"I need your mind magic, teleportation magic, energy shield magic, and invisibility magic!" Aaron stated, his voice calm but insistent.
Amora's brows twitched at his demand. Her tone shot up in surprise: "What? You're asking me to teach you magic?"
"Otherwise? What did you think I was going to do?" Aaron replied, his gaze unwavering.
Amora scoffed, "I thought… well, I'm unlucky this time, aren't I? I'm so foolish, going out of my way to help you."
She looked utterly resigned to her fate.
What could she do? She was in no position to argue. The situation was dire, and Aaron was using every bit of leverage he had.
To learn magic, Aaron had come straight to her doorstep, threatening to dismantle her humanity if she didn't comply.
Brother, if you want to learn magic, you could have just asked!
They were both teacher and student in this twisted exchange.
But Amora chose to forget the part where she had tried to fool Aaron with "useless" magic.
Truth be told, she hadn't anticipated the explosive power of the magic she'd taught him. The combination of illusions and energy blasts had been devastating in Aaron's hands.
And then, there was Psychokinesis. The simple mental magic she'd once dismissed had completely shattered her energy shield.
It had dawned on Amora that there was no such thing as "useless magic"—only people who didn't know how to wield it.
What others saw as "trivial" magic was, in Aaron's hands, a weapon of immense power.
"I can teach you magic, but I won't teach you invisibility magic," she added after a moment of hesitation.
"Huh?" Aaron raised an eyebrow.
Amora quickly elaborated: "It's not that I don't want to teach you—it's that I don't know it myself. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been caught in your illusion."
She sighed before continuing, "Invisibility magic isn't from Asgard—it's from the Warner Protoss."
"In all of Asgard, only Frigga and Loki know how to use it. Odin probably does too."
Aaron listened, nodding in understanding.
Although the Warner Protoss had a reputation in the Marvel Universe, they were hardly the strongest race. Their brief appearance was overshadowed by the greater conflicts of the realm. Yet, despite their downfall, their magic was formidable, especially when it came to manipulating perception and hiding one's presence.
Amora had dropped a few key names. Loki, Frigga, and possibly Odin himself. That meant Aaron could aim for one of them if he really wanted to master the art of invisibility.
"But," Aaron mused aloud, "I can still get what I need from you. Teleportation and energy shield magic. These are high-level magics—ones Loki himself hasn't mastered yet."
Amora frowned, slightly taken aback by Aaron's calm composure. She had expected him to be more frustrated by the setback, but instead, he seemed strangely content.
Wait... this isn't even a major problem for him.
Aaron's enthusiasm shifted toward the Asgardian teleportation magic, which, despite its limitations in distance, was a rare and powerful form of magic. He wasn't bothered by the short-range teleportation—it was a small hurdle for someone with enough time and energy.
As for the energy shield magic, he saw it as the perfect solution to his defensive weaknesses.
"For now," Aaron said, "let's begin. We don't need to remove the illusion just yet, do we?"
Amora gave him a helpless shrug. "You're right. If I'm going to teach you, we should start now."
And so, the lessons began.
[You have performed portal magic seriously and gained some knowledge. Portal magic proficiency +1]
[You have performed energy shield magic seriously and gained some knowledge. Energy shield magic proficiency +1]
Aaron's magical growth was steady and rapid. With each passing hour, he grew more proficient in the arts Amora had taught him. In addition to teleportation and energy shields, he began to learn the mind charm magic that Amora had mastered—a form of enchantment that allowed her to control others' minds and read their thoughts.
Mind charm magic wasn't just about love potions—it had the more potent abilities of mind control and manipulation. Amora had crafted her version of the spell to suit her own needs, using her special physique to amplify the effect. But there were limits—she couldn't charm women, especially powerful ones like Sif, nor could she control gods like Odin.
In the back of her mind, Amora began to question her role in all of this.
Why not just give in fully? Why not let Aaron have everything he wants?
The absurdity of the thought hit her like a wave. She had been a teacher, trying to keep her dignity intact, but now, she was the one being used as a tool for his greater ambitions.
Her thoughts spiraled, and an idea formed in her mind.
Should I just vote directly?
Her mind flitted from one possibility to the next, but one thing was clear: the magic Aaron was learning wasn't just going to make him more powerful—it was going to change the entire game.