The Magician's Apprentice

A Simple Task

"So how are we doing this?" I asked Stephen. "Going to Asgard, I mean. Meeting up with Loki and Odin—"

"Heimdall is going to allow us into Asgard," Stephen said. "And before you ask, he's an Asgardian who had the ability to let being travel through Asgard and the universes surrounding it."

"Isn't that kind of like us?" I asked. "I mean, we have the ability to travel through the Multiverse."

"Sort of," Stephen replied, "but it's a bit different. Our sling rings can't grant us access to any place in existence; even they have their limits. We need Heimdall to allow us into Asgard, as he's the only person with the power to do so."

"Oh," I said, slightly put off on the realization that the sling ring didn't give me as much power as I originally thought. "So, um, when and how are we leaving?"

"We wait for Heimdall to summon us," Stephen said simply.

"And when is that?" I asked.

"When he's ready."

I snorted in impatience. "And when will that be?"

"Hopefully sometime today," Stephen said, and I couldn't help but be a bit satisfied on the slightly uncertain note in his voice.

"But isn't time different in different dimensions?" I asked. "A minute in Asgard could be, like, a year in Earth time."

"I don't think the differences are that drastic," Stephen said. "Just be patient."

I sighed. "I think I would rather dust books with Wong than wait. Seriously though. Is there anything I can do other than wait?"

"You can study," Stephen said. "I can tell you lied when you told me you were studying properly on your Truth Spells."

Embarrassed, I decided to change the subject. "How about you tell me about the time when you saved Hong Kong? I asked Wong about it and he said you broke a lot of rules in the process."

"Sometimes rules have to be broken," Stephen said. Then, after several seconds of my thoughtful silence, he quickly added, "Forget I said that. Just don't break rules then use that as an excuse."

"Of course," I said cheerfully. "So tell me about the Eye of Agamotto."

"How do you know about the Eye of Agamotto?"

I felt a rush of satisfaction at the alarm in his voice. "I read about it," I said. "Relax, I didn't use it. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. You and Wong guard it too well."

"'Too well?'" Stephen repeated suspiciously.

"I never actually tried to take it," I assured quickly, grateful that I was telling the truth. "But when I try to get a good look at it, I get shooed away."

"Why would you try to get a look at it anyway?" Stephen asked irritably. "You can't even see it."

He must have been pretty annoyed with me, as he knew that my blindness was a touchy subject. "Well excuse me," I huffed. "You know as well as I do that I can sense it without physically seeing it."

Stephen sighed. "I'll tell you more about Infinity Stones later," he said. "You're just not ready yet."

I frowned. "When will you be more open to me?"

"When you'll be more open to me, Evie Justevie."

My face flushed. "I will eventually," I muttered.

"As will I," Stephen said, and I gritted my teeth with annoyance at the sound of satisfaction in his tone.

Before I could find a snarky comeback, I suddenly felt the most peculiar sensation. The best way to describe it would be someone from far away, trying to contact me.