Kamar-Taj, within the Mirror Dimension.
"Teach me?" Vincent blinked.
"Yes." Sorcerer Ancient One nodded slightly, saying calmly and with certainty, "If you want to learn, you can join Kamar-Taj, and I will teach you magic."
Vincent didn't feel joy; instead, he frowned.
He didn't believe it was because he was exceptionally gifted and highly regarded by some transcendent power. Although many years ago, he had fantasized about an owl suddenly delivering a letter one day, or a Dr. from Chicago saying he had dragon genes within him.
It was still that same old saying.
Sixteen years had passed, and he had come to terms with everything.
"If I join Kamar-Taj, will there be any restrictions?" Vincent asked cautiously. He hadn't seen any extraordinary mages appear in the outside world, so it was clear that joining Kamar-Taj came with many limitations.
Sorcerer Ancient One said softly, "Once you join Kamar-Taj and become a mage of Kamar-Taj, you will be destined to hide behind the world, unable to easily use your magic in reality, and you will shoulder the great responsibility of protecting the world, preventing Earth from being invaded by terrifying higher-dimensional entities."
Protecting the world, fighting higher dimensions… Hearing this, Vincent shook his head decisively, "Then forget it. I'm not the type to save the world."
Sorcerer Ancient One said, "If it's you, you just need to be nominally associated with Kamar-Taj. After learning the magic portal, you can freely enter and exit Kamar-Taj to study, and Kamar-Taj's rules will not restrict you."
"There's such a good thing?"
Vincent felt even more that something was wrong. Even if he didn't understand anything, he could tell that Sorcerer Ancient One's words were a huge exception for Kamar-Taj!
"Sorcerer." Vincent took a deep breath, calming his mood.
"Speak." Sorcerer Ancient One nodded.
Vincent looked at her earnestly, asking with barely concealed excitement, "Are you saying you see that I am exceptionally gifted, a top-tier genius for learning magic?!"
Sorcerer Ancient One watched Vincent in silence, and only after a long while did she speak, "I can indeed 'see' whether a person has the potential to align with nature and learn magic…"
Vincent quickly said, "Then tell me, if I start learning your magic portal now, how long will it take? A year, or half a year?"
Sorcerer Ancient One hesitated, then extended a finger and answered bluntly, "One… hundred years and one day."
Vincent's breath hitched instantly.
Sorcerer, are you kidding me?
Also, are you sure I can live to be over a hundred years old?
Sorcerer Ancient One consoled him, "Actually, this is already quite good. Most people in the world, due to physical factors, simply cannot perceive natural energy and practice magic."
"Let's just forget it." Vincent had a look of utter despair. He was someone who naturally liked to take shortcuts.
Let alone making him study for a hundred years; even if it guaranteed mastery in ten years, he wouldn't waste his time there.
With that time and energy, couldn't he do something else?
"Oh, right." A flash of inspiration crossed Vincent's mind, and he suddenly asked Sorcerer Ancient One, "Sorcerer, can I transfer my spot to someone else?"
Sorcerer Ancient One gave him a deep look, and said calmly, "You want to transfer your spot to the red-haired girl in your house?"
"You know that too." Vincent did want Wanda to come to Kamar-Taj to study.
After all, he was at least half-supernatural, while Wanda was just an ordinary person. If she learned magic, she would be able to handle certain dangers in the future.
Also, what his maid learned was his, so why not use the spot!
Vincent raised his eyes, asking curiously, "Then Sorcerer Ancient One, can you tell if Wanda has the potential to learn your magic?"
Sorcerer Ancient One fell silent again.
Finally, she extended a finger again:
"Ten thousand times faster than you."
"What did you say?!" Vincent momentarily suspected he had misheard… Washington district, at the crossroads.
The red light for no entry came on, and pedestrians came and went on the sidewalk.
Among the crowd.
The black-haired boy holding the little orange cat suddenly appeared, as if he had been there all along, and no one was curious about his abrupt appearance.
"Sorcerer, Kamar-Taj…"
Vincent murmured softly, then followed the passersby, walking with little orange cat towards one end of the pedestrian street.
Not far from Barry Allen's home.
Vincent saw Barry walking on the street from a distance, still dressed in his usual jacket and casual pants.
Only.
Just as Vincent was about to wave and greet him, he suddenly perceived something else the next moment and, without hesitation, turned back with little orange cat.
"Meow?" Little orange cat tilted its head in confusion.
"Let's go buy some dried fish. We shouldn't disturb them." Vincent smiled knowingly.
He had just seen it.
Barry was accompanied by a beautiful black woman, and they were chatting and laughing, seemingly immersed in their own world… Evening.
Vincent returned home with large and small bags, mostly cat food. The two women, one older and one younger, hadn't returned home yet, making the dark house seem a bit desolate… He showered and fed the cat.
Vincent was lying flat on the comfortable sofa, watching TV, when the sound of the door opening came from the entrance.
"Master, I'm home." A clear, soft voice sounded from the doorway.
Vincent subconsciously looked up, and his eyes immediately showed a look of admiration.
It was Wanda, who had gone to Gotham to study.
Only, the girl had changed into a bright red long dress. The base color of the dress echoed her crimson hair, making her neck, wrists, and feet, exposed to the air, appear even whiter and more flawless than the first snow falling from the winter sky.
With Wanda's doll-like delicate face, any clothes she wore made her look gentle and beautiful.
And now, the high-end, small-cut red dress seemed to exist naturally for the girl, making her appear like a noble princess from a modern oil painting.
The white, semi-transparent silk scarf draped around her head and neck softened this noble temperament.
Princess, maid —
These two vastly different identities seemed to converge in one person.
Vincent's heart skipped a beat, against his will.
Cute, want to… want what?!
"It's good you're back." Vincent forcibly averted his gaze, focusing on the TV screen.
"Ah, it's almost seven in the evening, I'll go make dinner right away!" Wanda took off her black boots, checked the time, and said somewhat flustered.
"No need to make dinner tonight." Vincent waved his hand and said, "I ate something outside, and I also bought a cheesecake. Let's eat it together."
Wanda nodded gently. She looked at Vincent on the sofa, her small face hesitating for a moment, then she gathered her courage and walked forward with determination.
"The cake is in…"
Vincent's words stopped before he finished, as he saw Wanda approach.
The girl sat on the sofa near Vincent, her small hands resting on the sofa, her body and face leaning forward to get closer.
Wanda's face showed fatigue and anticipation, and she said softly, "Today, Wanda worked very hard, listening to Teacher Alfred's lessons and learning many things, including etiquette, with the Head Maid. Although it was tiring, she still persevered, and they all praised me, but…"
Her words stopped there, with some hesitation and shy embarrassment that was hard to express.
Looking at the little maid's soliciting and submissive posture, Vincent seemed to understand something at that moment. He placed his hand on Wanda's small head and gently stroked her hair a few times with a smile:
"You worked hard, Wanda, you did very well."
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