Part 2

Oh MY God! Oh My God! Oh my god you are Doctor Strange! And I’m in Sanctum Sanctorum and this is your aid Wong!- Ned said as he was spinning and taking in everything he saw from the moment he entered the portal.

Aid! I am sorcerer supreme and master of mystic arts young man! - protested Wong.

Well, you do aid me a lot- chimed in Stephen just to see his friend change the color of his face once more.

And this is not Sanctum this is the holy city of Kamar-Taj!- added Rintrah as he walked behind Ned.

And you are Asterion the mighty! - Said Ned as he acknowledges that a minotaur was talking to him.

I beg your pardon! Do you see me driving a gyros truck?!- said the bitter Minotaur.

We don’t have time for a lengthy excursion now Mr. Leeds, due to your potential we are dragooning you into our world a bit earlier than I would have liked to- said Stephen as he ushered Ned to follow him down the courtyard stairs.

Dragooning into what? What does it mean? – Asked Ned who was still preoccupied by the grand vistas that surrounded the mountain temple.

They are going teach you to be one of us- said Weasel from behind Wong.

You’re a wizard Neddy- said Rintrah which was followed by everyone save for Ned giving him the coldest stare they could muster.

Needed to be done- Rintrah reaffirmed, pleased that everyone got it.

Can I have a glass of water? - Ned asked as he was gathering his thoughts, without realizing that someone had already conjured a full glass in his hand he took a big sip and asked a question Strange did not want to hear.

What potential? – Asked Ned.

Stephen had already lied once today, he did not relish the thought of repeating it, but the truth was not only hard it was also incredibly dangerous for this reality.

I have seen many timelines and many possibilities that will arise, I have also seen many great sorcerers that may walk these very steps, you among them- Said Stephen knowing this would lend verisimilitude to his words for all listeners. The truth that he had already performed magic while fighting alongside Spider-men against villains from multiple universes was hardly a good rock to move right now. Nor the truth that he cast a spell on the entire planet to forget Spider-man’s identity.

We need to make final preparations, Stephen instruct America while we prepare- said Wong impatiently.

You are going to address the nation? - asked Ned who was already laboring under a lot of information.

No, that’s the name of an apprentice here, America Chavez. She will be coming up shortly - chimed Weasel.

As everyone walked away Strange was left alone on the balcony overlooking the great ravines below pondering what Wong had told them not even an hour earlier.

An hour earlier

What’s this Sleepers Well exactly? – Asked Rintrah.

I haven’t read of it either – Added Stephen.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Nor would you, it is a tale which is no longer held in our library – said Wong as his eyes darted back and forth.

Why? – inquired Stephen.

Because the lore was destroyed by the Ancient one who deemed it far too dangerous- added Wong.

But not the tome holding the secrets of dark dimension? – mused Strange.

Sleepers well is not a dimension, nor a portal or a power that can be wielded it is a summoning bridge- as he said it Wong raised his hands and began casting.

We sleep, you, me, people, animals, birds, fish, plants, aliens, celestials, everyone everywhere who can be considered as living sleep at one point or another. Some sleep for seconds, some hours, others for eons. When we sleep, we recover by unburdening ourselves from the toll our waking world inflicts on us, the information and experiences we had are collected and sent to the Dream field. Dream field is not a dimension or another real in the way our world is, it is a wall separating worlds and realms from each other. When inside it is like looking through billions of windows into other worlds and times, whatever you are looking for one of the mirrors will show. Though not tangible each mirror emits energy, those mirrors themselves show pivotal and crucial moments from each time and realm. The level of emission depends on the magnitude of events, if too big they may seep out of the field and into the Sleepers wells, and through wells into our world. For most, the emitted energy manifests as inspiration- elaborated Wong as the images flickered before everyone.

Inspiration for what? – asked Stephen mesmerized by Wongs illusions.

To write beautiful music based on some alien beasts mating call, write a great novel based on events from another realm, build a bomb etc, etc…more powerful the event is the closer the inspired creation to its original – continued Wong.

Like? – inquired Weasel.

Bow and arrow, Olympians and most of Greek mythology, “War of the worlds” and many more. Problem is whenever someone keeps dreaming of something specific from one of those mirrors that mirror gets bigger and bigger and if someone is powerful enough on the other side to utilize it they can pass through, like Dormammu or ancient dragons, time has no meaning there, Dormammu from a thousand years ago may vault over or an army of robots from the future of some other realm. As long as someone is being influenced by the emission they will have access – Wong narrated the images further.

Hence the wooden men- added Rintrah.

Yes, they stand the vigil, ageless sentries who devour the entering emissions as much as possible while preventing any strong links from being formed between our world and the field. They are not burdened by dreams or curiosity; they just make sure the well stays untouched. Scarlett Witch in her rampage entered that room through one of the mirrors and destroyed them beyond repair in this realm – Wong lowered his hands and the illusions ceased.

And now we are in danger – Said Stephen grimly.

More than you think, our dreams and nightmares will summon creatures, but more importantly we endanger other realms, functionaries of our world do not threaten us, Thanos and Scarlet Witch cannot be conjured here as they were part of our world, but they could invade other realms as well if wells are defenseless- said Wong as he surveyed the realizations on the faces of others.

How do we fix this? – asked pale Weasel.

The broken mannequins must be taken and repaired in the Dream field, if even one was active it could have done so itself and fixed the others, but as it stands someone must go- said Wong.

Great, let’s go- said encouraged Weasel.

If we go with our knowledge and experience’s we risk polluting the dream field, Strange cannot go because of his interaction with Darkhold. We need someone with proclivity toward mystic arts, but no knowledge and very little experience with otherworldly creatures. And it cannot be someone who is already part of our world even if the memory is erased subconscious will retain it- Concluded Wong.

Wait, how do we know all this? How can you be sure of any of that if the Ancient One destroyed any mention of this – Asked Stephen.

It was told to me by a magic apparition of the Ancient One the day she died, along with other information vital to the security of Kamar-Taj. She knew all that because that is how the first Sorcerer supreme died, fighting evil that tried to pass through the Sleepers Well. The second Sorcerer supreme created these wooden sentries – Wong rose and walked to the hearth that was losing its heat and by wave of a hand added a few more logs.

We need a novice who is good at crafting quick on his feet and can use magic without knowing basics of mystic arts- said Rintrah as he took out a piece of chewing gum and started chewing.

I know just the person – said Strange who until now was deep in his thoughts about thousands of possible calamities this situation could unleash.

Now

Strange floats down to where a group of trainees are sparring with each other, as he is landing sparrers disengage and part to give the master of mystic arts some space to land. Strange nods to them and approaches the young lady standing nearest to the trainer.

Would you like to earn some points participating in extracurricular activity? – asked Strange with wry smile.

Can we get some pizza after? – Asked America gleefully.

From this dimension yes, but no pineapple tuna combo- Strange gestured and they started going back up to the library while the remaining trainees returned to their practice.

End of Part 2.