(Mystic Focus)
In a quiet, secluded corner of the Greenpoint Sanctum, a place that Zatanna referred to as the "Mystic Focus" our journey into the depths of magic began.
This part of the centuries-old townhouse held an air of reverence and mystique, quite distinct from the rest of the sanctuary.
It was a circular chamber, the walls adorned with intricate patterns and ancient runes.
In its center lay a circular platform made of a smooth, translucent crystal that emitted a faint glow. This was the focal point of Zatanna's mystical explorations.
As I entered, I felt a sense of anticipation. Zatanna had promised to delve into the depths of my magic, to understand its sources and origins.
I was curious to see what she would find. Would she discover that I didn't come from this universe, and neither did my current body? What would she do if she did?
Moreover, I wanted to discover if she was the one who had sensed my astral form from the previous night.
But my curiosity mostly wondered to the mirror chamber I had discovered.
Zatanna stood at the center of the chamber, her sapphire eyes focused on the crystal platform. Her attire had changed slightly, adorned with more mystical symbols and flowing robes that seemed to move with a life of their own.
"Welcome to the Mystic Focus," Zatanna said, her voice carrying a resonance that seemed to harmonize with the ambient energy of the room. "This is a place of deep meditation and exploration, where I seek to unravel the mysteries of magic."
She gestured for me to join her on the platform, and as I stepped onto it, I could feel a subtle shift in the energies around me. The very fabric of reality became more malleable in this sacred space.
"Let us begin," Zatanna said, her hands moving in graceful, arcane gestures. She began to chant incantations in a language that was both ancient and timeless, and as her words filled the chamber, I could sense the magic responding to her call.
The crystal platform beneath us began to emit a soft, pulsating light, and I felt a connection forming between it and the relics I carried.
The Eye of Agamotto, the Cloak of Levitation, and the Sling Ring seemed to resonate in response to the mystic energies.
Zatanna's focus remained unwavering as she continued her incantations, her hands tracing intricate patterns in the air. It was clear that she was using her expertise to probe the origins of my magic.
As I closed my eyes and allowed the energies to envelop me, I felt a profound sense of connection with the relics. Vague images and memories from centuries old flashed before my mind's eye, as if the relics themselves were sharing their history with me.
It was as if I was connecting to the history of magic.
As Zatanna's incantations reached a crescendo, I felt a surge of energy coursing through me. It was as if the Mystic Focus had unlocked a deeper connection to the relics, revealing their true potential.
Zatanna's eyes, still fixed on the crystal platform, began to glow with a brilliant sapphire light. It was a reflection of the magic she channeled, a showcase to her mastery over the mystic arts.
Finally, as the incantations subsided, Zatanna opened her eyes and turned to me. "I have glimpsed the origins of your magic," she said, her voice filled with a mix of awe and understanding. "You have a way with words, but the relics you carry do not exactly belong to you. They are not mere tools; they are conduits to ancient powers, each with a rich history and purpose."
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She continued, "The Eye of Agamotto carries the legacy of countless sorcerers who came before you. It holds the secrets of time and illusion, and its connection to the mystic arts is profound. Someone will be coming for it."
"The Cloak of Levitation, with its sentience, has chosen you as its guardian. It recognizes your potential and the responsibility you bear as a sorcerer."
"And the Sling Ring allows you to draw magic from across the dimensions, something you should be wary of. Some dimensions could corrupt your very soul."
"Remember that these relics are your allies and guides. They are bound to you, and you, in turn, are bound to the mystic arts. Embrace your role as a sorcerer, for the path ahead is one of both wonder and responsibility."
Zatanna's insights left me in awe. She had not only unraveled the history of the relics but had also deepened my understanding of their significance.
She was truly knowledgeable of the mystic arts.
"I however detect a presence within you that's watching over you, and controlling how you interact with your destiny." She added. "I did not just become the Mistress of Magic. I had to unite with my dark side and create a complete whole. Trust your intuition."
As I stepped off the crystal platform, I felt a reinforced sense of purpose, awe and discovery.
The Zatanna Zatara from the comics I had read was a stage illusionist who discovered her true magical powers and endeavored into many heroic adventures after that.
She was of an Homo Magi heritage, and of course her magic transcended her understanding at first, but she figured it out in her numerous ventures.
I could see her settling in a place like Greenpoint with her passion for performances and her desire to explore mystic arts, but I had never regarded her enough to be the type of sorcerer that would enlighten a sorcerer supreme.
Her magic had truly grown to something more than met my eyes, including the mystic prison.
In the comics storylines her powers revolved around elemental control, teleportation and, telepathy, among many more abilities, and in this case, it seemed that being in Greenpoint had broadened her mystics further; and made her insights even more wise.
I wondered what she held in store for me to know.
(Superman)
Zatanna beckoned me to sit on the floor of the Mystic Focus chamber as she began narrating something to me.
"Superman has an interesting relationship when it comes to magic," Zatanna began, her eyes gleaming with a mix of excitement and wisdom. She leaned forward, her fingers tracing intricate patterns in the air as she conjured images to illustrate her point.
"Imagine a man with nearly limitless strength, the power to fly faster than a speeding bullet, and the ability to withstand bullets and explosions without a scratch. He's the embodiment of physical prowess. But, like all of us, he has his Achilles' heel, and for him, it's magic."
I leaned in, captivated by her words. It was one thing to read about these adventures in comics, but hearing them from someone who had firsthand experience was a different thrill altogether.
"Superman, faced many challenges, but the magical ones always gave him pause," Zatanna continued. "Magic operates on a different plane of existence, beyond the laws of physics. It's a force that can bypass his incredible invulnerability."
Zatanna's gestures summoned a holographic image of Superman locked in battle with a sorcerer. The sorcerer's spells weaved around Superman, creating barriers and snares that the Man of Steel struggled to break free from.
"You see," Zatanna explained, "when faced with magic, Superman's strength becomes irrelevant. He's vulnerable to enchantments, curses, and mystical attacks. It levels the playing field and forces him to rely on his wits and his allies, like the Justice League."
"But," Zatanna added with a sly smile, "there's another aspect to Superman's relationship with magic. He's not just vulnerable; he's also fascinated by it. It's a realm of the unknown for him, a challenge he's always willing to face."
A particular scenes from the comics flashed vividly in my mind.
The time when Superman sought to control magic, even if for a brief moment, in his attempts to make himself immune to it's effects using science. The story clearly explained why magic affected the Man of Steel.
My mind settled on the memorable comic panel. It was a brief battle between Superman and Caligro, as Zatanna helped Superman resolve things.
"Superman's humility shines when he deals with magic," Zatanna mused. "He acknowledges that he doesn't know everything, that there are forces beyond his understanding. It's a reminder that even the most powerful among us can learn and grow."
Several comics explained Superman's relationship with magic, suggesting that it didn't weaken him, but he just wasn't vulnerable to it.
In the eye of things, it basically just leveled the playing field for his opponents. But he always found clever ways to gain the upper hand, as in the case while fighting with Faust.
But now that all this was fresh in mind, I wondered how and why my magic affected the Man of Steel in such a grand way. Was it because it was from Marvel?
As the holographic images faded, she added. "There's an unexplored magic residing within you, it's boundaries posing as limitless. I believe that this magical force within you might have found a way out and affected Superman further, even beyond the normal nature."
"The chamber in the Watch Tower designed to hold magic that threatens to harm the world couldn't contain you, and I doubt anything else can, if your magic resurfaces." She continued. "We need to find a way to stop this from happening before you destroy the entire world in an instant. The fate of this world rests on your shoulders and commitment."
"As for Superman, don't worry about him. Magic certainly won't kill him." She added. "We just have to wait and see if the fog in his mind clears up."
I could feel the weight of this information weighing on me in tonnes. I came into my favorite world with a chance at exploring all the magic that happens here, and yet I wielded a force with the capability of destroying it!
I needed to figure things out quickly, and it all started by understanding what being a Prime Sorcerer meant.
"Have you ever heard of 'Prime Sorcerer'?" I asked Zatanna.
To this point, she hadn't mentioned about my sneaking at night.
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A/N:
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