The Ancient One took a sip of her tea, the act merely masking the storm of thoughts within her head. She had known the Foundation was impressive; just reading a few of the files within their database was more than enough to tell her that much.
And the secrecy surrounding them was just as impressive; she could hardly believe she hadn't known about them before, yet now that at least made some sense.
However, with answers came even more questions. While she likely knew more about the Foundation's founding than anyone outside of the Foundation, the original five overseers, that is, she still had plenty of questions.
And since the past of the Foundation wasn't the past of this universe, she wasn't sure if she could even see it, so far she had been able to see some of the Foundation's past, but hardly far enough back to see the founding, and given that it had happened in another universe she doubted the changes to her own would allow her to see it.
This meant that she had very few ways of getting more information, of getting more of her questions answered, except the being sitting before her.
Putting down her cup. "So, I noticed you didn't reveal who the architect is or the other members of the O5 council."
SCP-343 chuckled softly, his gaze resting lightly on her as if amused by her observation. "Ah, you noticed, of course. You're sharp, Morrigan, as always. But no, I didn't reveal their identities. Not yet."
The Ancient One's expression remained calm, though her curiosity flared. "Why? You've told me so much already. Why hold back now?"
SCP-343 smiled, but this time there was something deeper behind it—something almost knowing. "The identities of the O5 Council are not simply names or titles. It is part of their protection; there are many things that can harm someone by knowing their name; as such, few know the names of the Overseers, much like few know your true name."
She couldn't even deny his words; knowing someone's name was indeed the same as having power over them. while it wasn't quite the same as what the fey was rumoured to have, there were still many curses and spells that could be used with someone's name.
This was one reason why she herself didn't let anyone know her real name; even Odin didn't know it, and he was nearly all-knowing.
"Fine, I guess that's all I will get about them. but about this help, you promised." She said, sifting the topic.
SCP-343's smile lingered as he leaned back slightly, his gaze unwavering. "Ah, yes, the help. I knew you wouldn't forget about that." His tone carried a playful undertone, but there was a seriousness behind it as well.
"The time of Gods is over." His voice was fully serious now. "And such I won't personally make any moves unless its truly necessary. No, I will maybe give you a bit of advice here and there to ensure that you won't be swarmed by both your own work and helping the Foundation."
The Ancient One's eyes narrowed slightly as she absorbed SCP-343's words. The playful tone he'd maintained throughout their conversation had given way to something more serious, more final.
"The time of Gods is over," she repeated softly, her voice contemplative. "That's quite the declaration coming from someone like you."
SCP-343 met her gaze, his expression firm but not unkind. "The world has changed, Morrigan. Humanity is no longer content to worship or be led blindly by divine beings. They seek their own answers, forge their own paths. The Foundation is a manifestation of that shift—a human-driven response to forces beyond their control. It is not perfect, but it is their way of managing the unknown."
The Ancient One nodded slowly, understanding the deeper implications of his words. "So, you won't intervene directly. But advice? Guidance? That, you will offer."
SCP-343's smile returned, though it was softer now, almost paternal. "Yes. You don't need me to fight your battles, Morrigan. You never have. But I can ensure that certain... opportunities present themselves at the right moments. I will make sure that your path, though difficult, will not be impossible to walk. And when the time comes, you will know when to act."
The Ancient One considered his words, knowing that while she would have appreciated more direct support, there was wisdom in his approach. She had always operated independently, using her own judgment to navigate the complexities of the multiverse. Relying too heavily on a being like SCP-343 could have unintended consequences.
"Opportunities," she repeated thoughtfully. "I suppose I'll have to be sharp enough to recognize them when they arise."
SCP-343 chuckled again, the lightness returning to his demeanor. "You've always been sharp enough, Morrigan. You'll see the signs when they come."
The Ancient One leaned back in her chair, her mind already racing ahead to what lay before her. The Foundation, the O5 Council, the merging of realities—each piece was part of a much larger puzzle. And now, with SCP-343's cryptic guidance, she felt the weight of her role even more acutely.
"You make it sound so simple," she remarked, a hint of dry humor in her voice.
SCP-343's eyes twinkled. "Simple? Not at all. But then, nothing worth doing ever is."
The Ancient One allowed herself a small smile in return. "I suppose not."
With that, SCP-343 rose from his seat, his presence already beginning to fade at the edges. "I'll be watching, Morrigan. Remember, when the time is right, you'll know."
As his form shimmered and began to disappear, the Ancient One remained seated, her gaze fixed on the now-empty space before her. The conversation had left her with more clarity, but also more questions. The path ahead would not be easy, but then again, it never had been.
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War wasn't a small affair; even a small scale could cause a large disturbance, even more so when the fighting forces were both strong. Yet the Foundation didn't want attention, so they had a problem.
For just how do you keep a battle between the world's most powerful and secret organization and the world's most advanced and secret nation a secret?
This was something that could stump a lot of people for a long time; thankfully though, the Foundation had a ton of really brilliant people which meant they could come up with a few ways of helping to disguise their not-so-little war.
It was, in truth, simple enough: the war was to take place in some of the poorest parts of Africa, a place few cared about in the first place. And make sure they pay even less attention to the region, causing something to draw everyone's attention away.
So, all around the world, events were happening that caught the attention of pretty much everyone. These included large riots in France over the pension age, terrorist attacks in America, forest fires in Australia, and much more.
There had been thoughts about waiting until the large earthquake and tsunami that was set to hit Japan in 2011, but the decision had been made against waiting for that; the risks were simply getting too big.
And as such, they had engineered events that would distract the entire world while also benefitting them behind the screens.
Enemies killed off, money earned, and more.
------------------------
In Wakanda, the vibrancy of daily life carried on as usual, untouched by the turmoil brewing outside its borders. The nation, hidden from the world's gaze, was a technological marvel, its advancements shielded by an impenetrable veil of secrecy.
In the royal palace, Shuri sat in her private laboratory, her fingers gliding over holographic interfaces as she worked on her latest technological project. The hum of vibranium-powered equipment filled the room, blending with the sounds of the palace's daily routine outside.
"You're pushing this design to its limit, Shuri," T'Challa said with a teasing smile as he entered the lab. He was not yet king, but his presence held the quiet confidence of a leader in waiting.
Shuri rolled her eyes without looking up from her work. "Brother, you're always so cautious. You have to push the limits if you want to innovate. Besides," she added with a grin, "isn't that what Wakanda does best?"
T'Challa chuckled. "True. But we still need to keep our eyes on the world outside, even if they don't see us."
"Let the world worry about itself," Shuri said, tapping a final command into her console and watching as the display flickered with complex data. "Wakanda is self-sufficient. We don't need anyone."
T'Challa's smile faltered slightly as he observed his sister's boundless confidence. "Still, we can't afford to be completely unaware. Father always taught us that secrecy is our greatest strength, but it's also a double-edged sword. We must know what's happening beyond our borders."
Shuri finally looked up, her expression softening as she considered his words. "I suppose. But it's hard to think of anyone being a threat to us. Wakanda has thrived in isolation for so long, untouched by the outside world."