c46 Russell's Vision: The Supreme Mage Corps
Location: Nepal, Kamar-Taj
As the sun rises over Kamar-Taj, the mages begin their daily ritual of spell practice. For a mage, progressing from novice to master requires relentless dedication, studying every day, year after year. Yet, recently, the mages seem distracted during their training, losing their usual focus.
Russell had spent the past two days immersed in spell study at Kamar-Taj. In the past, he would only stay for a short time before moving on. But now, something was different. How had he mastered so many types of magic so quickly?
Walking through the small courtyard where the mages practiced, Russell wasn't causing any trouble—he wasn't that type. At this moment, Russell held the esteemed title of Grandmaster Russell, the Chief Instructor of Kamar-Taj.
"Relax your hands when casting the portal. Use gentle gestures and focus on your destination," he explained while casually walking around. He occasionally demonstrated for the students.
"The same applies to using the Red Ring of Raggador, a small defensive shield. Focus on the flow of energy. Don't worry too much about whether your movements are perfect; just let the energy guide you naturally."
In the hall nearby, Modu, observing Russell's unconventional teaching methods, could not help but voice his concerns to the Ancient One, Gu Yi.
"Master Gu Yi, are you really just going to let Master Russell teach however he pleases?"
Modu's view was that Russell's approach seemed too lax. "What Master Russell says is certainly valid, but it isn't ideal for trainee mages. For beginners, coordinating spells and movements is crucial. Standardized gestures help them concentrate, control energy, and release spells more effectively."
Gu Yi didn't directly challenge Modu's words, nor did she intervene in Russell's methods. Instead, she smiled and nodded slightly.
"You are correct, Master Modu. Master Russell's methods may not be ideal for most trainees, but don't worry. He will realize this himself soon enough, and when the time comes, he will adapt his teaching accordingly."
Meanwhile, Russell paused in the courtyard, deep in thought, wondering why his approach wasn't working for everyone.
"Russell?" Gwen's voice broke through his musings.
Gwen had taken a break from her usual duties to observe the mages practice. The wide variety of magical spells fascinated her, sparking her curiosity. She had already interacted with Russell and the Ancient One frequently, broadening her understanding of magic. The magic she saw at Kamar-Taj seemed rather simple in comparison to what she had witnessed before.
"Russell, can I learn magic?" Gwen asked, intrigued.
"Learn magic? Of course! I'll teach you," Russell replied, his face lighting up.
Gwen, as Spider-Woman (Earth-65), was a hero and, as such, had superior attributes compared to most other mages. Russell believed she would prove that his teaching methods were sound.
He quickly grabbed a hanging ring from a nearby shelf and handed it to Gwen. "This is important. The hanging ring allows you to open portals and travel anywhere, even between universes."
After Gwen put on the ring, Russell demonstrated. "Focus and draw circles with your thoughts set on where you want to go."
Gwen observed carefully as Russell cast a teleportation spell, then nodded thoughtfully. Soon, she began practicing with the ring, tracing circles with her finger.
One circle. Another. One more.
Then, a spark appeared, and the circle began to expand into a full portal. Russell's eyes lit up with excitement. She had done it!
But Gwen's expression was pensive. "Hmm… strange," she muttered.
"I can't seem to get it to work to get back to George's house on Earth-65, but the portal to the bookstore opened without any issue."
Gu Yi approached, hearing the conversation, and explained, "There is a difference between teleporting within the same universe and traveling between universes."
She didn't elaborate further, aware of the need for discretion at that moment. The practice of multiversal travel was not something that could be casually shared among all the trainees.
As for Gwen, Gu Yi continued, "It seems you have great potential with magic, Gwen."
Russell raised an eyebrow at the praise. Was Gu Yi implying that his teaching was effective?
Gwen smiled back at the Ancient One. "Thank you, Master Gu Yi. But, just out of curiosity, is it okay that Russell is teaching me? Will it cause any issues?"
Gu Yi reassured her, "It's fine, Gwen. Russell is the future Supreme Mage and has the right to teach. However, if you're serious about magic, I would recommend consulting another Ancient One back on Earth-65."
Russell felt a twinge of irritation. He'd caught the underlying implication in Gu Yi's words.
"Master, you said I'm the future Supreme Mage and have the authority to teach, and I like that. But, telling Gwen to go learn from someone else while I'm right here? Not so happy about that," Russell muttered to himself.
Ignoring his discontent, Gu Yi turned to Gwen, "Let me teach you about the magical language and incantations, as we travel through Kamar-Taj."
Russell scowled, but the voice of the Ancient One continued, receding into the distance.
"This language of magic has existed since the dawn of civilization. Long ago, it was called 'incantation' by the Sorcerer Supremes. Mages use it to channel energy from other dimensions and cast spells. Without the knowledge of these words, one cannot use magic."
Russell's brow furrowed. Books? Incantations? Spells to recite?
Wasn't magic just about using energy? Watching how it flowed and then replicating it?
Lost in thought, Russell tried to process what he had just learned. Perhaps his method of spellcasting was different from the standard one used by other mages.
If Whitebeard Ancient One were here, he would have understood the discrepancy immediately.
Yes, Russell's way of casting spells was unique. Most mages had to pay a price—energy, usually—to access spells. It was like renting magic from an external source. They didn't truly own it.
Russell, however, plagiarized—he used energy to copy, replicate, and cast spells, thereby "owning" the magic. In the magical world, no one would sue him for this.
This posed a new challenge for Russell. He had intended to teach and eventually recruit Supreme Mages to assist him once the Ancient One retired. But how could he teach others if they didn't share the same approach?
Wait... Russell suddenly had a realization. The issue wasn't with the teaching. It was with the students.
To form his own Supreme Mage Corps, Russell knew he would need to select his candidates carefully. The path forward was clear: the composition of his Corps was about to change.
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