New York.
High above Manhattan.
Two figures darted through the canyon of glass towers and concrete skyscrapers.
Antony flew leisurely through the sky, hands clasped behind his back. The torn half of his cape fluttered wildly in the wind. His posture looked relaxed—almost casual—like someone strolling through his own backyard.
Beside him, however, another figure moved very differently.
A flash of red zigzagged through the air.
Riding atop a vintage-looking broomstick, the rider rose and dipped clumsily through the sky—awkward at times, but brimming with irrepressible excitement.
"Woooah—!"
Wanda Maximoff clutched tightly onto the polished redwood handle of the Nimbus 2000, leaning forward as magical energy forced the rushing air to part before her.
Sometimes she pulled into a graceful climb, the twigs at the end of the broom drawing a smooth arc through the clouds.
Sometimes she spun through the mist, her red dress fluttering like a blooming rose in the sky.
Antony watched her quietly.
The girl who once carried nothing but hatred and fear in her eyes was now laughing like someone her age finally should.
"So this is the joy of raising someone?" he murmured to himself with amusement.
"This feeling—this feeling is incredible, Antony!"
Wanda swooped upward and halted in midair right in front of him, her cheeks flushed red from both excitement and the cold wind.
"It understands what I'm thinking! If I want to go left, it goes left! If I want to go right, it goes right!"
"It feels like… like it's part of my body!"
She laughed breathlessly.
"When I was little… back in Sokovia, I watched those old tapes about magic."
Her voice grew louder to overcome the roaring wind.
"I used to dream about flying on something like this!"
For a girl raised among war and experiments, fairy tales had always been an unreachable luxury.
But now—
This man had taken a fairy tale…
And placed it directly in her hands.
"As long as you like it."
Antony reached out and gently brushed a strand of windblown hair behind her ear.
"I told you."
"I'd give you the best."
Wanda lovingly traced the engraving on the broom handle:
Nimbus 2000
Her heart pounded.
Not only because of the incredible broom—
But because of the warm look in Antony's eyes when he watched her.
"Thank you…" she said softly.
"This is the best gift I've ever received."
She guided the broom closer.
Then she reached out and gently held Antony's face.
Her lips touched his briefly.
A light kiss, like the brush of a dragonfly over water.
Ding!
Special Popularity Value +5000! (From Wanda Maximoff)
The familiar system notification chimed.
"Not bad."
Antony smirked, licking his lips slightly.
"Equipment investment recovered… plus a bonus reward."
…
Ten minutes later.
"Alright. Playtime's over."
Antony flew beside Wanda and pointed downward toward an ordinary-looking brownstone building below.
"The place we're going next has something even more magical than this."
"Really?" Wanda's eyes sparkled.
"Something cooler than a flying broom?"
"Of course."
"Hold tight to your broom."
"We're landing."
-----
Greenwich Village
177A Bleecker Street
One of the strangest buildings in New York.
Even in the ridiculously expensive real estate market of Manhattan, this Victorian-style house seemed oddly out of place.
Yet somehow—
Even the sharpest real estate agents unconsciously ignored its existence.
Antony tilted downward and landed first on the circular rooftop terrace.
Wanda followed closely.
She hopped lightly off the broom and lovingly stroked the wooden handle before flicking her wrist.
A flash of crimson light appeared.
The Nimbus 2000 vanished into her small enchanted storage pocket—a little magical trick Antony had recently taught her.
The rooftop was eerily quiet.
An invisible barrier seemed to block out Manhattan's endless horns and traffic noise.
"Where are we?" Wanda asked curiously, glancing around.
"It looks… normal."
"Normal?"
Antony walked toward the circular skylight and peered down into the dark spiral staircase below.
"In this world, the most dangerous things usually hide inside the most ordinary shells."
"Just like Superman hiding behind a pair of glasses."
He approached a red wooden door that strangely had no handle.
Raising his hand, he prepared to knock.
Creak—
The old wooden door suddenly opened inward by itself.
A gentle fragrance of tea drifted out.
"Looks like our host was getting impatient."
Antony stepped inside without hesitation.
Passing through a dim attic and down the spiral staircase, they entered the interior.
The room was filled with strange artifacts, ancient books, and mysterious statues.
In the center of the hall sat a simple wooden tea table surrounded by chairs.
A bald woman wearing beige monk robes sat calmly there.
Steam rose from a teapot as she poured boiling water into delicate cups.
The Sorcerer Supreme.
Ancient One.
"You've arrived, Mr. Starr."
She didn't even look up.
Her movements were smooth and effortless.
Her tone sounded as if she were greeting a neighbor she saw every day.
She placed the teapot down and finally lifted her eyes to calmly observe them.
Antony raised an eyebrow and strode over, casually pulling out a chair and sitting down.
"I like dealing with smart people."
"Saves us from boring opening lines like 'Who are you?' or 'What do you want?'"
Wanda nervously followed behind him and sat obediently beside him.
"The tea is freshly brewed."
"I added a bit of honey."
The Ancient One calmly poured honey into the steaming cups.
"If you don't mind," Antony said casually, "I prefer milk."
"Preferably at 37 degrees."
The Ancient One smiled faintly.
Then—almost like a magic trick—she produced a small milk jug and pushed it toward him.
"This is just ordinary whole milk from the supermarket."
"I hope it doesn't ruin your mood."
"And you, child."
She slid a teacup toward Wanda.
"I hope you enjoy it."
Wanda lifted the cup and took a cautious sip.
The warm sweetness flowed down her throat.
Her nervous tension melted instantly.
"It's delicious…"
She placed the cup down—
And froze.
The tea inside the cup, which had clearly decreased by a sip, slowly refilled itself.
The liquid level rose back to the brim.
"What—"
Wanda's eyes widened.
She drank again.
Again—
The tea refilled.
The Ancient One smiled gently.
"A small trick."
"It saves the trouble of refilling cups."
Antony stirred milk into his tea lazily.
"So… you knew I was coming."
"You don't seem surprised at all."
He glanced up at her.
"You've seen the future, Sorcerer?"
Wanda's ears immediately perked up when she heard the word future.
Magic could do that?
If she learned magic…
Could she see the future too?
Her eyes secretly slid toward Antony beside her.
Her cheeks flushed faintly.
If she could see the future…
Would she see herself with Antony?
Would they get married?
Would they live in a seaside house?
How many children would they have?
A shy warmth crept into her face.
In her mind appeared a peaceful image—
A sunny afternoon.
She and Antony sitting in a garden.
Two angel-like twin children running across the grass.
If magic could show her that future—
She would give anything for it.
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