"Self-study?"
"Looks like I'm still too good…" Alaric muttered half to himself as he headed toward the library.
At that time, the librarian was still not Wong. Kaecilius had not yet rebelled, so the guardian of the library was an older, white-bearded mage named Emir. Wong, during that period, was only his assistant.
Alaric didn't care about that. He had come only to find books and knowledge.
"Where is Kaecilius now? I haven't seen him anywhere, and he should be here. He looks like Mads," he muttered to himself.
"Kaecilius is currently at the sanctuary. He went to help the guardians and comes back from time to time."
The voice startled him. Wong approached with heavy steps, his expression serious.
"But… who is Mads?" he asked, confused, looking at him with a slight smirk.
"He's an actor," Alaric replied, giving a slightly awkward smile.
"An actor? Hm… do you mean to say Kaecilius is handsome? I wouldn't say so." Wong murmured thoughtfully, clearly trying to find meaning in Alaric's words. He couldn't reconcile the imagined look of Kaecilius with his perpetually grim expression.
"Eh… forget it. Let's not talk about it. The Ancient One sent me to the library to read books. Can I choose which ones I want?" Alaric immediately changed the subject, cutting off Wong's train of thought.
Wong nodded. "Of course. I'll show you what's best for a start."
He himself knew very well who stood before him. After Mordo had been shaken by Alaric's abilities, he had confided in Wong. Since then, Wong had regarded this young student with serious attention.
If Mordo's words were true, then Alaric might be a candidate to one day succeed the Ancient One and become the Sorcerer Supreme, protector of all Kamar-Taj and Earth.
For Wong, this was a great matter. They had the Ancient One now, but one day when she would no longer be, who could alone bear the burden of protection against forces from other dimensions? Even experienced mages like him could hardly do it alone.
If Alaric possessed that potential, it would be hope for the future.
Of course, if Alaric had known his thoughts, he would only have shaken his head. For him, Wong's doubts and predictions were unnecessary.
"Here, start with these." Wong placed several thick books on the table in front of him.
Alaric picked them up and leafed through them quickly. The titles immediately caught his attention: The Book of Sight, General Introduction to the Basics, New Edition of the Universe, At the Supreme's, Solomon's Key.
They were, of course, foundational books. There were no concrete spells or complex magical formulas. But all great knowledge begins with the basics.
"Hm, basic stuff," he thought, but he did not show dissatisfaction. Even the most famous spells of Kamar-Taj stemmed from these books. It would do no harm to study them all again.
"Thank you, Wong. I'll return them when I'm finished."
He took the books in his hands, and then in an instant, teleported back to his room, leaving Wong staring after him thoughtfully.
"Is this teleportation magic that Alaric created himself? There isn't the slightest magical fluctuation…"
Wong outwardly looked calm, but in his heart, shock was already stirring.
What he had heard from Mordo and what he had now seen with his own eyes were completely different things.
Was this still teleportation magic? Or was it something entirely different?
This was teleportation in its purest form.
Kamar-Taj possessed much knowledge, but something like this… had never been recorded.
Moreover, according to Mordo, Alaric could open portals without a Sling Ring and teleport simply through the power of will. Compared to that, the traditional Gate of Space looked like a child's game.
"Unfortunately…" Wong sighed quietly.
Now he understood Mordo's feelings better.
Faced with someone like Alaric, who wouldn't feel defeated?
…
Alaric's room.
He sat on the bed and opened The Book of Sight.
Perhaps because his body was already imbued with magical elements constantly circulating through the small universe within him, his physical strength and endurance were gradually increasing. In addition, his mental strength and concentration were rapidly improving.
With the abilities of telepathy he already possessed, Alaric read at an incredible speed.
In less than an hour he had thoroughly read the entire thick Book of Sight.
Then he closed his eyes, went back through everything he had read, and began to connect the knowledge.
Although the book did not contain concrete spells, Alaric managed to derive a new skill.
[By carefully studying The Book of Sight, you have gained deeper understanding and created the All-Seeing Eye.]
[All-Seeing Eye: A power that reveals the essence of all things. Allows you to see the structure of the world, and even to find a person if you call their name.]
Alaric opened his eyes. A golden light shone in them. If one looked closely, in the depths of his pupils one could discern a golden triangle from which rays of light spread like sunbeams.
From his perspective, everything around him began to reveal its own essence. Tree, book, walls – everything was disassembling before him into its smallest parts. He could even analyze the structure of molecules.
He also discovered that he had the ability to see through obstacles. Walls no longer posed a barrier; he could look through them as if they were glass.
"Incredible…" he whispered to himself, amazed.
But that wasn't all.
[You can find a person by calling their name in your mind.]
Alaric tested the power. In his mind he said: "Wong."
In that very instant, his gaze pierced through space and reached the place where Wong was.
What he saw made him shake with laughter, Wong was secretly using a mobile phone, trying to find out who "Mads" was.
"…Well. No wonder he's confused," Alaric thought. "But does this universe even have Mads Mikkelsen?"
Curiosity soon drove him to another test.
"Let's see what the Ancient One is doing."
He was almost certain he would find her preparing tea, her favorite ritual.
But when his gaze fell on her, he saw her pouring something from a bottle into a cup.
"Wait… is that vodka?" Alaric was stunned.
The Ancient One was indeed drinking, and it was not tea.
"Who's there?!" her voice suddenly rang out. She raised her head, her eyes narrowing.
She had sensed that someone was watching.
"You again!" she said sharply, recognizing his presence.
–––
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