Wong had arranged the entire opening ceremony. In his original plan, teachers and students would mingle after dinner, but he had underestimated how unpredictable some mentors — and their celebrity guests — could be.
While the new students were still eating, Thor burst into their midst, dragging Loki along behind him. It felt more like an Asgardian invasion than a dignified Mage Academy gathering.
With a boisterous laugh, Thor snatched an orange juice from a ten-year-old student, downed it in one gulp, and smashed the cup with triumphant satisfaction. Then he pointed at the stunned youngster, declaring that while the juice tasted fine, it seemed too delicate. At a moment like this, wine would be far more appropriate.
He slapped Loki on the chest and proclaimed, "My brother Loki, the top mage of the Nine Realms, will teach you shadow and illusion magic. Trust me — his class will not disappoint."
Leaning in conspiratorially, he added loud enough for many to hear, "In fact, I think he's good enough to be vice principal."
Wong, already sitting at the teachers' table, flushed with irritation. He stood abruptly to reprimand Thor's audacity, but Tony Stark beat him to it.
Tony vaulted over the long table as if he were performing a stunt, arms wide in dramatic entrance. The students gasped when they recognized him.
"It seems everyone knows Iron Man, huh?" Tony said with swagger. Then he pointed at Thor. "Quiet down. You'll get autographs after dinner. And I'd hate for that 'Point-Break guy' over there to think he's even half as popular as me."
Thor narrowed his eyes. "Excuse me? I am Thor, Son of Odin, King of Asgard. Once everyone knows who I am, no one will care about Iron Man."
He raised Mjolnir, summoning streaks of lightning across the ceiling as magical projection. "Who wants an autograph? I'll sign as Thor, Loki, even Odin, if you like."
The new students watched, mouths agape. If he wasn't lying, he was truly Thor from legend — what kind of Academy welcomed gods?
Tony laughed. "Okay, I've changed my mind. Autographs from me, too — but you can't ask point-break Thor afterward."
Thor tapped Tony with his hammer. "As long as I sign first, come get me anytime."
"Fine," Tony said, raising two fingers. "Two signatures from me."
"Three," Thor growled happily.
"Four!"
"Five…"
Amid their childish bickering, the students grew awkward, holding out paper and pens. At the long table, most of the professors hid their faces in embarrassment.
Banner and Wong seemed mortified, while Lilia, Jennifer, and the naive Diana shifted uncomfortably, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
Mordo, usually stern and composed, finally stood. Holding up the Ancient One's portrait, he walked to the edge of the table, addressing the students like a herald.
"Children, look here! This is the Ancient One, the great Sorcerer of Kamar-Taj. If anyone wants an autograph, come to me, not those two loudmouths."
The room fell silent in surprise. Even the Ancient One, her image calm and still in the portrait, seemed to blink in disbelief — was she really about to give autographs?
Tony and Thor had succeeded in turning the opening ceremony into a circus. The new students, though, remained orderly. They simply extended their autograph papers eagerly.
Malrick tapped a bell on the table and raised his voice. "If anyone wants an autograph, now is your chance. Professors, introduce yourselves."
He shot Wong a wry glance. "With Thor and Iron Man here, I don't expect this to go as smoothly as Hogwarts."
He gave Wong a supportive look and said, "Why don't you join them? Start with a self-introduction."
Wong sighed, stood, and addressed the students formally. The other professors followed, one by one, until finally Professor Daniel introduced himself.
Applause rose around the room, and the students stood with their chairs pushed back.
Tony and Thor exchanged competitive smiles — still poised to compete for autograph supremacy — but all at once, the students surged toward Malrick's table, waving paper and pens.
"Superman! Oh my god, it's really Superman! My Principal is Superman, and he's right here!"
"Principal, please sign right here!"
"Can I use the scholarship for something else if I win?"
Malrick grinned as the crowd pressed in. "Alright, alright, don't push. I promise everyone will get a signature."
He accepted the papers one by one and signed "Superman" — tailoring each autograph to the student's native language. The students formed a neat line, surprisingly civil, and waited their turn.
Tony and Thor stood frozen for a moment, ignored by the crowd.
Tony cleared his throat. "Well, Superman's pretty popular. I guess I can't compete with that."
Thor nodded with mock humility. "On Earth, yes, but in Asgard, I still have some clout."
Tony wagged a finger. "Only in Asgard. On Earth, Iron Man reigns."
Thor shrugged. "That's because Midgardians don't know my power yet. If they did —"
Tony cut in, "Unless… you join the Avengers. Then maybe."
Thor's eyes lit up: "Avengers? What's that?"