The Holy Son in Marvel

The key was large and silver, intricately engraved with Arabic vine patterns, and it dangled from a delicate-looking silver chain that, despite appearances, was surprisingly sturdy. Coulson distinctly recalled that Solomon hadn't worn anything like it before they ascended the stone tower, but before he could ask, Natasha spoke up.

"How long were we gone?" Natasha Romanoff was quick to get to the point. "How long were we there? And what about the rest of our team who went with us? Why are we here now?"

"Because we were always here," Solomon replied, showing them his phone and its call history. "As for the rest of your team, I don't know where they are. We weren't gone for long, but it was long enough to stir things up. I even got a call from the dorm supervisor, asking why I missed class. Don't worry—I contacted Nick Fury. He knows you're here, and I've been waiting for you to wake up."

"Waiting for us to wake up?" Coulson asked. "What do you mean?"

"Because I have to leave," the mage replied. "I need a hot bath, a good night's sleep, and then I have to file my report. Plus, I have a cat to feed, people to explain all this to, and classes to attend. I'm busy."

"I wouldn't mind some rest myself," Natasha said, shaking her head. "Looking back, everything that happened three hundred years ago feels like a dream. I even dreamt of being buried alive."

"Technically, that reality was no different from a dream, but you actually were buried alive," the mage replied, slipping on his Sling Ring. "I'd advise you not to remember too much. You'll be questioned once you get back, and there are some names that are better left unsaid. If you want to drive people mad, you can try telling them the truth. Oh, right… I still have to clear out the cultists that this mastermind left behind on Earth."

Leaving the details of Coulson and Natasha's return to S.H.I.E.L.D. aside, Solomon opened a portal directly to the Kamar-Taj headquarters. After days spent in a colonial reality, he'd grown accustomed to a different routine, including an altered sleep schedule. When he arrived, it was already late at night. Just as he reached the Sorcerer Supreme's meditation room, he was summoned inside. The Ancient One dismissed the other students, leaving only Solomon for a private conversation.

"You have some explaining to do, Solomon. The Entity of Eternity is displeased with you for not killing Abigail Williams," the Ancient One sighed. "An extradimensional being entered our universe, correct? I don't recall you wearing that key around your neck before you left."

"This Abigail Williams wasn't a cause but an effect. Killing her wouldn't have solved anything, as she's just one possibility among many," Solomon replied, sitting down and pouring himself a cup of weak tea. "The purpose of the extradimensional being's arrival was to take Abigail with it. I think it's actually a good thing, as that omniscient and omnipotent being has no interest in our universe."

"That's good news," the Ancient One poured herself some tea as well, without honey this time. "And the bad news?"

"The bad news is that there's indeed a god interested in Earth, and it has countless avatars," Solomon said with a sigh. Interacting with Nyarlathotep had been excruciating—not only because of its twisted sense of humor, but also because this chaotic entity was utterly unpredictable, even to itself. Solomon even suspected that the dog, Jones, might have been one of Nyarlathotep's avatars, as creating conflict with itself seemed entirely in line with Nyarlathotep's behavior. But apart from the One Who Merges All and Nyarlathotep itself, no one knew the truth.

"This god may have interfered with Earth's development long ago, but we know nothing about it. The complexity of the situation was largely due to the god's pranks, yet we're powerless to change it," Solomon shook his head. "I've come to appreciate humanity's insignificance. Many things lie beyond our grasp; those gods' powers are far beyond ours. But not all is lost. What we need to do now is clear out the remaining cultists of that god on Earth. As long as no one summons it, it won't detect us, and by the time it does remember us, this universe may be long gone. Also, there seems to be an intricate connection between our universe and another one. I'm not entirely clear on the details, but I suspect that the original Creator might be linked to that other universe."

"And you?" the Sorcerer Supreme raised an eyebrow. "What did you gain from this?"

"A glimpse of my fate—and a chance to break free from it," Solomon replied, holding up the silver key around his neck. "I know my origins are shrouded in mystery, and I think this key holds the answers. And beyond that door lies the ultimate truth of this universe… if I can withstand the madness of that knowledge. I think I have some experience in that, don't I?"

The Sorcerer Supreme took a sip of tea, visibly more relaxed. 

"To be honest, I didn't want to give you this mission at first. But I saw, using the Eye of Agamotto, that in every possible future, you would end up with that key around your neck. Only then did I agree to let you go. I don't know what this silver key means for you, but it's not entirely a bad thing," she said. "Eternity is the embodiment of this universe, so an extradimensional incursion would be like a gunshot wound to a person. However, this invasion occurred in an alternate reality, so to Eternity, it would be like dreaming of getting shot. You're fortunate that Eternity won't hold you accountable for a mere dream. By the way, did you use the Vishanti's magic in that reality?"

"Yes," Solomon nodded. "Is that a problem?"

"Not exactly," the Ancient One replied with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Invoking Vishanti's name was the right call; it allowed the Vishanti and Eternity to observe your mission, giving them insight into some of the events that transpired."

The mage frowned in confusion.

"I don't think that's much of a problem," he said. "The Vishanti and Eternity should be able to handle knowledge of those maddening beings."

"True, but since Vishanti was aware, I was as well," the Sorcerer Supreme's expression softened with restrained amusement. "Don't forget how long you were gone. Concern for you wasn't limited to Kaecilius and Mordo."

Solomon's face fell as a sudden realization struck him.

"Master, you didn't…"

"I knew, so the Witch knew too," the Sorcerer Supreme chuckled. "She rushed over in a panic when she heard of your disappearance!"

Note: According to the timeline, up next will be the Ghost Rider and the MCU plot.

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