Thank you, God-like Boss, for the King of Gifts!
The first chapter as an extra chapter for the boss's reward
Four more chapters are currently being revised. I will upload them all before I go to work tonight.
Kaecilius's attack occurred almost a week after Strange had spent time in the library. That afternoon, the sun shone brightly in Kathmandu, the old trees in the courtyard rustled in the wind, and everything was as quiet as usual.
Strange sat at his usual wooden table near the lending desk, several thick ancient books laid out in front of him, and a stack of early documents that the king had just retrieved for him from the inner treasury. His fingers were still trembling slightly, but his movements were much smoother than when he first arrived.
He was asking Wang and Mordo for advice. Mordo explained each point with his usual meticulousness, while Wang leaned against the reading desk, occasionally interjecting with a sharp comment, his tone calm but his words still sharp.
Then Strange asked a question that had been bothering him for a long time: the duties of a mage.
He's been here for so long, practicing basic runes, learning about magic structures, and familiarizing himself with energy flows every day, but he still doesn't truly understand what these powers are ultimately used for.
Mordo was silent for a moment, then closed the book in front of him and began to speak in a more composed tone than usual.
Defending the world and resisting threats—that is the duty of a sorcerer. The Ancient One is the most recent person to inherit the title of Sorcerer Supreme, but the history of this title itself can be traced back to Agamotto. You should know who he is, right? After all, you were just wearing something he created around your neck.
Agamotto built three Sanctum in the three most magical places on Earth: Hong Kong, New York, and London. Together, these three Sanctum formed a protective network covering the entire planet.
An invisible, global magical shield. The Sanctum protects the world, and the mages protect the Sanctum.
Strange listened quietly. His hands rested on the open pages of the book, his fingertips no longer trembling. He thought for a moment, then asked a name that made Mordo frown slightly, "Like Dormammu?"
A brief silence followed. Mordo didn't answer immediately, but turned to look at Wang, who was leaning against the reading desk. Wang had been flipping through an ancient book, but upon hearing the name, his fingers stopped on the page. He looked up at Strange, then at Mordo. The two exchanged a glance.
"Where did you learn this name?" Mordo asked, his tone more cautious than before.
" The Book of Cagliostro," Strange answered truthfully. "I was bored and looking for a book to read, so I flipped through that one. A few pages were torn out."
Wang closed the heavy ancient book in front of him with a dull thud. "I knew Lynn's request wouldn't be anything good. Next time Lynn asks for my help, I'll need to reconsider our friendship."
Mordo didn't respond to the topic of friendship. He placed his hands on the table, leaned forward slightly, and began to explain in a serious and steady tone.
Dormammu exists in the Dark Dimension, a realm that transcends time and the limits of human understanding.
He is the conqueror of the universe, the destroyer of worlds, possessing almost limitless power and boundless desire.
He wants to assimilate all universes and incorporate all dimensions into his Dark Dimension.
What he desires most is the Earth.
Kaecilius, once an apprentice of the Ancient One and a highly skilled sorcerer, was consumed by a thirst for power and a fear of death. The torn pages from the Book of Cagliostro were stolen by him to contact Dormammu and draw energy from the Dark Dimension.
He personally killed those who had once been his fellow disciples; his ultimate goal was to destroy the Sanctum.
"Destroy the Sanctum?" Strange repeated the words. "If the Sanctum is destroyed?"
"Once the three Sanctum are destroyed to a certain extent, Dormammu will descend directly into this dimension. And once he arrives... we'll be in big trouble."
Strange remained silent for a long while.
He looked at the pages of the book laid out before him, at the dense runes and annotations, and at his own hands, which were still trembling slightly but could now turn the pages, draw runes, and open portals in the Amazon snake pit.
Then he looked up and, with an unnatural, awkward smile, trying to lighten the mood, said, "The Ancient One, Lynn, and you are all here, so there's no need for me. I'm here to heal my hands; I have no intention of participating in any magical war."
He paused, then added, "Hehe. If there's nothing else, I'll head back now."
He stood up, pushed the chair back into its original position, his movements somewhat stiff.
Mordo didn't speak, but looked at him with a very calm gaze, not disappointed, just calm.
Wang didn't speak, but simply reopened the ancient book beside him. But just as Strange was about to turn and leave, he spoke, his tone still flat, not quite mocking, but undeniably so. "What was the first lesson Lynn taught you on your first day here?"
Strange stopped in his tracks, without turning back. "... Relinquishing control, attempting to guide."
"He's letting you guide more than just energy."
Wang turned a page without looking up. "But when you're ready to face it is your own business. Go put the book back where it was. It's on the shelf, third row, fifth from the top."
Suddenly, a bell rang in their ears.
Strange stood still, his gaze sweeping from Mordo's face to the King's, then towards the doorway, his expression a mixture of confusion and tension. "... What was that sound?"
Wang had already put down the ancient book in his hand and came out from behind the lending desk.
Mordo was a step ahead, already at the library entrance, his hand on the door, glancing back at Strange. Strange understood that look. "Come on."
The library doors were pushed open, and several trainee mages in the square had stopped practicing and stood there, looking bewildered in the direction from which the bell was coming.
The footsteps of King and Mordo faded into the distance. Strange stood there stunned for a while, looked down at his still slightly trembling hands, and then quickly followed.