章 6: Dedication.

<p>~ Kamar-Taj ~<br/>- August 13 -<br/>- 9h58 -<br/>Walking through the hallway of the temple, Alastair stay silent, he generally always have something to say or ask but what he saw earlier still parasits his mind.<br/>Images of faceless children haunts him and only augment the blame he puts on himself. He can't help but think that if he had spent more time and effort he could have prevented what happened.<br/>" Al.. She wants to talk to you. " Dave says to him as he leaves the Ancient One room without closing the doors behind him. <br/>" Ha. Uh-okay. " Alastair answers, his gaze on the statues overlooking the hallway but not really seeing them. <br/>" Right now. " Dave adds, louder for the absent-minded Alastair. <br/>Getting inside, Alastair walks at a low pace but determinedly towards the soft cushion that serves as an armchair. Taking a seat, he watch unsurprised when the unassuming old and bald woman close the sculpted wooden doors with a simple gesture of her head. <br/>" Disciple Medas. Alastair, how are you holding up ? " The powerful sorceress asks kindly and with true compassion born from the burdens shared by all the mystic arts user, knowledge. <br/>" I- I'm fine. It's not the first time I see death. " Alastair respond defensively. <br/>" I've been roaming the earth for centuries Alastair, you think I didn't learn how to tell when someone's lying during these years ? " she says rhetorically before taking a sip of the the cup present in her hand. " However you wish to not discuss it then I understand and respect your choice. " she finishes then let him a minute to clear and organize his thoughts.<br/>" I inspected the runic inscriptions on the deceased boy but couldn't find their meaning. This is a lost language, terribly ancient, it doesn't come close to any know language of our Order. " The Ancient One begins to explains what she discover. <br/>" What I can assure without doubts is that the young boy was used in a dark ritual, sacrifial magic of the worst kind. The question is for what ? " she continues and let the question hang in the air. <br/>" It doesn't matter. We have enough of its energy to attempt a spell that'll get us its location ! " Alastair exclaims enthusiastically, his motivation to catch the culprit is at its highest since he started this hunt. <br/>" If it was as simple it would have already been done. We won't find as easily than you think, while we comprehend and manipulate the eldritch energy at our disposal it is pure energy. Any locator spell would fail to pinpoint its position with accuracy. " Patiently, the Ancient One explains logically why they can't use this method. <br/>" Then what !? We stay idle while innocent people are killed, butchered to accomplish twisted spells that will cause even more death ? " Alastair says angrily, speaking to the most powerful and wise figure of the order as if she didn't possess the clarity of mind to know these facts. <br/>" The truth is that we can't save everyone. It is hard, I believe in the vow I took a long time ago. I am not a hero and neither a god or superior being to others, my duty, our duty is to protect the earth from extra-dimensional entities. And it's a task that requires of us to be able to apprehend and act in favor of the many if the situation demands it. " She expose her view of the world to her disciple. A perception gained from several lifetime and errors. <br/>" Ancient One ! Ancient One ! " The complex conversation that derailed toward a more philosophical is interrupted by the shouts of panic coming from outside the room. <br/>" Ancient One, Master Medas, the London Sanctum have been attacked ! " A sorcerer dare opening the door and announce the terrible news to the Ancient One. <br/>~ London ~<br/>Stepping out of the portal which gives to the destroyed hall of the Sanctum. Alistair and the Ancient takes what remains of the masters tasked to protect this place. <br/>" Sheya.." She whisper as she close the eyes of the dead sorceress laying on the floor, a gaping hole in her chest. <br/>Meanwhile, Alastair gaze at the decapited corpse of the late Charles. Then he looks at the last one whose skull have been ripped open like the previous victims. <br/>" I underestimated it.." she adds then her fingers travel to the amulet hanging around her neck and hidden under her robe. " I forbid you to talk about what I'm about to do, to anyone. " she says seriously as her face harden and adopt a severe expression. <br/>Alastair nods then the Ancient One conjure a green mandala as the golden masterfully crafted amulet opens to reveal a glowing green gemstone. He watches her puzzled as to the purpose of the spell and curious about what it is this artefact. <br/>Quickly it becomes clear, the wispy forms of the dead sorcerers appear out of thin air, a green glow emanating from them. As if time itself permits them, they retrace the last actions they did before their death but in reverse order. The blurry images of the spells they casted travels back to their arms, the mandala deconstruct themselves. <br/>Alastair makes the remark in his mind that it is just as magnificent as tragic. He witnesses the most realistic reconstructions made possible only by magic but can't truly appreciate any of the fascinating spectacle before him. <br/>" There is something wrong. " The Ancient One also observe the effects of her spells, impassively her eyes follows the spike exiting Sheya's chest then rearrange into the wooden floor. <br/>" Really ? " Alastair says sarcastically which she doesn't seem to like if her silence is an indication. Getting closer to her, he tries to see himself what she found strange. " What it is it ? " he asks when he does not. <br/>"We should be able to see their attacker, it's host is human, it puts certain limitations on them. We should be able to at least see a reflection of its host when under the influence of a spell, especially one as such. " she explains but she's met with an inquisitive look from Alastair. Fortunately for him she easily read his lack of knowledge and she's happy to rectify it.<br/>" Time is, complicated. It is uncontrollable and infinitely dangerous, attempting to harness it in any way would only cause your death in the most optimistic outcome. Unless you have this..." she adds while lifting up her amulet for him to see it up close. <br/>" What exactly is this artefact Ancient One ? " Alastair asks, his omnipresent curiosity pushing to do. <br/>" There is knowledge only the Sorcerer Supreme can be privy to. I'm not sharing this information to tempt you with the godlike power time promise to whomever tame it but to warn you. There are paths which seemingly offers worlds and wonders but which in truth will only bring more chaos to this universe. " She respond. Usually always open to the idea of sharing knowledge, she uncharacteristically shows restraint, Alastair even manages to glimpse a brief apprehension appearing on her face unchanged by the merciless advance of the clock. <br/>" Is this why I never heard of spells that manipulate time in any of the numerous book in the library ? Why you never use this impressive power to save the countless lives lost unjustly ? Because you're afraid of the possible consequences that might actually never happen ! " he says rather disrespectfully and immediately berate himself, despite his anger at this revelation he knows he don't know every of her reasons, he's sure to get the same comment Dave regularly throw at him. He's too impulsive. <br/>" I don't own you answer, you're still an arrogant child who barely dip a toe in the immensity your lecture is misplaced. " She says, she estime him which confers him the beautiful and poisonous capacity to hurt her with mere words. <br/>Alastair follows behind her as she opens a portal back to Kamar-Taj, the corpses of their comrades levitating at their side for the purpose of offering them a proper farewell and funerals. <br/>~ Stark Industries ~<br/>- August 14 - <br/>Marc Sadler is a scientist first and foremost, throughout his 21-year of career he based on a simple but effective code, a ligne of thought of which he is deeply convinced. <br/>The accumulation of observations and measurable facts, according to him if one deviates from this method they can no longer be considered as scientist. This empiricism has often been criticized because if hinders his imagination, another particularly important component. <br/>" This..." Marc's rough voice escape his thin mouth, his throat is dry and his brown eyes wide open as if a vision of heaven is shown to him. Nervously he threads his fingers together, his slightly tanned skin glint under the white neon lights that illuminate the sanitize laboratory. <br/>Pulling a loose strand of pepper and salt hair from his eyes, Marc glance at the other projects ongoing and expose in the small but perfectly equipped lab. A relatively small and compact flying vehicle with 8 helis disposed on each side of aircraft. A device that captures solar energy at an unprecedented level that unfortunately is costing to much to compete with others sources of energy currently available. <br/>As if irreversibly captiveted by the slight preview he had, he turns back towards Howard who's dressed in a beige suit that he find superfluous compared to his confortable white lab coat and then, he dip back into the papers littered on his large workplan. <br/>" You can count on me sir, this project, it's.. It's fantastic but I don't understand what you want me to do. I-I'm not qualified to do this. " Marc says hesitantly, his honesty taking over the shame of admitting this is way out of his league. Some parts seems to serve to absorb an enormous quantity of energy others seems to serve the exact opposite function, forced out the energy while another is to contain it. <br/>" Of course you're not. But you don't need to get it only built it. I want you to shape each element by following precisely the instructions I gave you. Can you do that ? " Howard says then slowly advance until he's at arm length of Marc. <br/>" 3 months. If you're late you are taking a field trip in hell financed by the company. And of course we'll reserve a few place in case you decide to open your heart to... We'll anyone. " he says without any change in the timbre of his authoritative as well as playful voice.<br/>Howard fixes the red plaque that appeared after his fight with the wizards and which has not stopped growing, now it have invades partially his wrist. <br/> ~ Stark's Villa ~<br/>Walking elegantly in a tight blue dress which embrace Maria curves. She slow down and stops in front of the window, her hand automatically raising to twist her long blond hair while she thinks. <br/>" Miss Maria, is there anything you would like ? " the rich voice of the butler of tge Stark's breaks her out of her musings. <br/>She replies with a gentle smile and a nod of her head. " Can I talk to you for a moment Jarvis ? " she asks to her butler, her friend because defining him simply as their employee would be a lie. He's been at the service since Howard's early twenties and have been witness to the worse but also the happiest times of their life. <br/>" It's about Howard... " she adds then turn her blue eyes back on the view outside. <br/>" Yes ma'am ? " Jarvis subtlety suggests her to go on. <br/>" There is something different about him, more cold... Did you noticed it too ? " Maria explains to Javris who's patiently listening. <br/>" Hum.. Indeed he is different, but it is normal for men to close themselves after living an event as hard as you did. And Howard have always reacted like this, in a way this is his defense mechanism when... When it becomes too much to handle. " Jarvis answers honestly, he also gives her his own interpretation of Howard's mood swings the past few days. <br/>" I just wish he would talk to me, confide in me. " She responds with tears glistening in her eyes filled with sadness when thinking back of the two miscarriage she did in a row. <br/>" He will miss, he will. " Jarvis assures her then lay a comforting hand on her shoulder. <br/>" Anyway, why aren't accompanying him today ? " Maria changes the subject abruptly and wipes the tears of her eyes before they ruin her makeup. <br/>" Apparently Mr Stark had business to take care of alone. I'm sure he had a brilliant idea that he couldn't wait to realized. " Jarvis says politely. <br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/></p>