Chapter 114

After bidding farewell to Victor, Abel chose not to use magic or a car but walked alone through Times Square.

Victor, to Abel, was a kindred spirit—a young magician much like himself, yet with distinct differences. Unlike the ancient minds at Kamar-Taj, Victor was full of energy and ideals. Despite his sometimes unconventional worldview, Abel found a deep connection with him. Abel's own outlook wasn't particularly positive either, which is why they had developed such a strong rapport, as if they had known each other for years.

Of course, like all magicians, both Abel and Victor held back parts of their magic from each other. This wasn't due to mistrust but rather a natural instinct for self-preservation. Magicians rarely share all their secrets unless they're backed into a corner.

Ding!

Abel's phone buzzed. After Tony's modifications, what seemed like an ordinary smartphone was now a mini-computer connected to Jarvis. Abel unlocked it to find a message from Tony, which turned into a short video.

"Fancy… Tony really imprinted his own aesthetics on my phone," Abel mused.

In the video, Tony, casually tinkering with something, said, "Abel, come over. Now that you're back, we should talk about the company."

Sighing, Abel slipped the phone back into his pocket. His to-do list seemed endless. Not only did he need to handle company matters, but he also wanted to visit the Ancient One. It had been over a year since they last spoke, and he knew he needed to meet with the Sorcerer Supreme.

Ideally, Abel would have preferred a quieter life, focused on studying magic and potion restoration. However, the reality of his situation wouldn't allow for that. His relationship with Tony was now too intertwined with his research and future plans. Even if Tony offered unconditional support, Abel's own pride wouldn't allow him to rely on it too heavily.

Looking around to ensure there were no cameras, Abel vanished in a whirlpool of space. Moments later, on the top floor of Stark Tower, the same spatial vortex appeared, and Abel stepped out. Tony was engrossed in his work, calculating something at his bench. Abel poured himself a soda at the bar, fetched Tony a glass of wine, and brought the drinks over to the workbench, setting Tony's glass beside him.

Leaning on the corner, Abel sipped his soda and said, "Alright, I'm here. Let's talk about the company."

Tony didn't look up but continued working while reaching for the wine. He gulped it down in one go, a flush quickly spreading across his face. Then, exhaling, he finally spoke, "Abel, I've been calculating. With the Mark Ω technology, I can build a device to mass-produce your potions. You wouldn't have to brew them yourself, which would free up your time for potion restoration research."

"Thanks, Tony. That'd be a big help. But how's the energy conversion research going? The device would require a lot of energy if it works like Mark Ω."

Tony finally turned to Abel. "Don't worry. I didn't waste the last year. I've made significant progress in all aspects of the tech. Using the notes you left me, I've even developed a way to integrate magic with the arc reactor. This could take everything to the next level."

Abel nodded. "That's my bad for not being around. I'll be on Earth for a while now, so we can collaborate more closely."

Tony grinned. "Speaking of research, you said you were applying to university. Which one?"

"State University of New York," Abel replied.

Tony shrugged, unimpressed. "It's fine, I guess. Not a bad school, but nothing special."

Abel sighed. He had expected as much from someone like Tony, who had graduated from MIT at seventeen. With a wry smile, Abel added, "If SUNY isn't impressive, what does that say about MIT?"

Tony smirked. "MIT? My alma mater? It's… OK. Which, from me, is high praise."

Abel chuckled. "Once I start college, I should have more time for my magic and potions work."

Tony's mind shifted. "By the way, does your blood poison potion work on any toxins that enter the bloodstream?"

Abel nodded. "Of course. Unless your palladium poisoning has gotten worse, it should neutralize most common toxins—things like snake venom or other biological toxins."

Tony raised an eyebrow, and Abel caught the shift in his thinking. "You're thinking of using the blood poison potion as our company's first product?"

"Exactly," Tony said, excitement growing in his voice. "If we want the company to make a big splash, we need to unveil something major at the press conference."

Abel thought for a moment. "In that case, why not launch three potions at once? In addition to the blood poison potion, I've developed a trauma healing potion and an internal injury self-healing potion. Releasing all three at once would certainly cause a sensation."

Tony's grin widened. "Now you're talking. You handle the formulas and the production process, and I'll build the brewing device. Let's get to work on this."

"Got it," Abel agreed.

After a while, Abel stood to leave. But as he prepared to depart, his magical senses tingled. He turned to find a portal opening beside him. On the other side stood the Ancient One, waiting.