Kamar-Taj.
Arthur wasted no time and headed straight to find the Ancient One.
When the Ancient One saw Arthur, she smiled, but her expression soon shifted. After a careful examination, she stood up and said, "It seems you've gained something recently."
"You can tell that too?" Arthur sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and resignation. "I feel like the gap between us hasn't narrowed; if anything, it's grown wider."
"No."
The Ancient One shook her head. "At your current pace, it won't be long before you reach our level. You can be confident in that."
"Did you sense it?"
Taking the tea the Ancient One offered, Arthur sipped thoughtfully. "I just felt it again."
The Ancient One paused for a moment, then smiled slightly. "What are you seeking here?"
"Answers."
Arthur replied, "It feels like something is quietly brewing, but I know nothing about it. If this were a while ago, I might have dismissed these feelings as mere illusions. However, my long-term experience tells me my intuition is sharper than most."
"That is a more acute observation." The Ancient One smiled knowingly. "But I don't have the answers you seek here."
Arthur was momentarily taken aback.
The Ancient One pointed upward and said, "The answers lie in a place familiar to you."
"...Asgard?"
Arthur's mouth twitched. He hadn't been in contact with Asgard for nearly a year.
Mainly because the thought of old Odin's matchmaking schemes left him feeling uneasy.
Seeing Arthur's expression, the Ancient One's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Still holding a grudge over that?"
"Who wouldn't after an experience like that?" Arthur's mouth twitched again.
"You should understand the expectations and importance an elderly father places on his daughter's future."
The Ancient One pondered for a moment. "And indeed, the age of this father is somewhat excessive."
Arthur couldn't help but laugh. "So the Sorcerer Supreme can joke too?"
"Why do people always think we are rigid, even inflexible?" The Ancient One sounded somewhat exasperated.
"Perhaps because we haven't seen the things you have?" Arthur replied. "And you know, some people in power tend to look down on others, which is pretty normal."
"That's only because their position isn't high enough."
The Ancient One said, "The higher you go, the more fear you feel. If you let fear defeat you, you become rigid, strictly adhering to rules, and afraid to step out of line. Conversely... you become like us."
"You have no fear?" Arthur scratched his head; this wasn't what he had expected.
"No, we are not without fear." The Ancient One smiled. "But we have seen hope."
Arthur was momentarily speechless. After a while, he said, "Don't think that saying this will make me rush back to Asgard for another round of matchmaking."
The Ancient One smiled widely, revealing her teeth. "Odin will regret treating you that way. Or maybe not."
"Huh?"
Arthur was puzzled. What did that mean?
The Ancient One stood up and refilled Arthur's tea. "Over countless years, thoughts do not remain unchanged. A thousand years from now, will you still hold your current convictions? A hundred years is too short; it passes in the blink of an eye. You may not understand now, but in the future, when you surpass us, surpass everything known, you will find that a mere hundred years isn't even enough for a nap."
Arthur understood. "You're talking about me and Lily?"
The Ancient One remained silent.
Arthur thought for a moment, then smiled. "If I were to become immortal... then she..."
"Roots determine everything; some things simply cannot be changed."
The Ancient One said, "Even if they could, to what extent will you change them?"
This time, Arthur fell into silence again. Finally, he shook his head. "I think I should go. I heard today is Christmas."
"You are always welcome to return."
The Ancient One set down her teacup.
Arthur stood up, turned, and walked out. At the door, he paused, and looked back at the Ancient One, but after a long moment, he said nothing and finally stepped outside.
---
It was a complete failure!
Walking out of the Ancient One's hall, Arthur felt his trip to Kamar-Taj had truly been a failure.
"If that feeling of unease is coming from Asgard..."
Arthur looked up. "Then maybe it's not my concern?"
He wasn't sure, as he had no idea what was happening in Asgard.
If things were truly serious, could he really stand by and do nothing?
"Indeed, I can't do that."
Arthur sighed, returned to his room in Kamar-Taj, stepped onto the teleportation array, and in the blink of an eye, he was back in his bedroom.
He could hear the sounds of activity from the kitchen, glanced at the sky outside, and then pulled out his phone from the Disassemble space.
Sure enough, there were several messages from Lily.
"I'm already home! But you're not here. What time will you be back?"
"Tonight I'm planning to make boiled meat slices. By the way, did you eat an apple last night?"
"Of course, it's okay if you didn't. Come back for dinner tonight; I made a huge portion anyway."
---
Messages like these made Arthur chuckle.
He pressed his ear to the door and could still hear Lily's voice.
Singing while cooking was one of her little hobbies.
"Seems like she's in a good mood."
Arthur deduced, completely forgetting that he should have used the Eye of Horus to observe properly.
Then he went to the window, pushed it open, and flipped out.
Landing on the ground, he made no sound.
Only the passersby looked at Arthur in confusion, wondering why he didn't use the front door but chose to jump out the window instead.
Was he a thief?
With that thought, some people considered calling the police.
But before they could take out their phones, this suspected thief pulled out a set of keys from his pocket, skillfully opened the front door, and walked in cheerfully.
The passersby were momentarily stunned. What was going on?
Instead of using the front door, he jumped out the window, and he wasn't a thief, so why jump out of his house only to open the front door to go back in?
The logic behind this was clearly a profound mystery, one that no one could figure out the correct answer to.
(End of Chapter)
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