Hermione raised an eyebrow and nodded.
"Episkey!"
White light enveloped Proxima Midnight, and her wounds healed at a speed visible to the naked eye. In the blink of an eye, she was as good as new.
The invisible force restraining her vanished as well, and Proxima Midnight fell to the ground. Instinctively, she felt her unblemished skin, then looked up at Hermione, her eyes filled with the shaken relief of a narrow escape and profound wariness.
Only then did she and Corvus Glaive beside her truly understand that Ebony Maw's earlier caution and humility had not been cowardice, but a clear understanding of the terrifying power of the Witch before them.
Their earlier provocations and bluster must have seemed as ridiculous to her as a clown's performance.
Apparently, Ebony Maw had never been the one who needed his head examined. They had.
Thanos looked at Hermione, his expression still calm, though a trace of gravity had entered his eyes. "You said just now that if I want the Infinity Stones, I need to show my sincerity?"
Hermione folded her arms and nodded. "Of course. There's no such thing as a free lunch. If you want something, you have to give something in return, don't you?"
"Then what are your terms?" Thanos asked, sensing an opening in her words. "From what you're saying, giving me the Infinity Stones isn't entirely out of the question. You simply want an exchange."
"Smart." Hermione snapped her fingers. "The Stones aren't off the table. But..." She ticked them off on her fingers. "Not the Power Stone, Time Stone, Mind Stone, or Reality Stone for now. I still need them."
"In exchange, I can give you the Space Stone, but you'll have to get me the Soul Stone."
Thanos's brow creased almost imperceptibly.
She had the