193

Magic Floating Cloak

Agamotto descended slowly from the sky and remarked, "Surely Asgard has superior tailors. All I can create is this magic floating cloak. Are you interested?"

"I haven't been back to Asgard in a while. A magic floating cloak sounds intriguing. Such flying devices are rare in Asgard. I'd like one; can you make me one?" Diops inquired, approaching Agamotto with curiosity.

"How does this cloak work?" Diops asked.

Agamotto replied, "Inject mana into it, and you'll discover its functions as you use it."

"And mana?" Diops was puzzled.

"Why else would it be called a 'Magic' floating cloak?" Agamotto teased.

Diops fell silent for a moment. "But I don't understand magic."

Agamotto raised an eyebrow, "You want a magical item without understanding magic?"

Diops hesitated before reluctantly asking, "Could you teach me, Socceror Supreme?"

"My magic isn't taught to outsiders. But for the sake of friendship, if you decide to reside on Earth and join the Supreme Sanctum, I could consider it," Agamotto proposed.

"Forseti, can't you teach me magic?" Diops turned to Forseti, seeking another option.

"You can't learn Holy Light magic," Forseti explained.

"Why not?" Diops queried.

"For Holy Light magic, one must possess a noble character or a special physique," Forseti clarified.

Diops pondered this revelation. "What kind of character traits?"

Forseti responded, "Primarily noble character traits."

Both Diops and Agamotto exchanged bemused glances.

After a brief pause, Forseti suggested, "Diops, would you consider selling me your portion of silkworm silk? I can offer you three hundred runes."

Having already appraised the silkworm silk using Holy Light, a fifth-level item, Forseti knew its value. Although the Holy Light Beacon spell it could be exchanged for seemed irrelevant now, three hundred runes was undoubtedly a fair price.

Diops hesitated. Eventually, he relented, "Alright."

Forseti then added, "And this space bracer."

Diops had been left with half of his possessions after being taken by Apocalypse at the outset. Succumbing to the allure of material wealth, he agreed to Forseti's offer.

"Forseti, what do you plan to do with the silkworm silk?" Agamotto inquired.

"I'd like a magic floating cloak too. I'll hold onto the rest of the silk for now," Forseti replied.

"But you can already fly. A Aesir is quite heavy; the magic floating cloak might be slower than using flames," Agamotto pointed out.

"I haven't fully mastered flame flight, and it's too mana-intensive. The magic floating cloak should consume much less mana," Forseti explained.

Agamotto nodded in agreement. "Very well, I'll craft a magic floating cloak for you."

Several days later, Agamotto visited Forseti's dwelling, producing a red cloak seemingly out of thin air. "Here's your magic floating cloak. Try it on."

The cloak exhibited a peculiar trait: in the absence of interference, it would remain suspended.

When Agamotto released it, the cloak hovered perfectly between them, neither rising nor falling—an impressive sight.

Forseti had no specific requests for the cloak's design, mirroring Agamotto's own. It was simple yet functional.

Taking the supple magic floating cloak, Forseti donned it, instantly feeling lighter.

After infusing it with divine mana, its buoyancy increased significantly, lifting him off the ground like a specter.

"Let's test it outside," Agamotto suggested, floating out ahead.

"Sure," Forseti replied, following suit. Outside, he attempted to ascend into the sky.

Operating the magic floating cloak proved straightforward. Under Agamotto's guidance, he swiftly mastered its controls and flew effortlessly.

While not fast, the cloak's mana consumption was notably low compared to his fledgling flame flight. Its efficiency matched his mana recovery rate, making it an enduring option.

"Agamotto, can the magic floating cloak navigate autonomously?" Forseti inquired.

Agamotto nodded, "Yes, if you wish to travel in a straight line or rest while flying. However, it requires some specialized skills."

"I meant, a cloak that adjusts its speed and direction independently," Forseti clarified further.

"No, magical items with self-awareness are exceedingly rare. I've never encountered one myself," Agamotto admitted.

Unlike future versions used by Doctor Strange, their magic floating cloaks were mere enchanted artifacts without sentience.

Forseti wondered whether Agamotto's cloak had been upgraded later or if Doctor Strange employed a different model altogether...

After flying for a while, a portal suddenly materialized nearby.

The portal seemed to target Agamotto directly, opening in mid-air while he hovered there.

"Supreme —ahhh!" A young mage emerged through the portal, screaming as he plummeted.

The sight reminded Forseti of a famous ancient portal in the World of Warcraft...

Agamotto swiftly flew over to catch the young mage.

Still recovering from the shock, the young mage managed to explain, "Supreme Mage, we've pinpointed the approximate location, southernmost China."

"Very well, I'll join you shortly."

Agamotto sent the young mage back through the portal and then called Forseti and Diops, "We've located the site for constructing the Second Sanctuary. Let's proceed."

Passing through the portal, the trio arrived in a lush green forest, where several mages awaited them.

One mage held a directional compass, its needle spinning. "Agamotto, we're close."

Agamotto retrieved his own compass, far more precise, and its needle immediately pointed in one direction.

Following the compass, they ventured forth.

"Are there inhabitants in this area?" Agamotto inquired along the way.

The mage replied, "There are a few settlements to the north, but they're sparse. Further north lies a small nation named Huandou, with no known settlements to the south."

After about half an hour's trek, the compass needle began to spin faster, signaling their arrival.

Here, amidst a virgin forest teeming with verdant trees and vibrant wildlife, would stand the Second Sanctuary—a place that, over two millennia later, would be a bustling street in Hong Kong.

Agamotto planted his feet on the ground, surveyed their surroundings, and nodded in approval. "The Second Sanctum shall be erected here."