Marvel's New Magneto

Though the conversation had not been pleasant, Erik had quickly made progress, aided by his advantage in power and his knowledge of the future. In the following two days, he managed the affairs of the vampires and werewolves, and visited an elderly elder from whom he obtained what he had been seeking.

At Dock 17, Erik, escorted by a group of unfriendly soldiers, left the warship, with Selene trailing behind like an attendant. She no longer seemed as distant as she had a few days ago, when she had kept others at arm's length.

"I can't believe Alexander has been right under our noses all this time, building a power to protect us from humans' detection, and then his blood... It's incredible," Selene said, still in awe after their visit to the common ancestor of the vampires and werewolves. Having resolved the vampires' inherent limitations, she couldn't help but feel excited as the warm sunlight bathed her skin.

"You shouldn't underestimate a father's love for his children. He has protected you for centuries, and will continue to do so. Of course, now he can relax a bit. Marcus, who loves trouble, is still alive but has been greatly weakened. Though Victor is dead, Amelia is still around. There's Michael with the werewolves—though immature, a new balance has been established, and with Alexander's help, the transition should be smooth." Erik answered calmly, his demeanor resembling that of a seasoned diplomat.

"How did you convince him? Did you use silver nitrate bullets like you did with Lucian, or control his gun with your abilities?" Selene teased. The weight of centuries-old family hatred was finally avenged, and the werewolf problem resolved. While she felt a sense of relief, there was also a vague emptiness. Her behavior had been off recently, as she found herself constantly clashing with Erik, the one who had disrupted her life.

Erik, understanding her state of mind, wasn't bothered. He responded casually, giving a few half-hearted replies.

"So how do you know about me? Aren't you from another world?"

Selina wasn't easily sidetracked, pressing him with more questions.

"Parallel space. You must have heard of it. I've met several Selenes across different periods. In some worlds, we had no connection, in others we were enemies, and sometimes we even cooperated, though it was rare for things to be as peaceful as they are now. You're nothing like the Selina I know."

"What were the other Selenes like?"

"In other worlds, the vampire elders are all dead, Lucian and Alexander are finished, you ended up with Michael, you had a daughter, and both of you were captured by humans. Many years later, you escaped, and then I lost track of you."

"Michael, that ordinary man?" Selene exclaimed. Losing her usual composure, she now resembled a confused young girl, first surprised by her choice of partner and then horrified by how tragic her fate was.

"Not anymore," Erik answered. "Miss, why are you asking so many questions? Shouldn't you be training at home or hunting werewolves? Isn't it true that you hate me? Why are you always following me?"

"I don't regret killing Victor, but how am I supposed to face my own kind? I have nowhere to go." Selene said, overwhelmed with confusion. For centuries, she had seen Victor as a father figure, revered and adored him. Who would have thought that this father-like figure had killed her family and deceived her for centuries? With Victor's death, she lost her sense of purpose, and even her revenge target was gone. Everything she had stood for now seemed like a joke. Not accepted by the vampires, enemies with the werewolves, and unable to live as a regular human, Erik—the outsider who was neither vampire nor werewolf—had become her only lifeline.

"I'll eventually return to my world. What would you have me do with you?" Erik shrugged.

"Tell me about your world. How is it different from ours?" Selene changed the subject.

"It's the same Earth, but I live on the other side of the Atlantic. Humans are still the masters of the world, and mutants like me are discriminated against. There are vampires too, but they're the result of ancient civilization experiments, slightly stronger than yours, though you're more hidden."

"Sounds just like my world, maybe even worse," Selene said, raising an eyebrow and expressing her disdain.

Erik saw through her fragile exterior but said nothing.

"Yes, that's why I have to go back and play the role of Alexander in my world to protect my people. Lucian and Kline, those two cousins, will bring the werewolves and vampires to my world. They'll replace mutants and gradually become visible to humans. But that's not the key point. The real focus is that the non-human forces are growing stronger, and only by merging with humanity's mainstream can we as human descendants have a chance."

"Lucian is a calm person with a long-term vision. Now that there is new power, he'll become even more mature. He'll grow out of human sight, and by the time they discover him, the werewolves might have the strength to defend themselves."

"And Kline? No one is commanding him; he's useless," Selene dismissed her former suitor with disdain.

"I'll arrange a suitable place for him. He'll be treated like a VIP there." Erik smirked. He hadn't forgotten that it was Kline, seemingly useless, who had caused Lucian's failure in the original storyline.

This was a dog that could bite back at any time. To avoid being dragged down, Erik thought a cage would be a fitting place for him.

Selene's heart skipped a beat when she saw Erik's cold smile. She quickly tried to change the topic, but Erik had already made up his mind.

"I know what you're thinking, girl. I'm not going to refuse you, as long as you promise not to cause trouble. Though I don't trust you, because you're impulsive and crude. You're no lady. You should learn from your friend, Erica. She's a true woman."

"Then go find Erica," Selene retorted, trying to ease her discomfort. But when she saw Erik staring at her, she immediately turned her head away.

"You're crude, but I won't treat you like a man. In fact, I think it's part of your charm. It makes you different from others—just like your identity as a vampire. You stand out, and that's something to be proud of," Erik smiled.

"That sounds nice, but I don't believe it. I never thought I'd lose my master, my father, all in a single day. Who else is there for me to trust?" Selina sighed, her weakness only showing at that moment.

"Without a master and a father, you can't survive?" Erik asked. "If you want, I can be your father."

His words made Selene laugh. "I'm old enough to be your grandmother."

"It's not about age. It's about whether I am what you want." Erik said meaningfully, pointing to her heart. "Tell me, what do you wish for? Maybe I can fulfill it."

Wish… that word seemed foreign to Selene, so foreign that she almost forgot what her last wish was.

Was it revenge? What came before that?

She thought hard, only to realize with sadness that for centuries, she had been driven by commands and orders, never once doing anything for herself.

She was like a machine working day and night. When it stopped, it couldn't find its purpose anymore.

"What wish do I have? I'm just a vampire with no home..." Selene said bitterly.

Erik's gaze encouraged her. After a long pause, Selina, lost in memories, spoke dreamily:

"I want to dance in the Queen's palace... I remember my father used to call me his little princess. When I was small, I danced in the hall he designed and built. He would clap and cheer for me, as if I were the princess at a ball... Could you do that?"

"Why not?" Erik said, lifting her delicate body with ease, his arm wrapping around her waist.

Selina snapped out of her memories, about to struggle, but then she found herself floating off the ground.

"This... this is..." She panicked.

"We're going to the Queen's palace, to hold a ball for my princess," Erik said softly, smiling.

Selene gazed at him, stunned, as her heart was suddenly stirred. Without realizing it, Erik's image began to merge with someone she had long forgotten in her memories.

Above London, the airspace was restricted. From the eastern airport, it covered the entire city, with no flying vehicles to disturb the quiet sky. The sun was dazzling, the sky a clear blue. Erik carried Selene through the fluffy clouds, soaring above the shrinking streets and tiny buildings below, passing over the North Greenwich Arena by the Thames, gliding past the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge, before heading toward Buckingham Palace.

It was noon, and the Changing of the Guard ceremony was taking place. The new guards marched from Wellington Barracks, crossing the square in front of Buckingham Palace, where they would hand over duty to the old guards. Having lived in London for many years, Selene had seen this ceremony countless times. However, seeing it from the sky, as if she were a bird, was a completely new experience. She held Erik tightly, trying to get a better view.

Erik leisurely floated, passing over the State Rooms and into the royal residence. With his magnetic vision, he found a lively palace where he would hold a grand ball for Selene in front of the world.

As they descended to a low height, palace guards blew their whistles and hurried toward them. But before they could arrive, Erik gracefully landed in the palace.

"Your Majesty, my apologies for the unexpected visit," he said with a charming smile. "But surely, you wouldn't refuse a father who simply wants to borrow the palace for a moment to fulfill his daughter's wish?"

A grand ball was already taking place. At the center of the hall, surrounded by noblewomen, was an elderly woman frequently seen on television. Erik immediately recognized her. It was a coincidence, but a convenient one. With a confident yet casual demeanor, he greeted her with a respectful nod—polite, but not seeking permission.

Selene had encountered many powerful figures in the dark world and had even met human leaders alongside Viktor. But strolling into a royal palace so openly was beyond her imagination. Erik's complete disregard for convention left her mind spinning. She was so stunned that she didn't even question his use of "father" when referring to himself.

The queen's expression was one of curiosity, but she remained composed and dignified. Perhaps she had experienced unexpected intrusions before, as she handled the situation with remarkable poise. Rather than reacting with alarm, she simply raised her hand, signaling the guards to stay outside.

The soft strains of music continued. Erik extended his hand to Selene, and they began to dance.

His footwork was nothing extraordinary, but his confidence and steady presence made up for it. At first, Selene felt awkward—after centuries of war, she had long forgotten how to enjoy a dance, especially in front of so many important figures. But under Erik's guidance, she gradually relaxed. With the queen and the noblewomen watching, she let go of her worries, surrendering to the music. Her movements became fluid and natural, and for the first time in ages, she danced freely, unburdened.

As the song ended, tears of joy welled up in her eyes. It felt as if a heavy shadow had lifted from her heart.

"Confidence, grace, and elegance—this is the dance of nobility," the queen remarked, as she and the noblewomen applauded. Though Erik and Selene's technique was far from flawless, their natural presence and poise outshone even the most accomplished dancers.

"Thank you," Selene whispered. She dropped to one knee, gently taking Erik's hand. "My master."

Erik felt the soft press of her lips against his hand and smiled. Then, under the watchful eyes of the astonished nobles, the two of them vanished from the palace.

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