Sharon Carter

Abel cautiously placed the wand core into the thick wand body he had crafted, using slender tools to assist his magic as he carefully etched ancient runes. Slowly, he connected the runes with magical lines, forming a network that resembled the human nervous system. Each rune acted like a nerve synapse, linked by magical lines.

After carefully engraving the final rune, Abel immediately felt a faint resonance between the wand body and his own magic. It was as if the wand was alive, breathing with his energy. This change was something Abel had long anticipated but had never experienced in his previous attempts.

Could it have finally succeeded?

Setting down his tools, Abel picked up the thick wand body and gave it a gentle wave. Instantly, he felt his magic flow through the wand without any resistance. This feeling was unmistakable—he had succeeded!

After over three years and more than ten failed attempts, Abel had finally crafted a wand that worked.

Next, he only needed to apply the oil he had prepared earlier to coat the wand's surface.

Abel had already gathered the necessary ingredients for the oil. He took out seven or eight bottles from his box and placed them on the table. Using a large bowl, he mixed the oil and then carefully coated the wand with it. Once the oil was applied, Abel breathed a sigh of relief.

It was only then that he realized he had worked through the entire night—the sun had already risen.

He stood up, stretched, and opened the curtains, squinting against the bright sunlight. After packing away his tools, he changed clothes and headed outside for a morning jog. Upon returning home, he made himself some breakfast. Treya, who preferred to sleep in on her days off, wasn't up yet.

Just as he finished eating, there was a knock at the door. Abel grumbled a bit about Amazon's delivery speed but went to collect the package.

Inside his room, Abel opened the package and pulled out the items he had ordered: feathers from older birds like owls and crows—creatures tied to myths worldwide—white horse hair, and the nerve tissue of lizards and snakes.

Sitting at his desk, Abel started working on the wand core. The body of the wand was done; now, only the core remained. If he could successfully create the core, many of his problems would be solved.

However, after burning the snake nerve tissue, a plume of blue smoke rose, accompanied by a foul, scorched smell.

The failed core was completely ruined, confirming that none of the materials Abel had bought were suitable. None of the animal parts could withstand the magical energy required to create a wand core. They simply weren't compatible.

So, he thought grimly, even if I can find materials for the wand body, the core materials can't be substituted with parts from ordinary animals.

Did this mean he would have to go to the New York Sanctum for materials?

No, not yet. There are still other combinations I haven't tried. That'll be my last resort.

Abel didn't want to risk reaching out to the Ancient One unless absolutely necessary. Even though the Sorcerer Supreme and Kamar-Taj mages were guardians of the mystical world, he couldn't be sure they would act as he remembered from his past life.

Leaning back in his chair, Abel opened his computer and ordered more materials from other birds, horses, and amphibians on eBay and Amazon, then set the mouse aside.

Checking the time, Abel got up and grabbed a quick lunch. He headed to a café two blocks away, where he worked part-time for six hours.

His constant purchases of wood and animal materials had drained his allowance from Treya. That's why Abel had been working at the café since last year. Luckily, his mature appearance made him look older than his age, and his height and good looks helped him land the job during his interview.

He worked there every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday for six-hour shifts.

Treya had initially protested, thinking Abel was overworking himself, but she eventually relented at his insistence. On most Tuesday and Thursday evenings, she would wait outside in the car to drive him home after his shift.

After greeting his colleagues, Abel put on his uniform and took his place at the counter, serving guests their coffee.

As he worked, the news on the café's television caught his attention.

"Well-known entrepreneur and philanthropist Tony Stark will receive the Capstone Award tonight for his contributions to peace in the United States and globally..."

The award ceremony... something's going to happen there, Abel thought. But it doesn't concern me, so why worry?

He shook his head, focused on preparing a guest's coffee, and handed it to them with a smile.

As the evening darkened, Abel finished his shift at 7 PM, changed clothes, and headed home. Treya was setting the dinner table when he walked in, and she smiled, asking him to wash up before eating.

After washing up, Abel noticed something odd when he sat down at the table—there were three sets of plates and cutlery laid out.

Three sets? Is Mom's boyfriend coming over?

Who could it be? Abel was particular about Treya's boyfriends. While he didn't forbid her from dating, he insisted that any potential partner had to be a good man. And of course, black men were absolutely off-limits. [*Racist]

While he was lost in thought, a knock came at the door.

Treya quickly walked over and, smiling at Abel, said, "Abel, guess who's here!"

"Mom, just let them in," Abel replied with a smirk. "I'll guess later."

"Alright."

Treya opened the door, revealing a young blonde woman with glasses and her hair tied back in a casual ponytail. She wore a simple sweater and smiled warmly as she hugged Treya.

"Cousin Treya, it's been seven or eight years since we last saw each other!"

"Yes, it has! Are you going to college in New York now?"

"Yep, I'm a freshman at Stony Brook, part of the State University of New York."

"That's great! It's part of the Ivy League, you know. I hope Abel will follow in your footsteps someday."

The two women chatted for a while longer before Treya remembered the introductions.

Turning to Abel, she guided the woman over to the table and said, "Abel, this is Sharon Carter. Sharon, this is my son, Abel Shaw. Sharon's mom and your grandmother were cousins, and they were very close, so Sharon and I have known each other for a long time. She's in college now and will be visiting often, so you two should get to know each other."