Once upon a time, Finney had always heard that if someone left the Earth, the Earth would continue to spin without them. But now, he couldn't shake the feeling that what the Ancient One meant was that if the Earth were to leave *him*, it might stop turning.
The Ancient One's evaluation surprised him—but also made him a little proud. Yes, proud. Not everyone is content with being ordinary. He *could* choose to be ordinary, but he didn't *want* to be.
"I think I'm going to make this world a better place!"
Looking at the Ancient One, who was still staring at him, Finney took a deep breath and said, "Like you said, the future is uncontrollable—but everyone has the right to choose their path. Whatever your reasons are for stopping me from using this power, I believe you're doing it for the good of the world. So if it really might harm the world, and if given the choice, I'm willing to stop using this ability—for now."
Finney didn't know why the Ancient One was preventing him from using the 'Golden Great Evolution Technique,' but he didn't dwell on it too much. That ability wasn't particularly strong at the moment, and with the system he had, it was entirely possible he'd unlock even greater powers in the future. For now, he should focus on the present.
The Ancient One didn't answer immediately. Instead, she gave him a long, searching look before finally speaking:
"Your magic modifies the rules of reality. From the Earth's perspective, it's an invading force. And the duty of a sorcerer is to protect the Earth from invasion. As long as the power of the Three Sanctums continues to guard the Earth, your magic will be naturally suppressed."
At that moment, Finney finally understood. The reason why the proficiency of his 'Sumire Fried Chicken Nugget Roll' had improved rapidly over the past eight years, while the 'Golden Great Evolution Technique' had barely progressed, wasn't due to talent. It was the environment suppressing his abilities.
"So, if I leave Earth, will I be able to use my powers freely?" Finney asked, curious.
The Ancient One shook her head. "Not exactly. If there are no other forces interfering, it'll be easier to use your magic. But it still depends on your own circumstances. If you end up somewhere with even greater suppressive forces, it might be harder than it is here."
After a pause, she added, "Unless you can gather enough energy and willpower to overcome those obstacles."
Sure enough, it all came down to his own strength.
Feeling a bit humbled, Finney asked, "I've always wondered—what exactly is this magic called?"
Now appearing more detached again, the Ancient One asked with some curiosity.
"'Golden Great Technique.' It's a kind of magic I somehow understood the moment I was born. It allows me to reshape reality according to my will."
Finney had no reason to hide it. The Ancient One had already shown him great trust, so he shared what he knew about the technique.
"What an extraordinary power," she said, her tone filled with admiration—but not fear or envy. Just a trace of curiosity and intellectual restraint.
"Master Ancient One, I..."
Just as Finney was about to ask again whether he could stay and learn magic, she seemed to anticipate his question and interrupted him.
"The magic of Kamar-Taj isn't a good fit for you. If you insist on learning, you'll also have to take on the responsibilities of a sorcerer. Are you ready for that?"
Originally, learning magic from Kamar-Taj didn't require a commitment. It could be taught to those in need. Finney had thought of himself as one of those people. Apparently, the Ancient One didn't see it that way. She wanted him to become part of Kamar-Taj—someone who would protect the world alongside them.
Fortunately, Finney didn't mind. In his mind, the greatest enemy of a mage right now was Dormammu. That guy was hostile to *everyone* on Earth.
Without hesitation, Finney said, "I'm sure. I want to join!"
The success of his apprenticeship made Finney quietly happy, and his natural personality began to come through.
"Master, I came in a hurry and didn't bring a gift. Would you like to try my special Fried Chicken Nugget Roll?"
As he spoke, Finney casually summoned a freshly pan-fried chicken nugget roll and handed it over with a smile. After all, they'd be spending a lot of time together from now on, and there was no use hiding his powers. The Ancient One probably already knew what he could do.
"It's an amazing ability," she said with a smile. She accepted the roll without hesitation, took a bite, and showed an expression of blissful delight.
"It's truly delicious!"
Kamar-Taj was a beautiful place—especially at night. The Ancient One gave Finney a quick tour and introduced him to a few other mages.
And just like that, he became an official member of the arcane world—even if he hadn't learned a single spell yet.
Later, as it got late, Finney said goodbye for now. He wanted to go home and let his family know before starting his training.
As he was leaving, he paused for a moment before asking the question that had been on his mind.
"Master, aren't you curious how I know about you?"
The Ancient One smiled, her eyes twinkling with something unreadable.
"Everyone has secrets, don't they?" she replied. "And sometimes, not knowing everything makes it more fun to explore the unknown."
Finney didn't quite understand her meaning. Did she know that he knew too much? Was she actually amused by encountering something she didn't fully understand?
With mixed feelings, Finney left Kamar-Taj and headed for the New York Sanctuary.
As night turned to morning, he walked home, thinking about how to explain things to his family.
Time passed quietly, and by evening, New York was glowing with twilight.
After dinner, Finney gathered his family to make an announcement.
Looking at the three curious faces, he paused before saying, "I want to go out and see the world for a while. I'll be back before school starts. Is that okay?"
"Why are you leaving all of a sudden?"
"Where are you going?"
"I'll go with you!"
Their reactions varied—his mother didn't want to let him go, his father asked about the destination, and Skye simply wanted to tag along.
"I want to go to the Himalayas," he said.
Since Kamar-Taj was located in the Himalayas, it wasn't exactly a lie. As for Skye, he decided to speak to her alone later.
Because Finney had always been smart and well-behaved, and had rarely made personal requests, his family eventually agreed—though his mother was reluctant. His father reminded him to be careful and asked when he planned to leave.
When Finney said he'd be leaving in just a few days, they were a bit surprised, and even Skye started to sense something unusual.
Later that night, after his parents had gone to bed, Finney went to Skye's room to explain everything about Kamar-Taj.