"Wong?"
"Magister Hamir?"
"And what about the others?"
Alaric, who had returned the books from the library, discovered that the two guardians were not there.
"Why are they so confident in the security of the library? No wonder Kaecilius was able to so easily steal the magic with which he summoned Dormammu."
Of course, there could also have been an explanation known only to the Ancient One. Perhaps it was a deliberate decision, meant to encourage Strange and allow him to take on the role of Sorcerer Supreme without obstacles.
Since Wong and Hamir were not present, Alaric immediately began returning the books he had borrowed earlier, one by one, to their original places. He had grown quite accustomed to this place and knew it well, and Wong had gradually developed trust in him.
When he reached the last row of shelves and placed the book in its place, his gaze stopped at the object lying on the innermost stone table.
The Eye of Agamotto.
Inside rested the Time Stone.
"Wong? Are you here?"
Alaric had long wanted to test the power of this artifact. He couldn't contain his curiosity. Cautiously, he called out Wong's name, then stepped forward, step by step, as his eyes clung to the green glow.
Whenever people had been around earlier, he could only observe it from afar, without any chance of touching it.
But now… now he had the opportunity.
Although he knew that using the Stone without permission could bring unknown dangers, Alaric was not entirely uninformed. He knew enough about it from the movies and comics he once watched and read.
Slowly, he picked up the Eye of Agamotto and clasped it around his neck.
Then he turned toward the shelf next to the table and found the book bound in chains. The Book of Cagliostro.
Wong had once told him that only the Ancient One fully understood the books from this final row, and that only she could truly use the magic from them. For ordinary sorcerers, they were completely useless.
This only showed that Kaecilius indeed had significant knowledge and experience, for he had managed to find precisely the pages containing the spell to summon Dormammu.
Alaric carefully took the book, sat down at the stone table, and began to study the pages.
Although he didn't have Strange's innate ability to never forget anything, ever since he had gained the power of the small universe, his spiritual strength had increased so much that his memory had become almost perfect. Moreover, his understanding of complex magical systems had reached an astonishing level.
Therefore, he soon read through the entire book and understood everything in detail. He had gained a clear method of how to manipulate the Time Stone.
To test it immediately, he reached for a notebook left on the table, likely Wong's. He tore out a sheet of paper, cut it into several pieces, and placed them on the work surface.
Then he raised his hand and formed a sign. The Eye of Agamotto glowed with green light, opened, and aura burst forth from it. He added a protective symbol onto himself and allowed the green magic to envelop his right hand.
Alaric felt that time, at the very core of reality, was beginning to obey his will.
"Return to the past!"
With a twist of his wrist, the torn pieces of paper began to merge and return to their original form.
Another twist, and the paper once again split into fragments.
"Interesting…"
"This is true magic."
Alaric sighed.
Space is king, time is revered, destiny always flows, cause and effect are eternal laws, and power is supreme.
This description applies equally to worlds of fantasy and to Marvel's universe filled with infinite powers.
The one who understands time can observe everything that happens through countless timelines.
The Ancient One had used the Time Stone precisely to see all outcomes of the future.
The one who commands space can cross barriers at will, through dimensions and parallel universes, freely entering and exiting.
And the one who combines both can travel through time and space, go into the past, leap into the future, and move through the endless river of time.
But that power also has a price. The timeline is fragile. One wrong move can cause chaos and create countless new universes.
Examples exist. In DC, the Flash reset the entire universe.
That's why Alaric, though excited, also felt a slight unease.
[By carefully studying the Book of Cagliostro and using time magic, you will gain a profound understanding of the power of time and insight into Reversing and Accelerating Time.]
[Reversing and Accelerating Time: You can go back into the past and accelerate into the future within a certain period.]
[By carefully studying the Book of Cagliostro, you have gained a profound understanding of the method of summoning dimensional lords and created a dimensional shuttle.]
[Dimensional Shuttle: Through locating the name of a dimensional lord, you can enter any dimensional domain at will.]
---
"Time magic? Does this mean I can control part of the flow of time even without the Stone itself?"
Wanting to check, Alaric this time set the Stone aside. He concentrated and activated pure magic. Green light flared from his hand. Gently passing his palm over the torn paper, it returned to its original, untouched form.
"Excellent…"
Then he turned to the other power – the dimensional shuttle.
This magic was revealed in the text that contained the spell to summon Dormammu's dark dimension. Dangerous? Of course. But Alaric glanced at the Time Stone and felt the risk could be borne.
If Strange could negotiate with Dormammu himself, why couldn't he?
Death was never the end anyway.
He decided to try. He focused and clearly spoke the name in his mind: Dormammu.
A door of pure green light opened before him, the halo expanding and pulsing as if inviting him.
Alaric trembled, but did not hesitate. He bit his lower lip and stepped forward.
"It's done."