"Got it. But if I can't get along with them, you need to ensure I'm free to do what I want without their interference." Vorrak, as a symbiote, still harbored his inclination to corrupt and control others—it's simply part of his nature. No one, not even the Ancient One, can take that away from him.
"That shouldn't be a problem, as long as you don't cause any trouble for me. Now, if you will," the Ancient One replied, her thoughts remain a mystery.
Vorrak stepped through the portal, leaving the Sanctum as the Ancient One watched his departure.
"Now that he's out of the way, it's time to use the time stone." The Ancient One quickly opened the eye of Agamotto, revealing the time stone within.
In an instant, her head began to dart back and forth at an incredible speed, her face shifting through a range of emotions—frowns, sadness, madness, anger, and more.
Throughout all the visions she searched, Vorrak was nowhere to be found, as if he had simply vanished without a trace.
This revelation caused her to furrow her brow; the only thing she detected was the lingering connection he left behind. Similar to the bond between Kirabo and the Silverback Gorilla, that connection could still be traced.
"Is this due to my influence? Did teaching him the mystic arts render him undetectable through time? Or is there something else at play?"
While the Ancient One sought the answers, Vorrak had already made his way back to his apartment, bubbling with excitement about a future where he could travel anywhere with just a motion of his arm.
Without a second thought, he reached out to sense the connection he had with his sons, feeling relieved when he discovered they were safe and sound.
"It seems like I should plan a visit to them soon. But first, I need to concentrate on my current task. Learning from the Ancient One will benefit them too, making it easier for me to assist them when they're in need," Vorrak said to himself before finally closing his eyes.
---
December 30, 1942
Morning broke, and Vorrak made his way through the Sanctum, where the Ancient One was patiently sipping her tea, taking her time with each sip.
When she spotted Vorrak, the Ancient One offered a gentle smile, though her eyes reflected hints of fatigue and the aftereffects of using the Eye of Agamotto.
Despite her weariness, she managed to keep her expression composed, so Vorrak didn't suspect anything was amiss.
In contrast, the Ancient One could see that Vorrak was bubbling with enthusiasm about their upcoming trip to Kamar Taj, the sacred abode of the mystic arts.
"Good morning! You seem cheerful today," she remarked, observing Vorrak nodding eagerly with a smile.
"I can learn so many of your spells at Kamar Taj and watch how others perform them. That way, I can learn from my own mistakes by seeing what they do," Vorrak replied calmly. The Ancient One nodded, agreeing with his perspective.
Rising to her feet, the Ancient One silently opened a portal to Kamar Taj and stepped through, with Vorrak following closely behind. As he entered, the place came rushing back to him, though it seemed busier with sorcerers than he remembered from his own time.
The name Kaecilius crossed his mind—once the Ancient One's student, he had ultimately betrayed her after feeling let down.
As the Ancient One and Vorrak arrived, students of the Mystic Arts quickly noticed them, gathering around to bow to the Ancient One while casting curious glances at Vorrak.
She waved her hand, and the students returned to their practice. The Ancient One then led Vorrak inside, explaining the surroundings while he listened in awe.
Kamar Taj was even more stunning than he remembered, familiar yet strangely new. The atmosphere carried a sense of tranquility mixed with an underlying power, embodying its dual role as a sanctuary of wisdom and a stronghold against mystical threats.
That's how Vorrak perceived Kamar Taj. Soon, they entered a library filled with books that chronicled the rich history of sorcerers. A young man with black hair and brown eyes, dressed in a yellow robe, stood up to greet the Ancient One.
He didn't question Vorrak's presence, knowing that the Ancient One would introduce him when the time was right.
"Relax for now. I'll take over the library today," the Ancient One instructed in an authoritative tone.
The librarian nodded and left. With him gone, the Ancient One used a portal to retrieve a book, which she handed to Vorrak.
He accepted it without a word and began to read quietly while the Ancient One selected her own book.
After a few minutes, Vorrak finished the entire book, absorbing all its knowledge.
The book was filled with various spells, including the inter-dimensional portal spell and techniques for conjuring weapons, among others.
However, the book only covered the basics and didn't provide any practical guidance on how to perform the spells. It merely contained spell descriptions, which left Vorrak feeling a bit deflated.
The Ancient One acknowledged this and used a portal to retrieve another book, handing it to him.
Once again, Vorrak dove into reading in silence. Time slipped by, and he had already gone through five books, each with over a hundred pages, while the Ancient One had finished her readings and was now leisurely sipping her tea.
After a while, Vorrak finally closed the last book of the day. If given the opportunity, he would have preferred to bond with the Ancient One for a quicker path to mastery, but he didn't feel close enough to her to do so just yet.
He knew he couldn't rush his actions; he needed to spend more time with her before forming that bond. If the Ancient One was careful, he had to be too.
Although he could have connected with other sorcerers at Kamar Taj, he would require the Ancient One's approval, which seemed unlikely.
"I've finished all the readings. What's next?" Vorrak asked, curiosity evident in his voice.
"Meditation," the Ancient One replied. "It will help you find your purpose in life, and that will be beneficial."
His mind echoed the thought: don't question, just act. Without hesitation, Vorrak entered meditation. As he focused, the Ancient One watched him closely, reflecting on her recent discoveries when she failed to see Vorrak's future with the time stone.
This made her consider the possibility that Vorrak had chosen to leave his world and explore the universe because of her influence.
With the knowledge of inter-dimensional portals, he had embarked on a journey to find purpose and adventure in the cosmos.
As for her observations, she noted with a sigh of relief that the future appeared to remain largely unchanged.
While Vorrak was lost in meditation, the Ancient One stepped out of the library and into a room where she encountered a man sporting a goatee and smooth, long hair reminiscent of a woman's.
His efforts to maintain his hair created a sharp contrast to the Ancient One's gleaming bald head. The man bowed slightly to allow her a seat.
The Ancient One approached him and settled down as an attendant prepared tea.
"What brings you here, Supreme Sorcerer? It's rare for you to visit my simple quarters," he asked, intrigued by her unexpected arrival.
It had been quite some time since the Ancient One visited Kamar Taj, as she typically resided in either Hong Kong or the New York Sanctum, despite Kamar Taj being her base of operations.
If Vorrak were aware of this, he would realize that his understanding of the Marvel universe was slightly off. Unfortunately, he hadn't yet noticed any inconsistencies due to his limited knowledge of this world.
Having only arrived a month ago, he hadn't gathered enough information, especially since there was no internet to consult.
Even Wakanda, with its advanced technology, hadn't developed the internet yet, considering their isolated status made it unnecessary.
Nevertheless, they had established a method of communication a thousand years ago, which they refined to reach great distances. If Howard Stark had been in Wakanda and discovered their technology, he would have been fascinated and likely stayed to study it, no matter how long it took.
Howard Stark was passionate about technology and harbored a sizable ego, particularly when someone was more knowledgeable than him, driving him to strive to be the best.