Return to Familiar Grounds

Ned stepped into the portal, assuming that the Ancient One had taken him to some corner of this universe. However, to his surprise, he found himself back in the Ancient One's meditation chamber at Kamar-Taj!

"Don't be surprised. The power of magic extends far beyond what it seems. In time, you'll understand," the Ancient One's voice echoed, instantly elevating her presence in Ned's mind. This was a being who could effortlessly traverse the multiverse!

"You should return to your quarters at Kamar-Taj and rest for a while. I have something to attend to, and I'll explain everything to you in detail later," the Ancient One said. She opened another portal and stepped through without further elaboration.

Although curious, Ned didn't dare question the Sorcerer Supreme. He bowed respectfully to the spot where she disappeared before leaving her chamber and heading toward his old quarters at Kamar-Taj, the room where he had stayed while learning magic.

On his way, every sorcerer he passed couldn't help but glance at him, their gazes lingering on his empty left sleeve.

Back in his room, Ned grabbed a tattered cloth and quickly dusted off the surfaces before settling cross-legged on the bed to meditate.

Meditation was a daily routine for Kamar-Taj sorcerers, including the Ancient One herself. However, since the Battle of New York, Ned hadn't practiced it. Now, given the Ancient One's directive to rest, he decided to pick it up again.

"Ned! Ned! Ned—"

The door suddenly burst open, and Mordo stormed in, shouting his name.

"Uh…"

Seeing Ned meditating, Mordo froze, his face flushing with embarrassment. He lowered his head, muttering an apology, and began tiptoeing out of the room.

"Mordo," Ned called out, his voice tinged with exasperation. "May I ask what could possibly warrant such an entrance?"

"Uh…" Mordo scratched his head, clearly flustered. "You've been missing for a year, Ned! The Ancient One has been tirelessly poring over the library's texts, searching for a spell to bring you back. Many of us thought you were… gone. Some even held memorials for you. And now… your arm…"

Ned smiled wryly and shrugged off the concern. "Don't worry about it. It's a small matter—I'll be fine."

He got off the bed and poured a glass of water for Mordo. "Sit down, Mordo. It's been ages since we last talked. Let's catch up properly."

"Ned…" Mordo stared at Ned's empty sleeve, clearly in shock.

Truthfully, Mordo had always believed that with Ned's talent, his accomplishments in magic would one day surpass even the Ancient One's, making him the most exceptional Sorcerer Supreme.

Yes, it was an unspoken belief, but many—Mordo, Wong, and even other sorcerers close to Ned—felt that he was the most likely candidate to succeed the Ancient One.

Of course, they meant no disrespect to the Ancient One, whom they revered as a deity.

But now… with Ned missing an arm…

There was no explicit rule stating that the Sorcerer Supreme needed to have all their limbs, but as the face of Kamar-Taj, a Sorcerer Supreme with a visible disability might not inspire confidence…

Mordo clenched his fists, his face darkening. "Who did this to you?"

Ned sighed, waving his hand dismissively. "Come on, you know me—I'm not one to let things slide. The guy who attacked me traded his life for my arm. I'd say I came out ahead."

Mordo's expression didn't soften. Seeing his friend's unrelenting anger, Ned added, "Have you forgotten the Ancient One's teachings? As sorcerers, cultivating our mind and spirit is more important than seeking revenge. If she saw you like this, she'd be deeply disappointed."

"I…" Mordo's anger dissipated at the mention of the Ancient One. Reluctantly, he sat on Ned's bed, crossed his legs, and began meditating to calm his mind and dissolve his hostility.

Ned shook his head with a bitter smile. He couldn't help but think of Mordo's eventual descent into villainy, as shown in the movies. The thought gave him a headache.

As he was mulling over this, there was another knock at the door. When Ned opened it, he found Wong standing there, looking anxious.

Upon seeing Ned in person, Wong sighed in relief. He patted Ned on the chest and said, "The others said they saw you in Kamar-Taj, but I didn't believe it. Now that I see you myself, I can finally rest easy."

Wong's eyes soon fell on Ned's missing arm. He opened his mouth as if to say something but closed it again. Instead, he simply said, "It's good to have you back. That's all that matters."

Unlike Mordo, Wong didn't seem overly concerned about the missing limb. He trusted that if the Ancient One had brought Ned back, she would also have a solution for his arm.

"By the way, have you been working out or something?" Wong asked, puzzled by Ned's noticeably more athletic physique.

"Uh…" Ned awkwardly dodged the question, knowing he couldn't admit he had used the Reality Stone to cheat. "Come in. Mordo's inside meditating."

"Mordo?" Wong stepped into the room and raised an eyebrow upon seeing Mordo cross-legged on the bed. "Why's he meditating in here? Your room hasn't been cleaned in ages—it's full of dust. He's got a much nicer room of his own."

Ned chuckled and explained what had happened earlier. After hearing the story, Wong quietly put down his teacup and said, "Mordo has a good heart, but he's a bit rigid and extreme in his ways. That's fine when nothing major happens, but during a crisis, it could lead to catastrophic decisions."

Wong paused before continuing, "As for me, I'm not as rigid or impulsive, but my magical talent is nowhere near yours or Mordo's. I can barely manage as a Sanctum keeper—I wouldn't be able to shoulder a greater responsibility."

"Hamir, Daniel, and the others are excellent sorcerers, but they're not on your level. They'd struggle even more than I would."

"So, while Kamar-Taj appears to be thriving, the truth is, the Ancient One has no true successor."

Wong sighed before turning back to Ned. "Your return changes everything. With your talent, you're the most promising candidate to surpass the Ancient One. You just need more experience. You're the best choice for the next Sorcerer Supreme… but now…"

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