How to Use the Casket of Ancient Winters, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Personality Profile

Gaius's Everything Shop.

Aaron returned home and slumped onto the sofa without a shred of dignity.

He set Abei down, then looked at the empty perch and couldn't help but laugh.

"Fawkes!"

As his voice fell, Phoenix, who had been admiring the scenery by a lake with a woman, suddenly sensed something and flew down from her shoulder.

Its clear, high-pitched cry was pleasant to the ear, while the breeze stirred ripples across the lake.

"Are you leaving?"

Fawkes lowered its head slightly, then circled the woman twice before turning into a ball of fire and vanishing into the air.

"Jean." Not long after Fawkes disappeared, a young man in red goggles pushed a bald old man in a wheelchair over.

"What is it, Professor?" Jean came back to herself. "Did you find another one of our people?"

"No." Professor X, Charles Xavier, sighed helplessly and turned to Scott. "Laser Eyes asked me to come examine you."

"I'm fine, Professor."

"How are you fine?" Scott said unhappily. "Ever since that bird flew over, you've been absent-minded. You've barely paid any attention to me."

"I've told you many times, Scott.

"It isn't a bird. It's a Phoenix." Jean spoke very seriously. "And it has a name. It's called Fawkes."

"Fine! Fawkes." Scott gave an awkward laugh. "Where is Fawkes? Wasn't it always with you?"

"It just left." Jean sounded somewhat reluctant. "It went to find its master."

"It has a master?" Scott asked in surprise, suddenly feeling an inexplicable sense of crisis. "It has a master, yet it still came to find you?"

"Jean, are you sure you're all right?" Professor X asked worriedly. "Laser Eyes suspects you're being secretly controlled by some kind of power."

"He's overthinking it. Fawkes... how should I put this?" Jean hesitated. "It feels as though