Chapter 19: Telekinesis
"Do you think you can teach me?"
The six X-Men standing before Ronan who had taken off his bandages, almost looking naked now, stared as Illyana raised an eyebrow.
"Magic? What part do you want to learn exactly?" She asked as she scrutinised him with her eyes.
"Preferably all of them. But we can start with the basics."
Illyana took a deep breath and sighed as she realised she was talking to someone clueless. A fact even Ronan couldn't deny.
"It's not that simple. There are a dozen Magic disciplines and it seems like they're only increasing by the day. Even I don't know them all."
"Think of it as a martial art. Typically you'd start with one and when you become proficient, you expand."
Ronan nodded, replying shortly after.
"Then what about the Mystic Arts?"
With the name "White Magic" and what he'd seen it do, it wasn't hard to tell it was a one-trick pony of magic, focusing on healing and nurturing.
And he understood from the description of Doctor Strange in Tony's files that the Mystic Arts was more of a well-rounded form of Magic.
"Absolutely not. I was serious in what I said." Hank spoke from the speakers, the thought of shutting the speakers down with his mind occuring to Ronan for a brief moment.
"The Bane in your body could have a negative reaction to the magic. That healing spell could have been a fluke."
"You're a scientist, aren't you, Hank? Shouldn't we take this chance to find out more?" Ronan spoke, the voice of the man getting on his nerves.
"Yes, but it won't be worth it if you die. I'm a scientist. I take action based on facts. I do not take a leap of faith."
For some reason, with one exchange, Hank was able to lower the image of what a scientist was for Ronan.
'So many endless possibilities and you limit yourself? Is that not…stupid?'
Ronan inwardly shook his head as his thoughts were interrupted in the next second.
"Be that as it may, I'm not permitted to teach the Mystic Arts to anyone who comes along. There's a procedure and I'm not the one to oversee such a task."
Illyana turned as she broke the news to Ronan, leaving the boy standing with a blank expression, his emotions saying something different.
"Well, you're healed now and there's nothing we can do about it. Would you like to join us?" Scott proposed, changing to the topic.
Ronan stared for a second, soon nodding.
"Yes, please."
The others smiled as the tension in the air lowered, all of them going to take a seat sit.
"But can I choose who I fight?"
The X-Men looked at the boy with raised eyebrows. The bold request made them briefly think he knew what he was doing.
"Sure." Scott obliged, following Ronan's gaze as the boy traced his eyes over them, finally staring at one individual.
"I choose to fight Ms Grey."
Ronan pointed at Jean as the latter raised both eyebrows in surprise.
Though they consecutively wondered why he chose her, as she wasn't the best Martial Artist amongst them and wasn't the worst suited for a beginner either.
Though, some brushed it off and Scott wondered if he chose her because she seemed the most gentle.
But Remy smirked as he winked at Ronan, his mind picturing an image Ronan didn't want any part in.
"Come on, garçon. You're about to make a name for yourself." Remy commented, cheering Ronan on as they all sat on the sidelines, leaving Ronan and Jean standing.
"Have you ever practised Martial Arts before?" Jean asked, ignoring Remy.
"No, but I've been meaning to learn."
This was true.
He wouldn't always have Technology to help him so he needed more weapons in his arsenal.
"Well, it's a valuable skill to have. We, as mutants, can't always rely on our abilities."
As she said this, Jean entered a stance, her feet spread and her hands in fists on each side of her chin waiting for the boy to do the same.
Ronan glanced at the way she stood, trying his best to imitate it.
However, the scene quickly became an awkward one as the boy found himself in a poor representation of what Jean had done.
At that moment, they all had the same thought.
One that Remy was the first to voice.
"Garçon, you've never done this, have you?"
Remy chuckled as he raised his staff, walking to the boy.
"Your feet should be spread so that they balance you no matter what direction you choose to go, or you're forced into. Your fists should always be protecting your chin while your elbows should protect your body…"
In the next few seconds, Remy smacked his staff on the boy's feet, forcing him into the right stance as he explained the basics.
"Now, these are the two basic punches you should first master."
Gambit threw his lead fist straight in a quick jab, pulling it back as he followed with a powerful cross from his opposite hand.
"Notice how my chin is still always protected by either my fist or shoulder when I punch. Now you try."
Remy raised both hands, palms facing Ronan as the boy, rigid in his stance, threw a slow jab, then a weak cross.
"Are you still injured?" Illyana asked with a hint of mock, her face slightly contorted as she watched the laughable scene.
Though Illyana asked this sarcastically, Ronan couldn't help but realise the question was somewhat accurate.
'Status.'
[Name: Ronan Hale-Zara
Race: Human
Renewal: Vincent Von Doom (Dr Doom)
Status:
Sick (Infected with the Technobane)
Poisoned
Fables: N/A
Perks:
Psionics (Mastery: 4.7%)
The ability to influence one's own thoughts and the thoughts of others, shaping perceptions and realities through sheer mental strength.
Sub-abilities under this perk include:
Technopathy (Mastery: 8.1%)
The Ability to understand and control the minds of Technology.
Telepathy (Mastery 1%)
The ability to read and control the minds of other beings
*LOCKED* (Mastery: ???)
Sub-abilities under this perk include:
Magic Sense:
You will sense all magic in your vicinity. This sense is stronger towards Magic you are familiar with.
Arts: N/A
Stats (Human):
Strength: D-
Agility: D
Endurance: F
Charm (Zara): D-
National Treasures: N/A]
'I've noticed my stats are decreasing. Probably because of that new status effect.'
He was quick to realise his body was deteriorating, getting worse as the Technobane mixed poorly with his body the longer it was inside.
This was one of the main reasons he chose to steal the carnage symbiote.
'If Stark can ignore the limits and weaknesses of a human with a suit of armour, so can I.'
"These are the basics. There's no better practice than experience so use what you learnt right now."
Remy went to sit back down as Ronan stayed in his stance.
"Are you ready?" Jean asked, to which the boy nodded.
"Begin!"
As Scott yelled this, Ronan instantly stepped forward, throwing the jab and cross combo he had just taught.
However, no matter how many he threw, Jean simply weaved her head, dodging the attack as the punches barely made her hair flutter.
She rhythmically stepped backwards as she did, as if she were dancing, seeming as though Ronan posed no threat to her.
However, as the boy stepped in one more time, his eyes sharp as he closed the distance between them, he swung straight at her face.
-WHOOSH
Jean suddenly disappeared from Ronan's view, so fast that he wasn't able to catch her drop to the ground, her lead foot hooking around his ankle as she yanked.
Ronan lost his footing as he was too late to catch himself, hitting the ground with a hard THUD.
"Not bad. You lasted all of ten seconds." Illyana commented as Jean helped Ronan to his feet.
"I feel like no matter how good my technique is, my body is limiting my performance." Ronan voiced his thoughts, to which Remy and Scott glanced at each other.
"Are there any tips you can give me? What part of the body feels the worst to be hit?"
Remy raised body eyebrows.
"Ah, I see. Fight using your opponent's weakness to your advantage, so you're on the same level."
"That's good, Ronan. Your thoughts are accurate. There are two places that even the weakest punches will harm."
Remy and Scott stood in a fighting stance as they demonstrated.
"They are the chin and the liver. Both parts will cause the body to shut down with enough force."
Scott spoke as he stepped in, slowly placing his fist on Remy's liver and then the chin.
"I see. Thank you, I'd like to try again." He turned to Jean who nodded with a smile.
"In that case, Begin!"
Ronan breathed in as he stood in a stance.
"I'm guessing 15 now," Illyana commented on the side jokingly as Piotr hushed her.
However, their attention became focused as they witnessed Ronan step in like before, slow and predictable.
They witnessed this, however, Jean stared at the boy's sharp and almost animalistic eyes that glared at her.
-WHOOSH
And in the next second, Jean's eyes widened as she felt what felt like a kitchen knife pierce her skull.
'He…when…'
'If you aren't careful, your string will knot…and explode!'
-BANG
The others couldn't hear it, however, for the two psions, a loud BANG rang out as Jean's head snapped back a little as she blinked.
'He…'
Her mind was strong, and the two of them knew Ronan could never hope to make it so far.
However, in a moment of distraction, he was able to enter the surface of her mind, knotting his string and imploding it, destroying her immediate focus.
With this chance, Ronan moved low, pulling back his fist.
'A liver punch.'
Jean and the others collectively thought, the former quickly regaining her composure.
She braced herself as she heavily guarded her midsection.
However, no matter how many seconds passed, the blow never came.
And the spectators could see why.
'He was never going for the liver punch.'
Remy and the others realised as the former rose to his feet, seeing the boy drop to the ground, hooking his foot around Jean's ankle.
'I win!'
Ronan always knew the chin and liver were a human's weak points. How couldn't he?
Science was his favourite subject in school and that included biology.
However, he needed Jean to hear the only cards he had to play so that he could perfectly forge a moment like this.
-WHOOSH
"Huh…"
Ronan blinked, seeing himself 10 feet off the ground, his arms instinctively flailing to find the earth.
However, the realisation quickly dawned on him as he turned to Jean, seeing her with her arm outstretched, palms pointing at him.
'This…is Telekinesis.'
"Wow, Ronan, my Garçon!"
Remy practically skipped toward Ronan while Scott, Anna, Piotr and even Illyana clapped.
Jean slowly lowered the boy as his feet touched the ground. However, he quickly dropped to his buttocks as he breathed heavily.
That small exertion was all he had in him.
"I'm surprised. Since when did you know Telepathy." Jean asked, she too took a seat.
"I had a lesson with Professor Xavier earlier today."
To this, Jean's smile slowly faded as she pulled her head back in confusion.
"What? That's impossible…"
"Garçon, what do you say you have a few rounds with me, eh?" Remy interrupted, not realising Jean was still speaking.
"That was good, Ronan. You're a natural." Anna added.
"Yes, better than I was when I first started." Piotr laughed.
However, though Ronan looked as if he were paying attention, his mind was elsewhere.
'Telekinesis.'
If Technopathy was embracing the connection one had with technology and Telepathy was forging an unnatural connection from nothing, Ronan would describe Telekinesis as a physical manifestation of that connection.
That wave-like connection forged from your mind needed to be so powerful that it could interact with the real world.
And now that he'd experienced it so soon…
'I feel like it isn't as hard as I thought.'