Money.A surprisingly mundane obstacle for someone like me—someone with the memories of Loki, the battle instincts of the Ancient One, and the monstrous intellect of Orochimaru.
And yet… I had exactly zero coins to my name.
Not ideal for founding a global magical defense network.
I drifted through the dim London street, fog curling around the lamps, my invisibility spell shimmering softly as I walked. People hurried home, soldiers marched in formation, and the distant thunder of artillery echoed faintly like a heartbeat of war.
World War One… chaos, disorder, opportunity.Countries were scrambling, banks strained, records inconsistent.A perfect time for someone like me to acquire resources.
I sighed, placing a hand on my hip."Well… I suppose even a future Sorcerer Supreme needs funding."
Money wasn't the issue.Morality?…complicated.
But I was building sanctums, barriers, defenses that would protect this entire world from entities that could swallow cities whole. A little… redistribution of wealth… felt justified.
I clasped my hands together, weaving seals with flawless Orochimaru precision.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu."Snake Summoning Technique.
The shadows rippled like water, and dozens of serpents slithered into existence—silver-scaled, black-scaled, green-eyed, red-eyed—moving with eerie intelligence.
Each snake carried a fragment of my will, my magic, my purpose.
"Spread out," I whispered in Parseltongue, a skill borrowed from Orochimaru's memories."Banks. Safes. War profiteers' offices. Return with gold, jewels, valuables—anything untraceable."
The snakes hissed in agreement, scattering into alleyways and cracks like living shadows.
I leaned back against an old brick wall, arms crossed.
Probably not the most ethical plan…But—
"I'm not doing this for greed," I reminded myself aloud, voice calm and firm."I'm going to protect them. From demons. From interdimensional threats. From magic they can't even perceive."
Money was just a tool.And I needed tools.
Minutes passed.Then—
SCRRRTCH.One snake dragged a velvet bag bulging with coins.Another carried a pouch stuffed with gemstones.Several more slithered back with golden trinkets, loose bills, stacks of war-bonds, even a small lockbox still intact.
I couldn't help but smile.
"Excellent work."A flick of my fingers opened a pocket dimension—small, stable, Loki-inspired—and the treasures vanished safely inside.
Enough money to buy a house?No.Enough to build a Sanctum?Not yet.Enough to start something?Yes.
I began walking again, cloak of invisibility shimmering with each step.
"Time to find the perfect location," I murmured."One building… one sanctum… and from there, the foundation of my future order."
My snakes slithered silently behind me like loyal spirits, their eyes glowing with reflected magic.
Tonight, London would gain a sorceress in the shadows.And soon, it would gain a Sanctum.