Parallel World, January 2000, University of London Dormitory, England.
William Collins raised his hands and traced a hexagram in the air, causing a golden magic circle to materialize. With a swift motion, he transformed the circle into a shimmering golden rope. With a flick of his wrist, the rope encircled a chair several meters away, pulling it toward William with a satisfying thud into his grip.
This was the very magic from Kamar-Taj, as seen in Doctor Strange.
Eyes closed, William tapped into his mental powers to perceive the dormitory around him. He sensed every object, even discovering a few coins hidden under his bed. Channeling the Mage Hand spell, the coins floated toward him, seemingly lifted by an invisible force. William gazed at the coins in his hand, his face lighting up with excitement.
Brandishing the magic rope, he inadvertently knocked over shoes and chairs, the sounds echoing loudly off the walls.
Suddenly, a loud banging interrupted his reverie. An angry voice boomed from the other side of the door, "For crying out loud, mate, are you on drugs? It's the middle of the night! Stop the racket, or I'll call the police!"
Startled by the neighbor's complaints, William hurriedly opened the door and apologized profusely until the disgruntled student finally retreated.
Back in his room, William lay on his bed, reflecting on the surreal events of the past few days. His initial fear had morphed into eager anticipation.
For nineteen years, William had lived in this parallel world. Three days ago, he was jolted awake by a series of beeping noises.
"Beep, beep, beep. Energy charging complete. Marvel Universe System activated. First-time system activation grants basic magical knowledge."
Charging? What kind of system takes nineteen years to activate?
Then, a torrent of knowledge flooded his mind, and he fainted almost instantly.
The next morning, rubbing his still-dizzy head, William sat up. Had he hallucinated from too much drinking? Why was there strange knowledge in his mind? Magic? How could magic exist here? William, who had lived nineteen years in this parallel world, had never heard of such things. Was he really drunk?
Blinking hard, William reassured himself he was still in his familiar dorm room.
In this world, the King of England was Philip, and the President of the United States was Benjamin Arthur. A previous president was even a British-born woman.
This world was vastly different from William's previous life.
In his past life, William was known as Mark Miller, an ordinary 22-year-old office worker from California in 2019. Celebrating his cousin's 20th birthday, he enjoyed a night of revelry with family. After a thunderstorm struck, a bolt of lightning hit him, and he lost consciousness.
He remained in a coma until he turned eighteen, when his brain was finally able to process the vast memories of his previous life, merging the two souls.
Born to a Chinese father and British mother, his mother, Sarah Collins, had met his father during a ski trip in Switzerland. A tragic avalanche separated them, and only Sarah survived. She returned to England, later discovering she was pregnant. Despite numerous searches, she found no trace of Mark's father's family in China.
Raised by his loving maternal grandparents, after their passing, Sarah worked tirelessly to raise William alone. The challenges of a single-parent household, coupled with his mixed heritage, left William feeling like an outsider among his peers.
With fewer distractions, young William excelled in his studies. His grandfather's aristocratic teachings, combined with his burgeoning intellect, helped him gain admission to the prestigious University of London.
Three days ago, he fell asleep at his computer, exhausted from pulling an all-nighter for an assignment.
"Beep, beep, beep," the sound roused him from slumber.
"Marvel Universe System charging complete, initiating startup. Host William Collins, welcome to the Marvel Universe System."
Astonished by the system's existence, William wondered which deity had granted him this blessing. But the system remained silent, leaving him to decipher its functions alone.
Realizing the system was merely a repository of knowledge, he was thrilled by the prospect of mastering magic. Despite the world's lack of magic or superpowers, he couldn't resist the allure of learning.
Practicing basic magic, William marveled at the colorful magic elements that appeared in his mind. The system, though silent, offered a treasure trove of potential.
With newfound abilities, William's excitement soared. His future brimmed with possibilities, from mastering magic to creating high-tech marvels. He was on the brink of a thrilling new life.
The next day, William awoke, prepared for class, and headed out. As a second-year computer science student, he knew his mother, Sarah, would never forgive him for neglecting his education.
With a heart full of gratitude for his mother's sacrifices, William balanced his academic pursuits with the incredible opportunities before him. Armed with knowledge and potential, his journey in this extraordinary world was just beginning.