Sherlock and Ancient One

Sherlock neither rejected nor accepted Ancient One's proposal. He simply left Kamar-Taj in silence.

The reason was simple. Sherlock had been burned badly enough by Ancient One over the Spear of Longinus that he was developing something like PTSD. No one knew whether Ancient One's decision hid a chain of massive pitfalls like the Spear of Longinus had.

Once he confirmed that Ancient One had indeed set him up, one sentence kept echoing through Sherlock's mind: "Fate has long arranged a price for every gift!"

Of course, setting that aside, the main reason he had not agreed was that Sherlock had no interest in becoming a mage. Naturally, he was not particularly interested in a whole room full of spellbooks.

The reason he had not refused was also that room full of spellbooks. Sherlock truly was not interested in becoming a mage, but he was exceptionally interested in the principles behind the magic recorded in those books.

Especially Kamar-Taj's specialty: dimensional magic. Across all worlds, Kamar-Taj's dimensional magic could be considered far ahead of the rest.

As for why he was interested in the principles of magic, the reason was equally simple: alchemy.

As everyone knew, the essence of alchemy was the absolute principle of equivalent exchange, yet few knew what alchemy's goal was.

Alchemy's true goal was actually simple. It was not becoming a god, nor immortality, much less creating gold. Its true goal could be summed up in four words: making wishes come true!

Magic itself was also one path toward making wishes come true.

To use an imperfect analogy, magic was like rubbing sticks together to make fire. It was simple enough to understand, simple enough to be passed down and widely spread.

Alchemy, however, was like a lighter—convenient and fast. Even someone who could not use magic could handle it easily. Yet the ability and skill required to make a lighter were there for all to see; not just anyone could make use of it.

Both sought to kindle a flame. Magic taught people how to light a fire, while alchemy contemplated why fire came into being, then, after understanding the whole process, lit the flame in its own way.

And in that process, there was no doubt that understanding the principles of magic would make the creation of lighters vastly more efficient.

That was why Sherlock was so interested in those spellbooks and the principles of magic within them.

What Sherlock would not know after leaving was that, once he had departed through an Anywhere Door, Ancient One watched him leave without responding to the benefits she had offered and shook her head helplessly.

Only Ancient One herself knew that this time, there truly was no trap behind it.

Of course, there were some things Ancient One would never tell Sherlock!

For example, although the Time Stone truly could not see Sherlock's future clearly, that did not mean Ancient One, who had lived for centuries, could not see it either.

To Ancient One, Sherlock was still a child who had yet to grow up—a child who did not know where the limits of his alchemical abilities lay.

Ancient One did not understand Sherlock's alchemy, but after five whole years together, even observing the smallest details had been enough for this long-lived monster of a mage to see both the upper and lower limits of Sherlock's alchemy.

In Ancient One's view, without question, just as Sherlock himself had said, the so-called "Truth" was essentially closer to the so-called "Heavenly Dao." It had no inclinations and followed only its own "rules."

But that was precisely the problem. "Truth" adhered far too strictly to its own "rules" of equivalent exchange.

As long as one could pay the price, "Truth" could even allow them to take its place, or even surpass it, becoming a true "god" beyond all things in the world!

And all it required was the most precious thing to Truth—or rather, to this universe: souls.

Truth did not even care whose souls they were!

In other words, if Sherlock wished, he could even sacrifice the souls of the entire universe in exchange with "Truth" for any wish!

And that was exactly what Ancient One feared most!

He simply could not imagine what the world would become if Sherlock, that kind yet slightly mischievous young man, were allowed to remain alone in some corner, and when a true crisis came, Sherlock got stuck in a dead end.

It was because of this concern that Ancient One had arranged matters through a divine artifact, forcing Sherlock to become involved in—or rather, step into—the affairs of the Avengers.

Only then, under the influence and arrangements of the Avengers, could Ancient One truly rest easy about the future.

Watching Sherlock leave, Ancient One felt both helpless and amused. Yet he was no longer nearly as worried about the future.

Compared to the Sherlock whose social circle had once consisted only of himself and John Wick's family, there were now far too many people standing beside Sherlock. And it was almost foreseeable that there would only be more and more people at Sherlock's side.

Thus, Ancient One gradually became filled with confidence in the future. Even after he left, whoever became the future Sorcerer Supreme would be able to keep Earth alive.

With his worries gone, Ancient One immediately picked up Sherlock's VIP card. With only a snap of his fingers, he transformed from a bald woman into Sherlock in the next instant.

Looking at Doro, who had eaten an orange the size of a volleyball and now lay on the ground with a hugely swollen belly, looking adorably stuffed and faintly pained, Ancient One said to Doro with a smile.

"Doro, do you want to soak in hot springs and play in the water?"

Upon hearing Ancient One's words, Doro, who had been lying on the ground looking adorably pained from overeating, instantly recovered. His eyes shone with excitement as he stared fixedly at Ancient One, who had transformed into Sherlock.

"Human! Can we really soak in hot springs? Can Doro play however he wants?"

Clearly, although Ancient One had taken on Sherlock's appearance, Doro had not mistaken him for Sherlock. Instead, he recognized Ancient One at a glance.

Watching this, Ancient One nodded helplessly. Doro immediately began running excitedly in circles around him, while Ancient One watched the circling Doro with a complicated gaze.

Honestly, Ancient One was truly a little jealous of that brat Sherlock right now. Setting aside Sherlock's own talent, even Doro, whom Sherlock had created from his own soul and body, could see through illusions and glimpse the truth at a glance.

Just imagine how absurdly gifted Sherlock himself must be.

Yet Sherlock, with talent like that, had no interest in becoming a mage! It made Ancient One grit his teeth even more. Looking at the suitcase Sherlock had conjured beside him, Ancient One knew it was nothing to Sherlock, but still decided to take Doro out for an extravagant spending spree—consider it a little revenge.