Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Visions of the "Future"

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Seeing this, Nick Fury said helplessly: "Miss Potts, we don't want to do this either. But if you want to find Stark, I suggest you listen to us."

You wouldn't want Stark to be… Hermione silently completed the sentence in her mind.

Waving her wand lightly, she released the Body-Bind. Pepper regained mobility. Stumbled, nearly falling.

But she didn't care about such trifles. Instead took two steps at once. Came before Hermione. Crouched down, grasped her arms. Eyes filled with hope.

"Child… no, Miss Witch—you have a way to find Tony, right?"

Pepper accepted very quickly.

Hermione slowly nodded. Said: "Pretty sister, just stand here. Don't move."

Pepper nodded repeatedly like a pecking chicken.

Everyone looked at Hermione. Found she'd somehow closed her eyes. Wand pointed skyward, gently circling. Mouth muttering incomprehensible incantations.

"Bala bala, Makka Pakka, Baka baka, Makka Pakka, Goddess of Darkness…"

Colorful light illuminated the room. The ceiling reflected cosmic starry skies.

This mysterious atmosphere and ritualistic feel made them tense. Eyes locked on the scene, afraid to miss any change.

One minute later, Hermione opened her eyes. Looked at Pepper.

"Done."

"Ah? That's it?" The four present were bewildered.

They'd expected some peculiar images to appear. But nothing happened. Already finished.

"But… there's nothing on it." Pepper pointed at the crystal ball. Couldn't help questioning.

Shouldn't it be like they understood—some mystical ritual, then images slowly emerging in the crystal ball?

Hermione saw through their thoughts at a glance. Rolled her eyes dramatically.

"I cast the divination, not the crystal ball. I saw the future—obviously it's in my head. How could it have images?"

Everyone fell silent.

What to do? Makes so much sense. Can't argue.

"Then this thing…"

Hermione looked exasperated: "The images in my head—what are you using to see them? Of course need a way to let you see too!"

"So we need the crystal ball. Only it can bear your magic, display what you saw!"

Natasha could answer now.

"No, actually a TV works too. Just felt a crystal ball was cooler."

Hermione lowered her head. Two index fingers touching. Toes drawing circles on the floor. Somewhat embarrassed.

Black Boiled Egg: "…"

Natasha: "…"

Coulson: "…"

Pepper: "…"

"So the crystal ball must be transparent and flawless because…"

"Mm… because it looks good."

Saying this, Hermione seemed afraid Fury would renege. Hugged the crystal ball. "I don't care. This thing's mine now."

So I just got scammed for funding? Fury's expression froze.

After so many years as S.H.I.E.L.D. Director—he'd always been the one scamming others for funding. First time getting conned.

Calm down, calm down… Nick Fury took a deep breath. Forcibly suppressed the heartache of wasting money on an absurdly expensive decoration. Mentally chanted she's just a child.

"Ehehe…" Hermione caressed the crystal ball. Seemed to really like this thing.

Black Boiled Egg's face grew darker.

"Wait a moment. Let me pull what I saw from my head first."

Hermione quit while ahead. Pointed her wand at her temple. Slowly drew out several glowing threads. Extended them toward the crystal ball.

The light threads floated in the air like willow catkins. Fell on the crystal ball's surface. Actually merged directly in.

Next second, the crystal ball emitted light. Like a phone powering on.

Images appeared one after another.

Seeing they were all scenes involving her—though soundless—Pepper still felt somewhat awkward. A feeling of having her privacy publicly exposed.

Most crucially, she was certain she'd never experienced these things.

Divination… could this be what will happen in the future?

Others watching this scene beyond comprehension also had various thoughts.

"Tony! I see Tony!"

Suddenly, Pepper cried out.

Everyone quickly focused.

In one image, Pepper wore a white business suit. Standing at an airport. Face anxious. As if waiting for someone.

Then the camera turned. A figure descended from the opposite plane. One hand bandaged. Seemed somewhat injured. But mental state looked decent.

Exactly Tony Stark.

Though just scattered fragments, enough for them to analyze the situation.

"Does this mean…"

Pepper looked at Hermione questioningly. Seemed to want her confirmation.

Hermione nodded. This time didn't prank: "Don't worry. This guy's fine. Or rather—even if something's wrong now, he'll ultimately turn danger into safety. Be successfully rescued."

"Because this is the future!"

Hermione spread her arms. Made a gesture of embracing the sun.

Very dramatic.

But right now no one cared about her actions. After breathing sighs of relief, came intense shock and awe.

Originally this witch's other magic was barely within Nick Fury and others' comprehension. But once this "divination" emerged—he completely couldn't sit still.

Foreseeing the future!

Sounded like no lethality. But in a sense, this was the most terrifying ability.

With this ability, what intelligence couldn't S.H.I.E.L.D. obtain?

Unfortunately, only wizards had this ability. No matter how capable Hermione was, ultimately she wasn't S.H.I.E.L.D.'s person.

If S.H.I.E.L.D. could also have its own wizard… Thinking this, Nick Fury's body jolted. A thought sprouted in his mind.

Looking at Hermione, his eyes carried some fervor. Like a creep eyeing a little girl. Made Hermione's hair stand on end.

Divination and such—naturally didn't exist.

Even if it did, not something Hermione could currently master.

She just extracted and projected partial scenes from Iron Man from her past-life memories.

Sounded advanced. But actually just the most superficial application of Legilimency.

No choice—Legilimency was one of the extremely advanced magics. Also one of the few composite magics. Included memory extraction, manifestation, invasion (Legilimency), mind-reading, disguise, Occlumency, and a series of applications. The library only had books explaining the memory extraction and manifestation portions.

[Legilimency (Incomplete): Manifestation]

[Extract a portion of one's own memories and project them onto reflective objects.]

Didn't even have a level.

However, even this simple application was enough to fool these S.H.I.E.L.D. people.

After all, this was the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Movie scenes—in a sense—were their true future.

Pepper, who'd just been somewhat joyful, seemed to think of something. Fell into worry again: "That's all well and good, but what should we do now?"

They only knew Tony would ultimately be rescued. But didn't know what to do to save him.

"Do what you should do. Act as if today never happened." Hermione suddenly said. "Especially don't rely on knowing the future to do things you shouldn't. Or things you should do, but because the future's confirmed, you don't do."

"Never let prophecy influence reality." Her expression turned serious. Contrary to her usual playful demeanor.

"Know this—the future… is not set in stone!"

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