Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics Chapter 5739 - 4762: X Royal Family: Rebirth (Part 2)

Another morning dawned in Clarkia, the air thick with a damp mist. The quaint, fairytale-like houses appeared even more densely packed than before. Though the vines clinging to the stone steps had been cleared, a rustic charm still permeated the scene. Following a path carved through raspberry bushes, one would arrive beside a small waterfall, where a door, adorned with glowing lantern fruits, hung amidst the shimmering tree shadows. A few dozen steps further, the view expanded dramatically.

From the courtyard swing, Shiller stood up and embraced Charles. "You've arrived swiftly. How are the children?"

"Thank heavens, Wanda took them to the base in Battleworld. There are about fifty mothers there, each with extensive parenting experience. I'm just uncertain if Battleworld's walls are robust enough to prevent them from wandering off."

"They've been reinforced," Shiller replied with a smile. "Reed and Franklin haven't 'accidentally wandered in' for several days now, which indicates the reinforcement measures have been quite effective."

Shiller escorted them inside. Charles clicked his tongue in admiration, "This island is truly beautiful, far surpassing the other islands we've discovered before."

"You've also discovered this island?"

Charles shook his head. "Never one this exquisite. We have certainly found living islands previously, but they were shrouded in miasma, overrun by rampaging beasts. Transforming them would have necessitated leveling the entire place, so we abandoned the effort."

"It sounds like there are quite a number of living islands?"

"Indeed," Erik interjected. "To be precise, they are a collective species. What you ultimately encounter hinges on luck. Not all mutants are fortunate enough to discover such a beautiful one."

"After we return, we must conduct a thorough search," Charles declared, his gaze fixed on the towering trees, his envy palpable. "I have long detested the floating island in the interstellar capital of the Andromeda Galaxy. It would be wonderful if we could locate a beautiful living island on Earth and bring it over."

"'Illegally transferring Earth assets'—I must remind you, Charles," Erik cautioned, "the bill revised last month strictly prohibits anyone with spacefaring capabilities from taking anything from Earth upon departure. Forget living islands; you can't even take a blade of grass without facing public condemnation from the Councilman via star system broadcast."

"I detest that broadcast," Charles grimaced deeply. "It constantly blares in my ears, spewing nothing but useless drivel daily."

"If not for broadcasting nonsense, why would there be a need for a star system broadcast? What do you expect us to reveal to the entire system? State secrets?" Strange's figure materialized on the other side of the courtyard.

"I never imagined you believed your government possessed secrets," Charles scoffed. "Mutants likely know twelve hours in advance what you're planning for tomorrow."

"You genuinely believe my work is secret?" Strange feigned shock. "Then you ought to frequent the garbage dump near your residence more often; observing the garbage truck unloading its contents would be quite enlightening for you."

Shiller chuckled. Strange shot him a stern look. "Why are you laughing? You are the one truly leaking secrets."

"Forgive me, but the fact that your cloak possesses a will of its own is hardly a secret. I merely shared the recording of your shriek when your own cloak struck you with the work group, albeit unintentionally."

"Thank you kindly, Mr. Mutant!" Strange retorted irritably.

Charles looked at Shiller with curiosity. Shiller averted his gaze, hinting that he was concealing something. However, Charles did not press further, knowing they would all soon be together.

They reached their assigned residence, a row of cabins. Their suite was on the far left. Upon opening the door, they entered a spacious, oval hall, reminiscent of a cavern. The dining area was situated at the far end, with a sunken reception area nearer the entrance. In the center stood a massive fireplace, its chimney extending to the ceiling. Adjacent to the fireplace lay carpets, a coffee table, and plush beanbag sofas.

All the furniture was crafted from wood, even displaying marks of handcrafted carving. The prevailing tension did not diminish the mutants' appreciation for life; columns within the walls and at the corners of tables were intricately chiseled with Clarkian Totem patterns. The room overflowed with various plants, and even cascading vine flowers adorned the chimney.

"Absolutely magnificent," Charles marveled once more. "After being away from Earth for so long, I truly miss this verdant scenery. I should have relocated a few potted plants to the Andromeda Galaxy office before the law came into effect."

Even Erik gazed upwards at the ceiling for an extended period. It was adorned with murals, not realistic oil paintings, but rather childlike scribbles depicting a narrative. Small figures danced around a large tree, shared meals, constructed dwellings, and embellished windows.

While Erik delved into his studies, a ceiling branch swayed towards him. Erik’s brow twitched slightly; it seemed the living island's awareness was quite lively.

"So, what do we do now?" Charles flopped onto a sofa, first relaxing with his arms spread wide, then shifting to his side, propping his head with an elbow. His current youthful appearance made this playful pose fitting, much like the others who were also regaining their youth.

"Nothing much," Shiller stated. "As I informed you all, it's merely an invitation for a trip. What activities do you typically engage in during your travels?"

The question genuinely perplexed Charles. He stood, lost in thought for a moment, resembling an animation frame stuck in place. After a significant pause, he finally responded, "My last journey was roughly fifty years ago, perhaps even longer. I recall a time when vehicles still traveled on roads, and teleportation portals were non-existent. We had to drive to the station, purchase paper tickets, and then proceed to the waiting area..."

As he recounted this, he glanced at Erik, just in time to witness him nearly dislocate his back while slumping into a plush beanbag chair. It was less of a sit and more of a complete surrender to its softness.

Charles stifled a laugh, clearing his throat before asking, "Did we journey together then, Erik?"

"Haven't we always been traveling together?"

"Hmm! Ahem!" Strange let out a sound resembling an attempt to trigger an earthquake with his cough.

Erik adopted a contemplative expression, his gaze distant. "...my last trip involved relocating my family to a concentration camp."

"Ah, so you two finally got to travel together," Shiller remarked. "But deciding on activities is indeed the crux. It usually boils down to a few things: sampling local cuisine, appreciating the scenery, and capturing memories through photographs. Which of these experiences shall we indulge in first?"

"Let's eat first. When do they arrive?" Charles inquired.

"Likely in a little while," Shiller replied.

They waited, passing the time with casual conversation, their moments of relaxation unfettered by work. Even discussing recent family events provided ample material for their chats.

Wanda had earned a promotion following the establishment of the Crux central hospital for the council. She attended an interview and was immediately appointed Head Nurse. For security protocols, the hospital's medical personnel are all native to the star system, primarily citizens of the Nine Major Kingdoms, which facilitated her integration.

Theoretically, a facility like this hospital shouldn't be overwhelmed with patients. However, the reality proved quite different. As the hospital serves the entire Milky Way, a substantial number of patients from the Nine Major Kingdoms seek treatment due to its esteemed reputation, resulting in a perpetually long queue at the emergency department. Wanda is incredibly occupied, yet her status as the Scarlet Witch, capable of harnessing Scarlet's power for physical ailments, allows her some respite; otherwise, rest would be a rare luxury.

Fortunately, the children are growing, occupied with pets and a plethora of activities, diminishing their reliance on their parents. For the security of the interstellar capital, Battleworld permits minors entry into the base. While they cannot participate in the games yet, they can meet their guardians' counterparts. Scarlet Witches, in general, are quite fond of children.

Strange's conversation naturally led to discussions about the interstellar council and the Magic Academy. On the subject of the Magic Academy, there was another significant update: the second film was finally slated for production, currently in a highly intensive preparatory phase.

Shiller, unable to resist, recalled their previous mission, vividly recounting the comical misadventures of the group during their escape and reading aloud some rather unflattering reviews, which successfully ignited widespread amusement.

Amidst such relaxed discourse, news arrived that the remaining companions had reached their destination. The contingent this time was smaller; all S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were occupied with security duties in Crux, and most scientists were also absent. Earth had officially entered an era of rapid shipbuilding, with successive technological breakthroughs keeping the majority of scientists engrossed in their individual projects. Naturally, Peter Parker made an appearance, as he currently embodies Spider-Man.

He chose to be Spider-Man, despite the intense focus of scientists on their work, because Spider-Man's responsibilities are even more demanding. Spider-Man, as the first of all counterparts to achieve unity, is now actively assisting other universes' Spider-Men in their fight against the Moron Family. They recently concluded a challenging battle against a formidable adversary in one universe and may soon be called upon again, allowing Peter this brief period of relaxation during his team's lull.

Steve also arrived. With the increased number of starships and a corresponding rise in navigators, he finally had an opportunity for rotation and some time off. However, Agent Carter was extremely busy, and Thomas had been taken out for recreational activities, leaving his home empty. Consequently, he opted for this journey.

Furthermore, the long-absent Daredevil, Matt, finally found himself with leisure time. After relocating, changing neighborhoods, and enrolling his child in a new school, he had exhaustedly navigated the complexities of the child's education. Now, having finally secured a satisfactory educational environment and with Erica taking the child back to Europe for a visit, he could emerge and unwind.

So, it was just these few individuals, fortunate enough to be enjoying a rare period of rest after a prolonged stretch of busyness. Everyone reveled in the tranquility of their holiday. Clarkia, true to their expectations, did not disappoint.

Steve exclaimed as he entered, "Tony has been posting photos for three consecutive days on his social media, with cryptic captions that reveal nothing about his location. I initially thought he was just showing off again, but I didn't expect this place to be so genuinely beautiful; how did such massive trees come to grow here?"

Matt nudged Shiller with his elbow as he sat down, "I noticed fish in the lake on my way here. Any ideas?"

"Best to forget about it. This is a nature reserve, and any living creature is considered protected wildlife. You'd better get ready to eat."

Shiller retrieved his phone. The island possessed a signal, albeit a local network, entirely cut off from the outside world. However, it was sufficient for ordering food. The ordering application, though, was rudimentary, lacking a detailed menu. Consequently, he had to make a phone call to place the order. He requested whatever they had available and waited for the delivery to arrive outside.