The council chamber felt heavier than usual, as if the walls themselves understood the significance of what we were about to discuss. Our thought‑projections flickered into existence one by one, each of us wearing our Akatsuki rings, the connection humming faintly with energy.
Julius appeared first beside me—O5‑2 Sentinel—his expression tight, analytical, already preparing counter‑arguments in that calculating mind of his.Darius—O5‑3 The Watcher—appeared next, arms folded behind his back, eyes half‑closed, listening before the debate even began.Sun Tzu—O5‑4 Factorum—projected in with calm discipline, silent as a battlefield before dawn.And Cleopatra—O5‑5 The Treasure—materialised last, irritation already written across her face.
I cleared my throat.
"Let's begin."
Immediately the chamber ignited into a storm.
"We can't ignore them anymore," Julius said sharply, cutting through the noise. "Kamar‑Taj has held the Time Stone for centuries. That alone makes them a critical variable in our long‑term planning."
"Exactly," Cleopatra snapped. "A variable—an unpredictable one. Sorcerers have been meddling with dimensional forces since the beginning of recorded history. They are dangerous, Administrator. They are technically anomalies. People who warp reality with hand gestures."
"And they're preventing dimensional annihilation," Darius countered, voice calm but firm. "Dormammu. Mephisto. Shuma‑Gorath. There are threats even we can't fight yet. Without Kamar‑Taj, the world would have ended thousands of years ago."
Cleopatra scoffed. "And how long until one of those sorcerers goes rogue? Or becomes corrupted like the Darkhold's previous wielders? They are one heartbeat away from becoming SCP‑class threats."
"Most anomalies are." I tapped my fingers against the table. "But we contain those when necessary. The sorcerers are different. They maintain the structural integrity of this universe. Removing them destabilizes everything."
"But the Time Stone—" Julius began.
"Yes." I nodded. "The Time Stone is non‑negotiable."
The room went silent at that.
Even Cleopatra didn't speak for a moment.
I could feel the tension sharpening—no one dared challenge me directly on this point. The Time Stone was too powerful, too dangerous, too unpredictable to be in the hands of anyone but the Foundation. With the Reality Stone in my possession, and Doom refining the Philosopher's Stone, we were already beginning to rival cosmic forces. Adding the Time Stone would push us into a new category entirely.
But even I understood the political complexity.
Taking it outright would trigger a magical war.
"We cannot afford conflict with Kamar‑Taj," Darius said quietly, reading my thoughts. "Not now. Not with 682 still adapting, not with the Darkhold secured but active, not with the Foundation's infrastructure still developing."
"Agreed," Sun Tzu said at last. "We must calculate the battlefield before stepping onto it."
Cleopatra rolled her eyes. "Calculate all you want. They're still untrustworthy mystics with a bad habit of bending the universe."
"And yet," Julius replied smoothly, "the universe bends back when they fail. We cannot risk that."
The discussion spiraled again—accusations, logic, counter‑logic. For over an hour, the Council split into factions:
Faction One: ContainmentCleopatra wanted the sorcerers neutralized or catalogued as anomalies. In her view, nothing outside the Foundation should wield that level of power.
Faction Two: AcquisitionJulius and I agreed the Time Stone must be secured by us one day. Not stolen—not yet—but negotiated for, prepared for, or taken advantage of if the opportunity arose.
Faction Three: ObservationDarius argued for patience. Gather information, identify the current Sorcerer Supreme, understand their mindset, and proceed cautiously.
Sun Tzu supported Darius, though more tactically. "We cannot wage war against an enemy whose strengths we do not fully understand."
Eventually, the noise settled. The five of us stared at each other, the decision hanging heavy in the air.
I raised my hand.
"We will not attack Kamar‑Taj. We will not attempt containment. Not now."
Cleopatra visibly bristled, but she didn't interrupt.
"We initiate diplomatic contact," I continued. "A conversation. Nothing more."
Julius nodded beside me.Darius let out a quiet sigh of relief.Sun Tzu simply inclined his head.Cleopatra looked ready to tear the fabric of her projection apart.
"So we're trusting them?" she asked sharply.
"No," I said. "We're evaluating them."
"And the Time Stone?" Julius asked.
My eyes narrowed.
"We will not request it. We will not demand it. But we will make it clear: the Foundation exists. We have secured threats the Mystic Arts are unaware of. And we are preparing for cosmic-level events that will come sooner or later."
Julius smirked slightly. "Meaning the Sorcerer Supreme will understand that we are not a force to be underestimated."
"Exactly."
I folded my hands on the table, meeting each projection's eyes in turn.
"The goal is simple:• Establish a neutral relationship.• Gain insight into Kamar‑Taj's structure.• Identify potential risks.• Ensure they understand the Foundation is a… necessary player."
"And the Time Stone?" Cleopatra pressed again.
I allowed myself a faint smile.
"If the opportunity arises, we secure it. Cleanly. Quietly. Without war. But not yet."
Silence followed.
Then—one by one—the projections nodded.
A Council decision.
For now, diplomacy would lead.
But behind that diplomacy… preparation.
The Sorcerer Supreme would soon feel our presence.
And when we finally spoke, they would understand:
The Foundation is not an enemy.But we are not beneath them.Not anymore.