Just as he reached the bottom of the stairs, Li William caught sight of two figures bustling about in the kitchen.
His father, Li Wenhua, sported a slight beer belly, accentuated by his suit trousers and a crisply ironed white shirt, topped with an apron. His hair slicked back, he moved about the stove with a jovial demeanor, seeming every bit the man in his late thirties or early forties.
Beside him, a blonde, blue-eyed woman in her thirties or forties, Mary Taylor, wore jeans and a white short-sleeved shirt. Her fair skin contrasted with the vibrant greens she washed under the tap.
These were Li William's parents in this life.
Indeed, Li William was a child of two worlds: his father was from Longguo, having fled to Hong Kong with his father amidst chaos, and later moving to England to escape the deteriorating public security in Hong Kong over a decade ago. Leveraging his ancestral culinary skills, Li Wenhua made a name for himself in London, opening his own restaurant where he met and charmed Mary Taylor, leading to the birth of Li William.
Li William's name itself was a blend of East and West, a testament to his parents' cultural compromise.
As he descended, Mary, noticing her son, immediately sensed something amiss.
"Baby, you look troubled. What's wrong?" she asked, eyebrow arched in concern.
Li Wenhua, turning from his cooking, echoed her sentiment, "What's on your mind, son?"
Gathering his courage, Li William announced, "It's not a worry, but... I have something important to tell you!"
"Oh? What's the matter?" Li Wenhua asked, putting down his spoon to give his full attention.
Mary also paused her task, smiling encouragingly at Li William as she waited for him to speak.
Both parents demonstrated a deep respect and care uncommon for the age of their child, a testament to Li William's mature demeanor over the years.
"I'm awakened," Li William began, pausing to gauge their reaction before continuing, "I have awakened the x-gene!"
Li Wenhua was visibly stunned, while Mary quickly sought confirmation, "Are you serious, baby? You've awakened the x-gene?"
"Yes!" Li William affirmed, recounting the morning's events and his discovery of his powers. To illustrate, he placed a coin on the floor and concentrated. The coin twitched slightly—modest, yet undeniable proof of his powers.
Li Wenhua's expression turned grave.
Mary's reaction was mixed; surprise, then hesitation, and finally, as if deciding, she took a deep breath.
Before she could speak, Li Wenhua interjected, "Have you told anyone else about this?"
"No," Li William replied, understanding the gravity of their privacy.
Relieved, Li Wenhua advised, "Then we keep this within the family. Don't demonstrate your abilities outside; pretend it never happened, understand?"
Li William nodded, aware of the potential dangers to mutants from his extensive knowledge of films and series.
Just then, Mary interjected with a revelation, "I have something to admit that is directly related to William's awakening."
Li Wenhua, puzzled, responded, "Is now the time? Shouldn't we focus on William's situation?"
"This is about his situation," Mary insisted, "William hasn't awakened the x-gene. He's awakened magical powers!"
She paused for effect, then produced a wand, casting a simple spell, "Lumos!" Instantly, a bright orb of light filled the room.
"I graduated from Hogwarts," Mary revealed, explaining her decision to leave the chaotic wizarding world for a mundane life, which led to their family's current life.
Li Wenhua was in shock, never having guessed Mary's true identity.
Li William's mind reeled from the revelations—his world wasn't just filled with comic book heroes but also the magic of Harry Potter!
The realization that his powers were magical, not mutant, sent him spiraling from elation to despair. The implications of magic versus mutant powers in a world filled with beings like Thanos were overwhelming.
As he grappled with this new reality, a mechanical voice suddenly echoed in his mind, "System activation complete."