Urgency (7)

"But one thing I can be sure of: no matter how this incident ends, Carl Mala will be one of its key figures."

Ancient One paused, then added, "He is not a bystander, but a participant—perhaps even one of the masterminds."

Wanda's expression did not change at all upon hearing this.

Only her fingers unconsciously tightened around the teacup's handle, gripping it so hard that her knuckles turned faintly white.

She did not care about the cosmic order, dimensional balance, or the people dying in the border cities of Mexico.

She cared about only one thing: Was Carl safe?

And Ancient One's answer had given her neither comfort nor warning.

It was merely a statement, one filled with uncertainty.

But perhaps, in this increasingly mad world, uncertainty was the only certainty.

Wanda lowered her head and looked at her reflection in the cup.

The ripples in the tea gradually settled, and her reflection became clear. It was a young, beautiful face, but her eyes held far too much—pain from losing her family, a longing for power, unwavering love for a man, and fear and anticipation for the future.

She suddenly remembered what Carl had said when he sent her to Kamar-Taj: Learn to control your power, Wanda—not suppress it, not fear it, but understand it and master it. Then come back to me—I need you!!

Whether Carl had merely meant it as encouragement at the time, to Wanda, those words had become the only motivation keeping her going.

Now, listening to Ancient One's description and looking at those blurred visions of the future, Wanda could not help wondering whether Carl had foreseen something long ago. Was that why he had sent her here to learn magic?

Was it not only to control her power, but also to prepare her for