The Holy Son in Marvel

Before leaving his apartment, Solomon summoned three invisible servants, instructing them to finish the dinner preparations and reminding the Cheshire Cat not to sneak a taste. Afterward, he immediately followed Wu Guiyue through a portal back to Kamar-Taj. There, the Grandmaster was assembling a group of mystics, each assigned specific tasks, most of whom were stewards from the New York Sanctuary.

When Solomon arrived at the headquarters' training grounds, Mage Daniel of the New York Sanctuary was leading a team in opening portals to various parts of New York. Seeing the mystics mobilizing in force, Solomon grew uneasy, fearing he might have missed or delayed something important. Sensing his apprehension, the Grandmaster gestured for Solomon to relax.

"It's about the Merlin School," the Grandmaster explained to the anxious Solomon. "I know what you're thinking, but something happened with Balthazar—just after you left. You should have brought your phone; Balthazar already tried to contact you."

"My apologies, Master," Solomon replied, lowering his head. "What exactly happened?"

The Grandmaster, showing no hint of urgency, relayed the situation calmly. He even indulged in recounting the messy love triangle among Balthazar, Hoffas, and Veronica—a story rich with betrayal, resentment, and sacrifice. Veronica had chosen Balthazar, which led to Hoffas's jealousy and resentment; Veronica had then sacrificed herself to seal Morgan Le Fay, while Balthazar had wandered the world for a millennium seeking a successor to find closure. It was like a soap opera script, one that could easily draw tears from a mature audience. Such dramatic tales from Camelot, if not for the Lancelot affair, would have been enough to keep an entire city buzzing for a year.

Compared to Morgan Le Fay's magic, specifically her "Spirit Summoning" spell, the Grandmaster seemed more amused by the tangled loves and feuds within Merlin's circle. In those days, the Grandmaster had been preoccupied with wars and quelling uprisings, often missing out on such juicy events. Now, he seemed almost nostalgic, reflecting on the past like an elder recounting tales. Solomon found himself caught between wanting to enjoy the gossip and realizing this wasn't the time.

Seeing Solomon's frustration, the Grandmaster reassured him. "Don't worry. Hoffas's intentions aren't purely for Morgan Le Fay's benefit," the Grandmaster said. "Why do you think I shared this story? Hoffas helped Morgan Le Fay primarily because of his rivalry with Balthazar. Besides, Veronica sealed Morgan's avatar within herself. Which means…"

"You're saying that the 'Spirit Summoning Ritual' wasn't Hoffas's true goal?" Solomon realized. "Releasing Morgan Le Fay isn't his real objective? His ultimate aim must be to separate Morgan from Veronica's body?"

"Exactly!" the Grandmaster nodded. "Hoffas's endgame is to release Veronica. The ritual with Morgan Le Fay is just a means to an end. As for removing Morgan's influence from Veronica... that's where Hoffas's plan lies."

Solomon absentmindedly rubbed his ring. If the Grandmaster's assessment of Hoffas was correct, then Hoffas was the most devoted individual Solomon had ever encountered. He had spent over a thousand years solely to save the one he loved, even if it meant betraying his own allies.

The Grandmaster, having likely glimpsed the future through the Eye of Agamotto, appeared unbothered, having dispatched the New York mystics with specific tasks. When Solomon asked how Hoffas intended to manipulate Morgan Le Fay, the Grandmaster responded with a basic but profound question.

"What do we rely on to cast spells?"

"Our soul," Solomon replied. This fundamental question was a staple for every spellcaster. Without a strong enough soul, powerful magic was impossible. Even a novice mystic could answer this.

The Grandmaster walked slowly toward the headquarters library, and Solomon followed him.

"And what happens when casting a spell fails?" the Grandmaster asked.

"The soul suffers magical backlash…" Solomon suddenly understood Hoffas's plan.

Morgan Le Fay's soul was far more powerful than Veronica's. After Veronica sealed Morgan's avatar within herself, Morgan's soul quickly gained dominance, which was why Balthazar had chosen to seal Veronica. But if Morgan Le Fay attempted to cast a powerful spell and failed, the resulting backlash would severely damage her avatar's soul. Even if Morgan couldn't be entirely expelled from Veronica's body, it would allow Veronica's soul to regain control.

"Master, you've already seen the end, haven't you?" Solomon asked. "That's why you had the New York mystics oversee the process, guiding events toward the outcome you envisioned. Just like when you sent me to investigate the Darkhold, ensuring Jubileus's defeat."

"You have to understand, some things won't happen if they're spoken aloud," the Grandmaster explained. "Like a prophecy. When someone hears a prophecy, they often act to prevent it, inadvertently bringing about the predicted outcome. Had I told you outright that your objective wasn't the Darkhold but Jubileus and Bayonetta, things wouldn't have unfolded as they did. I also didn't disclose the entire plan to the New York mystics; instead, I divided the task into small missions. For some, it was as simple as ensuring someone didn't trip or tossing a can into a trash bin. But when all these variables converge, they can steer events in the right direction."

"You've told me the outcome of this affair, so I doubt it's to involve me directly in Hoffas's scheme," Solomon said. "Why did you summon me, then?"

"Balthazar first landed in North America in the New England area," the Grandmaster replied, seemingly off-topic. "A place you've visited before."

"I've been to Maine, and I've been to Massachusetts. Everyone there looks like they belong in The Truman Show," Solomon quipped. "Okay, joking aside—are you saying Balthazar landed in Massachusetts or Maine?"

"Massachusetts. He visited Salem and took part in the Salem witch trials."

The Grandmaster's words brought back memories of Solomon's impressions of Salem from years ago. The town was full of ancient, dark-roofed buildings, with a notably slow pace of life. Besides a store named Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie, what stood out most was a lingering stench of sinister magic.

"One of the dark wizards Balthazar imprisoned was captured in Salem. For Hoffas to release Veronica, he'll have to free that dark wizard too. In fact, this witch is far more dangerous than any other dark mage Balthazar has ever encountered. He didn't know who she was, and the Salem witch trials erupted because of her—she drove the people there mad. But Balthazar didn't kill her because he had no idea what he was dealing with. You have one goal." The Grandmaster stopped in front of the library, turning to face Solomon with a serious look.

"Find Abigail Williams, and kill her!"

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