"Uf!"
"At this moment, there is always a power of self-preservation. Even if I leave Kamar-Taj, with my current strength there shouldn't be much danger."
"It's just that this is almost like a trick or something." Alaric, who had awakened from meditation, was very happy.
He was also extremely satisfied with his current progress.
Compared to when he had first arrived, completely lost, without any knowledge or ability, now he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
However, he wasn't even thinking about leaving Kamar-Taj. After all, he had not yet mastered magic!
Although he now had strong and inexhaustible energy, he had no proper technique, and that would be meaningless waste.
If he were to encounter a powerful enough enemy, he could easily die.
It was like a warrior who had immense strength and could endure countless blows, but lacked the sharpness to deliver the finishing strike. Strength without skill did not mean certain victory.
That's why it was best to patiently continue learning!
Thinking this, Alaric left the room.
Looking at the daylight outside, he thought his meditation hadn't lasted long, until he met Mordo.
"Alaric? You came out. You meditated for the whole day, did you gain anything?" Mordo greeted him with a warm voice.
"The whole day?" Alaric was confused.
"Yes. Since you came back yesterday, an entire night has passed, you know? If it weren't for the Supreme Magus' order not to disturb you, I would have come to call you for dinner."
"What!?"
He wondered, had an entire night really passed?
Was meditation really that powerful?
He thought he had only been sitting for a few hours.
Alaric, immersed in the spiritual world, hadn't noticed the passage of time at all.
Moreover, since he now carried his own small universe within himself, his energy was always strong enough, he didn't even feel hunger, and his mental state was excellent.
Now it was clearer to him why magicians withdrew into long meditations, for days or even years, and why they found some sort of satisfaction in it.
"Do you want to eat something first?" Mordo asked with concern.
"No need, I feel like I'm in great shape right now!"
"By the way, Master Mordo, Master Ancient One told me to learn magic from you. Can you teach me?" Alaric looked at him with expectation.
"Of course you can! The Ancient One already gave me instructions. Let's start with teleportation magic!"
Mordo already knew that Alaric had been blessed by the Vishanti, so he treated him more kindly than before.
Previously, Alaric had only been a guest, but now they stood on the same path, as students of the same school and comrades in the protection of Earth.
"Alright, thank you!" Alaric nodded in gratitude.
Indeed, Mordo, before he set foot on his darker path, had the bearing of a true elder brother.
Although stubborn and prone to extremes, his devotion to the fight for Earth could not be questioned.
"You should already know the basics of using magic. Teleportation magic is one of the first things we learn. It allows you to master precise guidance of magical energy. This is for you," said Mordo, handing Alaric a ring.
It was a Sling Ring, an artifact of vital importance to every student of Kamar-Taj.
Alongside the Cosmic Cube, the Sling Ring was one of the most recognizable artifacts in the Marvel universe. It served to open portals, but also as an indispensable tool in the practical use of magic.
In combination with sufficiently strong spiritual power, the ring enabled the creation of passages through space and dimensions, all in accordance with the will and focus of the user.
Besides opening passages to the real world, it could also open doors to other dimensions, even dangerous ones like the Hell Dimension.
"The most important thing in teleportation magic is your inner strength and concentration. Willpower is what determines whether the magic will succeed or not," explained Mordo as he demonstrated hand movements.
"I understand!" Alaric nodded.
Then he focused, recalled the appearance of his room, and carefully sketched the portal.
Sparks appeared in the air, and then a golden circle formed.
On the other side, Alaric's room was clearly visible.
"It worked?!"
Mordo had at first been ready to guide him slowly, to build his understanding and skill step by step.
But what he saw surprised him.
Alaric, who just yesterday had been an ordinary man, injured and without any knowledge of mysticism, now stood before him opening a portal on his very first attempt.
If the Ancient One hadn't seen his injuries and saved him from certain death, he never would have set foot in Kamar-Taj, nor had the chance to study magic.
But this very person was the first to come into contact with the Vishanti and receive their blessing, proof that he possessed immense talent.
Mordo could now see for himself just how incredible that talent was.
What Alaric displayed wasn't just progress, it was a gift.
With a single attempt he had opened a perfect portal, something most students wouldn't achieve even after months of practice.
What would he become once he truly mastered the mystic arts?
For the first time, Mordo felt insecure.
Doubt began to gnaw at him.