"That's about it, is something going on?"
Wanda's voice was soft, but her eyes carried worry. She turned toward Kurogai, her concern clear. The sudden abnormality with the Infinity Stone had drawn his attention, and that unsettled her deeply.
"If that's the case, then something unusual must be happening," Thor muttered, his booming voice filled with unease. He remembered his father Odin's warnings about the Time Stone. If the artifact was showing signs of instability, it could mean disaster.
"Wanda, I need to speak with you in private. Thor, wait here in the hall for a while," Kurogai finally said after a pause, his tone calm but firm. He didn't want Thor to know the details of what he was about to investigate.
Thor frowned, clearly confused, but he nodded. The Asgardian already suspected Kurogai was one of the mystics from Kamar-Taj, so he believed this must be an internal matter among sorcerers. Without pressing further, he stayed behind as Kurogai and Wanda walked away.
"Lord Kurogai, what's happening?" Wanda asked once they were alone. Worry lingered in her voice. She had noticed his silence earlier, and it felt unlike him. Something was wrong.
"I need to verify something," Kurogai replied, his tone deliberate. "Take me to the Eye of Agamotto."
Wanda gave a small nod, not pressing for answers. Whatever it was, it clearly mattered. And if Kurogai was worried, she knew it wasn't trivial. She guided him toward the hidden chamber where the Eye was kept.
The Eye of Agamotto—one of the greatest relics of sorcery—was more than just a sacred object. It housed the Time Stone itself, a weapon and tool of immense power. Traditionally, it had always been protected by the Sorcerer Supreme. Once, that had been the Ancient One, but now the mantle was Wanda's. Given her bond with Kurogai, she didn't hesitate to allow him access.
Soon, they arrived at the sealed chamber. The stone doors parted, and inside, upon a pedestal, the Eye rested. Wanda lifted the protective wards and opened the relic. Slowly, its casing shifted, releasing a soft green glow that bathed the room. The Time Stone revealed itself, pulsing with quiet energy.
"Nothing seems different?" Wanda whispered.
Kurogai reached forward and held the Stone in his palm. Its familiar energy tugged at him, just as it always had. His perfected body craved its power, but the Stone itself showed no signs of abnormality. No ripple, no resonance.
He exhaled slowly. So, even when I've consumed other Infinity Stones, it doesn't disrupt the rest… That was a relief. It meant that if he stood before another Stone's wielder, they would not be able to sense what he had done. More importantly, it meant Thanos would not be able to track him through the Stones themselves. That bought him precious time.
"Seal it away again," Kurogai said quietly.
He still intended to claim the Time Stone eventually—of that there was no question—but now was not the right moment. His path would soon take him away from Earth, and crossing the Sorcerer Supreme openly was unwise. Despite his ambitions, he respected the Ancient One for once allowing him to study magic at Kamar-Taj. He would not betray that trust yet.
Wanda closed the relic, returning the Stone to its resting place. Then she turned back to him, her expression gentle yet firm. "If you ever need anything, tell me. I'll do everything I can to help."
Kurogai gave her a small smile, one that softened his otherwise calculating demeanor. "It's all right, Wanda. Don't worry."
Satisfied for now, they returned to the main hall. But as they stepped inside, they found someone else waiting alongside Thor.
She stood with a presence that silenced the air itself—a serene yet commanding aura. Clad in her flowing, pale robes, the Ancient One had returned.
"It's been a long time," Kurogai said with a calm nod. He wasn't surprised. Wanda had undoubtedly informed her of the anomaly with the Stone.
"Yes… far too long," the Ancient One replied, her gaze steady on him. "I hadn't expected you to become so powerful. Even Thor, son of Odin, could not stand against you."
Kurogai didn't flinch at the words, though he could see the faint astonishment in her expression.
She had once looked upon him as a frail child. Now, he stood as a force she could not easily measure, a power even a god of Asgard had failed to match. Her sigh carried the weight of a teacher witnessing a pupil surpass expectations beyond imagination.
And yet, in her calm eyes, there was something else—an awareness that the boy who once sought guidance at Kamar-Taj had grown into a man who could shape the future itself.
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