Morning sunlight spilled across the grounds of Kamar-Taj.
Noah stood in the training yard, looking at the familiar-yet subtly unfamiliar-surroundings, and for a moment, it truly felt as though he had returned to his own universe.
But he knew better.
This was not home.
Just yesterday, Noah had accepted Strange's invitation and come here. In truth, he preferred the London Sanctum, but many areas there still hadn't fully recovered. In comparison, Kamar-Taj was more intact-and more formal.
After arriving, Noah and Strange talked for an entire evening.
Strange had too many questions. Too much curiosity.
Noah, meanwhile, was genuinely interested in the more traditional mystic arts system of this universe. So he didn't mind sharing some of his own universe's understanding of magic, while Strange thoroughly explained how their universe borrowed and contracted power from other dimensions.
Honestly, Noah found it fascinating.
He didn't know whether other light-aspected or higher-dimensional powers existed in his own universe. But that didn't stop him from planning to study and test it seriously.
If he discovered something useful, it would save him a great deal of trouble.
As for what Noah taught Strange, it wasn't anything profound. Just some foundational elemental magic concepts.
That was more than enough.
For someone who had never touched elemental magic, anything deeper would have been counterproductive. Strange understood this clearly and didn't push further.
After their exchange, they parted.
Following a good night's rest, Noah came alone to the training grounds.
Everything here was finished.
The most important mission-Thanos-had already ended under their combined efforts.
As for what happened next, Noah didn't know for sure.
But he could guess.
Even though Tony hadn't died, the overall outcome likely wouldn't change much.
Gamora would probably still be gone.
The "fat" Thor of this universe would likely continue drifting through space with Star-Lord.
The others would return to their own paths.
Captain America would probably go back to the past and keep his appointment with Peggy Carter for that long-delayed dance.
In the end, almost everything would remain the same.
Except for one thing.
Tony Stark's funeral.
As for meeting the Avengers again?
When Noah left yesterday, they were clearly in the middle of an excited celebration. Thor and Loki had joined them. Noah had followed Strange here instead.
Since he hadn't attended the party last night, there was no reason to join now.
Honestly, Noah had also noticed something else yesterday.
This universe's Scarlet Witch-Wanda-had looked at him with undisguised hostility.
Noah hadn't forgotten that.
And thinking about it carefully, it made sense.
He had personally eliminated Thanos.
He had taken away her chance for revenge.
There were also Noah's own conjectures.
Mainly because, in his original universe, his attitude toward Wanda hadn't been particularly good. That alone left him with some lingering wariness.
For most people, this ending was perfect.
For her, it wasn't.
Her brother hadn't returned.
He hadn't died at Thanos's hands, nor by the Infinity Stones.
Vision hadn't returned either.
Vision was bound to the Mind Stone itself.
When the stone was destroyed, he died with it.
Noah wasn't confident Vision could withstand the consequences of losing the Mind Stone, and since the stone no longer existed in this universe, resurrection was unlikely.
So for Wanda, there was no joy here.
And Noah had no desire to meet a woman standing on the edge of madness.
"In that case, I'll leave first."
Noah stroked his chin.
Not informing Thor and Loki felt a little improper, but it wasn't necessary. They didn't need to return with him directly.
He only needed to activate the power the Ancient One had given him, and the three of them could return from anywhere.
"Planning to go back?"
Strange's voice sounded beside him.
Noah wasn't surprised at all. He had already sensed that familiar fluctuation of power.
"Yes." Noah nodded calmly. "Everything here is done. Naturally, I miss home."
He turned his head and smiled faintly.
"Otherwise, I'm afraid you, the Sorcerer Supreme, wouldn't be very happy. After all, if we actually fought, you probably wouldn't beat me-and I still have the Time Stone."
Strange looked at him helplessly.
He had to admit it was true.
Strictly speaking, Noah looked more like a Sorcerer Supreme than he did. He had the strength, and he had the Time Stone.
With a shrug, Strange said, "Then why not stay and become our Sorcerer Supreme? You're clearly qualified."
"No thanks." Noah shook his head. "I don't have the time to run between two universes. And my strength doesn't allow it."
More importantly, Noah didn't even have this universe's coordinates.
Strange wasn't surprised.
"Then... good luck," he said. But before leaving, he still asked, "My teacher-the Ancient One. Is she still alive?"
"You mean the Ancient One of this universe?" Noah tilted his head. "Yes. She's still alive. Not just her-King Odin is also alive. He's gone to seek the world of the dead."
"Because of divine transformation?" Strange immediately understood.
At his current level, he could vaguely sense such things.
And yesterday, during Thanos's final moments, he had clearly heard Noah's conversation with him.
So Strange had already confirmed part of the truth.
His teacher hadn't been in an ordinary state back then.
After everything he'd experienced, Strange was no longer naïve. He could sense that the Ancient One could never have been killed by someone like Kaecilius.
"Yes." Noah smiled casually. "You didn't really think a minor character like Kaecilius could kill her, did you?"
As he spoke, Noah activated the power his teacher had given him.
"Oh, right. In my opinion, Kaecilius really is just a minor character. And by the way-Mordo won't leave Kamar-Taj in the future either."
Strange frowned.
"This is... the Ancient One's power," he said slowly. "But it's completely different."
"Mm." Noah nodded. "In my universe, my teacher completed this transformation much earlier."
Strange fell silent.
Noah, meanwhile, smiled indifferently.
As the energy within him grew clearer and stronger, Noah knew that his teacher had likely already sensed everything.
All that remained was to wait.
But then-
Something felt off.
Another power approached.
It was fundamentally similar to his teacher's, yet clearly different.
The sensation was strange.
And then Noah's expression changed.
He knew what it meant.
This was the Ancient One of this universe.
That realization left Noah deeply frustrated.
He was clearly about to go home.
So why did he have to encounter her again?
This was not what he had hoped for.
Strange sensed it too. His expression turned to delight.
"It's her," he said softly. "The Ancient One."
"This is... not good news," Noah said with a bitter smile. "At least not for me."
As the power drew closer, a shimmering figure appeared before them.
Slowly, it solidified.
The Ancient One.
The moment she appeared, space and time seemed to freeze.
There were no fluctuations from the Time Stone or the Space Stone.
Everything simply stopped.
She looked at Strange with quiet relief.
Then her gaze shifted to Noah, carrying a trace of curiosity.
"Congratulations, Stephen," she said calmly. "You have done what you needed to do. You are a qualified guardian."
"Thank you, Ancient One," Strange replied, bowing respectfully, a bit stiffly.
Her gaze turned fully to Noah.
"And you?" she asked. "A guardian... from another universe?"
"Hello, Ancient One." Noah bowed slightly. "It's a pleasure to meet you. For me, this may not be the first time. For you, however, it probably is."
The Ancient One smiled faintly and studied him in silence.
At her level, she could sense many things.
Including Noah himself.
Though she hadn't fully recovered yet, that didn't affect her judgment.
Earlier, while meditating, she had already sensed an incredible power erupting in the real world.
And just now, she had felt a presence similar to her own-different in form, but identical at its core.
She could already infer the truth.
Another version of herself was likely preparing to send these outsiders home.
And it was precisely because of that realization-
That she found herself unexpectedly interested.
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