Chapter 189: Magic and Soul
Sean stepped through the portal and instantly found himself inside an ancient, elegant building...
Sunlight streamed through the latticed windows, casting fragmented patterns of light on the floor. Faint echoes of bells and drums intertwined with murmurs of scripture recitations and conversation, creating an atmosphere of serene tranquility.... one that seemed to effortlessly soothe the soul.
Looking out the window, one could see towering spires rising in the distance, with hermits and mages in robes of various colors coming and going.
Kamar-Taj, revered as a 'sacred land', was nestled among the mountains like a small town, home to practitioners from all over the world. Many were lost souls who had suffered setbacks in life, others were terminally ill patients who had lost hope, each discovering Kamar-Taj through different means and arriving after passing the trials set by the sorcerers.
The devout chose to stay, delving into the mysteries of the soul and self. A few, unable to endure the ascetic lifestyle, left and returned to the mundane world.
The Ancient One never interfered with such choices. Having lived through countless ages, privy to the world's deepest secrets, the great sorcerer who kept extradimensional threats at bay remained an observer, calmly watching the tides of mortal affairs roll forward.
It's because the Ancient One knew that what was destined to happen would come to pass. Only when faced with a crisis that threatened the world's destruction would she step in, selecting the best outcome from countless possibilities.
In essence, the Sorcerers and superheroes performed the same duty. The only difference was that the former operated in the shadows. Their enemies were not mad scientists or lawless supervillains, but creatures lurking in the dark dimensions.
"Welcome to Kamar-Taj." The Ancient One repeated softly.
She sat in a chair and prepared a pot of tea. Wisps of steam curled upward as Sean, still in his suit, sat across from her, an odd contrast in this ancient sanctum.
"You have an interest in magic and the soul?" The Ancient One took a sip of the steaming tea, her voice light.
Sean pondered for a moment before answering, "I don't seek power from magic. I simply wish to understand the world and the universe from another perspective."
The Ancient One's eyes flickered slightly. She studied the young man before her, her gaze piercing through flesh and bone, peeling back layers to glimpse the true self beneath.
After a long moment, a trace of surprise surfaced in her expression...
This current Sorcerer Supreme had just attempted to peer into Sean's soul. Unlike Charles, who wielded immense psychic power, Sean's spiritual presence radiated an intense, almost flawless aura... a fortress of will so unshakable, that even the most refined mental assaults would struggle to breach it...
Her expression grew solemn, "Sean Cyphers, you are the human with the greatest potential I have ever encountered... Your body is like a universe unto itself, containing a force of destruction and violence beyond imagination."
She could sense an inexplicable force blocking her from delving deeper into his soul... a blinding white light shrouding his true nature in darkness.
Sean smiled faintly.
He knew exactly what the Ancient One was referring to... the terrifying energy within him, comparable to a supernova. If fully unleashed, it could annihilate a planet in an instant. Even the great sorcerer before him might not be able to stop him then.
Seeing that Sean had no intention of elaborating, the Ancient One did not press further. Her curiosity was reserved only for magic and truth. Everyone had secrets buried deep within, and prying too deeply would only breed resentment and wariness...
"The ancient language that channels natural energy and weaves spells has existed since the dawn of civilization. Long ago, sorcerers called it 'incantations'. If that sounds too abstract, think of it as 'code', the source programming that shapes reality."
When Sean inquired about the mysteries of magic and the soul, the Ancient One did not withhold knowledge. At Kamar-Taj, wisdom was shared freely, provided one had the capacity to comprehend it.
"We gather energy, drawing from other dimensions of the multiverse. We speak the words, shape the forms, and thus cast spells." As she spoke, her hands moved in precise gestures, tracing simple lines in the air.
Energy surged as intricate patterns formed, layers of geometric shapes overlapped, and a glowing Tao Mandala materialized before Sean's eyes.
Through mental perception, he tracked the flow of natural energy as it followed the lines drawn by the sorcerer's hands, syncing with the rhythm of her chanted words.
It was like the inner workings of a machine... countless tiny gears turning in unison to drive the greater mechanism.
Sorcerers operated the same way. They drew energy from the multiverse's dimensions, using it as a stable core, guided by incantations and sigils to form fixed constructs, thus harnessing magic.
However, all of this hinged on one prerequisite... a powerful soul or mind...
Without the mental fortitude to command energy, one could never even perceive the fluctuations in the void.
To step into the world of magic, one first had to master ancient languages; Hebrew, Vedic Sanskrit, and others... then practice meditation to attune their soul's resonance. Only by establishing a connection with the Vishanti, the trinity of cosmic entities, could one gain the right to draw energy.
Thus, not everyone could become a sorcerer. At the very least, they needed a gift for languages, an unyielding will, and the ability to shatter conventional perspectives to see the world through a different lens.
Sean closed his eyes... Then with near-flawless precision, he replicated the Ancient One's gestures. A miniature Tao Mandala began to take shape, but before he could rejoice, a dull explosion erupted as the structure collapsed, a bright flash of fire bursting forth...
"You have a rare aptitude for learning, but not everyone can command energy. The Sanctum serves the Vishanti. With your pride, you would never bow your head in devout submission to a supreme deity." A faint smile played on the Ancient One's lips, "The threshold to the halls of magic is not high, but it admits only those with humility and sincerity."
"The multiverse has countless dimensions. Why is it only the Vishanti that became the gods of magic?" Sean's tone carried a trace of confusion.
The Ancient One's brow lifted slightly, her eyelids lowering, "Because the great Vishanti do not refuse the summons of sorcerers. They are a trinity of pure spiritual entities. Other dimensions' energies… always demand a price..."
"...That is the origin of African voodoo, medieval blood rituals, and dark magic. Fools blinded by desire forge pacts with dark dimensions and summon eldritch horrors for power, unaware that the cost is far greater than they can bear."
Sean's gaze flickered toward the Ancient One. She herself drew power from Dormammu, the ruler of the Dark Dimension, to sustain her life.
However she managed it, the process couldn't have been easy. To siphon energy from the Dark Dimension while maintaining clarity of mind, and resisting Dormammu's corruption... even someone like Charles Xavier might struggle to endure such a relentless battle of wills.
Yet this Sorcerer Supreme, whose name echoed across realms, wore her burden with effortless grace. Such unwavering resolve and profound mastery commanded Sean's admiration.
"You may stay at Kamar-Taj for a time if you are not otherwise occupied." The tea on the table had cooled. The Ancient One rose, concluding the lesson, "Consider it… payment for handling a troublesome matter."
"Payment?" Sean was puzzled.
"For dealing with Mephisto, of course. He sought to use a child born of human and demon to complete a ritual of rebirth in this world. How could I stand by and let a Hell Lord walk freely in the mortal realm?"
The Ancient One turned to him, her eyes glinting with a childlike mischief.
"And you are such a convenient and free labor force. It would be a waste not to make use of you..."