"For communication between mages I personally believe that the principle of equivalent exchange is the best approach to take in these matters. It ensures fairness and mutual respect."
Sebastian said calmly while meeting the Ancient One's gaze with confidence.
"As long as that principle is honored I have no issue with sharing knowledge that I possess. I am even open to teaching a line of magic I have inherited from my previous world if the exchange is worthwhile."
The Ancient One raised her teacup and nodded in approval while taking a thoughtful sip.
"A fair philosophy indeed. Then tell me Master Sebastian what would you need in return to begin sharing your magic with me? What would make this exchange equitable in your eyes?"
"Every magical exchange should start with something simple and manageable I believe. I am looking for a specific kind of item at the moment. Something like a feather or a hair or neural tissue from a magical creature. That would be sufficient for now."
Of course that simple start was just a pretext for his true intentions. Sebastian had no intention of laying bare his entire magical knowledge during this first meeting with someone he had just encountered. It would be reckless and foolish. Even if the Ancient One herself bore no ill will toward him some of her disciples were less predictable in their actions and motivations. Kaecilius and Mordo in particular were names that came with heavy implications for the future. Better to stay cautious and grounded in his approach.
By making this small request Sebastian aimed to gather the core component necessary to craft his own wand. Even if it was not a perfect match for his magic it would grant him the foundational tool he needed for focused spellcasting. His first real line of defense in this dangerous world.
Only then would it make sense to consider a deeper magical exchange with Kamar Taj.
In truth he was extremely curious about the magic of this world and its system. From what little he had seen so far during his encounter with the Ancient One it was in many ways more profound and more raw than the structured magic he had learned in his past life at Hogwarts.
The Ancient One sipped her tea quietly then responded after a moment of consideration.
"We do possess such materials at Kamar Taj but unfortunately they do not preserve well over long periods of time. Most of them have already been repurposed into battle implements and magical artifacts especially neural tissues. They tend to deteriorate quickly once separated from their original hosts."
She paused thoughtfully while setting down her cup.
"At the moment I have three viable options available for you to choose from. A strand of Nightmare Mane from the dark realm. A Valkyrie Pegasus feather from Asgard. And a Hellhound fang from the underworld. I do not know which one you would prefer for your purposes. But more importantly what will you offer in exchange for whichever material you choose?"
Sebastian dismissed the Hellhound fang mentally almost immediately. It was too unstable and chaotic in nature. Unsuitable for wandcraft that required balance and control.
But the other two materials. Now those were genuinely interesting possibilities.
The mane of the Nightmare Beast and the feathers of the Pegasus are both suitable for wand cores. However the Nightmare Beast is a hellish creature by nature and tends to be chaotic and evil in its essence. If its mane were used to craft the heart of a wand it would inevitably lead to some uncontrollable situations and unpredictable magical effects. This is undesirable for my current purpose and development. It is not suitable for someone like me who is developing steadily and carefully.
Perhaps once I become much stronger in the future I will use the mane of the Nightmare Beast to create a second wand. Then I can see what unique power it holds and how it manifests. But for now it is not suitable at all. After some careful thought Sebastian decided to seek the feathers of the Valkyrie's Pegasus. The legendary winged horses that had disappeared from Asgard long ago.
"Master Ancient One I wish to acquire the feather of the Valkyrie's Pegasus if that is acceptable. That would serve my purposes best."
"In exchange I would like to request an introduction to the magic system you have mastered. A comprehensive overview of its principles and foundations. Would that be possible and acceptable to you?"
The system?
This was truly beyond Sebastian's expectations and caught him off guard.
Initially Sebastian had assumed that the Ancient One would request a specific spell from him. Something like the Levitation Charm or Petrificus Totalus which he had used during his fight with Akanksha. However what the Ancient One sought was merely an introduction to the magic system Sebastian had learned in his previous life. Clearly the Ancient One did not intend to use his magic immediately for her own purposes. She simply wanted to gain a deeper understanding of Sebastian's magic system and how it functioned. This would lay a foundation for future transactions or exchanges between them. It would ensure there were no misjudgments or misunderstandings due to a lack of understanding of Sebastian's magical abilities and limitations.
Understanding this reasoning Sebastian nodded slightly in agreement. The principle of equivalent exchange was not something he had invented on his own. In fact he adhered to it strictly as well in his own dealings. Magic is not something that can be mastered in isolation without interaction. It requires a great deal of communication and collaboration between practitioners. Magic like storms and natural forces demands various resources and materials. It does not simply fall from the sky while you sit idly at home waiting. The principle of equivalent exchange was developed over centuries to ensure smooth communication and fair transactions between mages from different traditions.
"Master Ancient One I am willing to share the magic system I have learned in my previous life. However it will take some time to organize everything properly into a coherent document that you can study."
"Of course I understand completely. Even the magic you have mastered will take a significant amount of time to organize into a systematic introduction. You can take your time and sort it out at your own pace. Once you are finished send the materials here to the Sanctum and hand them over to Daniel. He will ensure they reach me safely."
"As for the Pegasus Feather you seek I can give it to you right now without delay. Perhaps this will allow you to complete the arrangement of your magic system sooner rather than later. Following the principle of equivalent exchange I trust you will deliver on your promise."
The Ancient One raised her hand gracefully. A soft light quickly gathered from the surroundings converging in the Ancient One's palm with gentle energy. It transformed into a slender wooden box that was intricately carved. She placed it on the table in front of Sebastian with care.
"This is the feather of the Pegasus from Asgard. I hope it will serve you well in whatever you are crafting."
Sebastian did not hesitate for a moment. He placed the box carefully in his backpack and nodded with genuine gratitude.
"I will organize the introduction to the magic system as quickly as possible and deliver the materials after school on Wednesday afternoon. You have my word on that."
"Very well then. The business is settled between us. Now we can enjoy tea properly and speak of other matters if you wish."
Hearing the Ancient One's words Sebastian smiled as well with relief. He picked up the teacup and took a sip savoring the tea and the peaceful moment.
Under the escort of Daniel Drumm the guardian of the New York Sanctum Sebastian nodded slightly to bid him farewell with respect. He walked out of the Sanctum and made his way to Bleecker Street in New York where the Sanctum was located. After orienting himself with his surroundings Sebastian walked to the nearest subway station with his schoolbag on his back. He took the subway home through the city.
Standing before the gate of the Sanctum Sanctorum in New York Daniel watched as Sebastian left and disappeared down the street. He then turned to the Ancient One who was still sitting in a chair inside sipping tea peacefully.
"Master Ancient One he has gone now."
"Yes Daniel I saw him leave. I will rely on you to keep in touch with him in the future and attempt to cooperate with him when opportunities arise. If you are ever uncertain about something or unable to make a decision on your own you can always contact me directly through the portal."
The Ancient One said this while setting down her cup calmly.
"Master Ancient One why do you treat him so favorably compared to others? He is just one young mage among many."
Daniel asked with genuine curiosity in his voice.
"I have seen some things through the Eye of Agamotto that concern the future Daniel. Some individuals must be brought into our Kamar Taj as students and allies. While others need us to take the initiative to befriend them before circumstances turn against us. One day in the future you will understand the reasoning behind my actions now. Trust that I do nothing without purpose."
Daniel who was not one to pry too deeply into matters beyond his understanding chose not to press further with more questions. After hearing the Ancient One's explanation he no longer hesitated about his orders. He saluted formally indicating his understanding and acceptance.
Seeing this the Ancient One nodded to Daniel with approval. Then she turned and returned to Kamar Taj through the portal that connected the Sanctum Sanctorum to the training grounds. The reason she encouraged more contact between Daniel and Sebastian was to serve as a bridge between herself and the young mage. It was also a strategic move to form an alliance with him for the challenges ahead. And to allow Daniel who faced a dangerous future in the timeline she had seen to seek Sebastian's help when that time came inevitably.
The Eye of Agamotto or rather the Time Stone within it allowed the Ancient One to see further ahead into possible futures. She used it to plan carefully and protect her disciples as much as possible from the dangers that awaited them. Although there may be many challenges ahead in the coming years it was prudent to prepare in advance for those eventualities. As long as her actions did not interfere with the natural course of the future everything would unfold as it should according to fate.