The Senate Begins

Wanda hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.

She dragged her exhausted body up the stairs, lingered in the second-floor hallway for a while, and ultimately chose the guest room closest to Xiao Han's bedroom.

The room was even more luxurious than she had imagined.

The king-size bed was covered in silk sheets, the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked a private beach, and the whirlpool tub in the bathroom was large enough for three people to lie in.

Standing before the mirror, Wanda could barely recognize herself—the haggard face, the deep-set eyes, the bird's-nest mess of red hair.

She filled the tub with hot water and carefully slid into it.

The instant warmth enveloped her, her tears finally burst forth.

Three years of fear, pain, and despair all turned into silent sobs at that moment.

An hour later.

Wanda was drying her wet hair with a towel when she suddenly heard a soft knock on the door.

She clutched the towel nervously, the red glow of Chaos Magic flickering faintly between her fingers.

"May I come in?" Xiao Han's voice came through the door.

Wanda took a deep breath and pulled the collar of her pajamas tighter. "P-please come in."

The door slid open soundlessly, and Xiao Han entered carrying a tray.

Besides hot milk, it held several honey-coated waffles, their sweet fragrance immediately filling the room.

He set the tray on the bedside table. "You need more calories."

Wanda's stomach growled traitorously, and she lowered her head in embarrassment.

Xiao Han merely smiled faintly and sat down in the armchair by the window.

Moonlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating his outline.

"I can help you," Xiao Han said in a low voice.

He raised his right hand, and golden light suddenly surged from his palm.

Wanda watched in surprise as a gemstone radiating a soft yellow glow slowly emerged, hovering three inches above Xiao Han's palm.

Liquid light seemed to flow within the gem, and each pulse sent ripples through the air.

"This is the Mind Stone."

Xiao Han gazed at the gem, its glow casting shifting shadows across his sharply defined face. "One of the six most powerful Infinity Stones in the universe."

Wanda unconsciously leaned forward, the energy of Chaos Magic flickering in her eyes as if answering its call.

She felt a strange pull, as though the gem were calling to her power.

"I can feel it..."

She murmured, her fingers reaching toward the gem without thought before jerking back just as they were about to touch it.

"It's talking to me..."

Xiao Han nodded. "Your abilities are special, Wanda. They aren't ordinary mutant genes, but the manifestation of Chaos Magic."

He turned his wrist, and the gem's light flowed with the motion. "The Mind Stone can help you control this power, even... make you stronger."

Wanda's breathing quickened. Three years of imprisonment had made her instinctively wary of any promise. "Why... why help me?"

Xiao Han put away the gem. Its glow vanished instantly, and the room returned to darkness.

He rose and walked to the window, his back to Wanda. "Because I have seen people being controlled, and I have seen people controlling others. Both are equally tragic."

"What do you mean?" Wanda gripped the bedsheets tightly.

"The energy within you is Chaos Magic." Xiao Han looked out at the night scenery.

"Once you master it completely, you can easily rewrite reality by yourself."

Wanda's pupils contracted slightly. "Really?"

Xiao Han turned around, his shadow stretched long by the moonlight. "I can teach you to control Chaos Magic, but remember..."

His gaze was blazing. "Power is only a tool, not the answer."

The room fell silent, with only the faint sound of waves lapping against the shore.

Wanda watched the mysterious man, and for the first time in three years, she felt a spark of hope ignite within her chest.

"What should I... do?" she finally asked, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

Xiao Han took a small golden necklace from his pocket. It contained a magical seal that stabilized the mind. "Wear it. It will establish a connection with you and help sort out your chaotic energy."

Wanda took the necklace with trembling hands. The moment the metal touched her skin, a warm torrent flooded through every part of her body.

She sucked in a breath and saw her hands surrounded by intertwined scarlet and golden energy. For the first time, Chaos Magic obediently followed her guidance.

"This... is incredible..." She watched the energy dance at her fingertips, forming intricate patterns.

Xiao Han stood at the boundary between light and shadow, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. "This is only the beginning. Tomorrow, I'll teach you basic energy control. For now, rest."

He turned toward the door, but Wanda called out to him.

"Sir..." She stroked the necklace at her chest. "Thank you. Not just for this... but also..."

"I know." Xiao Han did not turn back, merely closing the door softly behind him.

Wanda lay down in the soft bed, the Mind Stone necklace warming faintly against her collarbone.

She closed her eyes, and for the first time in three years, the nightmares did not arrive as promised.

The next morning, sunlight streamed into the room through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Wanda jolted awake from a deep sleep and sat bolt upright, scarlet Chaos Magic instantly gathering in her palm.

"Good morning, Miss Maximoff."

A gentle mechanical voice came from the ceiling. "The indoor temperature is 22 degrees Celsius, humidity is 45%, and air quality is excellent."

Wanda looked around warily. "Who's speaking?"

"I am the villa's intelligent butler system. Mr. Xiao named me Turing." There was a hint of humor in the AI's voice.

"Based on your biometric data, I recommend having breakfast before beginning your training."

Wanda's tense shoulders slowly relaxed. "You're an artificial intelligence?"

"Yes, Miss. Would you like me to open the curtains?"

At Wanda's nod, the blackout curtains slid open soundlessly, revealing an expanse of brilliant blue sea.

She unconsciously walked to the window and lightly touched the glass with her fingers.

"Mr. Xiao went to Washington this morning to attend a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing," Turing continued.

"He prepared a training schedule and breakfast for you."

A holographic display unfolded beside the bed, showing a detailed timetable.

Wanda touched the projection curiously, and the image immediately switched to a live news broadcast.

Tony Stark's face suddenly appeared in the projection. He was seated at the witness stand in the congressional chamber, his suit immaculate but his face full of impatience.

Wanda's breath stopped instantly, her fingers digging unconsciously into her palm.

"...Mr. Stark, you must admit that this armor technology poses a threat to national security..." a senator was speaking.

The scene awakened Wanda's deepest memories.

The explosion when she was ten, her parents' final embrace, and the two days and two nights she and Pietro had spent shivering beneath the rubble.

The shattered shell of a Stark Industries missile had landed less than a meter away from them.

"Miss Maximoff, your heart rate has risen abnormally." Turing's voice was concerned. "Do you require medical assistance?"

Wanda took a deep breath and forced herself to unclench her fist. "N-no. Why did Mr. Xiao go there?"

"Analysis indicates a 99.7% probability that he went to support Mr. Stark." The projection switched to an overhead view, showing thousands gathered outside the Capitol holding signs reading, "Support Superman."

Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted in the live broadcast.

The senators all rose to their feet, pointing toward the chamber doors.

Wanda narrowed her eyes. A black-clad figure was pushing open the doors and walking into the hearing room.

"He has arrived," Turing said calmly.

The chamber instantly erupted.

The guards hurriedly raised their weapons, yet none of them dared to actually fire.

Senator Stern slammed his hand against the desk, his face livid. "This is a congressional hearing. Unrelated personnel are not welcome."

Xiao Han slowly walked to the seat behind Tony and sat down. He was not wearing armor, only a finely tailored black suit, but everyone knew what kind of power lay beneath that fabric.

"Sorry I'm late."

Xiao Han nodded to Tony. His voice was not loud, yet the entire chamber fell silent instantly.

"I dealt with a few problems on the way."

Tony raised an eyebrow. "Such as?"

"A gang shootout in Los Angeles, and several terrorists attempting to launch an attack." Xiao Han shrugged.

"I sent them safely to the Arctic to dig ice for an expedition team."

"Dig ice?" Tony's expression turned a little strange.

Senator Stern abruptly stood up. "Superman! You have no right—"

"Senator."

Xiao Han turned to look at him, a flash of golden light passing through his eyes. "Under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, I have the right to attend any public hearing.

Or would you like to explain to the public on behalf of the federal court why you are speaking for criminals?"

The chamber fell deathly silent. Stern's lips trembled, and he eventually sank heavily back into his chair.

Wanda watched Xiao Han's composed figure in the projection, and the knot in her chest unknowingly loosened somewhat.

She lightly touched the Mind Stone necklace at her collarbone, feeling its steady pulse of energy.

"Turing," she suddenly said, "I want to start training."

"A wise choice, Miss. The gym is ready, and..." The AI paused.

"Mr. Xiao left a message saying that when you are ready, he will personally tell you the truth about the Stark Industries missile."

Wanda abruptly looked up. "What truth?"

"My authorization level is insufficient to answer that question," Turing said gently.

"But I recommend that you complete the introductory energy-control course first. According to Mr. Xiao's assessment, your potential far exceeds that of ordinary mutants."

Wanda looked toward Xiao Han, who was dealing with the senators in the projection, then lowered her gaze to the scarlet energy dancing in her palm. For the first time, she felt that she held the steering wheel of her own fate.