64. Taking away the Tesseract

'.....'= Thoughts 

"....."= Conversations 

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As Mark and Sarah continued their playful skirmish, Harry's thoughts began to drift. The banter between the two sorcerers, while amusing, faded into the background as something tugged at his memory. An image flashed in his mind—a small, leather-bound case left for him by the Ancient One in his room at Kamar-Taj, just before they had departed for this mission.

'She didn't give it to me in person,' Harry thought, the memory becoming clearer. The Ancient One was known for her cryptic ways, often leaving her disciples to piece together the lessons she imparted, and this time had been no different. There had been no grand farewell or final words of wisdom. Instead, she had simply left the case on his desk, accompanied by a brief note scrawled in her neat handwriting: *"Open this after you have left Kamar-Taj."*

Harry had been puzzled at the time, wondering why the Ancient One hadn't handed it to him directly. But there was no use in dwelling on her reasons—he had learned long ago that the Ancient One operated on a different level of understanding. If she had chosen to give him something in this manner, it was for a reason.

The thought of the unopened case gnawed at him now. What could be inside? What could be so important that she had felt the need to be so discreet? Harry wasn't one to leave a mystery unsolved, especially when it came to something from the Ancient One.

With Mark and Sarah still engaged in their mock battle, Harry decided it was time to find out. Moving to a quiet corner of the luxurious apartment, he opened the storage scroll and retrieved the leather case.

The case was simple and unadorned, the kind of object that could easily go unnoticed in a room full of mystical artifacts. Yet, as Harry held it in his hands, he could feel the weight of its significance. It was heavier than it looked, and the leather, though worn, was supple and well-preserved. He ran his fingers over the clasp, feeling a subtle hum of energy emanating from within.

With a deep breath, Harry opened the case. Inside, nestled in soft velvet lining, was a small, compass-like object. Its surface was intricately engraved with mystical symbols. The needle of the compass did not point north; instead, it spun slowly in place, as if searching for something just out of reach.

Beside the compass was a folded piece of parchment. Harry unfolded it carefully, his eyes scanning the Ancient One's familiar handwriting:

*"This artifact will help you find the Infinity Stones. Trust in it, and it will guide you to what you seek."*

Harry stared at the parchment, his thoughts racing. He didn't know what to say, caught between the thrill of discovery and the nagging doubt that had been plaguing him since this mission began. It had been twelve years since he last watched the first Avengers movie, a distant memory from a life that now felt like someone else's. In the nearly three years since he had transmigrated into this universe, his recollections had grown hazy. The specifics of where SHIELD had hidden the Tesseract were buried under layers of time and the countless other details he had to manage in this world.

Initially, his plan had been to infiltrate one of SHIELD's branches, find out where the Tesseract was being held, and proceed from there. It wasn't going to be easy—SHIELD was notoriously secretive, and their security measures were nothing to scoff at. But Harry had been confident in his skills and the abilities he'd honed since arriving in this world. However, the appearance of this artifact in the leather case changed everything.

He focused on the compass in his hand, noting the small button on its side and the tiny, engraved image of an Infinity Stone beside it. As he pressed the button, the needle that had been spinning in place paused, pointing in a specific direction. The subtle hum of energy from the compass grew stronger, resonating with the magical symbols that adorned its surface.

Just as Harry was beginning to understand the significance of what he was holding, Wei appeared beside him, having noticed the artifact from across the room. The mirror dimension that Wei had opened shimmered faintly in the background, a reminder of the sorcerer's vigilance even in a moment of apparent calm.

"Oh, it's the detector," Wei said, his voice tinged with recognition. He peered over Harry's shoulder, eyes lighting up at the sight of the compass. "This kinda slipped my mind. I'm glad that you brought it. With it, we can easily find the Space Stone."

Harry looked at Wei, the weight of the artifact suddenly heavier in his hand. "The Space Stone...," he murmured, more to himself than to Wei. The reality of their mission was coming into sharper focus now. This wasn't just about retrieving an object of immense power; it was about navigating the complex web of events that he knew would soon unfold, a web that could entangle them all if they weren't careful.

"How does it work?" Harry asked, his voice steady despite the uncertainty bubbling beneath the surface.

Wei smiled faintly, his expression calm. "It's linked to the Infinity Stones. The needle points to the nearest one." Wei explained in detail regarding the artifact to him.

Harry nodded, absorbing the information. This device was more than just a simple locator; it was a tool that would level the playing field in their favor. And they were going to need every advantage they could get.

For a moment, Harry allowed himself to feel a sense of relief. The Ancient One had once again given him what he needed, even if she hadn't been there to guide him in person. Her methods might be inscrutable, but they were effective.

Mark and Sarah's playful sparring eventually came to an end as they noticed Harry and Wei deep in conversation. Their laughter and the clashing of mystical energies faded, replaced by a growing seriousness that settled over the room. They could sense that the mission was about to take a significant turn.

"What's going on?" Sarah asked, wiping a few strands of hair from her face as she approached Harry and Wei. Her tone was casual, but the glint in her eyes showed that she was ready to focus on the task at hand.

Harry, still holding the compass-like artifact, glanced up at Sarah. "The Ancient One left me this," he said, holding the device out for her and Mark to see. "It's a locator for the Infinity Stones. According to Wei, it's attuned to the Space Stone, the very thing we're here to find."

Mark's eyes widened as he stepped closer, peering at the artifact with a mix of awe and curiosity. Clearly he didn't have enough clearance in Kamar Taj to get access about the information regarding it.

"This just got a lot easier," he muttered, his mind already racing ahead to how they could leverage this new tool. "If that thing works like Wei says, then we're practically on the Tesseract's doorstep."

Emma, who had been quietly observing the scene from the other side of the room, walked over with her usual calm demeanor. "What's our next move, then?" she asked, while stifling a yawn.

Harry, feeling the weight of leadership on his shoulders, took a moment to consider their options. The device in his hand was powerful, but they couldn't afford to be reckless. SHIELD was known for its advanced security and hidden defenses. And if the Inhumans were there too, then it would lead to more complications.

But Harry knew that if his plan worked them there would be no need to fight these people at all.

"We use the compass to pinpoint the exact location of the Tesseract undercover," Harry said, his voice firm. " Once the location is confirmed, Wei, you'll open a portal to get us as close as possible without triggering any alarms. From there, we'll move in quickly and quietly."

Wei nodded, already forming the necessary calculations in his mind. "I can create a portal that will take us right outside the facility's perimeter," he said confidently. "We'll use the mirror dimension to bypass any security systems and avoid detection. The compass will guide us the rest of the way."

Sarah, her earlier playfulness completely replaced by a steely resolve, crossed her arms and gave Harry a nod. "I'm ready when you are," she said. "Let's get this done."

With the plan set, Harry took one last look at the compass. The needle, which had been spinning earlier, was now pointing steadily in a single direction.

"Alright," Harry said, his voice carrying the weight of their shared resolve. "Let's move."

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