"That's enough, Wanda. Your mind is too unsettled."
The Ancient One walked in slowly, wearing a bright yellow robe with her hands clasped behind her back. Her voice was calm, without a trace of reproach.
"I don't have time to be calm, teacher." Wanda stubbornly met The Ancient One's gaze. "If you won't teach me, I'll learn on my own. Dark magic or anything else—I'll pay any price to bring him back."
Mordo's brows shot up, and he was about to lash out.
"Mordo, stand down," The Ancient One said, cutting him off.
Mordo respectfully stepped aside, though he kept a wary eye on Wanda.
The Ancient One approached Wanda.
Homelander stood right beside The Ancient One, less than half a meter away.
He even reached out and wiggled his fingers under her chin to tease her.
But The Ancient One's expression did not change in the slightest. Her attention remained entirely on Wanda.
"Perfect concealment, ha!" Homelander took two steps back, crossed his arms, and kept watching the show.
"Wanda." The Ancient One looked with compassion at the girl on the verge of losing control.
"Your feelings for him are becoming a bridge through which Chaos Magic can erode your reason."
"I don't care!" Wanda lifted her chin defiantly. "I just want him back."
The Ancient One sighed softly and shook her head.
"Wanda, sometimes what we need to do isn't force our way against the current, but wait."
"Though I cannot see his future clearly, I am certain of one thing..."
The Ancient One gently placed a hand on Wanda's shoulder, pressing her Chaos Magic back into her body bit by bit.
"...he is on his way back."
"Really?"
The red glow around Wanda gradually faded. She stepped forward, grabbed The Ancient One's sleeve, and asked urgently, "How