CHAPTER 255

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Voting event once again! Meaning the more stones the novel gets the more chaps your will get, as it's stands the rewards are the following.

TOP 1 = 3-4 chaps, more depending on how much I write today.

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Sexy deal right?! But for Corn is not enough! Corn is crazy today! Why?! Well, Unlocking one of these rewards secures the next day two chapters! and maybe more!

So stone me like a witch in the 1600s.

I will check what rewards you guys unlocked after sleeping. I am tired corn.

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Having come to a full understanding of what I wanted, I stayed in the office, looking at the stones, their purpose, their new purpose becoming clear in my mind, it was simply a matter of taking action.

"Mr. Walker," I heard the Ancient One say, as a portal opened in my office, with her stepping through it.

"Hello," I waved at her, smiling while pointing at the stones in my other hand with a quick glance for her to see.

"You have them all," The Ancient One noted with a small smile, "Now what, I wonder?"

"I want to ask you something," I said, eyeing the stones before turning to her, "When you gave the time stone, it was a loan of sorts… so, I…" I paused, trying to find the right words.

"You want the time stone to be completely yours, right?" The Ancient One replied, cutting me short.

I nodded, a small chuckle escaping my lips, "Was that obvious?"

"It was," The Ancient One nodded.

"So?" I asked.

"Alex, it was already yours, to begin with. To be quite honest, I never intended to return the stone to the order, which pretty much goes against my purpose as the Sorceress Supreme, at least one of them," The Ancient One smiled, her eyes staring into mine, "And before you think I'm doing this simply because of what you did for me. Rest assured, I had come to that decision before that happened, quite a bit before, because, without a doubt, you are the perfect person to hold the stones, at least in my eyes that is. You are good but selfish, you are powerful but humble, and most of all, you really have no need for the stones, eventually, you will outgrow whatever they give you, and as someone who doesn't require their power, you are the perfect guardian for them."

I smiled, putting the stones in my inventory, "Thank you."

"No need, but if you feel terribly inclined to thank me, you can do so by giving me more of that delicious tea we drank last time," The Ancient One smiled, walking towards me.

"Won't the order rebel when they find out?" I asked as she neared my desk.

"Hmm, it's a possibility," The Ancient One nodded, musing over that thought for a brief second, "But I'm not really that worried about that possible outcome, after all, I do have quite the team backing my corner," she smirked.

Well, well, well, would you look at her, "Hahaha! Damn, right you do! Though I have to admit, I am surprised at your answer, I mean, you are implying that if push comes to shove, we will shove them six feet down."

The Ancient One chuckled, shaking her head ever so slightly, "I suppose I am. But not really, if that rebellion comes to happen, we can end it without any casualties, the perks of being vastly stronger than your opponent while caring for their lives, battle becomes playing pretend. Like an adult taking a toddler to his room, the toddler doesn't have to like it, but what other option does he have?"

"Good analogy, then again, we can avoid any rebellions if I just give you a green rock full of cosmic power," I offered, as it was well within my capabilities to create that, sure, I was a long way to be able to create something like the infinity stones, but I was strong enough to create something powerful enough to trick most beings.

"Hm," The Ancient One hummed, index finger pressed upon her lips, "That sounds like a marvelous idea, to be honest, but no rush really, their reactions are the least of our concerns right now."

I nodded, "That's true."

"Besides, even in the worst-case scenario, I doubt we will ever have a problem with the order," The Ancient One smiled, summoning a book to her hand, "Read the last page."

Weird request, but okay, "Okay," I nodded, grabbing the book, before opening it at the last page, my eyes widening in shock as I read what she had told me.

"Yep," The Ancient One smiled.

I was without words.

In the last line of one of the books I had copied from Cagliostro's library, it said the following.

[Cagliostro's Last Page]

Alex Walker, my friend, if I am permitted to call you that. During your short time here, I learned a lot about you, about the world beyond the short span my life covered, I saw within you a world of doubts, yet no hesitation to move forward, I saw within you devotion to your goals, love for those you wanted to protect, and much more. You had the qualities of a great hero, and villain alike.

A duality within you, operating in perfect symmetry.

I was taken aback by it.

Our short time together made me question a lot of things, a lot of what I considered to be true or not, and it made me realize that it was perhaps this duality that others needed.

Good and evil, hate and love, each one can lead to a path of self-destruction.

Everyone always allows one spectrum of this flag to define who they are, making everything a fine line between black and white. You were the first gray I encountered.

Many claim to be gray in this spectrum of things, of life, but that's just how they see themselves, and sadly, more often than not, people never see themselves for what they truly are.

I'm not sure how you see yourself, to be entirely honest, all I know is based on our time together.

But I am certain that I know the real you, the one in symmetry with the spectrum that balances the moral compass of this broken universe. And for that, I trust you more than anyone I have ever met.

It sounds ridiculous, I'm aware.

But that's simply how I feel.

Your duality made you more human than any human I have ever met, and that made me trust you.

You are good enough to save others, but evil enough to understand not every life is worth salvation, you are good enough not to hurt others without reason, but selfish enough to protect what you consider yours without a reason, your duality makes you the only being capable of truly understanding others.

Of understanding every being on a deeper level than others, of making the decisions others simply can't. Because your own moral compass gives you the perspective of all sides of the spectrum, not only a haft like it does for most.

Some evils are necessary.

Some goods are unnecessary.

I'm not sure what you had to endure to become the man I got to meet, the man I grew to admire even though we shared but a few words. Had you stayed longer, I would've loved to hear your story, the story that forged you, Alex, a singularity of duality and symmetry.

Perhaps, one day I will hear your story, after all, you can visit me at any time. In your power, you hold the time stone, given to you by one of us, a decision I praise with all my being.

I used to think only the best of us, the greatest, were worthy of such power. Now, I find my reasoning lacking. Those that live in the light, can fall into the shadows, and those that live in the shadows can eventually see the light.

Don't worry though, while I am questioning a lot of things, I will keep everything the same, no need to alter time, after all, the world as I left it was wise enough to create you.

A being living in a world full of shadows and light.

So, Alex, if you are reading this, which I hope you are.

Never forget how rare you are.

Never forget, you're worthy, unique, and incredible.

Never allow your mind to wander untamed like a wild animal that exists on the basis of survival of the fittest. Tame your mind with consistent focus on your goals and desires.

Whatever you do, enjoy it to the fullest.

Do all that, and I am sure you will reach heights beyond your wildest dreams.

Your friend, Cagliostro.

[End of Cagliostro's page.]

"We barely spoke," I said after a few seconds of dead silence where I had read the page a few more times.

"Well, you leave quite the impression," The Ancient One replied, "I read that page dedicated to you a few days after I came to the decision of giving you the stone, only to find out, Cagliostro himself, the first protector of the stone considered you worthy of keeping it, before anyone else," she chuckled, "He must be an excellent judge of character, it took me a year to completely trust you, yet, in the little time he spent with you, he came to the very same conclusion that took me a year to come with."

I chuckled, "Well, to be fair, you had to deal with modern humans more than him."

The Ancient One smiled, "The point is, everyone that has ever truly met you, believes in you."

"Yeah," I nodded, closing the book before giving it to her, "I suppose I'm just that great." I chuckled.

"You are," The Ancient One nodded.

"Thanks, but you do realize as that page says, I am no hero, I am a man, with selfish dreams," I replied.

The Ancient One snorted, as I gave her a look, "Oh my, you were serious with that question. Of course, I knew Mr. Walker, how could I not? I mean, what did you think I said when I said you were symmetrical in every way, spirituality speaking?"

I laughed, "Good, I just wanted to make sure."

"Well, with that out of the way, let's get down to business, shall we?" The Ancient One smiled, summoning another book.

I nodded, "What's the problem?"

"I managed to find a way to get you control over earth, without the use of force, granted, for that to happen, someone wants to meet you," The Ancient One replied, putting the book she had summoned on my table.

I looked at the book, and asked, "Who?"

[The Book of Life]

"Gaea, Gaia, Mother Nature, Mother Earth, however, you want to call her," The Ancient One replied, "She holds all the contracts to earth, including the one from Asgard, she said she's willing to break all the other contracts, giving you an exclusive contract to the planet, if you meet her."

"I see," I replied, holding the book in front of me, "When do we leave?"

"Now, after all, it is how they say, you don't leave Mother Nature waiting," The Ancient One replied, opening a new portal.

"You really are watching a lot of movies," I chuckled.

"Well, your daughters are… persuasive," The Ancient One replied as we both stepped into the portal.