SHIELD Headquarters.
"Shit! That voice.... What the hell is this thing? Why does it sound like..." Nick Fury quickly shook his head as if to interrupt his own thoughts. That voice felt eerily familiar, as if someone he'd trusted his whole life had spoken to him.
He looked around to survey his Agents, then noticed Natasha's dazed look. "Looks like she felt it too". "Dammit"! "How the hell do you contain something like this"? "Going anywhere near it is a death sentence".
Sigh.
"We can only hope this Sorcerer doesn't get possessed".
_______________
Kamar-Taj.
The Mages looked towards the screen nervously.
"Master Wong". One of the Mages turned to look at a particular Mage. "Do you think Master Mordo will be bewitched by that Evil Mask"?
Wong looked at the young Mage and replied. "I believe Mordo is not so weak willed as to let this thing warp his mind". "He'll be fine, The Ancient One is headed to the library as we speak".
Despite what he said, Wong was still worried Mordo would fall for the words of this Evil Artifact.
____________
On the Light Curtain.
"Who…. Who's there"? Mordo felt a shiver run down his spine. This voice gave him an extremely weird feeling, as if it clawed at his very sanity. He immediately cast the Guardian Vishanti spell. Golden runes circled around his body, forming a sort of protective barrier. He looked around, trying to locate the voice.
"DOWN HERE, MORDO".
That voice sounded again, and he immediately turned to look at the book shelf behind him. There, at the bottom right corner, he saw a white porcelain tragedy mask. He looked at it cautiously, not sure if the voice he just heard came from this mask.
"NO NEED TO DOUBT, BARON MORDO".
"I AM THE ONE SPEAKING TO YOU. KEKEKEK".
Mordo was surprised. He'd seen intelligent Magic artifacts before, but not one that actually spoke. And how did this thing get here? He could even feel the Evil power oozing out of it, literally. It was some form of corrosive viscous liquid.
____________
Stark Mansion.
Tony and Rhodes felt a chill down their spines. That voice gave them an uneasy feeling, yet something in the back of their heads told them to put on the Mask. "This Mask…. Its effects can be felt through the screen". Tony said in a terrified tone. He had to admit, as much of a genius as he was, these weird anomalies were way out of his depths.
___________
Back on the Light Curtain.
Mordo took a step back, ready to banish this artifact into the Mirror Dimension.
"I MEAN TO HELP YOU, MORDO".
"Help me"?
"I need no help from an Evil Creature". Mordo responded immediately, the Guardian Vishanti spell working to protect his mind from the Artifact's power.
"THE NEXT SORCERER SUPREME SHOULD BE THE STRONGEST AND WISEST MAGE IN KARMA-TAJ". The Mask's voice grew louder.
"YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONE SHE CHOSE".
"NOT THAT WEAKLING WHO DOESN'T EVEN BELIEVE IN MAGIC".
Hearing these words, a trace of resentment flashed across Mordo's face. But the next moment, he shook his head to dispel his thoughts.
"No. I believe in The Ancient One, she must have her reasons". "I will not fall for your words, Creature". "I need only follow her orders, my Master, is wise".
__________
Seeing this scene, the people watching the light curtain were confused.
"Wait, huh"? "This wizard guy isn't tempted by that mask". "Is it because of that weird golden light surrounding him"?
"Is…. Is that Magic". "That's so cool". "Even I felt tempted to put on the Mask just now".
"So…. Does this Mask only work on ordinary people"?
"Probably not". "I think you'd need a specific way to defend your mind against this Mask's weird abilities, like the Magic that Sorcerer used".
"Yeah, I think you're right". Although minor, this thing can even affect us through the screen".
"Fucking hell"! "I want to go back to being clueless, before I knew these crazy things existed in our world".
"..."
Inside SHIELD Headquarters.
The Agents all heaved a sigh of relief. It seemed this Sorcerer could withstand the temptation of that Possessive Mask.
Nick Fury on the other hand, didn't think it was that simple. He could see the look of resentment that flashed across Mordo's face.
"This Sorcerer should have gotten rid of that Mask immediately".
______________
Kamar-Taj,
The Ancient One, who was just about to reach the library, froze in her steps. At first, she was delighted that Mordo could resist the temptation from that Mask. However, the next few words spoken by The Mask made her halt her movement.
"How…. How could it possibly know"? "This thing, did it read my mind"?
"No. I would've felt it".
"Unless"....
___________
"KEKEKEK". "HOW UNFORTUNATE, YOU HAVE PLACED YOUR FAITH ON A HUGE HYPOCRITE". The Mask laughed mockingly.
"How dare you insult the Sorcerer Supreme"! Mordo was furious.
"KEKEKEK".
"INSULT"?
"I MERELY STATED THE TRUTH".
"HOW DO YOU THINK SHE HAS LIVED FOR SO LONG"?
"WHITE MAGIC"?
"IF THAT WAS THE CASE, SHE WOULD NOT HIDE IT".
Mordo froze for a moment, he had always wondered about this. But he'd scratched it off as merely one of her attainments in White Magic. Or perhaps the Time Stone had granted her a long life span.
The Mask continued.
"SHE HAS TAUGHT YOU, TO NEVER DABBLE IN DARK MAGIC".
"WARNED YOU OF THE DARK DIMENSION AND IT'S LORD, DORMMAMU".
"BUT SHE HERSELF DRAWS POWER FROM THAT SAME DARK LORD".
"STEALING CENTURIES OF LIFE".
"No! Impossible! You're lying! You're trying to deceive me"!
Mordo was furious. A whirlpool of emotions ran through his mind. Anger, at the being for its words. Fear, that his belief in the Ancient One was meaningless. Disappointment, at his former master. And finally, hatred. He didn't even realize that he already referred to her as his former Master.
He felt as though the mask was telling the truth. Not feeling a hint of deception in those words. It felt, unnatural. But he ignored this feeling, consumed by his emotions. His faith in The Ancient One slowly crumbled.
"How…. How could she do this"? "How could she betray us all"?
Without him realizing, he completely believed the words spoken by the Mask.
"YOU KNOW OF KAECILIUS, HE SEEKS THE POWER OF DORMMAMU".
"THAT IS BECAUSE HE KNOWS IT IS WHAT GRANTED HER IMMORTALITY".
Mordo walked towards the Mask. With every step, the golden runes around his body dimmed, until finally, they were all gone. He looked down at the Mask, and a sudden urge to wear it washed over him.
_____________
On the Internet.
"Oh No! It's over"! "That wizard is going to put on the Mask"!
"Hahaha, I'm looking forward to seeing how these Magicians fight with Magic".
"…."
"You're a fucking lunatic"!
_________
Back on the Light Curtain, the Mask gave Mordo his final push.
"I HAVE LEARNED, AND MASTERED ALL THE MAGIC IN KARMA-TAJ".
"PUT ME ON, AND ALL THAT KNOWLEDGE WILL BE YOURS".
"YOU CAN SURPASS ALL THE PREVIOUS SORCERER SUPREMES".
When he heard this, Mordo was excited. "If I can learn all the magic in Karma-Taj, I can become the Sorcerer Supreme".
He immediately picked up the porcelain tragedy Mask, but just as he was about to put on the mask, a voice came from the entrance of the library.
"Mordo! Do not trust him". The Ancient One rushed into the library.
"Put down that Mask, it is deceiving you". "Only death awaits you".
However, it was too late. The moment Mordo put on the Mask, his head jerked back, and in that instant, his consciousness was completely erased
...............