It took me only a month to memorise and comprehend roughly the 30 books of advanced and forbidden books of the mystic arts. Although the books were short in number, the amount of knowledge to comprehend in them was much more advanced than I expected that it took me a while to digest it.
“Done!” I happily stood up as I finally finished reading everything the Ancient One could throw at me for the past 3 and a half month.
“That you are.” I turned around the see the Sorcerer Supreme standing behind me with a smile.
“I don’t know if I should be happy to find a genius like you or disappointed that I couldn’t delay you any longer.” I chuckled at that instead of getting angry.
“Don’t worry I will be feeling confused if I were in your shoes as well.” She chuckled as she shook her head.
“How did you find the knowledge on the forbidden spells?” She asked me.
“Very dangerous for the inexperienced. They are meant to be used by only the best of the best only in extreme situations.” I told the Ancient one of my analysis having consumed all the knowledge she could throw at me in the library.
She looked impressed by my analysis. “Your ability to memorise everything and later consume the knowledge of what you memorised still surprises me.” The Ancient One stated with a smile.
“Shall we start?” She asked me to which I eagerly nodded.
‘Keep focus.’ I ordered a part of my potato as I watched the sorcerer Supreme sit in front of me.
“Keep your mind steady and feel the energy flowing through your very fibre…”
Time went by as my lessons on Mystic Arts officially began... well more like the practical lessons officially began.
Unlike Stephen, I had no problem accessing Mystic Art and quickly mastered it with the help of the knowledge I had in my head. There was also my calm mind keeping my mind stable while specific instruction such as ‘feel the flow of magic’, given to rooted potato that enabled me to sense and learn magic faster.
Once I was able to feel it and memorise what it felt like, it became easier the next time when I tried feeling for it.
It took me 3 days to master every single basic on Mystic Arts she could throw at me. It just went to show how good it was having a solid base of knowledge and a powerful mind.
“You truly went above my expectation in mastering everything about the mystic arts. Your learning speed almost scares me.” The Ancient One told me as I sat before her while I tried out a spell by waving my hand.
*WHOOSH* Our surroundings began to change. There wasn’t much difference except that nothing in the real world could interact or see me unless they came here, or unless I went out. This spell was better known as the mirror dimension.
“What do you plan to do now?” She asked me as she looked around amazed by the feat I had just executed without her having taught me the spell at all.
I sighed while looking up causing the ceiling to fold on itself and show me the blue sky. “I have delayed an appointment for so long.” My reply caused her to look at me in worry.
*Snap* Snapping my finger the mirror dimension ceased to exist.
“Don’t worry. With how desperate you were in trying to make sure I won’t interfere with the world too much; I will adhere to your wish to avoid making changes that are too deep. That is the least I can do for all your help and good intentions.” I promised her causing her to smile.
"You are pretty much free to do anything as long as, it doesn't directly affect my successor’s future. If you do something to affect that future I will interrupt.
I will inform you again when you can truly interfere, till then please try and not to change too much because despite what I am capable of with, I am a very busy person." She informed me, rather than warning me.
"If I do, feel free to stop me." I offered her.
“That reminds me.” She got up.
*Whoosh* A portal opened up. “Follow me. We have yet to find a relic for you.” I nodded as I got up and followed her into the portal.
I didn’t hold much hope for any artefacts to choose me. My comfy potato made me just a normal person in front of anyone and anything. I doubt any of the artefacts could see beyond my ‘feebleness’ and choose me as its master.
“You have any specific artefact you would love to have?” She asked me to which I just smiled helplessly.
“Even if I did, it will be pointless if the artefact doesn’t choose.” She chuckled hearing that as we walked past several Masters of Mystic arts who looked at me curiously walking beside the Ancient One.
“Does no one know about me?” I asked her to which she shook her head.
“You are currently the ace up my sleeve. In your words, the nuclear deterrent of the mystic arts society.” I smiled at her choice of words, remembering how I had threatened her with a nuclear bomb when we first met.
“So, it is better to not reveal much about you in case our enemies decide to target you first.” She finished off.
“Well, I still got a long way to go with magic and spells,” I told her causing her to shake her head.
“You learned how to create the mirror dimension without having even seen me do it for you. So, I am sure you will learn to use all the spells you read about in the library within a few days.” She suddenly lowered her voice as a rather well-built man in dark clothes walked towards us.
“Good morning Sorcerer Supreme.” Mordo greeted the Ancient One as he eyed me curiously. I smiled back politely as I looked at him with no intention of revealing who I am to him or reacting towards him for his future actions.
“Ah, Mordo. Meet Mr Jack. Jack meet Karl Mordo.” I nodded as I extended my hand towards Mordo.
“A pleasure to meet you.” Mordo smiled as he extended his hand and grabbed mine.
“I would say the pleasure is mine?” He looked between the Ancient One and me in confusion, wondering who I was.
“Don’t worry about me. No one is meant to know me anyways. I am just a ghost of the world content with pulling strings from the dark.” His face looked at me in worry while the Ancient One had an amused look.
“Mordo we have to get going now.” The Ancient One informed Mordo who nodded and stepped back.
“Thank you.” I nodded as I walked past him. My smile faded as I went past him.
“So, you don’t mind if I change the future after your successor arrives right?” I confirmed with her for 1 final time to which she nodded.
“I wouldn’t even care if you kill the mad titan himself, if you can by then that is, right after my successor arrives inside this building.” She stated without even looking back.
“Then I suggest you teach Karl Mordo that breaking the laws is alright for the greater good. Because if he comes after me, I won’t spare him.” She stopped in her footsteps at my words.
“Can I ask you how much of the future do you know?” She looked back at me slightly.
“Unlike you, I know the future of the main events of this universe to roughly 5 or 6 years beyond your death.” The Ancient One’s eyes narrowed as I mentioned her death.
“Although it will become extremely inaccurate I can rely on it for few key points and to understand certain people.” She remained still for few seconds before she carried on walking.
“I will try with Mordo, but I can’t guarantee anything.” The both of us walked quietly into a room filled with several relics.
“You feel anything?” She asked me to which I shook my head as I walked around every single artefact.
“Guess I have to settle for plan B,” I stated after a while causing the Ancient One to look at me in interest.
“Do I want to know what your plan B is?” She asked me.
“Sure. It’s to create a relic for myself.” I simply told her my plan causing her to raise her eyebrows.
“Hmm? Maybe since it is you, you should be able to do it.” The Ancient One complimented me.
“Thank you.” I opened up a portal back to the New York Sanctum.
“But it won’t be easy to create a mystical relic.” She warned me.
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“Who said anything about creating mystical relic?” I asked her as I stepped into the New York Sanctum.
“Then?” She asked as she looked at me in interest from Nepal, while I stood in America.
“I am going to create a technological mystical relics.” I watched the look of shock and fascination appear on her face.
“I wish you the best of luck in your endeavour. Make sure to occasionally come by and give us a hand with mystic threats.” I smiled just as the portal closed leaving me alone inside my room.
Taking off my robes I wore the modern clothes I hadn’t worn for few weeks.
Walking in front of the mirror I began combing my hair and looking as perfect as I could for my visit. “Charming.” I looked behind to see Daniel watching me from the door.
“Thank you.” I smiled as I went back to looking the best I can.
“Sorry, the door was open, and the others are going to come in this afternoon. I didn’t want anyone to intrude into you.” He apologised to which I shrugged.
“I will be off to see Nat, Dan.” Turning towards Daniel I told him to which he smiled.
“Good luck.” He nodded at me.
“Thanks but I doubt luck will save me.”I smiled as I drew a circle in the air to open the portal.
“Huh?” Seeing nothing appearing I tried again. My heart began beating in worry as I tried once more, not to get it working at all.
“What happened?” I looked at the sling ring in worry to notice nothing was wrong with it.
‘Did I lose my ability to use magic?’ I shook my head at that theory.
‘But that doesn’t make any sense. I just created a portal 10 minutes ago.’ I tried a different spell.
*Whizz* A crackling flaming lance appeared in my hand. My eyes narrowed seeing I had not lost my ability to cast magic but something else was happening.
“Having trouble?” I looked at Daniel watching me in interest.
“I can’t seem to cast the portal,” I told him as he sighed before shaking his head.
“I think you really don’t want to confront her.” He pointed at my hands. I looked down at my firm and still hands.
I finally realised what was wrong. “I am scared, Daniel.” I smiled as I clenched my hand.
“All those sleepless weeks just so you could stand there and say you are scared?” I looked up at Daniel to see his disappointed face.
“Now I know why you wanted to learn magic.” I raised my eyebrows at him.
“You just wanted to find a reason to delay yourself as much as possible.” My heart leapt as I heard him speak the truth I didn’t want to admit. The red room, attempt to attack hydra and learning magic were all my own bull crap reasons to extend this meeting as long as possible.
“No wonder you were so happy to see so many books in the library.” Daniel shook his head at me.
“It’s not fair for your girlfriend if you keep her waiting like this. Do something about it.” He walked out closing the door, leaving me alone in the room.
I am terrified. So terrified to confront the future that I subconsciously stopped myself from opening the portal and confronting her.
‘Come on! Whatever comes, I face it!’ I told myself as I tried again.
*Spark* Few sparks came up before it disappeared.
“COME ON!” I screamed in rage as I tried again. This time not even a spark popped up.
‘Surrender to magic, don’t try to make it surrender.’ I remembered a quote from one of the books I read about controlling magic.
“Fuck!” I dropped down helplessly.
‘All these time and effort spent just so I couldn’t even have the guts to face her?’ I berated myself silently as I sat and leaned back on my bed frame.
Closing my eyes, I just sat there envisioning the future that would have played out if I could have opened the portal.
After a few minutes, I took out my phone and unlocked the camera on Nat’s phone. I watched her quietly and peacefully sleeping in the night. Her life partially on track now that she had slowly begun to try and forget her past with me.
“Can you promise to not get angry with me?” I asked her knowing she won’t be able to hear me.
“But I deserve it, especially when I ruin everything for you by coming back.” I stood up and grabbed my key chain. Amongst the several keys in it, was the keys to her house. That was the key to making the portal work.
“You deserve this and better.” I surrendered myself to magic this time as I held the keys close to me. The key was one of the only closest things I had of her with me right now. Holding it made me feel like I was holding her hand, just like when we went out walking in the middle of the night after closing my shop.
*Whizz* A portal opened up in front of me. I smiled seeing this as I walked in without hesitation, to arrive outside our… Natasha’s house.
I knew things won’t take a pleasant route after today, but this must be done for the future between us. I owed her at least this much.
Inserting the key, I turned it into the keyhole. *Click* I smiled seeing she hadn’t changed the locks at all.
*Clack* Entering the house and closing the door behind me I carried on walking towards the stairs.
I knew she was most likely awake by now with her gun at hand, just like when Clint and those Hydra agents tried sneaking in quietly; unlike them, I didn’t bother to try and be quiet. I did not care about her shooting me, as I walked up the stairs.
I stopped as I saw the shut door to her bedroom. *Deep breath* Releasing my breath I walked forward and stood in front of the door.
*Rustle* Hearing the movement, I knew she was standing on the other side.
Swallowing the saliva in my mouth, I reached for the door only to find I couldn’t move my hand at all. ‘Come on. Just 1 more step.’ I told myself but I couldn’t push myself anymore.
So, I stood there with my head bowed in defeat.
“Go away.” The hardened voice of the woman I love came through ordering me, but I stood there in silence.
Nothing happened for a few seconds.
‘Just once more, for Nat.’ Using the last strength in me I extended my hand to the door handle, only to find it turning before I could even touch it.
Her cold emotionless eyes pierced my eyes as the door opened, but I felt nothing but happiness seeing her once more in flesh.
My right arm moved by itself to touch her cheeks, only for her to swat it aside as she raised her gun. “Why didn’t you go when I told you to?” She asked with a gun to my head.
“I wanted to apologise,” I told her as my sight began to get blurry from the tears filling up in them from both happiness and sadness.
“Apologise for using me?” She asked without any emotion.
“No.” I shook my head.
“Then what?” I could see the disappointment in her eyes.
“To apologise for not telling you.” I corrected her.
“Then say it!” She ordered as anger crawled up on her face.
“I am sorry for not telling you everything about me.” A tear left my eye.
She looked furious by what I said, as she went inside her room. I didn't know whether to follow her in or not or why she went back in at all. Her arrival a few seconds told me why she went in when I saw the stack of papers in her hand. The same papers I had arranged to get to her on the day Bruce disappeared.
“I don’t accept your apology, along with your mansion and restaurant ownership.” *Fwoosh* She said as she threw the papers in my face, covering my sight of her.
*Click* As the papers slowly cleared up, I was presented to the sight of her holding a gun to my face once more.
“Go to hell!” She was about to pull the trigger.
I closed my eyes, not out of fear but not wanting to see her hopelessness when the bullet leaves her gun. When she pulls the trigger she would come to a disappointing reality, and I hated making her disappointed time after time. Right at this moment, I wanted nothing other than to get rid of my HE serum, so that I won't disappoint her again and remain dead for her.
Clenching my fist I looked for scenarios to explain to her for the disappointment I was about to cause her, again,...
...only that nothing happened after a few seconds. Opening my eyes, I saw her hands trembling as she attempted to pull the trigger as the veins in her hands and forehead popped out. Tears streamed quietly from her eyes but she held strong not to break in front of me.
“AHHHHH!” Unable to pull the trigger she screamed in rage as she threw the gun at my face before shutting the door.
*Bang**Slam* The unlocked gun fired as it hit my face just as the door closed. Although the bullet didn't hit me, the impact of her throw was painful enough.
*Sob* I could hear her crying behind the door in pain and anger.
I ignored the pain on my face, as I remembered the look of pain on her face. “Nat it’s true that I lied to you about who I was..."
I wanted to go in and hold her, but instead, I just leaned forward, against the door. This was all I could do. "...but my love for you wasn’t a lie.”
*Sob* She cried quietly, leaving me helplessly stranded out just like I feared. 'Maybe I should have never existed at all. Maybe she would have been happy without me.' Thoughts and reasoning not relevant for this scenario rushed to me.
“I know you won’t believe me no matter what I say or show you, and you are right for not believing me. You shouldn’t believe someone who lied to you for this long and manipulated you.” I slowly went down on the floor as I could hear her sat behind the door.
“But I want you to know, I never used you to gain access to Shield and never even thought about using you.” I knelt in front of her door as I leaned my head against the door in silent tears.
“I did not tell you anything because I was scared of losing you, Nat.” I hated making her cry more than anything in the world. I just wanted to pull her in my embrace more than anything, but she was in pain because of me.
“I am sorry for being selfish Nat, but I do love you.” She wouldn’t stop crying at all and neither could I.
I sat down with my back against the door as I listened to her crying. “Just give me another chance Nat. Let’s be selfish for each other once more, just like the first time. This time. I promise to never make you cry again.” There was no response as both of us just sat there.
After a while, the whole place descended into quietness.
“Nat…” I called out to her.
“…say something please.” She didn’t say a word.
Wiping the tears off my face I decided it was time to leave. “I will wait for you, Nat. Months, years or decades. I don’t care how long you want to take, but I will wait for you.” I stood up just as a portal opened up.
I stepped into the portal. “I love you,” I told her one last time not expecting anything in return, but this time I received a reply in her shaky and pain-filled voice.
“I hate you.” The portal closed just as I lost control of my mind due to feeling crushed beyond anything.
My legs lost their strength as I knelt in front of my bed in the room I have been staying in for the past 3 months.
Placing my head onto the bed I quietly laid there, replaying her last 3 words to me over and over again. I went there expecting and preparing myself for those words, from her mouth, but it did feel different when it came out of her mouth personally.
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[2 days later- New York City]
Natalia got out of her house and began walking after holing herself up for the past 2 days inside her own house. Unlike the previous years she went out to walk, there would be a person beside her, but now there was no one with her this time. There was also nothing but an empty feeling inside her.
She walked with her head down, ignoring everyone in her surroundings much to her trained instincts frustration to keep an eye out.
As she walked she brushed against someone. “Sorry,” Natalia stated without looking up, as she carried on walking.
“Excuse me?” Natalia didn’t hear the person as she was lost in her own world.
“Excuse me Ms?” The man calling out to her ran after her. He got in front of her and blocked her path causing Natalia to look up at the well-built tall man with short brown hair.
“What?” Natalia asked in slight anger towards the man.
“You dropped this.” The man passed her a phone. Natalia looked at the familiar phone before her hand soon went into her pocket.
Realising it was her phone she grabbed it from the man’s hand. “Sorry and thank you.” She took off leaving the man in the middle of the street.
“Excuse me?” The man suddenly turned around and caught up with Natalia.
“What do you want?” She asked without even looking at his face.
“Sorry, but are you alright?” Natalia stopped in her tracks and looked up at the man once more.
“No. What are you going to do about it?” Her voice raised as she vented out the frustration inside her against someone.
“Coffee?” The man offered much to Natalia surprise.
“I mean you look like you need a drink and someone to talk with right now.” The man reasoned.
Natalia stood there for a few moments as she looked at the man with brown hair. 'David...' A similar and extremely close person with brown hair came up to her mind, overlapping itself in front of the man.
'STOP!' Nat screamed at herself as she looked back at the man to see David's vision of her mind disappearing.
“Okay.” She agreed to cause the man to smile.
“Great. I know an awesome place to get the best hot chocolate here.” The man walked and Natalia followed him remembering her time walking with Dave like this a long time ago.