Urgency (Part Six)

The Ancient One clearly noticed the look on Kaecilius's face, but she did not respond.

She had said enough for today. Raising a hand to end the discussion, she said, "Enough. This matter is settled. Kamar-Taj will not intervene in the Mexico incident—this is my final decision!"

Without waiting for Kaecilius to say anything else, she turned and walked toward her study at the back of the hall.

The hem of her yellow robe dragged across the stone floor with a faint rustle.

Her figure looked both resolute and lonely in the dim hall.

She had no wish to explain further. The truth was often harder to accept than a lie;

Nor did she want to hear anyone else's explanations. She had already seen the real motives behind them.

Wanda had watched it all without a word. Now she followed the Ancient One.

She wore deep-red training robes, a color the Ancient One had specially permitted because Wanda's Chaos Magic was unusual and required careful guidance.

There was no expression on Wanda's beautiful face, only a deep calm in her eyes.

The argument between the Ancient One and Kaecilius did not interest her.

She cared nothing for Kamar-Taj's rules or the supposed balance between dimensions. She did not even care about the people dying in the Mexican border city.

All she cared about was learning the magic taught here as quickly as possible, gaining control of her power, and returning to the man she longed for.

Only when she thought of Carl did a trace of irrepressible tenderness enter her cold eyes.

He was the first person she had met in Sokovia who gave her hope and purpose, the man she had fallen hopelessly in love with.

For Carl, she could endure the Himalayan cold, memorize tedious spells, and practice