Lynn looked at the food on the ground, then at Wanda and her brother, whose wariness had not eased. He knew they had suffered too much in the slums. Their defenses were etched into their bones, and unless he explained himself clearly, they would never readily accept a stranger's kindness.
Wanda still stared fixedly at him, her gaze not softening in the slightest, her voice as cold and wary as ever. "You still haven't answered my question. What exactly are you after? Unless you make that clear, we won't touch any of this."
Pietro nodded along. Although his stomach was growling and he could not help swallowing, he still clutched Wanda's hem tightly, glaring fiercely at Lynn as though he would throw himself at him and fight for his life at the slightest suspicious movement.
Lynn smiled helplessly, put away his gentle expression, and looked seriously at the siblings, knowing he could not keep beating around the bush. He considered for a moment before slowly speaking. "I do have a purpose, but it's nothing bad. For you, it might actually be a way out."
Wanda frowned without speaking, signaling for him to continue, though the wariness in her eyes eased just a little.
In these hopeless slums, the words "a way out" were far too tempting for anyone.
"I need an assistant." Lynn's gaze settled on Wanda, his voice sincere, without a trace of teasing. "I've set my sights on you, Wanda. I like your stubbornness. I like how you'll do everything you can to protect your brother, even in the most desperate circumstances."
Both Wanda and Pietro froze at his words, clearly not expecting him to say something like that. Wanda's cheeks flushed slightly before she became wary again, a measure of confusion in her voice. "An assistant? What do you want me to do?"
"I don't need you to do anything for me right now." Lynn waved a hand and continued, "You're still too weak. You need to go somewhere and study for a while first, to improve yourself. During that time, I'll cover your food, clothing, housing, transportation-every expense. Neither you nor your brother will have to spend a penny."
After a pause, he added, "Of course, there's no such thing as a free lunch. Once you finish your studies, you'll need to work for me for thirty years, as repayment for everything I've invested in you. As for your brother, I'll make arrangements for him too. I won't let anyone bully him again."
Wanda fell silent. She looked down at the thin, frail Pietro beside her, then at the food on the ground, still giving off its aroma, as she rapidly weighed things in her mind. She knew their situation all too well. She and her brother had no one to rely on, and in the slums, they never knew whether they would survive another day. Every day, they worried about food and endured other people's bullying. Before much longer, even if the abuse did not kill them, they would starve or die of illness. She wanted to take a gamble. Even if she was being deceived, it would only mean dying a little sooner.
If the gamble paid off, then although Lynn's terms would cost her thirty years of work, at least she and her brother could survive. She could gain the ability to protect him, and they would no longer have to live adrift, at the mercy of anyone who wanted to bully them.
After a full half-minute of silence, Wanda must have been gripping her brother's hand tightly, her knuckles white, as she asked in a trembling voice, "Really... can Pietro really come with me? As long as you do what you said, I'll do anything. Even if you ask me to die."
"Of course, though I certainly won't ask you to die." Lynn nodded immediately, a smile spreading across his face. "I never intended to split you up. Pietro can study with you, and he can stay by my side afterward too. Neither of you will have to suffer anymore."
With that reassurance, Wanda's taut body finally relaxed. The wariness in her eyes vanished completely, replaced by a hint of relief and gratitude. Now that she had made her decision, she would not keep second-guessing it.
Pulling Pietro along, she hurried over to the food, picked up some bread, and stuffed it into her mouth. Pietro began wolfing it down too, as though this was the best food they had ever eaten, afraid that someone would snatch it away if they were a moment too slow.
After watching the siblings polish off the food like a whirlwind and wipe the crumbs from the corners of their mouths, Lynn was about to explain the next arrangements when he noticed that both of them were looking straight at him, their eyes holding a hint of anticipation and a touch of impatience.
Lynn paused, utterly baffled. Scratching his head, he asked in confusion, "What is it? Is something wrong?"
Seeing his clueless expression, Wanda rolled her eyes helplessly, sounding torn between laughter and exasperation. "What are you standing around for? Let's go. Aren't you sending me somewhere to study? We're ready."
Only then did Lynn understand, and he could not help laughing, silently muttering to himself, These two were as wary as a pair of little beasts just a moment ago. Now they're in more of a hurry than I am.
Without further delay, he raised his hand and traced the runes for a portal in the air. Orange sparks spun rapidly as a circular portal gradually took shape. Through it, they could faintly see snowcapped mountains stretching into the distance and old-fashioned buildings-the sights of Kamar-Taj.
"Let's go. That's where we're headed, Kamar-Taj." Lynn stepped aside, gesturing for the siblings to go first.
Wanda and Pietro exchanged a glance. Though filled with curiosity and a little fear at the portal, they gritted their teeth, held hands, and cautiously stepped through. The moment they passed through the portal and set foot on solid ground, both froze.
Before them stretched snowcapped mountains, the air bitingly cold. In the distance stood a cluster of old stone buildings, warm yellow light spilling through carved windows, exuding a quiet, mysterious power. It was utterly different from Sokovia's chaos and decay.
The siblings could not help raising their heads to take in their surroundings with curiosity, their eyes full of astonishment. Yet neither said another word or volunteered any questions. Their years struggling in the slums had taught them a lesson early: do not ask what you should not ask, and do not meddle in what was none of your business. That was how you stayed alive.
Following behind them, Lynn felt quietly satisfied at the siblings' reactions.
Just then, a calm voice suddenly came from beside them, carrying a faint note of puzzlement. "Lynn, why did you bring these two here?"
Lynn's heart tightened, and he turned to look. Dressed in an apricot-yellow robe, the Ancient One had appeared beside them at some point. She gazed calmly at Wanda and her brother, a hint of scrutiny in her eyes, as though questioning his intentions.
Lynn immediately put away his smile and adopted a cheeky grin instead, hurrying over to the Ancient One and bowing and scraping as he buttered her up. "Ancient One, what brings you here? Didn't you see this plotline in the future? What a coincidence-I've brought you a surprise!"
He pointed at Wanda and her brother behind him, his voice carrying a measure of pride. "Look, these two are both exceptionally gifted prospects, especially this one called Wanda. She caught my eye right away. I brought them here especially to become your students and learn magic from you, so they can help you protect Earth in the future!"
The Ancient One's gaze lingered on Wanda and her brother for a moment. Then she looked at Lynn's cheeky grin, a trace of helplessness flashing in her eyes as she gently shook her head. Of course she knew who Wanda was. She had long since glimpsed the future in the timeline and knew that Wanda, at this moment, was merely a seedling that had yet to break through the soil but held overwhelming power within, her potential deeply hidden and not yet awakened.
After a moment of silence, the Ancient One slowly spoke, her voice still calm, but now carrying an unquestionable certainty. "Very well. Since you've brought them, let them stay."
"Don't worry, Ancient One!" Lynn nodded at once, a brilliant smile appearing on his face. "I'll be sure to keep a close eye on them. I won't disappoint you!"
Hearing this, Wanda and Pietro hurriedly turned toward the Ancient One and lowered their heads slightly, a trace of awe in their eyes. They could sense a powerful force within the bald woman before them, one that made awe rise involuntarily in their hearts.
The wind of Kamar-Taj carried the biting chill of the snowy mountains through the old buildings, and it also set the gears of Wanda and her brother's destiny turning. They did not know that, from the moment they stepped into this place, their lives would leave the suffering of the slums behind for good and follow an entirely different path.