The energy contained within the multiverse was far more potent than anything on Earth. That's why most mages, after reaching a certain level of mastery, would begin multiversal travel—not just with their bodies, but with their souls.
In the vast structure of the Marvel universe, reality could be divided into several tiers: the single universe, multiverse, superuniverse, and the omnipotent universe. The majority of Kamar-Taj's mages barely scratched the surface of single-universe teleportation—moving from point A to point B on Earth or within the same timeline. Only a handful of elite sorcerers could even begin to navigate the true multiverse.
But Henry wasn't just navigating it—he was trying to master it.
Specifically, he was training his soul to travel through the multiverse.
To date, only one other person at Kamar-Taj had managed to achieve that: the Ancient One. Soul travel was far more delicate than physical travel. A body could be reinforced with spells, armor, enchantments. A soul? It was pure, vulnerable, and easily shattered by the chaotic forces of multiversal energy.
Still, Henry pressed forward.
The first time he projected his soul into the multiverse, he barely lasted a day. The pressure was unbearable. He felt as if a thousand invisible forces were tearing at him—stretching his existence from his crown to his toes. Each cell screamed in agony. He had no choice but to withdraw and return to his body.
But Henry was nothing if not determined.
He rested. Meditated. Then tried again.
And again.
And again.
Twenty times. He failed twenty times, each one pushing him closer to the brink. But on the twenty-first, something changed. His soul adapted. Stabilized. He no longer needed to resist the energy—he learned how to flow with it.
From there, Henry began venturing deeper into the multiverse.
Time passed differently there. Slower in some pockets, faster in others. He had no way of knowing how long he'd been gone from Earth—until a sound from the villa below snapped him back to the present.
There was shouting.
Female. Emotional.
It was Polaris.
Henry blinked, snapping back to his physical senses. His meditation faded, and he rose, stretching his stiff limbs. The multiverse training had exhausted him, but it was time to check on reality.
As he descended to the second floor, he spotted Polaris standing at the front door, clearly flustered. Her voice was raised. Her powers, tied to her emotions, were already reacting. Metal objects around the house trembled—knobs, curtain rods, even the chandelier was vibrating.
"Lorna!" Henry called out sharply. "What's going on?!"
Instant silence.
Polaris whipped around, relief washing over her face. "Master Henry! You're finally out!"
Henry raised an eyebrow. "Out? What do you mean finally?"
She hurried over. "You've been locked in that room for a whole month!"
"A month?!" Henry blinked. "No way."
Polaris pointed to the nearby wall clock. "Check your phone."
He did. And sure enough—an entire month had passed.
The multiverse really did twist time. While it felt like days to Henry, four weeks had come and gone on Earth.
"You mean... you've been here the whole time?" he asked.
Polaris nodded, a bit of exhaustion creeping into her voice. "I've been guarding the house for a month. I didn't dare leave, in case you came out and needed something. I was starting to think you turned into a statue."
Henry scratched the back of his head. "I... didn't realize time passed so fast."
Polaris let out a long sigh. "Next time, leave a note or something. At least let me know if you're going to 'go on a soul adventure.' I could've taken a break."
"Right. That's fair." Henry paused, then asked, "So... has anyone been by?"
"Yes, actually," she replied. "Mr. Stark dropped by twice. Natasha Romanoff came once, and even that egghead with the eyepatch—Nick Fury—came sniffing around. But I told them you were busy and couldn't be disturbed."
Henry nodded with approval. "Smart. Thank you. I really couldn't afford interruptions during my training."
"I learned my lesson," Polaris muttered, clearly recalling the last time she barged into his study and accidentally got turned into a ten-year-old.
But just as Henry was about to ask what all the shouting had been about, something odd struck him.
"Lorna... who were you yelling at just now?"
Polaris tensed. Her body subtly shifted to block the door, a nervous smile forming. "Oh, that? No one. Just... someone asking for directions."
"Really?" Henry gave her a skeptical look.
Before she could reply, a calm, steady voice called from just outside the door.
"Hello. My name is Charles. You can also call me Professor X. I'd like to come in and speak with you—if that's alright."
Henry raised an eyebrow.
So it's finally happening.
He had known from the moment he took in Polaris that it was only a matter of time before the mutants came knocking. After all, Lorna Dane wasn't just any mutant. She was powerful, and her disappearance hadn't gone unnoticed.
"Let him in," Henry said casually.
Polaris looked shocked. "Master Henry, I can handle this—"
He smiled wryly. "If you could really handle this, you wouldn't have been mistaken for a thief the first day we met."
Polaris pouted but stepped aside.
The door opened fully—and in rolled the unmistakable figure of Professor Charles Xavier, seated in his iconic wheelchair, head glinting under the hallway light.
Another bald guy, Henry thought to himself, amused. First the Ancient One, now Professor X... what is it with powerful people and baldness?
"Come in," Henry said, stepping back and gesturing to the living room. "Let's talk."
Professor X entered smoothly, flanked by a few others.
Henry's eyes flicked over the group. He didn't recognize all of them immediately—but one face stood out: Jean Grey. Her eyes met his for a brief moment, and there was something unspoken between them—an awareness of power.
Henry led the group into the spacious living room and took a seat on the couch. Professor X stopped his wheelchair nearby.
"I appreciate you seeing me," Charles began, his tone warm and diplomatic. "I understand from Lorna that you've taken good care of her."
"She needed help," Henry replied simply. "I had the space, and the means. That was enough."
Professor X nodded thoughtfully. "Still, not many would go out of their way for someone the government labels a fugitive."
Henry shrugged. "Not many people turn into ten-year-olds from walking into the wrong room either, but we all make choices."
That got a chuckle from Jean Grey.
Charles, however, leaned forward, folding his hands over his lap.
"I came here today for several reasons," he said. "First, to express my gratitude. Second, to offer Lorna a place back at the academy. And third..." He looked Henry directly in the eyes. "To learn more about you."
Henry didn't flinch. "Me?"
Charles nodded. "You've been making waves. The news calls you the 'Soul Mage.' The magical community knows you as the one who holds the Time Stone. I've seen few mages rise this quickly, and none with your... versatility."
Jean added softly, "When I reached out with my mind earlier, there was a wall. No, not a wall—more like an entire dimension between us."
"I like my privacy," Henry said with a polite smile.
"I understand," Charles replied. "But the truth is, your presence is affecting more than the magical world. The mutant community has questions. Some fear you. Some want to recruit you. I wanted to meet you personally before any of them did."
Henry folded his arms. "I'm not interested in being recruited."
"This isn't about allegiance," Charles said calmly. "It's about understanding."
There was a long pause.
Then Henry asked, "So what do you want to understand?"
Charles smiled gently. "Why you help people."
Henry blinked. Of all the questions he expected, that wasn't one of them.
"I'm not sure," he admitted. "Maybe because I can. Maybe because I should."
"That's reason enough," Professor X said.
He let the moment hang there before continuing.
"My offer to Lorna still stands. She can return with us—if she chooses."
Henry looked at Polaris, who looked torn.
"I'll think about it," she said quietly.
Charles nodded. "That's all I ask."
With that, he turned to Henry again. "And for what it's worth... I'm glad you're here."
Henry smiled faintly. "So am I."
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