The sun had set, and the world was bathed in the soft glow of twilight when Annie returned. Her face was a mask of sorrow, her eyes red-rimmed from the tears she had shed. Jon, who had been waiting anxiously for her return, felt a pang of dread in his heart. He knew something was wrong, something terrible had happened.
"Alberton is gone," she said, her voice barely a whisper. The words hung in the air like a death knell, echoing in the silence of the room. Jon felt as if the ground had been pulled from under his feet. Alberton, the jovial, kind-hearted member of Chris's band, was no more.
Jon had never been one for sentimentality. He was a man of few words, preferring to keep his thoughts and feelings to himself. But Alberton's death hit him hard. He had been more than just a band member; he had been a friend. Despite their limited interactions, Alberton had always treated him with kindness and respect. His loss was a blow to the heart, a stark reminder of the fragility of life.
Days later, Jon found himself standing in a cemetery, the cold wind biting into his skin. He was surrounded by familiar faces, all gathered to bid their final farewell to Alberton. Annie stood beside him, her hand tightly clasped in his. Her eyes were dry now, but the sadness in them was palpable. They stood there, united in their grief, as the priest said his final prayers.
Alberton's death was a wake-up call for Jon. He realized that his protective measures for his family might not be enough. The world was a dangerous place, and he could not afford to take any chances. He spent the following days fortifying his home, using every trick in the book. He used spells from the world of Harry Potter, installed cameras in every corner of the house, and even set up magical traps in Annie's convenience store. He was determined to keep his loved ones safe, no matter what.
Chris, on the other hand, was a different story. The man was a nomad, never staying in one place for too long. Protecting him was a challenge, but Jon was not one to back down. He decided to use a magic mark, a traceable spell that would allow him to keep tabs on Chris. It was a risky move, but it was necessary. He cast the same spell on Annie and Ayla, ensuring their safety.
The days turned into weeks, and life slowly started to return to normal. But the memory of Alberton's death lingered, a constant reminder of the tragedy they had faced. Alberton's death was a tragedy, but it was also a reminder. A reminder to cherish every moment, to fight for what they believed in, and to protect those they loved.
Alberton's death was a tragedy, but it was not the end. It was a new beginning, a chance to fight harder, to love deeper, and to live better. And Jon was ready to take on the challenge. For Alberton, for his family, and for himself.
***
The dawn of a new day was breaking, casting a soft, golden light over the world. Jon, standing in front of his shop, was preparing to open the doors for another day of business. The morning was peaceful, the air filled with the scent of fresh bread and brewing coffee.
"Good morning, Jon! Thank you for helping me fix the oven last time," Mrs. Gisen, a regular customer, greeted him warmly as she passed by. Jon nodded in response, a small smile playing on his lips. He was about to open the door when he froze, his hand still on the doorknob.
Inside the shop, a man in a strange costume was standing, his presence an anomaly in the otherwise ordinary setting. He was a black man, dressed in a green robe, with long braids cascading down his back. Two similarly dressed men stood behind him, their faces stern and unyielding.
"Hello, Mr. Vinson! I think we need to talk!" The stranger's voice was cold, his words echoing in the silent shop. Jon's heart sank. He recognized the man. It was Baron Karl Mordo, a disciple of the Ancient One, and a member of the Masters of the Mystic Arts. He was also a future villain. But for now, he was still on the right path, still loyal to his master.
A dimensional portal, still shimmering with residual magic, was closing behind them. It was clear that they had used it to enter the shop. Jon's mind raced. The Ancient One had taken notice of him.
"So, the Ancient One has her eyes on me?" Jon asked, his voice steady despite the turmoil within him. Mordo seemed taken aback. The mages of Kamar-Taj often used their teleportation abilities to appear suddenly and intimidate their targets. But Jon was not easily intimidated.
Mordo stepped forward, his voice icy. "You are not qualified to call the Sorcerer Supreme's name!"
Jon smirked, his eyes twinkling with defiance. "Hey hey~! Take it easy. Your tone is really aggressive, Mr. Mordo! This is not a conversational attitude!"
From the moment Mordo had appeared in his shop, Jon knew that he was not here for a friendly chat. The mages of Kamar-Taj were known for their politeness, but Mordo's intrusion was a clear provocation. Jon was ready for a fight. He reached for his hidden wand, his fingers closing around the familiar handle.
Mordo's eyes narrowed. "It seems that you don't intend to cooperate!" He slowly pulled out an iron staff, his fingers tracing the intricate runes etched on its surface. "In this case, then I have no choice but to tie you up to see the Sorcerer Supreme!"
Boom!
With a swift movement, Mordo slammed the staff on the ground. A whip of fire erupted from it, cracking the floor beneath. The Staff of the Living Tribunal, Mordo's special magic weapon. He also wore the Vaulting Boots of Valtorr, a magical artifact that allowed him to walk in the air.
The peaceful morning had turned into a battlefield. Jon stood his ground, his eyes locked on Mordo. He knew that this was just the beginning. The Ancient One had taken notice of him, and his life was about to change forever. But he was ready. He would face whatever came his way, for he was not one to back down from a challenge.
"Hey~! You will have to pay for this," Jon said, pointing at the damaged floor. His voice was light, but his eyes were hard. "Although I can repair it in an instant, you still have to pay for the maintenance fee!"
Mordo ignored him, instead choosing to launch himself into the air with his magical boots. His staff transformed into a whip of fire, slashing through the air towards Jon. But Jon was ready. He caught the whip, his hand unscathed by the flames.
"Attack me with fire, are you kidding me?!" Jon's voice was laced with amusement. He activated his Spirit of Vengeance form, his body engulfed in ethereal flames. Mordo's eyes widened in surprise, his voice a low growl. "With such a powerful dark force, are you really a follower of Dormammu?"
Jon laughed, the sound echoing in the silent shop. "Do you only know the dark dimension in your superficial cognition? Sorry, I don't bother to be with guys like Dormammu, because my power comes from a dimension called Hell!" As he spoke, a chain of fire materialized in his hands, his clothes transforming into a leather suit adorned with steel thorns.
The hellfire split into dozens of tendrils, flying towards Mordo like a swarm of serpents. Mordo reacted quickly, using his staff to shield himself. But he was not fast enough. A flame shot out from Jon's palm, hitting Mordo square in the chest. He was thrown back, landing hard on the ground.
Jon, now in his Ghost Rider form, advanced slowly. Mordo scrambled back, his hands glowing with magical energy. He thrust his palms forward, and the world seemed to shatter. Jon felt as if he had walked into a mirror, the world around him fragmenting into a million pieces.
"Mirror Dimension, here in this dimension, you have no chance of winning!" Mordo's voice echoed around them. The world shifted, the roof and walls of the shop collapsing as the indoor scene transformed into an outdoor one.
Jon looked around, taking in the altered reality. He deactivated his Spirit of Vengeance form, his body returning to its normal state. Mordo smirked, a triumphant glint in his eyes. "Why, you're afraid now?"
Jon shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "No, I'm just too lazy to play with you here!" His voice was calm, but his eyes were filled with determination. He was not going to back down, not with his pride as was at stake.
So, Jon didn't waste any time. He swiftly pulled out the Elder Wand, his voice ringing out in the altered reality. "Carpe Retractum!" The words echoed in the air, and to Mordo's surprise, his mage ring flew out of his hand and into Jon's.
Mordo's eyes widened in shock. Without the ring, he was trapped in the mirror dimension. "Give it back to me!" he demanded, his voice echoing around them. But Jon was not listening. He had a different plan.
"Let's get out of here first!" Jon said, slipping the ring onto his finger. He began to mimic the movements he had seen Doctor Strange make in the movies, his hand drawing circles in the air. He was trying to summon a portal, to escape the mirror dimension.
Mordo scoffed, his voice filled with disdain. "You haven't learned magic before! Don't waste your time, it takes a long time to learn how to summon a portal for the first time..." His words trailed off as a portal appeared in front of Jon.
Jon turned to Mordo, a smug smile on his face. "See, this is called extraordinary talent!" With that, he jumped into the portal, leaving Mordo trapped in the mirror dimension.
Moments later, Jon reappeared in his shop. He let out a sigh of relief, his heart still pounding from the encounter. "Huh~! I never thought I could actually apply what I have seen in the movie!" He had been prepared to use the Imperius Curse to control Mordo if his attempt to summon a portal had failed. But he hadn't needed to.
Just as he was catching his breath, another portal opened at the entrance of the shop. A woman in a yellow robe stepped out, her presence commanding and serene. But what caught Jon's attention was her head, which was as bald and as bright as the sun. It was the Ancient One, the Sorcerer Supreme herself. She had come to his shop, and Jon knew that his life was about to take another unexpected turn. But he was ready. He had faced Mordo, and he would face the Ancient One. He would do whatever it took to protect himself, and his loved ones, no matter the cost.
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A/N: I know this work is still very new, but your opinions matter a lot to my progress, please write a review 🙏.
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