Henry felt… a bit exasperated.
Tony Stark had just confessed that he found peace in Henry's advice, even said he felt safe around him. The mage had no idea how to respond to that. Emotional vulnerability wasn't his specialty—at least, not from other people.
So he chose the tried-and-true method: silence.
Thankfully, Stark wasn't one to linger when he had inspiration. As soon as he finished expressing his gratitude, he jumped to his feet, brimming with enthusiasm.
"Anyway, thanks again for today! Seriously—your suggestions gave me so many ideas. I need to get back and work on the next upgrade right now!" Stark declared, practically vibrating with excitement.
Henry nodded. "Go."
Without another word, Stark hurried out, leaving only a trail of charisma and unfiltered genius behind him.
Henry exhaled slowly and stretched his arms. The conversation had been exhausting, in a strange way. With Tony gone, he could finally return to what he really wanted to do: resume his magical studies upstairs.
But before he could even reach the staircase, Polaris emerged from her room.
Henry tilted his head, slightly surprised. "You're out?"
Polaris pointed to the clock on the wall. "It's dinner time. I came to see if you wanted to eat."
Henry glanced at the time and nodded. She was right. But… he wasn't hungry. Not anymore.
His month-long training had borne significant fruit. His mastery of soul energy had reached a point where his body functioned beyond normal human limitations. He no longer needed food like before—his magical and soul energy sustained him. He could go days without eating and still feel fine.
It was a strange transition, but a natural one as his power evolved.
"I'm not hungry," he replied calmly. "If you want food, go buy it yourself. The money's in the box Natasha Romanoff gave us. Grab what you need."
Polaris nodded, but her eyes drifted toward the staircase. "Are you heading up to train again?"
"Yes. Same as before—don't let anyone interrupt me."
"I understand. Don't worry, I'll keep the house quiet."
Henry offered a faint smile. Polaris was reliable—always had been. With a nod of appreciation, he ascended the stairs and entered his study.
He didn't waste time.
Cross-legged on the floor, hands resting on his knees, Henry closed his eyes and slipped into the soul state.
In seconds, his consciousness detached from the physical body and entered the vast, infinite layers of the multiverse.
This time, it was easier.
His soul moved fluidly, gliding through the currents of reality, bending through timelines, absorbing energy with ease. He was getting stronger. Sharper. And the deeper he ventured, the more he realized how many powerful entities lingered just beyond his current reach.
So he stayed cautious.
Even now, the multiverse held dangers far beyond comprehension—cosmic beings, old gods, and… souls of powerful mages.
Like her.
Out of the shimmering mist of space-time, a familiar presence appeared.
The Ancient One.
Or rather, the soul of the Ancient One.
She appeared calm and radiant, her spiritual form surrounded by golden magical symbols that shimmered like embers in the wind. But her eyes widened slightly when she noticed him.
"Supreme Mage," Henry greeted first, his voice casual. "What a coincidence meeting you here."
The Ancient One stared at him, visibly stunned. It took her several seconds to gather herself before she finally responded, "…How are you here?"
Her question wasn't rhetorical.
She was genuinely surprised—maybe even shaken.
It had only been a month since their last meeting. A single month. Yet here Henry was, casually traversing the multiverse in soul form, something that took most mages decades of training—if they could even achieve it at all.
Henry remained composed. "I took your advice seriously. You said the soul must be strong enough to withstand dark power. So I've been training mine."
The Ancient One fell silent.
Of course, she had said that. But when she said it, she hadn't expected him to achieve it so soon.
She had personally taken years to stabilize her soul enough for multidimensional travel. Most of the ancient records in Kamar-Taj treated soul travel as a pinnacle-level mastery.
And this man… had just strolled in after four weeks like it was meditation class.
She exhaled slowly. "You're… advancing faster than I anticipated."
Henry smiled faintly but said nothing.
"How's your progress with time magic?" she asked next, still processing what she was seeing.
"I've grasped the core principles that generations of Supreme Mages have studied. But as for the Time Stone itself… I'm still studying it. It's complex."
The Ancient One nodded. "That's expected. The Time Stone contains the raw essence of universal cycles. Even I haven't unraveled all of its mysteries."
"But," Henry added, "I believe I'm getting close."
And that was the terrifying part.
Most sorcerers didn't even dare to handle the Time Stone, let alone study it directly.
The Ancient One folded her arms. "And what about… the Darkhold?"
"The Book of Darkness?" Henry echoed. "I'm interested. But I won't touch it for now."
"Good," she replied. "Your caution is wise."
There was a pause.
Then Henry turned toward her. "Honestly, I expected you to try and stop me from learning it."
The Ancient One gave a small smile. "I've stopped many people before. But you're different."
Henry blinked. "How so?"
"You're flexible. Most sorcerers at Kamar-Taj lack that. Master Mordo, for instance—he clings to rules. He'll break before he bends. And that's dangerous in a changing world."
Henry could read between the lines. Her words sounded less like approval and more like… parting advice.
That's when the suspicion hit him.
"Are you explaining something to me, Supreme Mage?" he asked carefully.
The Ancient One didn't deny it.
Instead, she asked a simple question: "Have you heard of Dormammu?"
"Of course. Ruler of the Dark Dimension. Gave up his physical body to become a being of pure energy. Obsessed with turning every universe into his own dark playground."
The Ancient One nodded. "Exactly. For years, I've fought to keep him at bay. But to do that… I had to borrow strength. From the same dark dimension I swore to resist."
Henry's eyes narrowed. "So the rumors are true."
"Yes," she said softly. "My lifespan was extended by siphoning energy from Dormammu's realm. It was necessary. Without it, Earth would have fallen a dozen times."
She met his gaze. "And now that you're growing this fast, I think it's time I stepped back."
Henry frowned. "You're retiring?"
The Ancient One chuckled, but it was a tired sound. "Something like that."
"That doesn't make sense," Henry said firmly. "The timeline isn't right. You're supposed to—"
"The timeline already changed the moment you entered this world," she interrupted. "You're the anomaly, Henry. Not just to sorcerers. To the entire universe."
"You learned too fast. Grew too strong. I've already seen what's coming. There's no longer a need for me."
Henry stared, speechless.
The Ancient One gave a gentle smile. "Do you think I want to go? I've held on longer than I should have. But stolen time must eventually be returned. And your presence… it tells me the world will be in good hands."
Henry's mouth opened. Closed.
"…Is this because I'm too strong?"
The Ancient One laughed softly. "Maybe. Or maybe I was just waiting for someone like you all along."
She took a step back, her form beginning to fade into golden light.
"Henry… don't fear the burden. Embrace it. You were never meant to walk an ordinary path. You're the exception. The variable the universe didn't expect."
"I hope," she added gently, "that when the time comes—you'll choose the path I couldn't."
And then, with one final flicker of light, she vanished.
Henry sat alone in the multiverse, suspended in infinite space, echoing energy surrounding him.
He sighed deeply.
"…This really is because I'm too damn strong, isn't it?"
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