“That is exactly what I did.” She broke the stressful silence.

“Huh?” I looked at her in confusion.

“You were the blockage to the time stone’s vision of the future, so I removed you out of the equation.” The image of me approaching Bruce appeared once more. However, this time when the time stone glowed the fog disappeared, and Bruce went about sitting in the forest by himself for a while before moving on his own, deeper into the forest.

‘So, she made it seem like I didn’t exist in that past version to see what would happen.’ I figured out what she was doing.

“This is how I have to view the future now. Whenever I want to see the future, I have to take you out of it. Although extremely inaccurate and a hassle this is my best shot at seeing the future now.” This last statement got me the answer I needed to the questions that had popped up as I listened to her.

If my guess was right my natural ability to tamper with future sight and past sight must have been derived from ‘Comfy Potato’.

I had learned so far that comfy potato just made me basically look like a common human to anyone, in terms of genes or looks. Anyone looking at me would not think I had the strength to easily cause more destruction than Hulk himself. No person can easily discern my strength.

However, what if this power not only made living beings see me as an ordinary person but the very universe and the mystical forces dwelling within the universe itself.

To the universe, I was just an ordinary person. So, for example, when someone tries to scry into the future of a fight between Hulk and Thanos, the outcome is supposed to be in Thanos’ favour.

If I were to then join in the fight, technically nothing would change in the eyes of the universal laws since I was still an ordinary human. I would be like a bacteria in the playing field of Elephants. So logically, I could do nothing to aid the fight whatsoever. However, that would not be the case in real life as I could provide Hulk with some serious help and might even hold up a chance to win against Thanos.

The universe will try to pick up on this outcome but simply can’t as it can’t judge or fathom my strength. To the universe, I could be an ant or a titan and it simply wouldn’t know.

It was like saying the number ‘5’ is both positive and negative at the same time when it clearly isn’t. Then plugging that number into an equation and the whole thing ends up in an error, due to a number not being able to take up two states at the same instance in time.

As the time of scrying increases more unpredictable variables starts to appear due to me, causing a fog to appear in the vision of the future, as the future simply becomes unknown to even the laws of time itself.

In simple terms, I was a bug in the code, or rather my gifts were. ‘No wonder they are called cheats.’ Cheats broke the system of a universe, and mine did it even more so for me.

I was essentially an error that caused unknown changes. Looking into the short future people are able to see some bits, but the further one looks the more unclear it becomes due to the changes I will make with my actions.

“As expected, I can’t read your mind either.” The ancient one smiled as she stated her attempt to try and be intrusive into my mind.

“You have practised meditation to the point it keeps your mind calm at all times. It is rare to see someone like you walking around in the buzzing civilisation of the 21st century.” She complimented me to which I just smiled.

“So why did you take Bruce away?” I asked her.

“I have for so long been able to see the future that not seeing it has become worrying. The only way to fix that is to interfere with your changes. Luckily, you haven’t made many major changes other than that of bringing Bruce back to New York.

This naturally wouldn’t have affected the future much, until it was Bruce’s time to appear in New York as Hulk again. Which I corrected by placing him back to where he belonged so the correct future could happen again.” She told me.

“Is that why you saved Nat?” I asked her to which she nodded.

“That along with influencing Mr Stark’s friend to go after him in the suit, making sure Bruce appeared for the US army to create the Abomination, Thor and Jane’s interaction all were my work.” She admitted as I finally knew why the butterfly effect simply didn’t work; she simply didn’t allow any cause and effect from my actions to influence the world by much.

She must have corrected and needed to fix every single change I caused to see the future properly. It won’t be hard considering Steven Strange was seen making 100’s of clones with a spell, so she should naturally be able to do something like that.

"Due to your interference, your girlfriend would have died causing the immediate future to become covered in fog. I simply stopped that from happening by making sure the shot was fired where it originally was meant to.”

“Thank you.” If I didn’t have the calm mind turned on, I would probably be very furious with her for letting Nat get hurt, but right now I was grateful as I could think logically.

“How long will you keep interfering with my life then?” I asked her calmly.

“Until I can clearly and constantly see a future where my successor arrives for his training. So far I can barely see him even thinking about it.” She replied as she sat down.

“After he arrives you can change the future to your liking.” She informed me with a smile.

I sighed at this. “Why did you give me the offer to learn the mystic arts then?” I asked her.

“You can potentially be a good or bad presence in the world as your future is unpredictable for even the time stone itself. From what I have seen from your records and the action of your past you were an extremely dangerous threat both to the mystical and normal world.

My initial plan was to kill you or seal you up somewhere due to you being someone with a very dangerous mindset along with the skillset to the point of being able to stop my source of scrying.” She looked at me as if she expected me to retaliate somehow but I did nothing and just waited patiently for her to carry on.

I wasn’t angry about her initial judgement because that was the truth. She was right in the aspect that I was a very dangerous person with my past mentality, and I was slightly a dangerous person even now.

“Had it not been for your friend and girlfriend that would be my current choice of action as well. But now you only intend to do good for this world, or at least for your girlfriend right?” I sighed as I heard that.

“Yeah.” I nodded as I sat down.

“So, I want you to learn mystic arts to help you in your journey.” She told me as if she was helping me do something great for the world.

However, I did not just accept that. “Is that really all?” I raised my eyebrows at her.

She chuckled hearing that question before shaking her head. “Well, there is also the fact that I can keep you here and occupy your time for a while while I correct the consequences of your actions and stop you from unnecessarily spreading your influence, till I can see my successor coming here through the cloudy future.” She was honest and straightforward as long as I asked her the right questions.

As I contemplated whether to take up her offer or not, I suddenly remembered a quote. ‘When one door closes 10 other opens.’ This must be the door that was opened after I lost my access to the Asgardian’s gene pool, albeit me having no free will for a while.

I made up my mind. 'I intend to take the offer, but with a condition.'

“Can I have access to all the knowledge including the forbidden arts if stay here and learn magic?” I asked her which caused her smile to break.

“So far from your past I have seen that you have a certain knowledge of the future.” I didn’t give any remark to that. It would be very obvious that I would know the future if someone looked at my actions from a birds-eye view.

“I won’t ask for any of your secrets or source of knowledge but let me ask you this, are you aware of the dangers it possesses?” Her face morphed into a very serious look.

I nodded. “I have seen how it had corrupted your students, but I have also seen how the forbidden arts could be used in the right way as well, like how you are using it and how your successor will use it.

I merely intend to seek the knowledge of the forbidden arts just to widen my knowledge pool, as I have heard magic is just a higher form of science.”

The smile that froze thawed and came back on her face. “You speak of truth. Very well, but don’t let Mordo find out.” She warned me to which I answered in all seriousness.

However, I knew she had another intention of letting me read the forbidden arts. The more time I spent on them, the more time I would be holed up in here, especially with complicated subjects like the forbidden arts. I didn’t really care about that, as she gave me what I wanted, and it was only natural I give her what she wanted in return.

“Okay.” My acknowledgement told her I knew everything about the future, but I could care less. There were plenty of seers in this universe and plenty of methods used to scry into the future; just not that many on Earth.

Seers are only rare on Earth and to the most ordinary people of this world, from what I remembered about the marvel world. To someone like the Ancient One, whose life was constantly meddled with the supernatural, seeing seers or people with knowledge of the future was like seeing an old acquaintance every once in a while, most likely.

“Very well.” She stood up and I followed suit.

She walked up to me and raised her arm. I was least bothered about what she was about to do. “This won’t hurt but the experience might be overwhelming.” Her fingers rested on my forehead before she pushed at my head with enough force to send me back.

As I stepped back I noticed my body that slumped down. “Astral form…” I looked at my translucent hands curiously before looking at the Ancient One who looked surprised by my reaction.

Due to my calm mind, I stayed calm as she stood by my body. She waved her hand and I felt something pulling me towards my body.

When I opened my eyes, it was almost felt like how someone would spin on spot 10 times with eyes closed and suddenly opened their eyes. It was extremely uncomfortable and I had to use the HE serum to go back to my top condition.

“Hmm, excellent mental stability.

You like to unfold the mysteries of the universe a lot right?” She asked me to which I nodded.

“Let’s see how you cope with this then.” She said as she pressed her thumbs on my head. A worry sprung up, only to be immediately squashed down(due to my calm state), for what was about to happen next, as I remembered what had happened to Steven Strange after he got send to his astral form.

“…” I looked at Ancient One’s eyes.

“Uhmm…” However, nothing happened.

“I am impressed.” The Ancient One’s smile grew suddenly.

“You have been able to resist a mental intrusion when you have never even learned the mystic arts.” I smiled calmly at this. As expected, having 2 calm minds is certainly very powerful.

She began stepping back as the barrier surrounding us disappeared. “How about your martial arts? I have seen you practise several of them, but you rarely use it against others as you prefer to use overwhelming strength against most of your opponents.” She said as she put her left hand back and moved her right arm forward while indicating me to come at her.

“None of your physical enhancements. Just pure martial skills.” She ordered as I began my preparation.

‘Switch off 1 calm mind and fight her using only martial art.’ I ordered my potatoes.

As soon as this order was given my body moved to grab her right arm and pull her forward, however, she countered it by lifting her knees to hit my jewels which I sidestepped calmly.

My right arm raised up and deflected her elbow before releasing her right arm and raising my leg to kick her ribs.

This went on for 5 minutes. Before we both came to a stop.

‘Activate both calm minds.’ I ordered as I knew the fight had ended.

“As expected, your martial arts skill best me. You truly are a genius at learning. Centuries off practise bested by just a few years of talent.” She lamented to which I just nodded.

“Thank you.” I politely replied to her comment.

“You are both physically and mentally fit, thus going past the hurdle many would need to take. A pity as I would have loved to have delayed your time in here as long as possible but no matter. I won’t cheat you of your time for my own selfish benefits. Let us start our lessons tomorrow.” She told me as Daniel came back.

“Daniel will guide you to your accommodation here.” I stared at her in slight confusion.

“I thought I was meant to stay in Kamar-Taj, like all others?” She shook her head.

“You are a special situation, so it’s better you stay here under the watch and guidance of Daniel. Besides, not many would be happy to learn that I had jumped not only certain steps but floors for you. Unless you want me to explain to them your situation and why I am showing special consideration for you?” She asked me to which I shook my head.

“I rather not, at least until I finish learning everything I have left to learn,” I told her to which she agreed.

“Follow me.” Daniel’s calm voice told me as he turned around to leave.

“Thank you,” I told her before I left.

I walked behind Daniel quietly as he guided me. “Sorry about my behaviour, but I needed answers when I came in.” I apologised as we walked.

I could see his lips being pulled up hearing that as he nodded. “I understand. I would be angry as well if someone kept interfering with my life left and right. So, don’t worry about it and let’s just get along. We are to defend the sanctuary together from now on after all.” I halted my steps and looked at Daniel as I heard that.

He stopped and turned around with a knowing look. “Naturally, your stay here isn’t exactly free seeing as how we are giving you special treatment.” I sighed as I heard that.

“She told me you are very strong even without access to magic. Sorry for doubting you, but how strong?” Daniel asked me.

I decided to let my action speak for myself.

Activating my top speed, I moved and appeared behind Daniel. The momentum of my movement raised a gust which blew on his robes. He turned around with widened eyes after a second as he realised what had just happened.

“Very strong.” I smiled at his astonished face.

He gawked at me for few more seconds before he stopped with a sigh. “No wonder she was confident in allowing you to help me with protecting the sanctum.” He began walking and I followed him to my room, while I began looking forward to the day I could learn to open the portals, for a very obvious reason.