[Third Person's PoV]
From his throne, Cyttorak's immense form loomed over the scene, his crimson aura crackling with raw power. His eyes gleamed with a malevolent satisfaction as he lazily extended one finger toward the towering Crimson Crystal that imprisoned the Scarlet Witch. At his silent command, cracks began to snake across the surface of the crystal, each fissure sounding like a thunderclap in the oppressive silence of the dimension. The crystal, once solid and unyielding, groaned under the strain until it finally shattered into a thousand shards, scattering across the ground like deadly, glittering glass.
Before she could hit the cold, hard surface below, Stephen Strange was there, his arms outstretched. He caught Wanda just in time, cradling her against him as her limp body sagged with exhaustion. "Whoa there..." Stephen muttered softly, his voice barely above a whisper as he steadied her.
Straightening up, Stephen turned to face Cyttorak, his expression a mixture of cautious gratitude and weariness. "We are grateful," he said, his voice firm.
Cyttorak's gaze remained cold, indifferent to the pleasantries. "Just remember your part of the deal, Young Sorcerer," his voice boomed, carrying a dangerous edge that made the very air vibrate.
Stephen nodded solemnly. "A sorcerer's word is his bond," he replied, his tone unwavering as he reached for his sling ring. "We will now be on our way and disturb you no further," he added, creating a shimmering portal back to the Mirror Dimension. With Wanda still leaning against him, the two stepped through, leaving the Crimson Dimension behind as the portal snapped shut with a crackle of energy.
As the warmth of his own room in the Mirror Dimension surrounded them, Stephen felt Wanda stir in his arms. Slowly, she opened her eyes, blinking as if trying to adjust to the reality around her. She pulled herself away from Stephen's support, looking down at her hands in disbelief. Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling down her pale cheeks before she suddenly lunged forward, tackling Stephen to the ground.
"Whoa!" Stephen exclaimed, caught off guard as they tumbled to the floor, with Wanda now on top of him. Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, her body trembling. Stephen instinctively raised his hands in surrender, his palms open and facing her as if to show he meant no harm.
He was about to say something but stopped when he heard the faint sound of her sobs, felt the tremors running through her. "Thank you... Thank you..." Wanda whispered, her voice barely audible through her tears.
Stephen sighed deeply, lowering his arms as he shifted beneath her. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her in a gentle hug, his hand resting against the back of her head, cradling her like a fragile thing. He said nothing, simply held her, offering the comfort she so desperately needed.
For a while, Wanda clung to him, her grip tight, her face buried against his neck. The warmth of their shared embrace seemed to ease the weight of her sorrow, but her face flushed with embarrassment as she realized what she was doing. She hadn't experienced human contact in so long—centuries, perhaps. She had forgotten the simple joys of touch, of warmth, of the reassurance that another person could bring. And yet, even as the realization sank in, she couldn't bring herself to let go. Instead, she tightened her hold, burying her face deeper into his neck as if trying to soak in every last drop of comfort.
"Can we... can we stay like this for a little bit?" Wanda's voice was small, hesitant, as if she feared he might reject her.
"Yeah," Stephen said softly, not moving. "Take your time."
Despite the moment, despite the closeness of the Scarlet Witch in his arms, all Stephen felt was pity. He could sense the depth of her loneliness, the years of isolation that had weighed on her spirit like a leaden chain. It broke his heart to think of the pain she had endured.
After what felt like an eternity, Wanda finally began to withdraw from the hug, though she still remained seated by his stomach, her auburn hair hanging loose around her face. She looked down at Stephen, her eyes softened by vulnerability, yet there was a flicker of joy in her gaze. "So... this is what you look like," she said with a shy smile, gently brushing his hair away from his face.
Stephen chuckled awkwardly, still lying on the floor. "Yup. This is me."
Wanda giggled, a sound that seemed almost foreign to her after so much time spent in solitude. But then her expression changed as her eyes drifted to the Eye of Agamotto hanging around Stephen's neck. Her brows furrowed, and before he could stop her, she reached out to touch it.
"Wanda, no—!" Stephen began, but it was too late.
The moment her fingers grazed the Eye, it flared with a blinding golden light. Wanda let out a pained cry, recoiling as her hand burned from the touch. "Ahh!" she gasped, clutching her hand, a fresh burn marking her palm.
"Are you alright?" Stephen asked urgently, scrambling to his feet and grabbing her hand. He quickly made a hand gesture with his other hand as healing magic flowed from his fingertips into her burn.
Wanda grimaced but gave him a small, apologetic smile. "I didn't miss the feeling of pain," she muttered, her voice wry despite the situation.
"Why would you just grab it like that?" Stephen asked, his tone scolding but more concerned than angry.
Wanda's expression darkened as she stared at the Eye, her mind clearly elsewhere. "The man who trapped me in that crystal... He wore this around his neck, along with a red cloak."
Stephen's eyes widened. "What?!"
Wanda nodded, her voice breaking as old memories resurfaced. "I was once living in a village with both my Brother and Mother, when suddenly bandits attacked… They came in the middle of the night. We didn't stand a chance. My brother fought back and he was strong, but they..." Wanda paused, her voice cracking as she struggled to continue. "They killed him in front of me. Then my mother tried to protect me, and they... they took her too."
She closed her eyes, her fists clenching as the memories overwhelmed her. "I was so angry. I couldn't control it. All that rage... I just felt something snap inside me, and then... I unleashed it. It was like an explosion of magic, a wave that swallowed everything. The bandits, the entire village—everything just disintegrated. One moment, they were there... and then they were gone. It was just me, standing in a wasteland of ash and rubble."
Wanda looked up at Stephen, her eyes brimming with tears. "I didn't understand what I had done. And then... he appeared. The man in the red cloak floating, with that pendant around his neck."
Stephen's breath hitched. "Both The Cloak of Levitation and The Eye of Agamotto."
"He told me I was too dangerous to be left alone. That my power would destroy everything if I wasn't stopped. But he didn't want to kill me because, according to him, someone else with my power would be born. So, he said he had no choice but to seal me—lock me away in that crystal, to keep me from causing the world's destruction."
Stephen's face hardened. "He had no right to do that."
"I tried to fight him," Wanda continued, her voice trembling. "I used every bit of magic I had. But he was too strong. I couldn't stop him. And then... Everything went dark. When I woke up, I was trapped. Alone. For centuries Until you found me."
Wanda's eyes were locked on the pendant again, her expression tense. "I thought... maybe... maybe you knew something about him. That's why I grabbed it."
Stephen sighed and gently released her hand, the burn now healed, "I wish I could tell you more but I was left at an orphanage with this thing alongside the Cloak" Stephen said as he touched the eye pendant.
Wanda nodded slowly, remorse shadowing her face. "I'm sorry for grabbing it so suddenly."
"It's alright," Stephen said, his tone softening. "Just... be more careful next time."
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+31 advance Chapters on: patreon.com/Shadow_D_Monarch3
[Third Person's PoV]
Wanda continued to look at Stephen, her expression filled with both apology and shame as she massaged her now fully healed hand. The flickering lights in the dim room cast shadows on her face, accentuating her troubled gaze.
"What's with that look?" Stephen asked, raising an eyebrow as they were still sat on the ground. "Didn't I tell you it was alright? I get it—you were just surprised, seeing it for the first time."
Wanda shook her head softly. "That's not all," she murmured. "You went and saved me, risked your life to set me free, and the first thing I did was accuse you of being involved in my imprisonment... when I should have been nothing but grateful."
Before she could say more, Wanda gasped as Stephen flicked her forehead. "Ouch!" she exclaimed, wide-eyed, staring at him in shock. "What was that for?" she muttered, rubbing her forehead.
Stephen shrugged nonchalantly, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Honestly, it just felt like the right thing to do. You were being stupid."
"How was I being stupid?" Wanda asked, still rubbing the sore spot, a slight pout forming on her lips.
"Because you're worrying about something so small, even though I told you it's fine. If I were in your shoes, I probably would have reacted the same way. Hell, I might actually have something to do with whoever imprisoned you—could've been some ancestor of mine. So, technically, you weren't wrong."
A soft smile crept onto Wanda's face as she looked at him. He was trying to reassure her in his own strange way, and it worked. "You still didn't have to flick me on the forehead, though," she said, giving him a playful glare and pouting even more.
Stephen chuckled and stood up from where he'd been sitting on the floor, offering a hand to Wanda. "Well, stop being stupid, and I won't have to do it again."
Wanda let out a small laugh, slipping her hand into his as he helped her to her feet. The warmth of his hand was reassuring.
Stephen sighed as he massaged his own forehead, his expression clouding over.
"What's wrong?" Wanda asked, tilting her head, concern flashing in her eyes.
"I'm just trying to figure out what to tell the others," Stephen admitted. "I can't exactly hide you forever, but I also don't know how they'll react. Maybe I can talk to the captain... get you into the Magic Knight squad. But I'm not sure how it'll go down."
"Captain? Magic Knight squad?" Wanda asked, the terms foreign to her. She tilted her head in confusion, her brow furrowing slightly.
Stephen realized she had no idea about any of this. "Right, sorry. You're in the base of the Black Bulls, in the Clover Kingdom. Magic Knights are... Well, they're protectors of the kingdom. Kind of like soldiers, but with magic. Our squad, the Black Bulls, is a bit different from the rest—more misfits than knights..." Stephen went on a rant and explained about all he could to Wanda about where she was.
Wanda's eyes gleamed with curiosity as she listened to his explanation. "I see... Well, in that case, I suggest we be honest," she said thoughtfully. "If the Black Bulls are a bunch of misfits, then I'll fit right in. There's no better misfit than me," she added proudly.
Stephen gave her a little shake of the head, smiling at her boldness. "That's not exactly something to brag about."
"It could be!" Wanda exclaimed, a little offended, her lips pursed.
Stephen rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his grin. "Alright, alright. But you do have a point though, Honesty might be the best route. Let's go with that. Follow me."
Without hesitation, Wanda followed closely behind, her hand clutching the back of Stephen's clothing as if afraid to lose him in the unfamiliar surroundings.
…
"AND THEN YUNO SENT THE GUY FLYING BACK WITH HIS WIND MAGIC!" Asta shouted, standing on the table, enthusiastically retelling their recent dungeon adventure. The Black Bulls were all gathered, laughing and listening intently. Even Yami sat nearby, his hand resting on his katana interested in their dungeon exploration.
Suddenly, a strange crackling sound echoed through the room. The space itself seemed to splinter, like glass breaking in mid-air. Conversations halted, and everyone tensed. Yami's hand instinctively tightened on his sword.
The tension eased slightly as Stephen stepped through the strange fracture in space, followed by a girl clutching his clothes, peeking out nervously from behind him. Wanda kept her head down, hiding from the curious eyes of the Black Bulls.
The room fell silent, all eyes on the mysterious duo, until Yami finally spoke up, his deep voice breaking the quiet. "What's with the girl, gramps?"
Stephen scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Funny story, actually. I found her... trapped in a crystal in the dungeon. So, uh, I broke her out and brought her back here."
The room remained dead silent for a moment. Yami sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Gramps... looks like old age is finally catching up to you. You've gone senile."
Stephen opened his mouth to protest, but Wanda spoke up before he could. "He's not lying," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was trapped in that crystal for over five hundred years... until Stephen freed me."
"OVER 500 YEARS?!" The entire squad erupted in shock, even Vanessa, who had been casually drinking, sobered up at the revelation.
Stephen's expression hardened as he glanced at Wanda. "What's worse... is that she was conscious the entire time."
Yami's face darkened as he locked eyes with Stephen. "Are you an idiot? You broke someone out who was sealed away for centuries without telling anyone first? What if she's dangerous?"
Stephen shook his head confidently, tapping the Eye of Agamotto around his neck. "Don't worry. I could see through all deception. She's not dangerous."
Yami's gaze lingered on the Eye of Agamotto for a moment as ever since Stephen's been a member he always had it on, he then turned to Wanda. "Hey, little lady, are you strong?"
Wanda blinked, unsure how to answer at first. "I'd say I'm fairly strong... yes."
"Good. You're in," Yami said with a grunt, raising a thumb. "Welcome to the Black Bulls."
Wanda blinked in surprise. "Wait... that's it?"
Yami scoffed. "You said you're strong, didn't you? That's good enough for me. You're an honorary Black Bull now!"
Before Wanda could protest further, Vanessa conjured a Black Bulls robe out of thin air and draped it over Wanda's shoulders. Charmy's sheep scooped her up without warning, setting her down at the table with the rest of the squad.
"You poor thing!" Charmy exclaimed, her sheep bringing out plates upon plates of food. "Being trapped in a crystal for that long without eating anything? That's a crime against food! Eat up!"
Wanda hesitated, glancing at Stephen for reassurance. He simply nodded with a smile, encouraging her. Taking a deep breath, she cut into the steak in front of her and took a small bite.
The moment the food touched her tongue, Wanda froze. Tears welled up in her eyes as she tasted real food for the first time in centuries. She took another bite, more tears flowing down her face. "This is... so good," she cried softly. "Thank you... thank you so much."
Charmy and the others watched her with pity as she ate, crying through every bite. One by one, the Black Bulls gathered around her, encouraging her to try different dishes, each member eager to make her feel welcome.
Yami, meanwhile, gestured for Stephen to follow him outside. Stephen nodded, giving Wanda one last glance before heading out with Yami, wondering what the captain would say next.
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+31 advance Chapters on: patreon.com/Shadow_D_Monarch3
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