Solomon believed in accurate prophecies, but he regarded them only as guidance, not as predetermined conclusions.
The great prophet Nostradamus had once been a member of the Brotherhood of the Sacred Shield and had played a crucial role in the campaign to wipe out the offspring of the Celestial Order. Solomon had read this famous prophet's notes and deeply understood just how important the interpretation of a prophecy truly was. Even the Oracle of Delphi at the Temple of Apollo was no exception. Take the case of Vanessa, for example—Solomon thought that having the Sisterhood deliver an explosive device into Wilson Fisk's head would solve most of the problem. Otherwise, just find some street punk, have him squat outside Wilson Fisk's office with an RPG-7, wait for the right moment, and fire a shot—that would do the job too. As it happened, Solomon's personal attorney, Matthew Murdock, wanted to use the power of the Arcanists to gather evidence that could put Wilson Fisk in prison, so Solomon didn't mind adding a bullet as a bonus to the evidence.
Solomon licked his lips, furrowed his brow, but just as he was about to give the order, he paused.
Could it be that my actions led to Vanessa's death? The Arcanist couldn't help but consider the possibility. Perhaps it was during the assassination of Wilson Fisk that Vanessa died, or maybe the evidence he sent was what Vanessa used to blackmail Wilson Fisk. Solomon couldn't be sure of the details.
Though history was full of tragic tales where attempts to avoid prophecy led to its fulfillment, that didn't mean everyone had to face fate passively. That had always been his stance on prophecy. It was just a hint from the future, a possibility, with no actual weight. Though he didn't care much for the entanglements of mortals' destinies, in this case, he suddenly felt a malicious intent from fate itself—as if Athena had asked him to observe Vanessa's fate precisely for this reason. He had no choice but to return to Kamar-Taj and carefully examine all possible outcomes from the timeline using the Cauldron of the Cosmos.
Without exception, Vanessa would die, regardless of whether Solomon acted.
"Time nodes are the keys that differentiate alternate universes," said the Sorcerer Supreme. "Only upon reaching a relevant node will differences manifest. Vanessa's fate is such a significant node for the multiverse—unalterable and unobservable. Like Strange… although that's not quite accurate. Strange very likely could become a node, but it's not a certainty."
"Is this some sort of joint sermon from you and Athena?" The footsteps of the Ancient One were so light they were imperceptible. Solomon didn't turn around, instead continuing to gaze into the Cauldron of the Cosmos, where starlike shards shimmered. Countless points of light clustered near his fingertips, waiting to be pulled ashore. Mortal fates resided in shallow waters, and he easily hooked one with his finger.
"That depends on how you view the lesson," the Sorcerer Supreme raised an eyebrow and stepped up to the Cauldron beside his disciple to peer in. This ancient artifact didn't originate from the Vishanti, but it had strong ties to Agamotto. Long before Solomon was born, the Sorcerer Supreme had fished out the largest fragment ever from the Cauldron, and now events were unfolding exactly as that shard had foretold.
"The future plan inevitably involves the fates of many. So do you believe your actions constitute a crucial node in the multiverse? How many versions of you do you think exist across the multiverse, child?" the Sorcerer Supreme asked. "I believe Mother Earth has already revealed the process of your creation to you. So how many times do you think such a thing has occurred?"
"You mean the process of mashing souls from other universes into a paste, then heating them in an oven to set the mold?" Solomon's absurd metaphor made the Ancient One roll their eyes. Though ridiculous, it was quite accurate and offered a very intuitive way for ordinary people to understand his origin. "What, is there an animal version of me too? I've seen animal versions of other people—laughably cartoonish, like something for kids. If that's true, I hope I'm a cheetah, since the witch can turn into a cheetah too."
"Don't try to change the subject, little cake." The Ancient One chuckled, patting the disciple's shoulder and mocking Solomon's self-deprecating nickname. Solomon had long since surpassed the Sorcerer Supreme in height, so the Ancient One could only reach his shoulder, not his head. "Only once. The blind and foolish god made the deal only once, which means your actions are the key to changing the multiverse. You steer the river of fate with reckless abandon, inevitably causing events that should only occur in other universes to appear in this one."
Solomon chewed over those words repeatedly.
"Then what's the attitude of the Eternal One? Surely He can't be indifferent to this."
"He doesn't care. He is the universe itself. Whether the universe succumbs to heat death or not, the universe is Him, and He is the one being you can't exclude from your plan. But your plan is far too grand—you must have His support. I know how you feel about the 'Prime Cause' [Note 1], but reality is what it is. Gain His permission, and humanity can have a future."
"Then what's the point of my plan? It's just reducing the number of hands meddling in human destiny to one!"
"No, He doesn't care about anything."
"Fine. So how do I communicate with the universe itself? Every molecule, every life, even every rock is Him…" Solomon suddenly felt suffocated. He thought of someone currently living in Kamar-Taj's New York Sanctum. "The Eye of Calamity!" An intense loathing surged within him, and he forced out the words with a pained tone like a man under torture. "She's already with us?"
"She's been watching everything you do, my child. The Eye of Calamity is merely a witch favored by Him. Her mind couldn't bear such favor, and that's why she went mad. Just as you said, every molecule is Him. Whether He sent the Eye of Calamity or not is irrelevant—He just needed a mouth that could speak." The Sorcerer Supreme wore a relaxed expression, as if this were an issue smaller than what to eat for lunch tomorrow. Smoked beef—the Ancient One had already decided before coming here. "Take good care of her. When the time comes, His voice will be conveyed through the Eye of Calamity. And honestly, I think you actually get along with her quite well, don't you?"
"I suspect her brain's been so ravaged she's beyond repair. The Arcanists worry daily that she'll pick things off the floor and eat them," Solomon sighed, his mood stabilizing. Then he expressed his full disdain for the Lady Eye of Calamity. "She loves spoiling suspense shows for people! I suspect she's only pretending to be dazed—otherwise how does she always arrive precisely before the show airs whenever we're relaxing in the sanctum?"
"That's not exactly a good habit," the Ancient One said with a smile, "but I'm sure you can overcome it, right?"
[Note 1] Prime Cause: A theological and philosophical term, regarded as the original cause behind the entire chain of causality; also known as the ultimate cause.
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I Am Zeus, KING OF GODS (Chapter 120)
Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 391)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 471)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 677)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 1059)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1418)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1422)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1452)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1504)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld!(Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 703)
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