Chapter 42: 42. Ancient One
'.....'= Thoughts
"....."= Conversations
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"Maybe not for long," she had said, her voice carrying a hint of amusement.
Harry's head snapped to the side, eyes widening in surprise. He hadn't sensed anyone's presence in the cave—a testament to how stealthy this person was. The woman stood calmly, her bald head reflecting the dim light. It was the Ancient One.
Harry's senses were heightened to a great degree after the transformation of his body. Even then he was not able to sense this woman.
'This means that she was in the mirror dimension all the time, observing me. Can't say that I was surprised,' Harry thought as he knew that his meeting with the Ancient One was just a matter of time.
"You are quite calm?" Aren't you afraid to see a person suddenly materialising beside you?" Ancient one asked.
Harry kept his face impassive. "Why aren't I afraid of you?" he asked, directly addressing the question she had posed. "If you wanted to kill me, you would have done it already. I didn't even notice your presence."
"Now, why do you say that?" the Ancient One inquired, her tone curious. "Is there any reason for me to kill you?"
Harry slowly stood up, facing her directly. "Then why are you stalking me?" he asked, his tone edged with suspicion.
The Ancient One raised an eyebrow, then began to walk around the cave, her gaze never leaving Harry. "I know much about you, Harry. An ex-agent of SHIELD, now being pursued by both HYDRA and SHIELD. Betrayed by Tony Stark."
Harry's eyes narrowed slightly. "And your point is?" he retorted.
She paused, her amusement growing. "You are quite calm about the situation."
Harry shrugged. "I've had encounters with people with superpowers before."
The Ancient One continued, her tone becoming more serious. "My point is, you have nowhere else to go, no one else to rely on. If things continue like this, you will find yourself surrounded by loneliness and begin to hate the world, blaming it for your misery."
"I'm not that weak-hearted," Harry responded firmly.
"Of course, you aren't," she conceded. "But one's emotions and actions are often influenced by their circumstances. The world has a way of wearing down even the strongest of hearts."
Harry frowned, pondering her words. Was she referring to his future? Could she see it using the Time Stone? The thought was unsettling. 'What does the future hold for me?' he wondered.
Shaking off his thoughts, Harry asked bluntly, "What do you want from me?"
The Ancient One's expression turned serious. "I want you to come with me."
Harry pretended to be confused. "Who are you?"
The Ancient One took a deep breath and began to explain. "I am the Sorcerer Supreme, tasked with protecting this world from mystical threats. My objective is to safeguard reality itself."
Harry listened intently, his mind racing. "And what do you want with me?" he asked.
"You have potential, Harry. Potential that can be nurtured and guided. I offer you a place where you can learn, grow, and find a purpose beyond the chaos that surrounds you."
Harry remained silent, weighing his options. The Ancient One's offer was tempting, but he knew it wouldn't come without its challenges. "And if I refuse?" he finally asked.
"Then you continue on your current path," she replied simply. "A path that leads to isolation and, ultimately, self-destruction."
Harry took a deep breath, considering her words. He had nowhere else to go, and the idea of having a safe place till he became strong was appealing. "Alright," he said slowly. "I'll come with you."
"You're quite trusting of people, aren't you?" The Ancient One said, her eyes narrowing slightly as she observed Harry.
Harry shook his head. "I'm definitely not. But I can feel your strength. If you wanted to harm me, I wouldn't be able to do anything about it. Sure, I'd resist, but it would be futile."
The Ancient One's lips curled into a faint smile. "You have good instincts," she remarked, her gaze drifting to Harry's arm and then his leg. "Don't put too much stress on them for a few days."
Harry nodded, aware of his condition. Although the transformation of his body had healed his hand and arm, they were far from perfect. The pain was a constant reminder of his recent ordeal.
With a wave of her hand a portal opened, shimmering with golden light. Harry stepped forward glancing back at the cave one last time before stepping through the portal.
"Follow me," she instructed, turning to enter the portal.
Harry hesitated for a moment before following her. As they stepped out of the cave, the world seemed to blur and shift around them. The landscape transformed, and within moments, they were standing in a serene courtyard, the ancient architecture and mystical aura signaling that they were no longer in the same realm.
Harry took a deep breath, absorbing the surroundings. "Where are we?" he asked.
"This is Kamar-Taj," the Ancient One explained. "A sanctuary and a training ground for sorcerers. Here, you will learn to harness the powers within you, and perhaps, find a new purpose."
Harry looked around, seeing other individuals, both novices and masters, practicing various forms of magic.
Harry glanced at the Ancient One, asking, "Are you going to teach me whatever they are learning?" as he walked beside her.
The Ancient One shook her head slightly. "I very well wanted to, but I can't."
Harry frowned. "What do you mean by that?"
"Your body can't use mystic energy," she replied, her tone steady. "It is incapable of using it."
Harry screamed in his mind,'That's bullshit! Aren't all people on the earth able to learn magic? How couldn't he? This is just the God's plan to nerf me or something,'he complained silently.
The Ancient One saw the confusion and frustration on his face and spoke, "It's because of the powerful energy inside your body."
Harry's frown deepened and asked,"The energy inside my body is preventing me from learning magic?"
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