Magic Mania: Book One

1

"So let me get this straight. You believe there's a threat in another dimension that could destroy the multiverse and you've only just told me?" asked Wong.

He and Dr Strange were in the library of the New York Sanctum discussing Stephen's most recent suspicion of threat in the universe, or possibly all the universes. Stephen had various volumes open all over the table, almost all for aesthetic effect except Dimensional Travel: How To Avoid Gruesome Death in 5 easy steps. It was the only appropriate title in the whole Sanctum's library but it still wasn't right. No instructions, no rules, nothing.

"Yes Wong, I have only just told you because I still can't be sure," Dr Strange said, for the five billionth time that day. He jabbed the pages of the book he had open. "When the Avengers time-travelled and disrupted the multiverse, something happened to one or perhaps more of the Infinity Stones, I'm sure of it."

Staring down at the print he'd carefully studied approximately 7 times without enlightenment, Stephen sighed. It had been 3 months since Thanos had been defeated, the Blip had happened, and a relative peace had been restored. Yet, he couldn't quite put his finger on what was so wrong. He'd been relentlessly thumbing through every book he could to see if there was any way to safely travel through dimensions without disrupting the cosmos, but to no avail.

"I'm telling you Wong, something's up, and I'm not going to sleep until I find out what," Stephen continued, desperately trying not to yawn and returning his gaze to the pages of the annoyingly insubstantial book. It had driven him mad, playing on his mind all day and all night.

Wong took the volume away from him and looked him straight in the eye. "Staying up for 96 hours straight won't help you one bit, Strange."

Dr Strange leant back in his chair and closed his eyes. "I know it won't."