IRON MAN: BROTHER DON'T CAUSE TROUBLE

The person who stepped out of the teleportation circle was none other than the Ancient One, appearing in her usual charismatic form. She wore her signature yellow robe, her head shaved, and carried a small smile on her face.

Looking at the 20-year-old John Stark, the Ancient One felt a mix of emotions. It had been 15 years since she began paying attention to this boy.

At first, she could perceive the future clearly, but little by little, the threads of time began to shift. The cause of this change was none other than the boy standing in front of her.

But that wasn't all. As the future became less certain, she discovered the reason behind it. Yet, as the boy grew older, the timeline spiraled further out of control. At this moment, even the Time Stone was useless. The future was shrouded in fog.

Initially, she had wanted to meet him but held herself back, fearing that interfering might worsen the situation of timeline. However, now that she could no longer see anything in the future, it no longer mattered.

While the Ancient One was lost in thought, John broke the silence. "Hello, ma'am. May I know who you are? And how did you get here? And Did you use magic just now?"

Hearing his words, the Ancient One paused before replying, "Yes, it's a magical skill. I call it the teleportation circle."

John already knew what it was but couldn't reveal his knowledge. Despite her smile, her presence made him nervous.

Noticing his discomfort, the Ancient One said gently, "Don't be nervous. I felt a fluctuation of elemental energy and came to investigate. Do you mind telling me how you learned magic? You can cast spells, but I can't sense even a trace of natural energy in your body."

"Natural energy?" John was taken aback.' Even though I've practiced a lot and exhausted my energy multiple times, I've already meditated and replenished it. Why can't she perceive it?' jhon thought to himself.

Thinking for a moment, John stretched out his hand, conjuring a small flame in his palm. Then he looked at the Ancient One. "Are you talking about this?"

The Ancient One observed the flame with surprise and bewilderment—not because of the fire itself, but because of how it was created. She couldn't detect any natural energy being used.

"How did you do this, John? I can sense some form of energy within this fire is being used, but I'm certain it's not natural energy."

John was equally surprised. "Well, I don't know exactly what type of energy it is, so I gave it a name. I call it particle energy."

"Particle energy? Why do you call it that?"

John scratched his head and replied, "Well… when I was young, I used to read wizard novels a lot. In those stories, they used particle energy to cast spells, so I just went with it. There's no other reason."

The Ancient One felt momentarily speechless. If only she could use the Time Stone to see into the past and future, things would be much clearer.

After some thought, she asked, "Would you like to have a discussion with me about magic?"

John was pleasantly surprised and immediately nodded. "Of course, it would be my pleasure."

Both of them smiled at each other and sat down on the spot.

The Ancient One began, "Magic, at its core, is about understanding the forces that bind the universe. But the path to understanding varies for every mage. Tell me, what do you think magic is?"

John paused thoughtfully. "I'd say it's... bending reality to your will, but also respecting the rules that govern it."

The Ancient One tilted her head slightly, intrigued. "An interesting perspective. Most novices speak of power or control. But tell me, John, how do you perceive time?"

"Time?" John frowned. "I guess I've always thought of it as linear—something that moves forward, never backward. Why?"

The Ancient One smiled cryptically. "Ah, but time is not as simple as you think. It's a tapestry, woven together by choices and possibilities. A skilled mage can read these threads, perhaps even pull them apart to create new outcomes."

She conjured a small orb of light between her hands, shimmering with countless tiny strands. "Each thread here represents a possibility, an event, or a decision. When you learn to manipulate high level magic, you begin to see the interconnectedness of everything."

John stared, mesmerized. "Does that mean… you've seen the future?"

"In a sense," she replied. "But the future is always in flux, dependent on choices made in the present. This is why understanding consequences is vital for a mage."

Their conversation shifted as the Ancient One probed John's understanding of the physical world.

"Tell me, John, how does the material world respond to magic?"

"Well," John began, "I'd assume that casting a spell requires energy. That energy has to come from somewhere—either from the mage, the surroundings, or... another source?"

The Ancient One nodded approvingly. "You're correct. This world is rich in natural energies—winds that carry whispers, rivers that hum ancient songs, and even the earth beneath us, teeming with dormant power. But there's also energy beyond this plane, drawn from dimensions we barely understand."

John leaned forward. "Dimensions? Are you talking about parallel universes?"

"Precisely," she said, her tone both serious and excited. "Some dimensions are brimming with chaos, others with harmony. A mage must learn to draw selectively, for taking energy from the wrong source can lead to... unfortunate consequences."

"What kind of consequences?"

She leaned back, her expression darkening slightly. "There are dimensions ruled by beings of unimaginable malice. Drawing from them could corrupt you—or worse, invite their attention. That is why knowledge is your greatest weapon."

The Ancient One then touched upon the ethics of magic.

"John, how do you think a mage should use their power?"

"Well," John hesitated, "I think magic should be used to help others, not for personal gain."

She nodded. "A noble thought, but remember, the line between help and harm is thin. A well-intentioned spell can spiral into chaos if cast carelessly. This is why self-awareness is critical."

Hearing this, John felt as if the Ancient One was lecturing him about what had happened yesterday. However, he pushed these distracting thoughts out of his mind and became more focused.