Chapter 96: Chapter 96: The Ceremony of the Foolish Prince’s Ascension
Solomon agreed to help Nick Fury not only because of the world's focus on science and his desire to explore the differences between parallel universes but also because of something S.H.I.E.L.D. possessed: Howard Stark's box and the documents inside. Howard had been a member of the Brotherhood of the Shield, and his technology was still in use by S.H.I.E.L.D., even influencing future teams like the one led by Coulson.
Solomon planned to examine Howard Stark's box to see if there were any clues inside.
He didn't fully understand what the Brotherhood of the Shield in this world was like, and he hadn't finished reading through all the manuscripts from the Holy Cross churches. However, he could easily guess that Leonardo da Vinci wouldn't store Brotherhood documents with regular manuscripts. The most useful ones for him so far were the Franciscan alchemy manuscripts and the Brotherhood's alchemical records. These documents, combined with his memories, allowed his alchemy skills to advance rapidly.
Moreover, Solomon confidently handed over the potions to Nick Fury, not only because he wasn't worried about S.H.I.E.L.D. cracking his alchemical formulas but also because he used the "infusion crafting" technique, infusing the potions with the positive energy of Vishanti. Divine magic shapes positive energy into spells, and the Conjuration school's healing sub-discipline focuses on the application of positive energy. Whether healing wounds, removing negative effects, banishing undead, or fighting lower-plane creatures, positive energy is key. This is also why, after becoming a sorcerer of Vishanti, Solomon could use spells like "Cure Wounds" to heal himself.
However, positive energy isn't always a good thing; any energy, when out of control, can be disastrous.
The sorcerers (or warlocks, battlemages—whatever you prefer) of Kamar-Taj, after accepting their connection to Vishanti's positive energy, may experience subtle changes in their behavior and beliefs. They might unknowingly develop a passion for eradicating undead, demons, and protecting the innocent. While these changes are usually minor (mostly due to the fact that most mystics aren't that powerful), there is still an effect. This was the origin of the small conflict between the Sorcerer Supreme and Vishanti.
As for the more disastrous side of positive energy, it's the fully chaotic form of positive energy. Even the energy released by clerics is controlled, but uncontrolled positive energy can be as catastrophic as any disaster.
Solomon knew that Nick Fury would undoubtedly study the potions he provided and would only give them to Stark if absolutely necessary. If S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn't handle the positive energy, that was fine. But if they somehow managed to extract it and use it on living beings, the uncontrolled positive energy could cause flesh to grow uncontrollably, making test animals sprout extra limbs, heads, or worse, turn into a massive, living tumor.
This was Solomon's way of showing the dangers of magic—a warning, because he knew S.H.I.E.L.D. had a knack for causing trouble.
When Solomon made his request for Howard's box, Nick Fury thought it over briefly before rejecting it.
As expected, Fury had sensed the disbelief in Solomon's tone when asking for help. While Fury didn't know why Solomon found the request so surprising, his instincts led him to probe further. Fury didn't know where Solomon's information came from or how reliable it was, but he could test the limits of Solomon's knowledge and find his blind spots—because he wanted to discover Solomon's weaknesses.
The master spy didn't trust anyone, not even himself. Now that Solomon had brought up Howard's box on his own, it gave Fury a boundary to Solomon's presumed knowledge.
Unsurprisingly, Fury refused because it was a separate matter. He would need to go through the box again, try to find something he might have missed that Solomon could be interested in, and only after that could they negotiate another deal. The negotiation fell apart, and Solomon picked up the diamond dust, opened a portal to the rooftop of the Triskelion, and sent Fury there, leaving the mirror dimension himself.
"This is payback!" Fury, one hand on his hip and the other pointing at Solomon, glared at the mystic with his one eye. "I forgot you're still a petty high schooler! Ha, is this Eton College's gentlemanly conduct?"
"No, this is the result of your laziness," Solomon replied dismissively. "You overworked Agent Hill, making her spend too much time organizing files in the office. Did you want me to open a portal there and have her send you off with two bullets? I didn't want to scare a lady—that is gentlemanly conduct."
"If you didn't use magic, Hill could easily snap your neck," Fury retorted. "She's a trained agent."
"Even if I use magic, there are still plenty of women who could snap my neck. I've never been sexist, unless I have a death wish." Solomon twisted his hand as if grabbing an invisible lever, and a new portal opened. "White gentlemanly conduct is the real problem. Well, white people are the problem. Don't look at me like that—you're Black, and I'm Jewish, both minorities. The difference is, one of us gets arrested coming out of a store without a receipt, and the other counts money at the bank, living it up with white service. See, not much difference."
"Ha, now I know why you've got this attitude," Fury muttered, peering into the portal, but the strong wind almost knocked him off his feet.
"Don't bother. I always open portals in the air when I leave from here," Solomon said. "Did you think I wouldn't take precautions against you, Nick Fury? Right now, we're overlooking London."
"I thought we were friends."
"Hah." Solomon laughed as he braced against the howling wind, heading toward the portal. Just as he was about to dive through, he remembered something and turned back, shouting over the wind, "Don't text me, call me, or try to track my signal for the next few days."
"I assume you realize that's how I keep tabs on you," Fury pointed to his eye and yelled back, "You're under S.H.I.E.L.D.'s surveillance. I am S.H.I.E.L.D."
"No, I mean... your signal will only trace back to Eton," Solomon replied. "The Michaelmas term is over, and I'm leaving the computer you gave me at the school. I'm packing up now, though there's not much to pack."
"So you're slipping out of my surveillance?" Fury asked.
"Unless AT&T has receivers in outer space, you won't be tracking me."
"You're going to space? That's your vacation?"
"Just attending the coronation of a foolish alien prince."
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In the silent, endless void, a dazzling, perilous, inverted mountain floated. At its peak, vast swirling clouds surrounded the mountain, with thick rock formations above them. At the base of this mountain was a spring—the roots of the World Tree. These roots held the floating mountain securely in space.
Through unmatched magic and technology, the Asgardians had built their city at the base of this floating peak, constructing corridors along the perilous mountainside. Endless springs formed oceans that cascaded off the edges of Asgard into the void. Towering over the inverted mountain was a grand golden palace and gilded walls, standing like a golden peak at the center of Asgard. This was the palace of the All-Father, Odin.
Today, the weather was perfect, with the entire city glowing golden under the shining star.
On the road leading to the Golden Palace was a vast corridor, lined with golden-armored warriors standing guard, weapons in hand. Even the tall Asgardians were dwarfed by the base of their armor stands. Solomon and the Sorcerer Supreme strolled leisurely along the marble-paved path, led by a palace maid from the Golden Palace.
Solomon had already changed out of his Eton tailcoat and cloak, once again donning his black mystic robes and red relic cloth. He was here as a Kamar-Taj apprentice and a disciple of the Sorcerer Supreme, so he needed to wear his robes. The Sorcerer Supreme also wore black robes, but hers bore no magical symbols—she didn't need them.
As the ruler of Midgard with autonomous rights, the Sorcerer Supreme received a grand reception upon arriving in Asgard. In fact, Solomon and the Sorcerer Supreme had been in Asgard for a few days, but neither of them could tolerate the crude Asgardian cuisine. Today, Solomon accompanied the Sorcerer Supreme for a stroll, as both All-Father Odin and Queen Frigga were busy with preparations for the upcoming ceremony. Only one of Frigga's handmaidens was available to accompany them.
Asgard adhered to a true feudal system, where the power of noble bloodlines differed greatly from that of commoners. Frigga's handmaiden was a noble herself. Though she didn't understand why Odin was treating a mortal sorcerer from Midgard with such respect, her long lifespan and excellent education, far exceeding that of commoners, made her aware of what questions were appropriate to ask.
Even if she did ask, only Odin and Frigga could answer, and Odin certainly wouldn't reveal any embarrassing details. Otherwise, he wouldn't have placed a replica of the Eye of Agamotto in his treasury.
The Sorcerer Supreme guided Solomon through the streets and alleys of Asgard, explaining how runic magic had been used to construct the city. She believed this was an excellent opportunity for Solomon to broaden his horizons, as Asgard's
runic magic was no weaker than the magic of the Vishanti. The Sorcerer Supreme, though not particularly skilled in teaching (even after all these years, most of Kamar-Taj's students relied on self-study, only approaching her when absolutely necessary), still did her best to explain what she understood about runic magic.
Solomon, clearly not a foolishly arrogant person, had sensed the immense magic present in Asgard the moment he and the Sorcerer Supreme arrived. It was an incomparably powerful force, and at its center was Asgard's Golden Palace. He could even call the magic here "great." Holding a book the Sorcerer Supreme had borrowed from Asgard's library, Solomon compared its contents with her explanations, as the books contained knowledge that was completely absent from Kamar-Taj's library.
In fact, despite Kamar-Taj's collection of most of Earth's magical texts, its research on runic magic was minimal. Solomon was lucky to be able to read the runes. These books were far more valuable to him than the treasures in Odin's vault.
Asgard had fully prepared for this grand event, and the Golden Palace's hall was unusually open to all Asgardians. The throne room's skylight was open, with sunlight pouring through, illuminating the highest point of the hall. A towering golden throne stood at the center, the most radiant spot in the room, where the All-Father Odin sat, holding Gungnir.
The handmaiden reminded the Sorcerer Supreme that the ceremony was about to begin. The Sorcerer Supreme waved her hand, instantly transporting the handmaiden, Solomon, and herself from the palace's outer corridor to the steps beside the throne. Solomon didn't even notice any trace of her casting the spell, and the handmaiden, wide-eyed and stunned, quickly realized where they were. She panicked and hurried down the steps, knowing her status didn't allow her to stand there. Fortunately, the Sorcerer Supreme had chosen a spot behind a gold-embossed column, so no one noticed the handmaiden's misstep.
Two rows of silent, gold-armored soldiers stood before the throne, motionless, their spears held steady, their eyes unblinking. These were the famed Einherjar warriors of Asgard. As for the true Valhalla and the location of the Einherjar, only Odin knew that secret.
Dressed in her regal attire, Queen Frigga stood on the steps and noticed the Sorcerer Supreme and Solomon. She nodded slightly toward the Sorcerer Supreme, who returned the gesture, while Solomon performed his courtesy with meticulous precision. All-Father Odin, too, seemed aware of their presence, though he didn't turn his head or reveal any expression, his one eye fixed on the far end of the long red carpet.
Solomon noted that Odin's face bore no trace of joy; it seemed the All-Father already knew what was about to happen. Solomon recalled the expression on the Sorcerer Supreme's face before they departed, as if she were eagerly awaiting the opening act of a grand performance.
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