The Holy Son in Marvel

When Kamar-Taj discovered Roshan's disappearance, they weren't overly surprised. Solomon had already warned them that S.H.I.E.L.D. agents might come for her. Johnny Blaze, feeling the pressure, would also likely pause his roaming and soul-burning activities, making it feasible to reach out to him again.

S.H.I.E.L.D.'s usual control methods couldn't contain the Ghost Rider; they could only manage Johnny Blaze himself. But what surprised Solomon was that now S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn't even control Ghost Rider's human host. This was bad news. "What the hell are you talking about?" Solomon raised his voice, attracting some attention. He quickly pulled Coulson into a secluded corner.

"Johnny Blaze has disappeared? You'd better explain this clearly." Solomon's face turned serious. "I was planning to visit the Triskelion and talk to Nick Fury in a few days, but now it seems I need to know what's going on immediately. What exactly did you say to Ghost Rider's host?"

"Don't you watch the news?" Coulson shot back.

"No."

"Then you don't know what Houston looks like now." Coulson shook his head. "While Captain America wasn't injured, many buildings were damaged. This kind of incident, although classified, needs to be reported to the World Security Council. Director Fury is under tremendous pressure. Given that this also involves Captain America, he has to report some of the details to the Council."

"And what about Roshan?" Solomon asked.

"We arranged protection for her," Coulson replied somewhat awkwardly. "We even set up a meeting between her and Johnny Blaze. I know what you're thinking—we did have surveillance, but we didn't overhear them discussing where they were going. Higher-level agents might have a lead on Johnny Blaze, but I don't have that clearance, so this is all I know."

"I think I understand." The sorcerer tugged at his collar, looking somewhat agitated. "You're saying that Ghost Rider might still be in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s custody, but he's disappeared from the view of low-ranking agents like you, so Roshan simply told you he's missing?"

"Exactly," Coulson nodded. "In fact, I'm only telling you this because it's been authorized, as this is intelligence well above my level. Director Fury anticipated that you might come looking for him. If you do visit Triskelion, you'll only get to meet me anyway. Even Agent Maria Hill isn't fully briefed on this, so if you want more information, you'll have to follow Fury's protocol."

"I'm starting to despise all this secrecy." Solomon took a glass of champagne from a tray, ignoring Coulson's caution about underage drinking. "I'm confident Ghost Rider is locked up somewhere in a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility, and Nick Fury has found a way to control him. Has he frozen Johnny Blaze? But let me remind you, Johnny is Johnny, and Ghost Rider is Ghost Rider."

"What do you mean?"

"Ghost Rider's essence is a demonic spirit. Unless you've mastered magic, you won't be able to contain it." The sorcerer finished the champagne in one gulp, feeling somewhat relieved. He had brought up magic specifically to refer to the pages from the Book of Eibon. Although he now had the original, he couldn't rule out the possibility that S.H.I.E.L.D. had kept a copy. This idea had just come to him—if Ghost Rider was indeed with S.H.I.E.L.D., he could use Ghost Rider to test whether S.H.I.E.L.D. really held a copy.

If S.H.I.E.L.D. had indeed used some method to restrain Johnny Blaze, Ghost Rider would undoubtedly rebel. Not even a vibranium cage could hold him. To prevent Ghost Rider from breaking out, S.H.I.E.L.D. might turn to actual magic, with the Book of Eibon becoming prime research material. If a copy existed, only by letting S.H.I.E.L.D. lead a sorcerer to it would Kamar-Taj be able to track down whoever tried to learn from the Book of Eibon through Agamotto's crystal ball. Then the sorcerers could locate the copy's location without issue. As for any agents or scientists who might lose their sanity or lives, Solomon thought to himself, that was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s choice—consequences of their decision to keep a copy.

Though Solomon hoped the copy didn't exist, he knew they all had to accept the consequences of their choices, both he and S.H.I.E.L.D. As for the backlash he might face for this plan, that was a concern for another time; he had no regrets.

"Are you offering magical assistance?" Coulson asked, either oblivious to or ignoring Solomon's ill intent. He completely avoided mentioning the Book of Eibon and instead shifted the topic back to Solomon.

"Is Ghost Rider with S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

"I don't know; my clearance isn't high enough."

"Alright, if Ghost Rider isn't in S.H.I.E.L.D., Kamar-Taj won't provide magical assistance. If he is, we'll just wait for him to break out and then catch him." The sorcerer waved dismissively, his words clearly hollow, and he couldn't even be bothered to keep up formalities with Coulson. "S.H.I.E.L.D. can't meddle with magic. That's non-negotiable."

"Understood."

"Well, good luck to you." Solomon gestured for Coulson to rejoin his girlfriend. "You've got a story to tell her."

---

"When we get back, you're going to train with me in spear combat." Athena seemed a bit displeased, gripping Solomon's arm tightly. "I never thought we'd run into agents at an art exhibit."

"There's more to it than that, isn't there?" Solomon looked slightly apprehensive. Athena had been urging him to pick up the shield and spear for Spartan-style combat training. The day after such sessions, he was usually too exhausted to even lift his fingers. Over time, these sessions had become a punishment of sorts and were the training he dreaded most.

"And then there are female spies and witches!" Athena's cheeks puffed in annoyance. "I heard that you're now living with a witch and not even returning to Kamar-Taj at night."

"That's only occasionally! And I have no connection whatsoever with the female spy!"

"You're having dinner with the witch! And you say you've done nothing wrong!"

Solomon was stunned by Athena's rebuttal, finding no logic in it. Since when did having dinner with Bayonetta become a problem? Well, he finally understood why Kaecilius had told him never to argue with an angry woman; it was pointless—even if she were a goddess. To avoid a harsher training punishment, Solomon wisely chose to keep his mouth shut.

"Why aren't you talking? Do you admit you were wrong?"

"Spare me, Athena," Solomon snapped, frustrated. "The witch is my chosen partner."

"But I don't approve!" Athena replied, her voice annoyed. "You only need a mature woman! I even found Vanessa for you!"

"My ideal partner is someone like you, not just anyone with long legs."

"Oh, well then, I suppose you have some taste after all."

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