Thinking of those dreamy future scenes, Wanda hurriedly lowered her head and pretended to drink her tea, trying to hide the smile tugging uncontrollably at the corners of her lips.
Across the table, Ancient One set down her teacup.
She glanced briefly at Wanda, whose mind was clearly wandering somewhere far away. A faint trace of amusement flickered in her eyes before she turned her attention back to Antony.
"I simply sensed the power of an Asgardian god," she said calmly.
"But the source of that power… was a human."
"That is extremely rare. Especially here on Earth."
She folded her hands lightly.
"And while it is true that I can glimpse the future… I very rarely choose to use that ability, Mr. Starr."
"Why?" Wanda couldn't help blurting out.
"If someone could see the future… I mean—wouldn't that help prevent a lot of disasters?"
"Disasters?" The Ancient One smiled faintly, though there was a hint of weariness in it.
"Child, the future is not a straight highway."
"It is a tree."
"A tree with countless branches."
"Every time you peer into the future, every time you try to change something based on what you saw… you create a new branch."
"A new timeline."
"And who can say whether that new timeline might produce even worse disasters?"
She paused.
"Unless you choose to live like a monk… following every step exactly as the so-called 'script' demands."
"To maintain that single predicted outcome."
"But living that way is exhausting."
"And… terribly dull."
She sighed softly.
"And these days…"
"…I already have more than enough responsibilities."
"So I prefer living in the present."
"A wise choice." Antony nodded approvingly.
"Well then—since you haven't read the script…"
"I'll be straightforward."
He casually wrapped an arm around Wanda's shoulders, presenting her like a proud exhibit.
"I brought you a student."
"Wanda Maximoff. Exceptionally talented. Endless potential."
"I think the courses here would suit her nicely."
"I'd like her to study here for a while."
"Learn some real magic."
Wanda immediately straightened up, her posture rigid with nervous anticipation.
Her eyes locked on the Ancient One.
The Ancient One slowly turned her gaze toward Wanda.
"I'm sorry."
She refused without hesitation.
Wanda blinked.
"Why?" she asked instinctively, her voice tight with anxiety.
The Ancient One lifted her teacup and gently blew away the steam.
"In the future I once foresaw…"
"…there was no place for you, child."
"Accepting you as a student would break the established trajectory."
"And it might trigger consequences I cannot predict."
"Change brings risk."
"And right now…"
"…risk is the last thing I need."
The light in Wanda's eyes dimmed instantly.
Antony, however, simply chuckled.
"Established trajectory?"
"Ancient One, we're both intelligent people."
"Don't try to brush me off with lines meant for children."
He raised a finger and pointed upward.
"You should know better than anyone."
"The world we're living in right now…"
"…is no longer the so-called 'Sacred Timeline.'"
"A lot of things have already changed."
"For example…"
He pointed to himself.
"Me."
"I'm sitting here drinking tea with you."
"Was that ever written in your script?"
The Ancient One's hand paused slightly around her teacup.
Shock flashed briefly in her eyes.
"The original script has already been shredded," Antony continued calmly.
"If the 'predetermined path' has already changed…"
"What's the point of clinging to an ending that no longer exists?"
Silence filled the room.
The Ancient One looked at him quietly.
Something in her expression slowly softened.
Relief.
"Yes…"
She exhaled deeply.
That single breath seemed to release centuries of burden.
"You're right, Mr. Starr."
"In truth… about two years ago…"
"I discovered that I could no longer see the future."
"The once-clear river of time turned into a dense fog."
Then suddenly—
She smiled.
A genuine smile from the heart.
"It confused me at first."
"But it also brought me a freedom I had never experienced before."
Wanda, sitting beside Antony, looked completely lost.
"Um…" she said cautiously, raising her hand like a student.
"What exactly is the Sacred Timeline?"
"And what do you mean by a script?"
She glanced nervously toward Antony.
"Antony… did I mess something up again?"
"Shhh."
Antony turned toward her and gently pressed a finger against her lips.
"The Sacred Timeline…"
"That's just a script written by a group of extremely boring people."
"They decide when you're born."
"When you suffer."
"When you die."
"And if you don't follow their script…"
"…they erase you."
Wanda shrank back slightly.
"That sounds terrifying."
"It is."
Antony smiled broadly.
Wild and fearless.
"But now?"
"I refuse."
"I tore up the script."
"In this world…"
"No one gets to dictate your destiny."
"There are no predetermined tragedies."
He looked directly into Wanda's eyes.
"As long as I'm here."
"Your future will only follow one path."
"The one I choose for you."
"And that path is simple."
"Do what you want."
"Love who you want."
"Oh… Starr."
Wanda's heart practically melted.
Looking into those deep blue eyes felt like falling into the ocean—and she had no desire to escape.
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"Sorry to interrupt your romantic moment…"
The Ancient One broke in rather unceremoniously.
"But there is something important you should understand."
"The power flowing inside her is not ordinary magic."
"It is Chaos Magic."
"Disorder."
"Distortion."
"The power to rewrite reality."
She raised her hand.
A golden magical circle appeared above her palm—precise geometric patterns radiating perfect order.
"What we study in Kamar-Taj…"
"…is White Magic."
"Order. Structure. Protection of dimensions."
"These two forces are like water and fire."
"Chaos and order."
"If she studies White Magic, the conflicting energies inside her body could collide."
"And that…"
"…could become catastrophic."
Her gaze then shifted suddenly toward Antony.
The look in her eyes resembled a master appraiser discovering an uncut, priceless gemstone.
"But you…"
"…are different, Mr. Starr."
"Huh?" Antony blinked.
"From the moment you stepped onto that rooftop, I felt it."
The Ancient One stood and walked closer to him.
"There is something remarkable hidden inside your body."
"It has no attribute."
"No inclination."
"It is like blank paper capable of writing any language."
"Like a universal interface capable of connecting to any form of energy."
"Your affinity for magical elements…"
"…is something I have never seen before in my entire life."
Her eyes shone brightly.
She extended her hand toward him.
A formal invitation.
"Why don't you become my disciple?"
"If you are willing…"
"I could even pass the title of Sorcerer Supreme to you."
"Whoa—hold on! Stop right there!"
Antony waved both hands rapidly and even scooted his chair backward like someone avoiding an overly aggressive salesperson.
"Ancient One, I appreciate the offer."
"But I have to decline."
He pointed dramatically at his star-spangled suit.
"Just picture the scene."
"Me."
"Homelander."
"Flying through the sky."
"But instead of heat vision or punching villains…"
"I'm standing there making little finger gestures and drawing glowing circles in the air?"
He shook his head dramatically.
"That completely ruins my image!"
"My fans would disappear overnight!"
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