Chapter 9: Tipping Points
Friendship was never an easy thing for me.
I had always been the kind of person to blast my mouth of at others, and often what I said tended to push people away, despite my attempts to socialize.
Looking back, I can sort of understand why it had been difficult for me to be accepted by others.
Back at the orphanage I'd always been the small runt of the litter, but I'd also been the most loud and rambunctious (AHA! See? My reading and re-education is paying off). I always stood up to Bill and Milly, the married couple who owned and run the orphanage (badly I might add), whenever they tried to bully us all into submission.
As such, most of the other orphans there wanted to keep their heads down and survive as quietly and as they could to avoid punishment. Needless to say, they avoided being associated with me at all costs in order to achieve this.
When I was on the streets it was slightly different. There was more human contact…but less innocence or humanity.
Whilst there was no danger of Milly and Bill locking me in a tiny cupboard with no food or water for hours as punishment, there was still a sense of danger and hostility around every street corner. But unlike the orphanage, I had the option of running far away if I needed to get out of trouble.
If I did meet the occasional person who was sympathetic they were usually other homeless people who understood my predicament, but often I only saw them once and never ever again.
All of this changed when I was brought to Kamar-Taj.
First, I had to stay with Stephen, share a room and bathroom and even for some time, classes.
Despite our rocky start, not having to worry about someone trying to do me in when I slept, not having to eat alone, having someone to talk or even bicker with…was actually kinda nice.
I never realized how much I missed normal human contact.
I also never realized how much I missed having people smile at me, a thing that had only happened to me a handful of times before when I was younger.
So, I guess you can say, when I became friends with Meeta, Arthur and Cassian, I was beyond happy…
Or at least I would have been if not for Cassian and his charming smile…
Damn that boy and his good looks.
Anyways speaking of relationships, before my world almost crashed around my head, Stephen and I…well we had to face our own challenges…the first tremors before the big earthquake so to speak.
Everyone knows that when you live together with someone over a certain amount of time, the arguments, whilst they may become fewer for some, tend to also become far deeper and about far less trivial matters…
Like our first one…though that technically was not started by either of us. And neither was it really an argument.
Though it still hurt all the same.
She was floating…
But at the same time, she was falling.
It was the oddest sensation, as if someone had pushed her into deep water, her limbs floating gently around her as something dragged her body downwards.
And yet she was not in water…but air.
Huh? I wonder if this is what it's like to be in outer space?
She wondered and with a gargantuan effort Olivia "Via" Summers opened her eyes.
The space around her was strange.
The sky…or at least the space above her head, looked blurred and yet clear with something like strange colors swirling around.
She was briefly reminded of that Van Gogh painting of the "Starry Night", pictures of which she could remember seeing from her homeless days as promotional posters outside a big museum. In addition to these swirling masses of color, elements of Salvador Dali's melting clocks and strange worlds were also appearing on the edge of her vision.
Except instead of clocks, it was masses of rock, or at least something that resembled rock that was constantly stretching and melting, not like lava, but more like sluggishly slow wet glutinous clay as they hovered above and around one another and around her.
"Ah…there you are"
Via squeaked slightly as what felt like a hand suddenly appeared out of nowhere and pulled her up to stand.
She reached round to grab its owner only to stop dead in her tracks.
"YOU!" she screeched.
Behind her was a woman, her red skin old and wrinkled, her wizened features bird like with a sharp beaky nose and dark beady eyes that peeked out from under wispy white hair.
"Hello child. It's been a while" Fala smiled warmly as she beheld the young girl before her, poking her lightly with her crooked walking stick "You've got some more meat on those bones I see. And your hair's shining like the sun. Life in Kamar-Taj definitely suits you more than life on those cold streets."
Via took a step back, her mouth opening and shutting like a gaping fish as she spluttered.
"B-but you-you're dead-h-h-how-"
"Am I here?" Fala finished, her smirk widening. "Well you see, I never truly died. Or rather I'm not truly alive right now, at least not in the physical sense."
"Y-you're projecting yourself?" Via gaped "As in this is your-"
"Astral form, yes you could call it that" Fala shrugged. "You see, moments before Kaesilius dealt the final blow I just managed to bring myself here. However, unlike before, I didn't have the Web of Asibikaashi and so I couldn't bring my body along with me. So, I am dead, and this astral form of mine lives on here in dreams and cannot move on as other mundane people might say"
"B-But you can do magic" Via waved her arms around "You're a sorcerer, aren't you? Surely you must have a-a sling ring or something to get out-"
"The Sling ring does not work when you are in your astral form." Fala explained patiently "As does most magic. Much of the mystic arts you and I learn requires energy to be drawn from a body in the physical realm. Once the connection between astral and physical is broken, so too is your connection to your magic. And as my body is dead, I have no power to move between realities, just as I have no power to face that"
"To face what exactly?" Via frowned only to wince as the old woman forcibly yanked her chin around to look behind herself.
"That"
Via stopped herself from shrieking in terror, but only because she had clutched a hand over her mouth in horror.
It was Stephen, curled up in a fetal position on the floor, ground (or whatever the surface beneath their feet was). He was clutching at his hands, both covered in blood which poured from deep gushing cuts, all his fingers twisted in some form or another. Some only slightly bent out of shape whilst others were at horrible unnatural angles.
But that wasn't the worst of it.
There, just above his body, a dark shadow was hovering. It didn't have any definable shape, it just seemed to be a mass of black with two white eyes and two claw like appendages sticking out from the mass. Each one was wrapped around the doctor's hands, and squeezing them painfully, further cracking the already broken and fractured limbs.
"Stop it!" Via yelled as Stephen gave an uncharacteristically loud wail of pain. But his torturer continued as if it hadn't heard her, its grip tightening even more.
"STOP IT! STOP HURTING HIM!"
"It will not stop" Fala sighed sadly as she grabbed Via's arm to stop her rushing forwards "It draws strength from his fears, and your own terror now as well"
"What do you mean draw strength? What is that-that thing?" Via felt a shiver run through her as the shadow squeezed Stephen's hand yet again. She shut her eyes as she heard the sickening crack of bone breaking and the cry of pain.
Fala however remained unfazed, though her tone was sympathetic as she said:
"A nightmare. A powerful one your friend's own making. And you will never save him from it by simply yelling at it"
"Then what do I do?" Via cried out, flinching as Stephen's next yell pierced straight through her eardrums and brain.
"What you must do oh Spider Sorceress" Fala straightened up, her walking stick prodding at the dream-catcher on the young girl's chest.
Via looked down at it too.
It was glowing bright. Both the web and the small stone in its center.
"Wait-what do you mean what I must -" Via looked up, only to see nothing but the strangely swirling surroundings. "do…"
Fala…was gone.
"Oh come on!" Via yelled only to wince as another shriek of pain hit her ears.
"AHH!"
She wheeled back around just in time to see the strange black shadow grab now at Stephen's wrists, its grip twisting slowly and painfully.
Via could practically feel the fractures forming even from where she stood, and made to run forwards only to stop short as she found herself teetering over the edge of an endless drop.
"Well that's just convenient" she hissed to herself as she watched the now severed island of stone with the nightmare and its victim begin to float away from where she stood.
"how to get across? How to get across" she murmured to herself as she looked around herself.
But there were no bridges, no structures of any kind. Only chunks of half molten rocks floating beneath, around her sides and -
She looked up as a shadow passed over her head.
One large rock was slowly sliding over her, twisting and morphing in on itself like some grotesque fluid playdough, that was shiny and reflected the glimmer of blue from the dream-catcher around her neck.
She looked down at it with a scowl.
"Some help you are. Calling me the Spider Sorceress, hmph! just what the hell does that…that…" …mean…" she trailed off as she looked back up to the rock.
As she did so a memory of a ceiling, a pillar and dropping came to mind.
"Spider…" She breathed as she caught sight of the web like weave of the trinket reflect above her.
Would it work though? Last time she didn't even know she was hanging upside down. Heck last time she hadn't even planned it to happen.
But she had to try at least.
Teeth gritting as she heard a faint yell of pain floating further and further away, she bent her knees and clenched her fists.
"Okay…three…two…one-NOW!"
She leapt up…only to stack it as her foot caught in a snag of rock.
"Well that was swell." She hissed as she gingerly got up to her feet, still mumbling frantically under her breath.
"Come on Via, focus. You gotta get this right or else…. You just gotta get this right" she shook her head out as she bent her legs.
This time, she knew it had worked even before her toes had left the ground. She had felt the hum of energy as it gently pulsed through her…felt her hands stick as they reached up, her palms hitting the rough rock surface.
Then suddenly as her legs found purchase she felt gravity shift and the entire world seemed to right itself in her eyes.
It took her a second of shaking her head out again to realize that as she stood up, Stephen and his Nightmare were both drifting away above her head, both upside down.
"Now this is super trippy" she muttered as she broke into a run on the newly found ground, all the while craning her neck to keep an eye on her upside-down quarry (or was it right way up? She couldn't be sure anymore which was right)
Soon she reached them only to stop dead in her tracks as a thought suddenly hit her.
Just how was she going to get down.
However, she was soon spared the trouble of thinking of that when the dark shadow below her suddenly seemed to look up. Or at least it looked like it was looking up because it had no discernable head, eyes or body that she could see…or hands for that matter.
And yet something dark and shadowy did shoot up and grab her around the middle.
With a cry of surprise that mingled with Stephen's own whimper of pain, she felt herself come crashing down to the ground below.
"AH!" she grunted as suddenly her face was peeled off the stone below, (which did feel remarkably solid despite its strange fluidity) and was quickly raised up again.
This time she could see the dark blackened appendage that held onto her, a strange tar like substance that wrapped around her chest like a boa constrictor.
She reached up to grab it with a hand, not noticing the way it glowed golden just before she touched the dark substance until-
The sound that came from the black mass was unlike any she had ever heard.
It sounded like the roaring of an ocean mixed with that of a lion (or was that a bear she couldn't tell) and the scream of someone in pain.
It mingled horribly with Stephen's own yells of agony as it, like him, clutched at itself, it's strange attachments of darkness curling in on themselves.
All save one, the one that held Via. But that, she soon realized, could not let go of her no matter how hard it tried.
For from her hand, the golden glow began to spread.
Via watched in astonishment as the energy trickled down in golden drops.
At first the trails seemed random, then she saw them connect.
One after the other, gentle curves and lines connected, weaving an intricate net around the dark shape which tried desperately to pull away from her body. But it was no use.
For as the golden web spread over it, it began to dissolve into dust…
Everything began to dissolve…including the thing that had held Via up over Stephen's now stirring form.
"AHH!"
"AHH!"
"GHA!"
Two voices yelled as both roommates jerked upright in bed, the older of the two the first to recover in a series of gasps and pants.
"What the hell was that?" Stephen wheeled around to stare at Via who was wiping her sweaty brow and pinching her nose.
The color drained from her face completely as she caught sight of his alarmed eyes, which instantly flickered down to the dream catcher that glimmered faintly on her chest.
"Stephen…" she gulped, but Stephen was already on his feet and was backing away. "I'm so sorry-I didn't mean to-"
"Didn't mean to what? Didn't mean to violate my privacy? To get into my head? How-how dare you-" Stephen spat, and Via was alarmed to see his hands sparking off as he tried to summon magic to them.
"Stephen, no it's not like that-"
"Don't! Just-just don't!" he snapped as he backed away, his eyes too clouded by anger and confusion to notice the tears threatening to spill from her as he opened the door. "I need some air."
"Stephen wait" Via reached out but already he was out the door, which shut behind him with a snap.
Her head fell into her hands which grew wet with tears.
"…I'm sorry…"
Till this day, I still feel guilty about what happened that night. Even though I know I couldn't help it and that his reaction was only natural, a part of me does feel bad for interfering with his head, especially since it was only my first Dream Walk.
Back then I was just terrified that I had unintentionally betrayed whatever trust he had in me.
Nowadays, I am grateful that we both woke up when we did. I mean, if something had happened, like if I'd cast a strong spell whilst inside his dream and it did not hit the Nightmare, I could've quite literally broken Stephen's mind.
Even now when I must Dream-Walk, a part of me is still afraid to act when I need to.
The mind is both a dangerous and fragile place, and if one messes with it the wrong way, it can have disastrous consequences, both for the dream-walker but even more so for the dreamer.
I was just lucky Stephen has a stronger mind than most, one that would be difficult to damage or break.
I wish I could say the same for my own.
The dark shadow paused as it watched the tall figure of Doctor Stephen Strange stalk through the halls and out towards a courtyard.
There was no curfew at Kamar-Taj, or at least there was no curfew for those above the age of eighteen, but even so many masters and older acolytes and apprentices almost always chose to turn in early after a long day of training.
And yet as Stephen paused to lean against a cold pillar, he couldn't help but notice two masters on the higher walls casting strong and complex spells towards a dome of transparent energy that covered the entire monastery.
It had been happening for quite a while now, he had noticed. Every night, two masters would fuel the barrier, for barrier it was, and each time they would continue to add different spells to further its fortification.
Had he not heard some of the other students complaining about the strength and magnitude of the spellcasting, Stephen might have thought it ordinary security practice.
But even as he watched the two masters work, a part of him knew that whatever was going on in the outside world was getting worse, and that the Ancient One was battening down the hatches.
"Rough night?"
Stephen almost jumped about a foot in the air as he wheeled around.
Mordo was standing next to him, still fully garbed in his day clothes, his face tense and his eyes grim as he assessed his student who sighed.
"However, did you guess?"
How could I not guess?
Mordo frowned as he noted the pale clammy skin and the rather confused expression on the doctor's face. He knew that look all too well, as did probably half of Kamar-Taj.
"What happened with Olivia?"
Stephen stiffened where he stood.
"What makes you think anything happened with her?" he clipped defensively but Mordo was not deterred.
"Because you only ever look this rattled if either she's done something or something has happened to her"
Stephen was so tempted to glare and snap at the other man and he would have done, if he wasn't so god darn tired.
"That damn kid" he hissed as he pinched his nose "What on earth was she thinking? Getting into my head like that"
"Into your head?" Mordo's eyes narrowed sharply. "What do you mean inside your head?"
"She got inside my dreams somehow" Stephen grunted "And I mean she was literally inside them, not just as a vision but she was there as herself and she was aware of it. I've never seen anything like it, not even in my readings so far"
"I should think not" Mordo's brow furrowed even deeper. "Oneironautics, or if you would like to call it Dream-walking, is an obscure and unusual branch of magic that is difficult to learn. Very few, if any other than the Sorcerer Supreme, have ever succeeded in dream-walking successfully and without damage to the dreamer's psyche. How Olivia should know how to achieve this unconsciously-"
"It's that damn Dream-catcher she wears" Stephen growled, his palm slapping hard against a pillar "I swear that thing is more trouble than it's worth. I don't know whose bright idea it was to give it to a kid, but whoever did it sure didn't think through the consequences"
"Only because they didn't have time to" Mordo snapped, his eyes hardening to such a fierce glare that Stephen took a step back. "The woman who was its keeper was killed merely moments after she passed it on. And whilst I agree the arrangement was rushed, it has so far proven to be the best one."
"That doesn't matter" Stephen continued mulishly "she's still a kid. A kid who has yet to learn how to control her own emotions and head, let alone have the responsibility to control others minds-my mind." He gritted his teeth. "My head in the hands of a fourteen-year-old"
"Ah…I see it now" Mordo nodded as understanding seemed to dawn on him.
"See what?"
"All of this, is not anger at her. No, you are angry at yourself"
"I'm not angry at myself-"
"Yes, you are" Mordo sighed "Because you are afraid. All your inner demons, everything you have done that you feel is shameful, you hide in your head away from where you think everyone can see them. But now someone has found a way in, and you're scared that she will see you as you have made yourself, and that she'll be repulsed as you believe so many others have been"
"Don't think that just because you know me that you can see through me!" Stephen glared but Mordo only remained calm, indeed his eyes turned to sympathy.
"I do not need to be omnipresent to know that your pride is merely a smokescreen to conceal your insecurities. It is a ploy most people employ to hide themselves whether they are aware of it or not, and you are no exception."
He stepped away, hands folded behind his back.
"I am off to bed. I suggest you return to yours and rest. You have a long day tomorrow"
And with that he left, leaving Stephen to stare around the courtyard, yawning a little as he did.
Maybe I should go back to sleep.
But what if she gets into my head again?
Another small voice hissed in his head, but it was quickly squashed down by his tired brain.
You need sleep. You are exhausted.
"Damn it" he cursed as he turned on his heel and stalked back into the monastery, not noticing the shadow that followed him closely around every turn and twist.
The shadow's curiosity was spiked as it followed the doctor to the door of his rooms.
If what both the sorcerer and doctor said was true, then its prey was growing stronger. Stronger and more aware of her powers.
If she was to fully realize her potential before all was ready, then all the shadows and its master's plans would unravel.
It seems as if I might have to accelerate my plans
The shadow thought to itself as it slipped away from the door and back down the corridor and out of sight and knowing.
"And Stop"
Sweat beaded on Via's brow as she and Cassian pulled their training staffs away from each other and straightened up.
"Not bad" the latter grinned, a sight that would have made Via melt into a puddle of goop had she not been so puffed.
"Not bad yourself" She smirked wiping her brow and looking up at the sunny sky.
It was a hot day in Kamar-Taj, surprisingly so for autumn. Via was glad she was not wearing all the layers of the black tunic and pants that she was so fond of.
Ever since she and Stephen had managed to summon portals with the Sling Rings, they had both been granted the privileges of the properly initiated acolytes, which included a wider selection of acolyte clothes in colors other than the novices white.
So far, Via had enjoyed wearing the blue and black variations, occasionally utilizing the sashes or extra components of the other colored ensembles into them, depending on how she felt.
And today she felt downright glum.
It had been a few hours since her dream-walk and Stephen had not spoken a word to her since.
Not that Via expected him to.
She knew it would only be a matter of time before she screwed up and so far she hadn't failed to disappoint.
And so, in keeping with her dismal mood she'd dressed in the most drab colors she could find. A fitted black, sleeveless under tunic with matching pants, bindings, boots and fingerless gloves, with only a grey sash tied over her brown belted waist. Her blonde curls, that now hung at shoulder length, were tied back in a small messy but tight bun at the back of her head, revealing her toned arms.
Yet another part of her physique she had been pleased to discover that morning as she had dressed in front of the bathroom mirror. Three months ago, she had been a scrawny, underweight, pale kid with scraggly yellow hair and rather papery skin.
Whilst she never thought herself as beautiful by any stretch, she had to admit that now at least she was lean and healthy looking. Her skin glowed and had a slight tan, her hair was not dull anymore, heck she was even developing a small six-pack on her stomach and slender guns for arms.
A part of her wondered if after three more months at Kamar-Taj she'd even be able to recognize herself. Would she bald like the ancient one? Would she have runes tattooed on her skin like one of the masters that taught her?
But then she was comforted as she considered her reflection again and saw that her blue eyes were exactly the same as ever.
The same eyes that now narrowed slightly as Cassian approached her.
"Hey, don't mean to be rude or anything but I just noticed something while we were fighting. May I?" he pointed to her.
"Sure" she gulped, half from nerves and half from…well from something else entirely.
Either way she felt her cheeks heat up like the sun above as Cassian walked to stand behind her, before bringing his hands forward to wrap around hers.
"When you strike try to bring your arms back into your body straight afterwards. Like this" he gently pulled her arms back so that they were at a comfortable but close distance from her body. "See? that way if you need to defend yourself or attack again quickly you won't have to move so much and waste energy."
"Okay…" Via did her best to ignore the small shiver that went up her spine as his chest gently pressed against her back as he chuckled.
"Don't worry, it's easy to forget. I was very unlucky to have to remember it the hard way"
"What happened? Did Meeta smash you by accident?"
"No thank god for that. I mean don't get me wrong, Meeta's my friend and I love her to bits but training with her can be a code red safety hazard."
"She's code red for you? Damn then what happened with Arty must be like…code black or something" Via smirked, glad for the memory of last week to pop up in her head to replace the morose thoughts of that morning.
Meeta, for all her hard-working attitude, was clumsy with weapons or fighting in general, even though she had a mean slap that she usually spared for the back of Arthurs', and occasionally Cassian's perfect, head. Only last week she had apparently hit the former full in the privates by accident when he had come to check her progress on the wooden Wing Chun practice dummy.
And so, it was with a small wince of sympathetic pain that both teens chuckled, Via turning her head back to look at him.
From this angle, she could see the way his brown eyes and his equally dark hair shone with a golden sheen in the light, highlighting his smiling eyes.
The sight of them made her feel calm, reassured but oddly enough, it made her feel safe…If only she could feel this safe again when back in her room.
"Y'know I know it probably sounds crazy and I've only known you guys for a couple of weeks but…" She mumbled quietly "I'm kinda glad to have friends like you guys"
"You make it sound like you've never had any friends before us" Cassian chuckled only to stop dead in his tracks as Via did not answer.
"What? You're kidding? Seriously no friends?"
"As pathetic as it sounds, nope. None" Via shrugged shouldering him in the chin. "Oh, crap sorry. You okay?"
"I'm okay" Cassian rubbed his chin as she wheeled around to face him, her hands flying to his face as she tilted it for inspection.
"So, will I live?" he sniggered and was not disappointed when Via quirked a brow at him.
"Firstly, I'm not a doctor, and two if it was life threatening I wouldn't do this" and with that she playfully slapped both his cheeks.
"Hey" Cassian laughed grabbing at her as she began to lightly slap at his sides with her staff. Eventually he caught both her hands and tugged her forwards just as she reached out towards him.
With a small thud, they both landed on the ground, Cassian on his back and Via hovering over him.
Their giggles and laughter echoed loudly around them, so much so that-
"Ahem!"
A shadow fell over them both.
Via squeaked and Cassian flushed red as both turned their heads to see Mordo standing over them, arms folded. A few meters behind him, standing in the shade of the edges of the courtyard, the Ancient One stood, fanning herself with her folding fan and smirking with amusement as she watched the two pupils waver under Mordo's stern stare.
"Care to explain why neither of you are training?" the master sorcerer quirked a brow.
"W-we were, we just were um…" Cassian stuttered as he and Via both jumped to their feet blushing and brushing themselves off.
"We just fell over-by-by accident" Via finished but knew it was of no use as her ears turned bright vermillion.
Mordo sighed.
"If you both want to flirt, you can do so on your own time. Until then, Cassian you go train with Morrigan. Olivia, you go with Damian-"
"Forgive the interruption Master Mordo" The Ancient One suddenly piped in snapping her folding fan shut tight "but perhaps Miss Summers might benefit from facing a different sparring partner today?"
"Who do you have in mind?" Via answered before anyone could stop her, doing her best not to meet Stephen's wary eye.
Nearly all the other acolytes, Cassian included, stiffened in shock at her brazen address to the Sorcerer Supreme. Nearly all of them had used honorifics when addressing the Ancient One. It had been drilled into their heads that they treat her with only the upmost respect and reverence. Only some of the elder and most advanced Masters would ever address her with some familiarity and even then, they kept their distance.
Mordo, now so used to her forwardness, simply rolled his eyes fondly along with Stephen who had till then been partnering him, or rather, Mordo had been drilling him about the way he always held back when he should have been fighting like his life depended on it.
And so, it was with a mixture of worry, suspicion and interest that Stephen watched the Ancient One smile with amusement at Via before stepping to the side, revealing someone else that had been standing behind her.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me" Via groaned as a figure dressed in purple with a head of long black hair came into view, framing a pair of green eyes that glared at her with a mixture of revulsion and smugness.
"Hello Summers, lovely day to lose, isn't it?" Mai Fan sneered under her breath before turning her attention to Cassian and giving him a tiny wink.
Via felt her gut burn hotly and her fists clenched tight, but for once did not rise to take the bait. She was too tired and to emotionally worn to even care.
Instead she took a deep shuddering breath and turned to face the Ancient One.
"How long will the match be?"
"Till the winner is decided" The Ancient One smiled lightly, but Via could see the slight mischievous gleam in her eyes as she addressed Mordo.
"Mai tells me that she has been training hard and wishes to join you all in this lesson. I said she could, if she could win against your newest recruit in a match. Naturally she is very eager to begin so I thought' I'd bring her over now. The sooner this is dealt with the better"
"Couldn't have put it better myself" Mai muttered under her breath but was quickly silenced as the Ancient One shot her a sharp look, before turning to Via.
"So, Olivia. Are you ready?"
"Let's get this over with" Via rolled her eyes, only to catch Stephen's in her glance.
Was it just her, or did he look…worried?
But then the look was gone as he and the other acolytes were ushered sideways into the shade under the building columns by Mordo, who was narrowing his eyes slightly at the Ancient One and the two girls.
"Just what have you got planned this time?" he muttered softly to himself as he watched his Master lift her arms, green energy glowing in her palms.
Via could feel the dragon bracelets on her wrists burn slightly as danger was anticipated, the Web of Asibikaashi also glimmering faintly as it released some of its energy into her body. Beside her, Via could also see Mai fingering something silver, before quickly hiding it under her sleeve.
There was a great shuddering beneath all their feet as the earth shook and trembled, much like an earthquake. But instead of fissures forming in the stones below their feet, the stones instead began to rise spiraling upwards into tall pillars of stone, each of a different height.
Then the stone itself began to shift around the pillars, creating different flatter levels, until all that was left of the courtyard was a strange uneven series of platforms and pillars….in short it was the oddest of obstacle courses she'd ever seen.
Via had heard of elemental magic being able to bend the reality around her, but had never actually seen it being practiced out in the open before. True the Ancient One was only changing the stony floor and not completely terraforming a mountain, but still…
She could hear the murmurs of the other students as the Ancient One lowered her hands and turned to both the young acolytes with a small smile.
"Good luck to you both, and may the best woman win"
"I intend to" Mai snapped as the ancient sorcerer walked back to the other students and Mordo who hissed in her ear.
"And what pray tell is the point of all this?"
"To teach a lesson" she whispered back.
"A lesson to who?" Stephen snorted under his breath before he could stop himself.
"We shall see" the Ancient One's smile widened, briefly sparing him a small glance as she flicked out her folding fan.
"Begin" she called loudly.
Mai lunged a staff suddenly appearing in her hands.
Via on the other hand was completely unarmed, the unfortunate result of her playful tussle with Cassian.
Gotta get out of her reach. No forget reach I gotta get a weapon.
Via gulped as she ducked and wove around the attacks sent her way.
Eventually she managed to evade one particularly nasty swing by jumping up onto the shortest pillar and then onto a low platform above Mai's head.
"Running? Funny, I thought you were a part of the Advanced Hand to Hand combat class"
"And I thought you might actually grow up and stop being such a brat. But hey! We all can't get what we want." Via spat, her mouth finally unable to keep quiet any longer.
Mai growled and with a remarkably agile flip, jumped onto the same level as Via, only to duck as the latter flung a small shard of stone at her head.
"And what's that supposed to do-mph!" Mai winced as Via's foot suddenly lashed out and hit her square in the stomach.
The hit wasn't heavy, but it gave Via enough time to pull off what she needed.
With a swift strike and a heavy thud of wood, the staff in Mai's hand went flying off the platform and back down to the ground.
"Why you-"
"Shut up and fight" Via cut across Mai who charged again.
This time instead of dodging Via rooted her stance and blocked the oncoming barrage of punches and strikes her way.
The hits of flesh on flesh were hard and sharp and it took all Stephen had not to wince from where he stood on the ground as he watched his roommate stand her ground.
He knew out of the two of them she was the better fighter. Not only was she younger and more energetic, but she was quick thinking and instinctively far keener in anticipating her opponent.
Even as Mai suddenly pulled out a pair of shiny silver daggers from the depths of her sleeves. Two shiny silver daggers that suddenly burst into flames.
He heard the sharp intake of breath and turned to see Mordo's eyes narrow to the Ancient One.
"Are those-"
"The Dragons Teeth." The Ancient One's eyes hardened considerably. "It seems young Mai has borrowed some of her father's relics for her own use"
"We need to stop this before it gets out of hand" Mordo tried to take a step forward but the Ancient One put a hand on his shoulder.
"Not yet. I want to see what she does"
And with that she focused her attention back to Via who was now keeping her distance, as she summoned up two mandala shields to her hands.
Okay Via think. She's got two fire knives, what do you have?
Just a silly dreamcatcher and two bracelets and my hands.
A voice sarcastically retorted in her head, only to get quashed down by a third and strangely familiar voice that was not her own.
Do what you must do.
"Damn you hag! You're not helping!" she muttered under her breath as with a hard push, the shields forced Mai back a few paces, only to get pushed back herself so that she was precariously one step away from the edge of the topmost platform.
"What was that freak? I didn't quite catch that" Mai hissed as she readied her flaming daggers, her eyes gleaming with triumph as she caught sight of the drop that awaited her prey.
A drop that had Stephen's jaw clenching as he quickly rushed around to view the fight from the other side of the courtyard.
From it he could crane his head up to see Via's back facing him, her heels trembling as they tried and failed to take steps back as she dodged sideways slice after slice.
It wasn't a high enough drop to kill her, but it would do enough damage if she was pushed off with the right force.
"whatever you are thinking of doing Mister Strange" the quiet voice of the Ancient One murmured close by him. "I would suggest holding yourself back"
"This isn't a fair fight" he murmured, his shaking fists clenching tight.
"For Mai? Yes, I suppose it is not that fair." the Ancient One smirked softly as the doctor turned to look at her incredulously.
"But Via's unarmed-"
"Oh, believe me Mister Strange, Miss Summers has a far greater arsenal of weaponry on her person than her opponent" the Ancient One flicked out her fan and fluttered it before her face to cool herself calmly "And I believe that once she learns how to use it in battle as well as she did in your dreams, she will be quite a force to be reckoned with"
"Wait how do you know-What did Mordo-" Stephen spluttered and the Ancient One's smile widened ever so slightly.
"No, Mordo never had to tell me. You could say that I knew it would happen since the first moment Olivia Summers set foot in this monastery."
"What do you mean, you knew? And how did you know it would be me? How…" Stephen's voice fell away as realization dawned. "You set her up with me. You made her share a room with me, knowing full well she might…good lord"
He turned away clutching his stomach as if he'd been winded as he glared at the Ancient One, who was regarding him thoughtfully as he spat:
"You wanted her to get into my head?!"
The Ancient One just shook her head quietly with a small smile.
"No I didn't. But you did."
There was a loud collective gasp from the class on the other side and both Stephen and the Ancient One looked up just in time to see Olivia fall backwards off the platform.
"NO!" Stephen called running forwards arm out stretched to cast a spell. But before the spell was even completed, something very strange happened.
In mid fall Via just about managed to turn her body round and slam her hands out to the rocky wall of the platform. As she did so, the dream catcher around her neck glowed a bright blue and gold.
"What the-?"
Now many students and Masters alike who had been watching the fight were now scrambling around the edges of the courtyard for a better look.
Stephen had never seen anything like it.
Via wasn't climbing like a rock climber, or indeed like any human would climb encumbered by weight or strength. She was light on her hands and feet, as if gravity had no effect on her mass at all. If anything, gravity for her had been flipped, especially when she quickly tucked her legs under her and stood up on the wall, her body perpendicular to the ground below.
Meanwhile on the pillar where she stood, Via was admiring the stunned expression on Mai's face as she stared down the length of the drop.
"But…but that's not possible…you're outside the mirror dimension" Mai breathed only to squeak as with a quick run and a jump Via sped up the side of the wall and leapt onto the platform feet first in a square double kick to her chest.
The impact sent Mai flying backwards, down one level and then another before she could quickly right herself just in time to block a heavy blow from Via as she leapt down upon her.
There was the sparks and splutters of flames dying and the tinkle and screech of metal on stone as the two flaming daggers all but fell from Mai's hands, down to the stone tiles on the ground below.
Stephen glanced sidelong as Mordo came rushing forwards for a closer look, only to stare wide eyed with astonishment as Via began to strike, hard, fast and ruthlessly.
Mai was so surprised from her earlier shock that despite all her training she was barely able to block the constant barrage of hits and strikes aimed at her…until one well timed punch hit her square in the face.
Stephen could see in the corner of his eye, Master Fan as he stepped forwards to watch from the shadows of the monastery along with a couple of other masters. His face was livid with wrath but to his credit he held himself back and his posture as stiff and poised as ever.
For one small moment, Stephen felt pity for the austere master. Whilst Mai wasn't exactly the sweetest or kindest of girls, it still must have been difficult for a man such as Master Fan to watch his only daughter be beaten and humiliated in public, even if she did somewhat deserve it.
Stephen quickly turned back just in time to see said girl finally hit the ground below, quickly followed by Via who landed catlike on her feet by her, before straightening up.
"What are you waiting for?" Mai's green eyes flashed hotly as she sat up gingerly nursing her chin "Come on Freak! Just finish the job."
"I already have" Via snorted.
She turned on her heel, sparing a begrudgingly respectful bob of the head towards the Ancient One and the Masters present as she took a step away, only to pause as Mai spat from behind her.
"Pathetic! No wonder your parents dumped you."
Via's vision turned black.
I don't really remember what happened at that point. My mind just totally blanked.
One minute I was walking away from a fight, the next I was looking down on Mai my hands wrapped around her throat with both Mordo and Stephen trying to pull me away from her.
Of course, as soon as I realized what I was doing I let go of her immediately, but her face was already blue and she'd lost consciousness.
If it weren't for Stephen's quick moves to resuscitate her I don't think she would've made it.
But that wasn't the worst of it…
You see I did the worst thing anyone in my position could have done.
The same thing I did every time I screwed up…
I ran…
And so that's all for this chapter folks.
So yeah, we get a taste of the dream-dimension and some more of Via's powers. And yeah whilst her and Strange's relationship has been getting more positive i still think that he'd be really shaken up by having anyone get into his head (because let's face it who wouldn't be). He sorta struck me that for Via see him at his lowest point would still be a big wound to his pride despite their friendship.
Just as being pushed away would hurt Via's feelings...yeah...gotta resolve that somehow...
Oh yeah and btw "Oneironautics" is a real word that is most commonly associated with Lucid Dreaming.
Oneironautics [ah-nayr-o-not-iks] refers to the ability to travel within a dream on a conscious basis. Such a traveler in a dream may be called an oneironaut. - Wikipedia
It comes from the Greek Oneiroi, aka the greek gods of dreams (which include Morpheus, Hypnos etc.) Really interesting stuff if you guys want to read more just look online.
So you guys know the drill by now, review and fave if you enjoyed.
Happy Holidays,
FuzzyBeta
