章節 24: Basic Practice
Making this is rather difficult since there is not a real explanation for how the mages were trained in the movies, if something sounds strange or doesn't add up, please tell me so I can improve it and my own understanding.
After a couple of days, Liam had finished reading both books and felt confident that he understood it's teachings. He headed downstairs, where he would search for Mordo who would help him through his first practical lessons.
When Liam arrived, he found Mordo in the middle of teaching a group of students. "Hello, Mordo," Liam greeted him. "I've finished reading the books, and I think I understand the teachings. Can I start practicing now?"
Mordo raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "That was quick. Most take weeks, to understand and accept the basics of magic. But if you're ready, we can begin. In a few minutes, a group of students, who joined the sanctum a few months before you, will arrive. You can join their training session today. They're working on the basics."
"What will the basic training involve?" Liam asked.
"The training will begin with energy manipulation, where you'll learn to form a basic spell circle. The second part will focus on sling ring practice. However don't expect to master this quickly. Most people take years just to learn the very basics of the arts," Mordo explained.
After waiting a short while, a group of about 15 students approached. They all varied in age, appearance and gender. Leading them was an older man with a mustache, likely their instructor, as he had been a part of the Sanctum longer than they had. Liam recalled from reading Mystic Foundations Arts that there was a clear hierarchy within Kamar-Taj. Though he knew he wouldn't be treated like the others, having been personally chosen by The Ancient One. 'Thank god for that.' Liam couldn't help but say.
Mordo briefly spoke with the instructor that had a mustache before motioning fr Liam to join the group.
"Today, we begin with the first lesson: drawing basic magic circles," Mordo announced. "Watch the movements carefully and follow my lead."
Liam copying the motions, traced the air with his hands, but saw no visible results. Mordo approached him, watching closely.
"Your movements are too stiff," Mordo observed. "Relax. Magic requires flow. Loosen up and focus on connecting to the dimension you're trying to draw energy from."
Liam adjusted his stance, relaxing his shoulders and focused his mind on the motions.
"Better," Mordo nodded approvingly. "Now, close your eyes and focus on another dimension. Keep the motions going and let the energy flow."
Following Mordo's instructions, Liam began to feel something change. The darkness from having closed eyes seemed to brighten as he focused inside himself, seeking a connection.
"That's it. Don't force it—let it come to you," Mordo encouraged. "Think of it like a river; you can't control it through force. Let it flow naturally."
Liam, hearing what Mordo said stopped attempting to force the energy out and relaxed his mind, he felt a sudden rush of warm energy flowing through him. He opened his eyes to see faint orange sparks flickering in the air before him.
"Well done," Mordo praised. "You're starting to feel the connection. But now you need to refine your technique. Right now, you're letting energy leak out of your body and barely manage to draw anything into the actual spell. You'll need to focus more on guiding it, not letting it go to waste by letting it flow out of your body."
"For beginners, there's only so much energy you can pull from another dimension. After a few more attempts, take a break."
Liam nodded and went through the motions again. This time, he closed his eyes and concentrated more on making the connection. He could feel the energy more clearly now, as if he opened a small door to an ocean. Opening his eyes, he saw more sparks than before, though still far from the level of control he wanted. As the energy flow disappeared, he realized something important: each attempt to draw the energy was becoming easier as he improved the connection he had with the different dimension.
After a few more tries, Mordo instructed Liam to stop and rest.''We are moving on to sling ring practice next, I want you to gain some experience in that too before your energy runs out.''
A few minutes later, Mordo disappeared into a side room and returned holding a wooden tray, on which several sling rings were placed
.
As the students lined up to receive their sling rings, Liam followed their actions. When it was his turn, he couldn't help but ask, "Mordo, you said these students have been here for months. Why don't they have their own sling rings yet?"
Mordo gave him a serious look. "Students who haven't mastered the sling ring aren't allowed to keep them. It's too dangerous. In the past, inexperienced mages have accidentally opened portals to other dimensions, sometimes bringing monsters or even natural disasters through. One incident involved someone opening a portal to the middle of an ocean and drowning because they didn't know how to close it."
Hearing this sent a chill down Liam's spine. He carefully took a sling ring from the tray and slid it onto his fingers, feeling the cold metal around his hand. He couldn't help but feel excited. The idea of creating portals to travel anywhere was one of the things that excited him most about magic.
Joining the other students, Liam began practicing the sling ring techniques. He watched their motions closely, copying the way they made circles in the air. Closing his eyes, he focused on drawing energy through the connection he had made earlier. This time, more orange sparks began to appear as he repeated the motions.
With each try, the sparks grew slightly brighter and increased in number.
Mordo eventually approached him again.
"You're making progress, but that's enough for today," Mordo said. "You need to rest. Tomorrow, I want you to come two hours earlier. We'll start with basic martial arts, and I'll show you how magic and combat techniques work together."
章節 25: First Spells
After the lesson ended. Liam started walking to the library, he wanted to pick out the first spells he wanted to practice.
"In the movies, I really liked that butterfly spell Strange used to defend himself against Thanos, but that's way too advanced for me right now. I'll start with something more manageable—like the Eldritch Constructs and the Bolts of Balthaak."
He considered the practical uses of the Eldritch Constructs. He could make multiple weapons or even conjure an extra arm at later levels. Take a whip for example. "The whip isn't just for attack. If I can disarm an opponent or restrain them, the fight is as good as over. Imagine Thanos grabbing an Infinity Stone, and I just whip it out of his hand."
The second spell, The Bolts of Balthakk, was much more advanced. It required Liam to constantly channel energy into a spell circle and simultaniously release it. "It's going to take more control than I have right now, but it's great for taking on multiple enemies. I need to work a lot on it, though."
Liam also thought about how Mordo had always been one of his favorite characters. "What made Mordo so strong was his ability to combine martial skills and magic without problem. He could conjure spell circles within a second, while most mages took seconds to even form one. That's where I need to get."
When Liam arrived at the library, Master Drumm was there, sorting through books.
"Master Drumm, I'd like to pick out my first few spells," Liam said.
Master Drumm turned and smiled. "That's fast. Do you already have some spells in mind, or would you like my recommendations?"
"I've got a couple of spells I'm thinking about, but I still want to hear your advice," Liam responded.
"I would suggest Battle Strings. It's a spell that forms razor-sharp, durable strings between your hands. It's highly effective in combat and a great way to improve your energy manipulation skills. But what were you thinking of?" Drumm asked.
"I was thinking about Eldritch Constructs and The Bolts of Balthaak," Liam answered.
"Good choices," Master Drumm said with a nod. "The Eldritch Constructs spell has a lot of versatility in combat and is great for beginners. The basic entry level is low, but it becomes much harder as you advance because you'll have to manage energy in multiple places at once. As for The Bolts of Balthaak, I'd advise you against it for now. It's an advanced spell, requiring precise control over your energy and the spell circle. You're not quite there yet."
Drumm's expression grew more serious. "There's no forbidden knowledge here at Kamar-Taj, but you need to be careful not to rush into something beyond your abilities."
"I'll be careful, thank you," Liam replied. "I still want to read through both spellbooks so I can understand the training requirements. Maybe learning about the advanced spells will help me understand the basics better."
Master Drumm chuckled. "That's a good mindset, but remember, magic can't be rushed. It needs patience." He gestured for Liam to follow him deeper into the library. "Let me grab those books for you."
After a moment, Master Drumm returned with two small books. "These are the ones you wanted. If you need any further help, feel free to ask."
Liam took the books, but before leaving, he sensed something—a strange energy nearby. It was faint but enough to attract him.
"Thank you, Master Drumm. Would it be alright if I looked around the library a bit more?" Liam asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Of course, no problem," Drumm said, giving him a friendly nod before walking away.
Once Drumm was out of sight, Liam followed the energy he had felt. As he walked through the library, he spotted a room at the end that seemed familiar. "Isn't that the room where the Time Stone was kept?" he muttered, stepping inside.
There it was—the Eye of Agamotto. The energy it emitted was amazing, drawing him closer. Before he could take another step, a hand was placed on his shoulder.
"What are you doing here, Liam?" The Ancient One's calm voice came from behind him.
Liam froze, caught off guard. "I felt drawn to the energy and wanted to see what it was..." he admitted.
The Ancient One smiled slightly but shook her head. "It isn't your time yet. You are not permitted near the Time Stone until I decide you are ready." She took the Eye of Agamotto in her hand. "From now on, stay away from this room."
They walked out of the chamber, and the Ancient One asked, "How have you been finding life here, Liam? Are you enjoying your studies?"
"Yes, magic is incredible. Thank you for giving me this opportunity," Liam responded.
"Good. Keep on learning." With that, the Ancient One conjured a portal in front of her. As she stepped through, Liam was left speechless.
''D*mn im envious of that.'' Liam couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile.
Returning to his room, Liam opened the book on Eldritch Constructs and started reading.
-----
The next morning, Liam woke up early, ready for his first martial arts practice with Mordo. He had a short call with his grandfather to check in, then headed out to the courtyard.
When he arrived, some of the other students were already sparring. Their martial skills were well trained, they likely had a few years of experience already. As he watched, he heard a familiar voice behind him.
"Good morning, Liam."
He turned to see Mordo standing there, arms crossed. "Are you ready for your first martial arts training?"
"Yeah, but just a warning—I'm not a beginner when it comes to fighting," Liam replied with a smirk. "You might want to be careful not to get beaten up."
Mordo's smile widened. "We'll see about that."
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