Chapter 1093: Father and Son (Part Twenty-Two) (Patreon)

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Rushing into the room, Polaris and Scott maintained their combat stances, but the tense confrontation they imagined between the two didn't unfold. Instead, Schiller held a tea cup while Magneto held tea leaves, with white mist rising and the scent of tea permeating the air.

Polaris sniffed disdainfully, then shifted her gaze to the tea cup. Schiller scrutinized the two of them for a moment before asking, "What's got you both so worked up? Has something happened?"

However, by this time, Magneto's expression had darkened, his intimidating gaze fixed on Polaris. A powerful aura emanated from him, causing the magnetic field within the room to reflect his anger.

Gritting her teeth, Polaris exerted effort to maintain her own magnetic field next to Scott, unaffected by the turbulent flow around Magneto.

But the vast difference in power between her and Magneto made her magnetic field akin to a fragile boat in a stormy sea, struggling to hold its ground. Within seconds, Polaris's complexion turned pale.

Before Polaris could speak, Schiller suddenly clutched his chest and coughed twice, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "What's wrong? Why do I feel short of breath?" he asked.

"Scott, open the window. It might be a bit stuffy in here," Schiller said, turning to Scott. Scott blinked in confusion, not understanding Schiller's meaning.

Aware of Schiller's capabilities, and knowing that Magneto and his daughter hadn't truly clashed but merely engaged in a confrontation within an imperceptible magnetic field, Scott hesitated. He knew such fluctuations wouldn't affect ordinary people and likely wouldn't affect Schiller.

"Sorry, you know I haven't been in the best mental state lately. The doctor advised me not to stay in overly oppressive environments. Please, open the window, Scott," Schiller reiterated.

As Scott made his way to the window, Polaris's expression slightly eased. She felt the immense pressure around her lessen as Magneto gradually withdrew his power.

A hint of surprise crossed Polaris's face. She didn't expect Magneto to be concerned about Schiller.

Nonetheless, Polaris breathed a sigh of relief. Facing off against her own father, an unwinnable battle, while maintaining a facade, created immense psychological pressure.

"You lack manners," Magneto said to Polaris, just as he was about to say more, Schiller coughed again.

Turning to him, Magneto sighed inwardly. He knew the scene he had played out with Professor X before was about to repeat itself.

He would be the stern enforcer of discipline while Professor X would offer comforting words, making their children feel as though they hadn't erred, thus allowing them to continue their missteps.

Magneto didn't think his friend's approach was right, but the more he tried to change the dynamic, the more his children feared him, gravitating towards Professor X and his gentle words. Yet, this approach had no benefits for their character or behavior. Magneto felt they were becoming unruly.

Having lived for so long, Magneto understood the rules of society better than any of his children. He may not live within society, nor did he care for it or seek its approval.

If he wished to integrate, society would readily embrace him, offering wealth, status, and fame. But his children desired acceptance, longing for a normal life and societal recognition.

Yet, they lacked the ability to gain society's acceptance. If they couldn't abide by societal rules, they would only be further alienated.

Magneto knew Professor X meant well. He always sought to comfort and reassure, especially these second-generation mutants, whom he considered his children.

Whenever they misunderstood or felt wronged, Professor X rushed to provide the utmost care and affection.

This fundamental difference in approach was where Magneto and Professor X diverged. Magneto believed Professor X's kind words would only distance mutants from what they truly sought.

Turning away, Magneto had no interest in witnessing another psychologist gently guiding his children. He had seen this drama play out too many times.

Unexpectedly, Schiller, with a gentle expression, looked at Polaris and said, "Miss Lorna, I believe it's time for you to leave."

Polaris hesitated, seeming not to understand Schiller's meaning. So, he repeated, "Miss Lorna, please leave."

Stepping back, he cleared a path for Polaris. Confused, she opened her hands and said, "Did you two not argue? I just came to..."

"Miss Lorna, I'd prefer not to repeat myself a third time. I believe it's best if you leave," Schiller interjected firmly, though he stepped back physically.

Feeling a sense of injustice, Polaris raised her voice, "I just..."

Schiller lowered his gaze slightly, looking at Polaris from above. "You're confused. But if you don't leave this room now, I won't explain my attitude to you."

Observing Polaris's beautiful face, Schiller noted that despite her age, she still seemed youthful, typical of second-generation mutants who always appeared younger or more naive.

There was a childishness in their demeanor, unlike the typical innocence seen in school students. Second-generation mutants often exuded a reckless bravery, lacking understanding but possessing unwarranted confidence and heightened emotions.

Polaris, now in her thirties, wore an expression of frustration, not unlike a misunderstood high school girl. As she clenched her fist, the magnetic field around her arm hummed. Scott, slightly more mature than Polaris, stepped forward and tugged at her arm. "Lorna, let's leave."

Brushing off his grasp, Polaris glanced at Schiller and then at Magneto, who had turned away. She shook her hair forcefully and exclaimed, "Do you think I wanted to come here? To see him? I didn't! Never!"

She turned to leave, but in that moment as she stepped out of the door, Schiller turned his head to Magneto and said, "Stop her."

Without looking back, Magneto snapped his fingers, and with a resounding thud, Polaris collided with an invisible barrier.

Now outside the room, Polaris found herself unable to move farther. Schiller then turned his gaze to Scott, who said nothing and obediently left the room.

Meanwhile, Polaris outside was on the brink of an emotional breakdown. She was overwhelmed with incomprehension towards the situation, but instead of seeking understanding through dialogue, she began to vent her frustration.

"You bunch of lunatics! What do you want from me?! Do you find it amusing to toy with me?!" Polaris yelled from the doorway. "If you hate me, then just let me leave! I don't want to see any of you!"

Scott hurried to soothe her, "Lorna, Lorna, calm down. Dr. Schiller must have his reasons. You need to calm down so we can hear him out..."

At this, Schiller suddenly interjected, "If we were indeed toying with you, what would you do?"

Polaris's anger reached its peak. Instinctively, she flew into the air and expanded her magnetic field, attempting to transform herself into pure energy and unleash her full power. This was her final step in releasing her emotions—transforming all her feelings into violence.

"Stop her, but don't restrain her or harm her," Schiller said to Magneto.

Magneto turned around, making no visible movement. Yet Polaris, who had flown halfway into the air, dropped to the ground.

Unlike before when Magneto's immense power had pinned her down, Polaris now lost all control over her magnetic field, becoming as powerless as an ordinary person.

Approaching the doorway, Schiller stood in the entrance and watched as Polaris, who had just risen from the ground, knelt before him. He then bent down, extending his hand, and said, "I'm sorry, Miss, please get up."

Polaris, with disheveled hair falling across her face, looked up with a cold stare through the strands. "You're all the same, devoid of any guilt for hurting others, finding pleasure in it..." she muttered.

Schiller, however, showed a faint smile. He crouched down to meet Polaris's gaze and said, "Do you know why things turned out this way? Do you know why you're being treated like this?"

Polaris continued to stare at him without responding. Undeterred, Schiller kept his gaze fixed on her, repeating his initial question. When Polaris remained silent, he continued to probe.

After asking the same question multiple times, Polaris finally broke down. Clenching her hair, she yelled at Schiller, "Are you insane?! Didn't I already say? It's because you're all evil, cruel, heartless people! Both you and him are the same, you bunch of lunatics!!!"

"Is that what you believe?" Schiller asked again.

Polaris had lost all patience. She remained kneeling on the ground, covering her face with her hands, and muttered in frustration, "What do you want from me?"

"I want a positive answer," Schiller replied. "If you had nodded the first time I asked, we would be sitting inside, drinking tea by now."

Polaris slowly lifted her head. Through the gaps between her fingers, she saw no mocking smirk or pity in Schiller's expression. His demeanor appeared genuinely serious.

Looking at Schiller's face, Polaris felt a sense of unfamiliarity. She felt she shouldn't encounter someone like him in this circle, and those eyes shouldn't be scrutinizing her like this.

Schiller belonged in university lecture halls or consultation rooms, his focused gaze reserved for his brightest students or patients in need of his help—not for her in this sorry state.

At that moment, Schiller spoke again, "Do you truly believe that I'm treating you like this because I dislike you or find joy in tormenting you?"

Polaris nodded numbly. Reflected in the tiles, she saw Schiller smile and say, "You've answered me, so I should answer you."

Looking up at Schiller, Polaris couldn't comprehend why she suddenly felt so focused, eager to hear the answer.

In truth, after venting her emotions, Polaris had almost forgotten what the question was about. But as she realized she was about to hear the answer, she made a conscious effort to recall what had led to this moment.

Two seconds later, Polaris remembered. She had come to rescue Schiller, yet he inexplicably asked her to leave the room.

Just as she recalled the question, Schiller spoke:

"I asked you to leave the room just so you could knock and come back in."

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Next Chapter>>Chapter 1094: Father and Son (Twenty-three)