Sebastian and the Ancient One sat on cushions on the floor sipping tea from cups on a low table. After a moment they got down to business.
"Ancient One what do you need me to do?"
Sebastian asked.
"The dark dimension's power has been creeping onto Earth more lately. Kamar Taj is the main force keeping Earth's magical world safe. We are working hard to stop any threats. For example that girl Akanksha you met. She is a regular person affected by the dark dimension's energy. She is one of the issues we are handling. Right now we have found a crack between the dark dimension and Earth. It is guarded by followers of Dormammu the dimension's ruler. We need to send enough mages to deal with it but Kamar Taj is spread thin protecting other places. So I am asking mages who are friends with us to help out. Would you be up for it Sebastian?"
The Ancient One explained.
Sebastian was very interested in Kamar Taj's magic. He knew the spells from his past life were solid. But against cosmic threats or multi dimensional demons they would not cut it. Helping out was a chance to get closer to Kamar Taj. To set himself up to learn their magic later. No way was he passing this up.
"Ancient One count me in. Keeping the magical world safe is every mage's job. I am all for it."
He said.
The Ancient One smiled while raising her teacup in a toast. She took a sip.
"Awesome. Now for a fair trade. What do you need from Kamar Taj?"
"I need help making a potion. It is an old recipe but some ingredients are super rare or gone. I would need Kamar Taj to find substitutes. Lend some manpower or resources. Once it is done I am happy to share the recipe with you guys."
Sebastian explained.
The Ancient One tilted her head thoughtfully.
"That is not exactly a fair trade. We would be getting the better deal. How about this? After we are done I will teach you one of Kamar Taj's spells to balance things out. Any magic you are curious about?"
Sebastian's mind raced. Kamar Taj had epic large scale spells. But he was not ready to master those yet. They would take too much effort for too little payoff. What he really needed was their teleportation magic. Unlike Apparition which could only transport you across a state or country at best and sometimes messed up splitting you in half. Kamar Taj's portals could cross light years between planets. Plus they were stable. Versatile for attack or defense. Could even mimic high speed flight if you slowed them down. For teleportation Kamar Taj's magic was unbeatable. Way easier to use.
Grinning Sebastian said.
"If it is cool I would love to learn Kamar Taj's teleportation magic."
"Portals? No problem at all."
The Ancient One replied.
"Sweet it is a deal! When do we head out?"
Sebastian asked.
"How about now? I am guessing we are both free right?"
She said with a sly smile.
"Totally. Let us do it! Who is coming with us?"
Sebastian asked feeling pumped.
Right after Sebastian spoke two glowing portals hummed open. Daniel stepped through one joined by an older woman cradling a black cat. She looked frail. Maybe in her seventies or eighties. Dressed in a purple robe with a dark purple shawl. But her steps were graceful. She moved with a confidence that did not match her age.
From the other portal came a Kamar Taj mage escorting a guy with dreadlocks. White runes painted on his forehead. An animal skin cape over black tights. He gripped a wooden staff topped with three tiny skulls. Definitely a voodoo wizard. Sebastian guessed the Kamar Taj mage was Mordo. Someone he had heard of but never met.
The Ancient One gave a slight bow to the newcomers.
"Welcome to Kamar Taj. Agatha and Jericho."
Agatha nodded curtly while Jericho returned a deep respectful bow.
The name Agatha clicked for Sebastian. Especially since Daniel had brought her. She had to be the powerful witch tied to a mysterious spot in New York. Jericho the voodoo wizard was less familiar. But his vibe screamed serious magic.
The Ancient One gestured to Sebastian.
"This is Sebastian a skilled wizard. He is joining us to take down the dark dimension's stronghold. Seal the rift connecting it to Earth."
Jericho who seemed super polite bowed to Sebastian right away. Agatha on the other hand gave him a quick glance. Then scoffed to the Ancient One.
"Really Ancient One? Is Kamar Taj so desperate you are dragging in a kid who is barely old enough to drive?"
"Sebastian is a powerful mage. He has got wisdom and skill way beyond his years. He will be a huge help."
The Ancient One replied calmly.
The Ancient One's words shut Agatha up. She nodded.
"Fine let us get moving then. I have got soup simmering at home. So let us go take out Dormammu's goons already."
"Whatever you say Agatha. Mordo and Daniel you are with us. Let us roll!"
The Ancient One replied with a slight smile.
With a wave of her hand the Ancient One opened a glowing portal to who knows where. The group Sebastian and Agatha and Jericho and Mordo and Daniel and the Ancient One stepped through one by one. They vanished from Kamar Taj in a flash.
Latveria a small country in Eastern Europe near Serbia and Hungary was a quiet old school place with a monarchy. Its people lived simply without much wealth or modern tech. Since it lacked resources like oil or minerals bigger countries like the United States mostly left it alone. Claiming they did not meddle in other nations' business.
In a field outside a Latverian village a fiery circular portal sparked open. Led by the Ancient One Sebastian and Agatha and Jericho and Mordo and Daniel stepped through. They landed in a pristine wilderness untouched by factories or pollution.
Sebastian looked around taking a deep breath of the crisp air.
"Man this place is super clean. Where are we exactly?"
"Latveria in Eastern Europe. It is a small rural country. Pretty cut off from the world. That is why Dormammu's Dark Cult hides here. They think they can slip past us. They have done a good job so far. Especially with help from some locals."
The Ancient One said.
She waved her hand opening another portal. A tall good looking teen about Sebastian's age stepped through. Cool as a cucumber. He scanned the group pausing on Sebastian for a moment. Then he gave a polite bow.
"Hey mages. Just call me Victor. I am a mage too but like a total newbie compared to you guys."
The Ancient One and Sebastian and the others returned a quick nod.
"Victor can you take us to the Dark Cult's hideout?"
The Ancient One asked.
"Happy to help. Follow me."
Victor said.
He led them to a spot in the woods just outside the village. Pointing ahead Victor said.
"Check it out. Everyone you see walking around in that village? They are Dark Cult members. When we move in do not hold back."
Mordo frowned.
"How do you know everyone there is with the cult? What if we accidentally hurt innocent people?"
Victor turned to Mordo. His face serious.
"The Dark Cult does not mess around. If you do not join them they sacrifice you to their creepy god Dormammu. Any innocent folks in that village are either about to be sacrificed or already gone. No way they would be strolling around out there."
Mordo did not argue after Victor's explanation. He could be intense but he was not reckless or unreasonable.
Agatha spoke up.
"If we are sneaking into that village we will need some cover Ancient One. Got anything?"
The Ancient One nodded.
"Of course."
She stepped forward striking a pose like a martial artist. With a smooth wave of her hands she formed a glowing seal. She thrust her palms toward the village. A massive gust of wind kicked up. Swirling leaves and sand into a wild storm. It roared toward the village growing faster and fiercer by the second.
Wind of Watoomb!
The storm hit forcing the villagers to scramble for cover. The flying sand and leaves blocked their view. They were blind to anything outside.
Agatha smirked.
"Nice one Ancient One. Your power has leveled up since last time. My turn. I will seal this area so none of those Dark Cult creeps escape. I will keep the dark dimension's energy from leaking out of that rift."
She set her black cat down and knelt. She pressed one hand to the ground muttering a low chant. The air around the village shimmered. Like heat rising off pavement. But this was not a trick of light. Agatha's magic was twisting the space itself.
The distortion lasted only a moment before everything looked normal again. But everyone could feel the difference. The village was now cut off by a magical barrier. The stronger their magic the more they sensed how weird the space had become.
Sebastian let out a quiet whoa. The Ancient One's wind spell and Agatha's space trick were mind blowing. He realized he still had a ton to learn.
"All right you are good to go. Stay sharp. If you run into someone you cannot handle get to me or Agatha right away."
The Ancient One said.
Everyone nodded ready to move.
The Ancient One opened a portal to the village's edge. Agatha led the way reaching her magical barrier. With a snap of her fingers she opened a gap. The group slipped through following her into the village.
Most of the Dark Cult members were still hiding from the windstorm. Oblivious to the mages sneaking in.
With a quick gesture the Ancient One darted toward the village's center. Agatha and Jericho peeled off in different directions. Each taking their own path.
That left Sebastian and Victor and Daniel and Mordo. Daniel and Mordo both Kamar Taj mages were used to fighting as a duo. They stuck together.
As Sebastian geared up to go solo Victor turned to him.
"Hey Sebastian wanna team up?"
Victor seemed strong. About as skilled as Daniel from what Sebastian could tell. No reason to say no.
"Sure let us do it."
He said with a nod.
Victor gave a quick nod back. He signaled for Sebastian to follow. He headed out.
Sebastian glanced at Daniel and Mordo. He gave them a nod. He jogged after Victor.