Chapter Text
"Mastery of the Sling Ring is essential to the Mystic Arts. They allow us to travel throughout the Multiverse." The voice of Karl Mordo traveled across the training ground.
"All you need to do is focus. Visualize. See the destination in your mind." As the trainees moved their hands in a circular motion, glowing rings appeared in front of them, except for one.
Stephen Strange furrowed his eyebrows as his trembling hands were barely able to create the tiniest bits of orange sparks. The trainee in grey and white garment looked around with indignation, knowing fully well that he was the sole person to fail at creating a portal. "The clearer the picture, the quicker and easier... The Gateway will come." Hearing the instructor's voice right beside him, he turned to look at him, irritation clearly shown on his face.
Suddenly, the Sorceress Supreme walked in with a man on her left. She immediately caught sight of Strange and his struggle with using the Sling Ring.
"And stop." Damn it! Strange held back a string of curses from leaving his mouth.
The Ancient One walked straight at him, her black cloak blown back by the slight wind. "I would like a moment alone with Mr. Strange.” the former surgeon sighed as the others left one after the other, emptying the area.
“My hands-“
“It’s not about your hands. ” she answered calmly.
“How is it not about my hands?” He asked with frustration.
“Master Hamir.” The aged man nodded his head at the Leader of the Masters of the Mystic Arts before standing between her and the doctor. He lifted the sleeve covering his left arm.
His left hand was missing.
The sight startled the former surgeon, and realization had hit him. After the Master Sorcerer proved to Stephen his hands were not the reason for his inability to use sorcery, the Ancient One promptly thanked him for the demonstration.
She then proceeded to explain the way of using sorcery, “Surrender, Stephen."
“Silence your ego, and your power will rise.”
She opened a portal to the peak of Mount Everest, Stephen followed.
And she left him there.
As she returned to Kamar-Taj, a snowy owl chirped in greeting and flew towards her, its wings beat against the air gracefully before landing on the arm offered by the sorceress. “Hello, Hedwig.” She gave the avian a rarely seen smile. Though it didn’t stay for long.
“How’s our new recruit?” Mordo came up behind the Sorceress Supreme. He nodded his head in greeting when a pair of yellow intelligent eyes stared unblinkingly at him. “We shall see.”
“Any second now…” Three pairs of eyes watched expectantly.
“No, not again..,” Mordo said with worry. “Maybe I should-“
The snowy owl gave out a trill to get their attention. Little sparks began to appear, slowly a circle was formed.
He made it.
Then he fell to the ground.
Strange groaned as his body, currently covered in snow, hit the floor. As the warm air welcomed him, he lifted his disheveled head,
I did it
Finally…
As Mordo moved the unconscious body of Stephen Strange back into his room, the Ancient One looked back at the expectant eyes of the nocturnal bird, she opened a portal and reached for a small bag.
“I’m sure you are hungry after such a long flight."