Chapter 563

The Supreme Sorcerer had decided to take an apprentice and had come all the way here to tell Evenson about it.

Naturally, Evenson knew exactly what that meant.

She was here to tell him to bring a gift.

From Clareya’s perspective, that was perfectly reasonable. And since the Ancient One had gone out of her way to personally notify him, Evenson couldn’t exactly pretend he hadn’t heard about it and quietly dodge the obligation.

Which left one very important question.

How much should he give?

He was an outsider, after all, and he represented an organization. If he brought something too cheap, it would be embarrassing enough for him, but Clareya would probably lose face along with him.

On the other hand, if he brought something expensive...

Evenson winced.

That hurt.

Fine. This time, he’d bite the bullet and play the generous fool.

He could give her that door he’d hauled back from Tony.

It wasn’t cheap, it was packed with high-end technology, and if Evenson added a few magical runes to it, he could even make it resistant to teleportation. That should be impressive enough.

Besides, gifts were supposed to go both ways.

He’d give a gift for the Ancient One’s apprentice ceremony, and when he and Clareya eventually got engaged and married, they could return the favor.

Wait.

That meant he really needed to hurry up and get his own wedding arrangements moving.

Kamar-Taj’s overall strength had always seemed a little shaky to him. What if disaster struck one day and half the place was wiped out? He’d have to show up for the funeral, bring a condolence gift, and then...

There’d be nobody left to return the favor.

Evenson scratched his head, increasingly convinced that this was an urgent matter.

Maybe he should take advantage of the opportunity and ask the Ancient One if he and Clareya could settle their marriage plans.

What he hadn’t realized was that the Ancient One was even more confused than he was.

What exactly does this boy think I’m doing?

If she wanted a gift, would she really have come here personally to tell him? She could have simply written an invitation and sent Clareya to deliver it. There was no way Evenson would refuse to attend.

"Forget the gift," the Ancient One said, cutting through his thoughts. "I came here for something else."

Evenson’s eyes widened.

No gift?

There really were good things in this world.

"Oh? Then what is it?"

"A while ago, I took your advice. I’ve been looking for a suitable candidate to become my next apprentice, someone who might eventually inherit my mantle."

The Ancient One frowned slightly.

"Finding such a person isn’t easy, but I believe I’ve found one. There’s only one problem..."

She hesitated.

"I’m afraid he has no intention of becoming my student."

"You’re kidding."

Evenson picked up his glass with a grin.

"The Supreme Sorcerer wants to take an apprentice. That’s an opportunity people would kill for. Who wouldn’t want it?"

The Ancient One’s reputation in the magical world was practically unmatched.

She wasn’t merely offering someone a chance to study magic. She was offering them the opportunity to inherit the teachings of the Supreme Sorcerer herself.

If she casually tossed out a spellbook titled Seventy-Two Paths of Demon-Slaying Swordplay, the entire magical world would probably descend into bloodshed trying to claim it.

"But the person I’ve chosen isn’t part of the magical world."

The Ancient One shook her head.

"He doesn’t even believe magic exists."

"He’s not a magician? Then I suppose you’d call him a civilian."

Evenson shrugged.

"That’s not necessarily a bad thing. A fresh perspective might bring some unexpected results. And not believing in magic isn’t a serious obstacle. Just show him a little of what you can do. Once he sees the real thing, he’ll probably be hanging off your leg and calling you Master."

"I wish it were that simple."

The Ancient One’s expression grew even more pessimistic.

Smack.

She placed a magazine on the table.

"This is the man I’ve chosen. Do you think he’ll abandon his current life and come to Kamar-Taj to study magic?"

Evenson picked up the magazine.

The cover was familiar.

Time.

It was several issues old, but anyone important enough to make the cover probably wasn’t some random nobody.

He looked at the photograph.

"Stephen Strange... Doctor Stephen Strange."

The face was vaguely familiar.

Evenson bit his lip.

"Yeah. That one might be difficult."

He certainly knew the name.

Doctor Stephen Strange was an accomplished surgeon, the kind of elite medical specialist who had turned his profession into a personal kingdom. Brilliant, wealthy, respected, and living a life most people would consider close to perfect.

No wonder the Ancient One was worried.

Why would a man like that throw everything away to disappear into the mountains and study magic?

Imagine walking up to him, putting a hand on his shoulder, and solemnly declaring:

Kid, you’re a once-in-a-century magical prodigy. The fate of Earth rests on your shoulders. Now come with me into the mountains and learn sorcery.

Evenson could already picture the response.

Strange would probably put her on the floor and start preparing an emergency craniotomy to determine whether she’d suffered a catastrophic brain injury.

"I know it won’t be easy. That’s why I came to ask you."

The Ancient One took the magazine back.

"The first time I accepted an apprentice, people were still deeply superstitious. Demonstrating magic was enough to convince kings to embrace my teachings. After that, I recruited almost exclusively from within the magical community."

She looked at Evenson.

"So I have very little experience recruiting ordinary people. How did your organization accomplish it? You, for example. You were raised in the mundane world. Why did you choose magic?"

"Me?"

Evenson looked strangely uncomfortable.

"I’ve never even met my master. The knowledge I possess, including the secrets of my organization, was simply... placed in my mind at some point."

He shrugged.

"When I turned fourteen, all of those memories suddenly surfaced. I was an orphan who grew up in an orphanage, so at the time, learning magic seemed like a pretty decent career option."

He gave an awkward laugh.

"Of course, if I’d already been as talented as Doctor Strange back then..."

He trailed off.

"That would’ve been a different story."

A very different story.

One where his autobiography might have been titled Marvel: The World’s Greatest Surgeon.

"Still..."

Evenson leaned back.

"I can give you some advice."

The Ancient One’s expression suggested she was prepared for something useful.

Evenson’s smile slowly turned sinister.

"If you think he’ll refuse because his current life is too comfortable, then..."

He paused.

"Destroy his life."

The Ancient One’s eyebrow twitched.

Evenson continued cheerfully.

"Get a few gangsters to ambush him on his way home from work. Give him a few good swings with a baseball bat and leave his hands shattered beyond repair."

The Ancient One’s expression went blank.

"His career as a surgeon would be over. Then you arrange for someone to tell him that your magic can restore his hands."

Evenson spread his hands.

"At that point, I doubt you’d even have to drag him to Kamar-Taj. He’d follow you willingly."

"..."

The Ancient One’s eyebrow twitched again.

She really wasn’t sure how to evaluate that suggestion.

Evenson noticed her hesitation and helpfully elaborated.

"If you don’t know anyone in the criminal world, that’s fine. I happen to have two subordinates with extensive connections to people like that."

He smiled.

"Just pay me the labor costs. I’ll handle everything else. I guarantee it’ll be done properly, cleanly, and without leaving a trace."

The Ancient One stood.

"Well..."

She headed for the door.

"I’ll see you around."

Evenson blinked.

"Wait, don’t leave!"

She kept walking.

"The labor costs are negotiable!"

The door closed behind her.

Evenson stared after her.

For some reason, he had the distinct impression that the Ancient One was reconsidering several fundamental assumptions she’d once made about which side of the moral spectrum he belonged on.