A golden ring of light spiraled open in the sanctum of Kamar-Taj, illuminating the quiet chamber where the Ancient One meditated. Within the glowing circle shimmered the image of Professor Charles Xavier — weary, composed, yet clearly troubled.
"Is this Charles?" the Ancient One asked, crossing vast distances with her voice alone.
"Master Ancient One," Charles replied, bowing slightly in his seat. "Forgive the hour. But a... complication has arisen."
She narrowed her eyes. "I sense your unrest. Speak freely."
"Today, someone arrived at the Xavier Institute. He claims to be a Shinigami — a god of death from another universe. He helped a mutant child who had just awakened her X-Gene… he seemed kind. Honest, even. But his power — it's unlike anything we've seen. We can't verify his origin. Nor his intentions."
The Ancient One's calm expression flickered.
"A thousand-year-old death god? We have felt no recent disruptions in the universal veil… Where is he now?"
"Still within the school grounds," Xavier said. "We've offered temporary lodging."
"Very well," she replied. "I will investigate personally."
The projection faded. In his dim office, Professor X gently placed a jade pendant back into a glass cabinet — a relic left by the mysterious man. Then, he turned his chair toward the window, gazing out at the storm-battered night beyond, anxiety shadowing his sharp mind.
****
Meanwhile, across the misted courtyard, Jue sat in silence under a leafless tree, the soaked earth beneath him undisturbed by his presence. His eyes opened just as the Ancient One stepped from a glowing portal, her cloak swirling like living flame in the downpour.
Without a word, she raised her hand — the mirror dimension bloomed around them like shattered glass — and Jue allowed himself to be pulled in, unresisting.
Within that kaleidoscopic world of shifting geometry, the Ancient One sealed his senses with a gesture of her hand.
"Are you the visitor from another realm?"
Jue stood slowly, brushing imaginary dust from his robes. His eyes gleamed with the sharp glint of someone who had danced with death — and won.
"Obvious, isn't it?" he said with a faint smile. "This space… more elegant than the Yama cricket experiments Tōsen once toyed with. You're the Guardian of Earth's balance, yes? Impressive."
"You are spirit-born. Your soul holds a dense concentration of death energy — unfiltered and ancient." The Ancient One narrowed her gaze. "You don't belong to this timeline, or even this reality. Why are you here?"
Jue looked down at his hands — the form he had taken in this world. They trembled faintly. His Reiryoku was depleted.
"Accident," he said. "I was caught in a rift during a ghost arts experiment… ripped into the time-space stream. I landed here moments before I would have faded. You could say this world… gave me refuge. Though technically… I'm already dead."
"You don't seem surprised by me," she said, activating the Eye of Agamotto. The green light of time magic shimmered in her palm.
"I felt you when I arrived. A ripple in the ley lines. I knew we'd meet."
His voice quieted, then shifted coldly.
"You're using time magic to probe me. Tell me — do you believe time, fate, or life have meaning to one who has become death?"
The Eye of Agamotto dimmed. The Ancient One's eyes narrowed.
"You are a paradox," she murmured. "A soul steeped in death, yet… alive. You carry change within you. Dangerous change."
Golden runes flared in her palms. A dozen layered magic circles unfolded, ready to reshape the mirror dimension itself.
But Jue simply floated cross-legged again, calm.
"This world doesn't need me to enforce balance between life and death. That's your job. I've spent a thousand years fighting ancient men and hollow beasts, perfecting Zanjutsu and Kidō. I have no wish to return to that."
"Then what do you want?" she pressed.
Jue fell into a long, weighted silence.
Memories flickered — flashes of a life once lived. A lonely student. Cold parents. Empty nights. His only companions: books and quiet regret.
"I died in my final year of university," he said at last. "No friends. No goodbyes. Just… gone. No one missed me. Maybe I'm tired. Maybe I just want some damn peace… or maybe…"
His lips curled into a tired smile.
"Maybe I need friends."
The smile carried a raw, unexpected softness. A thousand years of solitude behind it. It caught the Ancient One off-guard.
She looked closely and saw it — a soul tempered by time, not broken but transformed.
"You, too," Jue said suddenly, his voice sharper. "You're not well. Your power — it's feeding on your spirit. You're dying inside."
The Ancient One's expression faltered, ever so slightly.
"Yes," she said, almost to herself. "It's nearly time."
And for once, she lowered her defenses.
"You crossed into this world undetected. How?"
"I was born on Earth. Just… not this one. So I guess this is a kind of homecoming."
Jue stretched and glanced around the dimension lazily.
"Seems we're not going to fight after all. Want me to get a green card?" he said dryly.
"You knew we wouldn't fight."
"Wouldn't be fun if I answered that."
The magic circles faded. The Ancient One opened a new portal.
"Then leave on your own terms. But know this: you walk a knife's edge, Shinigami."
She stepped through and vanished.
****
Jue remained seated as the portal sealed. Then he exhaled and stood.
"Tch. So serious. Should I use Dimensional Transfer, or maybe the Strike-Boundary Instrument?"
He muttered an incantation in ancient Kidō, summoning external Reiryoku as best he could. The Black Chamber formed once more.
Moments later, he reappeared in the guest room — exactly where he'd been earlier — sitting on the bed, legs crossed as if nothing had happened.
****
Floating outside the window, the Ancient One lingered in silence, watching him leave the mirror dimension. Her brow furrowed.
He hadn't lied. But he hadn't told the full truth either.
She closed her eyes, then opened a portal — this one leading directly to Xavier's office.
Charles turned as she entered.
"Master Ancient One?"
She nodded once.
"He's trustworthy."
Without waiting for a reply, she vanished.
****
Now alone, Professor X remained in his chair, shadows pooling in the corners of the room. The storm had passed. The ancient clock ticked in steady rhythm, unchanging, until…
Light.
A single beam of golden sunlight broke through the window, painting warmth across his face. He turned, wheeled toward it, and opened the window.
Fresh morning air filled the room, cool and wet with the scent of rain.
Outside, children played.
Charles smiled.
"No matter how long the night," he whispered, "dawn always comes."
Perhaps this unexpected visitor — this Shinigami — was not a threat…
…but a gift.