章 23: Settling In
After following The Ancient One, Liam arrived in a different room from the one he had woken up in. Looking around, he noticed his belongings already stacked in the corner of the room, as if The Ancient One had predicted his stay.
Curious, he asked, "Did you foresee our conversation?"
The Ancient One smiled gently and shook her head. "No, just a feeling."
"Take your time to settle in," she added. "Afterward, go to the courtyard and wait for a teacher to begin your training."
"Alright, thank you," Liam replied.
Once The Ancient One left, Liam began unpacking his suitcase. As he did, he replayed the earlier conversation in his mind. 'While she could see that I have knowledge of the future and was reborn here, which I somewhat expected, she didn't mention anything about what brought me here or how I gained that knowledge.' He paused in thought, folding a shirt. 'Maybe she knows more than she's told me, like with Strange, who wasn't ready for the truth yet according to her. Not that it matters for now anyway.'
After finishing unpacking, he opened his laptop and sent an email to his grandfather. 'Settled in the new area. Gonna be here for a while, love you.' Short and vague, but it would enough. Clicking send, Liam headed downstairs toward the courtyard, where he had been told to wait for his teacher.
About fifteen minutes later, someone else appeared—someone Liam instantly recognized from the movies. Mordo. The same man who would one day train Doctor Strange, and would later become the Mage Hunter. His behaviour was just as Liam remembered from the films, serious but kind.
"So," Mordo said, with a smile on his face as he looked Liam up and down, "you are the one The Ancient One has asked me to train."
"Yes," Liam responded. "Liam Hawthorne. Nice to meet you."
Mordo gave a brief nod, getting more serious, his eyes narrowed as he assessed Liam. "The Ancient One sees something in you, so I trust her judgment. But know that her trust is not easily earned, and neither is mine. You will be tested, and you will need more than just the desire to learn."
Liam could tell Mordo ment what he said despite the smile on his face. Mordo was still super loyal to The Ancient One currently, not knowing that she is using dark energy to prolong her life.
"I understand," Liam replied. "I'm ready to learn."
Mordo responded. "Good. You will need that resolve. Follow me."
As they walked through the corridors of Kamar-Taj, Mordo continued. "The Ancient One's teachings are not merely about power. They are about responsibility, about maintaining the balance of this world. The path you are about to walk is not easy, but it is the right one."
They arrived at the library. The shelves were filled with ancient books, and the air smelled of old paper. In the corner, the librarian—a man whose life would later be cut short by Kaecilius—stood silently, watching.
"This is Master Drumm. He guards this library and will help you choose the right teachings," Mordo introduced him.
Mordo gestured to the shelves. "These are the foundational texts. Begin with them. They will teach you the principles you need to understand before we begin your formal training."
Liam nodded as Mordo continued, "The Ancient One believes you can learn, but it is your discipline and dedication that will determine how far you go."
"I will leave you now," Mordo said. "Read these books, and once you have absorbed their teachings, seek me out again. Only then will your training truly begin."
Mordo turned and left, leaving Liam alone with Master Drumm.
As Mordo exited, Liam turned to Master Drumm, who had been observing the conversation in silence. The librarian approached, holding two books.
"You are just starting out with magic?" Drumm asked, his voice calm and measured. "I am Drumm, the person in charge here. If you need help finding teachings in the future, come ask me." He handed Liam the books. "For now, you'll need these."
Liam took the books and glanced at the titles. The first read Mystical Foundations Arts, while the second was titled Dimensional Theory: Energy Extraction and Manipulation.
"Thank you," Liam said gratefully, realizing how important these first steps were, as he had no idea how to draw energy from other dimensions, let alone manipulate it.
Master Drumm nodded, a knowing look in his eyes. "Take your time. Magic is not something which can be rushed. It will reveal itself in time."
Liam returned to his room, laying the books out on the desk before him. 'It's finally starting.' Who wouldn't be excited, everybody has dreamed of using magic in their lives and so did he. He flipped open the first book, Dimensional Theory: Energy Extraction and Manipulation, and began reading.
As Liam read through the first few pages, he quickly realized it wasn't as easy as Doctor Strange had made it seem in the movies. The concept of manipulating energy and drawing it from different dimensions hadn't been highlighted accurately in the films.
As he continued reading, Liam came to the conclusion that while understanding the theory was important, actually drawing energy from another dimension was a very difficult process—and manipulating it seemed even worse.
Opening the second book to skim through, he found that it focused more on the history of the sanctums and it's ways. It detailed the lives of previous Ancient Ones and gave information about the founder of the sanctums.
"This is going to take a while to read and learn, isn't it?" Liam thought to himself.
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