Beyond Evolution

Ever since coming to Xavier’s Marie-Ange’s card readings had become far more interesting than they had ever been while she was back home in France. Even before coming to the school it had always been habit, at last once a day to sit down with a pack of her well-loved cards and focus on everything and everyone around her. The things she saw sometimes hinted at the small and mundane and sometimes the monumental, like her premonitions of Sabretooth’s rampage. In some ways, Marie-Ange was the like the proverbial canary in the mine. Vague though the messages may be, she could still see and predict things that others couldn’t. So in some way she felt a responsibility to be vigilant, to keep watch in case those warnings were needed and could be made use of. Still, she didn’t want to be seen as the girl who cried wolf since her readings were still less than specific at times. The helplessness she’d felt at not being able to properly warn everyone last time was something that still lingered with her, and probably would for a very long time. So the habit continued, but with a new, heightened purpose.

To those around her it was no unusual sight to see Marie-Ange off to herself, her cards the only constant companion. Today was no different. Once afternoon rolled around and classes were done, she roamed outside, settling underneath a tree in the backyard. The ground was soft and even beneath her feet, and the wind was still enough she could deal out the cards right on the grass without worrying about them being disturbed. Placing each one down with care that was both meticulous and instinctive, Marie-Ange focused, both on the meaning of each individual card and how it added to entire picture of the configuration. As often was the case with things at Xavier’s, the reading was strong. But it was far from the most ominous she’d done. There were no hints at disaster or destruction, but instead- creation. Though that could be a slight paradox since creation, in and of itself was often destructive. But no, it wasn’t exactly creation so much as renewal. Reversal. It made sense in so many ways. Spring was the time for things to begin anew, to start over, even down to the most common levels. Graduation was coming up, and soon many of the students here would transition into the next period of their lives.

Well there was no use in neglecting one aspect of her abilities for the other. Plucking another card from the deck, Marie-Ange briefly inspected the image before a small patch of flowers sprung up right next to her, shifting from the card into reality. The irises made her smile and though she had never exactly been homesick while at Xavier’s, the reminder of home was not unwelcome.

[narrative or open!]