Merlina comes back onto the courtyard where Ebony was waiting "How's our new recruit?". Ebony stared blankly into thin air "We shall see. Any second now". Merlina pauses but then sighs "Oh, no, not again". They waited a moment when Merlina stepped forward "Maybe I should-". Ebony stopped her, she looked confident "Wait".
Khan was desperately trying to make a portal with his bat, but nothing happened. He yells frustrated and he begins to feel numb as he falls to his knees. His mind races, he's going to die here. His world has been expanded to an unimaginable level and he's going to die right at the start of his training. He clenches his fists and forces himself to stand. He takes a deep breath and holds out the bat. He refuses to die here.
Ebony watches expectantly as a ring portal opens in front of her. Khan staggers through it covered in snow and he falls to the ground shivering. Merlina and Ebony both smile at him. If Khan could feel his face right now he probably would have said something rude to them.
Sometime later Khan enters the library where Merlin sees him. He stands up "Khan" "Merlin" "What can I do for you?". Merlin's whole demeanour seemed to be different, he was standing up straight with a more confident look on his face "Books on astral projection" "You're not ready for that" "Try me, Nikki". Merlin stares back blankly. Khan sighs disappointedly "Oh, come on. You've heard of her. She's a huge star, right?". Merlin remains silent, "Do you ever laugh…. Oh, come on. Just give me the book" "No".
Later that night Merlin was sitting alone in the library reading a book. He had earphones in listening to a song "He reminds me of parsley when he's standing there all alone (makes me wanna be his speciality...). I guess I'm just a self-centred girl. But there are nights that I have trouble going to sleep". A portal opened behind him, and an arm extended out grabbing a book. Merlin glances back just after the portal disappeared. As he was looking back another portal opened and quickly took the book he was reading. Merlin looks back and takes out his earphones and stares at where the book was. He looked very angry.
Khan's body was sleeping in his bed while his astral form was kneeling in front of the bed reading casually reading a book. It was an interesting experience for Khan. He didn't feel tired at all. He was wide awake. More awake than he's ever felt. His mind was free of distractions and he easily took in everything he was reading.
Ebony led Khan into the meditation room "Once, in this room, you begged me to let you learn. Now, I'm told you question every lesson preferring to teach yourself" "Once in this room you told me to open my eyes. Now, I'm being told to blindly accept rules that make no sense". Ebony glanced at him "Like the rule against conjuring a gateway in this library?". Khan smirked "Merlin turned on me?" "You're advancing quickly with your sorcery skills. You need a safe space to practice your spells". Ebony gestures with her hand and cracks appear in mid-air. A while ago this would have amazed Khan but at this point it was just a new thing to learn. It then shatters into a reflective crystalline surface. She walks through it and Khan follows her. They are in an identical room "You are now inside the special zone ever present but undetected. The real world isn't affected by what happens here. We use it to train, survey and sometimes to contain threats. You don't want to be stuck in here without the ability to open a warp ring". Khan turned to her "Hold on. Sorry. What do you mean, threats?". Ebony makes room suddenly reconfigure "Do you think everyone wishes to learn for discovery only? Learning of an infinite Multiverse includes learning of infinite dangers. If I told you everything else that you don't already know you'd run from here in terror".
Khan was in the courtyard watching Ebony train two students fighting with their weapons "So just how ancient is she?" he asked Merlina. Merlina glanced at Ebony "No one knows the age of the Sorcerer Supreme. She never talks about her past" "You follow her, even though you don't know?" "I know she's steadfast but unpredictable. Merciless, yet kind. She made me what I am". She turned to Khan and made a fighting pose making Khan do the same "Trust your teacher and don't lose you way" "Like Omen?" "That's right". The two spar and Khan glared at Merlina "You knew him". Merlina got him in a headlock "When he first came to us, he'd lost everyone he ever loved. He was a grieving, broken man searching for answers in the mystic arts. A brilliant student, but he was proud, headstrong. He questioned the Ancient One, rejected her teaching". Khan elbowed her in the stomach freeing himself. Merlina grunts in pain but then grins "He left us. His disciples followed him like sheep. Seduced by false doctrine" "And he stole the forbidden ritual, right? What did it do?". Merlina held out her hand and her staff appeared "No more questions". A scabbard appeared on her side. Khan stared at it "What's that?" "That's a question". Khan laughed and Merlina lifted her scabbard "This is a relic. Objects endowed with special magic giving it a faint consciousness. This is the scabbard of Excalibur". It glows "This is capable of enhancing my abilities. How far, even I don't know". Khan smirked "When do I get my relic" "When you're ready. Each relic chooses its user. For now, you'll have to make do with a standard weapon". Khan conjures his bat and Merlina immediately attacks him with her staff "Fight! Fight like your life depended on it". Khan is barely able to block the attacks and keeps stumbling back. Merlina hits Khan to the ground "Because one day it may". She walks away leaving a Khan on the ground.
Khan was in his room at night, he was on a laptop about to send an email to Perci "Perci, I'm emailing you one more time to..." he sighs not being able to think of something.
Khan entered the library with a handful of books. He sees that Merlin wasn't here. He places the book down and then glances at one of the restricted books. He goes inside while eating an apple and he sits down. He begins to read the book on a page on something called the red gem. He looks up and sees this same gem sitting on a pedestal. Khan looks around "Merlin?" no answer. Khan gets up and walks over to the gem. He takes it and goes back over to the book reading that the gem needs to attach to an object to be used similar to the warp jewels. Khan thinks for a moment but then gets an idea. He takes off his headband and holds the gem close to the jewel already in it. The gem absorbs into the red jewel "Okay". He puts the headband back on and immediately feels a strange rush of power. He takes a moment and then reads the book "First, open the power of the Gem". He presses his fingers together and crosses his wrists. The gem glows bright red, Khan feels strange. He couldn't feel his own heart beating, there was complete silence around him. Nothing in this moment existed except him. He calmly exhales and twists his hands creating a red circle. He opens his eyes and stares at the half-eaten apple. It is suddenly stripped down by multiple invisible bites. Khan waved his hand again and the apple was returned to a whole "Oh, my". He repeats the gesture and the apple rots down to nothing but is then restored "What if…". He moves the apple out of the way and pushes the book forward. He turns the book to the missing page and twists his hand. The stolen pages are returned, and he reads them "Feist. The Lord of the Dark Dimension. Eternal life?". Crystalline shards suddenly appear around the book "What the…" "Stop!".