I spent the next week getting my affairs in order as well as telling Fury that I might be off the grid for a while and also inquiring what it'll take for me to get my satellite out there.

The requirements for having a personal satellite was huge but not one I couldn't waiver. The problem, however, came from some haters in the parliament according to what Fury told me: "They hate your ass."

I didn't really care much about what they said or did as I could just use the guise of wanting a satellite due to the network traffic most of my media platforms faced which was a real thing but not an issue currently.

I left everything, took some essentials and some cash, and had my pilot fly me all the way to Nepal. Since I wasn't able to locate the Sanctum at New York, I figured I'd probably have to go to their home base.

To be honest, I didn't know what I was looking for. All I knew was that it was somewhere in Nepal, at someplace where I had no idea of.

Telling my pilot to go back, I left the hangar and made my way into the country of Nepal.

I walked around the place looking for anything; a door in the middle of the road, disappearing figures that only appear at the edge of my vision only to disappear when I focus on them. Words or arrows with a follow me sign or even being teleported directly to Kamar-Taj.

I spent the following days walking through the cities of Nepal while also taking in the sights. It was the least I could do after no finding the home of sorcerers.

It was when I finally spent a week in Nepal that I finally received the sign I had been looking for – a floating orange circle tearing through space and time, adjacent to my bed that it was the first thing I saw when I woke up.

I couldn't see what was beyond the portal but like any sane person in my shoes… I walked right through it.

'It's about damn time.'

The room I arrived in was something akin to a dormitory with some robes by the bed, a few parchments, some ink by the desk and finish.

I reached for the door and tried to open the room but it wouldn't budge, not even a tiny bit. I tried once again but like my previous attempt, it refused to budge. Not even an inch.

I frowned at that and increased the force I used but still nothing.

In a moment of brashness, I augmented my hands and the moment I touched the knob it flung me against the wall. I had to take a second to realize where the fuck I was and calmed myself down.

Hopefully I was not claustrophobic, because the feeling I got when I found out the door was locked and I couldn't open it was not something I liked. For a moment, it felt as if I was back in that fucking HYDRA base.

The thoughts to blast a gigantic hole through the roof and raze the place to the ground flashed through my mind for an instant but I ignored it and looked around the room once more.

The room was as plain as it could get with only the robes standing out.

Taking a deep breath, I changed my clothes into the robes and took a step towards the door. Because of my prior experience and also the unnerving feeling of knowing that I couldn't brute force my way through, I hesitated for a moment before I reached for the knob once more.

'All that power, just to be humbled by a casual display of magic.'

I shook off that thought and turned the knob. I would be lying if I said my heart didn't skip a bear when I heard the click of the lock opening. I pushed the door open and found myself in some kind of hall with numerous doors, to lodges I presume, along it.

Following the routes he nearest part of light and also the direction of the noise I could pick up. Where I found myself was a large clearing with people doing some sort of meditation exercise.

It got awkward in less than five seconds as I was the only one standing while more than 50 people sat on the ground with legs crossed, eyes closed and their hands making some kind of motion. I made the wise decision at the sixth second mark to leave but the moment I took a step away from the clearing, the sound of a cough caused me to halt.

I was prepared to launch a telekinetic blast but the static shock I felt from my robes caused me to groan and I was quickly getting fed up.

The man who coughed was an elder but when it came to magic, that just meant more dangerous. What made me alarmed was that I couldn't sense when he was just a few meters away from him. The only people that registered in my senses were those who were meditating and if not for him coughing, I definitely wouldn't have known there was someone behind me.

"You look new." I made to speak but he waved his hands in dismissal and just pointed at the people meditating. "Doesn't matter. Get on with the exercise." With that he went to sit in a corner and took his own meditating position which was different from the students', which was what I assumed those at the clearing was. And looking at my robe, I was one too.

A part of me wanted to ask the elder that I wanted to speak with the Ancient One, but that same part of me also reasoned that the reason why I came here to meet her, or him, in the first place was to learn the Mystic Arts. And now I'm here, being told to learn.

I sighed as I made way to the back of seated sorcerers-in-training and watched them for a while before I started copying their motion down to the way they breathe.

Sometimes I would open my eyes to catch the gaze of the elder on me with a disapproving look as if I wasn't doing something right which I clearly wasn't as I was just mirroring the breathing pattern of the majority and the motion of their hands.

It got to the point where I shrugged at his admonishing but instead of helping me out he just closed his eyes and went back to doing what he was doing. Although not what I expected, I did however follow through with the rules set.

I could already meditate since I did that a lot when I was in captivity but there was something about this meditation exercise that I wasn't getting. I could perform the breathing and hand motions to a T but there was something I instinctively knew I was lacking.

It was in this entire place.

Ever since I stepped through the portal, I could feel the slight changes in the air. It was like a cool ocean breeze with something else in it. Even in this clearing, everyone seemed to be acclimated to the environment with me being the only difference. It was as if I was entirely out of my element.

The exercise continued till the sun went down before everyone started getting up to leave. Some had dejected faces as if they failed something while others appeared tranquil. I was the only one with confusion visible on my face.

I couldn't take it anymore and made my way to the meditating elder.

"Uhm… excuse me?" I tried getting his attention but his eyes remained close as such that they didn't even twitch. Not even when I waved my hands in front of them.

I was about to tap the elder on his shoulders when a voice startled me. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

This time however I was able to conjure flames in my hands as I turned to the second person who was able to bypass my senses since I came to this place.

The man before me was a black man wearing a green robe with a staff on his back. I remembered him from the first Dr. Strange movie as Karl Mordo. I frown as my instinct thrummed with something akin to a low warning. While I was sure I could snap this guy in half in less than a second, something else about him made me wary. The unpredictability of it was what set him off.

'Magic huh. I'm so learning that.'

"I'm afraid I haven't seen you before. Are you perchance new here?" He asked me with only a raised brow at my hands set aflame.

"Yes. Came here this morning, a few hours ago specifically." I answered him but I still kept the flames on.

"Are you going to put that away?" He glanced at the flames which I eventually put out. No need for me to antagonize the people I wished to learn from.

"What's your name? It's not everyday we have a mutant… or was it metahuman now, as an apprentice. My name is Mordo by the way."

"Draul, St. Cross." I relaxed my stance and moved away from the elder towards Mordo.

"Cross then. How did you arrive at Kamar-Taj?" He started walking and I followed behind.

"I woke up and I saw a swirly portal by my bedside. So like any other sane person out there, I walked through it." I shrugged at the bewildered gaze he gave me as I said that.

"I don't think that would be the sane choice to walk through it… is it?"

"Of course it is. You think a sane man would see a portal and not want to find out what's on the other side? They'd be insane if they let up such opportunities."

"That aside, would you mind telling me why you wanted to disturb Master Pian Dao during his Astral projection?" He asked me with a serious look.

"Okay, first of all I had no clue what he was doing, what I'm doing… In fact, none of this makes sense to me." I gestured to everything while turning around.

"So the meditation exercise?"

"I'm pretty sure I failed that too."

He fell silent for a while as we walked before he turned to look at me at an interception.

"Since you found your way to Kamar-Taj, then I'm sure there's a reason you are here. I'll look for you tomorrow to run you through the exercises. In the meantime, I suggest you take some books from the library. I'd suggest 'Fundamentals of harnessing Energy' and Raikh Jalom's script of 'Spirit and self intunement'. See you tomorrow Cross." He said as he started walking away before stopping. "Oh, take this." He waved his hand and a paper flew towards me with impressive speed which I caught easily.

"What's this?"

"Password." I raised an eye at that. "To the Wi-Fi."

I nodded with a chuckle and made my way towards my room to sort out what had happened to me today.

I was tempted to seek out the Ancient One for answers, since it was pretty clear that this was her doing, but I figured that learning the arts this way wasn't bad. It's not like I came here expecting special treatment just for the damned reason that I seeked her help in the first place.

Learning the basics is the best foundation for anything and besides this coincides perfectly with the reason I came here for anyway.

…

[The Ancient One POV]

She watched as the man she had brought here made a decision that she knew he would.

It was not everyday she met someone who could capture the interest of a being as magnificent as the Phoenix.

She had been rather skeptical of the rash decision she had made this morning after watching him look for Kamar-Taj for months. She had even taken the precaution of hiding the New York Sanctum from his sight when he searched for it.

She could sense it.

Beyond him, was something else. Something that bred chaos. Not Chthon, although it felt like that being of chaos, what was hidden beyond his veil was deeper than what the Elder God of Chaos represented.

'Abstracts.'

She prayed she was just being paranoid but with such entities, you could never tell. After all, the births and destruction of a universe were based on their whims.

"Master Mordo, can I help you?"

She spoke as one of her former students came into the room.

"You took in Cross, yet you were on the fence with Strange. Can I ask why?" Mordo asked as he came in front of his teacher and master.

"The 'Times' have changed, greatly. I wonder if having two of such pivotal destinies in the same place would fester a greater bond or whether they would devolve themselves in Chaos." Mordo had a look of confusion but the Ancient One made no effort to clarify for his understanding.

"That little test today, and a few I have in store for him along the way, would hopefully, let me know how to view him. Now then, for our other guest…" She took her gaze away from the mutant and focused on her other new charge and almost resisted the urge to sigh. Although he had arrived much earlier than what she expected, she still, after much contemplation, took him in regardless.

He was already sneaking into the library and stealing books to abate his unquenchable thirst for knowledge. "Fright not, Master Mordo. 'Time' will reveal to us what it has in store for them. Now, be a dear and invite the other masters for tea." She said and made her way to make a brew while Mordo still looked confused but having already grown used to his Supreme Master's eccentricity, he left and went to attend to the chore he'd been given.

The following days passed by without anything new other than what I was currently used to.

I spent my days trying to meditate, which was getting my body and spirit in sync, and the rest of my time reading and watching some of the other disciples training with magic.

Mordo had been taking me through the meditation and magical training but so far I haven't been able to do anything. Sure I could somewhat sense the energy they used in magic as Mordo had been kind enough to explain that there different sources of energy for performing magic. Though he didn't dive into the different forms, he did however teach me the orthodox way – a synergy between myself and the environment.

Today however, he wanted to start my combat training. Given how this stupid robe haven't malfunctioned in the past few days, I got the impression that I was in the clear as long as I didn't go overboard with my abilities.

"Are you sure about this? Not to be arrogant or anything but, if you wanted to stand a chance against me then you'd have to use one of those magical artifacts you carry around. Not that staff though, maybe something with a little… magic in it." I said to Mordo who stood opposite me in a clearing. Other students were already sparring while I was waiting for Mordo.

Speaking of Mordo, what I said seemed to have ticked him the wrong way, what way it was though, I didn't know. "This is the staff of the Living Tribunal, it is as… magical as any other artifact out there, even surpassing more than a few."

"Roll back for a sec. The staff of motherfucking who?" I look at the unassuming staff on Mordo's back and let's just say I was as flabbergasted as I was cautious. That was not a name I was expecting to hear at all, definitely not on earth at least, and certainly not ascribed to a weapon.

Mordo didn't answer me and motion for me to take a stance. "Regardless, I believe I would be an adequate judge of your skills, and if you can, I would very much like it if you could make me draw my weapon." Okay, Mordo is definitely pissed. Seems like he has a soft spot for his weapons, but still.

He attacked me only for me to sidestep and send a chop to his exposed neck which he quickly reacted to and ducked while my hand sailed harmfully above his head.

He spun in his crouching position with his legs outstretched to cleave through my footing with a sweep, only for me to raise my toes while keeping my sole grounded for Mordo's kick to strike at the arch of his foot.

"You're good." Mordo said, this time fully appraising me as he circled around me.

I just watched while keeping myself open for him to attack, he seemed to get the message as he grunted before he attacked me.

Kicks were deflected, punches were parried as we continued fighting not knowing when a crowd formed around us. We didn't care about that, or them, which they seemed to know as moved with our fight.

We crossed into the lethal range as Mordo either due to frustration at me being able to keep up with him used some kind of cheat boots and kicked himself into the air and started walking in it, catching me off guard for a second. He exploited that opening and sent out a force blast which alarmed the others watching but I just countered with mine, and seeing as the robes I wore gave no reaction, I grinned.

Mordo seemed to have understood what he did as he descended with an apologetic face which I just waved aside. Sure I could pick a bone with the guy but there wasn't any need. Not to mention he looked genuinely apologetic about it.

"Forget that. Seems like I just got clearance to use my abilities, though I can hazard a guess and say this is most likely a probation. So, ready for round 2?"

Mordo took a second to look at me and seeing that he was in the clear, he smiled and said, "Round 2."

Taking care to go past the limit the Ancient One has set for me, since it was definitely her who brought me here, I created two chokutos made of ice while Mordo settled for magic as two magic circles covered his hands.

This time I went in for the attack and tried an overhead slash only for Mordo to completely block with one barrier. Seeing this the chokutos in my other hand, elongated into a sword.

Mordo reacted quickly as he used those cheating boots of his to gain room for himself but I was already on him.

Seeing as how he wouldn't be able to overpower me in simple weaponry, he kicked his spells up a notch. He created some constructs on the air with magic and sent them towards me.

'This is just too easy.' Not that I was going to tell him that, but A for effort. I wanted to see how I'd fare against a sorcerer but this little play of ours, because that's what it definitely was to me, proved to me that unless they devolved into the eldritchy part of their codex, or as long as they weren't mooks, then I'd simply walk over them.

Sure, I knew that Mordo still had spells in his arsenal that I most likely would struggle again but it still fell in that consideration that unless he brought out his A game like some ridiculous spells that negate durability, because Doom could definitely use those with ease. So even though I wasn't taking none of this serious, so was Mordo. Sure he wasn't even my match physically, but magic didn't give a fuck about that.

By know, the student seemed to have gotten the clue that staying around our fight was dangerous so they moved to the distance away while they still watched. I could see some elders which the students deferred to, most probably Masters of the arts, also watching but I didn't pay them any mind.

Mordo was already breathing heavily while I was still at the same pace I was when we began as we slowly increased the level caps of our fight.

The fight was starting to take a dangerous turn as I wanted to increase my output but my robe once against decided to act out as it sent some kind of shock through my body that I haven't been able to adapt to yet.

Mordo had sent some type of long thin sharp needle at me which I just used my hands to snatch out of mid air and broke it even as the man stood there shocked.

"I believe that's enough." I told him.

He nodded. "That it is. It was probably my fault anyways." He performed a bow to me as I did the same.

"I'll have to say, you really are strong, had me going there throughout the fight. If I have to ask, what made you seek out the arts?"

"Putting it bluntly, I'd say it's to cover up my weaknesses. Another way is so that I could one up a certain bastard."

"… Revenge then. I know it's not my place to say this, but revenge, is not worth it." He said.

"Might not be. But it definitely would be worth it considering the bastard I'm up against. You should know him, he's pretty famous after all."

"Who?" Mordo raised an eye in inquisitiveness.

"Dr. Doom. The Monarch of Latveria."

Mordo came to a quick stop as I said that as he looked at me, this time it wasn't appraisal but something else.

"I've heard the Ancient One once talk about the king of Latveria. She once said he had the potential to be one the strongest sorcerer to have ever existed given his genius. Why would you….? That attack on his home on New Year, that was you?" Bewilderment was bleeding through his voice.

"Yeah. I was still pretty pissed off then."

"What made you want to kill him?"

"Nothing much. Just for the simple fact that he ruined Christmas."

"Christmas?...! Impossible!"

I turned to look at the man who now had frightful eyes as he looked at me and pointed to me with shaking fingers. "That disaster…"

"Me, Doom and Magneto had a slug fest. Bastard teleported away though." I shrugged and started walking away from Mordo's rooted form.

"Why then? If you are already that strong, why want to learn from the Masters? For power?" Mordo came up to me and asked.

"Like I said, to cover up one of my weaknesses and also to one up Doom when he decides to show up. It's as simple as that." I told him before making my way to the library, leaving Mordo to contemplate on what he has just heard.

The library was where I spent most of my time when I was not training and not in my room. Sure there were a lot of restrictions on the books I could read given that I haven't even gotten a sling ring and most of the books I could get were mainly theoretically or newbies go-to guide.

"Nice fight." Someone called out to me as I made my way to the archives.

I stopped and looked at the man who was quietly reading as his desk. "Thanks. Mordo had it coming anyway." I quite liked Mordo and could not understand why he was a villain to the future Dr. Strange… who I was currently looking at.

"Never took you for a mutant though."

"You know me?"

"Well most people wouldn't know the CEO of the tech platforms they are using, well most of the public wouldn't know and think it's a sophomore running the company. Kinda wondering what you are doing in a place like this."

Right, not everyone knew I was the sole owner of all those platforms except for Facebook, since I had Marky running everything as the Acting CEO. It was a hell lot of work but he was satisfied with the money he was receiving. Well that and the fact that he knew that if he tried sabotaging me and wanted to jump ships then none of his apps would enter the internet and stay there for more than 24 hours since a random virus would just destroy it, down to its last atom.

So yeah, Marky was really incentivized to work harder.

"Well I'm here for the same reason everyone is."

"To heal?"

"No. To learn magic."

"Right. Magic. Everyone else. Sorry it's just that…"

"What happened to you? Why are you here?"

He sighed as he dropped the book he was reading to look at me, then looked around before settling down again at me. "Lost my hands. During that…that nightmare at New York. I was in my car that day, I just successfully operated on a brain tumor, again, about to go have dinner at a fancy restaurant. I already had my date waiting for me, and then it happened. They said it was lightning that struck but I had blacked out and the only thing I could remember was my car tumbling. I lost my hands that day, lost my job thereafter. Haha, I needed hands for it after all." He held up his shaking hands with all the fingers crooked. "I tried all I could but, turns out the technology to perform such an operation hasn't even been invented yet. So I searched around until I found myself here, instead of teaching me medicine they taught me magic and turns out magic isn't as omnipotent as the books made it out to be. Still can't get my hands back."

He let out a deprecating laugh which just made him look more horrible than he currently did.

"Magic can't fix it?" I asked.

"It can, but the bald lady said it won't be worth it… so I researched, still researching, and all what I've seen, the rituals, the conditions for such a wish… it's enormous. Shit like eternal servitude for a wish, or becoming a vessel for some eldritch being. It always a price too high to pay."

"Sorry about that." I consoled him, most likely due to the fact that he as here because of what happened. From what I knew from the comics and the movie, his coming here and learning the arts was something of a universal constant. Somehow or other, I was the cause of his accident and inadvertently became the reason he came here.

"Don't need to worry about it. I'm not as hurt about it as I was months ago." He waved me off.

"Yeah about that, I wasn't talking about your feelings." He looked at me seemingly taking offense at what he perceived was a jab but I continued. "That, nightmare you called it, was my fault. Well not entirely, but I was one of the two reasons it happened. The fight spilled out of control and affected New York." I sat down before him as I said.

"You are joking right?... Right?" Seeing my silence at his question, he banged at the table and shouted at me.

"Millions died! And you are saying it was because a fight spilled out! Do you understand what the disaster did to people?! Do you even know a single name of a victim who died due to your 'little fight'?!" Strange was heaving as he said that. His hands was curled up in a fist but he didn't strike. He just stared at me with anger, pure anger, visible in his face before he took his books and left, ignoring the looks from those around us.

"That could have gone a lot better."

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Read up to 25 chapters ahead at pa*treon /Draul_TheOminous.