Early the next morning, Alaric was ready to head to the New York Sanctum.
He thought that the Ancient One would take him there, since he didn't know the way, nor the mage who was currently guarding the Sanctum.
But after searching all around Kamar-Taj, he couldn't find the Ancient One anywhere.
"Emmm… don't you want to see me one last time?"
"Am I already that annoying to her?"
Alaric couldn't help but wonder.
In the end, he came to the conclusion that the only reason they were avoiding him was jealousy!
"Yes, that must be it!"
…
"Alaric!"
While he was considering whether to go directly to the Sanctum himself or wait, Wong appeared.
"Wong? Is something wrong?"
"I will take you to the New York Sanctum."
"And what about the Ancient One?"
"I don't know where she is right now. Anyway, that doesn't concern us. She only told me to take you to the Sanctum."
Wong walked in front, while Alaric followed him.
"All right."
It seemed the Ancient One still had something to finish.
"Alaric," Wong suddenly stopped, speaking in a serious voice, "although the New York Sanctum has magical doors connected to Kamar-Taj, if something happens to the Sanctum, we cannot always guarantee that every passage will remain stable."
"Don't worry," Alaric said confidently, "as long as I'm there, nothing will happen to the New York Sanctum!"
He was sure that with his current strength, no one could match him.
Unless Dormammu personally came to attack Earth, all others, even Kaecilius, would have to fall before him.
That was Alaric's unshakable conviction.
"No, you didn't understand me." Wong shook his head.
"If you start playing around again like last time and recklessly enter other dimensions, even the Ancient One may not be able to recognize your situation in time and save you."
"That's why I hope you'll calm down a bit and not be the greatest disaster that could befall the Sanctum."
Wong still had in mind what had happened last time, so he strictly warned him not to cause trouble when he arrived in New York.
"I know."
Alaric hadn't expected Wong to call him himself a disaster.
Also, did everyone here really see him as that careless?
Since arriving at Kamar-Taj, hadn't he always done everything properly?
Even when he accidentally ended up in the Dark Dimension, he didn't need anyone to save him, he came back on his own.
Looking at it that way, apart from sometimes making a bit more noise, there weren't any serious problems!
You're the ones who panic too much!
Wong: "Yes, maybe just a little noise… big enough for the Ancient One to start saying her last words."
….
Alaric followed Wong into the magical hall.
The Sanctum looked old, built of stone. The space of the main hall wasn't large; in its center stood a stone platform.
Alaric knew that this platform was used to monitor Earth. As soon as a dimensional or magical threat appeared anywhere, the platform would immediately display it.
Besides the passage he had just entered, on the remaining three walls there were magical doors. They led to the three main sanctums: Hong Kong, London, and New York.
"Our mission in Kamar-Taj is to defend the world from every magical threat," Wong explained.
"The Almighty Agamotto, using his power, built three sanctums on the most powerful places on Earth: in Hong Kong, London, and New York. They are connected to each other and together form a shield that protects the entire world. We mages protect the sanctums, and the sanctums guard the world."
Wong stopped in front of the door.
"These are the doors of the New York Sanctum. Let's go inside."
Alaric followed him through the portal and arrived at the New York Sanctum.
"Daniel? Are you here?" Wong called as they climbed to the second floor.
"Daniel is the mage currently guarding the New York Sanctum," said Wong.
"And you are here to replace him on his shift."
"I understand," Alaric replied.
Daniel. Alaric remembered that he was the unlucky mage whom Kaecilius killed. Or was Kaecilius simply too strong thanks to the power of the Dark Dimension?
"Wong! You're here!"
Daniel came out of one of the rooms and spotted Wong and Alaric.
"Daniel!"
"Wong, why are you here?" he asked curiously.
"The Sorcerer Supreme wants Alaric to take over your shift, so you can return to Kamar-Taj and rest," Wong replied.
"Alaric?" Daniel looked at the young mage beside him.
"Hello," said Alaric.
"Hello." Daniel nodded to him, but then pulled Wong a little to the side.
"Wong, is this really the Sorcerer Supreme's decision? For Alaric to guard the Sanctum?"
"Yes. Do you doubt it?"
"No, that's not it," Daniel replied.
"It's just… Alaric looks too young. Is he really capable of protecting the safety of the Sanctum?"
Daniel wasn't questioning the Ancient One's decision, but he felt doubt. At Alaric's age, most mages were just entering Kamar-Taj.
Daniel couldn't hide his skepticism.
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