Walking through Kamar-Taj, Marcus finally saw this sacred place of sorcerers with his own eyes.
In Kamar-Taj, besides those who had successfully mastered spells, there were many apprentice sorcerers who had just started learning magic.
Each wore a sling ring, continuously drawing circles in the air before them. Sporadic sparks burst out from their attempts, making the gathering look like a modest fireworks display.
"Has Kamar-Taj always taught spells this way?" Marcus asked.
"That's right," Wong replied. "Kamar-Taj doesn't restrict the teaching of magic, but mastering our spells isn't as simple as it appears."
Wong spoke with pride about Kamar-Taj's mystical arts. These spells gave them power beyond ordinary humans and also burdened them with the responsibility of protecting the world.
"Is it hard? I think it's easy," Marcus remarked, his eyes fixed on the sparks in front of one particular man—a portal that was almost taking shape.
This man was performing better than the others. While most could only produce sporadic sparks, he could nearly complete the portal's construction.
But each time, just when it seemed finished, the portals he built would destabilize, collapsing at the critical moment.
With a whoosh, the moment the portal finally formed, it exploded, transforming into countless sparks that scattered in all directions.
"He's too anxious," Marcus observed. "Does Kamar-Taj expel apprentices who can't complete portals?"
"Kamar-Taj never expels any sorcerers," Wong answered. "But he is indeed anxious and hasn't yet calmed his mind."
After watching the man try a few more times, Marcus shook his head. This guy's thoughts were too scattered.
Raising his hand, Marcus drew a light blue portal in the air, then looked at Wong beside him. "This should be the most basic spell of Kamar-Taj, right?"
Wong stared in shock. All the portals he had ever seen were orange, appearing to be made of actual sparks. This was his first time seeing a light blue portal.
"Are you also a Kamar-Taj master?" he asked.
"Of course not," Marcus shook his head. "I just know some Kamar-Taj spells."
He continued walking forward. These apprentices still had a long way to go.
Passing through a corridor, Marcus entered a training courtyard. Several people stood in formation, each holding a short staff in both hands, practicing forms that reminded him of monks training.
"Oh, combat sorcerers?"
Marcus wasn't surprised by the scene before him and had even anticipated it.
He understood why Kamar-Taj operated this way. Their spells were borrowed from various dimensions, most from Vishanti. Although Vishanti was generous, it didn't mean sorcerers could borrow power without restraint—there was always a price for using magic.
Therefore, Kamar-Taj's sorcerers generally limited their spell use. Most preferred to use magic as a supplement to physical combat.
"Kamar-Taj's fighting skills are rather basic," Marcus commented.
"Most of our work involves keeping invading dimensions out," came the Ancient One's voice from behind. "These combat techniques are sufficient for dealing with ordinary threats."
The bald Ancient One, wearing simple brown robes, gradually appeared behind Marcus.
"Sorcerer Supreme!" Wong bowed respectfully.
Many of the sorcerers training in the courtyard also stopped to bow to the Ancient One.
Turning to face her, Marcus asked, "Has what Odin promised me been delivered?"
"Is that why you came to see me?" the Ancient One raised her eyebrows. Marcus had traveled all this way just to ask if Odin's promised items had arrived?
"Why not?" Marcus smiled. "Did you think I came to learn how they draw circles?"
His words made one of the sorcerers in the courtyard frown. The Ancient One was the most powerful person in Kamar-Taj, yet this stranger spoke to her with no respect.
With a swift motion, the sorcerer's hand glowed, and a long energy whip materialized.
"Kaecilius, stop!" shouted the lead instructor, but it was too late.
The energy whip was already flying toward Marcus, propelled by Kaecilius's swing.
The attack didn't have the effect Kaecilius expected. Marcus caught the whip directly with his hand. Now connected to the energy, Kaecilius couldn't release it.
"Your students don't seem very polite, Ancient One," Marcus said, his eyes gleaming as he looked at Kaecilius, dangerous energy radiating from him.
"Kaecilius? What a dark and troubled heart..."
As he spoke, the whip's orange glow rapidly turned light blue, the energy flowing back toward Kaecilius.
As the void energy approached, every sorcerer in the courtyard felt death's chill. The light blue energy carried lethal power.
"Oh," the Ancient One sighed. "Let him go. I owe you a favor."
"I'll release him," Marcus said, "but he needs a small lesson."
With a sharp tug on the energy whip, Marcus pulled Kaecilius toward him. Before the sorcerer could react, Marcus's hand was on his neck.
"Your sanctuary really accepts anyone, doesn't it? Even someone who hungers for power like this? You'd even trade a favor for him?"
Energy surged from Marcus's fingertips as Kaecilius's face contorted in pain. A wave-like pattern appeared on the sorcerer's neck.
Finished, Marcus flung Kaecilius back into the courtyard with a casual flick. The void energy surrounding him gradually subsided.
The pattern was the emblem of the Vazarin school—harmless in itself. Marcus had simply wanted to test something, and Kaecilius had provided the perfect opportunity.
Everyone was shocked by what they'd witnessed, but the Ancient One's face remained calm, as if nothing unusual had happened.
"Let's go inside and talk," she said, leading Marcus toward the building without a backward glance at the disgruntled Kaecilius.
"You did that deliberately, didn't you?" Marcus asked once they were seated in a private room, taking a sip of tea.
The Ancient One's sudden appearance wasn't for him—she had been testing Kaecilius.
Marcus knew quite a bit about Kaecilius. This power-hungry man would become the enemy of the next Sorcerer Supreme. Not only would he "kill" the Ancient One, but he would successfully summon Dormammu from the Dark Dimension, only to be consumed by Dormammu's power.
"I've guided him countless times," the Ancient One admitted, "but I cannot change him. He has an obsession with power that is dangerous for a sorcerer."
She didn't evade Marcus's question. When she had examined the future through the Eye of Agamotto, she had already seen Kaecilius's fate.
Though she never seriously considered altering the future, she had tried various methods to guide Kaecilius, hoping to change his path. But no matter what she did, he remained trapped in his quagmire of ambition.
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