Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 159 The Witch Who Escaped Salem (First Update!)

"I've said it before, we can sacrifice anyone, including ourselves..."

“Teacher, I am not afraid of death.” Salomon paused for a moment, organizing his thoughts, “but what I fear most is losing myself. The reason I despise faith and gods is because I fear my mind will be hijacked, and I will lose the ability to think independently. If I delve deeper into those magics, it is very likely that I will lose my mind forever—that is what I fear most. I cannot lose my clear mind, absolutely not.”

"You need to strengthen your resolve and seek protection, Salomon," the Venerable One agreed with her disciple. She was actually somewhat pleased, because her disciple wouldn't harbor resentment towards her for such a sacrifice. On the contrary, Salomon fully understood the cost, a testament to the Sorcerer Supreme's teachings—or perhaps it was because Salomon was now insane, who knows?

"In fact, you don't need to worry about your sanity being damaged at all. You can call out Oshtu's name before casting a spell, weaving that name into the incantation. She will protect your rational thinking and mind. Under Oshtu's protection, you can learn a great deal of chaotic black magic, because it will no longer be you fighting against those madmen, but Oshtu. The Vishanti also need you to fight against the beholder Shuma-Gorath, the ruler of the chaotic dimension. They will help you as much as possible, and you will not be punished by the contract for learning and using black magic." The Sorcerer Supreme looked at his disciple with a pained expression and asked with some confusion, "What's wrong?"

"I thought my relationship with the Vishanti was limited to the three rings," Salomon said with a frown. "Couldn't our relationship with the Vishanti be a simple supply and demand one? I thought we were fulfilling our obligations by killing dark magic creatures."

"My dear Salomon," the Venerable said with a smile, "the Vishanti, as one of the most powerful Old Gods, bears a heavy responsibility. Aside from Dormammu of the Dark Dimension, Shuma-Gorath of the Chaos Dimension, Cyttorak of the Crimson Universe, Set of the Sea of ​​Serpents, Sithon of the Blinking Realm, and even the Nightmares of the Dream Dimension and the Grey Dwarves of the Temple of Fear, all attacks from other dimensions are the responsibility of the Vishanti to block. The Sorcerer Supreme is the Vishanti's executor. Other dimensions also have their own Sorcerers Supreme, and I am the Sorcerer Supreme of this dimension. Cleansing the dark magic creatures is the job of Kamar-Taj, not the Vishanti."

"Teacher, there's a question that's been bothering me for a long time." At this moment, Salomon could no longer suppress his吐槽 (tu cao, a Chinese internet slang term for sarcastic or complaining) spirit, "Why is it always Earth?!"

The Sorcerer Supreme pursed his lips, spreading his hands in utter helplessness. "I don't know," he said. "Perhaps it's because Earth is the heart of this universe, or some other random reason. I don't know why this unremarkable planet is so special, but we can only accept this outcome—perhaps it's a good thing, as it gives humanity enormous potential. The universe has never been peaceful."

"But I always feel that before we develop into a higher civilization, humanity will destroy itself." Salomon rubbed his face and sighed deeply. "Secular governments are like children playing with fire; they might accidentally set fire to the haystack next to them—they might even do it for warmth."

"So the world needs us." The Sorcerer Supreme reached out and touched his disciple's fluffy, warm, long, black curly hair. "I know being a babysitter isn't a good feeling. After I die, what you do is your business."

"Forget it, ruling the world is too much trouble." Salomon rolled his eyes. "I don't have time to rule a bunch of idiots. They'll demand democracy, seats, and open magic, and then I'll just cut their heads off. Even devils are cuter than them; at least the unintelligent devils are dead. Teacher, let's get back to magic—I can't call out Oshutu's name every time I cast a spell; that's too unreliable. What if Oshutu doesn't respond one time? I need a kind of magic that can maintain my sanity."

"Alright." The Sorcerer Supreme withdrew his hand. Now that his disciple was grown up, it was no longer appropriate to touch and pinch him like when he was a child. But Salomon still came closer, looking helpless, but he didn't seem to mind the Sorcerer Supreme's actions at all.

"You need to have a good talk with the Vishanti. Although I don't know why they agreed to your contract, the Vishanti have their own reasons, and they won't make things difficult for you. Besides that, you can also meet someone who is a witch and has some connection with Salem and Abigail Williams. After learning about your adventure in Salem, she is eager to know what happened. You can use this to get her help."

"Oh? Who else knows about the Great Old Ones?" Salomon frowned, becoming as alert as a hyena on the savanna. He felt there were still many things he didn't know; this world held far too many secrets. But he still had time to learn, which was somewhat good news.

“Agatha Harkness,” the Venerable One said, “she witnessed Abigail Williams’ loss of control in Salem without going mad. Although she doesn’t know much, she might have magic or magical artifacts that can protect one’s sanity. You can go and learn or borrow them; I believe she would agree.”

Agatha Harkness, a witch who survived the Salem witch trials, was one of the few long-lived spellcasters on Earth and maintained a connection with the Sorcerer Supreme. Believing that spellcasters could live among ordinary people, she led her followers out of the town after the Salem witch trials and established New Salem in Colorado—it's hard to say that Abigail Williams wasn't partly responsible, as the unspeakable horror had deeply traumatized her. Even after Abigail was imprisoned by Balthazar, Agatha Harkness refused to return to Salem to settle there in the future.

What puzzled Salomon was how Agatha Harkness knew he had gone to Salem.

"Remember when you stole the Celestial Ring in Salem?" the Sorcerer Supreme said. "You mentioned the heretical magic to me back then. In fact, I had already discovered it long before you mentioned it, and you weren't the only one who discovered it. Agatha Harkness had been monitoring the town of Salem for years, always worried about Abigail Williams' appearance—until the day you returned from Salem three hundred years ago. The outbreak of heretical magic had already alarmed Agatha Harkness. Although it didn't cause too much damage, the mental state of the local residents was still somewhat affected. Originally, she planned to investigate, but when she discovered that it was the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj on a mission, she abandoned her plans, because the affairs of Kamar-Taj were not something she could interfere with. I believe she is now very eager to know what happened there. If she has what you need, you can exchange the information you are allowed to reveal for her help."

"Information that can be disclosed?" Salomon looked around, unconsciously lowering his voice. "But I don't think there's much to reveal about that matter!"

"That's up to you, my dear disciple." The Sorcerer Supreme pulled a blanket from the portal, easily ending the conversation. "It's time to sleep. Salomon, you should rest early too."

"Teacher, it's only nighttime in London right now; it's not nighttime in the Himalayas."

"But no one forbids me from sleeping during the day!" The Sorcerer Supreme covered himself with a small blanket. "And a reminder to Mordo not let him disturb my sleep—he's getting more and more talkative lately."

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The second update will be later tonight. Agatha Christie is a good choice to continue the story of WandaVision.

(End of this chapter)