Doctor Strange's POV
I sipped my freshly brewed tea, its warmth carrying the subtle bite of Tulsi—a little Indian twist Wong insisted on. The bitter taste lingered, but it was oddly comforting.
"I like it" I murmured, casting a glance at Wong. He sat across from me in the vast, dimly lit library of Kamar-Taj, his nose buried in ancient texts about the Multiverse. We both knew why. We'd barely survived the fallout from saving America Chavez from Wanda Maximoff—the Scarlet Witch herself.
America… the only girl in the entire multiverse capable of creating portals between dimensions. Wanda wanted that power, desperate to live out a fantasy with her imaginary kids.
I leaned back, letting the silence settle as Wong flipped another page, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"She's on her way" he said suddenly, not bothering to look up.
"Who?" I asked, taking another sip, the tea scalding my tongue.
"The new secretary. Or assistant. Whatever you prefer to call her. She'll be keeping our records."
I arched a brow. "I didn't realize you were suffering from dementia."
"It's not for me" Wong replied smoothly, eyes still glued to the scriptures. "It's for you."
I choked mid-sip. "I don't need any assistance or record-keeping!"
"The records aren't for you. But after your little multiverse stunt, someone needs to keep track."
I fell silent. He wasn't wrong. The mess I made could've unraveled reality itself. But I wasn't about to admit that out loud.
"Like you've never made mistakes" I shot back, setting my cup down with a clink.
"At least I haven't nearly annihilated the universe" he quipped, flipping another page as if the conversation bored him.
I rolled my eyes, ready to retort, when a knock echoed through the sanctum.
"Yes?" Wong called, his voice echoing through the stone halls.
"Master! She has arrived" a student announced before retreating.
I pushed my chair back and stood, brushing off invisible dust. "Let's see how long she lasts" I muttered, heading toward the entrance with Wong trailing behind.
"She's one of the best" Wong said confidently. "I'm sure you'll like her."
I doubted that.
We found her waiting in the hall, dressed in a black tracksuit. As soon as she saw us, she bowed with practiced ease.
"You were supposed to start yesterday" Wong said, his tone neutral. "What made you late?"
"She doesn't even know about time management. How will she—"
"You don't know that either" Wong interrupted sharply.
Before I could respond, she lifted her gaze, cold and unflinching. "Do you think I'm not worthy enough to be your assistant?"
"Think?" I scoffed. "No, I'm sure you're not."
Her lips curled into a defiant smirk. "How about we prove ourselves?"
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. "Let's see."
Kamar-Taj Training Grounds
Evren stood at the center of the training circle, her posture relaxed but eyes sharp.
"No safety gear?" I asked, sarcasm dripping from every word.
"Don't need it" she replied confidently, winking at me.
Kids. First Chavez, now her. I hate kids.
I clapped my hands, summoning the familiar glow of orange sparks. The symbols spiraled around my wrists, weaving intricate patterns of power. I made the first move, sending a streak of energy spiraling toward her like a serpent.
But she was faster than I anticipated. In an instant, she dropped low, her body a blur of motion. Her hands skimmed the floor, and before I could react, she slid beneath my strike, closing the distance between us in a blink.
Her fingers latched onto my leg with surprising strength, and with one swift motion, she knocked me off balance.
I hit the ground hard, the cold stone biting into my chest. The air whooshed out of my lungs, but before I could recover, she was on me, her hands wrapping around my neck in a chokehold far too tight for comfort.
"Release!" Wong's voice sliced through the tension.
Instantly, her grip loosened, and she stepped back. I lay there for a moment, gasping, my pride stinging more than my throat.
"You're… fast" I muttered, pulling myself up and rubbing my neck.
"Indeed" she replied, completely unfazed.
Wong approached, clearly impressed. "See? Told you. She's good—even without powers."
I nodded, mostly to myself. She was skilled, no doubt—raw talent honed through relentless discipline. But there was something else beneath that control, something deeper.
"Hmmm." I narrowed my eyes, my mind already racing.
A sharp tap on my shoulder snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned to find America Chavez standing there, arms crossed, a smirk plastered on her face.
"Forget someone?" she teased, her grin widening.
"How's your training going?" I deflected.
"Good! But looks like you need some training here" she snickered, glancing between me and Evren. "What's this? A sparring session?"
Evren stepped forward, her gaze locking onto mine. "It's not over yet, Doctor" she said, her voice low and challenging. "Care for round two?"
She already crushed my ego. Now what else did she want?
I dusted off my robes. This time, I wasn't holding back.
The energy crackled between us. Without a word, I raised my hands, releasing a surge of power. Orange sparks danced at my fingertips, shaping into a web of magic.
"Let's make this interesting" I murmured.
Her eyes flickered with excitement. She dashed forward, even faster than before, her movements fluid and precise. But I was ready.
With a flick of my wrist, I shifted us into the Mirror Dimension. The stone floor rippled beneath us like water, the walls stretching into infinity, gravity bending and twisting around us.
But Evren didn't falter. She adapted instantly, flipping off the distorted walls and using the warped gravity to her advantage. She launched herself toward me, aiming a sharp kick at my chest. I conjured a shield just in time, deflecting her strike with a burst of energy.
Our duel became a dance, each movement more intense than the last. She weaved through my spells with terrifying ease, slipping past my defenses like water through cracks.
But I wasn't done yet.
Anticipating her next move, I sent a shockwave of energy pulsing outward. She flew back but flipped mid-air, landing gracefully on her feet. Her breath was steady, her eyes alight with challenge.
"Impressive" I admitted, my chest heaving.
"Indeed" she replied, cool and collected.
"Enough!" Wong's voice echoed through the training grounds, stepping in before either of us could escalate further. "You've both proven yourselves."
I glanced at Evren, knowing this was far from over. There was more to her than met the eye, and I had a feeling we'd only scratched the surface.
Before I could dwell on it, a shout echoed from the entrance.
"Steven! Ste—" Wong's voice suddenly faltered, and he collapsed to the ground.
"What happened?" I rushed to his side, my heart pounding.
"Something's happening…" he gasped. "Something beyond us…"
His words sent a chill down my spine.
"Follow me!" he commanded, his voice hoarse but urgent.
Evren called after us, but Wong cut her off. "Chavez, back to training. Ms. Evren, break time for you."
But I knew deep down, breaks were over. Something bigger was on the horizon. Something we weren't ready for.
And it had already begun.