"My fans like watching me cut bad guys in half with Heat Vision or punch villains into space."
"And..." Homelander sighed, looking thoroughly put-upon.
"I'm busy, Ancient One."
"I have appearances to make, movies in the Homelander series to shoot, interviews to give, fans around the world to interact with, and a company worth over a trillion dollars to run. My daily schedule tracks even my bathroom breaks down to the second."
"When would I have time to sit in the Himalayas learning to spin prayer wheels with my mind?"
The Ancient One looked at him helplessly.
He had such astonishing talent, yet he was obsessed with worldly fame. What a waste.
"Won't you reconsider? Even if only to—"
"No." Homelander's answer was firm.
Then his tone shifted, and a sly look entered his eyes.
"But..."
"If you insist..."
"I could drop by for the occasional 'hobby class.'"
"Say... once a week? Or once a month?"
Homelander gestured toward Wanda.
"But only if you take Wanda in."
"It's a package deal, Ancient One. Buy one, get one free."
The Ancient One smiled ruefully and returned to her seat.
"Using your business negotiation tactics here. You really are..."
"Very well." She turned back to Wanda.
"Let's return to the original question."
"The conflict between Chaos Magic and White Magic."
"It remains a danger."
"No, it isn't a danger. It's the cure."
Homelander interrupted her. His expression turned serious as he laid out his central argument.
"Ancient One, do you know why Chaos Magic is dangerous?"
"Because it's disorderly and uncontrollable. Like a wild horse without a bridle."
"That's precisely why White Magic needs to intervene and balance it."
Homelander held out both hands, his left clenched into a fist and his right open.
"As an ancient philosophy from the East teaches