Of Mind and Magic

Chapter 2

Fifteen-year-old Hadrian Grey sat in his room in Kamar-Taj, the mystical monastery run by The Ancient One to train all who lived there in the mystic arts. An icy breeze swept through the room's rectangular window wrapping around his lean muscular body.

Energy leached out of his body phasing through the walls as it reached high into the sky. It slammed into a dome covering the monastery. A frown crossed Harry's features. The monastery was a great place to train, but the barrier that hid the building didn't allow it to be sensed by outside sources, which also kept his magic from sensing the outside world.

Shifting his body, he allowed the tension to drain from his shoulders. Over the past five years he had discovered that the constant use of Psionic magic to reinforce his body had strengthened his muscles and made his bones denser. Slowly he released a breath and opened his eyes, revealing lightly glowing blue orbs.

Moving out of his cross-legged position, his knees popped as he rose to his feet.

Stepping forward he removed his dark blue robe from a peg on the wall before sliding it over his upper body.

It matched well with the loose grey pants draped over his lower body. Grabbing the white sash, he tied it into a knot with practiced ease, his gaze lingering on the envelope his mother had given him before her death.

Moving over to the small desk at the end of his straw bed, he pulled out the chair. Sliding into it he let his gaze sweep the small room.

The people of Kamar-Taj lived simply, with the monastery being in the Tibetan mountains they couldn't exactly go to a store to pick up what they needed.

A simple straw bed, complete with a thin blanket and pillow lay in the far top corner of the room. A small table set against the opposite wall.

A foot away from the end of the bed sat his desk. A small recess carved out of the wall with his own magic sat just above the desk holding this month's books taken from the monasteries library.

Wong the monasteries librarian liked Harry, but he was very protective of the books, only allowing him to take a few at a time under oath that they would be returned in pristine condition.

Shaking his head, he turned to look down at the letter. Despite wanting to keep it, he wanted to honor his mother's last wish, so he had given the letter to The Ancient One for safe keeping, until the man deemed him strong enough.

He picked it up, spinning it over in his hands, the seal wasn't broken. There was no magical aura around it, so The Ancient One hadn't opened it. He didn't think the man would, but he was also the paranoid sort.

Slipping his thumb underneath the top of the envelope, he broke the seal flicking out the parchment within.

Gringotts transfer papers.

Account name – Lily Evans Grey.

Assets within account – fifteen thousand galleons +50,000 pounds from husband's life insurance +10,000 from husband's killed in line of duty fund.

Total assets transferring to a mundane bank – 134,550 pounds,

Properties owned by Lily Evans Grey – Brownstone on Baker St., Manhattan New York.

Harry sat down the paper; he remembered the place on Baker Street. His mother took him there before they went to Gringotts. She had already moved most of their stuff there. He glanced at the money transferred to Jamison's bank in New York.

His mother wasn't stupid when it came to money, he would have to go to the bank and check out how it had grown over the past five years,

Reaching for the second piece of parchment in the envelope, Harry flipped it open.

Lineage for Annataz Arataz/Lily Evans Grey,

John Arataz, father,

John Grey Senior, father-in-law,

Elaine Grey, mother-in-law,

John Grey Junior, husband,

Liam Grey, brother-in-law,

Roger Grey, brother-in-law,

Sara Grey, sister-in-law,

Julia Grey, sister-in-law,

Jean Grey, sister-in-law/husband's female extra dimensional counterpart.

Harry stared at the words husband's female extra dimensional counterpart. What on earth did that mean, did his father come from another universe like his mother, if so why didn't his mother send him to be with his father's family. He shook his head; there were too many questions here. If he wanted answers he was going to have to go visit his family.

A knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts, "Come in."

The door slowly slid open, revealing The Ancient One. The old man looked around him with half closed brown eyes before finally settling his gaze on Harry.

The man hadn't changed in the past five years. He was still tall and rail thin with heavily wrinkled tan skin. A long white beard cut his torso in half, resting against the black shirt beneath the crimson robes, the ropes golden embroidery sparkled in the sparse candlelight of the room.

Harry flicked his hand, the single candle sitting on the corner of his desk multiplied four times, before floating to the four corners of the room. "Is there something I can help you with sensei?"

"I need you to test a new initiate for me?" The Ancient One replied, his voice showing none of the weakness of his outward appearance.

Harry raised an eyebrow, "Oh." The Ancient One usually kept him away from the others of the monastery. He took his oath to his mother very seriously, training him in private with Wong assisting with physical combat.

Sliding his chair back, he rose to his feet, "Who am I fighting?"

"Stephen Strange," the two exited the room.

Stepping into a long hallway, the two walked side-by-side.

Harry noticing for the first time he was an inch taller than The Ancient One. A smile tugged at his lips, looks like he wouldn't have to look up as much anymore.

He glanced around him, pillars made of grey rock sat equally spaced throughout the hallway, in between each pillar was a door leading to another room. Long shadows stretched the hallway, kept at bay by torches mounted to the pillars. They walked in silence with only the sound of their shoes gliding across well-worn brown stone breaking it.

"So, what can you tell me about this Stephen Strange?"

"He is a physician who lost the delicate use of his hands. He came here hoping I could repair them. When I told him I couldn't, he turned to leave, only to turn back when he saw the Barons attack."

Harry's hands curled into fists, Baron Mordo had attack The Ancient One in order to claim his power, he shook his head, he still didn't understand how that worked, since each Sorcerer Supreme had their own power.

He failed, but if it's one thing he couldn't stand its traitors, especially those that worked against the man who had taken him in after his mother's death.

Pain flared in his chest, even after five years he still wasn't over his mother's death, an image of her body lying in a pool of blood flashed through his mind, he shook his head, advancing his skills in the mystic arts helped, but he still missed her.

They stopped before a set of large wooden doors; The Ancient One thrust his hand forward, releasing a small blast of force that pushed the doors open.

Walking down a set of stone steps, Harry took in the grounds before him. People in grey robes stood in four neat rows. All performing the technique Wong was showing them. A stone wall ran around the courtyard, the magic of the monastery regulating the temperature in this part of the grounds.

Whispers broke out as the two stepped onto the stone path weaving through the garden.

Tension bled into Harry's shoulders at the attention, for the longest time he had been a not so well-kept secret. Now, he was out in the open, known to the world for the first time in five years.

"Class is over for today," The Ancient One announced, "you all may rest."

As the students filed out, The Ancient One called to a man at the end of the line, "Stephen, stay for a moment." The man moved out of line to take up a position in front of The Ancient One.

Folding his arms behind his back, Harry eyed the man.

Stephen strange was tall, two inches taller than Harry's own six feet. Shaggy dark hair brushed the collar of his robes. Grey hair at his temples gave him a somewhat disheveled but distinguished look. A beard curled around his jaw, ending in an unkempt point that draped off his chin.

Grey eyes sized Harry up with interest.

He raised a hand wrapped in bandages, offering it to Harry.

"I am Stephen Strange."

"Hadrian Grey, but you can call me Harry."

"Well Harry, it's nice to meet you, I didn't realize there were any teens around here." He aimed the last part of his statement at The Ancient One.

The corner of The Ancient One's lips curved, "Harry is a special case. As a matter of fact, today he is going to help me test whether you are ready to begin the next level of your training."

Both glanced at The Ancient One, "What?"

The Ancient One exhaled, his body seeming to shrink in upon itself. "I believe it's time for you to begin your journey towards your destiny, Harry. Think of this is your final test to ease an old man's worries about you being able to defend yourself."

"Stephen you have the most potential of anyone I've ever seen barring Harry himself, I believe I know what your destiny will be, but I need to test your determination."

Both Stephen and Harry looked at each other before nodding. Together they moved into the center of the training ground.

The Ancient One stood off to the side three feet away, "Begin"

Stephen spread his feet apart launching a whip of golden energy at Harry with a flick of his wrist.

Harry sidestepped the whip a light blue aura swirling around him before sinking into his flesh, hardening his body. He launched himself towards his opponent nothing more than a blur to the naked eye. He thrust his fist forward, only for it to impact a shield.

Spinning on his right foot, he brought his left leg around in a kick. It slammed home in Stephen's ribs, sending him skidding sideways.

With his telepathic mind, Harry felt Stephen reach out with his will. He jumped back just as rock spikes burst out of the ground. Bending his knees on impact with the ground, he eyed his opponent.

He was more skilled in magic then he had anticipated, just how long had he been in his own little world. How much had he missed about the world?

Stephen eyed the boy before him, he was six feet tall with light blue eyes the color of ice and short red hair. Judging by his arms, defined muscle covered his body. He circled the boy, his dark blue robe fluttering in the breeze.

His beard twitched as his lips curled upwards. For so long things had been easy for him when it came to study, just put in enough effort, read enough books and he would succeed. However, now he finally had a challenge in a field he never knew existed.

Pulling energy into his body, he thrust his hand forward, blue bolts of electricity exploded from his palm, racing to close the distance between him and his teenage opponent.

Harry spun on his left foot, dragging his right along the ground, a smooth square stone shield rose up to defend him, only to explode on impact with the lightning, sending light brown dust wafting on the breeze.

Harry raised his arms. Jagged bits of earth stinging his flesh as they sliced open his skin. Exhaling, he sent Psionic magic to his wounds, wincing at the pulling sensation as the skin grew shut.

Movement behind him sent him spinning around, his hand shooting down to clamp around Stephen's wrist.

Breathing in through his nose, Harry began pulling the magic flowing through the man's arm into his body.

The fireball in his hand winked out as permafrost began crawling up his arm. The two stared at each other, small smirks on their faces.

Stephen twisted his body, preparing to bring his free arm around in a punch.

Feeling the shift in weight, Harry pushed his power outward, creating a light blue barrier that clung to his body like a second skin.

"Enough," The Ancient One called striding forward a bit of rock dust on his loose purple pants.

Releasing Stephen's arm, Harry stepped back glancing at the man, "Are you sure sensei? I can keep going."

"So can I," Stephen agreed.

The Ancient One smiled, "You may be able to keep going, but I would like my monastery to continue existing after your battle," he gestured around him.

The two looked around them. Grass had been torn up, leaving behind large swaths of bare earth. Two large holes accented them, left behind by the conjurations.

Harry looked at The Ancient One, a sheepish expression sliding across his face, "Sorry sensei." With a flick of his hand, a light blue aura washed from his palm fixing the damage.

The Ancient One inclined his head, "Thank you, but I could've always had the initiates do it to help build their strength."

Harry winced, phantom pains flaring in his back as he remembered the work he had done as an initiate.

"Now," The Ancient One continued, "for the reason of this battle, Stephen Strange, for some time now I have been looking for a replacement, you show potential only surpassed by one other," he glanced at Harry, "will you take up the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme and defend the earthly plane against the dark forces that threaten it?"

Stephen stood there stunned, when he first arrived here. It was all about fixing his hand so he could return to his previous life. Once he saw what The Ancient One could do, he felt the pull, he knew magic somehow equated to his destiny, but he wasn't expecting this.

Clearing his throat, he glanced at the boy, Harry, "I accept."

Harry stepped forward, offering Stephen his hand. He wasn't upset Stephen was chosen to be the new Sorcerer Supreme, he knew when he arrived here Sorcerer Supreme was not his destiny. He didn't exactly know what his destiny was, but he knew it wasn't being Sorcerer Supreme, "Congratulations."

Stephen shook his hand, a smile spreading across his face, "If you ever want another spar come and find me."

"Count on it."

"Hadrian John grey, for the past five years I have trained you in the mystic arts preparing you for an unknown destiny. With this battle, I see you are ready to go out into the world. Go forth with my blessing and know that you always have a home here at Kamar-Taj."

Harry inclined his head, a dull ache in his chest, this place had never been like the home he shared with his mother, but it was a home. He would miss it.

"Thank you sensei."

"I am no longer your sensei. From now on you may call me Yao."

"Thank you Master Yao," Harry corrected bowing at the waste.

Straightening up, he moved passed The Ancient One a sense of excitement filling him at what the future would hold.