A few days after settling things with Tony, Arthur met with Harry, and the three of them had a discussion.
Once the most important matters were settled, Fury sent a message, asking Arthur to discuss SHIELD's future direction.
To be honest, Arthur had no control over SHIELD, nor did he want it. SHIELD was SHIELD. He was willing to use it, but he had no intention of getting involved in its inner workings, let alone discussing its operations with Fury.
It was clear that Fury was still eager to recruit Arthur into SHIELD. After making his position clear, Fury had no choice but to back down. Besides, with Hydra still a significant threat, he had more pressing matters to attend to.
Following this, Arthur found his life surprisingly leisurely. At first, the emptiness after a period of intense activity was unsettling. He found himself with little to do, so he spent his time at home reading, meditating, and honing his mental energy. Occasionally, he'd meet up with Steve, Tony, or Natasha for drinks and casual conversation.
But soon, he realized he couldn't truly enjoy this leisurely lifestyle just yet. For one thing, the Tesseract in the Disassemble Space still awaited his energy absorption. During the Hydra investigation, he had neglected his training in this area. He knew he needed to catch up quickly.
From that day on, he started visiting Kamar-Taj frequently. However, during a recent visit, he unexpectedly encountered someone remarkable. This individual had an insatiable thirst for magic, the strongest Arthur had ever witnessed.
According to the Ancient One, this man would spend hours in the library, devouring one book after another. Combined with his natural talent and photographic memory, he was the fastest-progressing student in recent years.
What made him even more unique were his hands. They were scarred, bearing the marks of significant trauma. The Ancient One explained that it was these hands that had brought him to Kamar-Taj.
Knowing this, Arthur couldn't help but recognize him. This was clearly the future Sorcerer Supreme – Doctor Strange!
"It's been a while since my last visit. I didn't expect you to already be training a successor," Arthur remarked casually to the Ancient One in the hall.
The Ancient One brought a teapot over, refilling his cup. "I will eventually pass on no matter how powerful I am now. Not everyone can achieve immortality like you."
"...Immortality, again with the immortality," Arthur smirked. "Even now, I don't feel immortal. I still feel pain when injured, and I still need to heal. If I overestimate myself and do something reckless, there's a good chance I could die. For example, if I were to attack you, it would definitely be a suicidal move."
"Immortality resides in the soul, not the body," The Ancient One stated.
"...So, my body will still decay?" Arthur inquired. "Are you saying my spirit will endure? That I'll live on in others' memories?"
"Certainly not," the Ancient One replied with a smile. "The spirit will eventually master the body, allowing you to achieve unity within and without, attaining eternity."
"Is this a state of practice?"
"No, it's a talent," The Ancient One sighed.
"So, this world isn't fair at all, is it?"
"Fair?" The Ancient One paused, then suddenly laughed. "Fairness is not something the world provides; it's something people strive for. We seek justice and hope for fairness, so we create rules, level the playing field, and compensate for disadvantages, attempting to achieve balance. But in reality, all beings are born different. How can there be true fairness? Otherwise, why are we born as humans, with wisdom and spirit, capable of refining ourselves, while others are born as plants or even creatures that live and die within a single day?"
Arthur understood the Ancient One's point— that one's birthright significantly outweighs any subsequent efforts. This realization left him feeling somewhat helpless, and he sighed softly.
"Odin took you to meet his eldest princess, didn't he?" The Ancient One abruptly changed the subject, her tone taking on a gossipy edge.
Arthur was speechless. 'Why bring this up out of the blue? They were just discussing such profound topics. Who wanted to talk about that volatile woman hidden in hell?'
"If..." The Ancient One stood up and approached Arthur. "If you were to live eternally, witnessing your loved ones pass away, the feelings you have today might become the pain of tomorrow."
Arthur sensed a hidden meaning in her words. He blinked but didn't respond.
The Ancient One smiled, mentioning it briefly before moving on. "Are you curious about Stephen?"
Stephen Strange! Doctor Strange's full name. Hearing this, Arthur nodded. "Geniuses always does spark some curiosity."
"You are a genius as well," the Ancient One said. "Although Stephen has made rapid progress and is the most outstanding disciple in recent years, that's without considering you. If you were included, he would still be below you. In fact, if you weren't so special, you would have been my successor."
"The title of Sorcerer Supreme is quite impressive," Arthur said with a smile. "How about you expel him, and I'll become your disciple? Strictly speaking, I am already your disciple."
The Ancient One was both amused and exasperated as she spoke. "Do you think this is a school?"
"Aside from not charging tuition, this place is pretty much a magic school," Arthur replied. "If you made me Sorcerer Supreme, I'd probably turn this into a paid institution. How about we open a Hogwarts-like magic school? We'd make a fortune!"
The Ancient One's face darkened, and she promptly dismissed Arthur.
Arthur was speechless. "Women, even if you're the Sorcerer Supreme, you can't be so moody all the time, can you?"
Just as he was about to leave, someone walked toward him— he was none other than Stephen.
"Hey!" Arthur thought for a moment, then called out, "Stop!"
Stephen, deep in thought, was startled by the call. He turned to look at Arthur, pointing at himself in confusion. "Are you talking to me?"
His extended finger was trembling slightly.
Arthur studied him for a moment and said, "Yes, you, my little junior brother."
"...Junior brother?" Stephen looked at Arthur's face and said, "I'm older than you. Also, if there's nothing else, I'll be going. I have things to do."
"Don't be in such a hurry," Arthur said, moving closer. "I'll tell you a secret. Do you want to hear it?"
(End of Chapter)
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