Magic and Mentalist

"The language of the Mystic Arts is as old as civilization. The sorcerers of antiquity called the use of this language "spells", but if that word offends your modern sensibilities, you can call it a "program"; the source code that shapes reality. We harness energy drawn from other dimensions of the Multiverse to cast spells, to conjure shields and weapons, to make magic!"

Right now, I was sitting across from the Ancient one as she explains magic to me. The movie may have given me a basic understanding, but to hear it in person? It is so much more in depth. During her little speech she waved her hands, creating a line of pure magic before creating a circle, square and finally striking the overlapping shapes to cause the entire "Spell" to shake and expand before disappearing just like when she showed Strange.

"So… Is this form of magic capable of being used by everyone?" I ask, mentally memorizing the exact movements of her hands and how they created the spell.

"Yes and no. There are individuals who will find themselves completely unable to use magic because they do not possess any aptitude for it. Others will find it almost too easy to cast spells or learn magic. Almost like it was second nature. Then there are the individuals who find themselves in between, capable of learning magic, but they do not possess the same skill as others." She explains patiently.

"Huh… And is this the only form of magic out there? I was in New Mexico a few months back and met the Norse god Thor. His hammer seemed… different than the magic taught here. Is it because it is simply an enchanted item? Or is it because it is simply a different… brand I'd guess you'd say, of magic?"

Her eyes widened slightly at the mention of Thor before she nodded. "There are different ways for people to use the dimensional energies most call Magic, The Asgardians are masters of melding both science and magic into one and most of their society is based off of that. I know Odin himself was rather powerful in using sorcery last I met him…" She says as she looks off to the side, lost in thought. "But in answer to your question, yes. There are other forms of magic out there and if you manage to impress me, I may just teach you."

At my nod at the incentive, she continues.

"There are two different categories for magic, Personal Energies and Universal Energies. Each one different in their own right and their differences are incredibly important to consider." She says. "Personal energies are those derived from the life force of the sorcerer. Personal energies can only be used to power abilities developed through mental studies and are thus limited to mental powers such as astral projection, and mental magics. However, overextending one's Personal Energies causes the sorcerer to… burn out."

"One of the easier sources that a sorcerer can draw power from are the Universal energies of their home dimension. Universal energies can be used for conjuration and teleportation purposes and are commonly used in battle to create shields and weapons of energy. Universal spells usually require specific gestures and/or words in order to be activated. Some Universal energies can also be used by astral bodies who contain a dimensional anchor in the form of an artifact or an individual. One example is Forcing an individual out of their body in their astral form and using my own body as an anchor."

Somehow I think she is hiding ritual magic from me, but it makes sense. She really didn't want what happens in the future with Kaecilius to happen with me or anyone really.

"But for now, lunch." She suddenly says, seconds before a bell rings.

/

(Time Skip)

"Trust your teacher." Kaecilius tells me as we both get into fighting stances. I was currently wearing the regular crimson robe of the Apprentice class of sorcerer. One above the trainees, but still one under the likes of Mordo or Kaecilius.

Blocking a kick aimed at my side, I dodge a punch aimed at my face and catch another punch to my stomach. Spinning him around, I flung him to the side.

"So what's your story, Kaecilius? What brought you to Kamar Taj?" I ask as he gets up.

"That is for me to know and you to find out." He replies simply as he tries to sneak attack me by attempting to tackle me. However, in order for him to not break his neck against my abs, I leap over him, spin around in midair, and get into a stance again.

"You are better than I expected, but you hold back… Why?" he asked as he grabbed a staff from the weapons rack.

"Because if I let loose I would kill you. Magic or not." I reply as I dodge the staff he had jabbed at my face.

"I highly doubt that." He grinned as he swung his staff at my side. Catching it, I simply squeeze and shatter the wood, leaving it in splinters.

"I don't."

Staring at the staff in shock, he frowned. "Maybe we should take this up a notch…"

Grabbing his own relics from his belt, the same Scythe Daggers that would later be used to decapitate the librarian later in life, he gets into another stance. This stance had him light on his feet, allowing for greater movement and speed as opposed to his last stance allowing for greater strength in their hits.

Wow… I'm starting to sound like a martial artist. Cool.

"What are those? I ask as I keep a wary eye on the bladed weapons. We were at this point circling each other. I was tempted to pull out a couple of Razorbats to combat them, but I wasn't sure how useful they would be against the enchanted blades.

"These are the Scythe Daggers of Saturn. These blades were rumored to have been held by the roman god of the harvest and time. The blades are enchanted to cut through anything and to be eternally sharp. They in themselves are not incredibly powerful relics, but they have saved my life more than I care to admit."

Yep. Razorbats would be useless. Now to avoid being skewered and keep my healing factor a secret.

"When can I get myself a relic?"

"When you are ready." He replies simply.

Creating an energy whip, I let him make the first attack.

Lunging forward, he slashes at my face, chest, and stomach at incredible speeds. If I were a regular human I would be dead, instead I swat his hand aside and wrap my whip around his ankle, flipping him around only for him to land on his feet and hit me with the butt of one of his daggers on my temple. Sidestepping a slice to the chest, I block the second strike with an energy whip.

"FIGHT DAMN YOU! FIGHT LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!" He yells as he slashes and hacks at me as fast as he can, one of his strikes actually slicing a shallow cut on my cheek.

Damn it.

Feeling my cheek heat up for a split second as it heals, I can see Kaecilius gaping at me in shock. Lunging forward, I knock his blades aside and (Still holding back) knock him off his feet and fifteen feet away.

"What are you?" He gasps as he stares at me,

Walking over to him, I offer him a hand. Who knows, maybe my interference may make him stay on the straight and narrow. It probably won't affect too much as the rest of the Zealots will probably still rise up at some point, so Strange will still become the Sorcerer Supreme.

Probably.

"I'm just someone doing everything in my power to become powerful enough to defend and protect those I love. You of all people can respect that?"

Looking at my hand then at me, he seems to hold an internal debate before nodding. Taking my hand, he gets up and looks me in the eyes.

"If you prove a threat to Kamar Taj or earth, I will stop you." He says. Ironic considering what he may do later.

"Then you won't mind me saying the same." I reply. With a nod between us, Kaecilius retrieves his Daggers and heads to leave.

"No more training?" I ask his retreating form.

"Nothing I can teach you." He answers. "Go read a book or something."

Sighing, I head to the library. There was still time before I had to get on one of the many conference calls of Oscorp. Might as well spend that time doing something useful.

/

(Time Skip)

"Hey guys." I wave at the holographic versions of Harry and Greer walking around my room.

"Alex! How've you been?" Harry immediately asks as he grins at me. It looks like he has kept up with the training I had set up for him and Spider-Man, too bad I didn't have a Danger Room or anything, it would make things so much easier. Something to look into on top of the other few dozen things I'm working on.

"I've been great. This place is exactly what I needed." Our cover story to Greer and pretty much everyone else was that this place was simply a Tibetan resort that was off the map and only catered to the rich while offering a place to relax and get away.

Of course that won't hold for long, but I intended to visit home every so often then act like I was visiting another resort or business of some kind and with the Sling rings, I can visit and return here in seconds.

Hopefully no one will be too mad at me when I get back if they find out.

"This place just has a… Magical feel to it." I say to them. "Its very relaxing. I should tell Tony about it, see how he'd like it." Obviously not as he would drive everyone crazy, but it would be funny in the least.

"How about you two? Anything new I should be worried about?"

"Nothing on the personal side sir, but on the business side we may have an issue. After Oscorp came out and bought Hammer Tech, Frost International and Shaw incorporated seemed to make a deal and use their combined resources to start arming the U.S. military before our own brand of weapons can get out of the testing phase."

"Wait… Shaw Incorporated? Frost International? Who are they? How come I've never heard of them?" I ask. And it was true. I had only heard of them in comics, not in this life. I even tried looking them up to see if mutants existed.

"They are rather new businesses, only starting within the last few years sir, right before Mr. Stark stopped making weapons actually, but their current financial power makes it seem otherwise. Frost International works in Weapons under their sub company Cold Steel and medicine vie Frost Pharmaceuticals. They also have fingers in several other areas as well including security and other businesses. The current CEO of Frost international is one Emma Frost." She explains. "Shaw on the other hand has his own hands in every pie you can think of. Weapons, medicine, oil, iron and steel, and much more. The current owner is Sabastian Shaw. He has been apart of several underground operations and seems to be selling weapons to the terrorist group Ten Rings after Obadiah Stane died. However no one can prove anything."

"Very well…" I nod. "Keep me posted on that front. If they try anything against Oscorp, call me immediately, It's not that I don't trust you, but at that time, Oscorp will need me as their public face." I explain. "I honestly doubt they will, but if they do… let me know."

Xavier is powerful, but to block the minds of every human on the planet about mutants existing, that shouldn't be possible… Unless someone else is doing it or he is somehow using Cerebro to enhance himself farther than ever seen before in movies and comics.

"Greer, do me a favor and look up Charles Xavier, Eric Lensherr, Max Eisenhardt, and Nathanial Essex. I want everything you can pull on them, address, histories, phone numbers, everything you think is useful." I ask her as she takes notes. Who knows, maybe Charles and Eric were working together to keep mutants hidden and Magneto decided to fight back or something.

"Any specific reason boss?" she asks.

"Call it a hunch."

After talking a little bit more business, including Greer giving me a message from Richards for an experiment he had come up with, but needed my help to complete, she left the call and went back to work. Harry and I talked hero stuff for a while before just chatting, and finally he hung up.

This gave me a lot to think about. In the comics Xavier was never powerful enough to wipe the minds of every human on earth of mutants, it was simply impossible. The only time he did anything on that level was with the help of Stark and Strange to erase the Sentry from everyones mind. This version probably doesn't even know Stark and Strange isn't even a sorcerer yet.

Unless…

In the X-Men movies, the only time he is that powerful was when Apocalypse enhanced him to send a message. What if he used the power boost to simply make people forget about mutants? It makes sense in a way, but if that is the case, why are people only now realizing mutants exist? Frost and Shaw suddenly appeared from nowhere, so that would raise questions… Unless

Telepathy can be confusing. I'd have to pay Charles a visit when I get a chance. See what happened. Who knows, maybe I can convince him I mean no harm.

Something tells me he won't appreciate much human help. If he was willing to go so far as to block mutants from regular humans memories, things must have been bad on the mutant front.

Well… Until I finish my training in magic and actually find out where he lives, I can't really do anything. Not to mention I need to find a way to block telepathy. I don't want to fight someone who can alter my memories.

Sighing, I get comfortable in my bed and pick up a book on Astral projection before exiting my own body, entering the Astral Dimension and start reading.