The Ancient One and the others were quickly filled in on Rintrah's clumsy attempt to open a portal to his home world, R'Vaal.
The green apprentice stood by with drooped ears as Satoru detailed how they had taken a wrong turn into a blood-red dimension called Limbo. There, they had stumbled upon Illyana, and met the dimension's ruler, Belasco.
"And this happened under your supervision?" Mordo said with a chiding tone.
"They're safe aren't they?" Satoru shrugged his shoulders. "It's exactly because it's under my supervision that nothing bad has happened."
Mordo frowned, he snorted and waited for the Ancient One to speak her thoughts.
After hearing the story, the Ancient One turned to Satoru. "I can sense magic in her," she said with a calm voice. "She could become a capable sorcerer if she is trained well. But Wong also mentioned that you've invited someone else to learn the mystic arts?"
Satoru glanced at Wong who shot him a look that clearly said, 'I told you to consult her, but you never did, huh?'
Satoru turned back to the Ancient One with a tired grin. "Yeah, I did. Her name is Wanda. Honestly, both of their resumes check out. They've both had pretty terrible pasts."
He leaned his head back against the tree, closing his eyes. "Don't you have a soft spot for taking in people like that? The broken and the lost? I'm just following my teacher's footsteps. Consider it a learning experience and a compliment."
The Ancient One chuckled. "You're very good at using my own habits against me, Satoru. Fine. If you believe they belong here, we will see what they can do."
Mordo's jaw tightened.
He couldn't believe the Ancient One was simply brushing aside the fact that Satoru had meddled with a dimensional ruler on his own turf.
To him, it was a reckless offense of their ordinance, but before he could voice his protest, Kaecilius reached out and gripped his shoulder and shook his head.
Mordo's frown deepened. He let out a frustrated chuckle that sounded more like a growl, then turned on his heel and began to walk away without a word.
"Forgive him," Kaecilius said calmly, bowing slightly toward the Ancient One. "Mordo has had a long day in the archives. His temper is merely a sign of his exhaustion."
The Ancient One's gaze lingered on Mordo's retreating back for a brief moment, her expression unreadable. She then shifted her attention toward Illyana, who had remained silent and still throughout the entire exchange.
"Welcome to Kamar-Taj, child," the Ancient One said, her voice softening into something motherly. "You have traveled a long way to find this garden. You must be very tired."
Illyana looked up, her eyes still red from crying, and gave a small hesitant nod. She looked around at the peaceful mountains and the strange people in robes, then back at Satoru, who was now fully slumped against the tree with his eyes closed.
"Wong," the Ancient One instructed gently. "Please take our guest to the guest quarters. Ensure she has clean clothes, food, and a place to rest. Rintrah, go with them. You have done enough for one evening."
"Yes, Ancient One!" Rintrah scrambled to his feet, eager to leave the tension behind.
Wong sighed, looking at Illyana and then at Satoru who was slowly about to snore. "This way, please."
As they led the girl away, Satoru let out a long snore. The Ancient One looked down at him and shook her head, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
Wong allowed the Ancient One, Illyana, and Rintrah to walk several paces ahead, ensuring their attention was fixed somewhere else.
Once he was sure they weren't listening, he crouched low beside Satoru.
"Are you still up for the fight in Macau?" Wong whispered urgently, his eyes darting toward the Ancient One, who was still standing nearby. "The book is open and the odds are shifting. If you're going to back out, I need to know now."
Satoru didn't even open his eyes. He just let out a weak, pathetic groan and shook his head slowly against the bark of the tree.
"No way," Satoru muttered, his voice muffled by the relic on his neck. "Tell Xialing I'll fight her heavy hitter another time. My brain's fried. I'm totally spent, man."
Wong let out a sharp, disappointed huff. "There goes my commission. I'll tell her you've come down with a sudden case of 'laziness'."
"Call it whatever you want, I'm still going to sleep," Satoru said. "Now go. If I hear one more word about pit fights, I'm going to throw up on your boots."
Wong stood up, dusted off his robes, and hurried to catch up with the others.
…
[ Meanwhile, New York — Avenger's Tower ]
Inside Avengers Tower. Steve Rogers stood by the kitchenin a tight white t-shirt and army pants, while Natasha remained in herblack tactical uniform.
Across from them, Wanda and Pietro sat on a large sofa. Pietro was playing with a tennis ball, while Wanda sat motionless, wrapped in a blanket.
"Sokovia's gone," Steve said plainly. "There's literally nothing for you to go back to right now."
Pietro looked up and said. "We helped you stop Ultron because we want to. We aren't looking for a handout."
"We know," Natasha replied. "But because of your history with Hydra, the government is looking for someone to pin the blame on. Staying here is the only thing keeping you out of a cell."
Wanda looked at her with hollow eyes. "So this is just another prison?"
"No," Steve said. "It's an invitation. We're moving to a new headquarters upstate in the coming months after Tony's team gets done with the renovation. It's a place where you can learn to control your powers and actually help people."
Pietro glanced at the Avengers logo on the wall. "You want us to be soldiers?"
"I want you to have a choice," Steve corrected. "For the first time, you can decide what to do with your lives instead of being used by someone like Strucker."
Natasha checked the nearby calendar. "You got about a day or two till the government's insistence gets too much, even for us. Think about it if you want a fresh start."
Steve and Natasha left to give the twins some space. For a while, the only sound in the room was the thud of a tennis ball against the wall.
Finally, Pietro turned to his sister. "What do you think?"
"About what?" Wanda asked, dazed. Her mind was clearly elsewhere.
"About joining them," he said. "Joining the Avengers."
Wanda sighed softly, watching the morning sun rise over the city. "I don't know."
Pietro paused, catching the ball mid-air. "Are you thinking of going to him?"
Wanda blinked, finally shifting her gaze toward her brother. "What do you mean?"
"I've noticed you staring at that card," Pietro said, nodding toward the card she had hidden under her blanket. "I'm your twin, Wanda. I know what you're thinking. Are you actually going to go wherever it is that's written on that card?"
Wanda didn't answer immediately. Instead, she slowly pulled her hand from beneath the blanket, revealing a slightly crumbled but still neat card made of cardboard with an address on its face.
"I don't… I don't know," Wanda said hesitantly. "He's a mysterious individual, Pietro. But, there's just something about him that made me feel uneasy and yet his actions eased me at the same time."
Pietro watched her. He looked at his own hands.
"I'm no magician, Wanda," Pietro said. "I don't know telekinesis, or whatever you guys call your powers. What I have is different from you."
He stood up and walked to the window. "If that guy can actually teach you, you should go. I'll stay here and go with the captain."
Wanda stood up quickly, letting the blanket fall. "No! I'm not leaving you! We stayed together in the Hydra cells and we stayed together against Ultron. I'm not going to some place to learn while you'll go and take responsibility for both of our actions!"
"It's not about being responsible," Pietro argued. ""If you go there and I stay here, we have a foot in both worlds. Besides, what would I do there? Sit on the floor of some temple and meditate? I'd be bored in ten minutes."
He gave her a small smirk. "Go find out what you are, Wanda. I'll make sure the Avengers won't come looking for you."
Wanda looked down at the card. She didn't like the idea of splitting up, but Pietro's logic was hard to ignore. He was a man of action, and the thought of him trapped in a quiet temple seemed impossible.
Eventually, she gave a slow and reluctant nod.
Fine," Wanda said softly. "But if I sense even for a moment that you are in trouble with these people, I am coming back."
Pietro grinned, a flash of his usual confidence returning. "I'm the fastest man alive, Wanda. I can hold my own. You just focus on yours, and I'll focus on mine. Besides, we live in the modern era. In case you've forgotten, but cellphones exist, we can keep tabs on each other whenever."
He walked over and gave her a quick, tight hug. The reality of the choice started to settle in. They were choosing two completely different futures. One would stay in the spotlight of the Avengers, and the other would go into the unknown of whatever world Satoru belonged to.
Even though Satoru had saved him from his bullet wounds, Pietro still couldn't fully trust the guy; he does hold him with respect, however.
"So, how do you even get there?" Pietro asked, stepping back and nodding at the card. "Do you just call a cab?"
Wanda looked at the address. "Yeah… the address is in New York, 177A Blecker Street in Greenwich."
"How convenient that it's in New York," Pietro commented in surprise. "We might be able to see each other quite often then."
Wanda offered a small smile. "Maybe. I certainly hope so."
Wanda tucked the card securely into her pocket. "Are you sure you're going to be okay?"
"Go," Pietro insisted, giving her a gentle shove toward the door. "Before I change my mind."
After one last look at her twin brother, Wanda slipped out of the room, her red mist dampening the sound of her footsteps.
…
New York City was a place that's impossible to make quiet, but when she reached her destination according to the address, she stopped; the streets were hushed and yet, still bustling.
Wanda climbed the stone steps, her hand trembling as she reached for the heavy iron knocker. Before she could touch it, the door groaned and swung inward on its own.
The scent of old parchment hit her immediately.
Standing in the center of the hall, clutching a heavy leather-bound book and looking thoroughly exhausted, was Wong.
He blinked at her, then looked down at a glowing parchment in his other hand. He let out a long sigh.
"You must be Wanda," Wong said, his voice flat. "Satoru mentioned you might show up. Though he failed to mention it would be early in the morning."
Wanda blinked, surprised by the mundane greeting. "He... he told you I was coming?"
"He told me he 'sent a flyer out,'" Wong muttered, turning around and gesturing for her to follow. "Come in. Try not to touch the relics. Some of them haven't been fed today."
...
[Author'sNotes]: Daily chapter drop (One each): Monday → Sunday.
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