"Mm, I see him. What's the rush? Did something happen?"
Wanda asked, puzzled.
"Let's go take a look."
Carl grabbed Wanda's hand, and the two immediately chased after Kaecilius.
Just as they turned the corner, a пространственное distortion—like shattering glass—suddenly appeared in front of Kaecilius. He stopped in his tracks. The sight was all too familiar—it was the Mirror Dimension.
Behind him, a figure in a bright yellow robe stepped out. With a simple motion of his hand, the surrounding space folded in on itself. Buildings and even the ground began to rotate layer by layer like interlocking blocks.
Suddenly, with both hands drawing inward and twisting, the entire space rotated ninety degrees. Those caught off guard—the red-robed followers—lost their footing and tumbled sideways, while only Kaecilius managed to remain standing, now planted firmly against a vertical wall.
"Attack!"
Kaecilius shouted. The red-robed followers charged, conjuring magical whips that instantly wrapped around the yellow-robed figure's ankles.
But with just a simple step backward, the attackers lost their balance and fell. The yellow-robed figure kicked them aside effortlessly, and as space folded again, the two were swallowed whole.
Outside, Carl and Wanda had reached the alley entrance. If not for the fluctuations of magic, Carl wouldn't have noticed the existence of the Mirror Dimension at all.
"Looks like Kaecilius has still gone down the same path~~"
Carl sighed. He considered Kaecilius a friend and had hoped he'd let go of his obsessions. Yet in the end, he still chose darkness.
"This is the Mirror Dimension. Something must've happened inside—I need to check."
Chaos energy swirled between Wanda's fingers as she easily made contact with the dimension.
She glanced back at Carl, as if seeking his approval. Since Wanda had already decided, Carl naturally supported her. There wasn't much danger anyway—aside from the Ancient One, no one in Kamar-Taj could match Wanda now.
Carl shrugged. Wanda lightly traced her finger forward, and the Chaos energy instantly tore open the Mirror Dimension, creating a human-sized rift. The two stepped inside, and the裂缝 slowly sealed behind them.
Within the Mirror Dimension, the yellow-robed figure wielded glowing magical sigils in both hands—circular like discs, yet capable of folding into fan-like shapes. Simple spells, yet seemingly limitless in power.
He kicked Kaecilius away, but suddenly sensed someone entering the dimension. Turning around, he paused slightly upon seeing Carl and Wanda.
"Watch out!"
Wanda suddenly shouted. Scarlet Chaos energy surged outward, forming a crimson barrier midair behind the yellow-robed figure.
Boom!
Kaecilius's invisible blade struck the barrier, only to be repelled by the reactive force of the Chaos energy.
The yellow-robed figure turned, his sigils folding into fan shapes. With a sweep of his hands, the Mirror Dimension rotated once more, sending Kaecilius's followers tumbling from the buildings into open air.
Kaecilius quickly drew a circle with one hand, opening a portal to catch his falling subordinates. Then he leapt toward it himself.
Carl watched him, his expression unreadable, as if unsurprised by his actions. Just before entering the portal, Kaecilius glanced back at Carl—his eyes filled with shock… and a trace of apology.
Seeing him escape, Wanda immediately lashed out with Chaos energy, forming a whip midair. But she was a step too late—the portal vanished just as the whip reached it.
The yellow-robed figure glanced at where the portal had been, then dispelled the rotation of the Mirror Dimension. Everything slowly returned to the normal appearance of the city.
"Master Ancient One, care to explain what's going on?"
Carl looked at the yellow-robed figure. Having seen the films in his previous life, he already knew who it was.
Sure enough, the Ancient One removed the large hood, revealing a gleaming bald head.
"Kaecilius has been seduced by the Dark Dimension. He stole several pages from the Darkhold."
Her tone and expression remained calm, unshaken even in the face of chaos.
"The Darkhold? The one I studied?"
Wanda asked. During the later stages of her training in Kamar-Taj, the Ancient One had allowed her to read part of it.
The Darkhold was divided into two volumes. The upper volume contained dark magic, while the lower recorded beings of the Dark Dimension—their legends and summoning rituals. The pages Kaecilius stole happened to contain the ritual for summoning Dormammu.
"That's right. You read the upper volume. The lower contains summoning rituals for dimensional entities. The pages Kaecilius took concern Dormammu."
The Ancient One nodded, withholding nothing.
Carl, however, looked at her meaningfully. He knew she had likely already begun searching for a successor.
"Master Ancient One… have you really made your decision?"
She understood his meaning. A trace of melancholy flickered in her eyes, gone in an instant.
"Would you like to try?"
She smiled at Carl. It sounded like a joke, but both of them knew—if he agreed, the title of Sorcerer Supreme would be his.
Carl immediately shook his head. No chance—he was perfectly content being laid-back. Why take on a thankless burden like that?
"I'll pass. My personality isn't suited for being the Sorcerer Supreme. Better leave it to someone else~~"
The Ancient One chuckled softly. In her mind, Carl was indeed the most qualified candidate—but she could tell he wasn't joking.
In that case, she would have to move forward with her other choice—someone she had been observing for quite some time.
"Since you won't take it, you'll have to look after the person I choose."
"Sure. I'll keep an eye on him. But… is this really necessary?"
Carl looked at her. He knew she had already accepted her fate, but he still couldn't bear to see it happen.
She shook her head, her voice as calm as ever.
"Everything is predetermined within the river of time. Reckless changes would disrupt the timeline. And I must do this—only then can he take up the mantle without altering the future."
She stepped forward and placed a hand on Carl's shoulder.
"What comes next will depend on you. You are the greatest variable across all timelines. I hope that variable leads to a better outcome—you have the power to save everyone."
Her words were vague, but Carl understood them perfectly—and the meaning behind them.
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