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***
I didn't have time to delve into most of the books I was given. The next day Mordo came to see me and informed me that the Ancient One wished to see me. All I had learnt from the magic books in the past couple of hours was the basics, not much about magic itself and only explaining how the world worked. It was more like what they gave to people who only came for treatment, like the dude with the broken back or Strange with the shattered arms. First they dump some basics on the person, and then they give them one or two books on magic for easy body tricks. Though judging by the bits of information I got from one of the two books I read, I have little faith in the ability of an almost untrained person to work so subtly with energy and put the right patches on the body. I'd rather believe that some master craftsman created the basis for that man's walking in the film and the magician larva itself only needed to learn how to channel energy into the patch. At least that sounds a lot simpler and more logical. Speaking of which, about the same masters and mages in Kamarthage and their classification system. After reading the section on the power of mages "quite by accident" that I found in one of the bookmarks in the very first book in the magic stack, I learnt about their levels and gradations of power.
In principle, such an "imperceptible" hint to familiarisation was logical, after all, it was better for a newcomer to know who was of his level, and who could throw a portal to Dormam for a couple of unkind ones. In general, wizards were divided into six classes/titles/levels/colours. The most worthless, almost ignorant creatures wore white clothes. Those who were smarter and already knew a little bit about magic wore brown. Standard mages wore blue coloured robes and were a regular unit. Next came mages in red robes, they were talented and have studied at least a couple of directions and could not hurt a strong demon of the middle category. Of course, it didn't explain about these gradations of demons, but it sounded decent. Above the red ones were the masters. There were few of them and they were distinguished by their very high skills in magic and red hood in addition to the clothes. Although, according to the comics, each wizard seemed to have a personal artefact, not counting the ones they had obtained personally. The next step above them were the temple guardians. They could wear any clothes they wanted. They were the three strongest masters, chosen personally by the Ancient One to protect the Earth. And above them stood the supreme wizard of Earth. That was all I learned... though I should probably clarify that Mordo could wear almost any colour because he was the Ancient One's personal apprentice.
My thoughts ended just as the doors to the office opened? I mean, this is the place where mages are accepted for apprenticeship. So the Ancient is like the local headmaster, and this is her office.
-Hello, Ryan. - The woman said, inviting me to sit across from her again. To be honest, I never really understood this lotus position at the desk, and these low desks too.
-How do you like the Lycan books? - The Ancient asked, pouring the tea.
-They were very... entertaining. - Pausing for a second to find the right word, Raine replied.
-I'm glad you liked them. - The woman said with a smile. -One of them I wrote myself. - Sipping from the mug said the High Sorceress.
-I was greatly surprised by the powers of the alphas and my rather unenviable fate in revealing my existence to the council. - Pierce smiled sadly.
-Oh, come on, Raine, don't be so hard on yourself. I know who your father is and to what, that is, what organisation he belongs. - The Ancient One said with a smile. -So in case of conflict you would have something to answer to the council. - She smiled even wider at the shock that flashed in my eyes and said.
-From where?
-Don't think I've neglected the ordinary world. Over the years I've learnt to, as they say, "keep my finger on the pulse" right? Still, it would be pretty sad if, while protecting the world from external threats, you didn't notice how you woke up in the middle of a nuclear desert or a virus-killed planet. Although to be honest, in the last hundred years it has become much more difficult. In recent years, humanity has simply increased the number of ways to commit suicide at a mind-boggling rate. And keeping track of all the mutants, politicians, scientists and inventors is pretty... problematic. But I'll always have time for the biggest players on each side of the conflict. - The woman said sadly. -So don't worry, until you decide to destroy this planet, I don't care about your games of world domination. - Pouring herself a new cup of tea said the Ancient One.
-Did you call me here for this? - Pierce asked, calming down a little.
-No. -You have already noticed that in the books you received there is almost nothing about magic itself? - The Ancient One asked, and after receiving an affirmative nod, she continued. -This is due to your being an alpha, a pure alpha. It wasn't written in the books you were given, but it's not enough for a pure Lycan to become an alpha through sheer persistence and strength. To begin your gradual transformation into a fully formed alpha, you will have to fully reveal your essence. - Seeing Pierce's uncomprehending face, the Ancient decided to continue. -You will have to face your inner beast. Only by defeating it will you be able to activate the mechanism of transformation in your body. Without it, when you begin to study energy seals in the future, you will have great control problems. Without controlling your body, you cannot control foreign energy. I have met one of the pure alphas and I can help you get into the right state to face the beast within. But I want to warn you right away, it will be very dangerous and once you die inside you will not come back. - The Ancient One said with a serious face.
-As if after your explanation I have a choice. - Replied Rain.
-Well you could still try to find a strong magical being and be initiated as a normal alpha. The pure ones have almost never had a problem with that. - Said the Ancient.
-I'd rather suffer and try to unleash my full power than be satisfied with the easy way out and not be strong enough at the right moment. - After thinking for a few minutes Rain said.
-Okay, when you are ready I will perform the ritual. - Said the Ancient One.
-I'd better not put it off. - Said Pierce getting up from the table.
-Good. Let's go. - Standing up after him, the Ancient said.
After only a couple of turns, we arrived at an empty hall. Once inside, the Ancient One waved her hand and the room was filled with the warm light of candles. It's modernity and mages have wi-fi here. But I didn't see a single lamp or even a single bulb in the corridors or in the rooms. I don't understand why they have to go to all this trouble with lights with all the mages' capabilities. If she sent one or two newcomers with a double ring to fulfil a couple of orders for cargo transport between continents, they could provide themselves with light for 5-6 years.
The Ancient asked to sit in the middle of the room and wait.
-My friend didn't go into much depth when he talked about it, but I definitely remember that the battle with your own beast will be difficult and depending on how well you can control yourself in wolf form will depend on the strength of the inner beast. So you must always keep your emotions under control during the battle. The more frustrated you get, the more powerful it will become. So I will ask you again, are you ready? - The Ancient asked, beginning to build energy constructs.
-Yes. -Pierce answered confidently.
Then the circle full of seals, shapes and energy lines began to shrink, and then a beam of orange light shot out of it directly into Rain's forehead.
Medium mental influence detected. No threat to the user's consciousness found.
Open access to the mind?
Yes/No
"Yes" gave a mental command to Pierce and his consciousness plunged into darkness.
-And how do you like him? - The Ancient asked, looking towards the entrance to the hall.
-Self-confident, talented and daring. - The man briefly expressed his opinion.
-We were all bold and confident when we were young. - The Ancient One replied.
-But not all were willing to risk their lives for strength. - Replied the man.
-You, too, were ready to do a lot for the power of Kitsilii. - The Ancient One said with a smile.
-But you have clearly shown me through what boundaries should not be crossed even in the pursuit of great power. - The man calmly replied, letting the words of the supreme sorcerer pass him by.
-That's why I wanted to ask you to take over his training. Though your reasons for coming to Kamarthage are different, you are similar in your pursuit of power. - Said the Ancient.
-Well, we don't even know if he'll need a teacher yet. - Looking at Pierce's unconscious body, Kitsilius said. There was an oppressive silence in the room.
I found myself in a stone corridor reminiscent of a medieval castle. Except that the illumination, due to rather modern and economical lamps, created a feeling of a strange intertwining of two times. After walking only a hundred metres, I immediately came across a room. Looking inside, I froze in place. Inside, I was greeted by a rather modern and even richly furnished room. High-quality wooden furniture that had clearly been handcrafted by an eminent craftsman. An expensive carpet of unknown wool, a huge sofa and several armchairs, and just an outrageously wide plasma on the whole wall. By the way, it was showing real-time financial charts. Only a strange relatively inexpensive poster with a hamster holding in its paws all the infinity stones standing on something resembling a purple background stood out of all the richness of the room. But all these moments I thought about later, my attention was attracted by another... how to describe it... at first I thought that it was a bear, at least the size was appropriate, but looking closer I realised that it was just a huge hamster. Upon noticing me this creature came down from the treadmill and pulled out of one ear an earphone with Imagine Dragons - Gold playing inside.
-What do you want? - The hamster turned to Pierce.
-Hmm, are you my inner beast? -You're my inner beast? - With the maximum amount of doubt and hope for a negative answer asked Pierce.
-He's down the corridor, now get out of my way and get out of here. - The hamster quickly replied, aggressively pushing Rain outside and slamming the door shut in front of him. This was followed by the sounds of many locks locking.
After standing in prostration for a few minutes, Rain was still able to voice his thoughts.
-I didn't see anything. I certainly don't have talking hamsters in my head. I'd better get a move on. - Giving his mind a Tzu, Pierce set off.
He opened the next door much more carefully. Behind it he was greeted by the fresh smell of woods and swamp. After looking around the small world behind the door Rain carefully stepped inside. There was a sense of life around and it was becoming somehow good on his soul...free. Wandering through the forest Pierce couldn't find anyone.
-Hmm, who lives here? - Ryan asked into the void.
-So much money for a handful of metal kwa! - A voice came from behind Ryan. Pierce turned round and saw the seemingly ordinary hill start to rise and turn towards him.
-You're a dead kwa! - Said the huge toad, looking at Rain.
When Rain heard the first phrase he froze, but at the second his breath hitched for a second. He realised who inhabited this room and what its inhabitant wanted to do to him for his last purchases. He didn't remember the way back, all he remembered was how he literally flew out of the room and closed the door behind him, and then sat down against the wall, feeling his back covered with cold sweat.
-Well... it's... definitely not my inner beast. -Pierce said, catching his breath.
Raine approached the third room as cautiously as possible. If the first two had already sagged Pierce's confidence in this idea, then he had no idea what would happen next, and it only made him more fearful. Rain was already fondly remembering his encounter with the huge wolf and wished he could be in that dead forest again. Standing in front of the third door, Rain was alerted by the obvious difference with the other two. This door had a window to look inside, like prison cells and a deadbolt that was mounted on the outside. Looking at the whole thing, Pierce's intuition directly screamed that this was a "zzzzzzzzz" for a reason. Carefully pushing the metal plate aside Raen peered inside.
The room was completely engulfed in darkness, but a couple of seconds after opening the latch, a sky-blue colour spread throughout the space inside and the room resembled the view from an aeroplane window. There was a chair in the middle of it, with its back to the entrance. The only thing visible from the window was the top of the dark hair and the human proportions of the creature sitting on it. After the first two rooms, Raine had given up on calling anyone inside them human.
After a couple more seconds, the sounds of a melody spread through the room and the words in Japanese "Oh shi hi teo, shi hi teo..." began to play. With each new syllable, Pierce's face began to pale more and more.
-Fuck it! - Said Pierce slamming the window shut and summoning hellfire to weld the deadbolt shut.
***
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