Chapter 12: The Man Who Taught Strange
Location: Kamar-Taj – Inner Courtyard
Date: March 6, 2007
Time: 4:30 AM
The stone beneath Adam's bare feet was cold, unforgiving. The air, crisp with the high-altitude bite of dawn. Incense burned somewhere distant, its tendrils curling through the courtyard like ghostly ribbons.
Around him, a circle of initiates stood—some older, others younger. None looked welcoming.
Wansu stood at the front, arms crossed.
"Today, your minds are sharpened—or shattered," she said. "You will be guided by one who has walked further than most, and returned."
The wooden gates at the far end of the yard opened.
And in stepped Master Hamir.
One arm. Weathered eyes. Silent steps.
Adam blinked. No way.
Hamir. The man who trained Doctor Strange before he ever saw the Time Stone.
The old master gave no greeting, only a small bow.
Then he pointed at Adam.
"You first."
Adam stepped forward, trying not to show nerves. "Sure. No pressure…"
Hamir gestured for Adam to sit. Cross-legged. Facing a bronze bowl filled with black sand.
[System Notification:
Emotional Anchor Detected
– Master Hamir]
Type: Quiet Interest
Reward: +1 Stamina
Talent Fragment: Focused Meditation (4%)
Adam sat, exhaling.
Hamir made a circle with his hands, then tapped Adam's forehead with two fingers—light, but deliberate.
Darkness rushed in.
Inner Space – Mind Trial
He wasn't in Kamar-Taj anymore.
He was in a space between thoughts. Infinite. Silent. Floating before him was a shattered hourglass, sand flowing upward and downward simultaneously.
Then—figures appeared. Not demons. Not monsters.
People.
Wong. Matt Murdock. Tony Stark. Steve Rogers. Wanda Maximoff. Nick Fury.
All staring at him.
All waiting.
One by one, they spoke:
"What will you take from me?" – Stark
"Are you the judge, or the thief?" – Matt
"You can't save us all." – Wanda
"Can you even save yourself?" – Fury
The space collapsed inward.
Adam clutched his head, trying to hold his mind together.
"No… I'm not here to take," he growled. "I'm here to become more."
The glass reassembled.
[Mind Trial Passed – Self Identity Stabilized]
Reward: Skill Gained – Mental Fortitude (Rank E)
Description: Increases resistance to mental influence, illusions, and fear-based attacks.
Passive Effect: +10% resistance to all mind-based manipulations.
Adam gasped, falling back onto the cold stones.
Sweat drenched his robes. His heart thudded like a war drum.
Hamir watched, then nodded.
The other initiates looked at him differently now. A few with awe. One or two with hate.
[Emotional Reactions Detected – Multiple Sources]
Minor Awe (2x): +$200
Mild Envy (1x): +$50
Hidden Intrigue – Initiate Tenzin: Skill Fragment – Internal Flow (2%)
Minor Hatred – Initiate Jorren: +1 Strength
Adam wiped his forehead.
"Okay. That was the most intense group therapy session I've ever had."
Later That Day – The Library
He wandered alone into Kamar-Taj's restricted archives. He wasn't supposed to be there. But the Pathstone in his pocket vibrated, guiding him to a hidden door.
It opened.
Inside was a small, circular room with six floating tomes, each sealed with arcane script.
[System Alert: Leyline Resonance Detected]
Passive Mystic Boost: x1.5 for learning magical skill fragments
A single scroll floated down to him.
He reached out—
[Item Acquired: Scroll of Sigil Binding (Incomplete)]Use: Unlocks the fundamentals of enchantment magic.Fragment Acquired: Enchantment Basics (4%)
Adam grinned. "It's like Hogwarts, but no annoying chosen one."
That Night – Rooftop Meditation
Kamar-Taj slept. Adam sat alone beneath the stars, letting the chill bite through his robe.
He replayed the voices in his head—the judgment, the questions.
They would come again. From real people. With power. With gods behind them.
But he was ready to stand his ground.
Even when the mystic winds turned against him.
"Let's see if Wong's around tomorrow," he whispered. "I want a proper sparring match."
The Pathstone pulsed faintly in his pocket.
Stats:
Strength: 14
Intelligence: 20 (Progress: 0/2)
Stamina: 12
Charisma: 12
Luck: 1 (Progress: 0/10)
Skills Gained:
Mental Fortitude (Rank E) – Boosts resistance to mental, illusion, and fear-based influence.
Street Awareness
Observation
Traits & Perks:
Fractured Sight – Glimpse hidden truths during rare magical events.
Basic Emotional Insight – Sense minor emotional fluctuations.
Clarity of Desire – +2 INT & CHA for 1 minute daily (activated manually).
Skill Fragments:
Astrophysics – 12%
Cooking – 1%
Eastern Philosophy – 2%
Dimensional Awareness – 4%
Advanced Engineering – 3%
Urban Combat – 4%
Lie Detection Resistance – 6%
Bioengineering – 6%
Biochemical Weaponry – 6%
Miniaturized Tech Design – 8%
Strategic Thinking – 8%
Reflex Engineering – 6%
Negotiation – 7%
Intimidation – 4%
Focused Meditation – 4%
Internal Flow – 2%
Enchantment Basics – 4%
Items:
Pathstone of the Hidden Gate
Scroll of Sigil Binding (Incomplete)