Spectre's Chronicles: Chap #14

As I stepped out of the circular portal, my eyes widened in wonder as I took in the incredible sight before me.

Everywhere I looked, practitioners of the Mystic Arts were engaged in rigorous training with their masters.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and awe as I surveyed my surroundings. It was surreal to be here, but then again, I am in the Marvel universe. There are more fascinating things to see in this world.

"Daymn," I murmured, my voice filled with wonder.

"It is indeed a sight to behold," agreed Master Mordo, his tone serious. "But, Mr. Spectre, you did not come here for sightseeing, I believe?"

Startled out of my reverie, I turned to face the stern-faced master. He was right, of course.

I had not come here to gawk at the mystical wonders of this place. I had come here to learn, to hone my abilities, and in the process, learn the mystic arts and find out everything I can about my existence.

"You're right, Master Mordo," I said, my voice resolute.

Master Mordo nodded approvingly. "Come, let me show you to your quarters. We'll begin your training tomorrow."

With that, he turned and led the way down a winding path that led to a cluster of small, humble buildings. As we walked, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and nervousness.

As I stepped into the small room, the scent of freshly hewn wood filled my nostrils.

The room was sparse, with only a small bed crafted from the same wood as the walls and a small table resting beside it.

The rough-hewn planks of the walls and floor added to the rustic charm of the space. It was clear that this room was not built for luxury but for functionality.

I walked over to the bed and ran my hand over its surface, feeling the rough grains of the wood beneath my fingertips.

Despite its simplicity, the bed appeared sturdy, as if it was crafted by skilled hands. The small table, too, was unadorned, with no frills or embellishments to distract from its purpose as a place to set objects.

As I took in the simple surroundings, I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace settle over me.

It was a stark contrast to the bustling chaos of the outside world. Here, in this modest space, everything felt still and quiet.

As I stepped into the small room, Master Mordo followed behind me, his eyes scanning my every move. The wooden floor creaked beneath my weight as I walked towards the small bed tucked against the wall. It was rudimentary but comfortable, with clean sheets and a plump pillow.

Master Mordo cleared his throat, drawing my attention to him. "This will be your room during your stay here," he said, his voice low and even. "It's not much, but it will suffice for now."

"It's perfect," I said, smiling up at him.

I nodded, taking in my surroundings. The room was sparsely furnished, with only a small table beside the bed. I turned to Master Mordo and noticed him holding out a piece of paper toward me.

'Ah, yes. The famous wifi password...' I pondered, taking the paper from him. I looked up and noticed him seemingly expecting something out of my reaction.

'This... are you serious?' I thought, speechless at his action. However, I still decided to amuse him. "Umm, what's this?" I asked him.

As soon as he heard my question, he nodded in satisfaction. "That's our wifi password. We're not savages, y'know?" he said with a satisfied smirk.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I must attend to some other matters. You may rest here for the time being, and I will return to fetch you to Ancient One when it is time to begin your training," he said before closing the wooden door of my room, leaving me to my own devices.

...................

The Ancient One stood before me, her wise eyes peering deeply into my own. "The language of the mystic arts is as old as civilization," she began, her voice low and measured.

"The sorcerers of antiquity called the use of this language 'spells'. But, knowing that you're knowledgeable in the ways of technology, you can call it a 'program'. The source code that shapes reality."

I listened intently to her words. It's pretty much the same explanation that she gave to Dr. Strange in the movie, but I can't just skip this, or she will be cautious wondering why I want to skip it.

"We harness energy drawn from other dimensions of the multiverse," she continued, "to cast spells, conjure shields, and weapons to make... magic!" As she finished saying that, she flexed the magical construct that she made, causing it to flicker intensely, with wisps of energy surrounding the air, some touching my skin.

I looked at the Ancient One with a curious expression. "You say dimension, but... where exactly, Master?" I asked, eager to learn more about the intricacies of magic.

"Some spells draw energy from specific dimensions according to their functionality," she explained, her tone even and measured. "While spells like this only need free strands of energy from different dimensions for it to work."

I nodded, trying my best to

absorb the information she was giving me. "I see," I said, contemplating the implications of her words. "What about the mirror dimension? Do you draw energy from them too?"

Ancient One's expression turned grave at my question. "Not without care," she said firmly.

"Why?" I pressed, my curiosity piqued.

"It's because musn't," she replied, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"The mirror dimension could be said to be an alternate reality of our universe." She raised her hand and waved it, causing orange disk constructs to appear. She raised both of her hands and faced them towards each other, then suddenly, a mirror-like object that looked like an 11-sided dice, an icosahedron if you will, appeared in the middle of her spell, levitating and moving in abstract patterns.

"Meddling with such reality could lead to catastrophic events, events that may well be connected to the Multiverse." As she said those words, the icosahedron mirror multiplied itself from its own mirror until there are countless of them surrounding the two of us.

I touched the constructs only to find my finger slipping into them. I looked at the Ancient One with a questioning look.

"Illusion." With one word from her, a look of realization immediately took place on my face.

I looked at the Ancient One with a questioning gaze, unsure of what to make of her statement. The wise sorceress met my eyes with a calm expression, her hands folded in her lap.

"Is that the way you're telling me to be careful in using my abilities?"

"Exactly," she replied, her voice measured and deliberate. "With great power comes great responsibility, as the saying goes."

I furrowed my brow in thought, my mind racing with the implications of her words. I had always believed that being the master of the mirror dimension would deprive me of any consequences of using it. But the Ancient One's warning had given me pause.

"I understand," I said slowly, my tone serious. "I'll do my best to use my abilities wisely."

The Ancient One nodded, her expression softening slightly. "I have faith in you, young Lukas," she said. "But remember, the consequences of your actions will affect not only yourself but also those around you."

"Now, that we've finished our introduction, how about you open your eye?" she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper as she reached out to touch my forehead.

"..." I looked at her with a deadpan gaze. I already knew what she wants to do, but Mr. Stan Lee has already given that experience to me.

"Open your eye!" she repeated, this time with a shout, her frustration evident in her voice. She looked at my deadpan gaze with confusion.

"..."

"It doesn't seem to work on you..." she whispered to herself, her confusion evident. "I guess being a R̸͗̔e̸̜̭̋̚c̷̃̓̈͝o̸̞͕͕̰̜͂̚r̸̳̲̋̉́͝d̵̻͕̼͍̏͠ĕ̴͒ does have some benefits. It seems like I can't force your mind and soul out of your body. Fascinating..." She continued with an interesting visible in her eyes.

I straightened my posture with a sense of pride, but it was quickly replaced with annoyance when she spoke again.

"What a way to take my amusement..." she said, mischief glinting in her eyes.

And so, my first lesson with the Ancient One began. Though she didn't seem too strict at first, I knew that this was only the beginning of what was to come.