"I didn't mean it that way."
The Ancient One immediately shook her head.
"I mean that you can go out and walk. Only learning indoors will not make you grow. By combining learning and practice you can become stronger," explained the Ancient One.
And that was the way Kamar-Taj taught.
Some mages would retreat into study after reaching a certain level, while others would apply to temples around the world to guard balance and peace.
The Ancient One felt that Alaric had nothing more to learn within the walls, and that going out into the world would only benefit him.
"But I've been here less than a month, haven't I?"
Alaric counted the time on his fingers.
Indeed, less than a month, and she was already talking about leaving Kamar-Taj?
Are you trying to drive me out?
"Yes, you've been here less than a month…"
Hearing his words, the Ancient One suddenly realized something: Alaric had advanced incredibly fast in such a short time!
That child truly carried within him something that seemed almost divine.
The Ancient One raised her gaze, but could not calm herself.
Deep in her heart she felt painful envy.
If only she had one percent of Alaric's talent, her achievements today would be incomparably greater. Perhaps she would never have had to resort to the desperate bargain with Dormammu to maintain eternal life.
Thinking that way, she realized she really should allow him to leave Kamar-Taj.
Out of sight, out of mind.
That way, her peace would not be shaken because of him.
Didn't you see how Mordo reacted when he noticed that Alaric was already slowly surpassing the framework of learning?
What was even harder to admit, the Ancient One was so envious that she even felt jealousy.
"All right, I understand. Then I'll go to New York."
Alaric thought. He had learned almost all the magic of Kamar-Taj, fulfilled his original goal. There really was no need for him to stay here.
New York made sense.
The only question was, had Tony Stark already become Iron Man? Had the era of superheroes already begun?
"You're going to New York?"
"Then. The temple in New York will be entrusted to you."
The Ancient One nodded.
In any case, no matter where Alaric went, the Ancient One had decided to entrust him with the temple at that place to guard it.
His power was too great to be ignored, and it would be wasteful not to use it.
Besides, that way the Ancient One wouldn't have to worry about not being able to find him.
Because, knowing his character, as soon as he left Kamar-Taj, he would surely run everywhere.
"The temple in New York? Don't you want me to work?"
Alaric rolled his eyes.
"Do you have money?"
"Nothing…"
"Do you have identification?"
"Oh… no."
"Do you have a place to live?"
"No!"
"So, do you want to go to the temple in New York?"
"I'll go, of course!"
Alaric, who had neither identification, nor money, nor a place to live, felt that she was cornering him. He had to accept what was imposed on him.
"That's right, pack up, find the time and go."
The Ancient One lifted her cup with satisfaction and took a sip of tea.
Boy!
You thought I couldn't remove you from my sight?
"Then I'll leave tomorrow."
"Good."
The Ancient One nodded.
"By the way, why is your dimension so similar to the Dark Dimension?" she suddenly remembered the earlier event.
It was precisely because of the dark energy that had leaked from the spatial rift that at first she thought Dormammu had had a hand in it.
But after Alaric's explanation, she realized that he had actually created the problem himself.
He had almost violently broken through the entire magical array, not knowing enough of the inner structure of Kamar-Taj's magic.
Alaric was lucky not to have perished under the pressure of the magical backlash.
"Well, hadn't I already received mysterious dark energy from Dormammu earlier? I used it as a foundation and created my own world – the Eternal Night. That's why it resembles the Dark Dimension in appearance."
"So, that's the reason. Eternal Night World? That name is quite vivid." The Ancient One nodded.
"All right, then I'll go prepare."
Alaric, however, did not reveal the truth that his Eternal Night World was actually a small replica of the Dark Dimension.
At that moment it also dawned on him why Dormammu had stopped him earlier. He must have sensed something in that creation, but wasn't entirely sure.
"Go."
...
Alaric, after leaving the hall, saw a group of apprentice mages in the square.
Under Mordo's supervision they were practicing martial arts.
Because, as a mage of Kamar-Taj, you were not allowed to be just a theorist of magic. Your combat skills had to be sharp.
How else could you defeat the enemy when you ran out of magical energy?
How would you deal with a situation when you couldn't use magic?
"Mordo!"
"Alaric?"
When he saw him, Mordo's heart instinctively trembled.
The shadow that Alaric had left on him that day still had not completely faded.
Nevertheless, Mordo was strong-willed and did not give up on magic. On the contrary, he worked even harder.
Only he no longer had the courage to ask Alaric for guidance.
Every time he saw him, he limited himself to ordinary greetings, without deeper conversations about magic.
"Are you going to the library?" asked Mordo.
He knew that Alaric studied independently, and even the Ancient One did not interfere much in his methods.
"Yes. Tomorrow I'm going to the temple in New York, so while I still have time, I want to read a few more books."
The library of Kamar-Taj was immense.
It contained the collected thoughts and research of the Vishanti and all the past Sorcerer Supremes.
Reading all those books meant almost the same as inheriting all the magic and wisdom of their predecessors.
"Hmm? You're leaving? That's great… ahem, I mean, that means the Sorcerer Supreme fully trusts you!"
Alaric: ?
Why does everyone sound like they can't wait to get rid of me?!
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