All the clues matched perfectly.
A poor family.
An ancestor who died in the European war.
A magical bloodline tied deeply to Arthur and Merlin — though painfully diluted in the modern era. Generations of the Constantine line had lived as ordinary people, and young Thomas Constantine himself had barely a flicker of power. Only after years of reckless, fatalistic adventures would his son, John Constantine, claw his way into true strength.
But in this time…
John Constantine wasn't even born.
His infamously abusive father wasn't even an adult yet.
How was a magic-less child supposed to teach her anything?
Thea stared at Madam Xanadu, hoping for at least some guidance, but Madam Xanadu merely shook her head, refusing further explanation.
"What you need is there. How you obtain it… that is your problem."
Another vague riddle.
Any method works, huh?
The fastest would be the violent option:
Kick down the Constantine family door and take every book with writing on it.
Quick, effective… and a guaranteed disaster.
John Constantine would absolutely come for revenge one day.
This was the man whose nickname "Con-man Constantine" came from how poorly he treated both demons and friends. His moral baseline would not be higher than Thea's.
Thea did not want to return to Star City only to find a bunch of Hell lords playing poker in her living room.
So violence was out.
Soft power it was.
If Thomas Constantine willingly handed her the books, maybe the future Constantine wouldn't object too much.
But… what did Thomas need? What was he lacking?
She'd have to find him first and improvise.
Just as Madam Xanadu was preparing to dispel the barrier, Thea remembered something — something very important, something worth asking a powerhouse like this.
"Madam, wait. There's one more matter I'd like your insight on."
Maybe Madam Xanadu also felt a bit guilty for shooing Thea away so abruptly; she withdrew her hand and sat upright again, ready to listen.
"I possess an ancient Egyptian amulet. If I use it directly, I fear it will draw divine attention. Is there a way to extract the amulet's magic without alerting the god attached to it?"
Thea wasn't stupid — you never flaunted your wealth.
But Madam Xanadu was a Celtic-aligned deity. Egyptian artifacts probably wouldn't tempt her.
She was gambling that Madam Xanadu simply didn't care for such things.
Unfortunately, Madam Xanadu's face remained unreadable.
"May I see it?"
"I can't bring it out inside this barrier…"
Snap.
With a snap of her fingers, the barrier shifted.
"Now you can."
Thea instantly felt her connection return — to her bloodline space, to her divine bow.
She glanced sideways.
This woman's grasp of spatial magic was frightening.
Compared to Vandall, the Hawks, or Hippolyta — warriors who had lived endless years — true longevity was far more terrifying in the hands of a mage.
No time for admiration.
Thea immediately took out the jade box from her ring. She'd moved everything inside the ring space while on the ship — the unicorn had celebrated for hours.
Madam Xanadu opened the box and let out a soft, amused gasp.
"Isis. You wretched woman… to think you've fallen this low! Ha!"
Thea watched her laugh so hard she nearly fell over, and a wave of relief washed through her.
So— good.
These two were enemies.
The enemy of her enemy was, at least temporarily, a friend.
After laughing to her heart's content, Madam Xanadu coughed twice and composed herself.
"Little girl, what was it you wanted again?"
Thea repeated her request.
"I see…"
Madam Xanadu did not answer immediately. Instead, she swept her amber gaze up and down Thea, then lowered her head in thought.
"Normally, I wouldn't answer this. But since you entertained me, I'll give you a word of advice. The amulet is indeed powerful. You are right not to wear it carelessly. But no matter how strong it is, it is still an object. There are things that restrain it."
"And as for extracting its power— there aren't many ways, but there are ways."
She paused.
"Some methods exist, yes. But you may not be able to use them."
Of course.
The world was full of powerful beings.
Telling Thea something absurd like "The Anti-Life Equation can neutralize it" would be useless. She needed a method she could actually use.
"So what do you suggest?" Thea asked cautiously.
Madam Xanadu snapped her fingers. A new spread of cards materialized before them.
"Divination. We will divine the method most suited to you."
…But she didn't start.
She simply crossed her legs and waited.
Thea's eye twitched.
Was this—
Was this woman waiting for a bribe?
Money wouldn't work.
She needed something magical.
Thea pulled out the black-mist dagger and waved it.
Madam Xanadu didn't even blink.
Too low-grade.
Thea rummaged deeper.
Ah.
This would do.
She placed the Horus Orb she had taken on Purgatory Island onto the table. With Horus's fall, the orb's magic had begun to fade; she had sealed it away to absorb later in Star City. But if sacrificing the orb could help her handle Isis's amulet…
So be it.
"Hm?"
The orb finally caught Madam Xanadu's attention. She examined Thea again.
"Descendant of Merlin… chosen by a Greek goddess… and now at odds with the Egyptian pantheon? Are you determined to fight them all?"
At the question, Thea almost burst into tears.
I don't want this! How was I supposed to know every hostile god I met would be from the same Egyptian family?
It was pure misfortune.
Explaining her innocence wouldn't help — who would believe it?
She nodded helplessly.
Madam Xanadu actually looked moved. She weighed the orb, then said approvingly:
"Trading the son's relic to handle the mother's relic… you strike a good bargain. Since you are a pleasing junior, I shall divine for you."
Thea almost rolled her eyes. As if this divination cost Madam Xanadu anything. She acted as though she'd suffered a loss.
Payment secured, Madam Xanadu wasted no more time.
Her ten fingers danced across the cards, whispers of ancient incantations filling the stagnant air.
Her eyes turned white — glowing — and finally she seized a single card.
She flipped it toward Thea.
A devil.
A demon looming tall.
At its feet lay an old man.
Beside him, a sword was planted into the ground.
Thea inhaled sharply.
Whatever this divination meant…
it wasn't going to be simple.