10-12 - martial dead

Chapter 10: Test of Heart

Casey Kinmont let out a groan as she stretched her limbs out, forcing herself to resist the sweet temptations of her wool bed. But the morning cold swept into her barrack and nipped her into alertness, and so she grudgingly slipped into her crimson robes as she freshened up for the day. She tried patting down several sprigs of cowlicks jutting out of her blue hair before giving up; she would just have to tolerate Master Wong's derision if he'd found her not properly presentable for training today. Fixing her glasses on her face, she strutted out of her barrack right as another female companion of hers exited as well.

"Morning Zelma," Casey grumbled as politely as she could. No amount of time spent here at Kamar-Taj was going to make her a morning person, but she did her best not to impose her moodiness onto others. What kind of sorcerer would she be if she did that?

The darker-skinned gal turned and flashed a friendly smile at Casey, flipping her smooth black hair out of her face. "Morning Casey! You look a bit worse for wear!"

"How could I sleep when I all have to look forward to today is another grueling studying session?" Casey grumbled as she slowly pulled the front barrack door open, shielding her face momentarily as the full Himalayan breeze swept down the stone corridor. "I'm no good with books!"

"I wouldn't be too worried about that," Zelma said knowingly as they stepped out of the barrack and into the courtyard only to find it practically barren aside from a handful of fellow apprentices making their way toward the great library. "Master Wong departed not too long ago."

Casey turned toward her friend in surprise. "Master Wong left? He almost never leaves the compound when there's training scheduled! Do you know where he went?"

"He went to check on Master Strange, I believe," Zelma replied.

"Ah...guess that's as good a reason as any," Casey said glumly as she looked around the nearly empty training courtyard. Daily lessons were only postponed under rare circumstances. "Master Strange has been away for well over a year. What do you suppose he's been doing?"

Zelma shrugged. "We're just apprentices, we're not exactly privy to the responsibilities Master Strange has as the Earth's Sorcerer Supreme. We should merely have faith in his abilities and carry out our training dutifully if we wish to do right by him."

The entire compound suddenly shook; the vibrations seemed to come from outside the compound as Casey and Zelma looked in the direction of a faraway mountainside that was still in view.

"See, Rintrah's got the right idea!" Zelma exclaimed as she waved her hands and opened a portal to said mountainside. "Let's go spectate while we have some time to ourselves!"

"Yeah...right behind you," Casey muttered softly as she followed her friend through the portal. She would enjoy her time off today, though she remained eager for her Master Strange's return.

Izuku slowly flexed his arms, trying to gauge how strong this Master Wong's ethereal bonds were as said Master approached him carefully and cautiously down the stairs, like a hunter about to ensure his prey's demise.

"Y-you've got it all wrong!" Izuku tried to say as calmly as he could. "I'm not an intruder! I'm a student of Doctor Strange!"

"A likely story," Wong responded, wrapping the fizzling rope tightly around one hand to keep it taut as his other hand shimmered. The energy he summoned forth took the shape of a Tao mandala.

Izuku recognized it—Strange had shown it to him many times and he had practiced shaping mandalas and using them as basic shields enough to be somewhat competent at it. But what unnerved Izuku was the edge of Wong's mandala: it was spinning rapidly, sending bright orange sparks flipping through the air as Wong raised his hand threateningly. It gave Izuku the impression that the edge of his magical shield was sharp. Like, a 'cut-off-Izuku's-head-cleanly' kind of sharp.

Think fast Izuku! He mentally screamed as Wong rushed him, ready to end it with one decisive blow.

But Izuku responded not by trying to distance himself, but by leaping up and toward Wong, which certainly caught the elder somewhat off guard. He twisted his body midair and let the spinning edge of Wong's mandala slice through the luminous threads keeping him ensnared.

Izuku managed to land on his feet, though not very gracefully. He channeled magic through his hands freely now, knocking them together as two brilliantly radiant mandalas of his own materialized over his fists, ready to defend himself from further attack.

Wong looked equal parts irritated and impressed. He didn't leap into action just yet, instead calmly studying his quarry like a hawk does a tiny snake. "You did well to avoid that, child."

Izuku, on the other hand, was shaking erratically, adrenaline coursing through his veins. I can't believe that worked! If I hadn't timed that just right...I might've been cut clean in half!

"You are not some mystic vagabond, after all," Wong continued, taking a step forward. Izuku instinctively took a step backward. "You've had a modicum of training."

"That's what I've been trying to tell you—!"

"Which means you're an even more dangerous intruder than I anticipated!" Wong yelled as he lashed his hands toward Izuku, materializing several more crimson bands his way.

Izuku flinched, raising his shields to deflect the bonds, but he hadn't anticipated them sticking to his mandalas. Wong yanked his hands backwards, literally ripping the shields Izuku had summoned from his hands.

I didn't know you could do that! Izuku thought in a panic as he hastily summoned two more mandalas to keep himself somewhat protected. You can bond your magical energy to that of another person's and effectively use it against them as a larger extension of your own body! That little tidbit was definitely getting added to his notebook on magic...if he survived, of course.

Wong didn't make that seem like much of a possibility. He clasped his hands together and swung the mandalas he'd ripped from Izuku's grasp before crashing them back down on the boy like a flail. Izuku gasped and again raised his shields up high to block, but they shattered like glass as Wong's makeshift magical flail made impact. Izuku yelled out in pain and crashed down on the stairwell. Wong was standing over him in an instant, his spinning mandala of death already prepped and pressed just above Izuku's throat. Izuku weakly raised his trembling hands as he yielded.

"P-please..." Izuku weakly croaked.

"Don't beg," Wong said sternly as the mandala suddenly fizzled out of existence and he roughly pulled Izuku to his feet. "A real enemy will have none of it."

A real enemy? "Wait, what?" Izuku asked, incredulous that he wasn't about to actually die.

"Quite an interesting one you've chosen, Strange," Wong suddenly called out as he turned heel and calmly descended the staircase. "But based on what I've already seen, I remain unconvinced."

Izuku blinked and looked just past Wong; there, at the bottom of the staircase stood his sensei with a hand rubbing his chin as if he were brooding and deep in thought. "Are you saying you believe my student performed poorly?"

Wong paused as he approached Strange's side before continuing onward into the dining area. "No. Just that I remain unconvinced that he deserves further training at Kamar-Taj."

Izuku felt his gut sinking at the prospect of being denied further training. The entrance exam was still only ten months away. Going by the timetable that had been set by Strange alone, he wasn't even fifty percent completed yet. The thought of the possibility of being forced to quit...Izuku gulped hard.

Strange gave Izuku a look that said 'stay where you are' as he turned and followed after Wong, ensuring their discussion could be held outside the range of Midoriya's prying ears.

"Don't you think you're being unnecessarily harsh toward Midoriya?" Strange asked.

"Don't you think you're being hasty taking a boy under your wing while you're already in the middle of an important task?" Wong retorted. "Were the forbidden tomes stolen from Kamar-Taj not the reason you temporarily relocated to Japan with the New York Sanctum in tow in the first place?"

Strange took a seat, feeling exasperated. "And I have been following what clues have been available with due diligence for the year and some change that I've been here."

"The Book of Cagliostro was recovered after that disaster nearly five years ago," Wong said. "But the Tentoria Tenebris...the Scriptum Mortem...and worst of all, the Darkhold. All were lost. All were scattered."

"They were not the only things lost," Strange said morosely, tilting his head down. "And I am reminded of Kaecilius's treachery and the monstrosity of All For One every day. Even my dreams are not untouched by their influence."

"And yet not only have none of the books been located," Wong pressed on, taking a seat across from Strange. "One is missing from the second floor study." Wong continued as Strange gave him a knowing look. "And I don't mean the book on astral projection your student has right now. There is another that is missing."

Strange knew precisely the book that Wong was referring to. He also mentally chided himself, knowing it would have been fruitless to try and keep such things hidden from Wong—the man was not the guardian and keeper of the mystic texts for nothing. If a book goes missing, he would find out sooner or later.

"The Somnum Exterreri," Strange said at last. "The Book of Nightmares."

"What happened to it?" Wong inquired, although Strange thought the man might have already had an inkling as to what his answer would be.

"Before I took Midoriya under my wing he was pressured into sneaking through the Sanctum by some unruly companions of his," Strange explained. "He went through, found the book, and felt compelled to take it."

Wong wryly chuckled. "That...shouldn't have been possible."

"I thought the same," Strange concurred. "It should not have been possible for anyone not mystically attuned to see through any part of the illusion I had cast over the Sanctum. No one should have been able to interact with anything inside, let alone remove it from the premise. And yet...Izuku Midoriya had."

"If that boy saw through the illusion with little to no exposure to magic beforehand," Wong said, stroking his chin contemplatively. "Then he was surely born with an aptitude for the mystic arts."

Strange nodded solemnly. "And by the time I had realized what happened, and rushed out to procure it...it was already too late. Midoriya was swept away, along with the book. I only managed to recover one of the two."

"All the more proof that you were too hasty in taking him on as a student," Wong said. "Now there are four texts that must be recovered."

"Now, now, you can hardly hold what happened against Izuku," Strange said defensively. "Besides, you saw how he fared better against you than you had anticipated. His progress has been nothing short of astounding."

"Even if I did believe that training him at Kamar-Taj would be worthwhile, would he be able to continue his lessons here until you saw fit to bring him over?" Wong asked. "The Sanctums are not meant to be kept out of alignment for extended periods of time. You will have to soon return the Sanctum to New York if your search fails to bear any fruit, lest the mystical shield protecting the Earth weaken."

Strange could not argue against Wong's reasoning. He, too, had felt the uneasy shifting in the magic that protected the Earth from extra-dimensional threats over the past few months. But he had thought it would be possible to postpone his return until at least the summer, when he was sure Izuku would be ready to continue his training at Kamar-Taj. Still, he was more than willing to compromise, since distance would not be an issue.

"Moving the Sanctum will not impede on Izuku's training," Strange said. "He is well acquainted with the interior and he can open portals just fine with a Sling Ring."

"Strange—"

"Why are you reluctant to allow him further training?" Strange asked a bit more aggressively than he had meant to. "What have you seen that I haven't?"

"I believe I've seen only what you have seen," Wong said cryptically. "I am merely interpreting it differently than you are."

"What do you mean?" Strange asked with a bit of hesitation in his voice.

"What I'm trying to say is that Izuku is too much like thatboy—"

"Izuku is not like Ikiji," Strange quickly interrupted Wong.

"Oh?" Wong asked, unconvinced. "A boy with crippled hands taken under a sorcerer's wing and tutored in the ways of magic. That boy, once powerless and alone, was given a taste of the power offered by magic...and he only craved more. His lust for power for his selfish ambitions allowed himself to be corrupted by Kaecilius's influence...and that boy soon became one of his most devoted zealots, turning his magic and his Quirk against Kamar-Taj without hesitation."

Strange sat, silently, brooding, as Wong recanted the tale of one of his biggest failures in life. But he would not make the same mistakes with Izuku, he swore.

"And now you've begun cultivating another boy who parallels Ikiji to a startling degree," Wong went on. "I saw Izuku's hands. Did you also promise to alleviate his powerlessness just as you once promised Ikiji? Is he not progressing nearly as quickly as that boy did just a few years ago? And should Izuku follow the same path as he...will you be able to do what you could not do before, and end his life?"

Strange looked down at the table and said nothing.

"That was not all I saw," Wong continued still. "I, too, looked into the Rotunda. I saw what you saw in there."

At that, Strange nearly jolted to his feet, the color drained away from his face as he turned toward his trusted friend, speechless and shocked.

"I assume Izuku hasn't been told," Wong said, a bit gentler as he saw how affected his friend was. "Has the boy ever glanced through the Rotunda of Gateways by himself?"

"...No," Strange said at last with a firm shake of his head. "He's been forbidden to use it until I deem him ready for a lesson on its proper use." He had only used it once with Izuku to provoke the boy into opening his first portal with a raging river, but the boy was not allowed to skim through the Rotunda by himself, lest he see what Strange had discovered...

"And when will his curiosity eventually get the better of him?" Wong asked. "Ikiji, too, was forbidden from freely using the Rotunda...and we both know what happened shortly afterwards."

"Izuku..." Strange took in a deep breath to calm his anxious heart. "Is not like Ikiji. Nor will he ever be."

"And how can you be so sure?" Wong challenged him.

"Izuku has what Ikiji didn't," Strange said with a smile. "A nearly indomitable heart."

"Heart," Wong repeated slowly, as if mostly to himself. He stood up, clasping his hands behind his back as he contemplated something to himself. "Then that is what I will test him for. I want to see his indomitable heart for myself. If he does as much...then I will gladly support his training at Kamar-Taj."

Strange now grinned a grin that was filled to the brim with confidence. Sorcerer Supreme he may be, but Strange cannot so flippantly ignore the concerns of his fellow Masters, especially one as loyal and steadfast as Wong. A chance was all Izuku needed. And Strange knew Izuku was not one to waste them.

Izuku fidgeted in his white novice tunic as he stood at attention before Wong, who patrolled back and forth before him. The prospect of having his training finished so soon filled him with dread, but now he was being given an opportunity: an opportunity to 'test his heart' as his Master had described.

Inhale. Exhale. Izuku steeled his resolve and determination. He was no longer ignorant to the fact that the road to becoming a sorcerer would hold many trials and tribulations. This one, like many in the future, may have been unexpected and sudden, but he would get through it all the same. He would win this 'Test of Heart' and continue on with his training.

"This," Wong said while holding a wand-like object before Izuku's eyes. "Is a relic. The Wand of Watoomb, to be precise. Relics such as this are objects imbued with magic—sometimes magic so powerful that a sorcerer's body alone cannot handle the strain of it. There are countless relics, and while many can easily be used by most sorcerers, it is generally a rite of passage for sorcerers of Kamar-Taj to have their own unique relic."

Izuku's eyes brightened up. "Are you saying I'm going to get to choose my own relic!?"

"No," Wong replied with a wry smirk. "Today we are going to see if a relic here, within the Sanctum, is going to choose you to help you with the Test of Heart that you will need to complete."

"Choose...me?" Izuku asked confusedly.

"Correct," Wong said, holding the wand out for Izuku. "While relics do not typically discriminate, there is no denying that some sorcerers are more compatible with certain relics than others. Hold out your hand. Try to feelthe wand...and see if it deems itself compatible with you."

Izuku did just that, closing his eyes and extending an outstretched hand toward the Wand of Watoomb. Izuku nearly flinched as he felt power—raw power—emanating from the wand in endless, ceaseless, undulating waves. Like a geyser with no end, Izuku felt the limitless possibilities that the wand offered. But...there was nothing that suggested a truly compatible connection between it and him. It did not come to him. The wand itself felt apathetic about Izuku reaching out to it.

"I...didn't feel a very strong connection," Izuku sheepishly admitted as he withdrew his hand.

"It would have been surprising if you did," Wong said earnestly, handing the wand back to Strange. "As far as relics go, the Wand of Watoomb is potentially one of the strongest out there."

And so Wong and Strange guided Izuku throughout the Sanctum—all three floors of it—leading him from relic to relic to see if Izuku could sense a connection that was being extended to him by any artifact he came across.

To his dismay, he felt no inherent connection with any of the relics being kept stored within the Sanctum.

Strange and Wong (surprisingly) did not seem too displeased over this revelation. It was almost as if this were expected, Izuku thought.

"Izuku," Strange finally spoke to his student as they descended back to the first floor. "I understand if you are feeling disappointed, but know that a relic isn't required for the test Master Wong has in store for you. This was merely to see if one had deemed you worthy by this point in your training. Do not fret: one will choose you, in time."

"You will still be allowed the use of your Sling Ring," Wong added as Strange handed Izuku said ring.

"So...what exactly will be this Test I have to complete?" Izuku asked as he slipped the Sling Ring on the appropriate fingers.

Wong rotated his hand and opened a portal at the top of the staircase, parallel to the floor. A large metallic object slipped through and landed on the floor with a dull 'gong'. Izuku narrowed his eyes to get a better look: it seemed to be...a furnace pot of some kind? It was brightly bronze, with three legs and what looked like a lid that was in the shape of a golden pagoda of some sort.

"You will have to face off against that relic," Wong said before snapping his fingers, a dark, elongated sceptre suddenly appearing in his hands. "As well as this one."

"The Flaming Foo Furnace of Fujian and the Stygian Sceptre of Seamless Shadow..." Strange whispered as he realized precisely what test Wong had in store for his fledgling apprentice. Wong isn't going to hold back with this test. He really does want to test Izuku's heart...

T-those names really roll off the tongue, huh? Izuku thought dryly.

"Your Test!" Wong exclaimed. "Will be to reach the top of the staircase and close the Flaming Foo Furnace!" He gave an arcane posture with his fingers and the furnace lid suddenly levitated above the relic. An eldritch flame erupted from the depths of the furnace, roaring to life as its flames flapped and flew about, but strangely enough, they gave off no heat that Izuku could feel.

Walk up there and close the furnace? Izuku furrowed his brow. No, it can't be that easy...

As if reading his mind, Wong elaborated: "The furnace and the sceptre in my hands will be obstructing you every step of the way." As if on cue, the flames erupting from the furnace began to take corporeal shape. Izuku looked on in shock as the flames formed two semi-hulking flaming beasts that flanked either side of the furnace.

Are those Foo Dogs!? Izuku thought frantically. Foo Dogs made of fire!?

The Flaming Foo Furnace of Fujian is a relic that was designed specifically for the protection of areas deemed sacred, Strange thought to himself as the flaming Foo Dogs roared and stared down Izuku from atop the stairs. The furnace is the source of their power and only by closing it can the Foo Dogs be dispelled.

"Izuku Midoriya!" Wong yelled as he slammed the bottom of the sceptre into the ground, clouds of darkness pulsing from the tip and racing toward Izuku as the boy switched glances between the Foo Dogs before him and encroaching darkness gathering behind him. "This is your Test of Heart! Begin!"

Izuku wasted no time in bolting up the stairs, intent on closing the furnace before the inky cloud behind him could catch up to him. The Foo Dogs had other plans; unleashing another mighty roar, both beasts simultaneously rushed down, slamming into Izuku's body before the boy could properly rotate his fingers and open a portal with his Sling Ring.

"Guh!" Izuku croaked out painfully as he was sent flying backward, straight into the waiting depths of the stygian cloud below. Izuku thrashed momentarily before realizing that the cloud wasn't obstructing his breathing in any discernible way—just his vision. He could only see a few feet in front of him.

At least, he began to think the cloud would only affect his vision.

He began rushing back up the steps, trying to be cognizant of the sounds of the Foo Dogs as he waved his fingers before him to open a portal directly to the furnace. Again, the beasts intercepted: Izuku yelled out as a large paw swiped his legs, knocking him off balance and back down several steps. Just as Izuku tried righting himself back up, the second beast's head appeared out of the swirling darkness, clamping its jaw down on Izuku's hand as the boy uselessly tried to thrash it off of him.

The beast suddenly released his hand from its flaming maw, and Izuku realized to his horror that the Foo Dog had yanked off his Sling Ring with its fiery fangs. Oh no...!

The Foo Dog leaped out of the swirling cloud and promptly spat the Sling Ring out of its mouth. It was deftly caught by Wong, who grunted as if this was all going according to plan.

Strange grimaced as he saw that his student was now disarmed. Your real test begins now, Izuku...!

"No! My Sling Ring...!" Izuku yelled out as he got back to his feet.

"Deku..." A familiar sneer hissed in Izuku's ear, causing him to freeze.

"K-Kacchan?" Izuku turned his head to where he'd heard the voice, only to be blindsided by another swipe of a Foo Dog's massive paw.

W-what was that...? Izuku thought as he tumbled back down the stairs, grunting in pain. That was definitely Bakugo's voice. But how...?

"How can you even play the role of a worthless wannabe hero when you steal things like a villain?" He heard Bakugo's sneer again, and whirled his head around—only to find darkness. He remembered when Bakugo had said that to him. It had been that day: the day his hands had been crushed. The day that started it all.

"No...you're wrong...!"

"Like a villain..." Bakugo's shadowy voice hissed again.

"I'm not like a villain!" Izuku yelled out, swiping around wildly as if that would dispel the taunting voice of his tormentor.

"I'm sorry, Izuku, I'm so sorry..." Izuku's breath caught in his throat. That was his mother's voice. It was from nearly ten years ago, when Izuku learned that he was unequivocally Quirkless. Izuku recalled her teary embrace that day as tight, but ultimately cold. Not reassuring. Empty.

"W-what's going on...?" Izuku squeaked out before bowling over from a blow that landed on his backside, knocking him down onto his knees.

"M-mom, can I be a hero, too?" Izuku clenched his eyes shut as his despondent childhood voice filled his ear next. He clutched his head, as if trying to literally squeeze every disdainful memory out of his head.

"Shitty Deku!"

"I'm so sorry, Izuku..."

"Can I be a hero, too...?"

As Izuku cracked his eyes back open and stared out into the whirling darkness, he saw all the terrible memories he could think of dancing through the clouds, mocking him. He saw his weeping childhood self, his mother who—until his training with Strange began—had all but given up on his dream to become a hero, and he saw all the times that Bakugo and his cohorts tormented him for daring to dream. Daring to hope.

"I...I can't handle this...!" Izuku whispered, feeling the darkness before him part for what was undoubtedly one of the Foo Dogs rushing in to land another heavy blow.

But that hit never landed.

"Whoa!" Izuku exclaimed as something firm tugged on his shoulders, lifting him into the air and letting the Foo Dog pass by harmlessly underneath.

Izuku flailed about wildly to try and ascertain what had attached itself to him, but he found himself instead focusing on a familiar warmth that began spreading throughout his body from whatever was clasped to his shoulders.

"Please!" Izuku heard his voice echo throughout the darkness. "Teach me!"

Izuku peered through the sea of disdainful memories and saw the memory of himself in the hospital bed, begging Doctor Strange to teach him magic.

That was the start of it all, wasn't it? Izuku tearfully thought as other memories began floating out of the shadows, pushing the tormenting voices and sights away.

"As of this moment, we are Master and Student, Young Midoriya," He heard Strange's voice ring out, and he saw the memory of his mother embracing him and sobbing joyously over her son's revitalized dream.

"You look dashing!" He heard his mother's joyous cries, and Izuku saw himself from when he'd first put on his white training tunic, standing tall and proud as his mother snapped pictures.

"I-I did it!" Izuku turned and saw himself from when he'd successfully opened his first portal, and the look of sheer pride on Strange's face nearly drove him to tears as the warmth consumed him fully.

"I may not always be by your side...but I'll always be in your corner to support you if you'll have me, Young Midoriya!" All Might's words of endorsement bolstered him, and the last vestiges of doubt broke down entirely as a swath of resplendent energy coursed through his body.

From outside the cloud, Wong and Strange stood back in awe as Izuku's luminous magic shone through even the Stygian Sceptre's nearly impenetrable fog.

Yes, Izuku...! Strange grinned widely, almost dumbfounded by what had just transpired before his eyes. Show that indomitable spirit...that will make you a fully fledged sorcerer!

This won't stop me...! Izuku steeled his determination as he jumped straight up over another rush by one of the Foo Dogs. He angled his fingers as if he were still using the Sling Ring and envisioned the top of the staircase, narrowing his thoughts into a singular focus. Not Kacchan! Not anyone! Not even my Quirkless status!

Izuku grit his teeth as the golden sparks swirled before him, opening up and showing the floating lid of the furnace beneath him as he dropped toward his target.

"Nothing...will stop me from becoming a sorcerer!" Izuku triumphantly roared as he planted his feet on top of the lid, shoving it down and shutting it tight with his body weight. The shadows immediately dispersed back into Wong's sceptre as the Foo Dogs howled, disintegrating away in a mist of fizzling embers.

"And nothing will stop me from becoming a hero!" Izuku screamed as he fell into a hysteric crying fit over his victory.

"You know, Wong," Strange called out to his trusted ally as Izuku cried. "Out of all the relics we tested Izuku with, it seems there was one in the Sanctum that we missed."

Wong nodded his head dumbly, no doubt equal parts impressed and thunderstruck at Izuku's victory. But more shocking to Wong than Izuku's victory was what had aided Izuku to rise up above the tormenting shadows: clasped firmly to Izuku's backside and shoulders, but hovering above the ground as it was a tad too big for the boy, was Strange's Cloak of Levitation.

The Cloak of Levitation, though closely bonded with Strange after many years, had also chosen Izuku.

Both Wong and Strange approached Izuku's sobbing form, which was being tended to by the ever-so gentle Cloak that was dutifully wiping away the neverending deluge of tears from the boy's cheeks.

"D-did I pass?" Izuku hiccupped between sobs.

Strange and Wong gave each other an undecipherable look before snapping their fingers. Izuku looked down in astonishment as his previously white tunic was suddenly washed over by a scarlet bloom, turning his garments a deep, beautiful crimson.

"Izuku Midoriya," Wong said with a curt yet respectful nod. "You have passed the Test of Heart."

"You may now rise," Strange said elegantly. "No longer as a Novice, but as a formal Apprentice of Kamar-Taj and the Sorcerer Supreme!"

Chapter 11: Kamar-Taj

Izuku knew very little about Kamar-Taj; nearly half his time training for the Entrance Exam had passed by before it was ever even mentioned to him. All he knew was that it was the place where Doctor Strange, being the Sorcerer Supreme, held council with the other Masters of the Mystic Arts. It was also the place where—he had come to expect ever since his first encounter with Master Wong—his training would continue throughout his summer break between terms.

A step up in training was something Izuku was particularly looking forward to. After passing the Test of Heart, Strange put his foot on the brakes slightly when it came to his training regimen, putting more of a focus back on some of the more basic skills in the three months that had passed since meeting Wong. Sure, Izuku didn't think it was necessarily a bad idea to do that, since now his practices moved on to manipulating magic without the use of a Sling Ring, but he was still more than a little bummed out.

I was looking forward to learning astral projection sooner rather than later, Izuku had sighed to himself many times.

Training over the course of these last three months also felt...odd to him? Not because of what he was doing during said training; Izuku felt that it had more to do with the Sanctum being returned to New York shortly after Wong's visit. Izuku could freely admit to himself that it was an odd thing to get weirded out over. The interior of the Sanctum hadn't changed in the slightest, and he arrived to it the same way he always had (through the use of portals), but having to look out the windows or the front door to see a bustling street instead of the relative quiet of a forest was a change Izuku thought he'd never have to acclimate to.

It was a change that was comparable to walking into his own bedroom and somehow feeling as if all of his possessions had been replaced with exact replicas—the same but also not quite the same. It was indeed a bizarre feeling.

But as he felt bizarre about his training at the Sanctum, Izuku didn't really know what to expect about training at Kamar-Taj. Sure, he was excited about the prospect of honing his mystical skills further and adding to his repertoire of spells, but not knowing many facts about the place—where it was located, how living there was like, etc.—left him feeling anxious. Unknown variables, while fun to think about, always made Izuku feel anxious.

Slipping into his red Apprentice tunic made him feel better, though. Izuku couldn't help but always feel a surge of pride whenever he looked at himself in the mirror in his new garb. The red tunic was real, tangible evidence of his growth. His mother seemed to think so, too.

"Oh, Izuku!" Inko squealed as she snapped what had to be her hundredth picture of him that day. "You look positively dashing in your new tunic!"

"Mom, please..." Izuku said bashfully. They were currently waiting for Strange to come and pick him up. Today was the day Izuku was to be taken to Kamar-Taj and begin his training there at long last. He was granted a couple of bags to pack with some of his belongings.

Six weeks. That was how long Izuku was expecting to stay at Kamar-Taj. When Strange had approached his mother to pitch the idea of keeping Izuku under his wing there, he'd expected more open resistance from her. Doubtless, there was some hesitancy on Inko's part, though Izuku couldn't narrow down what she was hung up on more: the fact that she'd be separated from him for six seemingly agonizing weeks, or the fact that he could tell his mother would be worried about the risks that might be involved. Strange had told her straight up that there would always be risks when it came to training with magic and Izuku knew his mother had never really forgotten that.

Still, after a few days of deliberation and contemplation, Inko had granted her son permission to go along with this training trip.

"You're going to call back often, right?" Inko asked worriedly as she brushed her son's hair, much to his chagrin.

"I-I don't know how great the service will be there, mother..." Izuku said embarrassingly, trying to wave off her motherly hovering.

"Kamar-Taj has Wi-Fi, Izuku," Strange's voice sounded through the room as his portal opened up with a dazzling display of sparks as usual. "We're sorcerers, not savages, after all."

"Sensei!" Izuku called out before looking behind Strange with some confusion. "You came from the Sanctum? We're still going to Kamar-Taj, correct?"

"Oh, yes! There are just some things I have to get in order at the Sanctum before we leave," Strange explained. "The Sanctum will require some spells in place so as to not remain completely unprotected in our absence."

"Doctor Strange," Inko said, getting the man's attention. "Make sure you watch over my baby boy while he's over there!"

"I'm fifteen, mom!" Izuku whined.

"I will take care of your son to the best of my ability," Strange said with a chuckle. "Always. I swear. Shall we, Izuku?"

"Yes, sensei!" Izuku said as Strange walked back through his portal. He turned back to his mother only to have her scoop him up into a crushing hug. "M-mom! I'll be okay! I promise!"

"I know, it's just..." Inko trailed off. "This last year has been so hectic. Things are moving so quickly. I just want you to be safe if you're so determined to do this."

Izuku smiled; beneath all her anxiety, worry, and even doubt was just a mother who loved her son to the ends of the Earth. Slowly he managed to pull away.

"I promise I'll stay in contact as much as possible...!" Izuku said as he stepped through the portal after his master with his bags in hand, waving goodbye to his teary mother as the portal finally closed between them.

"I hope mother will be okay.." Izuku whispered to himself as he looked around for Strange. "Sensei?" He called out.

Said sensei was up on the second floor, approaching the Rotunda of Gateways where Wong stood, peering through the windows contemplatively.

"Thought I might find you here before we leave," Strange said as he stood by Wong's side, looking through the window before them guardedly.

"Have you contacted Drumm?" Wong asked, not straying his eyes from the ghastly sight on the other side of the window.

"Yes," Strange said with a nod. "He's agreed to watch over the Sanctum in my absence."

"Good," Wong said, switching the window before them to a different, albeit equally abhorrent display of blood and death. "Now what about the Cloak?"

"Izuku will not be allowed to use it over the course of his training at Kamar-Taj," Strange said, throwing a glance over his shoulder at the red cloak clasped comfortably around his shoulders. Despite 'choosing' Izuku during the Test of Heart, Strange was still able to return it to his side. "I want to avoid Izuku coming to rely on it until I give him hands-on training with his own cloak."

"His own Cloak of Levitation?" Wong asked, finally drawing his eyes away from the bloody window to Strange. "You had blueprints for a new cloak?"

"It took awhile to find them, but yes," Strange said with a small smile. "I sent them, along with my request, to Enitharmon the Weaver. It should hopefully be done within a few weeks, fewer if Enitharmon is as excited to weave it as I think he is."

Wong grunted in acknowledgement before turning his attention back toward the Rotunda.

"I thought we were past this," Strange spoke cautiously and with a frown.

"Midoriya was impressive during the Test of Heart, but my worries cannot be assuaged over the events of a single day," Wong responded before turning the dial of the Rotunda and finally turning around to walk back.

Strange took one final glance at the mound of corpses and the figure standing atop it that were being shown through the window before turning after his comrade, trying to shake the sight from his mind.

"Izuku!" Strange called out, looking down the staircase at his pacing apprentice. "It is time for us to depart!"

"Sensei! And...Master Wong! I wasn't expecting to see you again until I got to Kamar-Taj!" Izuku said.

"Midoriya," Wong said with a curt nod. "I was only here to help ensure that the Sanctum would remain safe. Now that its safety can be assured, I will join you and Master Strange back to Kamar-Taj."

"Are you ready, Izuku?" Strange asked his student, and upon receiving an excited nod from him, promptly weaved his hands and opened a portal before the boy. Izuku was practically bounding in anticipation as he peered into the stone courtyard on the other side of the portal, only to have his enthusiasm somewhat curbed when a frosty breeze blew through and smacked him in the face.

"It's nice to see the place is still standing since I've been gone," Strange said as he strode in behind Izuku.

"Well, some of us do take our job here seriously, Strange," Wong jokingly chided.

As the two Masters bantered back and forth between one another, Izuku glanced all over the compound in wonder. In the center of the courtyard stood a massive, dropping willow that seemed mystical even though it bore no greenery whatsoever on its dangling branches. The courtyard was wide—very spacious—with various buildings surrounding it entirely. Izuku took note of the Tibetan architecture and the sloped ceramic roofs in particular. There seemed to be various stairwells that led up to the roofs-perhaps training was even done up there as well?

Another sharp breeze blew through, and Izuku instinctively wrapped his arms around himself. Despite it being the middle of July, it was still relatively chilly here. Izuku pondered where he was exactly; he at least knew he was somewhere mountainous, judging from the rocky and misty peaks he could see in the distance over the roofs of the compound.

"Master Strange has returned!" A voice suddenly called out from across the courtyard, snapping Izuku out of his thoughts. Looking over, Izuku nearly jolted as a multitude of men and women of various robe colors began rushing out of the surrounding buildings toward them.

"I hope your training has been going well—" Strange tried to talk but he was effectively drowned out in a chorus of greetings and questions. Izuku shrank behind Strange, feeling very uncomfortable at the close proximity of the students and generally disliking having attention drawn to him. "Please, one at a time!"

Having finally quieted down the crowd of practitioners, which Izuku noted as comprising of students who looked to be about his age as well as those who were older, Strange finally began to speak.

"I know that I have been away for quite awhile," Strange began as he looked across his many followers. "My mission away from Kamar-Taj has been long...but not entirely fruitless. I have returned with a new apprentice, Izuku Midoriya, in tow. He will be training with you all for the next six weeks."

A sea of curious eyes fell upon Izuku as Strange gave his explanation. The boy tried to introduce himself properly, if only to give off a strong first impression, but all he could was give a weak, nervous smile and shaky wave. "H-hello there—"

And in the blink of an eye, the chorus of questions and greetings that crashed against Strange soon battered down on Izuku instead, ranging from introductions to questions about his origins to inquiries about his skill in magic. Izuku could only shrink under everyone's intense scrutiny.

"Quiet down!" A voice boomed over all the others. The students immediately hushed up and also backed up, giving Izuku the space he craved as he looked over to who had spoken up. To his surprise, he saw that it was Master Wong. The other students bowed apologetically as Wong effectively took command of the gathering.

"I understand everyone's excitement at Master Strange's return, but do not let such enthusiasm undermine your attention to training!" Wong spoke firmly, with that intimidating gaze of his. "If you have studies and practice to attend to, then stop dawdling here!"

Nearly all the students—some respectfully and some fearfully—bowed in response and began filtering out of the courtyard, much to Izuku's pleasure. He took in a deep breath as the courtyard suddenly opened up once more.

"Jack!" Wong suddenly called out to a tall, lanky young man. "Escort Izuku to the barracks and help him get situated in an available room. If Master Minoru questions your lateness, explain that you were merely carrying out a task at my discretion."

With a bow, Jack approached Izuku and helped him carry his bags toward the barracks that were on the other side of the courtyard. Turning back, Izuku saw that Strange was himself being approached by a small cadre of figures that had emerged from the largest building in the compound. The other Masters?

"Welcome to Kamar-Taj, Midoriya," Jack said as he extended a hand to Izuku. "My name is Jack Holyoak."

"I-it's a pleasure to meet you," Izuku stuttered, taking his hand and shaking it nervously nonetheless. He took note of Jack's garments: Jack, unlike most of the other students, was wearing a purple tunic with gold edges. Which had to mean...

"You're a Disciple, right?" Izuku suddenly asked. "Sorry, I just couldn't help but notice your custom tunic."

"No worries," Jack said with a chuckle. "Yeah, I just ascended to the rank of Disciple recently. And your red tunic means you've reached the rank of Apprentice." Jack gave Izuku a quizzical look as he continued. "It's pretty uncommon for Master Strange to take students under his wing personally when he's away from Kamar-Taj. So what was it about you that caught his eye? If you don't mind me asking, that is."

I stole something from his own Sanctum and then he pulled me out of a watery grave, Izuku thought but certainly didn't say. "He, uh...saved my life," Was all Izuku said, motioning to the scars on his hands.

Jack seemed to get the gist of it. "Say no more, friend. I understand." With that, he pushed open the large wooden door and led Izuku down the long dimly lit halls toward his personal barrack. His room was small, but not claustrophobic, fitted with a bed and desk. Lighting in the room was minimal, but there were additional candles to help compensate.

"If it makes you feel any better, the Masters' rooms are no different," Jack said as he gently set Izuku's bags atop his bed.

"Oh no, I wasn't going to complain!" Izuku said, waving his arms. "I'm perfectly fine with this!"

Jack chuckled. "I'll be right down the hall if you need me. I assume Masters Wong and Strange will give you the day to settle in before starting your regimen tomorrow." With another quick bow, Jack departed, leaving Izuku with naught but his own thoughts now.

So this is Kamar-Taj, Izuku thought as he peered through a small rectangular window etched in the stone wall, peering down at a row of hovel-looking buildings below (he was much higher up than he had initially thought). Mountainous, chilly even in the summer, moderately populated urban sprawl beyond the compound-Izuku had guessed he was somewhere in the Himalayan region, perhaps Nepal. Home of the Masters of the Mystic Arts.

I'm just an Apprentice, and I'd be willing to bet that most of the students here have far more experience than I've had so far, Izuku mused as he sorted through his belongings, setting the sole Silver Age All Might figurine he'd decided to bring with him on his desk, keeping its smiling visage facing him. It helped calm his nerves, as silly as it may have sounded. I've only had roughly a year of training so far, after all.

Izuku plopped down on his bed, staring up at the ceiling as the anticipation for the next day wracked his brain thoroughly. If he was going to be given the day to settle in, Izuku guessed he'd be better off getting as much rest as possible in preparation for whatever Wong and Strange had in store for him tomorrow.

He wanted to make a good first impression on the other training students, after all.

Chapter 12: The Eye of Agamotto

After getting hurled to the ground for what had to be the thousandth time that week, Izuku wasn't feeling like he'd made a good first impression on the other practitioners whatsoever. Not that he was feeling bogged down by thoughts of inadequacy, he just...really wasn't expecting the training regimen that Strange and Wong had thrown at him. Or rather, the training regimen that was currently throwing him around the courtyard like a certified ragdoll.

Pure. Physical. Conditioning. Without magic, to boot.

And Master Minoru always made sure to pair him with the same training partner each and every time: that green, lumbering behemoth, Rintrah.

Izuku's brain fried the first time he'd been introduced to his sparring partner. Rintrah, unlike the other trainees, didn't look human in the slightest. Hell, he was hardly humanoid! He was a bull of a figure, literally: large and brawny, cloven feet, covered in coarse, green fur, and with a bull's head, complete with horns. Rintrah looked like a minotaur straight out of ancient mythology, and Izuku was expected to go toe-to-toe with this guy!

"Puny Green, meet Big Green!" Rintrah roared as he charged toward Izuku, who futilely tried to evade his massive, grappling hands (which were easily the size of his head, Izuku noted!) which twirled him through the air like a skinny twig before dropping him unceremoniously onto the stone tile below.

"I yield...!" Izuku cried out as he clutched his aching abdomen.

"Respite!" Master Minoru called out, and all the other partnered up trainees present ceased their physical sparring, walking and talking amongst one another as the slender, silver-robed master helped Izuku to his feet.

"Not bad, Izuku," She said, patting him on the back as Rintrah approached. "You've lasted a little bit longer and longer against Rintrah with each session. Master Strange said you had a never-give-up attitude, but even I'm impressed!"

Izuku's cheeks dusted a bit red at what he thought was undeserved praise, although it also felt nice knowing that Strange was essentially bragging about him to the other Masters.

"But I haven't even managed to land a single blow against him...!" Izuku said with more than a hint of frustration. "And my hands...well, it's more than a little difficult to throw a proper punch."

"Then don't throw a punch," Master Minoru said knowingly before skipping off to speak with the other students, leaving a slightly confused Izuku to ponder her words.

"You rush too much," Rintrah bellowed in his low voice as he sat beside Izuku, who was rubbing his sore side. "You are new to magic, correct?"

"Y-yeah," Izuku muttered. "I've only had roughly a year of training with Master Strange."

"Use of magic can be exhilarating, this I know for fact," Rintrah continued with his heavily accented voice. "Magic is tool for sorcerer. Is source of power for sorcerer. You are also frustrated at being forbidden to use magic all week."

"Was it that obvious?" Izuku blinked, surprised that the hulking Rintrah seemed able to pick up on his frustrations so easily. Izuku always did his best to not make such emotions evident.

Rintrah nodded and exhaled through his flared nostrils. "This no doubt why Masters started you here. You know how powerful tool magic can be, but you know little of most important tool of all."

"The most important tool of all?" Izuku repeated. "What would that be?"

"This," Rintrah spoke as he gave Izuku a hard poke against the boy's chest. "Body is most important tool of all."

"My body...?" Izuku muttered as he glanced down at the pitiful state of his hands.

"You underestimate body," Rintrah continued. "You see only hands and deem body as no good in fighting. This why you anticipate progress with magic instead. But too much magic will strain body in fight. Break body, no use of magic. No body...no magic."

"Use magic to support body, not other way around," Rintrah continued to a silently listening and contemplating Izuku. "Let magic guide body against enemy, instead of just body guiding magic to victory. Tomorrow we add magic to lesson. You think on my words."

"Let magic guide my body instead, huh...?" Izuku spoke quietly.

"Yes," Rintrah said with a solemn nod. "Sum is greater than whole of parts, after all."

"I think you mean 'the whole is greater than the sum of its parts'," Izuku chuckled.

"That, too," Rintrah said before hoisting himself back to his feet. "Tomorrow brings more training. Rest and think, Izuku. Body is strongest tool of all."

The next day brought about as much clarity as it did pain. Izuku was thrown back by his burly green-furred partner but managed to deftly roll to the side and avoid a charge from Rintrah, who struggled to skid to a halt with his cloven hooves.

His strength is in his arms! Izuku thought as he rushed at Rintrah while his back was still facing him. And he may be fast, but his movements are linear enough for me to dodge!

Rintrah pivoted back around with a roar, swinging his thick arms at Izuku who only narrowly managed to slide beneath his monstrous hands.

He doesn't employ kicks in his fighting style, only for his mobility! Izuku raised a foot and slammed the sole of his shoe against Rintrah's calf. That makes his legs a potential weak spot!

Rintrah grunted as Izuku's foot collided with the back of his leg but failed to fall down to even a knee. Snatching the boy by the scruff of his tunic's collar, Rintrah sent Izuku flying until he landed on his backside once more, wincing in pain.

No good...! Izuku wiped his chin clean as he studied Rintrah's posture, and vice-versa. His legs may be a weak spot for a more physically able person, but they're much too thick for me! Anymore kicks will hurt my legs more than his!

Rintrah snorted and geared up for another charge, leveling his horns straight at Izuku.

What I need is a weak spot that's not too thick! One where a solid blow should bring him down! Izuku scanned Rintrah for possible weak points as he rolled out of his way again. As the bull skidded to a halt, Izuku spotted one. The back of his head!

Izuku brought his fingers together and then dragged them apart, fiery magic sparking out as he formed an eldritch whip in his hands and hurled it toward Rintrah's neck or horns, hoping to hoist himself onto his backside to deliver a blow.

Rintrah wasn't having it; he reached behind and grasped Izuku's lasso with one hand and yanked the boy forward while extending his arm out, letting Izuku collide with it and fall to the ground. "Won't work against me, Puny Green," Rintrah chided him.

Dang it! Izuku picked himself up and jumped back, dodging a potentially match-ending punch from Rintrah. He's quick to turn around whenever I dodge a charge so his backside is never facing me for too long...think, Izuku!

"Let magic guide body against enemy, instead of just body guiding magic..." Rintrah's advice rang through his mind.

"I have to use my magic with precision in order to land a blow from behind...!" Izuku muttered to himself. "But how...?"

Rintrah readied himself for another charge, angling his horns down low. Izuku widened his eyes as an idea struck him.

Instead of waiting for the perfect moment to dodge roll out of Rintrah's way, Izuku instead charged right back at him. Rintrah certainly looked surprised, but only stamped forward faster. Only a few feet in front of his horns, Izuku suddenly fell his knees and leaned backwards, sliding across stone tile and between his hulking opponent's legs as Rintrah charged over his diminutive foe harmlessly. Before Rintrah could even process what had happened, Izuku was already ensnaring his legs with two fiery lassos, using his superior weight and momentum to pull him up into the air with a backward somersault. Izuku grinned as he smashed his feet against the back of Rintrah's head before he could reach around, bringing the colossal bull down to the ground with a deafening crash as he skidded to a halt. The other training pairs ceased their sparring and looked on in amazement as Izuku stood atop Rintrah's backside victoriously.

"I...yield," A dizzied Rintrah snorted out, and Master Minoru called the match amid a wave of audible gasps and cheers. Izuku Midoriya had done what few new Apprentices had ever done before: he'd toppled the brawny Rintrah and gotten him to yield.

"Now you know, Izuku," Rintrah grunted at a sheepishly smiling Midoriya. "Now you know how to let magic guide body."

"This," Jack Holyoak showed Izuku a slender wooden staff marked with undecipherable engravings in his hands. "Is the Staff of the Living Tribunal, a powerful mystical relic. Master Strange says you've already had a relic choose you, correct?"

"Um, yes," Izuku said as he admired the staff. "But he doesn't want me using it quite yet. Says he wants me to have a basic understanding of relics first."

"That is because there are always risks when employing relics in combat, just as there are risks with using magic in general," Jack said with a nod. Gripping both ends of the staff, Jack channeled it with his magic and pulled from each end, causing the staff to extend into many glowing interlinked sections. He flicked the extended staff and it bended like a whip as it crashed against the ground, letting off an explosion of amber sparks upon contact. Naturally, Izuku jumped back in surprise.

"The Staff of the Living Tribunal allows its wielder to channel magic into it continuously, and then release all of that stored energy with a single, explosive blow," Jack explained as the staff retracted back into its normal state. "The extendable sections allow it to be used as a whip or flail, granting the user a greater range of motion while in combat. Here, why don't you try?"

"Wait, what—?" Izuku started to ask, but stopped short as he clumsily caught the relic in his hands when Jack tossed it to him unexpectedly. "You want me to use it?"

"Correct," Jack grinned. "Channel all the magic you can into the staff and see what happens."

Izuku exhaled and straightened his posture, gripping both ends like Jack had done. He focused his magic into the relic, feeling it flow from his hands into the staff. After several tense moments, Izuku could feel a building pressure of energy and decided then to unleash it. Extending it into many glowing sections like Jack before him, Izuku whirled the whip-like staff into the air and crashed it against the stone tile...only for the released energy to burst forth and send him sprawling to the ground, gasping for breath.

"W-what just happened...!?" Izuku groaned as Jack helped him back onto his feet.

"You see how it's not so simple?" Jack asked as he retrieved the staff from Izuku's grasp. "You see the risks involved with a relic such as this?"

"I put in too much magic," Izuku said as the realization dawned on him. "And releasing it all at once caused it to backfire on me, instead."

"Astute observation," Jack replied. "Yes, the staff's limits when it comes to storing magical energy are difficult to pinpoint, making it potentially dangerous for a wielder to use while in combat. Therefore, it's safest to channel and release minute doses of energy instead so the user is not harmed."

"It must take quite a bit of training to use a relic like that efficiently," Izuku panted.

"That's why Master Strange tasked me with giving you the basic rundown on relics," Jack said, sitting beside Izuku. "Learning about the relic and its potential drawbacks is just as important as learning how to actually use it in the heat of battle. It's a lesson I learned the hard way..."

"What happened?" Izuku asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Well..." Jack trailed off, looking off into the distance with a look of embarrassment. "I once turned Master Strange into a frog..."

Izuku chortled. "A frog!? How did you manage to do that!?"

"I swear it wasn't intentional!" Jack waved his hands defensively. "In fact, that was the whole reason he had me study on relics for so long afterwards. He had guests arriving at the Sanctum but he was out patrolling through the astral realm and was unaware. I used what I thoughtwas an astral wand to summon his astral form back to his body...but it was actually a transmogrification wand and...well, you can guess the rest."

"A-and how did you get him to turn back to normal?" Izuku said with barely restrained laughter.

"Well, being a magically enchanted toad and whatnot..." Jack trailed off, seemingly unsure of how to continue. "He had to be kissed to be returned to normal."

Izuku howled with laughter, unable to keep it contained any longer. "You gave Master Strange a kiss in order to turn him back!?"

"No, no!" Jack waved his arms again. "As embarrassed as I was over the situation, all I had to was get his wife Clea to turn him back—"

The mood seemed to drop sharply as Jack turned away with a frown and fell quiet. "Probably shouldn't have mentioned that..."

That little tidbit sure caught Izuku off guard. "Master Strange is married?" He asked in surprise. In the near year that he'd been training at the Sanctum he'd never met a romantic partner of Strange's nor was she ever brought up.

"Was married," Jack quietly corrected Izuku before talking more to himself. "I think it's been over five years now since that day..."

Izuku gulped; he wasn't liking where this conversation was headed.

"Listen, it's really not for me to say and I fear I may have already said too much," Jack said, suddenly standing up. "Just...if I were you, I wouldn't even bring this up with Master Strange. It's something that everyone here at Kamar-Taj would much rather forget."

Just then, Izuku looked out across the stone courtyard and spotted Strange conversing with several students and masters alike as they congregated toward the great library. Giving the man a hard stare, Izuku thought back through the year he'd spent training with him and realized that still, to this day, there were plenty of things he didn't know about his relatively enigmatic sensei.

That much he understood.

"Hello?" Izuku called out as he peered into the dimly lit depths of Kamar-Taj's great library. The front desk was desolate and empty and Izuku dared not venture in further without Master Wong's express permission. Izuku clutched a stack of books he'd checked out close to his chest.

"Hello right back at ya!" A perky voice sounded out from behind a bookshelf. "Come on back here if you have books to return!"

Following the voice through the labyrinth of shelved tomes, Izuku stumbled upon a dark-skinned girl who had several tomes splayed out on the table before her in a messy, disorganized fashion.

"Right over here!" She called out to him with a brisk wave. "Zelma's the name! Zelma Stanton at your service!"

"I-Izuku—"

"Izuku Midoriya!" Zelma interrupted with a wide grin. "The talk of Kamar-Taj himself! Practically everyone's been wondering about you around here! After all, being hand-picked by the Sorcerer Supreme isn't something that occurs regularly."

"O-oh! I see," Izuku said nervously. Were people really talking about him a lot around here? He hadn't really noticed.

"Got books for me to scribe?" Zelma asked. "You can slide those over here!"

"A-actually, I'm just here to return these to Master Wong," Izuku said, setting the stack of books he'd checked out on the desk beside him. "Do you know where he is?"

"Probably out chiding Master Strange over something or other," Zelma said dismissively. "Great for me though, that means I have full reign over the library! Being the official Scribe and Secretary of Kamar-Taj has its perks, you know?"

"What do you do as the Scribe?" Izuku asked as he took a seat beside Zelma.

"Watch this!" Zelma ran her fingers across the page of a particularly archaic text she had laid out. To Izuku's amazement, the words lifted off the page and, one at a time, pressed down on an ink pad before floating over and pressing down on a cleaner, blank page before returning to the text they had originated from, albeit slightly splotched. "With my Quirk—Word Lift—I can effortlessly transcribe written spells and information from tomes ravaged by time and battle into newer, more sturdy facsimiles."

"What a useful Quirk!" Izuku exclaimed. He'd be sure to jot this one down in his journal later. "I bet a lot of information has been saved here because of what you do! It just goes to show how varied and diverse the world of Quirks really is."

"You flatter me, Izuku," Zelma said with a somewhat conceited grin. "How about you? Do you have a Quirk that caught Master Strange's attention?"

Izuku felt his breath catch in his throat. He remembered then: no one in Kamar-Taj had been told—as far as he knew—that he was actually Quirkless. He knew Doctor Strange was Quirkless, as he had confessed that when demonstrating his power back in the hospital, but he also didn't know how many people here were privy to that fact. How would they react? Would he be spurned here like in Junior High?

"I'm...actually Quirkless," Izuku said softly, bracing for imminent rejection.

"Huh," Zelma said after several tense moments of silence. "You're even more impressive than I thought."

"W-what did you say?" Izuku asked incredulously, unsure if he had heard her right.

"Did I stutter?" Zelma asked with a teasing smile. "You don't have a Quirk, yet you still managed to catch Master Strange's keen eye? He must see quite the potential in you, Midoriya...whoa, are you alright?"

Zelma had caught sight of Izuku's tears before even he had realized he was crying. "What is it?" Izuku asked as he gingerly brushed a tear off his cheek before quickly wiping the rest away. "Whoa, get it together, Izuku..."

"You okay?" Zelma asked gently.

"Yeah, that just...really meant a lot to me, is all," Izuku sniffled. To actually admit that he was Quirkless to a stranger and be called impressive for what was a widely pitied status—Izuku could hardly comprehend his own joy at the moment. This was how he'd wished Kacchan and the others would treat him.

"I'll say he's impressive," Another jaunty voice rang out from behind them.

"Casey!" Zelma said exuberantly.

Izuku turned as a blue-haired girl approached them, pausing to peruse through the stack of books Izuku had brought with him.

"Casey Kinmont," The girl introduced herself. "These books you checked out—most of these are ones that Apprentices would normally be hard-pressed to get a hold of. Master Wong is a stickler when it comes to the books he lets us check out." She skimmed through some of the pages at random, eyes wide in surprise. "Some of these spells are forbidden to anyone lower than the rank of Disciple!"

"Y-yeah, I convinced Master Wong to let me read through them after I completed my training with Jack," Izuku said. "I read through but they weren't exactly the spells I was interested in learning at the moment."

"You should read over the spells you choose carefully, Izuku," Zelma warned. "It's a quirky thing about spell books, especially those at Kamar-Taj: the warnings usually come after the spells."

"You would definitely know better than anyone," Casey said with a wry chuckle.

"Oh?" Izuku perked up. "What spell did you use?"

"God, I hate telling this story..." Zelma muttered. "Okay. One day a little while back I woke up with a massive—and I mean massive—migraine. I combed through a spell book that may or may not have been above my rank and found a spell that dispelled migraines."

"...And it backfired on you horribly," Izuku guessed correctly.

"Hell yeah it did," Casey snickered.

"Shut it!" Zelma barked. "Anyway, I cast the spell and boom! Migraine gone! But a few hours afterwards, I start to feel this itch on my head...and then another. And another. And before I knew it, I had maggots crawling out of my head! Mind Maggots! I didn't read the warnings on the next page that detailed how the spell would summon magical Mind Maggots to literally eat my migraine and they were now popping out of my head by the dozens!"

"You should've seen Master Strange in particular, zooming around the compound trying to collect all the little bastards," Casey chortled, eliciting a chuckle from Izuku.

"Alright, since we're telling stories at our own expense, how about you tell Izuku about the vanishing spell you abused!?" Zelma pointed at Casey accusingly.

"D-damn it," Casey straightened right up, her humor quickly giving way to irritation. "Fine. About a year ago I was assigned to help clean up the compound's barracks and thought I'd pull a fast one over Wong and Strange by using a vanishing spell to get rid of all the garbage and dirt."

"But...?" Izuku cracked a smile.

"But...!" Casey grit her teeth. "The spell, I would soon discover, didn't just cause things to vanish. It was actually a very specific teleportation spell that sent 'vanished' items into another dimension. And the demon in charge of that dimension was not happy with me sending garbage into his domain."

"You were in deep shit over that incident," Zelma teasingly chided her friend. "Master Strange was infuriated."

"Don't remind me..." Casey groaned.

"Infuriated?" Izuku blinked. "Was Master Strange really that angry?"

"Yeah, but I think his anger was caused more by the demon than Casey," Zelma added. "The demon in question—Baroshtok—he and Master Strange don't get along in the slightest. Because Casey was abusing a spell into his domain, the demon Baroshtok caused it to rain squid over Kamar-Taj for a week."

"No, Master Strange was still plenty angry with me," Casey grimaced.

"I don't think I've ever seen him get to the level of anger you're describing," Izuku said. "I mean, sure, he's scolded me, or I've disappointed him from time to time, but I've...never caused him to be infuriated."

Zelma and Casey shared a look between the two of them. "And we hope you never see him like that," They both said simultaneously.

"Master Strange—his rage is like a cold yet righteous fury," Zelma shuddered.

"His judgment against those that would abuse dark magic or threaten Kamar-Taj or the Sanctums is swift and oftentimes merciless," Casey added.

"Such judgment and swiftness is befitting of our Sorcerer Supreme," The stern voice of Wong suddenly spoke from behind them, causing all three trainees to nearly jump out of their seats.

"Casey," Wong focused on the blue-haired girl first with his intense gaze. "Are you here to check books out?"

"N-no, Master Wong—"

"Then you're dismissed," Wong cut her off. Casey needn't be told twice as she scurried out on her way. "Zelma, are you finished transcribing the tomes you were asked to?"

"Almost done, Master Wong—"

"Finish quickly," Wong then turned his attention to Izuku, who was shivering where he sat. "Midoriya."

"M-Master Wong?"

Wong said nothing as he reached over to the stack of books Izuku had checked out and slid them over to him. He scanned through the books one at a time.

"The Book of Benediction," Wong began with the top book. "The Cryptic Codex. The Ledger of Ashes." He placed a hand atop the stack of tomes and gave Izuku look of both skepticism and incredulity. "You read all of these?"

"Y-yes, sir," Izuku squeaked.

"...Follow me," Wong said after a few seconds of silence, motioning for Izuku to follow him further into the library. Izuku and Zelma offered each other a meek wave of goodbye as the boy followed the Master to the end of the library and then down a flight of stairs into a deeper section of the library Izuku had no idea existed before now. A room more dimly lit than upstairs, it had markedly less shelves and an abnormal pedestal with a familiar relic resting in an even further back room.

"This section is normally reserved for masters, but others may study these books at my own discretion," Wong explained as Izuku moved from shelf to shelf, perusing the tomes with wonder. "You should start with the Flamebound Primer," Wong continued as he pulled an orange grimoire from a shelf.

Izuku gravitated to the back of the room toward a wrought iron shelf with books chained and hooked into place. "What are these?" He asked Wong curiously.

"Those books," Wong said as he approached Izuku with another stack of tomes. "Are Master Strange's private collection, which he inherited from the previous Sorcerer Supreme."

"So...they're forbidden, right?" Izuku asked, feeling slightly disappointed.

"No knowledge in Kamar-Taj is forbidden, Midoriya," Wong responded with a wry smile. "Only certain practices."

Izuku certainly perked up at that, and he quickly unhooked a golden blue tome from its chained resting place before scanning his eyes across the rest of the shelf.

"Some of these slots are missing tomes," Izuku said. "Does Master Strange check out his own books for study from time to time?"

Wong paused, giving a look over Izuku and the shelf with missing tomes before speaking. "No...those books are missing because they were stolen."

Izuku immediately shrank back, feeling a pit open up in his stomach as he was instantly reminded of his own unwitting theft of a tome from Strange's Sanctum.

"Over five years ago," Wong explained as he pulled out another book. "A great battle took place here between the Masters of the Mystic Arts and a group of Zealots led by one named Kaecilius. He led the Zealots that had defected from our own ranks into dark and unsavory practices, and in the aftermath of the battle here, several Great Tomes of Power were lost. The only one that was returned was the tome you now carry: the Book of Cagliostro—the study of time.

"It was with the forbidden rituals in that book that Kaecilius was able to sway many others under the ways of black magic," Wong continued. "But not before, of course, relieving the past librarian of Kamar-Taj of his head."

Izuku gulped nervously as Wong leveled his intense gaze toward him. "I am now the Guardian of Kamar-Taj's lore. And should anyone try to steal a tome from this collection, not only would I know about it, but they would be dead before they could ever leave the compound." Wong snatched the Book of Cagliostro out of Izuku's hand just as the sound of footsteps could be heard coming down.

"Master Wong!" Zelma raced downstairs, panting. "Master Strange is requesting your presence!"

"Your timing is as odd as ever, Stephen..." Wong muttered before placing the Book of Cagliostro back onto the chained shelf and turning to Izuku. "You have your tomes, so you may see yourself out Midoriya. I expect those tomes back by the end of next week."

And with that, Wong tuned heel and headed out with Zelma in tow, leaving Izuku alone in the master's section.

Izuku straightened the small stack of books Wong had handpicked for him...but he felt an enigmatic allure coming from the Book of Cagliostro that he couldn't quite shake off.

Master Wong might be gone for awhile if Sensei called him away, Izuku thought as he approached Strange's collection. A quick look wouldn't hurt...right?

Checking back to make sure no one was coming down the steps, Izuku foolishly allowed his curiosity to take command as he unchained the Book of Cagliostro down from its rightful resting place and set it on the nearest desk.

Izuku skimmed through the book, reading through spell after spell, ritual after ritual with fascination, until he stumbled across one that seemed highly familiar to him.

"The Eye of Agamotto...?" Izuku uttered as he perused through the ritual more carefully. "The eye that opens a window through time..." Izuku glanced up toward the pedestal centered in the back of the room.

Is that what I think it is...? It was. Sitting forlornly atop the pedestal was the relic described in the book: the Eye of Agamotto. Does Sensei leave it down here with his personal collection when he's not using it as well?

Izuku briskly walked over and, ensuring that Wong or no other master was descending the stairs, quickly scooped up the relic and brought it back over to the book. Why did it seem so familiar? Then it hit Izuku. Strange was wearing this relic back when I was in the hospital...!

Izuku studied the relic curiously and then glanced back over to the ritual he had stumbled across in the tome. His curiosity was getting the better of him again. Just one try couldn't hurt...could it?

Izuku quickly draped the Eye around his neck and read through the first steps of the ritual that had enraptured his interest. "First, open the Eye of Agamotto..." He wasn't perfect with his Sanskrit, although he still managed to make out the proper finger movements, connecting his fingers and then sliding them past one another as the tome described. Izuku gasped as the desk and tome before him were suddenly radiated by a resplendent emerald light that he'd seen before. He had successfully opened up the Eye.

He couldn't find it in him to stop now. "Bring your hands together, like so..." Izuku read off the next list of instructions, rotating his opened palms until he had constructed a brilliant emerald mandala. He pulled back one hand, dragging the shimmering energy until it formed something akin to a bracer over his other arm, just as Strange had shown him nearly a year ago.

Shaking with excitement, Izuku decided to proceed. He directed the Eye's energy to the desk before him. As he rotated his hand to the right and slowly clenched his palm shut, Izuku stared on in amazement as the wood of the desk seemed to crumble and rot before his eyes. Reversing his hand's movement reversed the damage, restoring the desk to its normal state.

"Oh my goodness," Izuku whispered incredulously at his feat. He had to make sure he was doing what he thought he was doing. Directing the Eye toward the Book of Cagliostro itself, Izuku again repeated his hand movements, causing the book to crumple and wither with a full turn to the right, and restoring it by turning back to the left.

Izuku had no doubt now—he was definitely controlling time. The Eye of Agamotto allowed the user to manipulate the flow of time itself.

"What else can the Eye do...?" Izuku muttered as he scanned down the page. "Time Slips? Removing people and objects from forward or reverse motions through time?" Izuku's mind was positively spinning now—it was all simply too much to take in!

Izuku brushed his hand across the page, accidentally flipping it as something on the new page caught his eye—and his terror. "Dormammu?" Izuku asked unsteadily as he gazed down at the new ritual. "The Dark Dimension...realms beyond time?"

"It was with the forbidden rituals in that book that Kaecilius was able to sway many others under the ways of black magic," Wong's words echoed through his mind as his hands began to shake harder and lose control over the Eye's magic...with nearly disastrous results following.

Izuku flinched as the emerald brightness seemed to burst with greater illumination. A multitude of shimmering threads erupted from the Eye, running into the walls and ceiling as Izuku desperately tried to futilely rein the relic back under his control. Looking through the sea of threads, some movement on them caught Izuku's attention: on every thread he saw he could make out...himself? He saw himself also handling the Eye of Agamotto. It didn't seem like a reflection. Izuku reached out to grasp the nearest thread...

"STOP!" The severe voice of Wong sounded out. Izuku flinched back as the magic ritual ended abruptly, the Eye snapping shut as the various threads dissipated in an instant. Whirling around, Izuku saw Wong, Strange, and Zelma rushing over to him.

"Tampering with temporal continuities is forbidden!" Wong rasped.

"I-I was only doing exactly what the book said!" Izuku cried out, bewildered.

"And what did the Book of Cagliostro say? Hmm? About the dangers of performing such a ritual?" Wong asked as he snapped the tome shut.

"...I hadn't gotten to that part yet," Izuku said meekly.

"What did I tell you about warnings in spell books, Midoriya?" Zelma chided. "Do you not know the risks that could've been incurred with what you did? Unstable branches in time! Dimension-breaking spatial paradoxes! Never-ending time loops! You could've been stuck reliving the same moment over and over, or worse, never having existed at all!"

"...You know, the warnings really should come before the spells..." Izuku muttered.

"Foolish boy," Wong scolded. "Your curiosity nearly had you killed! The Eye of Agamotto does not allow one to manipulate the space-time continuum, it allows one to break it!"

"How did you even manage to do that?" Zelma asked wearily. "The litany of magic required to pull off such a ritual is beyond what Apprentices are normally capable of."

"I-I just read what was in the book," Izuku said timidly.

"What you just did takes more than a good reading comprehension," Zelma retorted.

"Izuku has a knack for the Mystic Arts," Strange spoke up for the first time since they had arrived to cease Izuku's meddling with the Eye. Izuku looked up, expecting his sensei to be furious with him, but was surprised to see that Strange was relatively calm, looking him over with an inquisitive eye.

"Yet my hands still shake..." Izuku muttered under his breath.

"Why did you really go through the Book of Cagliostro?" Strange asked his student. "Why did you use the Eye?"

"I..." Izuku sighed in defeat. "I guess the idea of studying time itself seemed impossibly appealing besides just sating my curiosity. Magic that can reverse time? I guess I was thinking that the Eye of Agamotto could be used to save lives, is all..."

"Sorcerers of Kamar-Taj do not abuse Natural Law!" Wong rebuked. "They defend it!"

Strange's eyes, however, gleamed as if pleased by Midoriya's answer.

"Zelma," Wong turned to his assistant. "Escort Midoriya out with his books. See to it that he makes his way back to his barrack."

"Yes, Master Wong," Zelma said, motioning for Izuku to follow her.

Giving a deep, apologetic bow, Izuku gathered his books and swiftly followed Zelma up the stairs, only for her to elbow him in the stomach lightly.

"Ow!" Izuku grimaced. "What was that for!?"

"You're crazy, you know that?" Zelma snickered. "Going through Master Strange's personal tome and using the Eye of Agamotto? You're the wildest student we've had here since Wiccan!"

"Huh?" Izuku blinked. "Who's Wiccan?"

"I'll tell you later," Zelma said. "First, I just have to tell Casey and Jack about what you did!"

Not gossip... Izuku thought miserably as Zelma led him out of the library.

"You did that on purpose," Wong whirled on Strange the moment Zelma and Izuku were out of sight. "Leaving the Eye of Agamotto down here—something you never do—and then calling me away just so Midoriya could be tempted by his curiosity."

"I wasn't purposely trying to hide my intentions from you, Wong," Strange replied.

"Midoriya could have gotten himself killed!" Wong said angrily. "If he had grasped any of those temporal threads, he would've been sucked into the gaps of space-time!"

"If he had, I would've retrieved him," Strange said calmly...a bit too calmly for Wong's liking.

"You seem...pleased by this result," Wong said quizzically.

"I am," Strange said before continuing with his explanation. "You see, like you, I still worry about Midoriya's penchant for the Mystic Arts and his parallels to Ikiji have not wholly escaped my attention."

"So you let him perform the ritual in the Book of Cagliostro to see if it would affect him," Wong filled in the gap, but remained displeased. "That was reckless of you, Strange."

"Izuku did not view the Eye as a relic for personal use or as a means for carrying out selfish desires," Strange continued. "But instead as a means of saving innocent lives."

"That's Toshinori's influence for you," Strange said with a chuckle.

Wong seemed to ponder over that. He couldn't deny that Izuku's heart and capacity for goodness continued to distinguish him from Ikiji.

"Still," Wong said. "I would've appreciated being informed of this extra...'test' you had in store for the boy."

"I know, and I apologize," Strange conceded. "I suppose I was in a hurry and wanted to see this play out before I travel to Enitharmon's realm tonight."

"Oh?" Wong asked. "Enitharmon has already completed Izuku's Cloak of Levitation?"

Strange nodded with a smirk. "He was adamant that he cease all current projects and work on that without delay. He promised perfection with every weave and thread of his. I'm sure Izuku will be surprised when I return."

If Tomura Shigaraki were to be asked if he preferred the dirtiness of Yokohama City or that of Kathmandu, he'd choose Yokohama without missing a beat. His choice didn't necessarily stem from the longstanding familiarity he had with Yokohama, either. Yokohama—Kamino Ward in particular—just had a certain seediness to it that lurked just underneath its otherwise plain streets and neighborhoods. It was...appealing, to say the least. The decadence was charming to him.

Kathmandu was just filthy. Filthy roads, filthy buildings, filthy people. It irritated him to no end how time seemed to march in place here so long after the advent of Quirks.

He couldn't even understand why his sensei had sent him here with Kurogiri and their new cohort to begin with. Well, that wasn't entirely true—they and the rest of the League were here to carry out an operation, but since he wasn't in charge, what was the point? Being told that he wasn't the leader of the assault was bad enough, but being informed that he was to carry out a strictly non-combative role as well?

Shigaraki scratched his neck in agitation as he forced his way through the throngs of people, turning a corner and descending past a row of hovels. "It's basic gaming logic," Shigaraki growled to himself. "You need to fight in order to gain EXP."

"Kurogiri!" Shigaraki yelled as he kicked the door of their rundown hideout open and sauntered in. "I grow impatient. When are we carrying out this little 'assault' of his?"

His black-misted companion, Kurogiri, sat beside a desk with a small monitor as he read through some papers while methodically cleaning a wine glass. Perhaps to soothe his nerves since he was so far from home and his precious bar? Who could say.

"Keep it down, Shigaraki," Kurogiri calmly chastised his young charge. "Our companion is still resting."

"I am awake," A gravelly voice called out. Both Shigaraki and Kurogiri turned toward the voice. The young man in question was currently meditating—levitating—in the middle of the room with his back facing both of them. His brown and golden robes fluttered as he gently bobbed up and down while in midair, his jagged white hair remaining motionless all the while. "And we attack tomorrow, Shigaraki."

Shigaraki's hands twitched vehemently, wanting nothing more than to strangle that man and watch him disintegrate into dust all at once. "Still," He growled in annoyance. "I don't understand why I am being kept from the fighting!"

"It's simple, Tomura," A sickeningly sweet voice flitted from the blank monitor. "This is all a necessary part of your training."

"Sensei," Shigaraki and Kurogiri spoke in surprise. The robed meditating man inclined his head, silently acknowledging their ringleader.

"I understand your desire to jump straight into the fray," Sensei spoke. "But one must learn to follow before they learn how to lead."

"I understand...Sensei..." Shigaraki spoke with a deflated voice as he took a seat beside Kurogiri.

"Besides," Sensei spoke up again. "You are too important of a piece to risk losing in this match. You are necessary to opening the point of entry into Kamar-Taj for our comrade here, but you will go no further than that. You are King and Castle both, Tomura. Remember that."

The monitor fizzled as it finally went silent. There was a tense quiet that settled between the three individuals in the rundown hideout, all mentally going over their role for the upcoming attack.

"Very well then," Shigaraki spoke as their companion finally settled on his feet and turned to face them, his purple, cracked eyes fierce and full of vengeful fury. "I guess I can tolerate you being tomorrow's Player One...Ikiji Kokotsu."

Chapter 176 - 10-12