July 2nd - 2009
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The sun hung high over the mountain peaks of Nepal as Stephen stepped through the portal into Kamar-Taj. The serene courtyard greeted him with its usual calm—disciples practicing their forms, the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze, and the soft hum of distant chanting. But Stephen's mind was elsewhere. He had left Tony in Malibu after confirming the meeting with Fury for the next day. Now, he was here, summoned to a meeting between Kamar-Taj's high-ranked Masters, a group he was now officially part of.
The meeting room was circular and austere, its simplicity emphasizing the gravity of the discussions that often took place there. Masters sat in a semicircle on low cushions around a central table, each one carrying an air of quiet authority. The Ancient One sat at the head, serene as ever, her gaze steady as Stephen took his seat among them.
"Master Strange," one of the older Masters greeted him with a respectful nod. "It's good to have you officially among us."
Stephen inclined his head politely. "It's an honor."
The Ancient One folded her hands neatly in her lap, her voice calm yet commanding. "Now that Master Strange has joined us, I hope you'll extend the same courtesy and cooperation to him as you would to any of your peers. His experiences in his universe bring a perspective that will only strengthen our Order."
There were murmurs of agreement, though Stephen caught the flicker of curiosity and scrutiny in some of their eyes. They all knew who he was—not just the new Master of Kamar-Taj, but the Stephen Strange, Sorcerer Supreme of another universe. It was clear they were eager to see how he would fit into their ranks.
The meeting began with the usual discussions—missions that required attention, the rotation of practical lessons in sorcery that the Masters shuffled between them, and the allocation of resources to different sanctums. Stephen listened carefully, occasionally chiming in with his perspective, which the others welcomed with surprising warmth.
It wasn't long, however, before the discussion turned to the disciples.
"As you know," said Master Hamir, glancing at the papers spread across the table, "we've had several disciples complete their preliminary training and express their intention to stay with the Order as official disciples."
The Ancient One nodded. "Their dedication is commendable. The question now is who among the Masters will guide them further. Pairing the right disciple with the right Master is critical to their growth."
Stephen leaned forward slightly, his gaze scanning the list of names on the parchment before him. Each name represented a disciple who had chosen to dedicate their life to Kamar-Taj's teachings, striving toward mastery in the mystic arts. His mind wandered briefly to his own time as a novice, under the tutelage of the Ancient One. Guiding a disciple was no small responsibility, and he knew this from personal experience.
Soon, the conversation in the meeting had turned into an animated discussion about the disciples. Stephen had been quiet for most of it, assuming his contributions would be minimal. He was still learning the specifics of this universe's Kamar-Taj—its traditions, its students, and its rhythm. The names of disciples floated around the room, Masters weighing their potential, discussing their strengths and weaknesses, debating which of them might benefit most from their guidance.
Stephen had no intention of speaking up. He had told himself this was a moment for observation, for listening and absorbing the nuances of the Order he had joined. He didn't know these disciples—not in the way these Masters did. Or so he thought until he caught sight of that name.
Kaecilius.
The name had stilled him, his pulse briefly quickening before he reined himself in. He forced his face into neutrality, even as his thoughts churned. The name weighed heavily on the list, and heavier still on his mind. A name that was sharp and jagged in his memories. A name that could set the course of entire worlds ablaze.
The discussion around the table seemed to slow, the Masters moving to the next disciple as Stephen remained fixated on the name. He almost didn't notice when the Ancient One spoke, her gaze gently probing as she interrupted his thoughts.
"Master Strange," she said, her calm voice cutting through the low hum of the discussion. "You've been uncharacteristically quiet. Do you have any thoughts to offer on this matter?"
Stephen looked up, realizing the room had turned its attention to him. The parchment rested on the table in front of him, the list of names staring up at him like a challenge. His fingers brushed against it, lingering on the name that refused to let him be.
He hesitated for only a moment before speaking. His voice was calm, deliberate, and laced with a weight he couldn't entirely conceal. "I knew Kaecilius in my own universe."
A ripple of surprise passed through the room, quiet but palpable. Masters exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued. The Ancient One's gaze remained steady, though there was a flicker of interest in her eyes.
"I don't wish to influence your opinions of him," Stephen continued, his tone measured. "But in my universe, he was... complicated."
That word hung in the air, as heavy as the name itself. It was a careful choice, one that concealed as much as it revealed. Stephen didn't want to divulge more than necessary. To speak of Kaecilius's fall, his descent into darkness, would be to risk coloring their perception of a man who, in this universe, might still have the potential for redemption.
"I believe I can guide him," Stephen added, his voice firmer now. "The mastery Kaecilius is working toward—restorative arts, primarily—is one I have experience with. More than enough to teach him."
There was a flicker of doubt in some of the Masters' expressions, but Stephen pressed on. "I know I'm not... specialized in it," he said, though it was a carefully constructed lie. He had delved deeply into the intricacies of restoration magic before, pushing the boundaries of what was possible to try and undo the damage to his hands. His pursuit of the specific, more complicated branches of the craft far exceeded the basics Kaecilius was likely studying.
"And as for his other interests," Stephen added, his gaze sweeping over the room, "combat magic, lore, dimensional theory... I can assure you, I'm more than equipped to teach those as well."
The room fell quiet for a moment, the Masters exchanging contemplative glances. It was the Ancient One who finally broke the silence, her calm voice laced with a trace of curiosity. "You're certain, Stephen?"
"I am," Stephen replied without hesitation, his gaze steady as it met hers. "If Kaecilius truly seeks knowledge and growth, I want to guide him. I want to help him."
It wasn't just words. Stephen meant it. He had seen what Kaecilius could become, the devastation he could wreak. But he had also seen glimpses of the man he might have been—before the grief, the anger, and the bitterness consumed him. If there was a chance, however slim, that he could help Kaecilius avoid that path, Stephen had to take it.
The murmurs in the room quieted as the Ancient One spoke again, her calm voice filling the space with an unshakable authority. "Kaecilius has great potential," she said, her gaze sweeping over the gathered Masters before landing on Stephen. "He is talented, focused, and possesses a drive that, if properly channeled, could lead him to become a formidable protector of this world. I had been considering taking him as my own disciple."
The other Masters exchanged surprised glances, but the Ancient One's tone remained steady. "However," she continued, her eyes softening as they lingered on Stephen, "perhaps you can guide him in ways that I could not. In your world, I failed him. Perhaps in this one, you can succeed where I did not."
Stephen nodded slowly, gratitude and determination mingling in his expression. "Thank you," he said quietly. "I'll do my best."
The Ancient One inclined her head, her serene expression giving nothing away, though Stephen thought he caught a flicker of hope in her eyes.
One by one, the other Masters rose from their seats and began to filter out of the chamber, leaving Stephen and the Ancient One alone. The stillness that followed was almost palpable, the weight of their shared history settling between them like an unspoken presence.
Stephen glanced at her, his expression thoughtful, almost hesitant. "Did you know?" he asked finally, his voice low. "In my universe... did you know Kaecilius would kill you?"
The Ancient One's gaze didn't waver, her expression as calm and unreadable as ever. "Does it matter?" she asked softly. "The choices I made then are no longer relevant to the life I lead now. This time, I am not planning to die. I have told you this before, Stephen."
He frowned, searching her face for any hint of doubt, but there was none. Her composure was unshakable, her resolve absolute.
"I will not leave this world again—not while I still have work to do," she continued, her tone steady but carrying a quiet intensity. "I failed the Stephen of this universe. I allowed my pride and secrecy to drive him toward his death. And for as long as this world needs me, I will repent for that failure."
Stephen exhaled slowly, the weight of her words pressing against him. "You're not entirely to blame for what happened," he said after a moment, his voice quiet but firm. "Kaecilius made his own choices. So did Mordo."
"Perhaps," the Ancient One said, her expression softening. "But I have lived long enough to know the difference between failure caused by another's choices and failure caused by my own blind spots. I let Kaecilius slip through my fingers in your world, just as I let Mordo walk his own path of bitterness. But I will not make the same mistakes here."
Stephen nodded, his gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before returning to her. "I hope I can do right by Kaecilius," he said. "Even if it's... complicated."
The Ancient One's lips curved into the faintest smile. "Complications are often where we find the greatest opportunities for growth. For ourselves, and for those we guide."
Stephen smirked faintly, shaking his head. "You really don't let up, do you?"
"I can't afford to," she replied, her tone light but carrying a weight of truth. "Not when there is still so much to do."
Stephen's smirk softened into something quieter, more reflective. "I should let you get back to it," he said after a moment. "I'll start working with Kaecilius soon. I need to... prepare."
The Ancient One inclined her head in acknowledgment. "I trust you will approach this with the same determination you bring to everything else."
Stephen didn't respond immediately, instead glancing toward the door. But before he left, he turned back to her, his expression more open than before. "Thank you," he said simply.
The Ancient One nodded, watching as he left the chamber. Once again, the room fell into silence, the echoes of their conversation lingering in the air like a faint resonance.
If there was one thing Stephen Strange understood, it was complications. And if guiding Kaecilius meant even the slightest chance of steering him toward a better path, it was worth the risk.
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