The Magic of Marvel
Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel.
Chapter 3:
Magic Really Is Magical
'Thinking'
"Talking"
"Talking"
- August 10th, 2012 -
It took me an entire month just to get through classic Sanskrit and begin working on my second language to study, this time I chose to go with elder Futhark; otherwise known as ancient runes used by the Norse.
Why did I choose this one as the next language to learn when I could have gone with so many other options? Because the Norse Gods are very much real in this universe, and their magical powers -while different from what is used by the Masters of the Mystic Arts- are just as if not even more powerful than anything I'm learning in Kamar-Taj.
And one day in the future, after I've achieved the rank of Master, I plan to set out in search of Asgard to try and learn from them.
Luckily, my studies have proven enough that I can at least attempt my first bit of magic. An iconic ability of the Mystic Arts that is one of the simplest, yet most useful abilities I'll learn.
"This is called a Sling Ring." Master Mordo informs us as he holds up a small piece of golden jewelry that glints in the mid-morning sunlight. "It is one of the most common relics found here in Kamar-Taj, and will prove a valuable asset no matter where your futures take you."
Motioning towards a small tray holding over a dozen similar relics, he continues with the lecture as I and the rest of the Novices take turns grabbing one. "Mastery of the Sling Ring is essential to the Mystic Arts. They allow us to travel throughout our dimension, and into other dimensions as well."
As everyone gets into neat rows facing away from each other, I glance down at the small relic in my hands with an excited grin.
It's nothing more than a long metal bar with two fingerholds underneath, but what it represents in terms of my training is monumental. Because now, for the first time since coming here, I finally get to wield magic!
"All you need to do is focus. Visualize. See the destination in your mind!" Mordo motions for us to begin, "Look beyond the world in front of you. Imagine every detail, the clearer the picture, the quicker and easier the gateway will come."
With the signal to start given, I slide the metal relic onto my left index and ring ringers. Feeling the surprisingly warm metal against my skin, I raise my hands in the way that we were shown in our previous lessons.
Raising my left hand up the pinky and ring fingers curled while I keep the ring and index fingers straight, I remember when I first saw this gesture in the movies and thought it looked weird. Turns out there's actually a reason for it.
By keeping the two fingers the Sling Ring is on pointed straight up, it ensures the relic is within your sights as you create the portal.
Thereby, providing a visual aid for where you should channel the Eldritch Magic, and allowing you an easy target to focus on should there be distractions happening around you. Then, it's just a matter of waving the dominant hand in a circle and manipulating the Eldritch Magics into following the same pattern in front of you in order to create a portal.
Sounds simple, right?
'Come on, visualize!' Mentally chanting over and over, I feel my frustrations begin to mount as all that appears in front of me is a cluster of small fiery-orange sparks. 'Fuck!'
Grunting in frustration, I glance around at the other Novices who are thankfully having similar troubles.
'At least I'm not alone in this.'
Thinking back to what I studied and the knowledge I gained from the movies, the whole point of this exercise it to teach the concept of visualization and the fundamentals of drawing energy from other dimensions.
The Sling Ring does most of the heavily lifting, with only the barest of work on the sorcerer's part to make it work.
So why isn't it working?!
'Wait…' I pause as an idea strikes me. 'Could it really be that simple?'
Deciding to test out my theory before I give up today's practice as hopeless and try again tomorrow, I take a deep breath to calm my nerves before thinking of an entirely different location then I had been before.
Remembering every detail of my room within Kamar-Taj, from the wooden floors that creek with age to the small closet containing the multiple sets of white Novice robes; everything I can recall of the room that I've been living in for the past month.
With the image firmly in my mind, I repeat the same circular motion with my right hand as the other keeps the Sling Ring in front of me.
Suddenly, a warmth spreads from the Sling Ring through my fingers and arms as a blaze of fiery-orange sparks coalesces into a large circle. Peering through the center, I grin with sheer joy as the interior of my bedroom appears before me. "YES!"
"Well done, Magnusson." Mordo's voice praises from over my shoulder, having watched my success with a hint of pride in his eyes. "Now try it again. And this time have the gateway appear faster, you never know when you might need to leave somewhere in a hurry."
Nodding in understanding while internally jumping for joy at having done my first bit of real magic, I get to work practicing over and over again in creating portals. And not just regular portals my size either, I test out ways of increasing or decreasing the size of the portal with varying degrees of success.
The reason it wasn't working for me before, is because the visuals I used to try and create a portal originally were to places from my old universe.
I don't know what was planned for the Marvel Cinematic Universe after the events of Endgame, but here there are no other universes out there to connect to. No Earth-616 like the comic books that's filled with every kind of god-tier level character imaginable.
The closest thing there is, are the other dimensions stacked on top of ours with abstract entities living inside them that mostly don't interfere with our dimension.
The only exception, of course, is Dormammu.
Other unbelievably powerful interdimensional beings like the Vishanti; a trio of mystical entities whose names are invoked in the Mystic Arts, live in the Eldritch dimension and never desire to venture outside of it.
Even the Living Tribunal that powers Mordo's staff is said to be more of a conceptual being than the actual monstrously powerful entity that's shown in the comics.
Meaning my only worries going forward in terms of enemies are mostly going to be the ones I saw in the movies and shows. With the odd few exceptions here and there depending on where I'm currently at, like HYDRA soldiers if I ever decide to get mixed in with the Avengers, or Thanos's soldiers if I venture outside of Earth.
There was a mention of Celestials in the Guardians of the Galaxy, but I'm hoping that as long as I don't interact with Star-Lord they won't become a problem for me.
"Focus, Magnusson!" Mordo barks like a drill instruction after catching my attention waning. "You can doddle during your self-studies, but you will focus when you are taking part in my lessons."
Around me, some of the other Novices near my age snicker at me getting called out. No doubt by the end of the day, everyone in Kamar-Taj will know about it.
In a place where information is the lifeblood of our studies, the Masters of the Mystic Arts can be quite the gossips.
'Just ignore them,' I try to tune out their laughter and focus on practicing with my Sling Ring. 'There's nothing you can you about it now, and there's more important things to worry about.'
Like my upcoming meeting with the Ancient One in a few days, where we'll be going over my plans for the future, as well as talking about some of the things she's seen that's changed with my arrival in this universe.
- August 15th, 2012 -
"OOF!"
Struggling to maintain my stance as Master Mordo lands a solid blow to my stomach, I reach out and grab his extended arm near the bicep, using the month's worth of training to grapple with older, more experienced man.
As I spin my body around, I use my larger size and stronger physique to flip him over my shoulder.
The fighting style of Kamar-Taj is a curious mixture of several different techniques taken from Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo, Krav Maga, Karate, and Judo.
Much of it is based around teaching how to fight against someone stronger or bigger than you, since Humans are considered to be one of the weakest species in the universe and can't hold a candle to many of the other species who have superhuman physiology.
Unfortunately for me, that means everyone here is trained in how to take on someone my size. And my body's natural advantage in a fight is all but made useless.
As if to showcase that point, Mordo continues to twist his body in midair during my throw, quickly orienting himself to land back on his feet. With my attack failed, he uses the opening to launch a knee straight into my ribcage. "UGH!"
Kneeling on the ground and rubbing the spot on my stomach that's likely already bruising, Mordo stands over me with a serious look before nodding. "Good, you're skills are improving."
I wouldn't go so far as to say my skills are improving, as I would say I'm learning how to survive getting my ass handed to me day-in and day-out whenever I spar against someone who's been at Kamar-Taj longer.
Typically, I find myself sparring with one of the other Novices who are at least somewhat within my skill range. But today my sparring partner went to go take their test to before an Apprentice, leaving me with no one to spar against. Which meant that Master Mordo decided to take on the roll instead.
"Be mindful of how often you try to grapple with your opponent, Magnusson." He warns, moving back to the starting position as I slowly get back on my feet. "Many opponents out there will be stronger than you, and contesting with them in a battle of pure strength will most likely lead to your defeat."
Admittedly, I do spend a lot of time trying to grapple people in spars.
My former training as a wrestler kicks in like an old habit every once-in-a-while, and suddenly I'm forgetting how to use the other techniques I've learned here in favor of wrestling moves.
"Yes, Master Mordo." I reply respectfully.
I was a little iffy on training under him with the knowledge that he goes all 'Natural Law' crazy and turns traitor at the end of the Doctor Strange movie. But I've been trying to take the Ancient One's words to heart about giving people a chance to be better than I know they might become.
"You have talent, Magnusson." It's not often Mordo praises someone, and I can't help the warm feeling of pride in my chest at his words. "So long as you continue to learn from your mistakes, and improve upon your foundations, I believe there is hope for you yet."
Maybe not what I'd hoped he would say, but I'll take what I can get.
"Again!"
Getting back into my stance, this time Mordo waits for me to attack as we slowly circle each other. What little I know so far about martial arts tells me that he's keeping a few openings in his guard to taunt me into targeting them.
How do I know this? Because I fell for it twice already before I finally wizened up to what he's doing.
Twisting my body as quickly as I can, I lash out with a chest-high spin kick which soars over Mordo's head as he ducks underneath.
With my body still in the rotating motion, he springs up to grab me around the neck in a chokehold as soon as my back is to him. "Come on, Magnusson! Do better!"
With his arms around my neck and trying to choke me despite the slight height difference, I elbow him solidly in the ribcage, aiming directly for the spot where he hit me earlier with his knee.
"OOF!" He grunts out, his arms instinctively letting go of my neck as he back peddles to get some distance. Instead of being upset at the blow, Mordo grins. "Good! That's more like it."
Feeling a renewed sense of energy at having finally landed a blow on him, even if he's been going easy on me, I step back into the fight as we continue sparring with each other for the next hour until the end of the training session.
As we move away from the center of the open courtyard where the other Novices are finishing their own sparring, Mordo offers a few more tips before the other Master in charge of weapons training takes over. "Remember, Magnusson. Your size and strength are both your greatest strength, and your greatest weakness."
"Yes, Master Mordo." I reply earnestly, grabbing a spare towel I brought with me and wiping off the sheen of sweat coating my face. Grabbing the water bottle next to it and downing a good portion in one motion, I put it back down next to my towel as I bow respectfully alongside the other Novices while Mordo bids us a good day.
As Mordo disappears through one of the hallways leading away from the courtyard, another man walks out a little while later to take over teaching weapon sparring once it hits noon.
"Good afternoon, Novices…" A soft, charismatic voice echoes throughout the courtyard. Stepping out into the mid-day sun with a pleasant smile on his face, Kaecilius motions towards a rack of weapons off to the side. "Choose your weapons, and prepare yourselves for today's lesson."
Grimacing at the subtle sadistic gleam in his eye, I turn away from the greying-haired man and follow the other Novices to the racks of weapons lining the courtyard.
Bypassing the swords, daggers, war fans, and other weapons; I grab one of the quarterstaffs that I've been using since my first lesson.
I wasn't the biggest fan of using a quarterstaff initially, but I quickly found myself enjoying the additional reach it gives me as well as its versatility.
While the other Novices prefer to try using different weapons each week to be more well-rounded in their skillset; after speaking with both Mordo and the Ancient One, they both recommended that I stick to one weapon and master it first before moving on to a different weapon.
And, honestly, the fact that a quarterstaff can be used with either one hand or two and allow me to cast spells with the other gives me a lot of versatility in terms of coming up with a fighting style that works for me.
"Magnusson!" Kaecilius's voice calls out to me.
Turning away from the weapon racks with my quarterstaff in hand, I frown at the look he gives me. 'Remember what the Ancient One said…give him a chance, just like Mordo.'
"Since Aster is taking his Apprentice test, you will be training with me today." Drawing his scythe daggers from the sash wrapped around his orange robes, Kaecilius motions towards one of the available spaces in the sparring courtyard not used by the other Novices.
'Great…' I sigh internally, externally nodding as I grip the quarterstaff in preparation for what will undoubtably be another thrashing. 'He knows Mordo has taken an interest in my training, and is likely trying to find out why.'
It's a common tactic amongst the Masters to keep an eye on any Novices they believe will be a good fit to take as their Apprentice later one. And from how my interactions with Mordo have been going, I think he's looking to take me on as his apprentice once I pass my test.
Which is where Kaecilius's sudden interest in me is coming from; having not even glanced once in my direction after that first day of weapons training a month ago.
He's been trying to poach the Novices with the best talents or potential into becoming his Apprentices since long before I arrived at Kamar-Taj. Steadily growing his following of sycophant supporters who have become almost an entire power-block within the ranks of the Masters of the Mystic Arts.
And now that Mordo, who famously has never taken more than a single Apprentice at a time, is suddenly showing more interest in me than the other Novices…he might as well have put a target on my back that's now put me under Kaecilius's radar.
'This is gonna suck.' If there's one thing I've learned from the other Novices and Apprentices who I've spoken to in passing, it's that Kaecilius has a reputation for not giving up and always getting his way in the end.
And by looks of things, I'm the latest target that he wants for his group of followers. 'Like that's every going to happen. I've got no desire to end up as a slave to Dormammu, thank you very much.'
At least the Apprenticeship under a Master goes both ways.
While the Masters are the ones who need to show interest in taking on the newly promoted Apprentice, it's ultimate up to the Apprentice to decide if they wish to study under the Master, or continue to be self-studied.
If no one else wants to step forward besides Kaecilius, then I can just choose to continue my self-studies like I'm doing now and train to become a Master on my own. The only downside to that being I won't get as much personal instruction as the other Apprentices.
Which, while not terrible with my connections to the Ancient One, isn't the best option.
It'll push back my timeline on when I can leave Kamar-Taj by quite a few years, and that could mess up some of my plans for the future.
I think I've come up with a way to get into Asgard -because I doubt they let just anyone study their magic- and it might even put me in Thor's good graces. Something that could even get me into the Avengers, if I want to go that route.
'Which reminds m… I need to double check with the Ancient One during our next meeting and see what she thinks. Hopefully, we can iron out any issues or mistakes I've made before I try to implement my plan.'
But to do that, I've first got to survive this training session with Kaecilius…
…and based off the rather sadistic look he's giving me as he grips those scythe daggers of his; that isn't going to be so easy.
'Fuck.'
- August 16th, 2012 -
"I see your weapon training under Master Kaecilius was…fruitful." The Ancient One muses aloud, taking in the welts and bruises forming on the exposed skin not covered by my white robes.
"Yeah, yeah." I grumble. 'Stupid bastard and his obsession with collecting Apprentices.'
While I try not to curse in front of the Ancient One out of respect, the beatdown I suffered yesterday under Kaecilius's aggressive training nearly has me wanting to anyways.
One of Kaecilius's methods of gathering Apprentices to him, is by displaying his talents in both the Mystic Arts and his use of weapons. Convincing them through demonstrations and spars that their best way of growing stronger is through his tutelage.
And to do that, he likes to beat them into the ground before offering to show them the ways in how they can one day do the same thing.
'I swear, this guy practically screams Sith Lord with how dark-sidey he acts.'
"And you're sure you want to keep him around?" I ask for the hundredth time, by one a common question during our weekly meetings together. "This isn't one of those 'Keep your friends close but your enemies closer' things is it? Because that never works out well."
I mean seriously! Every year the guy continues to remain at Kamar-Taj, is at least another Apprentice or two who join him.
Amused, and still undeterred by my words, the Ancient One replies with a smile. "Yes, Ben. I'm quite sure that I want him around."
Reaching down to the table between us, she calmly sips her tea as I huff. "While his future is filled with many dark possibilities, the good that he does now in the present makes his help invaluable." There's a small amount of chiding in her tone, but the friendly atmosphere around us lets me know it's not meant to be patronizing.
And, reluctantly, I can understand what she means.
Because even with his potential defection from the Masters of the Mystic Arts hanging over us like an executioner's blade, Kaecilius is still an asset that we can't afford to lose.
Protecting Earth from other Dimensions isn't an easy job. While most dimensions aren't that much of a problem to deal with, the Dark Dimension under Dormammu is enough of a challenge alone for all the Masters combined to struggle against.
Dormammu may not be able to leave his dimension and enter ours, but he can still send his followers who are small enough to slip past the planetary shield made by Agamotto, and have them try to bring Earth into his dimension.
And as one of the best weapon users in Kamar-Taj -second only to the Ancient One, herself- Kaecilius's presence on the battlefield is invaluable.
"Fine…but I will definitely be sure to say 'I told you so' when things go wrong in a few years." I reply, grinning at her good-naturally as we move past this topic. I don't like it, but eventually I give up today's attempt and figure I'll just have to try again next week.
"I will endeavor not to do the same, should things go as I believe they shall." The Ancient One responds lightly, enjoying the small back-and-forth between us that's so very different from how others here treat her.
After all, it's not often she gets to speak so casually with someone about the future. And it's one of the many things I think we've both come to enjoy about our meeting together.
Not only do we get to take a break from the seriousness everyone shows each other outside of her office, but it also gives us a chance to learn what the other knows. Because our conversation right here is the perfect example of the differences between our knowledge of the future, and shows just how much we can learn from one another.
Possibility verses Probability.
For the Ancient One, using the Time Stone grants her the ability to see into millions of possible futures, like Strange did during Infinity War. With each possible future she sees having just as much likelihood of coming to pass as all the others.
Whereas my knowledge of the comics and the movies grants me a way of knowing how things are probably going to play out.
But that doesn't mean my knowledge is any more or less useful than hers.
In fact, they actually even each other out due to their inherent weaknesses.
For instance, my knowledge of the future is very much limited by its inflexibility and the fact that it's only useful as long as everything stays within a certain linear path.
What does that mean, exactly?
It means that, as long as things don't deviate too heavily from the events that unfold in the movies, I can fairly accurately guess what's going to happen next. Thereby, allowing me to have a clearer picture of how the future is going to turn out.
But, if something drastic were to change; like if I decided to kill Captain America out of the blue -not that I would-, then my knowledge of the future would become useless because of how much that action would affect how the story plays out.
There'd be no Civil War, no Winter Soldier, nada. It would cause a cascading domino effect that would almost immediately render a good portion of what I know worthless in a matter of seconds.
And that's where the Ancient One's knowledge of so many possible futures becomes equally relevant.
Because she can see so many futures with the Time Stone, even drastic deviations -like Captain America's early demise- would still fall within the possible futures that she's foreseen. But with all of the possible futures being as likely to happen as any other, she's not able to create as many plans for the future as I can.
And those that she can make, can't be very complex.
Like Karl Mordo, for instance.
"I still think you need to have a talk with Master Mordo about the Natural Law." Changing tactics away from Kaecilius, I focus on another potential enemy that I wish she'd try to change her plans for. "Just getting him to understand it's not as dire as he thinks messing with it is, would go a long way to saving everyone trouble in the future."
And by everyone, I mean all of the sorcerers he hunts down for wielding the Mystic Arts; which now includes me!
Giving the slightest groan at yet another debate we've had every meeting, the Ancient One pinches the bridge of her nose tiredly. "And as I told you before, Ben…the fires of Mordo's youth have molded his soul into being rigid and unmovable. Even if I were to try and change his outlook on the Natural Law now, it would do nothing more than push him closer towards darkness."
And this is exactly what I mean by her plans not being very complex.
She saw too many possibilities for how Mordo's future could have turned out when he first came to her, that the only way to ensure the best immediately path towards a better future for him, was to train him as strictly as she could.
So strictly, in fact, that everything she once taught him Mordo began to proclaim with religious zeal. 'Not unlike how Kaecilius's followers treat his words.'
A perfect temporary solution, but one that would ultimately lead to a dark future because she hadn't planned far enough ahead.
Realizing the futility of trying to continue these repetitive conversations, she changes focus to something else that causes my eyes to go wide as the relaxed atmosphere around our conversation adopts a more serious feeling to it. Her words causing any thoughts I had about bringing up my plans for the future to be waylaid by what she thinks is a more important topic.
One which she uses our conversations about time and changing people's past and futures, to emphasize her point.
"You have such a capacity for goodness, Ben." She smiles, and it's perhaps the most warm and wholesome sight I've seen in a long time. Not since before my mother passed. "Kaecilius…Mordo…Even now, you try to change things for the better when you could just as easily walk away from it all."
Remembering everything I told her about my life that lead up to my arrival in this universe, the Ancient One reaches across the table to gently grab my slightly shaking hands. The sudden shift in topic from focusing on others, to focusing on me, causes a deep nervousness to take over my body…
…because I know exactly where she's going with this.
With my father having always been overseas and passing away early on in my life; and my mother working multiple jobs while trying her best to support us on her own before she eventually passed away from lung cancer, I never really got a lot of praise or pats on the back for my efforts in life.
Even my former friends were never really supportive of me, only caring when I did something that was beneficial to them. And the few girls I tried to date in my youth only wanted to use me as way to make other, more attractive guys jealous. Which lead to a severe lack in any sort of romantic life on top of a mostly friendless one.
All of which has left me with a rather poor opinion of myself.
Sure, it might sound like I'm complaining…because that's exactly what it is.
Every 22-years-old has their own issues, and entering a superhero universe doesn't just make them go away. Especially not when after dealing with it silently for a lifetime has developed it into a deep-seated issue that I try not to show others.
But I didn't need to come out and say it for the Ancient One to see through me just as easily as she saw through Stephen Strange.
Because in truth, my attempts at trying to change Mordo's future and stop Kaecilius when I can just as easily get by without saying anything and then get as far away from them as possible before the events of Doctor Strange take place, are a cry for attention.
For someone, anyone, to acknowledge my presence. To care about me for more than just how I can be useful to them.
Like the Ancient one is doing right now. "You've always tried to do what's right. But not, as you think, because you crave the attention it brings…but because you can't stand the thought of the suffering it'd bring to sit there and do nothing."
"I know things haven't always been easy for you," She whispers gently, seeing my body begin to shake. "But I promise you, Ben. Things will get better for you."
…and there it is.
The answer to the question I haven't had the strength to ask her yet. And it's the one question that I've been most desperate to know the answer to above everything else.
A question that everyone has when they come before her: Has she used the Time Stone to look into my future? And if so, what has she seen?
As if knowing what I'm thinking, she nods her head with that same warm smile. "I took a peek into your future soon after our first meeting together. And after searching through well over 12 million possible futures, you know what I saw in every single one of them?"
…did I want to know? It can't be terrible if she's smiling like this, right?
Feeling my nerves reach a fevered pitch, I whisper out in a soft weak voice that's completely different from how I sounded earlier. "…what?"
If possible, her warm smile gets even brighter as she replies. "Love, Ben. I saw love."
- END -
Author Notes:
And that's Chapter 3!
Before any of you say anything, I'm well aware that the MCU is being expanded to include a significant portion of new and utterly overpowered enemies. I just don't care.
I'd say roughly 90% of this will involve plots and information from the movies up to Endgame, with small bits from the comics and other stuff thrown in. Outside of that, don't expect there to be overpowered enemies like Galactus or Apocalypse come knocking on Ben's door.
Hope you all are still liking it so far! Thanks for checking out my story.