Marvel: Death Knight

"What's the matter?" Erik turned around, eyeing the young man trailing behind him.

"Well…" Pietro hesitated before blurting out, "Actually, you're my father…"

The words felt awkward even to Pietro himself. How would anyone feel if a stranger suddenly declared they were your child? Erik's expression shifted to one of astonishment.

"What did you just say?"

"I said you're my father," Pietro mustered his courage. "Before I was born, you disappeared. But my mother recognized you on television. That's why I'm here—to find you."

Erik's mind raced back to his first wife, Magda. In a fit of rage, he had killed the attackers who assaulted his family and wreaked havoc on part of the city. Terrified, Magda had left him, and their paths had diverged ever since.

The thought that she had borne him a son filled Erik with a mixture of joy and complexity.

"I need to speak with Charles about something," Erik said after a moment. "I'll come back to you later."

"Wait!" Pietro called out. "I'm about to leave this world… I mean this universe. Will you come with me?"

Pietro's gaze was filled with anticipation. Regardless of whether he was the Pietro of this world or another, neither had grown up with their father.

Pietro explained his origins from another universe. If Erik hadn't witnessed recent extraordinary events, he might not have believed him.

"I'll think about it," Erik said cautiously. "What about your mother? Would she agree?"

"She will." Pietro's certainty was resolute. "In the other universe, we've even established a school for mutants. I hope you'll come and teach there."

Erik didn't respond immediately, but Pietro felt confident his father would eventually agree.

Garus approached Pietro. "What did you tell him?"

"I told him he's my father," Pietro replied.

"You're not planning to stay in this world, are you?" Garus's expression turned serious. He knew Pietro now carried memories from two lives. If Pietro refused to return, things could become problematic. Wanda's wrath was not something anyone wanted to face.

"No, I'm going back. But I'd like to bring my mother and Erik with me. I've already invited Erik to teach at our mutant academy. Is that okay?"

"That's perfectly fine," Garus said with a nod. Inviting Magneto to join their academy had been one of his aspirations. Magneto's strength would be a tremendous asset.

Raven approached and suggested, "Why don't you all stay at the X-Mansion for the night?"

"Thank you," Garus replied graciously. He still had to resolve matters concerning Logan and wait for Pietro to convince Erik.

Logan stood near the mansion, staring into the distance, his mind flickering with fragmented memories.

"Logan," Garus said, "I'm leaving tomorrow. Do you want to come with me?"

Garus wasn't sure if he could fully restore Logan's memories or convince him to leave.

"Let me think about it," Logan said, his tone pensive. "If I leave, can I ever come back?"

"Maybe," Garus admitted. "The rift between these two universes might heal over time. Even opening the portal takes an immense amount of energy."

Charles and Erik stood outside the X-Mansion's training room, watching the X-Men prepare for their session.

"The nations of the world are rebuilding their arsenals again," Charles remarked.

"It's human nature, Charles," Erik replied calmly. "People always fear what they don't understand—fear mutants, fear anyone stronger than themselves."

Charles sighed but remained hopeful. "I still believe in them."

"Of course you do," Erik said with a faint smile. "But have you ever woken in terror, wondering if they might come for you and your students one day?"

Charles' expression hardened. "If they come looking for trouble, I'll make sure they regret it."

Reassured, Erik nodded. "I'm leaving."

"You're always welcome here," Charles offered warmly.

"No," Erik said. "I mean, I'm leaving this universe."

Charles immediately understood. "You're going with Garus, aren't you?"

Erik's face softened. "I once had a wife. Pietro is our son. I owe them too much."

"I see," Charles said, his tone tinged with sadness but full of respect for Erik's decision.

To open the interdimensional portal, they returned to the temple in the mountains where the journey had begun. Ignoring the curious stares of monks and tourists, Garus raised his sword, dark energy swirling around it. A chilling breeze swept through the onlookers, sending shivers down their spines.

"Mutants!" someone cried, and the crowd scattered in fear. Memories of recent disasters were still fresh in their minds.

The death energy surged toward the rift within the temple, battering against the fabric of reality.

"What are you doing?" the head monk demanded, stepping forward to confront them. But Logan extended his adamantium claws, the glinting blades silencing any objections. The monk gulped and retreated.

The effort drained Garus, leaving him visibly weakened, but a black portal finally materialized before them.

"Go! Quickly!" Garus urged as he struggled to keep the portal open.

One by one, they passed through. When they emerged, Garus collapsed, utterly spent from the immense energy required to sustain the passage.

Bobby, Erik, and Magda gazed at the sprawling city before them in awe.

"Where are we? It feels so deserted," Magda asked.

"This is our mutant academy," Pietro said proudly. "The floating city* of Naxxramas."

Magda hesitated, then asked quietly, "You said you have a sister here. Will she accept me?"

"She will," Pietro assured her confidently.

After showing them to their quarters, Pietro left to explore. Garus wandered the city streets alone, a growing unease gnawing at him. The silence was unnerving. Something felt off.

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