Reborn as the God-Emperor in Marvel

Solomon lifted his foot and kicked Balthazar hard in the ankle.

"Ow! You know that really hurts, right?"

"Addressing the Sorcerer Supreme so casually is quite disrespectful, Balthazar of the Merlin School," Solomon said. "Once we take you and this rogue sorcerer back to Kamar-Taj, we'll report this matter to the Sorcerer Supreme, and she'll decide whether or not to see you."

"Hey, guys, let's not make a big deal out of this. Sun Long here should be enough for you to report back with." Balthazar grimaced, trying to free his hand from Sorcerer Wang's grip, but after a few attempts, he gave up. Wang's strength was clearly beyond what he had expected.

Balthazar sighed helplessly, adding, "My car's still parked outside. Now I probably can't even afford the parking ticket. Why are you shaking your head? You mean to say you've never heard of the Merlin School?"

"I've heard of it, but we don't know if you're really that Balthazar," said Wang. "But yes, it's quite well-known."

This was something Wang had learned during his duties at the Sanctum. All sorcerers had to be familiar with the names of prominent magical schools on Earth, as well as their magical characteristics. Both the London and New York Sanctums had records on the Merlin School, along with a few of its spells.

Solomon also recalled some of the information he had read and couldn't help but look disgusted. "You mean that school with those silly spells like the 'Vacuum Shield' and 'Ion Cannon'?" Solomon waved his free hand dismissively. "The practical use of those spells is pathetic."

"Hey!" Balthazar protested, his eyes wide. "The Ion Cannon is a great spell—it's versatile! Sure, elemental magic isn't Merlin School's strong point, but our real specialty is transmutation! I even helped modify the Mirror Dimension spell you use in the Vishanti School! I've lived as long as your Sorcerer Supreme! Damn it, have I really been forgotten after just ten years of being away?"

"Let's take this debate back with us before more civilians gather," Solomon reminded Balthazar, as if he hadn't just been the one to spark the discussion about magical schools in the first place. Reluctantly, Balthazar raised his hands in surrender and agreed to their request. Wang released his grip, and they guided him into an alleyway, with Solomon dragging the rogue sorcerer behind them.

They couldn't just open a portal back to Kamar-Taj in the middle of the street—they needed to find somewhere discreet.

"Hey! Let him go!" came a young voice from behind Solomon. The voice sounded oddly familiar, prompting him to turn and look. There stood a young man with short, curly dark hair, wearing a red plaid shirt under a gray hoodie. He looked like an engineering student, standing nervously with his hand raised. A large gemstone ring on his finger was glowing faintly.

"Didn't you hear me? Let him go!"

Balthazar sighed. He had agreed to return to Kamar-Taj because he didn't want his new apprentice involved, but it looked like there was no avoiding it. "That's Dave," Balthazar explained. "My apprentice… still in training. Dave, relax. They're not enemies."

"Okay… uh, sorry about that," Dave mumbled, his tense expression softening into awkwardness. He scratched his curly hair sheepishly. "Where are you guys going?"

"The Sorcerer Supreme's Sanctum," Solomon replied before Balthazar could.

"He's coming with us," Solomon added. "Wang, open the portal. And Dave, come help me lift this rogue sorcerer. I'd rather not have his head cut off by the portal."

"Cool!" Dave's eyes widened in awe as the portal sparked into life. He turned to Balthazar. "Do we have something like this?"

"Uh… no," Balthazar admitted, sounding a bit embarrassed but not wanting to dampen his apprentice's enthusiasm. "But we have other good things."

"Better than this?"

"Uh… probably not."

——————————

"Wow! Why is it so cold here? Where are we?"

"The Himalayas," came the simple reply.

Dave was seated in the guest room at Kamar-Taj, firing off a barrage of questions and curiously examining the furnishings. He ran his hands over the table, seemingly fascinated by everything around him.

Upon their arrival, Kamar-Taj's mystics had swiftly taken custody of the rogue sorcerer, placing him in a specialized magical prison that suppressed his ability to cast spells. Solomon had visited that prison as a child, and it had left a lasting impression on his "young" mind. Not only did it hold rogue sorcerers, but also terrifying creatures, some of which were so enormous in scale—both literally and figuratively—that they had haunted Solomon's thoughts for a long time afterward.

Solomon asked Wang to keep an eye on Balthazar and Dave while he went to report to the Sorcerer Supreme. He had assumed the Sorcerer Supreme wouldn't be interested in meeting a sorcerer from the Merlin School, but to his surprise, she was eager to see Balthazar, even referring to him as an old friend. She had also requested a private conversation, which was rare, reserved only for matters of great secrecy, such as ancient gods or forgotten lore.

Even though Balthazar said that Dave was still in his apprenticeship, in the world of magic, there was no such thing as an "internship" stage. Once Dave had donned a magical artifact, it was like boarding the train to Hogwarts—there was no going back. After witnessing the wonders of the magical world, no one ever wanted to leave. It was only natural that Dave would officially join the Merlin School later on, so Solomon had to treat him as a fellow magician.

As a result, Solomon found himself back in the guest room, keeping Dave company. As for Wang, he had gone out to buy the soy sauce. If he were late, Aunt Wu Guiyue would be furious, and no one wanted to get hit by the Wand of Watoomb.

Since Dave was from a different magical school, he wasn't allowed in Kamar-Taj's library, and Solomon wasn't going to demonstrate any of Kamar-Taj's magical artifacts to him. Spells, constructs, and casting times were all closely guarded secrets of each magical school, and as a member of Kamar-Taj, Solomon would never reveal them to an outsider, especially when it involved artifacts that could mean life or death.

Kamar-Taj was one of the few places that held knowledge of many other schools and magicians. Many sorcerers chose to entrust part of their magical legacy to Kamar-Taj, not only as a sign of loyalty to the Sorcerer Supreme but also as a safeguard. If they died without passing on their teachings, at least Kamar-Taj would ensure that their magic continued to be preserved. As the oldest magical school on Earth, Kamar-Taj's reputation was unmatched in the mystical world.

However, the Dave sitting before Solomon wasn't exactly a true sorcerer yet. Still new to the magical world, he constantly tried to rationalize everything he saw with scientific reasoning. This left Solomon stuck in dull conversation, responding with dry answers.

"I still can't believe it! I went from New York to here in an instant!" Dave exclaimed, still excited. "How exactly does that portal work? Do you guys need to wear special shoes?"

"We don't need special shoes. Our method of channeling magic is different," Solomon answered dryly. "The portal's mechanics are classified. I can't share them."

"Do you need rings? Why are you wearing so many?"

"Sling rings are one of our tools," Solomon explained. "But magical artifacts don't always have to be rings; they can take other forms. As for these rings… that's my secret."

"You seem so young. When did you start learning magic?"

"When I was five."

"Are there a lot of you?"

"Kamar-Taj is the largest magical school on Earth. The Sorcerer Supreme is the ruler of the magical world, and by extension, the protector of Earth."

"What about Balthazar?"

"I don't know…" This one stumped Solomon. "I've only seen one or two Merlin School spells, nothing more."

"I've seen your magic, though," Dave said, unfazed by Solomon's lack of enthusiasm. "What was that spell where you disappeared? I was on the fire escape, and I thought you were crushed!"

"Phantom Step…"

"And what about that siege hammer spell? You just smashed that rogue sorcerer flat!"

"Siege Hammer…"

"All right, Dave," Balthazar interrupted as he entered the room. "You haven't learned your first spell yet, so don't ask so many questions. Focus on learning the basics first." He squinted at Solomon, examining him closely. "You're Solomon Damonet, right?"

"That's right," Solomon said, standing up and giving a respectful nod. If this guy wasn't bluffing, he really was someone from the same era as the Sorcerer Supreme, and in the magical world, longevity was a testament to power.

"The Sorcerer Supreme said you're her chosen successor?"

"Probably."

"Then you'd better practice your swordsmanship," Balthazar said, giving Solomon a hearty pat on the shoulder. "Your teacher is calling for you. She has some important instructions to pass on."

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