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Nepal.
The Himalayas.
Kamar-Taj.
Almost the instant Hawk teleported himself and Gwen directly from New York, the gates of Kamar-Taj swung open.
"Mr. Phoenix."
"Mrs. Phoenix."
"This way, please."
Master Mordo had clearly been expecting them. He offered Hawk a respectful bow, then gestured for them to follow.
Hawk and Gwen thanked him and fell into step behind their guide. They passed through the training courtyard where apprentice sorcerers were practicing their morning exercises, making their way toward the Sorcerer Supreme's reception hall.
It had been a year since their last visit.
Most of the apprentices from back then were gone.
A small number had successfully earned the Vishanti's approval, becoming true sorcerers and remaining at Kamar-Taj.
But the majority had abandoned their training for various reasons, choosing to descend the mountain and return to ordinary life.
Of course.
A few had also chosen to embrace darkness—joining various dark magical dimensions to become practitioners of the black arts.
Like the sorcerer Kaecilius, whom Hawk had once encountered at the New York Sanctum.
That one had definitely gone dark.
Last night, after awakening from his meditation and telling Gwen he needed "time," Hawk had originally planned to use the New York Sanctum's portal to reach Kamar-Taj directly.
But—
After a quick sweep with his Sixth Sense, he'd been surprised to discover that Kaecilius was no longer there.
Hawk then considered the current timeline.
Right.
If his calculations were correct, by now the Kaecilius who bore such a striking resemblance to Mads Mikkelsen had already betrayed Kamar-Taj and was plotting his tribute offering to Dormammu of the Dark Dimension.
If last night's assessment had been mere speculation—
Then now... Hawk's gaze settled on a figure in the training courtyard. There, clumsily attempting to mimic the senior sorcerers drawing circles in the air, was a man who bore an uncanny resemblance to the future Doctor Strange.
That confirmed it wasn't speculation. It was happening right now.
Gwen had also noticed the future Sorcerer Supreme.
After all, she'd watched these sorcerers train before. And this particular novice's movements were so awkward that it would have been impossible not to notice him.
But the awkwardness wasn't what caught her attention—it was his face.
Gwen studied the man for several seconds before turning to Hawk.
"Hawk, look at that one—the clumsy guy. Doesn't he look like Doctor Strange from New Amsterdam Hospital?"
"Who?"
Hawk pretended ignorance, glancing in the direction Gwen indicated.
"You know him?"
Gwen looked at Hawk.
"Don't you remember? Late December last year, I told you about that car accident near Malibu? The victim was this Doctor Strange. He's supposed to be a medical genius. When news broke about his accident, a lot of people at my school were really upset about it."
Late December last year?
Hawk blinked.
"Was that when we were in Forks?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Oh."
Now Hawk remembered. Gwen had mentioned something like that.
But she hadn't given a name at the time, and Hawk had been too preoccupied figuring out whether the angels and devils were planning to team up against him to pay much attention.
His thoughts churned, but he withdrew his gaze.
"Looks like it's him."
"Right? But what's he doing here?"
Gwen's curiosity was piqued. If not for the morning exercises still in progress—and the Sorcerer Supreme waiting for them—she might have gone over to ask.
Fortunately, Mordo answered her question.
"Stephen arrived three months ago hoping we could heal his hands."
"...I see."
Understanding dawned on Gwen's face. She turned to Hawk, who showed neither surprise nor curiosity.
"I heard that after the accident, Doctor Strange's hands were so badly injured he couldn't perform surgery anymore. He sold his Malibu mansion and his Manhattan apartment. Word is he's on the verge of bankruptcy."
Reality could be cruel like that.
The simple truth was that Doctor Strange—like most Westerners—had a taste for living beyond his means. When crisis struck, he'd gone from millionaire to near-homeless in the blink of an eye.
But—
That wasn't Hawk's concern.
He wasn't here to make friends with the future Sorcerer Supreme.
Soon.
Under Mordo's guidance, they arrived at the familiar, antique-styled reception hall.
The Ancient One, still dressed in her signature white robes, greeted them with a gentle smile as they entered.
"Hawk."
"Sorcerer Supreme."
"Gwen."
"Master."
"Please, sit."
"Thank you."
At the Ancient One's invitation, Hawk and Gwen settled onto the same familiar cushions as before.
The Ancient One began preparing tea, her movements practiced and graceful, her demeanor serene.
Gwen studied the fragrant liquid in her cup.
"Master, this tea is..."
"Dragon Well tea. A sorcerer friend from the East brought it when he visited."
"...It smells wonderful."
Gwen raised the cup to her nose for a delicate sniff, then took a sip. Her eyes lit up.
"Delicious."
Seated beside her, Hawk heard "Dragon Well tea" and lifted his own cup for a taste. Then he drained it in one gulp.
"Quite good."
"Take some home if you like it."
"Thank you."
Hawk didn't refuse. If his timeline calculations were correct, the Ancient One would be "retiring" soon. Leaving fine tea for Doctor Strange would be a complete waste—better that Hawk take it home.
After all, hadn't the Sorcerer Supreme—who normally wore the Eye of Agamotto (the Time Stone) on her person at all times—suddenly relegated it to a restricted vault in the library the moment Stephen Strange arrived?
Speaking of which—
Hawk had always been curious about the circumstances of the Ancient One's "retirement."
Setting aside the fact that she'd mentioned during their first meeting that she'd already glimpsed the power of a future Virgo—
Just considering the original film alone—
Hawk had always wondered whether the Sorcerer Supreme had truly died at the end, or merely faked her death.
On the surface, she'd appeared to die.
But leaving aside the fact that she'd been drawing life-sustaining energy from Dormammu's Dark Dimension—could someone who possessed the Time Stone really not have foreseen her own assassination by the traitor Kaecilius?
The most logical explanation was simple: after serving as Sorcerer Supreme for so long, the Ancient One was tired. With Stephen Strange—the Vishanti's chosen successor—finally appearing, she'd seized the opportunity to set down her burden.
Bottom line.
If Stephen Strange hadn't been chosen by the Vishanti, there was no way—no matter how talented he was—that he could have trained his magical energy to such levels in just a few months.
Magic wasn't a casual dinner party.
Take Hawk himself as an example. He was already ridiculously overpowered, yet from awakening his Cosmo in 2012 to now standing at Earth's apex where he could say "no" to anyone from a position of absolute strength—that had taken nearly four years.
And yet—
Stephen Strange had managed it in a few months, to the point where he dared take the Time Stone and bargain with Dormammu of the Dark Dimension?
If Strange had been training on his own—without the Vishanti supplying power—how many times could he actually use the Time Stone?
Once, sure. Twice, maybe. Three times would be pushing it. After four or five uses, it would start consuming his lifeforce.
If there wasn't something going on behind the scenes, Hawk absolutely refused to believe it.
Still—
Speculation was one thing. Hawk wasn't about to straight-up ask the Ancient One about it.
If the person most affected—the Sorcerer Supreme herself—wasn't worried, why should he, an outsider, care? When the dust settled, he'd learn the truth soon enough. No point asking now.
He was here on business.
After three cups of tea.
Hawk set down his cup and looked at the Sorcerer Supreme, cutting straight to the point.
"Sorcerer Supreme, I'd like to borrow the Eye of Agamotto."
"Then your timing is perfect."
The Ancient One smiled at his request.
"If you'd come a month later, that wouldn't have been possible."
Hawk's eyebrow rose.
Beside him, Gwen turned to the Sorcerer Supreme.
"Are you traveling somewhere next month, Master?"
The Ancient One's smile remained serene.
"I'm planning to take a vacation."
"A vacation?"
Gwen blinked at the Sorcerer Supreme's words.
"Where are you traveling this summer, Master?"
She assumed the "vacation" referred to the Sorcerer Supreme's annual summer trip.
Gwen was also thinking about her own summer vacation plans with Hawk.
This year's break might be short—only four or five days—but hearing other people's destinations could provide useful reference.
Hawk and the Ancient One exchanged a glance.
The latter smiled and answered Gwen.
"The Phoenix Universe."
Gwen nodded reflexively at the response. Then, as if something clicked, she turned to Hawk.
Hawk offered a faint smile and steered the conversation away, returning to the matter of borrowing the Time Stone.
The Ancient One used her magic to summon Wong.
A short while later.
Wong arrived at the reception hall.
Hawk glanced at Gwen.
"Coming with me, or...?"
"I'll wait here."
"Alright."
Hawk nodded and rose from his cushion, preparing to follow Wong to the secret vault behind the library to borrow the Time Stone.
But—
Just as he was about to leave, the Ancient One called out.
Hawk turned.
"Sorcerer Supreme?"
"Time must close the loop to take effect, Hawk."
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