"Sorcerer Supreme, they..." Jarrett hesitated, his gaze flickering between Doctor Strange and Ethan.
Despite Ethan and his allies being the reason Jarrett and the sorcerers even made it into Kamar-Taj, he couldn't shake his suspicions.
The thought gnawed at him—had Ethan simply used this opportunity to infiltrate Kamar-Taj?
It was a troubling notion, one that made Jarrett feel guilty for even considering it.
Still, it was better to be cautious now than to realize too late that he'd let a threat slip through the cracks.
"Don't worry. They are allies of the Sanctum and have come to assist us." Doctor Strange placed a reassuring hand on Jarrett's shoulder before turning to address the gathered sorcerers.
Hearing the Sorcerer Supreme's words, the tense atmosphere in the room shifted.
The sorcerers lowered their guard, stowing away their weapons and greeting the newcomers with welcoming expressions.
Within the Sanctum, Doctor Strange's authority was absolute—if he vouched for someone, his word was final.
Soon after, under Doctor Strange's orders, accommodations were arranged for everyone.
However, before Ethan could even settle in, a messenger arrived, summoning him.
When he entered the wooden hall, he found Doctor Strange sitting cross-legged on a cushion, holding a mobile phone.
At the sound of Ethan's approach, Strange hurriedly tucked the phone away.
"Oh, you're here," Strange greeted, his tone casual.
But Ethan's sharp eyes had already caught a glimpse of what was on the screen—a video.
And from the brief flash of imagery, he recognized it instantly.
Wasn't that the recently released blockbuster Justice League? But that movie was still in its theatrical run, meaning…
A smirk tugged at Ethan's lips. "Doctor Strange, are you watching a pirated copy?"
Strange sighed, realizing he was caught.
"Look, as the Sorcerer Supreme, I can't exactly stroll into a movie theater. Even in disguise, people would notice. Sorcerers like me aren't supposed to be distracted by mundane things." He gestured vaguely.
"And Wong—who monitors my daily activities—keeps a particularly close eye on what I do."
Seeing no point in hiding it anymore, he retrieved his phone and held it up. "I grew up reading DC comics, alright? I've been waiting for this movie for years. I had to scour countless sites to find this version.
And to make things worse, even though the Ancient One installed WiFi in Kamar-Taj, the speed is awful. Downloading this took forever. Honestly, I need to upgrade it when I get the chance."
Ethan chuckled, nodding in understanding.
"I get it. You weren't raised as a sorcerer from birth. Just a few years ago, you were living the high life in the city. It's not so easy to just abandon all of that."
Doctor Strange grinned, appreciating the empathy. "Exactly. Magic is fascinating, but technology has its own appeal."
The conversation eased the tension between them, forming a sense of camaraderie.
They were both individuals who straddled the line between science and magic, and that mutual understanding bridged the gap between them.
"Alright, let's get to the point." Strange's expression turned serious. "The Ancient One sent you here."
Ethan narrowed his eyes. "So you already know she's alive."
Strange leaned back, exhaling. "At first, I thought she was gone. But you've probably heard—I fought Dormammu using the Eye of Agamotto. Or rather, let's be honest, I bargained with him."
He paused, rubbing the back of his neck before continuing. "During that process, I was granted a glimpse of what the Ancient One once saw.
And while using the Eye of Agamotto, I happened to witness an event that recently took place in the western United States. A major event."
"Let me help you before the Ancient One leaves," Ethan said, his gaze fixed on Doctor Strange.
"So, she still worries about me..." Strange murmured, his expression darkening.
"Mordo—my former teacher—let his obsessions consume him. He...he had been too blinded by the light and now, all he sees is darkness."
A flicker of sadness passed through Strange's eyes, quickly followed by frustration.
Despite everything, he still cared for Mordo.
The man had been his guide when he first entered the world of magic.
But sentiment could not cloud his judgment.
"That doesn't mean I'll hold back if he's beyond saving," Strange added firmly.
Ethan studied him for a moment before shaking his head. "I think you're misunderstanding something."
Strange arched a brow. "Oh? Enlighten me."
"At first, I also assumed the Ancient One sent me here just to help you deal with Mordo. But after immersing myself in the world of magic and reflecting on her words, I realized she was referring to a much greater crisis."
Strange's expression hardened. "A greater crisis? Go on."
Instead of answering immediately, Ethan smirked. "Before I do, let me ask you this—Doctor Strange, you're not just the Sorcerer Supreme, but also a man of the modern world. How do you see the state of magic today?"
Strange hesitated, then finally exhaled. "Stagnant."
Ethan chuckled. "Only stagnant?"
His eyes gleamed with amusement. "You've been in this role for a while now. Let me tell you what I've observed
—sorcerers have grown too ignorant of the world's affairs, their thinking rigid, and the very essence of magic has withered."
Strange said nothing.
He neither agreed nor argued, but his silence spoke volumes.
"If you trace magic's true golden age," Ethan continued,
"you'd have to look back centuries. Back then, sorcerers had achieved knowledge and mastery over their arts in a much more intricate way—even surpassing those ancient mutants who once ruled over primitive civilizations. The mystical knowledge taken from those beings was refined into a complete system, allowing ordinary humans to wield supernatural forces."
Strange listened intently as Ethan paced, his hands gesturing animatedly.
"Sorcerers emerged all over the world. White magic, dark magic—it didn't matter. They became the new myths, replacing the old gods and monsters. Their presence was deeply embedded in history, scattered across ancient civilizations."
Ethan's voice grew sharper. "And then, things changed. When the ancient mutants faded into obscurity, sorcerers—suddenly at the center of everything—became just as ignorant as their predecessors. They started seeing themselves as more knowledgeable than the rest of the world just because they have the basic principle on how the universe and the energies surrounding it tick."
Strange's fingers drummed against his armrest, but he remained silent, letting Ethan continue.
"The Sanctum's leaders saw the shift and made a decision—to retreat from the world, to operate from the shadows. They convinced themselves it was for the greater good, that magic needed to be hidden to protect humanity."
Ethan sighed. "And sure, at the time, it made sense. The world was fragile, and unrestrained magic could have torn civilizations apart. But isolation over centuries comes with a price."
He met Strange's gaze. "Generations of sorcerers have inherited the same outdated belief: that the world is ignorant and must be shielded from magic. That by staying hidden, they are protecting the 'helpless mortals.'"
A smirk tugged at Ethan's lips. "It's the same old story. 'You poor, clueless people—don't worry. We, the noble sorcerers, will protect you from things you don't even understand.'"
Strange exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. "You're saying this ideology is the real threat?"
"I'm saying it's blinding you," Ethan corrected. "And when you're blind, you don't see the real dangers creeping up behind you."
The room fell into silence, the weight of Ethan's words hanging between them. Strange leaned forward, clasping his hands together as he mulled over the implications.
Ethan crossed his arms. "So, Doctor—what are you going to do about it?"
...
Thousands of years of isolation have turned this kind of thinking into the foundation of the magical world.
But history has proven time and again—a civilization that isolates itself, believing in its own superiority, will eventually wither away, decaying in its own stagnation.
And now, the decline of the magical world is obvious.
Aside from the Ancient One and Doctor Strange, the current sorcerers are shadows of what they once were.
The ancient tomes that once served as stepping stones for progress have become sacred relics, untouchable and unchallenged.
From the perspective of civilization's development, this is unnatural—stagnation disguised as tradition.
If magic had truly advanced, sorcerers would have long since reached for the stars, forging interstellar empires like Hell's demonic legions or blending magic and science as Asgard does.
The Eye of Agamotto grants vision of past, present, and future, broadening the Ancient One's understanding.
She alone saw the cracks forming in the foundation of the magical world.
So, she sought reform.
She introduced technology into Kamar-Taj, no longer restricting new sorcerers to those born into magical bloodlines but recruiting from all over the world—those with talent, like Pangborn and Doctor Strange himself.
"Looking at it now, the Ancient One's progress has been slow. And I think one of the reasons she chose you as Sorcerer Supreme is because of this consideration." Ethan looked at Doctor Strange, studying his reaction.
"Then what do you think the solution is?" Strange asked, his voice steady.
These concerns were not new to him, but he was more interested in Ethan's proposed fix.
Ethan smiled, shifting his gaze toward the horizon. "Do you know how an empire once thought itself untouchable, only to crumble when it refused to evolve?"
Doctor Strange instinctively followed his gaze eastward, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What exactly are you getting at?"
"Before we get to that, shouldn't you be more concerned about your old friend currently circling Kamar-Taj?" Ethan deflected, shifting the conversation.
Strange exhaled. "Mordo is talented, and he managed to steal the Book of Cagliostro. That alone makes him dangerous. The creatures he summoned
—if left unchecked, they'll tear through Kamar-Taj's defenses in three days. But now… you're here, aren't you?" He met Ethan's gaze with a knowing look.
"If the combined forces of the magical and non-magical world can't handle your old friend, then what hope do we have against future threats?" Ethan replied.
"The only thing that concerns me now is whether your actions will cause unnecessary casualties among the people of Kamar-Taj."
"That depends on how well you handle emergency evacuation. Of course, I'll have to negotiate some terms with the other side. Can you even contact anyone outside?"
Doctor Strange gave Ethan a deadpan look.
"You're seriously asking me that? Just use your phone. Kamar-Taj is shielded against magical interference, but cell service still works. Otherwise, how do you think I stream movies on Wi-Fi?"
He pulled out his phone and waved it.
Ethan stared at him, his expression shifting to something between amusement and exasperation.
"Wait… you have cell service here? Then why, when Kamar-Taj was in trouble, did no one think to call for backup? Instead, you all acted like you were completely cut off."
Doctor Strange sighed, gesturing vaguely. "Do you think I haven't tried? Jarrett and the others are from old mystical families.
They're stubbornly resistant to technology. Be honest—have you ever seen a single smartphone or laptop in the New York Sanctum?"
Ethan fell silent.
…Damn it.
Maybe these sorcerers really do need a lesson in modern convenience.
A little technological enlightenment might do them some good.
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Word count: 1860
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