Kara (POV)
I stepped through the portal and found myself in a place full of old-world charm and mystery. Honestly, it was pretty serene and beautiful, but not really my vibe.
"Follow me," the Ancient One said gently, probably noticing I was a bit lost in thought.
"Ah, right, I'm coming!" I called out, jogging to catch up with her.
We sat down at a tea table, and she started preparing the tea like she'd done it a million times before. Boiling the water, washing the cups—everything was done with such grace and expertise. I just watched her hands move, fluid and precise, like butterflies, quickly and skillfully setting everything up.
The smell of the tea... it was so nostalgic. Reminded me of all those tea sessions I used to have with Miku Izayoi, back in the day.
"You seem to know a thing or two about tea etiquette," the Ancient One remarked, glancing at me with a look that had a little nostalgia, maybe even a touch of confusion.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I know a bit," I said, snapping out of my daze. "Tea's delicious!" I nodded, agreeing with myself. The tea she was making had to be top-notch, and I was determined to enjoy it the right way.
"Most young people these days don't really get it when it comes to tea etiquette," she mused. "So where did you learn about it? Don't tell me it was from me; I've already had tea with you before," she chuckled.
"Oh, no, not from you," I laughed, trying to shake the thought of the Ancient One out of my head. I was still fighting to keep her image from mixing with Miku's—long purple hair, a decent chest. It was a bit of a struggle.
"I've been around, picked up a thing or two," I said, trying to change the subject, making it clear I didn't want to go into details.
The Ancient One nodded, though I caught a hint of disappointment on her face, which quickly turned into curiosity. "Kara, how do you see the role of Sorcerer Supreme?"
As the water began to boil, she started steeping the tea.
"Sorcerer Supreme? Isn't that Doctor Strange?" I said, confused. She was the one who had called Doctor Strange the top Sorcerer Supreme. Why was she asking me about it?
"Well, yes, but he won't be around for another five years," she said, her voice thoughtful. "It's interesting that you know that as well. Your knowledge is pretty extensive."
I nodded, getting the hint—time was moving toward that point. In my head, she was the Sorcerer Supreme who'd messed up, a teacher who had failed and was doomed because of Kaecilius.
"So, just five more years?" I thought, wondering why this was urgent.
"But I've recently found another candidate, and I'm torn about what to do." She furrowed her brows slightly as she rinsed the tea leaves.
"Another candidate?" I said, but inside I already had an idea who she meant. Still, not wanting to sound presumptious, I asked, "Who's more qualified than Doctor Strange for the role?"
The Ancient One looked at me like I was slow to catch on. "You're the most qualified candidate. Didn't you realize that? Why else would I have summoned you here? Did you think I just wanted company for tea?" Her face seemed to say.
"It's not me, is it?" I asked, acting all surprised.
"If it's not you, then who else?" she shot back.
As I leaned back, it hit me just like I thought it would. The real challenge was figuring out how to politely turn down the offer. My focus was clear—I was all about getting stronger. To me, the path to power wasn't just tied to one place; it was about jumping across different dimensions. After thinking it over for a second, I figured I might as well be upfront about it.
"It's not that I'm against the idea," I started, "but even though I've got some solid magical skills, there's still so much I don't know. My goal is to get even stronger and figure out more about myself—about where I came from and what I'm really all about!"
The Ancient One listened to my words, and I could feel her conviction building. "I believe you're exceptionally suited for this role. Your power is impressive, and your magic stands out, especially when it comes to combating the forces of darkness. Even if you were to face the dark, you wouldn't be swayed, nor would demonic forces tempt you, because your magic comes from within—you don't rely on drawing power from other dimensions. From what I've seen, your magical abilities are only growing."
As she handed me a cup of tea, I could feel her confidence in my potential getting stronger. It was a nice thought that this woman with 500+ years under her belt was so confident in my potential. But unfortunately, it was a position I never saw myself in. I had my own plans. I mean, for sure, if those dark gods dared to invade Earth, I would face them head-on, absorbing their power to make myself stronger. So, at best, I might agree to do an internship.
"Are you in agreement then?" the Ancient One inquired, clearly feeling she had the cat in the bag.
Out of nowhere, I burst into laughter, like it came out of thin air. The Ancient One looked at me, confused.
"Huh? Oh, no, I wasn't laughing!" I blurted out, my voice a mix of surprise and defensiveness.
I thought to myself, I don't get why you'd even consider me for your position.
"Look, I'm just not the right person for this. Doctor Strange is an amazing sorcerer, way better suited for the role of Sorcerer Supreme than I am," I admitted.
It made sense. Doctor Strange's perfect memory and his responsibility as Earth's protector after the Ancient One left had solidified his place as Sorcerer Supreme—he was practically flawless in the role.
"Why don't you believe in yourself?" The Ancient One shook her head, half amused, half concerned.
"Here's the deal: I'll let you learn the magic of Kamar-Taj, but you've gotta agree to one condition," she said.
"Uh... is there any way I can say no to this?" My uncertainty was obvious.
"Nope, that's not an option," she replied, her voice soft but firm, and her smile never faltering.
"Why? We don't really have any connection, and my magic doesn't exactly fit with what goes on at Kamar-Taj," I thought to myself, If things were different, I'd be thrilled to learn from the Ancient One. Magic is incredible, powerful, and awe-inspiring.
But my life was already going down a different path.
"How about you stick around for a few days? Use that time to dive into the magical knowledge in our library. I have high hopes for you," she suggested, standing up with optimism in her voice.
She made it clear that this wasn't some secret deal—just something I'd missed noticing.
..
"Wong," the Ancient One suddenly said.
"Sorcerer Supreme."
"Meet our new novice apprentice. Get her settled in, and help her get familiar with Kamar-Taj's curriculum. Also, she has full access to all the books in the library."
"Novice apprentice? Understood, Sorcerer Supreme."
Wong clearly looked surprised as he glanced at me. All the books? Was I some kind of magical prodigy? I did look pretty young.
"Hi, Wong," I greeted, stealing a quick look at him. He seemed to appreciate my unexpected humor.
"Oh, hey there. Let's get you settled into your room first, and then we can go over the details," Wong suggested.
"Sounds good, thanks," I replied.
"By the way, what should I call you? Novice apprentice?" Wong asked as he led the way.
"Just Kara is fine. I haven't officially become the Ancient One's apprentice yet, so no need for all the formal stuff," I said, walking beside him.
"What the heck... novice apprentice? Did the Ancient One just decide I'm her apprentice? Is this how things go around here? This is so overwhelming. I just wanted to go home and hang out with my sisters, but now I'm stuck at Kamar-Taj," I thought with a laugh.
Wong opened the door with a creak and motioned for me to go in.
"Since this place has been here for ages, the room's a bit... old-school. You might need some time to get used to it. If you need anything, just ask!" Wong explained.
Wong scratched his head, a little embarrassed as he looked at me, the bright young girl standing before him.
"No worries, I like it here. It's great," I said honestly.
It wasn't anything fancy, but I genuinely liked it. The old-school design and wood furnishings made the room feel like something from a cozy, rustic inn. Definitely a cool travel experience.
"I'm glad you like it. Let me give you a quick rundown of the schedule. In the mornings, from 9 to 11, we do meditation and basic magic practice. Then in the afternoons, from 2 to 5, we do practical magic exercises. Evenings are for self-study, and that's the most important part. So far, only the Sorcerer Supreme has read every book in the library and mastered all the strongest spells," Wong said.
I could tell Wong was relaxing now. It seemed like he'd been nervous about how to handle things for me, a young sorceress personally brought here by the Sorcerer Supreme.
"Thanks, Wong. I appreciate it," I said, giving him a nod.
"Alright, you're free to explore today and get used to the place. No areas are off-limits, just try not to get lost," Wong joked.
He gave me a few more directions and was about to leave.
"Oh, and before I forget," Wong turned back, walked to the desk, and jotted something down on a piece of paper.
"This is..." I started to ask.
"The Wi-Fi password," he said, and I immediately realized, smiling. I interrupted him, "Oh, right. Wong's in charge of the library, not Strange."
"Yep, the Wi-Fi password. I'll leave you to it now," Wong said, ready to head out.
I smirked, thinking to myself, Of course, just like Strange.
After Wong left, I plopped down in a chair and pulled out my phone. I was planning to have my clone update me on the mission, but when I checked, I found there was no signal. Ah, so that's why he gave me the Wi-Fi password. No biggie, I'd check later.
...
The next morning, right at nine o'clock, I put on clothes that were similar to what the other people at the sanctuary wore and headed to the small square where the Ancient One held her teachings. There were already quite a few young, aspiring sorcerers gathered there.
As soon as I stepped into view, I couldn't help but notice how the crowd's attention shifted toward me. My looks definitely caught their eye. There were fewer female sorcerers around, so I stuck out even more.
"Whoa, Mordo, check that out! A new woman, and she's something!" A guy with his hair tied back said to the black-clad sorcerer standing next to him. It was clear my presence had turned some heads.
"Focus on your studies, Kaecilius," Mordo replied, barely glancing at me as I walked by. He seemed curious, but he kept his focus on his own practice.
At that moment, the Ancient One appeared at the front of the square, her orange robe shimmering as she materialized.
"Supreme One," the apprentices greeted her with respect.
"Hamir, I'm leaving them in your hands. Kara, come with me."
She spoke to a man nearby with a beard, who had his hands tucked into his sleeves. Then she gestured for me to follow.
"Of course," Hamir said, and began explaining the lesson for the day to the others. He was used to stepping in as a teacher and knew the drill well.
"Hey, Mordo, looks like the Supreme One is giving personal guidance to the new apprentice," Kaecilius muttered to Mordo, sounding a bit annoyed. Why did the new people always get the Supreme One's attention? He wasn't getting that privilege.
"She's new, maybe she'll need extra help with the curriculum," Mordo replied, unfazed. Honestly, could they really throw someone who didn't even know the basics into advanced magic like they were?
Meanwhile, I hurried over to the Ancient One and matched her pace.
"Uh, aren't we supposed to start the day with basic magic practice?" I asked, scratching my head.
"Do you know how?" The Ancient One asked, her hands behind her back, not looking at me.
"I... I think so." I wanted to confidently say, "Yes, I know how!" but then I realized that my experience was mostly in elemental magic using Cognimystica a magic system of my own creation, and wand magic. Nature's Myriad Forms had always come naturally to me, so my voice faltered a little.
"Tsk." The Ancient One shot me a look that clearly said, With your kind of magic skills, how are you going to handle Kamar-Taj's way of doing things?
"Isn't that what I just said yesterday," I muttered under my breath.
"I've actually worked with Reinforcement Magecraft and Runic Magecraft before," I said, trying to defend myself. I could feel her disapproval, and honestly, I wasn't having it, Cognimystica can easily trump under magic systems. I muttered under my breath as I walked behind her.
Following the Ancient One, I stepped into what seemed like a practice chamber. The room was huge, with cushions lined up along the sides and two long tables at either end. The Ancient One used magic to float over two cushions and sat down, gesturing for me to do the same.
I quickly sat down, ready for my first lesson in Kamar-Taj magic.