As the self-proclaimed best teacher, Lucas stealthily glanced at the two disciples beside him who had not yet formally acknowledged a master.
Seeing that they were stunned, a hint of pride flashed in his eyes.
Very good, it seems he's not only the best teacher, but also the best director.
From Pietro discovering the path and Wanda escaping the town, surrounded by HYDRA soldiers, to that ill-timed 'Fire!', everything was under Lucas's control.
Although he wasn't particularly fond of the 'hero saves the beauty' trope, there was no doubt that, given the circumstances, it was the quickest way to establish the image of a mysterious and powerful sorcerer.
Emerging from a vortex, this journey exploring the Multiverse temporarily came to an end.
The twins' screams finally caught up with their bodies.
"Ahhhhh!!!"
Whether they were startled by their own voices or awed by the strange sights and wonders between the Multiverse, the siblings, unable to stand steady, fell to the ground and couldn't get up for a long time.
A long while passed.
Wanda and Pietro finally came to their senses. They looked at Lucas and said in unison, "Master, teach us."
"Follow me."
Lucas walked with his hands behind his back, turning to lead the way. With one step, a spinning circle appeared out of thin air in front of him. The circle expanded, forming a portal.
Wanda and Pietro got up and followed closely behind.
Beyond the portal was Kamar-Taj.
Lucas walked in front, leading Wanda and Pietro, introducing things as they went.
"This is Kamar-Taj, Kathmandu, Nepal."
Passing through the courtyard and corridors, Lucas led the siblings to an ancient and elegant hall.
Inside the hall, several sorcerers sat or stood, some reading, some sipping tea.
A male and female sorcerer stepped forward and draped coats over the shivering siblings.
Kamar-Taj is located in the Himalayas, at the foot of Mount Everest, where the temperature is quite cold.
"Thank you." The siblings said softly.
After putting on their coats, it was no longer so cold, but they still couldn't help but huddle together.
It seemed they were still a bit shy, being new to Kamar-Taj.
Seeing this, Lucas comforted them, "Don't be afraid. All the sorcerers here are good people, and they speak nicely. You'll like it here eventually."
"Mm."
The siblings responded softly, but still didn't lift their heads.
Lucas just assumed they were too cold and handed them two teacups. They took them numbly.
The Ancient One followed closely, pouring a cup of tea for each of them.
"Drink some tea, warm yourselves up."
While pouring the tea, she subtly observed the siblings when they weren't paying attention.
When she saw Wanda, her expression changed slightly. But she remained calm, only giving Lucas a look, as if asking, "Why did you bring her back?"
Wanda was born with Chaos Magic, and the source of Chaos Magic is the elder god Chthon.
Chthon, also known as the God of Chaos, Dark God, and is the source of dark magic.
And the Vishanti is the source of White magic.
As the names suggest, Chthon and the Vishanti are opposing forces.
From a standpoint, there was no way Wanda and Kamar-Taj could be on the same side.
Lucas gave the Ancient One a reassuring look. "I know what I'm doing."
If Chthon's apostle joined Kamar-Taj, it would be Chthon who would be embarrassed.
And Lucas had brought honor to his grand-master the Vishanti, so when Chthon came knocking, surely they would have to make a statement, right?
Even if they didn't, Lucas wasn't afraid. At most, he just couldn't defeat Chthon.
Losing was impossible.
Indestructible Body.
It's in the name.
At most, after a fight, he'd be depressed for a few months until his stats were upgraded, and then he'd be fine.
Perhaps it was truly cold, or perhaps they finally found something to do that wasn't so awkward, Wanda and Pietro were busy drinking tea, cup after cup.
"Ancient One, I would like to recommend Pietro Maximoff and Wanda Maximoff to join Kamar-Taj. They lost their parents at a young age, were orphaned and helpless, and endured much suffering during their upbringing, but the siblings supported each other and maintained their kind hearts."
The siblings beside him, hearing Lucas speak of their past and remembering the hardships of those years, couldn't help but get red eyes.
But as they listened further, Lucas praised them so much that their faces gradually flushed, feeling a bit embarrassed.
The Ancient One sighed deeply, "I am a benevolent person, I cannot bear to see human suffering. In that case, Pietro, Wanda, are you willing to stay in Kamar-Taj?"
Wanda and Pietro exchanged glances and said in unison, "Ancient One, we are willing."
The Ancient One nodded. "From now on, I will be your teacher. I will teach you magic and how to practice yourselves."
Huh?!
Lucas looked sharply at the Ancient One, telepathically asking, "Master, why are you stealing my disciples?"
The Ancient One glanced at Lucas, her silent gaze more eloquent than words.
Can you teach them?
Lucas sighed helplessly and left dejectedly.
Stundents and juniors were all the same, all to be exploited.
And a junior didn't require him to painstakingly arrange things.
"Master."
The siblings didn't know how sorcerers saluted, so they simply bowed to the Ancient One as their initiation ceremony.
The Ancient One didn't correct them and graciously accepted the bow.
After standing up, they looked at Lucas's departing back, their expressions conflicted, but in the end, they still asked loudly, "Master, who are you? Why did you save us? And how do you know our story?"
Hearing the voices from behind, Lucas didn't turn back. He hadn't thought about how to answer those questions yet.
The Ancient One answered for Lucas, "His name is Lucas, the next Sorcerer Supreme."
"He probably wants to retire early and sees that you have talent and a chance to become the next next Sorcerer Supreme, so he saved you and brought you to Kamar-Taj to study."
The siblings asked, "Sorcerer Supreme? Can we also be that?"
The Ancient One nodded.
Wanda could.
Pietro had a chance, though not a big one.
"Then, will we also be as strong as Mr. Lucas in the future?"
The two siblings asked again, their tone filled with disbelief and anticipation.
The Ancient One fell silent.
Why did every new disciple have to compare themselves to Lucas?
It was exhausting trying to comfort people.
Wanda and Pietro had not yet become sorcerers or officially begun their training. They looked at Lucas how a frog in a well views the moon in the sky.
Only when they officially begin their training and reach her level will they understand the true gap between them.
After a moment of silence, the Ancient One still comforted the two new disciples, "Lucas is older than you and has been training longer, so naturally he is stronger. But he wasn't strong from the beginning, not many people are born strong."
"As long as you persevere, studying diligently and practicing year after year, in the future, you will also become powerful sorcerers like him, far exceeding your former imagination."
She said 'become powerful sorcerers like Lucas', not 'as powerful as Lucas'.
The Ancient One indicated that if they misunderstood, it wasn't her lying.
(End of Chapter)
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