She flipped through the pages of one book which aided her to translate the text from the other book that she had right by her. She also had another book laid out in front of her just in case someone had waltzed by and see what she was doing. She called it her alibi book. It was also what she told Master Wong when she entered.

"Master Wong." She greeted with a kind smile.

"Master Berg." He nodded back to her, "Welcome back, by the way, what brings you here?"

She chuckled, "I do not know how long I'm going to be staying and I am here because I want to dive deeper with rune magic." She pulled out her old used journal that had a pen attached with almost no ink in it, "Will you point me in the direction of the old Nordic books?"

"Of course, right this way!"

"Hey, I am going to be here for a while so don't mind me if I get lost in here."

"My library is your library, Master Berg." He gave her a kind smile and she almost felt bad for lying to him. Well, it was not a full lie. She really needed to get back to her ancestor teachings and also serve her curiosity for the other things.

Based on the journal, her mother wrote, "In these pages that are hidden inside the Book of Cagliostro hold fragments of rituals that only The Ancient One knows. With this power and drawing energy from the dark dimension, could bridge a better universe." This is the same book that was tarnished by the group of zealots that almost ruined Kamar-Taj. Perhaps there are multiple sides to this story. Elise kept chewing at her bottom lip trying to understand it all, when suddenly…

"Ah, you're wearing your robes again!"

She flipped and dropped the book from her hands as she stood up for, "Ancient One." Elise greeted giving an attentive expression to her master.

"Please enough with the pleasantries." The Ancient One smiled at her which made Elise relax just a little, "It's out of respect, master."

"Since you're wearing your robes again, does that mean you're staying?"

Elise shifted in where she stood, "Well, these are comfortable if I were to be sitting down for a long period of time."

"Will they also be comfortable in a matter of training?" The ancient one circled her as she brought the tip of her thumb to her lips. It's as if she was selling her an idea.

"Training?" Elise tilted her head.

"Yes, I may need your assistance again with the doctor."

"The stranger?" Elise's shoulders slumped, "No, I am not getting involved."

"Not Stranger. Strange." The Ancient One responded.

"Yes, he is strange." Elise nodded, "And he smells like eau de monsieur." Which tells Elise that this man they brought here could be some corrupt rich guy and judging by the conversation she had with him earlier, he's probably just some other jerk.

The wise one before her sighed as she sat by the nearby chair, "I don't even know what that is."

"It is a very expensive cologne." Elise answered her and she stared at the sky in confusion. How does a man look homeless but smell very expensive?

"Elise." The ancient one started with her nickname, "You loved teaching new students."

"Yes, but that wasn't until…" Elise stopped herself and she just shook her head whilst she picked up the books that she had dropped, "You're scared too, aren't you, master?" She questioned her.

The ancient one did not change her expression as she left it blank and unreadable, "Master Mordo gave a pretty convincing argument."

"Oh, did he?"

"What would you have me do?"

Elise searched the room as if the ancient one was asking someone else, "I don't know, master." She did not know what to make of the suggestion. She was honestly surprised that her opinion mattered anyways.

"Search your feelings," She whispered to her, and Elise felt as if it echoed in her mind, "What did you see when you first saw him in your mind?"

Elise looked at her pensively and took in a deep breath. Remembering that same morning she meditated before sunrise. When they had asked her to search for this individual… One thing that came to her mind that made her agree to help in the first place was, "I saw a healer." Elise told her, "Someone that can heal us."

The Ancient One smiled and she knew, "Oh, shit." She knew she was more involved than what she thought.

Begrudgingly, Elise marched off to find Mordo and to find something to eat. In a time of vulnerability, she could not for the life of her see the overall big picture. Yes, in her minds eye, she saw a kind man with good intentions but there was a part of her to tell her not to trust him entirely. Especially the first few words that came out of his mouth were idiotic. She did not know what to deduce of this. She could also just be very angry at the fact she went all day without eating anything. She, then, came face to face with Mordo.

"Dumplings?" She offered.

He shrugged, "Sure."

After biting down another steamed dumpling and almost burning her tongue, she had registered everything Mordo stated about their new student.

"So, he's a doctor…" She started with her mouth still full, "got into this major car accident and destroyed his hands."

Mordo nodded as he drank from his bowl of soup.

"Seven reconstructed surgeries," She whispered in astonishment.

"How are you feeling?" Mordo asked as he set his bowl down, "Ever since the attack, you have grown distant… also in a literal sense since you left."

Elise remained quiet but her body language spoke volumes to him as she placed her elbows on the table and rubbed her eyes.

"I had a long day."

Mordo nodded and did not push her any further. That was one trait she was very appreciative of him. She had to agree. She did grow distant. There was a time when they were all close. All of them. Before most of their group became Zealots. They ate together, trained together, study together, fought together. That was one thing Elise missed the most it was the camaraderie, the "brotherhood". She decided to give it a break for tonight. Seeing as she is going to be needed tomorrow morning for the "Strange" man's teachings.

As she stared at her ceiling, however, her overworked mind kept going into the night. Sighing as she rolled over, there were so many things left unsaid and so many unanswered questions. Because of what her mother wrote and what Kaecilius preached. She did not know who to trust in Kamar-Taj. She won't turn away from her duty as a Master, though. Sighing again as she sat up, she planted her bare feet on the ground and decided to ground herself through meditation. She cannot afford to be jaded tomorrow. Not when there is a new party involved.

Elise counted out loud and moved her body with the count. Each count there was a foot placement and with each foot placement her hand had moved. Strange had followed her slowly, mimicking each movement. It was day one and she had spent the first thirty minutes showing him basic stretches and mobility drills. The last thirty minutes of their time together was a simple fighting stance that anyone can learn.

"From what I've gathered, you are an intellectual individual." Elise stated as she watched him perform her movements as he counted out loud to himself, "Meditation helps the mind to think clearly and help come up with its own solutions." She leaned over and lifted his elbow just a bit, "Martial arts helps connect the body with the mind." She then kicked his foot out just a little bit, "Thus, enhances our connection with our magic."

He stared at her curiously as she returned in front of him, "I heavily advise that you continue to do these mobility drills on your own time so that your body gets used to the upcoming lessons."

"Right…" He nodded at her.

"Well, our time is up." She walked over to grab her water bottle from the ground, "Thank you for your time, Mr. Strange."

"Please call me Stephen and thank you Master Berg?"

She smiled at him after taking a swig from her bottle, "Call me Elise."

"Elise?"

"Yup." She responded, "Is Strange really your last name?"

"Yes, I know." He sighed knowing what is to come.

"You must have been popular at school."

He raised an eyebrow at her, "Now who is the asshole?"

She laughed and motioned him to follow her to the main courtyard. That is where the ancient one waits to start his first lessons in the mystic arts.

During their daily sessions, they made their quick little introductions and small talks before her mind becomes set on business mode. For what it's worth he was glad he could make an acquaintance out of her. Especially since everyone here at Kamar-Taj was always so serious. Also, it helped that she is one who shares a similar home of record.

"How long have you lived in New York?" he asks her as he placed his hands behind him whilst walking alongside her. She noted at how he hid his shaky hands when they were not training. It was as if she would forget how they were when they moved in front of her and how unbalanced they were when they held his entire body from the ground.

"I was born and raised in Queens before my father passed away and then my mother got a job in a clinic in New York." She explained trying to remember how old she was when that event happened.

"What did she do?" Intrigued that she had mentioned a clinic.

"She was a physical therapist." Her voice became a little low, but he didn't catch it, so he asked curiously, "She retired?"

She paused her steps and suddenly Elise's eyes were fixated on her own hands, "No, she died during the Chitauri invasion."

Stephen's shoulders slumped and he realized a little too late, "Oh, I'm sorry." He stated lamely. He did not know how else to respond as this woman in front of him essentially told him about two tragedies. Her eyes gaze up at his and she smiled at him trying to lighten the mood, "It's quite alright." She then nudged at him, "Let's get the sad backstory out of the way so we can stop being awkward around each other, yea?"

This earned her a grin from him. Granted he had just endured a traumatic near-death experience, but he was admiring her resiliency. Growing up with no siblings, her father passing away from a drunk driver when she was seventeen. Her only family was her mother who is now gone. He remembers that day of the invasion as if it was yesterday. The number of patients that came into the hospital. He wondered if one of them was her mother. Perhaps if he had encounter them, he could've prevented the turmoil that lingered in her heart. Each day Elise followed an almost strict and predictable schedule. She wakes up early before anyone else to give her first dibs of warm showers. She told this to Stephen after he had complained that his showers were cold after the fourth day of being there. Then she jogged as her warmup prior to their sessions and then she retreated to the communal kitchen for a recovery meal then following after the library where she had her own studies to tend to. Learning her schedule made him at ease and knowing where she would be if he ever needed anything. He enjoyed the fact that she was reliable and constant. Aside from those traits, he noticed how she carried herself throughout the grounds. The difference in clothing she wore. Around him and others she wore her maroon robes that sparked confidence around her. She greeted everyone who acknowledged her presence around her. When he caught her in her private moments, she wore regular clothes as if she blended in back home. He wondered, what her life was like in New York before she became the master of the mystic arts?

New York will always be home to her no matter where she traveled to or no matter how much time she spent her days at Kamar-Taj. She will always lurk around the New York Sanctum just to take a walk the familiar streets around Bleeker street. Sometimes she would take a train to Queens for nostalgia's sake. She has read about Dr. Strange in an old Daily Bugle newspaper. The esteemed Dr. Strange. The wealthiest and the genius behind the scalpel. Seeing the old photos of him was like watching a completely different individual. She did not recognize him at all. She was glad she did not have to deal with how he used to be. Quite frankly, she probably would not have bothered. Why would a man who was seduced by greed would ever listen to her? Now a changed man he was more inclined to listen to her with bright and hungry eyes. Thirsty for knowledge. It reminded her of kids in elementary school. It made him look younger despite his shaggy appearance. It was best she did not dwell so much on the duality of Stephen Strange. After all, he's just another man on his own quest. And she needed to go back to her quest. She cracked the joints in her fingers. It was time she needed a break and what better way to do it with music.

The sanctum in her home city owned a very old model of a grand piano. Not the same model her father used to play but a good model, nonetheless. Some nights she would sneak off to the sanctum and play a little just to get her mind off of things. As long as Master Drumm never protested, she never stopped. Master Daniel Drumm was one of the few she talked to mostly and it was only due to the fact that he is the guardian of the same sanctum she visited. He had always been level-headed and he embodied the "duty-first" attitude when it came to the sanctum and earth. She admired him for it but the days of Kaecilius uprising still left a mark.

"Does it not bother you, though?" Elise questioned out loud as her fingers danced across the keys, "About what Kaecilius preached to us? That the ancient one had been hiding secrets?" She played the scenario over and over in her head, "I mean why else would she be so hell-bent on picking up more recruits?"

His voice boomed over the music, "We are not in any position to question the Ancient One's methods." He had his arms crossed as he walked in her view point, "We are here to protect the Earth from the forces that lie beyond. Have you ever considered the fact that she is trying to rebuild?"

She stopped playing suddenly and rested her hands on her lap, "Were there others before Kaecilius?" she asked quietly.

He tilted his head and urged her to continue, "Like to your knowledge were there others that followed the path toward the dark dimension." She pushed the bench back so she could stand, "The only other time I could recall was the fight against the witch in London." She refer back to an incident that occurred almost a year ago where Kaecilius still fought alongside them.

"Young Elise…" He began as his eyes soften, "I know you admired Kaecilius when he was your teacher and I know it hurts you to see him go down this path but you must know..." She did not realize that there were tears forming at the edges of her eyes when he mentioned it, "There will always be those who are influenced by the evil and their shadow selves. It is up to us to bring that balance and bring the good to protect this realm."

Master Drumm's words played in her mind that night as she read her mother's journal before she went to bed. She closed her eyes and pictured being in her mother's point of view as she walked the same halls as she has.

Cassandra Berg was not only a master of Eldritch magic but also specialized in old Nordic rune magic that the all-father has placed on Midgard. It was not until she discovered that Odin himself would place bets on Midgard with the ruler of the dark dimension. She craved to be above any of this just as the Ancient One rose to power. If she could possess the power to turn back time, to save her husband or to heal her patients instead of putting them through endless misery in rehab or to simply live forever with no illness or injury.

"The Ancient One knows the path I seek and the desires that plague my mind. I do not hide from her, nor does she hide her personal knowledge from me. She wishes to keep me here where she thinks she could keep my rash nature under control, but I cannot leave my daughter behind. Elise is the only living thing that will hold me back from pursuing further. Hopefully, the deity I call will assist me in these matters."

A/N: I tried to write Elise as if she was a reader insert but I do not know how you guys do it. I'll stick to third person.