Nepal.
Himalayas.
Kamar-Taj.
Almost at the moment Hawk teleported directly here with Gwen from New York City, the gates of Kamar-Taj opened.
"Mr. Phoenix."
"Madam Phoenix."
"This way, please."
Mage Mordo, who had been waiting for a long time, made a gesture of invitation to Hawk.
Hawk and Gwen thanked him, following Mage Mordo who led the way, traversing the training ground where apprentice mages were having their morning practice, heading towards the parlor where the Supreme Mage resided.
It's been a year since Hawk and Gwen last visited.
Most of the apprentice mages who were on the training ground back then are no longer here.
A few mages successfully gained recognition from the 'Emperor Vishanti', becoming genuine mages and stayed.
But more apprentice mages quit practicing for various reasons, choosing to descend the mountain and return to the world of ordinary people.
Of course.
There are also a small number of mages who choose to turn to darkness, joining various dimensions of black magic, becoming black mages.
Just like the mage Casillas Hawk had seen before at the New York Hall.
Didn't he turn to darkness?
When Hawk woke up last night and told Gwen that he still needed 'time', he originally intended to come here directly through the teleportation gate of the New York Hall.
But...
After a sweep with his Sixth Sense, he was surprised to find that Casillas was no longer there.
Hawk then considered the current timeline.
Hmm.
Most likely, at this point in time, Casillas, who looks very much like a 'doer', had already defected from Kamar-Taj, plotting to present his token to the Dark Dimension and Dormammu.
If everything last night was just Hawk's speculation.
Then right now——
When Hawk's gaze fell on the training ground, on the figure awkwardly trying to draw circles in the air just like the seniors, who looked very much like the future Doctor Strange.
This isn't his speculation; this is something that's happening.
Gwen also noticed the future Doctor Strange.
After all, Gwen had also watched the mage practice before, and now Doctor Strange's movements were so clumsy that it was hard for Gwen not to notice.
But the clumsy movements were not the focus of Gwen's attention, the odd face was.
Gwen glanced several times at Doctor Strange before turning to Hawk.
"Hawk, look at that, moving clumsily, how come I feel like he looks like that Doctor Strange from New Amsterdam Hospital."
"Who?"
Hawk pretended not to know, glancing in the direction Gwen pointed, then looked at Gwen: "You know him?"
Gwen looked at Hawk: "Did you forget, last December, I told you about a car accident over in Malibu, the person involved in the accident was this Doctor Strange, he was a medical genius, after the accident, many people at our school felt sorry for him."
Last December?
Hawk blinked.
"Is that when we were in Waterfall Town?"
"Yes."
"Oh."
Hawk remembered, Gwen seemed to have mentioned such a thing.
However, Gwen didn't mention a name at the time, and Hawk was pondering whether the angel and the demon were planning to join forces against him, so he didn't pay it much attention.
Hawk thought this, then withdrew his gaze.
"Seems like it's him."
"Right, but why is he here."
Gwen was curious, if it weren't for the morning practice over there, and the Supreme Mage waiting for them, she might have wanted to go over and ask.
But the forward leading Mage Mordo resolved Gwen's confusion.
"Stephen came here three months ago wanting us to help heal his hands."
"...I see."
Gwen, upon hearing this, realized, then turned to Hawk, who didn't ask and wasn't curious, saying: "I heard that after the car accident, Dr. Strange's hands were severely injured and he couldn't perform surgery anymore, he had to sell his Malibu mansion and Manhattan apartment, I heard he was on the verge of bankruptcy."
Reality is this harsh.
The question is, Doctor Strange, like most Westerners, liked to consume in advance, and for this reason, when a crisis arose, he instantly went from rich to homeless.
But...
This has nothing to do with Hawk.
Hawk wasn't here to associate with the future Doctor Strange.
Soon.
Under Mage Mordo's guidance, they arrived once more at the familiar and vintage parlor.
The Ancient One, still in a white robe, wore a gentle smile, watching Hawk and Gwen walk in from outside.
"Hawk."
"Supreme Mage."
"Gwen."
"Mage."
"Please sit."
"Thank you."
Hawk and Gwen sat down on the familiar mats under the hospitality of the Ancient One.
The Ancient One brewed tea, her movements skilled, her demeanor calm.
Gwen looked at the tea in her cup, its aroma very refreshing.
"Mage, this tea is..."
"This year's spring Dragon Well, given to me by a mage friend from the Eastern Country when they visited."
"...It smells so good."
Gwen held the teacup to her nose, sniffed it lightly, then took a sip, her eyes brightened: "Delicious."
Sitting beside her, Hawk, upon hearing it was Dragon Well tea, also took a sip and then drank it all in one go.
"Indeed, it's nice."
"If you like it, you can take some back."
"Thank you."
Hawk didn't refuse. Unexpectedly, soon, The Ancient One will retire. Leaving good tea for that Doctor Strange would be a waste, it's better for him to take it back.
Didn't you notice, before Stephen Strange arrived, the Supreme Mage would often wear the Eye of Agamotto, which is the Time Gemstone. But after Stephen Strange came, it was kept as a prohibited item in the library's secret chamber.
However...
Hawk has always been quite curious about the retirement of the Supreme Mage.
Aside from the current Supreme Mage, the very first time he met him, he mentioned he had already obtained Virgo's power from the future.
Just considering the original story.
Hawk was always very curious whether the Supreme Mage actually died at the end or just faked his death.
Although at the end of the original story, The Ancient One appeared to have died.
But putting aside the fact that The Ancient One draws energy to maintain his life from Dormammu in the Dark Dimension, just the fact that he holds the Time Gemstone makes it unlikely he wouldn't foresee his demise at the hands of the traitor Casillas.
The most reasonable explanation is that after being the Supreme Mage for so many years, The Ancient One is tired, and with Emperor Vishanti having chosen Stephen Strange, he simply took the opportunity to lay down his burden.
In a word.
If Stephen Strange wasn't designated by Emperor Vishanti, let's say, no matter how gifted Stephen Strange is, it's impossible for him to have achieved such a level of magical energy cultivation in just a few months.
Magic isn't about inviting guests to dinner.
Let's forget about others, just talking about Hawk, who's already quite extraordinary. From awakening his Little Cosmos in 2012 until now, it took him nearly four years before he could stand on Earth and say no based on his strength.
Result...
Stephen Strange spent just a few months, and then dared to take the Time Gemstone and negotiate with Dormammu in the Dark Dimension?
Infinity Gemstones.
If there's mana, it consumes mana; if not, it consumes life.
If Stephen Strange trained on his own and didn't have the energy provided by Emperor Vishanti, how many times could he use the Time Gemstone?
Once, maybe twice would be fine. By the third time, he'd start struggling, and after four or five times, he'd likely pay with his life.
So if there's no hidden narrative behind it, Hawk absolutely doesn't believe it.
However...
Thinking is one thing, but Hawk didn't just directly ask The Ancient One.
If it doesn't concern you, don't worry about it.
Even the person involved, the Supreme Mage, doesn't worry him, why should he worry as an outsider? Anyway, when everything is settled, when you really want to know, you'll naturally find out, there's no need to ask now.
He came here for serious business.
Three cups of tea later.
Hawk put down the teacup, looking at the Supreme Mage, getting straight to the point.
"Supreme Mage, I'd like to borrow the Eye of Agamotto."
"You're really coming at a perfect time."
The Supreme Mage, hearing Hawk's intention, said with a smile: "If you came a month later, it wouldn't be possible."
Hawk raised an eyebrow.
Gwen, hearing this, looked at the Supreme Mage: "Is the Mage going far away in a month's time?"
The Supreme Mage smiled gently.
"Planning to take a vacation."
"Vacation?"
Gwen, hearing this from the Supreme Mage, blinked: "Where does the Mage plan to travel this summer?"
She thought the vacation the Supreme Mage was referring to was the annual summer trip.
Gwen was also considering a summer trip with Hawk this year.
But the holiday might be a bit short this year, only four or five days, but it's still nice listening to others' plans for references and whatnot.
Hawk exchanged a glance with the Supreme Mage.
The latter smiled and said to Gwen: "Phoenix Galaxy."
Gwen heard this, nodded instinctively, then seemed to think of something, and looked at Hawk.
Hawk smiled slightly, changed the topic, and brought the conversation back to borrowing the Time Gemstone.
The Supreme Mage used mana to notify Wang.
After a while.
Wang came to the reception hall.
Hawk looked at Gwen beside him.
"Will you come with me or..."
"I'll just stay here."
"Alright."
Hawk nodded, got up from the floor mat, and followed Wang, preparing to go to the library's secret chamber behind there to borrow the Time Gemstone.
However...
Just as he was about to leave, the Supreme Mage called him.
Hawk turned around.
"Supreme Mage?"
"Time requires a closed loop to take effect, Hawk."
"..."