With a casual flick of my wrist, the library shimmered. Books, grimoires, scrolls, cauldrons, magical resources, even the obscene collection of slutty outfits — all of it vanished in a swirl of light.
Not gone. Just tucked neatly into my own personal dimension, a pocket reality threaded directly into my soul. A private vault that no one in this universe could touch.
"That's better," I said, dusting my hands.
Mystica hopped gracefully onto my shoulder, her tail curling like a ribbon around the back of my neck. "Efficient. And a little flashy. You didn't even bother with runes."
"Please," I said with a smirk, "if I used runes every time, we'd never get anything done."
The cat purred, warm against my neck.
I stepped out of the cabin — my cabin. Quaint, wooden, with flowers blooming along its sides and smoke curling from the chimney. The kind of house that screamed innocent fairy-tale witch, not immortal magical overlord in training. A good cover.
The air outside was crisp, the kind of untouched purity you only got centuries before industrial smoke and city noise. Rolling green hills stretched out around me. Somewhere in the distance, a river glittered in the sun. Birds called, wind whispered.
"Three hundred years before the MCU begins," I said aloud, hands on my hips. "Let's think. Who are the big players right now?"
Mystica tilted her head, her golden eyes sharp. "You know."
"Oh, I know." I tapped my temple. "The Ancient One. Sorcerer Supreme. Guarding Earth's magical balance from Kamar-Taj. And Odin, the All-Father, king of Asgard. The rest? Small fry compared to them."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning," I said with a grin, "we've got centuries to get strong enough that neither of them can touch me."
Mystica's tail flicked in agreement. And you already are strong enough.
I shook my head. "Overpowered, yes. But there's a difference between strong and untouchable. If I'm going to survive in a universe where Odin can erase cities with a sneeze, I need insurance. And allies. And influence."
She purred, rubbing her cheek against mine. "Then we'll build it. Slowly. Carefully. That's your specialty, isn't it, Mistress?"
I chuckled. "You're picking up on my personality pretty fast."
"That's because," she said, licking her paw smugly, "you're feeding me your magic. I can feel it. It's changing me. Expanding me. Every time you let me drink more, I grow sharper. Smarter. Stronger."
I raised a brow. "So if I keep this up, you'll eventually be as sassy as me?"
"I'll surpass you."
I laughed, a bright sound that carried across the fields. "Good. I wouldn't want a boring familiar."
I let a trickle of my magic seep into her. A bond between us deepened — I felt her thoughts brush mine more clearly, words sharper, her awareness expanding. She sat taller on my shoulder, her fur shimmering faintly as power laced her form.
"Better?" I asked.
"Better," she purred, voice velvet smooth in my mind. I want more.
"Greedy cat."
"Smart cat."
I smirked. She wasn't wrong.
The sun was high, the road stretched wide, and my heart hummed with a thrill I hadn't felt in years. Freedom. Adventure. Opportunity.
I glanced up at the endless sky. "Come on, Mystica. Let's go explore our new playground."
Her golden eyes gleamed. Lead the way, Elaine. The world is waiting.
And so, with my familiar perched proudly on my shoulder and a dangerous grin tugging at my lips, I stepped forward into history — three centuries before the Marvel Universe knew my name.