Chapter 6: Thief

Mordo handed Pietro the Sling Ring, a look of caution in his eyes. "This is yours. Don't lose it."

"Got it," Pietro replied, slipping the ring onto his finger. Without waiting for instructions, he focused, and within seconds, a portal began to form. It was small, barely the size of his hand, but it shimmered with potential.

Mordo blinked in surprise. "I haven't even explained how to use it yet."

Pietro grinned, though he kept his focus on the portal. "Guess I'm a quick study."

Mordo nodded slowly, recalling the Ancient One's words about Pietro's potential. It was clear now—his talent was anything but ordinary.

Meanwhile, in the frozen expanse of Antarctica, Wanda hovered above the icy terrain, her body enveloped in a scarlet red aura. She unleashed a concentrated beam of energy, obliterating a cluster of Deviants that lurked below.

She sighed, her breath visible in the cold air. "The Ancient One said this was a job for the Eternals. So why am I here?"

Her senses expanded, searching for any remaining Deviants. A few more appeared on her radar. Without hesitation, she flew towards them, determined to erase them from existence.

The following day, Pietro settled into his familiar routine. He began with a brisk run around Kamar-Taj, pushing the limits of his superspeed, the wind a mere whisper against his skin. Afterward, he found a quiet spot to meditate, centering his mind and honing his connection to the mystic energies around him.

His day continued with rigorous physical training—martial arts, combat drills, and endless attempts at perfecting the art of opening portals with his Sling Ring. Each session tested his patience and resolve, yet he persisted, driven by a relentless desire to master the craft.

Evenings were reserved for the library, where he immersed himself in the ancient texts, absorbing knowledge as quickly as his supercharged mind allowed.

And so the days blurred together, one after the other, until four months had quietly passed.

In the quiet stillness of night, Pietro found himself alone in the library, surrounded by ancient texts and the soft glow of candlelight. He was deep in study, poring over books on harnessing energy from other dimensions. Despite months of effort, the challenge remained formidable. He could sense the energy, but mastering the ability to harness it still unreachable for him.

He ruffled his hair in frustration, the weight of stagnation settling heavily on his shoulders. Mordo's advice had been to keep trying, to persevere until the breakthrough came. But after so long, Pietro was desperate for a new approach.

"Maybe the Infinity Stones could help," he mused, the thought striking him like a bolt of inspiration.

But before he could act on the idea, he carefully returned each book to its place. As he approached the counter to leave, he noticed something off—no one was there.

"That's strange," he muttered, a frown creasing his brow.

Suddenly, a faint noise echoed from the depths of the library, the sound of something falling. Pietro's senses sharpened, and his unease grew.

Unbeknownst to him, Ezra was deep in the basement of the library, diligently arranging books. He barely had time to react when three figures appeared, their movements swift and calculated. A sudden ambush ensued—more people emerged, binding Ezra's legs, hands, and mouth. Helpless, Ezra watched as the leader of the group, Kaecilius, knelt down, a sinister gleam in his eyes. Without hesitation, Kaecilius placed a ceremonial bowl beside him and, with a swift motion, decapitated Ezra.

Kaecilius then moved toward the forbidden section, retrieving the ancient Book of Cagliostro. He tore out a page detailing a dark ritual, discarding the book before preparing to leave.

But before they could escape, the air grew heavy with a palpable sense of foreboding. The Ancient One appeared, her presence commanding and filled with silent fury.

"Master Kaecilius," she said, her voice a cold warning. "That ritual will only bring you sorrow."

As she advanced menacingly, tension crackled in the air. The group hesitated, then made a desperate attempt to flee, using one of the hidden entrances to the Sanctum.

A silver blur shot through the room, faster than the eye could follow. Pietro, in a burst of super-speed, intercepted the fleeing intruders, flinging them back into the room with a force that slammed the doors shut, sealing their escape.

But as Pietro's eyes fell on Ezra's lifeless body, his heart sank. "I'm late," he muttered, guilt and anger twisting inside him.

One of the intruders tried to conjure a mystical whip, but before they could complete the spell, Pietro was upon them, striking pressure points with surgical precision, immobilizing them completely.

"Thank you, Pietro," the Ancient One said, her voice tinged with both gratitude and sadness.

"No worries," Pietro replied, his tone subdued as he moved to her side.

The Ancient One approached Kaecilius, pressing a pressure point to force him to speak.

"I'm disappointed in you, Master Kaecilius," she said, her voice heavy with the weight of betrayal.

"You hypocrite," Kaecilius spat, his eyes burning with defiance. He turned his gaze to Pietro, a twisted smile on his lips. "You, you must not know the dark secret that the Ancient One hides."

Pietro shrugged, his expression indifferent. "Don't really care. It doesn't help me at all to know that."

Kaecilius tried to continue, his voice rising. "Is that she uses—"

Pietro cut him off sharply before the Ancient One silenced Kaecilius with another precise touch. "She uses the Dark Dimension to stay youthful. I know. But who cares?"

"You knew?" Kaecilius was stunned, and even the Ancient One's usually serene expression flickered with surprise.

"Sure," Pietro said nonchalantly. "It's not like that's the only way to stay young. There's Kunlun's Iron Fist, the Time Stone, altering DNA, the Phoenix Force—so many options. She just takes a small portion of power to maintain her youth. That's all."

Kaecilius' face contorted with rage, disbelief evident in his eyes. "That's all?!" His voice trembled with anger. "She lied to us!"

Pietro met his fury with calm indifference. "What's wrong with lying? It just means she's human. Did you really think she was some kind of god?"

Kaecilius faltered, his arguments crumbling in the face of Pietro's simple logic. But his resolve didn't waver. His ideals, his desperation to use the Dark Dimension's power to bring back his family, remained intact.

Pietro turned to the Ancient One, his voice carrying a note of finality. "Ancient One, take care of this doofus. I'm heading back to my room. Good night."

And with that, he disappeared in a blur, leaving the library—and its dark events—behind him.

The next day, Pietro found himself alone with the Ancient One, sharing a tranquil moment over tea in the Mirror Dimension. The reflective planes around them shimmered softly, distorting reality as if to remind them they were in a world apart.

"How's the tea?" the Ancient One asked, her tone as calm as the environment around them.

"Pretty good," Pietro replied, savoring the warmth of the cup in his hands.

Setting her cup down, the Ancient One's gaze sharpened. "How did you know I harness power from the Dark Dimension?"

Pietro met her eyes, unflinching. "I've caught glimpses of the future," he said, his voice steady.

"An ability from the scepter?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Possibly," Pietro responded with a slight nod.

The Ancient One studied him for a moment longer. "You don't question my choice?"

Pietro shrugged slightly. "Why would I? But Master Mordo might."

A knowing smile touched the Ancient One's lips. "He would, indeed." They returned to their tea, letting the silence between them stretch comfortably. When their cups were empty, the Ancient One wove a subtle gesture, and they were gently pulled back into the real world.

A few minutes later, Wanda entered the room.

"Pietro?" she called out, spotting her brother.

"Hey, sis," Pietro replied, patting the spot next to him for her to sit.

Wanda settled beside him, and Pietro poured her a cup of tea. She took a sip before glancing at the Ancient One. "Did I interrupt something?"

"No," Pietro said with a slight grin. "We just finished."

The Ancient One turned to Wanda, her expression serene. "How did the hunt for Deviants go?"

Pietro's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Wait, what?"

Wanda blinked at him. "What?"

"What?" Pietro repeated, clearly taken aback.

"I assigned her to hunt down Deviants as practice," the Ancient One explained.

"Deviants? Aren't they dangerous?" Pietro asked, his voice tinged with concern. But then he remembered the immense power his sister wielded. "Oh, right—Chaos Magic is OP."

"OP?" Wanda echoed, unfamiliar with the term.

"Short for 'overpowered,'" the Ancient One clarified, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Pietro chuckled. "Your power makes mine look like child's play."

Wanda smirked. "Says the guy who phases through walls."

"You saw that?" Pietro asked, genuinely surprised.

"Of course," Wanda replied, her tone teasing. "I remember the time your hand got stuck in one."

"You stalker," Pietro grumbled, feigning annoyance.

Wanda's laughter filled the room, and even the Ancient One couldn't help but smile at their banter, finding a rare moment of lightness in their otherwise weighty lives.