Sebastian Shaw watched Happy’s car disappear down the road, then closed the villa’s door with a soft click. He sorted his luggage methodically, arranging his belongings before descending to the underground laboratory. Standing before the test bench, he resumed his work on refining the Berserk Potion, his focus razor-sharp. The lab, a marvel of Tony’s design, was linked directly to Stark Tower. With Sebastian’s permission, holographic projectors could activate, allowing face-to-face discussions with Tony as if they were in the same room.

During the day, Sebastian attended classes at the State University of New York. On days without lectures, he occasionally shared a meal or drink with Victor von Doom, their conversations drifting to magic or science. The rest of his time was consumed by solitary pursuits—studying spells or perfecting potions in the lab’s sterile glow.

A month slipped by, bringing the end of September 2012. Beyond Victor and a handful of professors, Sebastian’s circle at the university remained small, countable on one hand. Living off-campus in Tony’s villa kept him at a distance from his peers, a solitude he welcomed. He felt little kinship with others his age, their interests alien to his own. This isolation spared him unnecessary entanglements, and if not for obligatory social engagements, he might have known even fewer.

After a quiet breakfast, Sebastian headed to campus, his satchel slung over one shoulder. In the classroom, he spotted Victor, his friend’s usual vibrancy dimmed. They settled into their seats, waiting for the professor.

Sebastian placed his textbook on the desk, glancing at Victor’s troubled expression. “Victor, you seem off today. Something weighing on you?”

Victor von Doom was Sebastian’s opposite in many ways. Where Sebastian shunned the spotlight, Victor thrived in it, excelling in academics, sports, and campus activities. His charm and wit earned him the admiration of professors and peers alike. Within weeks of starting at the university, he was already collaborating with faculty on research projects, his grades among the highest. To many, Victor was a golden child, destiny’s favorite, untouched by failure. Sebastian sometimes wondered if Victor was the true protagonist of their story, with himself cast as a supporting figure.

So Victor’s somber mood was jarring. Nothing at this school should have rattled him—not a trivial matter like a campus loan, surely.

After a long pause, Victor spoke, his voice heavy. “I’m fine, Sebastian. It’s just… I’ve realized how far I still have to go. I got caught up in the praise, the support, thinking I was exceptional enough to change my country. But now? I see I’m nowhere near that.”

Sebastian leaned forward, concern creasing his brow. “What happened?”

Victor sighed, his gaze distant. “The university’s been working with NASA lately. Scientists and astronauts have been coming through. Among them was a young guy, our age, leading the collaboration. His knowledge—it’s on another level, Sebastian. It made me realize how much I’m lacking, in science and magic.”

His eyes flicked to Sebastian, a flicker of helplessness in them. If the NASA prodigy had shaken Victor’s confidence in science, Sebastian was the unattainable benchmark in magic. Among their peers, Sebastian’s mastery set him apart, a towering figure Victor could only aspire to match.

After class, Sebastian Shaw and Victor von Doom stepped out into the crisp September air, planning to grab a bite nearby. But the sky darkened abruptly, thick clouds swirling into a roiling vortex. As curious students gathered, snapping photos of the phenomenon, a vibrant, multicolored beam—the Bifrost—lanced down from the vortex’s center, striking the campus’s open quad with a resonant hum.

Recognizing the rainbow bridge, Sebastian’s instincts flared. The visitor was almost certainly seeking him. He murmured a quick excuse to Victor and slipped away to a secluded corner. With no eyes on him, black smoke enveloped his form, concealing his identity. He twisted into a vortex of warped space, vanishing instantly.

Thor, standing in the quad, clutched Mjolnir, scanning the crowd of students wielding their phones. Heimdall had assured him Sebastian was near, but the throng of onlookers complicated matters. Scratching his head, Thor prepared to ask about Sebastian when a figure wreathed in black smoke materialized before him. Before Thor could break into a grin, Sebastian seized his arm, and with another twist of space, they apparated away.

The world spun, and they reappeared in the living room of Sebastian’s villa. Thor staggered, shaking his head, a queasy grimace on his face. “Sebastian, it’s good to see you…” He retched, clutching his stomach. “Though I’d prefer if you skipped that teleporting trick… ugh…”

Sebastian’s mouth twitched, suppressing a smirk. “You’ll get used to it. Just… don’t ruin my floor.”

Thor wiped his mouth, straightening with a chuckle. He enveloped Sebastian in a bear hug, ignoring any resistance. “It’s been too long, my friend.”

Sebastian extricated himself, raising an eyebrow. “You’re not here for a casual visit. Odin doesn’t let you roam Earth without purpose. What’s the matter?”

Thor’s grin faded, a touch of indignation in his tone. “I’m not a dog on a leash, Sebastian. But… aye, you’re right. I’m here on serious business.”

Sebastian nodded, gesturing for Thor to continue, his expression attentive.

“Sebastian, I need your help,” Thor said, his voice grave. “Asgard has confirmed Loki is alive and on Earth. His target is likely the Cosmic Cube. We must act together to capture him.”

“Loki’s here?” Sebastian’s eyes narrowed.

“Aye,” Thor affirmed. “Heimdall’s vision is certain, and I trust his sight.”

Heimdall’s partial omniscience was formidable, his gaze piercing veils few could evade. If he’d seen Loki on Earth, the intel was likely solid. Yet Sebastian’s mind raced. In his memories Loki’s arrival on Earth involved the Cosmic Cube and Mind Scepter, their Space and Mind Stones resonating to open a portal. If Loki was already here, had he accessed the Cube? And why hadn’t Sebastian sensed its disturbance?

Frowning, Sebastian motioned for Thor to sit. “Give me a moment.” He grabbed his phone and dialed Tony.

Tony’s voice crackled through, teasing as ever. “Sebastian, what’s up? Calling me out of the blue?”

“Tony, no games,” Sebastian cut in. “You’re cozy with S.H.I.E.L.D. these days. What’s the status of the Cosmic Cube?”

Tony’s tone shifted, intrigued. “You after that thing? Fury guards it like it’s his own kid. Won’t be easy to snag. I could keep it hush-hush if you want to ‘borrow’ it for a study session—deal?”

Sebastian sighed. “I want the Cube, but not by stealing it. I’ll take it from S.H.I.E.L.D. openly when the time comes. For now, just tell me: is it still secure with them?”

Tony’s voice turned serious, the banter gone. “Sebastian, what’s going on? What do you know?”

“An alien’s targeting the Cosmic Cube,” Sebastian said. “He’s powerful, cunning. I don’t know S.H.I.E.L.D.’s setup, so you need to warn them—fast, if it’s not already too late.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep