Avi2112
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Chapter 209
🕑 Added 2025-02-27 06:06:44 +0000 UTC"So…" I lean forward, unable to hide my excitement. "Does this mean I can keep her?"
The Ancient One raises a brow, amusement flickering in her eyes. "She is not a pet, and I am not your mother. You can house whoever you want, Luke."
"Right, of course," I reply, grinning wryly.
"Now," she says, her tone shifting into that of a stern teacher, "explain to me how you managed to tangle yourself with not one but two dimensional lords in a single day—and that before even beginning your mystical studies."
I flash an innocent smile before hurriedly recounting everything that had happened in Mephisto’s realm.
By the time I finish, the Ancient One looks at me, utterly speechless.
"See? I told you I needed some OP items for protection, teacher," I say with a wry smile.
She sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Yes, I believe you will definitely need protective artifacts before your next dimensional travel."
"Great!" I exclaim, grinning ear to ear. "And teacher, can I go back to that place—the Crossroads? There were so many paths I didn’t explore. I can’t help but wonder about all the amazing adventures I could have had if I had chosen a different one of them!"
The Ancient One regards me with an amused smile. "The Crossroads is not a place you can simply choose to return to. It has no fixed location. Even for me, finding it is no simple task. But knowing your luck, I wouldn’t be surprised if you stumble upon it again." She pauses, her voice turning sage-like. "Still, you need to study extensively before attempting dimensional travel like that again."
"Or," I quip cheekily, "you could just cast the same spells on me again?"
She smirks. "What do you think?"
My grin falters. "Right… okay, point taken."
She gestures towards my body, still slumped in a chair. "Now, don’t you think it’s time you return to your own body?"
"But the Astral form feels so free!" I say, gliding effortlessly through the air. Although I have to admit, watching my own lifeless body is quite… unsettling.
"You can stay like that if you wish," she says with a harmless smile, "but the spell will wear off soon. And when it does, whatever you brought back with you—who knows what would happen to it?"
My eyes widen in alarm. "Oh, no, no, no!" I hastily float towards my body. The moment my hand touches it, my whole perspective shifts, and I am seated in the chair once more. I quickly pat my pockets, sighing in relief when everything is accounted for.
I glance up, realizing Raven is now floating above a glowing golden platform, held aloft by the Ancient One’s magic. "Oops," I say sheepishly. "Thanks, teacher. I forgot I was holding her up with my psychokinesis."
The Ancient One just shakes her head with a sigh.
I check my Focus and notice the connection is still down, but my eyes widen as I realize an entire day has passed. My surprise is mostly because so little time has passed than I had initially expected—I was prepared for the possibility of a week or more passing by. Just to be sure, I check the month and year. A sigh of relief escapes me; everything is still the same. It wouldn’t have been funny if more than a year—or even ten—had slipped by.
"Teacher, I think I should take my leave. The people back home must be worried," I say, standing up from the chair. Ugh, my real body feels so restrictive compared to my astral form. It is like being wrapped in restraints, the discomfort constantly nagging at me. Still, I will get used to it soon enough—or so I hope.
"Good," the Ancient One says, nodding knowingly. "I understand that you have responsibilities and… personal matters to attend to. I won’t ask you to abandon your secular life to study among us full-time. However, mastering the Mystic Arts requires continuous focus, dedication, and commitment, especially if you wish to excel."
"I will figure out the timings, Teacher, but I promise to spend as much time as I can studying here. Magic is something I need to master—and quickly," I reply, with a resolute expression.
"Good," she says again, her tone laced with approval, and a faint, pleased smile crosses her face.
"Umm, Master, can you, uh, just portal me back? I could call for a jet to Kathmandu, but it would take hours," I add with a wry smile.
The Ancient One chuckles softly. With a graceful wave of her hand, a circular portal opens by the wall, revealing my bedroom back at the Watson Tower.
"Thank you, Teacher," I say, offering a respectful bow.
The Ancient One nods warmly, and as I prepare to leave, I lift Raven with my Psychokinesis. A thought crosses my mind. "By the way, Teacher, how will I get here until I have learned portal magic myself?"
"Just make your way to the New York Sanctum, 177A Bleecker Street. Someone will be there to guide you the rest of the way," she says with a small smile. "And don’t worry—you will be able to find it easily this time," she adds with a knowing look.
"Got it, Teacher," I reply with a wry smile, unable to hide my embarrassment. Of course, she must have known about my numerous failed attempts to locate it before.
"And Luke," she says just as I am about to step through the gate. Her expression shifts to a calm seriousness, and I pause to look back at her. "Remember, do not interfere in Strange’s journey. Her suffering is a part of her growth—don’t rob her of that," she says firmly.
"Understood, Teacher," I reply with a respectful bow. "And… thank you for today. I was in desperate need of this journey—it has enlightened me in ways I can’t even begin to describe. I don’t think I will ever forget this experience. And none of it would have been possible without you." I pause, recalling how invaluable her guidance and tools had been—the tangibility of my Astral form, the ability to use my powers, and even the Allspeak spell. "You saved my life more times than I can count today, Teacher. I… I am deeply indebted to you." I bow even lower, my sincerity evident.
She smiles warmly and steps closer, placing her hands on my shoulders to lift me upright. "You are my student, Luke. You owe me nothing," she says gently. Then, with a playful chuckle, she adds, "But I will expect no complaints about the workload once your studies really begin."
"I promise," I say, flashing her a confident grin.
"Good," she says, her smile softening. "Now go. There are many people waiting for you."
I nod, smiling back. With Raven floating beside me, I step through the portal and into the familiar comfort of my room.
---
The Ancient One closes the portal, watching as her newest student, Luke, waves with a wide smile. She can’t help but smile herself, amused by the childish gesture.
"Are you certain this is wise, Master?" a male voice asks from the side.
"What exactly are you referring to, Mordo?" she replies, her gaze still lingering on the spot where the portal had vanished.
"Lucas Watson," Karl Mordo says, stepping closer to her. "He is a wild card. Young, certainly a genius, but far too impatient. And, most of all, I don’t believe he has any need for the Mystic Arts—nor is he suited for them." His eyes narrow as he looks at the wall.
"You’re both right and wrong, Mordo," she says with a faint smile. "He doesn’t need the Mystic Arts, true. What he needs is the guidance, the training, and the discipline that comes with mastering them. And Lucas knows this better than anyone—that’s why he was so desperate to learn," she says with a soft chuckle.
"Desperate?" Mordo asks, frowning. "Why didn’t I see it?"
"That’s why I asked you to teach the newer students," she replies patiently. "With time, you will start to notice the little things—the things students don’t say aloud. It’s in their body language, their eyes, their silence. In Lucas’s case, it was how easily and quickly he slipped into the role of a student—how nervous he was, almost as if he feared I might reject him or deny him the chance to learn." Her smile deepens, tinged with amusement.
"You are truly wise, Master," Mordo says, bowing respectfully. "But is he truly suited for the Mystic Arts? Talented geniuses like him often prove to be the most rigid and arrogant, clinging to what they already know," he adds thoughtfully.
"Is Lucas truly suited for the Mystic Arts?" The Ancient One’s lips curl into a mysterious smile. "That, my dear Mordo, is something you will have to wait and see for yourself," she says with a chuckle. She finds it fun to keep things a little mysterious—after all, she is the Sorcerer Supreme, and being mysterious comes with the title.
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So the study of magic begins.
