"You were my most remarkable disciple," the Ancient One said, gazing at Gene with a serene expression. "In all my years, I have never encountered a magical genius as extraordinary as you."
She took a slow sip of tea, then continued, "To be honest, I once hoped you would become the next Sorcerer Supreme."
For a being as old as the Ancient One, finding a true prodigy was rare.
Three years ago, when Gene first appeared at Kamar-Taj, she had been stunned.
A robot, capable of navigating through the mystic veils that concealed the hidden sanctuary? Impossible.
Only those with innate magical potential could even perceive Kamar-Taj's existence—let alone find their way to it.
At first, she assumed Gene would require weeks, perhaps even months, to grasp the basics of spell construction.
But he had built his first spellbook in just one hour.
Not only that—he had modified the spells, improving them beyond what even she had imagined.
For the first time in centuries, the Ancient One felt something close to shock.
But Gene was never one to follow orders blindly.
He refused to be shackled by the rigid teachings of Kamar-Taj.
In the end, she had let go of her ambitions for him.
"The title of Sorcerer Supreme should go to Strange," Gene replied, cutting through her nostalgia.
The man in question, Stephen Strange, had yet to step onto his destined path.
"At this very moment," the Ancient One mused, "Strange is still in an operating room in the New York, living his life as an accomplished neurosurgeon."
She gently poured tea into two cups, placing one in front of Gene.
Gene studied the bald woman before him with a complicated expression.
The relationship between them was difficult to define.
A mix of teacher, friend… and rival.
They respected each other, but their philosophies clashed.
The Ancient One believed in non-interference.
Gene believed that history was created by those with the power to shape it.
"You're juggling an entire multiversal plane—and yet, you took time out of your schedule to stop me from killing one little trickster god?" Gene scoffed.
The Ancient One met his gaze but didn't answer directly.
"It seems you still refuse to listen," she said after a moment.
Gene tilted his head. "You mean killing Loki? If I took him out now, I'd be saving the world from a whole lot of unnecessary trouble."
"You do not belong to this world, Gene," she said calmly.
"You come from a higher-dimensional plane, where you may foresee certain future events.
"But we've had this conversation before—when you were still a student at Kamar-Taj."
Gene smirked.
"Of course, I remember," he said. "You told me not to interfere with major historical events.
"Because you believe that destiny cannot be changed."
He leaned forward slightly.
"You, my teacher—the one who personally taught me magic, who introduced me to the mystic arts.
"I respect you, truly.
"But what I don't understand is this—
"You have the power to reshape fate itself.
"And yet, you choose to be shackled by it?"
The Ancient One sighed.
"The more you know, the more you fear destiny," she said softly.
"You think killing Loki will erase the chaos he is destined to bring.
"But the universe will always find a way to correct the imbalance."
Her fingers traced the rim of her teacup.
"Loki has his role to play.
"Interfering with another's fate… will only unleash something worse."
Gene snorted.
"I don't buy that," he said. "Fate is just an excuse people use to run from responsibility.
"I make my own future.
"And I left Kamar-Taj because I refused to be bound by that pathetic belief."
He took a sip of tea, then smirked.
"But, for someone who claims to believe in fate—you still taught me everything anyway."
The Ancient One looked at him for a long time.
Then, she turned her gaze toward the window, watching the swirling mystic winds outside.
"You are… different from the rest," she said finally.
"You are not human.
"Your mind bridges the realms of technology and magic.
"And you wield both with a level of mastery that no one else ever could."
Gene leaned back in his chair, arms crossed.
"And yet, you knew that I would break history—but you still trained me.
"Almost as if… deep down…
"You wanted to see change, too."
The Ancient One remained silent.
After a while, she finally said:
"I taught you because, despite everything…
"I believed you would use your knowledge for the right reasons."
Gene laughed.
"You overestimate me," he said, downing the rest of his tea in one gulp.
"I'm not some virtuous hero.
"I just have an insatiable thirst for knowledge."
A breeze blew through the room, lifting the Ancient One's robes.
"So, you're going to hand Loki over to Asgard, aren't you?"
"That's right," she said. "I still have ties with Asgard.
"I will deliver him to Odin personally."
Gene shrugged. "Then I guess this has nothing to do with me anymore."
He raised a hand, and the space beside him warped and twisted.
As he was about to step through the rift, he paused.
"You know…" Gene said, his voice low.
"My offer still stands."
The Ancient One smiled knowingly.
"Oh… you mean the time of my death?"
Gene's scarlet visor flickered.
"Don't you want to know the details?"
The Ancient One shook her head.
"All things must come to an end, Gene.
"I have lived long enough.
"I already have a sense of my own limit.
"And I accept it.
"That… is destiny."
Gene exhaled, shaking his head.
"I'll never understand you," he muttered.
As he stepped into the folding space, the Ancient One's voice echoed behind him.
"If Strange ever faces danger…
"Promise me you will help him."
Gene paused.
Then, without turning back—
He nodded.
A moment later, his figure vanished into the rift.
As the space settled, the room returned to stillness.
And the Ancient One sipped her tea in silence.
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T/N:
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