章節 25: Ch25. Back to magic
Now that Stark Industries got its second wind, Tony decided to focus a bit more on his magical studies. Not that there were not a multitude of issues to be solved in the Stark Industries but that was Pepper's problem now.
Even with eight years until Thanos's attack, the thing Tony lacked most was time. He had so much to do and so little time for it...
His study of magic didn't mean he gave up on his suits. Magic was... better. Yes. That was an undeniable fact. Once he became truly proficient at magic, his Iron Man suit would become obsolete for him. More of a hindrance, really.
But Tony had a plan for that. There were these things called Artifacts apparently and Tony was very interested in what made them tick.
As he was leaving the Kamar Taj's library with three new books, he was suddenly stopped by a bald woman standing in his way, giving him a meaningful look.
Understanding he was probably in trouble, Tony sighed and nodded, following her as she turned around and led him deeper into the Sanctum where her room was located.
As he entered, he was greeted with the usual sight of a quite bare room with a few pieces of oriental furniture and a table with two steaming cups of tea. Tony could only wryly smile at that. It told him that Tao was just courteously waiting until he was ready with the library but this conversation was like Thanos. Inevitable.
"You killed Obadiah Stane." The Ancient One started as they sat down. Tony just hummed and waited for a reprimand or something but... "Do you feel better?" She asked. Tony's head shot up, his expression showing his surprise. "What? You thought I would scold you? I am not your mother nor your minder." The Ancient One amusedly chuckled.
Tony slowly nodded. He certainly prepared to be scolded for that but... eh? Since she clearly wasn't about to do that then good for him, he guessed. "How do you know I killed Stane? Don't tell me you fell for my natural charm and are stalking me now, Tao." Tony finished with a feigned horrified expression.
The Ancient One shook her head, "You wish. No, I did not fall for your nonexistent charms. Yes, I do stalk you." She calmly uttered and sipped her tea as if nothing happened.
Tony opened his mouth before closing it with a click, having no retort for that. The most he managed to pull was a weirded-out look in her direction.
"You are a dangerous individual. The horrors you could cause with the power of Mystic Arts and your knowledge of technology at your beck and call... I will not interfere unless you are doing something extremely harmful to you or the world but I can't let you be unwatched." The Ancient One casually revealed and as much as he didn't like it, Tony had to grudgingly admit she was right. What if he in his ignorance did some abracadabra ritual that was supposed to enhance his body but instead summoned a demon king? That would have been awkward!
"It does help that watching you is amusing." The Ancient One added and Tony deadpanned at her, feeling as if this was the real reason for his impromptu surveillance.
"Meh, stalk, observe, watch me all you want. I have nothing to hide!" Tony pompously exclaimed before reaching into the bag for his books and pulling out potato chips before throwing them at her. "Tribute to my cult leader." He quipped and the Ancient One just nodded in unquestioning acceptance before she waved her hand over the table and suddenly a glass bowl appeared on it.
As Tony marveled at the casual screwing with the laws of physics, The Ancient One spilled the chips into the bowl, "I will." She hummed, "If you want me to stop, you will simply have to prevent me from watching."
Tony rolled his eyes at her and reached forward to take a chip but before he could get one, Tao smacked his hand away and gave him a pointed look.
"Now, show me the books you borrowed." She easily ordered and took one chip herself, smiling innocently at the pouting Tony who rubbed the upper side of his hand, shooting her accusatory looks.
Despite his hurt feelings, Tony took out the books and showed her. Being arrogant worked only when you are the best person in the room, which, in his very humble opinion, he often was, but he recognized when to just shut up and listen.
.
.
.
Who was he kidding?
He only listened to her because she had his well-being in mind!
The Ancient One looked at the titles of the books and gave Tony a knowing glance, "Artificer's Records, Warding for beginners, and a book about Mirror Dimension? Why... if I didn't know you I would still be totally aware you are thinking of doing something dangerous." She dryly said, "Spill."
"I just want to find out what is possible for Artificers with that first book-"
"But I was talking about the other two books, Mr. Stark." She sternly interjected, "If you were anyone else I would just overlook it but your mind works quite a bit differently than others. I bet you had some kind of outrageous idea, did you not?"
Tony's eye twitched. His ideas were marvelous, thank you very much! ... Well, most of the time.
"I was thinking of setting up a wardstone in the mirror dimension in a way that it could affect reality. You know... since the mirror dimension and the reality are parallel with each other it should work." Tony shrugged. He thought it was an incredible idea!
The Ancient One blinked at him before she leaned forward and put her face in her hands with a loud suffering groan. "I thought it would take more than a few minutes..." She mumbled to herself.
Tony suddenly got a passing impression it was not such a good idea...
"Mr. Stark... I'd love to tell you something akin to 'You do you' but... I'd appreciate it if you run your ideas by me before you try them next time." The Ancient One said, completely unamused and devoid of all humor.
"Will you at least tell me what's wrong with it?" Tony asked. He didn't mind being told no. Not when he was playing with something that defied the natural laws as he knew them. He was well aware of how dangerous Mystic Arts could be so he could swallow his ego for a moment.
At least until he became a master...
"Certainly. As you would learn in this book," She gestured at the book about Mirror Dimension, "the sorcerers sometimes trap threats in there. Practicing in the Mirror Dimension is fine but placing something like a ward stone that will be there for years and will be nonstop connected to reality in the Mirror Dimension would be like placing a flare for those trapped inside." She said and it suddenly started clicking together in Tony's mind.
"And they could probably use the connection to escape." Tony muttered and nervously gulped. There was quite a big possibility he would not connect the dots after reading these books. That could have ended badly...
"Yes. That's why nobody ever did this. Do you really think you are the first one to get such an idea?" The Ancient One smiled, happy that he was not stubborn and wanted to try despite the apparent risks. It felt nice, knowing that he trusted her enough to listen. With Stark, that was actually a privilege.
"Hmm... what about placing a cloaking ward and defensive ward around the ward stone affecting the reality?" Tony reasoned. He had no plans of stopping just because he was told his first way wouldn't work. He had to find a way around often enough while inventing and this was no different.
"That... could work." The Ancient One reluctantly nodded in agreement, "But you are not going to try anything of the sort before you become master at warding, do we understand each other, Mr. Stark?" Her voice was light but also steadfast. This was obviously one of those situations where she decided her intervention was definitely necessary.
That told Tony about the level of danger his idea held quite a lot. Well, he was studying this hocus pocus for no more than a month and he already almost threatened the world. His track record was amazing, wasn't it?
"Yes, mom." Tony quipped, mock saluting her.
"Good." The Ancient One shrugged off his tone and gesture, enjoying another chip.
Tony was about to start talking again when their eyes suddenly met and his mind abruptly reeled back.
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