(Astral Projection)
As I lay in the cozy sheets of the Greenpoint Sanctum, the serene atmosphere and Zatanna's warm welcome had calmed my racing thoughts.
Yet, despite the comfort of the room, a restful night's sleep eluded me. My mind was still reeling from the whirlwind of events that had transpired since my arrival in this universe.
I longed to explore the mystic abilities I possessed as dopamine flooded my system with anticipation for what kind of knowledge I had, and how it intertwined with the knowledge of my adventures in the comics.
I was in DC and I desired to explore this vast universe; all the places I wanted to visit - the Lazarus pits, Nanda Parbat, Themyscira...; all the heroes I wanted to work with...; and supervillains I desired to thwart - Darkseid, Lex, Braniac.
But the questions that loomed larger than any spell I could cast were those surrounding my role as the Prime Sorcerer and my destiny.
Subconscious Strange's words still echoed in my mind, leaving me with a sense of purpose yet to be fully grasped. Why had I been chosen, and what did it mean to be the Prime Sorcerer?
Knowing that trying to sleep would continue being such a chore, I closed my eyes. There was something I had been dying to do ever since I got to Greenpoint.
With a deep breath, I focused my thoughts on the astral projection technique I had learned from my time in Kamar-Taj.
The Eye of Agamotto hung around my neck, its gem pulsating with a soft, ethereal light. A connection to the sorcerer I once was.
In my mind's eye, I visualized myself rising above my physical form, lifting away from the confines of the room. I felt a sensation of weightlessness wash over me. The sensation was surreal, as if I were floating effortlessly.
My body became light as a feather, and I slowly rose from the bed. This was astral projection.
My consciousness was now free, detached from my physical form, and I now existed in the astral world.
I gazed down at my own sleeping body, the gentle rise and fall of my chest the only sign that I still inhabited it. With a thought, I drifted towards the ceiling and phased through it effortlessly.
The Greenpoint Sanctum stretched out before me in a surreal, astral panorama. The enchanting ambiance seemed even more vivid from this astral perspective.
Enchanted lanterns cast a soft, otherworldly glow, and the scent of incense was more potent than ever.
I floated through the rooms of the townhouse, my astral form passing through walls and barriers as if they were mere illusions.
The living area, with its velvet-covered sofas and mystical symbols, seemed to shimmer with a mystic energy.
The bookshelves continued to whispered secrets of arcane knowledge, and the glistening crystals on the shelves danced with an ethereal light.
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But there was a particular area that beckoned to me, a room hidden behind a concealed door. It emitted a faint, mysterious aura, different from the rest of the Sanctum.
Curiosity piqued, I floated closer, my astral form gliding effortlessly through the secret door.
Inside, I found myself in a chamber bathed in a soft, azure light. Strange symbols adorned the walls, and an ornate mirror stood at the center of the room. Its surface seemed to ripple with an unseen power.
Approaching the mirror, I saw my reflection, and my physical form that stared back at me.
This was the first time I had laid my eyes on myself ever since I possessed his body.
I bore a striking resemblance to the Doctor Strange portrayed in the movies. His appearance, with the salt-and-pepper hair, trimmed goatee, and the iconic red Cloak of Levitation, closely mirrored the cinematic representation of the character.
The visage of Doctor Strange stared back at me with awe and admiration. His piercing eyes locked with mine, I felt a profound connection.
His eyes gave me the sensation that this guy emanated with a lot of arcane knowledge and experience, beyond comprehension.
It was as though the essence of the movie version of Doctor Strange had merged with the comic book incarnation, creating a fusion of familiarity and mystique.
In that moment, I realized that I was not merely a newcomer to this world, but a vessel carrying the essence of Doctor Strange himself.
Our destinies were intertwined, and the mysteries of my role as the Prime Sorcerer were intricately woven into the fabric of his existence.
The Sorcerer Supreme's reflection seemed to nod in silent acknowledgment, as if granting me permission to embark on this extraordinary journey.
Wait!
He was actually nodding back at me!
I gazed at my reflection that stared back at me, nodding back as if answering the questions and premonitions that unwind in my mind.
It was an uncanny experience, as if I were face to face with the Sorcerer Supreme himself.
With a sense of curiosity, I decided to test the boundaries of this astral encounter.
I raised my astral hand and waved it in front of the mirror, expecting to see Doctor Strange's reflection mimic the gesture.
However, to my surprise, his reflection remained still, his eyes fixed on me with an enigmatic gaze.
I furrowed my brow, intrigued by this subtle disconnect. It was as though this reflection had its own consciousness, separate from my actions.
I continued my experiment by trying to communicate with gestures. I pointed to myself and then to the mirror, as if asking a silent question. The reflection observed me, but it did not respond or gesture in return.
It became clear that this astral projection form was not a mere reflection or mirroring of my actions. It possessed its own autonomy and awareness, making it a distinct entity within the astral realm.
I reached out to touch the mirror's surface, curious to know what it was made of and what magic it possessed. A surge of energy coursed through me as I touched the surface.
It was as if the mirror held the memories and experiences of Doctor Strange himself. I saw glimpses of his battles against mystical threats, his encounters with otherworldly beings, and his relentless pursuit of knowledge.
But just as I was about to delve deeper into the mirror's secrets, a sudden jolt of awareness surged through me.
Something was coming for me, something that I felt I wasn't ready to meet yet, and the reflection before me acknowledged this sensation.
It was as if an invisible force had detected my presence in this hidden chamber.
The mirror's surface began to ripple and distort, and I felt a powerful pull, drawing me back towards my physical body.
With a sense of urgency, I allowed myself to be pulled back into my sleeping form. The transition was swift, and I opened my eyes to find myself once again in the room, the mirror's secrets tantalizingly out of reach.
A bead of sweat trickled down my brow, filled with the excitement that I had just experienced; meeting the subconscious within me, that had warned me of an impending danger of being caught.
I wondered what force could have detected me and why did I feel a sudden urge to run away from it. I couldn't explain the sensation, and neither could I shake the feeling that something was foggy and unclear in my mind; a hidden knowledge I possessed but couldn't understand.
And what was that mirror and why it was in that room? Why was it locked in a chamber that emanated with ominous energy?
Was that mirror the only one capable of showing me the subconscious within me, or was it just any other mirror I could see myself through?
It was clear that there were mysteries within the Greenpoint Sanctum, even beyond what Zatanna had revealed.
As I lay in bed, I couldn't help but wonder through the events that had transpired, and my thoughts. It was a tantalizing mystery, one that I was determined to unravel in the days to come.
If having trouble sleeping before was a problem, how could I even close my eyes now?
But for now, I knew that I needed rest, however. Tomorrow held the promise of new discoveries and challenges in this magical corner of the DC universe.
With that thought in mind, I closed my eyes and hoped that sleep would claim me; hoping that the dreamscape would hold its own secrets and answers.
As I lay there awaiting the grasp of the dreamworld, I detected an announced presence spying on me, as if to check that I was still in my room. I couldn't see it, but I sensed it was the force that had nearly caught me during my exploration.
Assuming this development, I kept my eyes closed and locked on a target in mind. Maybe by doing this, I would finally relax and drift into the calm of the night.
Diana, the Princess of Themyscira - a sight to behold!
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A/N:
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Thank you.
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