C4 Mutant

Charles Xavier was skeptical of her words, yet he trusted her sincerity and goodwill, so he nodded in affirmation of her speculation.

"Ms. Angela, my legs are indeed paralyzed due to an external injury. I've sought treatment at numerous hospitals, and the nerve damage is quite severe. I'm sure you grasp the implications of that," he explained.

In the 20th century, it was commonly believed that while many cell types in the human body could regenerate, nerve cells could not. As a result, nerve damage often led to permanent functional impairments.

However, by the latter half of the 21st century, many of these medical notions had been revolutionized.

Qi Ann rose confidently and produced the Healing Staff, aiming it at the man before her.

"I understand the gravity of your situation, but I'd like you to consider the latest advancements in Nano Technology," she said.

Targeting "Charles Xavier," Qi Ann pressed the button on the Healing Staff with her right thumb, activating the "Healing" skill. Golden specks coalesced into a beam that flowed into Charles Xavier's body.

The resilient Mutant initially paid little heed, but as moments passed, his expression transformed. Incredulously, he reached out to touch his legs, which had long been numb, and a jolt akin to electricity shot straight to his brain.

Charles Xavier's hands shook as he gripped the armrests of his wheelchair. After fifteen minutes, he gritted his teeth and attempted to bear his body's weight on his legs.

For the first time in years, Charles stood once more—not by forcing control through his psychic powers, but through the inherent strength of his own body. A surge of vitality and power coursed through his legs as if he had never lost the capacity to walk.

Qi Ann retracted the Healing Staff and said with a smile, "I'm merely a doctor who sometimes performs miracles. What's your take, Professor X?"

It took Charles Xavier a while to find his voice, but when he did, it was with heartfelt conviction: "I now fully understand why your former companions called you 'angel,' because that's exactly what I believe. You've brought forth a miracle."

To Qi Ann, it was just another treatment completed. It wasn't something trivial, yet it wasn't an achievement to boast about—not when compared to, say, using her Ultimate Skill to resurrect five teammates. Healing a disability that prevented walking was significant, but in her view, it was all in a day's work.

Qi Ann was unaware of the years of pain Charles Xavier had endured because of his legs, nor did she know how long the one responsible for his injury had suffered. She also couldn't grasp what this all meant to the mutant students at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.

But she was about to find out.

Charles Xavier's eyes, often deep with thought and a rich blue, suddenly cleared, shining with the clarity of a bright, blue sky, his happiness evident in his expression. He asked with heartfelt gratitude, "How can I ever thank you, Ms. Angela?"

Qi Ann responded with a genuine smile.

"Perhaps you could start by calling me 'Angela' without the formality. And, considering the school already has an 'angel,' how about 'Mercy' instead?"

"Angela Ziegler" is known as "Mercy" on the official Overwatch website, a name chosen over "angel" when translated into Chinese. "Mercy" better captures the essence of Angela Ziegler—compassion, empathy, tolerance, and fortune.

It's worth mentioning that players often joked that being healed by an angel was a stroke of luck, especially since the most common angel in the Chinese version of Overwatch was known as the "Smoking Angel," notorious for waiting until teammates were down before swooping in for a mass resurrection.

"Mercy—it's a fitting moniker," Charles Xavier said, fully appreciating the significance of the nickname. After a moment's reflection, he tentatively shared his thoughts.

"Angela, words fail to convey my appreciation. If it's alright with you, please make yourself at home here until I can find a proper way to thank you. You will always be a distinguished guest at Xavier School. And if you're interested in teaching biology, I'd be happy to offer you a separate salary."

Qi Ann was taken aback.

She had only just agreed to a temporary stay, and now she was being offered a permanent place of honor? Things were moving quickly!

She gazed at the middle-aged man before her, intending to offer some words of caution, but found herself speechless, lost in the familiarity of his blue eyes.

Nostalgia and a tinge of melancholy welled up inside her, prompting an involuntary sigh.

"Mr. Xavier, you bear an uncanny resemblance to someone I once knew..."

Charles Xavier was swiftly enveloped by a wave of nostalgia, the tender emotion softening his features.

"Just call me Charles," he suggested, "otherwise, I feel I should be addressing you as 'Dr. Ziegler'."

Qi Ann's eyes twinkled with surprise at the familiar address. With a smile, she replied, "Alright, Charles. I'd be delighted to teach biology, but I fear my knowledge might be quite outdated compared to the current research in this world. To play it safe, until I get up to speed with the textbooks here, perhaps I should consider a different role. How about the school doctor?"

Charles nodded in agreement without hesitation.

"Hank will be thrilled. He's been juggling the school doctor duties on top of his research and has mentioned more than once how it's been holding him back. And since Hank is a biology expert too, I'm sure he'll be very pleased to meet you."

Qi Ann beamed, "So, it's decided then? However, I don't have an ID card, so I can't sign a labor contract."

Charles responded with a playful tone, "Hmm, that does seem to give me an excuse to delay your paycheck."

With a raised eyebrow, Qi Ann watched as Charles quickly added, "While it's not an issue within the school, it could be problematic when you're out and about. If you trust me, I'll arrange to get you an ID card."

Qi Ann chuckled, "If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have stayed. Now that we've reached an understanding, may I inquire about the nature of this school? I've noticed quite a few unique students around."

With an affirming smile, Charles explained, "Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters—it's exclusively for 'Mutant' students."

"Mutant?" Qi Ann echoed, a light of realization in her eyes. Her instincts as a doctor and scientist kicked in, "So Warren Worthington III's wings aren't the result of some scientific experiment, but a natural genetic mutation? Do all the students here have genetic mutations? Are they all visibly apparent, or are there also hidden mutations? Is the change purely physical, or does it encompass other aspects as well? Are these mutations stable within their genetics or just random occurrences?"

She rattled off a string of guesses before snapping back to reality, her cheeks coloring with a sudden flush of embarrassment as she apologized.

"Sorry, I got a little carried away."

Charles Xavier shook his head with a forgiving smile.

"There's no need to apologize. Actually, it's commendable that you're able to approach the subject of 'Mutants' with such an open mind."