The trip back to Kamar Taj was tense, albeit short. The whole way out of the hospital and back to the temple, Stephen looked worried. Zira had never seen him that concerned before, and it was beginning to worry her as well. She had a lot of questions, but she didn't want to ask until they made it back to Kamar Taj.
"You've been quiet," Zira commented as they walked through the portal. "Who's Mordo?"
"Mordo was one of the masters here when I got here. He was obsessed with the natural order of things, and kept reminding me that everything I did, every action I made had a consequence," Stephen replied. "He also walked away from us after we defeated Dormammu. He made it clear that because I messed with time and put myself at risk, he couldn't be a part of me being reckless and making decisions. 'The bill always comes due'."
"You still seem a little surprised when his name was mentioned, though," Zira pointed out. "I've never actually seen you this shook."
"Mordo is a skilled sorcerer and fighter, and his ideals are set in stone. If he's got it in his head that he has to thin the herd of people who use magic, he's going to keep going until he's happy...and he may never be happy," Stephen said quietly. "This very well could drive him off the deep end. We need to find him and stop him."
"Where do we start?" Stephen looked at her for a moment, and then smiled.
"Grab someone you trust and meet me in the library. Wong will take you where you need to go," he said, and walked off. Zira watched him go, then ran to get Isioma. Her friend was finishing a sparring match when Zira found her. Isioma moved fluidly, fighting with a physical weapon charged with magic rather than one conjured. Once she was done, Zira ran forward.
"You busy?" she asked as she ran up.
"After this? Not really," Isioma replied.
"Great," Zira said. "Come with me!" Isioma hesitated for a second.
"Where are we going?"
"Strange wants to see us in the library," she answered. "I'll explain on the way." Stephen Strange was the current Sorcerer Supreme. Many didn't agree with him, but because he had been chosen by the Ancient One, most of them didn't question his authority. He was a master of the mystic arts in his own right, and despite his attitude, he always had the greater good as a priority. Isioma put her weapon down and followed Zira quickly.
As Zira explained what she had managed to accomplish, Isiomas brown eyes got bigger.
"You made the procedure work?" she whispered. "It really worked?"
"It did," Zira replied. She knew that Isioma had been putting a lot of work in their research, so she deserved to know that it had paid off and that it worked. Sure enough, the look of excitement on her friend's face was palpable. The young woman was practically vibrating with excitement.
"So...This man, Mordo, he's creating damage that we are able to now reverse? Do you realize how huge this is? Do you realize what this could mean for so many people?" Isioma said, getting more and more excited as she uttered each word.
"I know," Zira replied. "We can talk about writing up everything later, though. We need to find Mordo and stop him. He shouldn't be doing this in the first place." Isioma came down out of her excitement and nodded, somber. She knew Zira was right. What Mordo was doing was inhumane, and done to someone who may not be a sorcerer and just have a connection...she shuddered at the thought.
When the two of them arrived in the library, Wong led them back into a section that was normally reserved for the masters. At the back of this room were doors that led to the London, Hong Kong, and New York sanctums. In the middle of the doors was a pedestal. Stephen was standing near it, the eye of Agamotto in his hands.
"This is the young lady helping you with your research, right?" Stephen asked as they approached. Zira nodded.
"This is Isioma Bellos, Master," she said. Isioma inclined her head slightly in a bow. Stephen returned the gesture.
"Thank you for coming, and for being Ziras trusted friend," he said.
"Zira is a talented sorcerer for her to be in your trust, Master Strange," Isioma said. "I look forward to learning from you as well." Stephen nodded his thanks and put the amulet on the pedestal. A large globe materialised above the pedestal, and Stephen started during different circles making the map change.
"I'm guessing she brought you up to speed, yes?" he asked. Isioma nodded. "Our trouble is that, unlike Charles, we don't have a special way to find sorcerers. We can guess where they were, but because we have the ability to port anywhere we wish, we are hard to find."
"So, we have to find out where the rest of the sorcerers are that aren't in a sanctum, and either bring them back or tell them to get somewhere safe," Wong said.
"I can find a few on my own," Stephen continued. "Wong is going to stay here and keep this place safe in my absence. You two are going to go and find a few select ones together." Zira and Isioma looked at each other.
"We're going out?" Zira asked.
"On our own?" Isioma added.
"Yes," Stephen confirmed. "Both of you need to go and select a weapon to take with you. See if one chooses you because it will work with you a lot easier. If one does not choose you, select one and make it work. I won't have two of the best students here going out unarmed. Isioma, being the more experienced student, you're in charge. Go in something other than your uniforms, too. The less conspicuous you look the better." Zira and Isioma nodded. This was a rescue mission, and it needed to be in secret.
"Wait," Isioma said. "Ziras appearance is unique in any country. Can we do something to help with that?" Zira agreed. Her silver hair may not be that big of a deal, but her silver eyes would be a dead giveaway, even if Mordo didn't know who either of them were. Stephen stood there for a second, thinking, then went and grabbed a book off of a nearby shelf. He flipped through it for a minute, then handed it to Zira opened to a specific page.
"This should help you. It temporarily removes anything magically caused to the physical form. Because your magic caused this, it should work to make you look a little more...normal," he said. Zira read through the spell, then set the book down and gave it a try. She pressed her hands together, muttered a few words under her breath, and ran her hands over her face and through her hair. As she moved, her hands slipped through her hair and it turned black. She shook it out a little and shuddered slightly.
"That felt really weird," she commented. When she opened her eyes, everyone looked at her with surprise. "Well, how do I look?"
"You don't look like you," Isioma said. "I prefer the silver much more." Zira smiled at her friend. It was always nice to hear that.
"Want to see what you look like?" Stephen asked. Zira nodded hesitantly. He brought over a mirror out of nowhere and she took a look.
The only things that had changed were her hair and eyes. Her hair was black, which made her light skin even lighter. What scared her were her eyes. Her mother had brown eyes mixed with a little bit of green and flecks of gold. She would never forget her mothers eyes and always hoped that she had those color eyes if her silver was removed somehow.
Her eyes were green...like Stephens.
Zira looked over at Stephen, who kept his face even.
"It's….it's weird, that's all," she said.
"Right," Stephen said. He made the mirror disappear, and walked back to the globe. "The two of you are going to South Korea. The person you're looking for is Master Hak-Kun Ahn. He went back to his village recently in Damyang to help his family out. Either convince him to come back or arm himself against Mordo. Speaking of, if you run into him, run. Do not try to fight him, do you understand?"
"Yes, Master," the two young women said, nodding their understanding. Stephen would take risks, but his caution was very telling of how dangerous Mordo really was.
"Be careful, stay alert, and make sure you get back here safely," Wong said. "We cannot lose anyone right now, and especially to one of our own, no matter how long he's been gone." Isioma and Zira bowed, turned, and went to the armory. Once they were out of the library, Isioma faced Zira.
"Your eyes," she said. "They…"
"I know," Zira said, unable to look at her friend. "They look like his."
"That is not a coincidence," Isioma insisted. "You said you did not know who your father is."
"Can we not talk about this right now? We have a job to do," Zira asked, trying to be as gentle as she could. She knew that Isioma meant well, but she really didn't want to talk about it. Her friend caught the look in her eyes and just nodded, an understanding, sympathetic smile on her face.
"Right," Isioma said. When they arrived at the armory, it was a little overwhelming. The two of them walked around together for a minute, then drifted apart for a bit as their attentions were pulled elsewhere. As Zira walked around, she kept circling back to one weapon in particular. It was a large baton-looking with a crescent shape on both sides. It was almost as long as her arm, and it felt like it was calling to her.
The energy that entered the room...I've only felt that energy a few times before in my centuries-old existence. I felt it come closer, then walk away, then come back, then walk away. I did my best to reach out to that energy, and imagine my elation when I felt a hand on me once more. I felt myself flare to life with the energy this young sorcerer was naturally charging me with.
Slowly, she reached out and put her hand on it. Cracks in the weapon lit up with orange light as she touched it, and it felt natural in her hand. Zira picked it up and tested the weight. It felt good as she hefted it.
It felt wonderful to be alive with someone who felt like they were meant to wield me.
"The Wand of Watoomb," a voice said behind her. She turned to see Wong. "A powerful weapon. Being chosen by it is a great honor."
"What does it do?" Zira asked.
"Heals, hurts and defends," Wong answered. "You have to tell it what you want and be firm. It will only respond to one sure in their abilities."
I could hear a conversation being had, presumably about me. The person not holding me had held me before, and while we had worked together, that person wasn't as meant for me as the one holding me now.
Zira nodded and held the wand out in front of her and tried to call up a shield.
I felt a command go through me. A shield. Because of the natural energy, I was able to oblige with no hesitation. My shield felt strong, and I had a feeling that this sorcerer could heal the dying and destroy their enemies with no problem.
The Wand of Watoomb they call me, and once again, I have found my chosen wielder.