'.....'= 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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'.....'= Thoughts
"....."= Conversations
____________________________________________________________________________________
The Ancient One nodded, her gaze steady as she observed Harry's growing frustration. "It's not that you can't learn magic at all," she clarified. "But it will take you a significant amount of time. For example, if a normal human wanted to learn something regarding magic that would take them two years, it would take you about twelve years."
Harry's eyes widened in disbelief. "Twelve years? Just to learn what someone else could in two?"
The Ancient One's expression was sympathetic but firm. "Yes. The energy inside your body is both a gift and a curse. It enhances your physical abilities and makes you formidable in many ways, but it also creates a barrier to accessing and manipulating mystical energies. Your progress will be slow and arduous."
Harry sighed deeply, feeling a mix of disappointment and determination. "How about creating a portal like you did? How long would that take me?"
The Ancient One considered his question carefully. "Seven to eight years at least," she responded, "and only if you spend those years completely dedicated to practicing magic without wasting time on any other pursuits."
Harry felt a wave of frustration wash over him. 'I guess I can't have the best of both worlds, huh?' he thought bitterly. The idea of spending so much time on something that came so naturally to others was daunting, but he knew he had no other choice if he wanted to master these new abilities.
Sensing his inner turmoil, the Ancient One called out, "Kaecilius!" A tall, imposing man with a stern expression approached them. "This is Kaecilius, one of my disciples. He will show you where you will live and provide you with what you need to get settled."
Kaecilius nodded curtly, then gestured for Harry to follow. "Come with me," he said. As they walked through the tranquil courtyard, Kaecilius handed Harry a mobile phone and said, "This will help you stay connected. Here is the Wi-Fi password as well."
Harry took the phone, nodding in appreciation. "Thanks," he said, trying to make sense of his new situation. They arrived at a modest but comfortable room, and Kaecilius handed Harry a set of robes similar to those worn by the other sorcerers.
"Once you are settled," Kaecilius said, "the Ancient One wishes to see you again. I will guide you back to her."
Harry nodded, placing his belongings on the small bed and taking a moment to breathe. The weight of his decision and the long road ahead pressed on his mind, but he knew he couldn't afford to waste this opportunity.
After a few minutes, Harry stood up, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. He followed Kaecilius back through the maze-like corridors of Kamar-Taj, each step bringing him closer to a future he could scarcely imagine. Finally, they reached the Ancient One's chamber once more.
The Ancient One greeted him with a serene smile. "Have you settled in?" she asked.
Harry nodded. "Yes, I have. What's next?"
The Ancient One gestured to a cushion on the floor opposite her. "Please, sit down," she instructed.
Harry lowered himself onto the cushion, curiosity mingling with his lingering frustration. The Ancient One's room was minimalist, adorned with intricate tapestries and shelves filled with ancient tomes and artifacts. A calming scent of sandalwood filled the air, a stark contrast to the turmoil within him.
The Ancient One extended her hand, and with a simple, fluid motion, the space around them began to shimmer and warp. The room's walls rippled like water, and the atmosphere grew dense with a palpable energy. Harry's eyes widened as he observed the transformation.
"This," the Ancient One said, her voice carrying an echo that seemed to reverberate through the very fabric of reality, "is the Mirror Dimension."
Harry looked around in awe. The room they had been sitting in was now a vast, distorted reflection of itself. The shelves and tapestries seemed to stretch and bend, and the architecture twisted into impossible shapes. It was a surreal and disorienting sight.
It's not that he hadn't seen this in movies. But it was one thing to see and experience it himself.
"The Mirror Dimension," the Ancient One continued, "is a parallel dimension that mirrors our own. It exists adjacent to our reality but operates under its own unique set of rules. Here, we can manipulate the environment without affecting the real world."
Harry stood up slowly, testing the ground beneath his feet. It felt solid, yet there was an ethereal quality to everything around him. He reached out to touch a distorted pillar, only to see his hand pass through it as if it were made of mist.
"The Mirror Dimension is both a training ground and a sanctuary," the Ancient One explained. "It allows sorcerers to hone their skills, test new spells, and push the boundaries of their abilities without risking harm to the real world. It is also a place where we can retreat in times of danger or when we need to escape prying eyes."
Harry nodded, absorbing the information. He could see the practical uses of such a place, especially for someone like him, whose learning process would be slow and painstaking. The idea of having a realm where he could practice freely was a small comfort amid the daunting challenges ahead.
The Ancient One's gaze was steady as she continued. "However, it is important to remember that the Mirror Dimension is not without its dangers. The laws of physics are different here. What is up can become down; what is solid can become liquid. One must always be mindful and respectful of these differences. Losing your bearings here can be perilous."
Harry felt a chill run down his spine. The room's warped geometry suddenly seemed more menacing.
He hesitated for a moment before voicing the thought that had been gnawing at him since his arrival. "The Mirror Dimension," Harry began, choosing his words carefully, "is that how you were stalking me earlier?"
The Ancient One's expression remained serene, but there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes. "Observing, yes," she replied, her tone leaving no room for argument. "I would prefer if you used the word 'observing' instead of 'stalking.' It conveys a more accurate representation of my intentions."
Harry nodded, accepting the correction. Despite his unease, he couldn't help but be intrigued by the possibilities this dimension offered. The Ancient One's powers were clearly vast and mysterious, and he was only beginning to scratch the surface of what he might learn here.
"This will be where you train from now on," the Ancient One continued, her voice calm and authoritative. "The Mirror Dimension provides a unique environment for you to practice without the constraints of our reality."
Harry's brow furrowed in confusion. "But I don't know how to open the Mirror Dimension," he admitted. "Do I have to look for you every single time I want to access it?"
The Ancient One's lips curved into a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about that, Harry. Just follow me."
She closed the mirror dimension and stood up beckoning him to follow her.
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