Chapter 24
"I'm hoping that you Ash would permanently put a stop to it just like you did to the one below Mount Everest," she said as Ash smiled. "Sure but I don't know how I put a stop to it, all I know is that after I kill them, after meditating on that spot the monsters stop appearing and they leave some sort of a mark which seems to make me stronger, it's not something I can teach to others," he said as the Ancient One said,
"I am not asking you to teach to others," she said as Ash replied, "then how am I going to go all over the world?" he asked as the Ancient One smiled before placing the same metal ring-like object on the table. She said, "I know you wanted it Ash, and it's yours. I can provide you with accommodation, better weapons and facilities, and all you have to do is kill those monsters before they do any damage to the world, a win-win situation," she said as Ash smiled.
"It is a win-win situation," he said as he extended his now clean hands which the Ancient One shook as she said, "welcome to Kamar-Taj Mr. Borne," Ash smiled as he picked up the sling ring. "So then, how do I open a portal with this?" he asked as the Ancient One smiled mischievously.
-1 week later -
It has been a full week of Ash getting used to Kamar-Taj and learning the magic system of the sorcerers, which was cut quite short. Apparently, Ash is truly incapable of performing sorcery; in fact, Ash could not touch eldritch energy, which is the dimensional energy that sorcerers use to perform sorcery. That energy cannot be channeled through Ash and that was a fact, as the moment it touches Ash's body it dissipates, as it gets torn to shreds by his mana.
His mana is so unruly that it finds the idea of other energies touching Ash's body, which is its territory, completely absurd. This confused the Ancient One, as she could not sense mana. the inability to learn this sorcery that everyone could learn disappointed Ash as he found that everyone here was once an ordinary person yet through practice and discipline they could perform magic.
Ash missed the chance of adding another power system to his arsenal, all because Ash's mana was unruly and despised other energies, which is why Ash was currently trying to use his mana to open a portal using the sling ring. Apparently, for someone to open a portal using the sling ring they need to channel eldritch energy through it, the sling ring allows individuals to open a portal as long as they imagine the place using eldritch energy, and he wants to substitute that eldritch energy with his mana.
So far, he just managed to produce white sparks instead of the orange sparks, which was the color of eldritch energy, which was a good sign as this meant that he could indeed open it. Of course, that was not the only thing he was doing, as the Ancient One wanted him to learn the basic supernatural knowledge of this world, such as deities, types of demons and monsters, the taboos, and what types of dimensions are out there.
This was all theories and folklore, and since he could not learn sorcery, Ash was relegated to reading, hence why he became a regular in the library along with Stephen Strange, the same man that was with the Ancient One when Ash first met them. Quickly, the two along with Wong, the new librarian, as the previous librarian got beheaded by a former despiles now turned heretic of Kamar-Taj who made a deal with an interdimensional demon called Dormammu, got along.
Ash and Wong read while Strange, who, much to Ash's envy, had photographic memory, quickly memorized the library's content. That was not the only thing Ash did, as the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj were required to learn martial arts.
Ash spent most of his time sparring with everyone, and Ash quickly established himself as one of the masters of martial arts, only second to Mordo in experience, but in terms of physical strength, Ash was the first.
The night was quiet, and a cool breeze whispered through the ancient stone courtyard, carrying with it the faint scent of jasmine. Ash and the Ancient One sat on a worn stone bench, steam curling from their cups of tea as the warmth of the drink contrasted the crisp night air.
Above them, the sky stretched wide and endless, the stars glittering like scattered diamonds. The courtyard around them was dimly lit by a few old lanterns that swayed gently, casting long, shifting shadows across the cracked tiles. The Ancient One spoke in a calm, measured tone, her voice blending with the soft rustle of the leaves.
"For you to stop these monsters that appear in all manner of location, you need to know the rules of these lands, and I don't mean the humans," she said, her eyes reflecting the distant stars. Ash took a slow sip from his cup before asking, "You mean deities?" The Ancient One gave a small, knowing smile. "Yes, gods, although not omnipotent or omnipresent, are certainly painful to deal with. That doesn't mean you should go and pick a fight with any god you meet," she said lightly. Ash frowned slightly, the corners of his lips tugging downward.
She tilted her head and asked, "You know who I'm talking about, right?" Ash sighed, the sound heavy with reluctant understanding. "Yes, Ancient One," he said. She pressed him gently, "Promise me you won't try and break into Asgard to kill Loki," she said, raising an eyebrow. Ash sighed again, this time more dramatically, and changed the subject, "So how many deities are there? There can't be that many, right?"
The Ancient One chuckled quietly, her eyes crinkling in amusement as she sipped her tea. "There are more than you think. Let's start with the ones who appear physically," she said, her tone turning more serious as she began. "The Norse gods are among the most well-known. Odin, the All-Father, rules over Asgard. Wise but harsh, a ruler who sees far beyond the present," she said, looking thoughtfully at the sky.
"Then there's Frigga, the queen, a kind soul and a powerful sorceress in her own right," she added warmly. "And Thor, their son, god of thunder. You might recall he appeared nearly five years ago during the invasion of New York," she said. Ash nodded stiffly. "He fought alongside the Avengers against the trinity of his brother Loki," she continued, and at the mention of Loki, Ash's face tightened visibly. The Ancient One, smiling like a grandmother indulging a stubborn grandchild, gracefully skipped forward.
"Then we have the Egyptian gods," she said, her voice becoming softer as if weaving a story. "Khonshu, the god of the moon and vengeance. His domain is protecting travelers at night and exacting retribution against the guilty," she explained, tapping her finger lightly against her cup. "He appears as an old skeletal bird, a figure with a fondness for the mentally ill," she added with a wry smile.
"Then there's Ammit, the goddess associated with judgment and punishment. A crocodile-headed being obsessed with punishing the wicked, even those who have yet to commit a crime," she said with a slight shake of her head. "Taweret, on the other hand, is a kind hippo. A bit clumsy yet gentle, guiding souls to the afterlife with warmth and care," she said fondly. "There are others too. Osiris, Horus, Isis, Hathor, and Tefnut, together forming the Ennead Council," she finished, letting her voice trail off for a moment.
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A/N yes, ash cannot use any other power system other than his own,