Sorcery. Magic. Witchcraft. Reality warping. Hell even elemental bending can all be boiled down into one school of thought; manipulation of universal and interdimensional energy through the will of an individual and brought forth into existence. Now that's just to summarize and boil down what I had read so far in my book, the Introduction of Magic. It mentions some of the other schools of energy manipulation as similar ways to bend reality and walk the path of mysticism. However because this is a school of sorcery, the book only really focuses on introducing one into the path of mysticism as a sorcerer. I know this doesn't seem like a lot but it's what I had gathered after reading through half of my book. It's sort of like having to do a 20 page essay when you can explain your point in 4 pages but in this case, a 200 page book trying to explain and break down introductory into the mystic arts. While summarizing it can be as simple as a paragraph, breaking it down into digestible chunks will require a long ass book. And this is only the beginners part of it...
SIGH. I gently rub the bridge of my nose as I try to not think about it too hard. I know learning magic will be a hard and difficult path but it's a tool I must have and a skill I am required to master inorder to survive in this universe. While the Avengers might be Earth's mightiest heros, there are entities on this planet, beyond space and the void that can squash them without even lifting a finger. And if I want to have a chance of survival in this life time, I can't let myself be defenceless against those beings-oh fuck breakfast is here.
I stand up from my table and begin joining the line of students that are forming by the food area. For today's breakfast it just a simple line of cooked vegetables with chapati and lentil, and for drink it's just a choice between black or lemon tea. Hmmm now I know, I did not have much of a choice on what I get to eat when I was growing up in this life but I do miss having a variety of options back in my previous life and before I got enrolled here. When I was still living on the streets of Karthmandu there was so many things I could've eaten everyday as a tourist. However because I don't want to become fat once more after being given a chance to respec my attributes, I chose to just stick to simple meals that will keep me alive....fuck I miss being fat. I miss having my clothes be blowing off after taking a delicious first bite of food.
Anyways I grab myself a plate of food and a cup of tea before heading back to the tables. Since I don't really know if the students have a pattern or specific tables that they always go to, I just decide to sit on a different table that I was just on earlier before the line. Who knows, maybe James and Sara will join me this morning instead of be joining them. I gently blow on my cup of steaming black tea before trying to take a little sip of-AH FUCK! It's fucking hot. I blow on my cup a few more times to try and cool it down before setting it aside to try and eat my food. Now I know I can always get something more flavorful outside but this is here and it's free so I can't complain much. I rip off a piece of my roti and use it to pick up a couple chunks of vegetables before eating it. Mhmm even know my glutinous self wants something of a bigger flavor punch, this is still very good. Just simple, clean and light. It's something that the body can digest well and begin the day with.
Soon as the courtyard begins to fill up with more and more of the occupants of Kamar-Taj, the table that I'm currently sitting in begins to be filled with new and different people I had never met before....however there is one familiar looking bald late thirties looking Chinese student that's sitting near me. I look up at him, trying to guess where I had seen him before. I haven't been here for too long so I don't really know a lot about the people here and this is almost ten years before Stephen Strange arrive here so the diversity and census of people here is completely different. But I'VE FUCKING SEEN THIS PERSON BEFORE!
"You have a staring problem, kid?" The man spoke to me in Mandarin while glancing towards me with a side eye. I keep looking at him for a little longer before speaking. "No but I do have a curiosity problem. I can't help but feel like I've seen you before big brother." I smile at him before take a sip of my now somewhat chilled tea. "Humph. Well I certainly haven't seen you before. What reason does a child have to be here anyways." The man scoffs before taking a sip of his tea. "Wong stop it. He's a new student and you should go easy on him." Another man from the table spoke up for me. He seems to be of west Asian ancestry but with a dark bronze tone to his skin. I can't help but let out a giggle as I smile at him. "There's no need for that Mr. Librarian. I know I'm still young and many people here are very busy with their studies. I do not and will not need anyone to babysit me. I'm here to learn and study magic just like any all of you here." I put on a pouty but stern face before everyone starts to break out into laughter. Even Wong is laughing which I am a little surprised but this is way before master Kaecilius turned to he darkside.
"What? I'm serious. I'm already half way through the book you checked out for me yesterday." I smile back at the librarian as I continue to eat my breakfast. His face shows a scoff and smirk as if he didn't believe I could had done such a thing in just a few hours. "I see. Well then what is the third step a sorcerer must do before they can manifest a spell?" I finish chewing the bite of food in my mouth before swallowing it down. "When beginning the process of forming a spell. A sorcerer must imagine the spell in front of them with the desire affect that they want. Then as they draw the magic circle they must call forth the incantation of the spell and it's principality while also drawing energy from the realm of said principality into their circle. Once the spell has manifest into reality, it is up to the talent of the sorcerer to keep the spell stable and unleash the desired affect." I smirk back at the group of sorcerers as if I had just dropped the mic....but my smirk slowly dies down as everyone remains silent for a couple moments too long. "Uh did I say something wrong?" I gave an awkward and tense look around the table as if I had fucked up big time.
This current situation feels oddly familiar as if I'm back to the first day I had dinner with Sara and James because all the surrounding tables had quite down too and are currently looking towards me. "Young Ned, can you please repeat what you just said." A familiar feminine voice call out the crowd as the Ancient One slowly approaches the silent crowd. "Uhh what part do you want me to say? I sort of said a lot." I giggle a little bit while trying to take a sip of my tea. "Repeat the process of creating a spell." The librarian calls out to me. I turn my head towards him and his eyes seem to be glowing with a slight shine that wasn't there before.
"Uhh okay. To create a spell: a sorcerer must first know the spell they desire and imagine the structure and affect of said spell in front of them. Once visualization has been created in the mind space, the sorcerer is to draw out the correct circle of the desired spell while incanting the phrase to summon the spell as well as calling out to the principality of which the spell originates from. Once the phrase as been spoken and the connection of the principality realm has been made, the sorcerer is to channel the energy from the requested realm and bring it into our reality by combining the energy into the lines of the magic circle. Once all the proper steps and procedures has been established, it is up to the sorcerer to contain the magical affect of the spell and release the new change of reality....or something like that. I haven't finished the book so I can't say what it is for sure but it's something along those lines." I put on a shy smile as I slowly rub my palms together while looking for any reaction from the Ancient One
The Ancient One looks at me with a piercing gaze as if she is trying to read through me and my soul. I turn to look around to see what the other people's reactions will be. Now that I think about it. None of these people look like they're students. Hell if Wong and the Librarian are that this table then if must mean that this area is more for the higher ups and masters of Kamar-Taj... "How long did you say you've been reading the book for?" An older looking woman from a nearby table spoke up as she got up to take a closer look at me. Okay well SHE definitely does not look like the novice students that I'm used to. "Uhmm well. I was just living on the streets of Karthmandu a few days ago...So I guess about six hours? I'm not quite sure when dinner started started but I've been reading my book since after dinner." I turn around to grab my last bite of the food before going back to looking around at the buffering and lagging crowd. "Well it's certainly exciting that you're understanding of the mystic arts is growing well. I look forward to seeing what you can do in the near future." The Ancient One gives me a smiple smile and nods in approval. Taking this as a sign of her trying to encourage me to keep going, I smile back and give her a bow before asking to be dismissed.
The Ancient One gives a simple nod to announce the dismissal of breakfast as everyone else cleans up their plates to start the day. Holy fuck it's over already? I felt like it was never going to end. Next time I should try sticking to Sara and James cause that was fucking scary. I pick up my plate and cup to put them away as I head towards my class. Which didn't take long for me to find since my class starts in the courtyard every morning after breakfast. I think I'm definitely getting the hang of this school. A smile slowly grows on my lip as I approach the group of students.