops. Her fellow teammate and former lover. His behavior lately has become more and more erratic until the point that he no longer cared about innocent humans when they went on missions. Luckily they have had no issues. But the very fact that it was happening was a problem unto itself.

Then there is what Logan and Ororo are dealing with at the moment. They were working with the FBI to find a secret facility that has been actively kidnapping mutants and human children for experimentation. They have so far kidnapped over a thousand children within the last few years. The amount was both staggering and embarrassing to the federal bureau, since it was Jean who noticed the pattern before they did. It was her discovery but she had to shovel it off to Ororo and Logan to deal with because she was busy with the initiatives.

"Hard to locate, we have no clue how they are losing us. Even Logan with his notoriously sharp nose is having difficulty with tracking any noticeable trail. We think they know we are onto them. Sorry but I think it will be awhile before we track them down using the Federal Bureau's methods. They seem so… outdated." Ororo explained with a sigh.

Jean only shook her head. One of the reasons they were taking so long was because the FBI wouldn't let her nor Charles search their minds for information. You would almost think they have something to hide. She already approached Ms. Potts about it and was waiting on a response.

"Ha… just keep going. Keep your head on a swivel, I suspect nothing is as simple as it seems." Jean rubbed her temples with the oncoming headache. Every time she goes into the city she gets an overload of information coming from others. It always gives her headaches that last at least an entire day. Each time she senses the various emotions, which is why she avoids the particularly nasty parts of New York. Where suffering, anger, and hate are more prevalent.

"Yeah, these guys seem way too organized to be gangsters and way too uncaring to be those Friends of Humanity guys." Ororo agreed completely, even Logan was getting some sense of nostalgia from them. Maybe she should look into the latest happenings of the underworld.

Jean sighed and drummed her fingers on the table, receiving a raised eyebrow from Ororo in response. "Okay, I decided. We should have a summer camping trip later in the summer to help us relax. What do you think?"

Ororo just looked at Jean like she was a mad woman. Did she want to die buried under paperwork?

—--------------------------------------

"With that we should be done for the day. Any questions? I know you can't practice magic yourself. But I suppose knowing the basics yourself can be useful. Especially with how you seem to absorb all the knowledge I teach you." Frigga really was amazed with Ethan's capacity for learning and understanding anything she presented to him. He still got a bit confused when she started talking about the various races but it did not stop him for long.

"I must say this again, Ethan. You really do amaze with how you can keep up with my mother's teachings." Loki honestly stated. At the start when he started learning about the Weaver he was more awed by Ethan's ability to keep up. Mainly because even he had a hard time keeping up with his mother's teaching, usually having to ask her to repeat something once or twice.

Loki came down to Midgard in search of information. But during the lessons, he and Ethan became fast friends. It turns out Ethan was more in line with Loki's concept of training one's mind for strength. The only difference being he took it a step further and trained his body as well.

Ethan sighed as he leaned back on the couch and scratched his head. "You two are giving me too much credit. It is mostly due to my eidetic memory that I can remember almost anything." He stretched then started storing away his notes.

"Hmm… a human mutation unrelated to the body but rather with the mind. I wonder if it can be trained." Frigga seemed lost in thought, then she snapped out of it. "Anyways… our last lesson is this next Friday then we are done. It will also be the one where you get more practical magic lessons and I will teach you about rune magic."

Ethan nodded, "then I look forward to it. If you don't mind, Felicia and I would like you two to come over for dinner afterwards."

"Gladly, one of the most delightful things we have experienced since coming here is the various food dishes. I am excited to see what you two come up with." Frigga really did have a genuine grin on her face.

Ethan chuckled as he walked out, "see ya!"

After he left Frigga turned to Loki, "glad you made a new friend but make sure you don't go down the same path Thor has. Don't dedicate all of your time to the wrong world." The look on her face told him all he needed to know.

But Loki only chuckled in response, "I am no fool mother, Asgard is my home and its safety is my priority. I am just trying to find a way to get that idiot brother of mine to focus on Asgard."

Frigga raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Glad to see one of my sons acting in a productive fashion. I think I have seen at least three different reports of your brother participating in battles against 'supervillains' within the time we were here. Which means he is neglecting his duties as the crown prince of Asgard." Frigga shook her head in shame at the thought that her naturally born son was wasting his talent while her adopted son was too busy trying to help Asgard to focus on his own goals and social life.

She was about to say more when she felt a gaze loom over her. Fortunately it was one she recognized. "Heimdall, for what reason has your gaze descended on me?" Loki, who was about to speak, promptly shut his mouth. His mother might be okay with him badmouthing Thor, but Heimdall was overly fond of Thor and along with Odin who had always spoiled him.

"Your son, Thor, is looking for you. He wants your advice on something." Heimdall's voice was monotone, but Frigga could sense the unease.

"The Midgard woman again? Tell him I am busy and will continue to be busy until the end of the week. If he wants advice, ask his father." Frigga was about to continue her conversation when she thought of something, "also Heimdall, unless Asgard has come under attack do not bother me with such trivial matters."

"Yes, your highness!"

After she felt Heimdall's gaze leave her she looked back at Loki and continued the conversation.