"Who the hell are you two clowns?"

To Edward's credit, they truly did look the part, as if they had stepped straight out of a stage play.

The man before him appeared to be in his thirties by non-magical standards, yet his hair was strikingly white for someone of that age. A neatly kept beard of the same color framed his face. He wore a perfectly tailored suit, perhaps a little too perfect, and, of all things, carried a cane, as if he belonged to another time entirely.

The woman beside him was, if anything, even more strange. She also appeared around the same age, only, her head was completely bald, and she wore flowing monk's robes, a shade of orange far too, well, orange, to be anything subtle.

The problem was, they felt completely normal to him. His magical senses picked up nothing at all, as if the two of them were just ordinary No-Majs. Obviously, that couldn't be the case.

The only other person he knew who could slip past his senses like that was his student. And now these two had made that list, which only proved they were anything but ordinary. If anything, their control over magic was leagues above his.

Still, it was wiser to be polite with those who were likely stronger, at least until proven otherwise. Unfortunately, the words had already left his mouth before he could stop himself. Being yanked through space without warning had a way of loosening the tongue.

A strange silence settled between the two parties. Despite the sky raging like a hurricane overhead, their focus, for a brief moment, was entirely on each other. Dumbledore, who had only just registered the two figures before him, was also at a loss for words, his lower jaw slightly slack.

It was only when a deafening cry, something between a roar and a shriek, struck their ears like a hammer that their attention snapped back, and all four turned toward the source.

Above the island, a colossal bird took shape, seemingly formed entirely of energy and crimson lightning. It spread its wings and let out a cry, sending a shokwave through the sky, like a declaration to all who witnessed it, an announcement of its birth. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

The tremor reached them just as quickly, shaking their very spirits and forcing the two archmagi to raise their arms in defense, groaning under the pressure. Their robes whipped violently in the force, and only by mobilizing what remained of their magic to anchor themselves were they able to stay on their feet without being blown away.

It wasn't just physical. The force also hammered against their very souls, like a mountain crashing into their minds, forcing them to lower their heads.

The two Supreme ancients, however, showed no such strain. For beings who had witnessed nearly everything the world had to offer, it was not enough to make them lose their composure. Still, a hint of astonishment could not be hidden in their eyes.

The distraction came and went in a matter of seconds before Edward turned back again, his focus snapping to the two strangers. He needed to know his student's condition, but first, he had to know the identity of these intruders, lest they try something while his back was turned.

Who were they? Friend or threat, he needed to clear that up.

Once again, he didn't mince words or try to play nice. "I said, who the hell are you two supposed to be?" he asked directly, his wand raised and pointed.

Then, just as he finished, another hand caught his arm from the side. He turned. Right, he grumbled inwardly, he had forgotten this old thing was here as well.

"Lower your wand, Garling," Dumbledore said slowly, his voice firm with seriousness.

"Oh, so they're your people?" Edward replied, though his wand did not lower. "Unless you explain otherwise, I think not."

Dumbledore sighed helplessly at the man's stubbornness. But given the situation and understanding his character, he did not try to persuade him further. Instead, he turned toward the two figures ahead, looking just as helpless.

"Supreme Mage, Sorcerer Supreme, please forgive my friend. I am afraid he is not yet aware of who you are."

"Supreme what?"

"Quite alright, child..." Merlin replied lightly. "Young Maverick still has some time before he finishes his ascension... so we might as well have a... talk."

"Child?" Edward turned, baffled, looking at Dumbledore. Had this person, who looked no older than them, just called Albus goddamn Dumbledore a child?

"Dumbledore..." Edward finally said, dragging out the name, making it clear he expected an explanation.

"If you could kindly lower your wand first, Garling, I shall explain everything to you."

And so, on that day, beneath a sky torn apart by storm and magic, Edward Garling, Speaker of the Confederation of International Wizards, a pinnacle of magical power, or so he had believed, came to understand just how small he truly was.

And, incidentally, that his student had been keeping far too many secrets from him.

---

Meanwhile, below, at the center of the island, Maverick's eyes, which had been closed for a long time, finally snapped open, taking in the light. It was darker than he expected. He remembered arriving under a clear sky and pleasant weather, but now, it looked the exact opposite.

Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed, the sky heavy as if a storm were about to break over his head. But he knew most of it wasn't ordinary. His sharp magical senses had already told him it was only the aftermath of his own breakthrough, the violent surge of magic clashing with nature itself, twisting the sky into this state.

It would pass soon. The disturbance would fade, and the sky would return to calm now that his magic was contained.

A few breaths later, he rose to his feet and, almost without thinking, lifted his arms slightly, clenching his fists to look at them.

The breakthrough was a success. He could tell, first from the frenzy of system prompts filling his vision, focusing on the most recent one. Plus, he felt unprecedentedly powerful, like nothing he had ever experienced before, as if he could even lift the entire island beneath his feet if he wished.

It wasn't an exaggeration. His lips curled into a faint smile as he closed his eyes, breathing in, then out, drawing in even the faintest trace of leaking magic. With that, the unnatural winds also stilled, the clouds above began to clear, and everything slowly faded back into calm.

Finally, his perception spread, taking in everything, but then halted mid-action. His eyes opened, turning slightly in one direction just as four figures appeared with a twist in space before him, then slowly landed on their feet.

"You kid aren't normal. How the hell is your arrogance already on par with ours when you've only just made the breakthrough?"

Godric Gryffindor strode forward without ceremony, patting his shoulder like an old friend, a wide grin spreading across his face.

Maverick had long sensed their presence, so he wasn't surprised. It was just... they had only met once, and this antique was treating him as if they were old friends.

"Ignore the fool, young man," another voice cut in. "First, tell us how you're feeling." It was Salazar Slytherin. The founders stopped an arm's length away, and he could practically see the strange, hungry curiosity in their eyes.

"Fantastic," Maverick replied honestly. Then, glancing across the four of them, he gave each a nod in greeting first.

"Do you mind if I take a closer look at your magic, Maverick? Just a surface analysis..." The woman in sleek black attire, Rowena Ravenclaw, said with a... rather eager smile, the hungry curiosity to study him practically written across her face.

Maverick resisted the urge to twitch his brow. What kind of Orochimaru, mad-scientist look was that? Where was the kind, composed lady he had seen the first time? And... were they really already close enough to be on a first-name basis?

"Not at all..." But what could he do except nod helplessly. Anyways, being Merlin's student, she wouldn't, maybe, probably wouldn't try anything funny.

Ravenclaw immediately waved her wand, her magic already at work on him. At the same time, from the other side, the only other woman, Helga Hufflepuff, also stepped forward and, without any warning, pulled him into an embrace.

"Congratulations, young Maverick," she chuckled softly into his ear, then pulled back from the hug, giving him a thorough look from head to toe. "The rank of Warlock is an achievement only a handful of people have ever dreamed of reaching, and even fewer have attained."

Damn. Who would have thought the monarch of the badgers was so well equipped.

Cough. Maverick quickly cleared his throat and thanked her. "Thank you, Lady Hufflepuff," he said, then, looking at all of them, added, "thank you all... for helping keep the noise down."

His full attention had indeed been on his breakthrough for most of the time, but after it was complete, and while he was trying to rein in the ocean of magic that had multiplied severalfold, he did have some awareness to spare and observe what was happening around him.

The founders were the first to register within his magical senses, followed by a complex formation he wasn't familiar with, but still understood its purpose. Obviously, they had stepped in to assist his teacher and Dumbledore, likely because things had spiraled out of control.

Feeling a faint tingle at the edge of his magic, Maverick turned to Ravenclaw again. There were no flashy effects, whatever she was doing was so subtle that, had he not been told beforehand she was using magic on him, he wouldn't have even known it was her that brushed his senses.

Though only moments had passed, only he knew just how unprecedented an upgrade he had just undergone in all of his abilities, including the most fundamental control of his magic. And yet this woman was able to toy with it, seemingly without much effort. Sure enough, the founders were legends for good reason.

He watched her expression change from scrutiny to understanding, and then to clear astonishment, before she finally exclaimed, "Incredible..." From the look on her face, it was clear she found what she had discovered hard to believe.

"You've condensed a very solid, very stable magical core. If I weren't seeing it with my own eyes, I would have thought you had stood at our level for centuries already."

At her remark, the other founders also fixed him with intense stares, as if they all wanted to tear him open like a present on Christmas.

On the other hand, Maverick's attention was on something else entirely. Magical core? What the heck is that? This was the first time he had heard of such a thing since his transmigration.

"What are you all so surprised about? Hahaha." Thank Merlin for his student breaking the awkward atmosphere. Maverick really was feeling the pressure, being scrutinized by four legends at the same time.

Gryffindor laughed as though he hadn't been also giving him the same glare a second earlier, then gave a few more taps on Maverick's back.

"Didn't the Supreme say not to judge the kid by the standards of us normal people?" He flashed a grin to his three counterparts, then leaned in slightly. "So how about it, boy..." his gaze locked onto Maverick with an even more intense stare, "now that you're on par with our level, want to have a glorious battle? I could show you some tricks most of today's magical lot have forgotten. The art of a battle mage!"

Uh... can I not?

Maverick was left speechless again. First of all, who on earth would consider you normal people? Secondly, he finally understood where the Gryffindors of Hogwarts got their flair for recklessness.

"By the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth, Godric, give the boy a break." Helga Hufflepuff let out a helpless sigh, grabbing the burly man and pulling him back, then looked at Maverick apologetically.

"What? Aren't you all also curious about what the kid's made of?"

"It's best you keep your distance from that idiot, young man, otherwise you'll end up corrupting that brilliant mind of yours..."

"Are you asking for a beating again, snake-face?" Gryffindor's expression darkened.

"Hardly. Moreover, your claim is entirely unfounded. One must first suffer defeat before they can speak of doing so again."

Merlin's beard... Maverick really wanted to know the story behind these two.

However, just as the thought had crossed his mind, space nearby sparked with orange light where a gate of eldritch energy formed, and the man himself stepped through, followed by the Sorcerer Supreme, his teacher, and Dumbledore.

The founders' expressions also changed, their earlier, call it uncharacteristic, looks settling into respect.

"Hmm..." Merlin let out a soft hum as he stepped forward, stopping before Maverick and studying him with a neutral expression.

Their eyes met, and for the briefest moment, Maverick once again felt that unfathomable sensation of standing before a life form far beyond his own. Then, just as quickly, it was gone.

"At first, I had expected you to reach this realm decades from now, and even that was no small expectation..." he spoke slowly, like a grandfather recounting an old tale.

Gesturing slightly, he continued, "my students here took centuries to attain the level of power they possess today... so it appears I have gravely underestimated you, child of fortune."

The what? Maverick had heard more than a few inexplicable phrases today that made him really want to take a pause, but for some reason, he seemed to have the least say in anything today.

The Sorcerer Supreme stepped forward next. "Congratulations, young man. I believe the day won't be far when you stand shoulder to shoulder with us." Hers was brief... and thank... uh, the old man in front, he actually understood what she meant.

Next came Dumbledore, and finally his teacher, though the look on his face wasn't quite right. Did something happen? Maverick wondered, but didn't ask just yet, best when they got a moment alone.

Earlier, when his senses had expanded, he had already felt the presence of the two Supremes, as well as his teacher and Dumbledore beside them, though he didn't know when they had gathered.

"How about, on this wonderful occasion, I treat you all to some tea at the Mystic Arts Sanctuary?" the Ancient One proposed at last after the congratulations were exchanged.

Honestly, Maverick would really like that as well, to sit down and take a moment to go through his system panel. But then Merlin's next words made him push that thought aside immediately.

"Not just yet..." the Mage Supreme said, then turned slightly, his gaze falling on Dumbledore. "I believe there is also another among us who stands at the edge of their limits..." he paused, then added, "unless, of course, you, child, also wish to take matters into your own hands when there are those more experienced to guide you through the process."

The Ancient wizard's gaze fell briefly on Maverick, making him turn slightly in embarrassment. How was he supposed to know his breakthrough would cause such a ruckus?

In fact, he still had no idea how much of a disturbance he had really caused.

—————————

Author's Note:

🔥 Drop those Power Stones! 🔥

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