A Mutant Collector Quest

Shaking my head, I sigh. "Never mind. It's just something I noticed."

Her brows furrow, but she lets it go. "Were you trying to ask me about my mother?" she ventures hesitantly. "There is no need to beat around the bush. Honestly, I don't know much about her either," she adds with a faint smile.

She releases my hand and picks up the small stone doll from the side again. "I imagine she must have been very pretty, maybe with white hair like mine. I made this statue imagining what she might look like. I even showed it to my father, but he never says anything when I bring her up… Sometimes I wonder if she is even alive." Her lonely smile tugs at my heart.

"Clea…" I mutter softly, holding her palm gently. "I believe she is definitely alive somewhere." I say quietly, knowing full well that no one could ever truly kill her, not when her mother is the sister of Dormammu himself—a Faltine, an almost undying and ageless energy lifeform.

That makes Clea the niece of Dormammu, half Faltine and half Mhuruuk. It also means Clea has extraordinary magical potential, a cheat character of sorts, one whose power would easily emerge with the right guidance.

"You think so?" she asks, her smile returning. "I hope I get to meet her soon, then." She adds, with a bright smile.

I can't help but wonder if she would really find that reunion as joyful as she imagines, but I don't want to crush her hope.

"Clea, what if I asked you to come with me?" I ask gently, my voice softening. "Come with me back to Earth." I say taking a deep breath, knowing that the longer she stays here, the bleaker her fate will become.

"Earth?" she repeats, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "You want me to go to Earth, to your home for a trip? I… I would love to! Let me go ask my father!" She jumps to her feet, but I quickly pull her back by her arm.

"Wait. What if you didn't tell him? What if you just… snuck out with me?" I suggest, in a hopeful tone.

"B-but then if my father realizes that I am not at home… he might get worried," she says, speaking uncertainly. "At least let me tell him I will be back in a few hours, or maybe I could leave a note for him," she adds, thinking hard.

I take another deep breath. "Clea, I don't want you to follow me back to Earth for just a trip. What I want is for you to leave this place and come live with me on Earth!" I say in the gentlest voice, looking deeply into her beautiful blue eyes.

Her eyes widen in confusion. "Live with you on Earth... but why? The Dark Dimension is my home, my father lives here... And soon I will have to join the Lord and become his disciple too!"

"That's exactly it, Clea... You are too innocent, too pure. I... I don't want you to get tainted... I don't want you to become HIS disciple," I say, my gaze firm as it meets hers.

She tilts her head, a soft smile forming. "I get it. You are worried we will have to fight one day if I do, aren't you?"

"It's not just that. Clea, your 'God'—the one you worship—is definitely not a true God, and he is certainly not concerned with the well-being of the residents in the Dark Dimension," I explain gently.

Her expression shifts to one of upset disbelief. "Why would you say that, Luke? Even if you are not from here, you shouldn't speak that way about our God."

I sigh, realizing it's too soon to change her mind. "Alright, alright," I concede, moving closer and look seriously into her eyes. "Just promise me you will keep an open mind. Watch what your 'God' does and make your own judgments."

After a moment's hesitation, she nods. "Uhm... okay, sure. I promise," she says, a faint blush rising in her cheeks as she avoids my gaze.

"Good, as a reward, let me teach you a new game," I say, holding her palm. "This one is called thumb wrestling," I add with a smile as she excitedly learns how to play.

This is still fine. From what I can tell by my meta knowledge, I have met Clea much earlier than when Dr. Strange encounters her. At that point in the comics, she was already a disciple of Dormammu and knew he was somewhat evil. She then even helps Dr. Strange confront Dormammu, and eventually, after many more encounters, she agrees to leave for Earth with him.

So, I ideally should still have plenty of time to sway her to my side.

"Ugh, how did I lose again?" Clea exclaims as I pin her thumb under mine.

I grin smugly. "And that's another win for Luke the Traveler... or better yet, call me Space Explorer—or Dimensional Explorer!" I flex my chest muscles dramatically, one at a time.

Clea bursts into laughter. "You are so funny, Luke. But you need a better title—maybe you can be called 'the Mystery Man!'" she says, grinning happily.

"And you can be the Mystery Girl," I say, bowing down and kissing the back of her smooth, fair hand.

"Shouldn't I be the Mystery Woman?" she asks, her radiant smile brightening.

"Nah, you are still just a girl, not a woman," I tease with a wink as I stand up from the bed.

She pouts adorably. "Huh? What do you mean by that, Luke? I have passed 20 cycles long ago; I am a proper adult!" she adds getting up too.

"Then let me show you how adults have fun," I say, extending my hand. "Let me teach you how to dance."

"Dance? What's that?" she asks, curiosity shining in her eyes as she accepts my hand.

"It's something friends do together when they are happy and want to have fun," I reply with a grin, gently taking her hand and placing the other on her waist. "Keep your hands here," I instruct, guiding her hands to my own waist. "Now, just follow my feet and flow with the rhythm," I add, smiling happily.

"Rhythm? What rhythm?" she asks, excitement bubbling in her voice.

"Hmmm… Hmmm… Hmm… Fly me to the Moon, and let me play among the stars," I begin singing and humming 'Fly Me to the Moon' as I move my body in rhythm, guiding her to follow along.

"Is this dancing?! Hahah, this is fun!" Clea says, quickly catching on and mimicking my steps.

We both continue to sing and dance, with Clea even starting to hum along to the tune. At one point, we both float in the small room, moving together effortlessly.

"This is so much fun!" she exclaims, her laughter filling the room as we both come to a stop, standing atop her stone bed.

"I am glad you like it," I say, smiling warmly as I hold her in my arms.

"Do friends on Earth really dance like this?" she asks, her blue eyes sparkling.

"They dance even more crazily than this, though I doubt anyone back home has ever danced in the air like us," I replied with a smirk. "Also we might even be the first people to dance in the entire Dark Dimension," I add, my grin widening.

"Haha, that makes me happier," she says with a beautiful laugh. Then, after a brief pause, her voice softens. "Luke, what is a kiss, by the way?" she asks, a small smile playing on her lips.

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Pokemon: School of Masters, is my new story which I have already uploaded on webnovel please check it out!

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