Jack Sparrow
In June, the sun was shining bright. It had been nearly a month since Finney met the Ancient One, and he only had a few credits left before he could apply for graduation. Although the university emphasized internships and referrals more than just grades, Finney's academic performance was already enough to get him through, so he wasn't too worried.
Interestingly, Carson had returned to school a few weeks ago. To Finney's surprise, he didn't try to start trouble again. At first, Finney was suspicious, wondering if Carson was plotting something behind the scenes. Eventually, he used the 'Golden Great Evolution Technique' under the pretense of reconciliation to get to the bottom of it.
It turned out Carson had indeed planned to take revenge during his leave, but he hesitated after discovering that Finney's parents were both well-known lawyers. In this country, being a good lawyer is a powerful position—no one wants to cross one, let alone two. Carson might be reckless, but he wasn't stupid. After considering the potential consequences of offending Finney, he decided to swallow his pride. Also, with graduation approaching, he didn't want to stir up unnecessary trouble.
When Finney learned the truth, he didn't know whether to laugh or sigh. Still, the result was good, and after reinforcing his own mindset with the 'Golden Great Evolution Technique'—strengthening his resolve to avoid unnecessary conflict—he decided to let the matter go.
Now, Finney's main goal was to quickly wrap up his remaining credits, graduate, and then find the New York Sanctum to have another conversation with the Ancient One.
During the past month, he'd often wondered why the Ancient One had shown up that day. With the imbalance of information, his best guess was that it had something to do with the "evil spirits" she mentioned. Because of this, he limited his use of 'Demon Haunting' to a few tests on weekends and avoided using it the rest of the time.
Becoming a superhero and debuting before Iron Man wasn't on his agenda. That would've been cool if he had the strength to back it up from the beginning—but clearly, he didn't.
For Finney, Kamar-Taj was incredibly important. Even if he couldn't formally study under the Ancient One, being in that environment would rapidly improve his strength. Gaining experience meant using skills in battle. And short of S.H.I.E.L.D. and a few hidden organizations, the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj were among the strongest people around—and they didn't come with the same risks.
Training and sparring with them would be far more productive than staying in the chicken nugget shop all day. Especially now that he had 'Demon Haunting', he might already be stronger than some lower-level sorcerers.
---
"Congratulations, you've graduated."
As he received his graduation certificate, Finney let out a deep sigh of relief. Even the hot summer air seemed cooler. Since his university had started early, he now had a stretch of time where he was finally free.
At the graduation ceremony, surrounded by excited classmates, joyful parents, and Skye's bright smile, Finney felt calm and content. There had been a time when he questioned whether it was irresponsible of him to attend school so peacefully, knowing the world would plunge into chaos in a few years.
He even considered dropping out and traveling the world in search of ways to get stronger. After all, this world was full of hidden secrets—if he looked carefully, he was bound to find something useful.
But whenever he saw his aging parents, he just couldn't bring himself to leave them behind. He asked himself what he truly wanted from this world.
Returning to his previous life had once been a fantasy when he first reincarnated, but as time passed, that desire faded. In this life, he had loving parents, a troublesome but adorable sister, and a rare ability. Though danger loomed on the horizon, his current life was already far better than the one he left behind.
Besides, if he kept growing, he could eventually become invincible.
After a lot of thought, Finney realized that what he really wanted was to live freely—to maintain a sense of urgency, but not be ruled by fear. He wanted to enjoy life, yet stay aware that danger could appear at any moment.
So in the end, he didn't rush off on some grand training arc. He stuck to his own pace, slowly and steadily improving.
As he stood among his peers that day, Finney felt reassured in his decision. Some lives, once lost, could never be restored. Not even the Time Stone could guarantee reversal.
---
That evening, the family was still discussing graduation. His parents didn't care that he had chosen ancient literature as his major. With their own high-paying careers—and Finney's success selling 'Sumire Chicken Nugget Rolls'—there was no pressure to pick a career-driven field.
The next morning, Finney woke up early, only to realize he no longer had classes to attend. The realization made him feel a bit lost… but also happy. He could now plan his own time freely.
During breakfast, he noticed Skye looking listless and asked, "What's wrong? Didn't sleep well?"
Skye rested her cheek on her hand and mumbled weakly, "Now that you're not going to the store anymore, I don't know what to do with myself."
"You could get a job," Finney said, giving her a side-eye. "You've been out of college for two years and haven't done anything serious."
Blushing, Skye puffed up defensively. "Who says I haven't?! I've made money writing software online!"
"Great. Then don't come asking to borrow money the next time you want to upgrade your gear!"
Finney looked smug, knowing full well what her next computer would cost.
Skye opened her mouth, clearly wanting to say she wouldn't borrow money—but deep down, she knew she probably would.
"Hmph!"
With nothing else to say, she glared at him, grabbed her bag, and stormed out.
Having completed his daily ritual of teasing his sister, Finney finished his breakfast in high spirits. But as he thought about what came next, a sense of apprehension crept in.
New York was massive—over 1,200 square kilometers. Finding a hidden building, one that didn't stand out in any way, wouldn't be easy.
Finney had spent the past month trying everything: online maps, aimless walking, you name it. Eventually, he thought of something that might actually work.
Before leaving the house, he pulled out an old, worn-out compass he'd spent ages searching for at a local flea market. Taking a deep breath, he focused his thoughts and spoke in a firm, deliberate voice:
"Bestow this compass with special powers. Let it guide me to the place I desire most!"
The compass needle, which had been still, suddenly quivered—then spun a few times before locking into a direction.
"It worked!"
Finney's heart pounded with excitement. Luckily, he had a clear image of what he was seeking, which made the 'Golden Great Evolution Technique' more likely to succeed. Clear focus was key.
Of course, the spell's success was also due to the fact that the compass's power was simple—it didn't pose any world-ending consequences. So channeling the technique into it was much easier.
"Thank you, Captain Jack Sparrow!"
Clutching the compass in his hand, Finney praised it like a treasure and immediately set off in the direction it pointed. The enchantment wouldn't last forever, so he had no time to waste.
The Golden Great Evolution Technique was powerful, but right now, Finney wasn't. The ability had immense potential, but its effectiveness still depended on the user's strength.
And at the moment… Finney had a long way to go.