c45 Mage, are you going to die ?
The sunset dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the ocean as the story slowly reached its conclusion. Russell briefly referenced the argument with Matt Murdock, his former ally and current rival. The tensions had been high, but nothing had come of it in the end.
Afterward, Russell retired to the seventh floor of his bookstore, preparing for bed. Gwen Stacy had to work early tomorrow, a ten o'clock shift, so she needed to rest. Although Gwen usually attended school on Earth-65, she hadn't resigned from the bookstore and had been receiving a salary from Russell for the past few months. Her commitment was solid—classwork was manageable during the weekdays, but she was expected at work on holidays.
Russell felt the familiar presence of the Ancient One's consciousness lingering around him. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Master, why are you still here? The story's over."
The Ancient One's voice echoed in Russell's mind: "Did you think I was here for your story?"
Russell blinked, surprised. The Ancient One wasn't there for a casual chat after all.
"Russell, I need to speak with you."
At the same time, the Ancient One conjured a glowing portal to Kamar-Taj. Russell noticed Gwen was still awake, so he decided to take her along. The air quality in Kamar-Taj was superior to New York's polluted streets, and he knew sleep there would be far more refreshing.
"Master," Russell greeted as they stepped through the portal.
"Master Ancient One," Gwen added, her voice respectful but curious.
Russell led Gwen to his quarters in Kamar-Taj, and as they walked, the soothing scent of mugwort and the crisp mountain air calmed their senses. The tranquil beauty of the place was a stark contrast to the chaotic streets of New York.
Gwen, fascinated by her surroundings, turned to Russell. "Do you practice here often?"
Russell smiled, nodding. "Yes. All my strength comes from the countless hours of training here."
Of course, he didn't mention the "cheating" part—how his talent for absorbing abilities and mimicking magic made learning spells much faster than the average sorcerer.
After ensuring Gwen was settled in, Russell sought out the Ancient One.
"Master, what did you want to talk about? I thought you were here for my story," Russell asked.
The Ancient One got straight to the point. "Odin, the All-Father of Asgard, has sent me an invitation for Thor Odinson's coronation ceremony. He wants you to accompany me."
Russell's eyes lit up. "Then let's go! I've always wanted to see Asgard's grand palace."
The Ancient One nodded. "We'll leave in three days."
Russell raised an eyebrow, sensing something was off. "Couldn't you have just sent me a message directly?"
The Ancient One's expression grew solemn. "Asgard and Kamar-Taj have had a longstanding friendship, and I have a personal relationship with Odin. However, his health is failing. His body is deteriorating, and he's preparing to return to Valhalla. My mission is nearing its end, and I intend to introduce you to Thor. He will need allies as Asgard faces new challenges."
Russell's face grew serious. "Master, are you... going to die?"
The Ancient One shook her head. "Death for someone like me is not what you think. The physical body becomes a limitation, not a vessel for growth. I am transcending."
Russell understood. As difficult as it was, he couldn't stop the Ancient One from pursuing her path. He would need to ensure that those around him grew stronger, so that he wouldn't be left to bear the burden alone.
The Ancient One continued, "I suspect trouble will arise during Thor's coronation. Someone might attempt to disrupt the event. If they do, you'll need to act."
Russell nodded, "Sounds like a job for me. Should I keep a low profile?"
"No," the Ancient One replied with a thoughtful pause. "Let them see the power of Kamar-Taj. Odin understands, but the Asgardians may not. A show of strength could prove beneficial for future relations."
Before they parted ways, the Ancient One gave one last piece of advice. "Stay here in Kamar-Taj. Spend some time getting to know the other sorcerers. There are always new things to learn."
Russell didn't mind. Thanks to his talent [Ability Absorption], he was able to immediately understand and replicate nearly any spell just by observing it. He had absorbed most of the magic from the Kamar-Taj wizards already, which made studying unnecessary he could mimic spells without any formal instruction. But he kept this ability hidden, not wanting to undermine the other practitioners.
Meanwhile, at SHIELD's air and space carrier, Nick Fury, Agent Coulson, Maria Hill, and the Avengers were gathered for a meeting. Tony Stark, recently rejoined by the spirit of his father, Howard Stark, was there as well, now working as a consultant for SHIELD.
Tony had spent the last few days recovering after his time in the quantum realm. He had used his mental energy to reconnect with his lost family members, and once they were at peace, he planned to send their souls to the Vishanti, the mystical realm.
Tony sipped his coffee and asked, "So where's Russell?"
Fury and Coulson exchanged uneasy glances.
"Russell refused to join the Avengers," Coulson said with a sigh.
Tony wasn't surprised. "Could it be something classified?"
"No," Fury replied. "He came back yesterday, stayed at his bookstore for a while, caused a bit of a stir in New York, and then vanished again. We haven't been able to reach him."
Natasha Romanoff raised an eyebrow. "You can't reach him? Does he not have a phone?"
Coulson shrugged. "He has a regular phone, not a satellite one. No signal."
The room fell silent, but the meeting continued as planned. The main agenda was the review of the Dr. Pym-Mephisto incident. However, Russell's absence was felt he had been integral in confronting Mephisto and retreating unscathed. The Avengers didn't know the full story, but it was clear that Mephisto, while incredibly powerful, was somehow restricted in the real world and could only act within the quantum realm or alternate dimensions.
Despite the limited details, SHIELD was focused on another, darker revelation: Hydra had been resurrected within its ranks.
Coulson revealed the chilling truth. "Hope was attacked during a mission. It looks like someone in SHIELD leaked the details. The people responsible for Tony's parents' deaths? Likely the same group."
As Coulson's words sank in, they all came to a devastating conclusion: the Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes, was probably the operative behind it all.
---
visit patreon.com/Mgoldtranslation to view 40+ chapters