Kathmandu, Nepal – Kamar-Taj
The narrow alleyways of Kathmandu bustled with life, but inside the mystical enclave of Kamar-Taj, there was a tranquility that separated it from the rest of the world. Here, within these ancient walls steeped in magic and time, Henry walked beside Master Mordo, a faint but irrepressible smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
After all, how could he not be in a good mood?
He had just been handed the Time Stone—one of the six Infinity Stones—and entrusted with the Eye of Agamotto, a powerful magical artifact once wielded only by the Sorcerer Supreme. The responsibility was enormous, but the thrill of it? That was undeniable.
Mordo noticed the lightness in Henry's steps and the glint of excitement in his eyes. After a brief silence, he spoke up, "You seem to be in a particularly good mood today. Let me guess—the Ancient One shared something... promising?"
Henry chuckled softly and nodded. "Yeah, you could say that. She gave me some... good news."
Mordo didn't press further. His mind was still half-occupied with the memory of Henry's recent performance during his trial. Although it had been interrupted partway through, Mordo had already seen enough to form a solid judgment—Henry was no ordinary apprentice. His progress in just a few days was something that most mages could only dream of.
After a moment, Mordo glanced over and said sincerely, "I have to admit... I had my doubts about you when you first arrived. But I see now that I was wrong. Your talent really is extraordinary."
The comment caught Henry a bit off guard. Mordo wasn't exactly the type to openly praise someone, much less apologize or admit fault. That alone spoke volumes about the impression Henry had made.
"I didn't take it personally," Henry replied with a casual shrug. "It's understandable. This kind of progress... even I didn't expect it."
Mordo sighed and offered a wry smile. "To be honest, I thought it would take you at least a month to complete the basic teachings. Instead, you crushed them in mere days. That's... annoying, to put it lightly."
The frustration in his tone was laced with amusement, not bitterness. He meant it as a compliment, even if it came with a dose of envy.
"I've trained for years to reach my current level," Mordo continued, "and then someone like you shows up and makes it look effortless. It's humbling, honestly."
Henry didn't respond immediately. He knew the feeling Mordo described all too well. In his previous life—or timeline—he'd seen this exact dynamic play out with countless gifted individuals. Being talented came with pressure, after all.
Suddenly curious, Henry asked, "So... what time does training usually begin here at Kamar-Taj? Is there a schedule I should follow now?"
Mordo looked at him, puzzled. "Training? You mean structured group training?"
"Yeah," Henry said. "I figured all new apprentices go through a standard system—classes, instructors, practice hours. That kind of thing."
Mordo shook his head, his expression amused. "Not exactly. Once you've completed the introductory teachings, you're given a bit more freedom. Mages are expected to continue learning at their own pace—through reading, experimentation, and real-world practice."
Henry blinked. "So, no more formal lessons?"
"Correct. You're free to go to the library, research new spells, or even leave Kamar-Taj if you feel ready. The only expectation is that if danger arises, or if you need guidance, you come back. There are three main sanctums around the world—each can open portals back to Kamar-Taj at any time."
Henry raised an eyebrow. "So, basically… I'm on my own?"
Mordo gave a half-smile. "More or less. With your current capabilities, there's little we can teach you in a conventional setting. Honestly, if we did force you into structured lessons, it might just hold you back."
The explanation made sense, but it also left Henry feeling slightly abandoned. He had hoped to continue under some form of mentorship. After all, this was Kamar-Taj, not a self-paced online course.
"Still feels weird," he muttered. "I get handed the Time Stone, but it feels like I've just been left to figure everything else out."
Mordo chuckled. "You'll find your own path soon enough. Trust me—most of the real learning begins now."
They arrived at a small, unimposing building tucked between the grand halls of Kamar-Taj. With its worn wooden doors and weathered facade, it hardly looked like the center of magical knowledge. But Henry knew better.
"This is the library," Mordo said. "It may not look like much from the outside, but inside, it holds some of the rarest and most powerful magical tomes in existence."
Henry followed him through the creaky iron door. The interior was a different world—lined with shelves that stretched toward the ceiling, stacked with ancient scrolls, thick grimoires, and spellbooks emanating faint auras of energy. In the center sat a lone mage behind a desk, who stood up as they entered.
"This is the librarian," Mordo said. "If you want to borrow books, you'll need to register with him first."
Henry nodded. He had expected to see a familiar face—Wong, perhaps. But then he remembered: Wong only became librarian after the previous one was killed by Kaecilius in the timeline he knew. It made sense that someone else held the post for now.
Just as he was taking in the room, Mordo asked, "By the way, are you planning to live at Kamar-Taj?"
Henry hesitated. "Can I... not live here?"
"With your teleportation magic and spatial control, I doubt anyone could stop you even if they wanted to," Mordo replied with a smirk. "Still, a room has been prepared for you—just in case. Here's the address."
Henry accepted the slip of paper. "Thanks. I'll check it out later. Honestly, staying here sounds like the smart move for now. It's safer, and I still have a lot to learn."
"Agreed. If you have questions, I'm always around," Mordo added before turning to leave. "Good luck."
Now alone, Henry wandered deeper into the library, eyes scanning the titles etched on the shelves. The categorization was meticulous—books divided by magical elements, domains, techniques, and history. There were dedicated sections for space manipulation, time distortion, elemental summoning, and even rare scrolls on mystical creatures and enchantments.
He picked out one book from each major category. Then, tucked behind a gilded case, he spotted a title that made his heart skip.
"The Book of the Vishanti."
One of the most sacred magical texts in the Marvel universe, this tome was said to contain the essence of all white magic—spells that healed, protected, and enhanced. Its counterpart, The Darkhold, was forbidden, filled with chaos and corruption. Fortunately (or unfortunately), Kamar-Taj forbade dark magic, so he wouldn't find that book here.
But this? This was more than enough.
Thirteen books in total.
Henry chuckled. "Feels like I'm cramming for some cosmic college entrance exam."
After registering his selections with the librarian, he left the library and followed Mordo's instructions to his assigned quarters. The dormitory was simple but elegant—a single bed, a low table, and wide windows overlooking the Himalayan peaks.
Henry placed the books on the desk and sat down cross-legged. He began with the Book of the Vishanti. Inside, he found a treasure trove of knowledge: techniques for energy amplification, barrier creation, and even spells to shield the mind from illusion or possession.
Some pages described mirror dimension control, others mentioned advanced teleportation known as dimensional gates. There were chapters on the Ring of Raggadorr, the Sacred Sword of the Vishanti, and even rituals for soul projection and gravity manipulation.
At the very end of the book, a mysterious entry caught his eye—how to enter the Supreme Dimension, a realm of higher order beyond mortal understanding. If one succeeded, they could receive the direct blessing of the Vishanti themselves.
Henry exhaled slowly.
It was overwhelming.
It was terrifying.
But most of all—it was exciting.
And so, as the sun dipped beneath the snowy horizon outside his dorm, Henry cracked open the second book and immersed himself in study. The path ahead was long, but for the first time, he truly felt like a mage of Kamar-Taj.