Seeing the unique barrier forming around him composed of countless irregular mirror like crystal shards Sebastian knew he was safe for the moment.
Sure enough the barrier gently bulged outward. From within stepped a bald woman draped in a yellow hooded robe holding a folded fan. She turned her head and offered Sebastian a calm knowing smile.
"Master Sebastian, a pleasure to meet you at last."
Sebastian gave a respectful nod.
"The pleasure is mine Master Ancient One. I have heard much about your wisdom and power."
Raising an eyebrow in mild surprise she spoke.
"Curious. I half expected you not to know who I was considering how isolated you have kept yourself from the magical community."
"As a humble explorer of the magical arts in this world how could I not have heard of the great Sorcerer Supreme? Your reputation precedes you even to those who walk alone."
The Ancient One's gaze lingered on him with quiet amusement in her eyes.
"Strange then that someone with your knowledge would not know where New York's mages gather for their training and study. Or that they do not usually buy magical materials from eBay and Amazon as you have been doing. Those are rather unconventional sources for someone who claims to understand our world."
Sebastian's heart skipped a beat but he kept his face composed and his voice steady.
"Well those are not exactly mutually exclusive are they? Sometimes necessity forces us to be creative with our resources."
She chuckled softly still smiling at him.
"True enough I suppose. Even for those of us who study the arcane the world is full of mysteries we do not fully understand yet. Anything really is possible when you consider the vastness of what remains unknown to us all."
Her eyes shifted toward Akanksha who was now trembling under the seething power of the dark dimension that corrupted her very being.
"But we can talk more later about your unusual circumstances. Right now there are more pressing matters."
She said this while stepping forward and her tone grew sharper with urgency.
"This young woman has been tainted by the Dark Dimension and its corrupting influence. If her connection to it deepens any further we will all have a much bigger problem on our hands than just one possessed student."
Her fan snapped open with a flick of her wrist. The shimmering reflections around the battlefield began to warp and twist in response to her will.
"I did not come here for you Sebastian. I came for her and the darkness that threatens to consume her completely."
Dark Dimension!
The moment he heard those words Sebastian's heart skipped a beat and his breath caught. Suddenly everything clicked into place like pieces of a puzzle finally forming a complete picture. The red mark on Akanksha's forehead and the eerie power radiating from her body. He had seen it before. Not in real life but in a film years ago in his previous existence. That symbol was not random at all. It was tied to the dark dimension and its malevolent entities.
But instead of blurting it out Sebastian kept his expression neutral and his thoughts carefully guarded. He silently watched as the Ancient One strode gracefully toward Akanksha with purpose in every step.
"Who are you?! What do you want from me?!"
Akanksha snarled with rage and confusion warring in her corrupted mind.
"My name is the Ancient One and I am the Sorcerer Supreme of this world. I am here to save you from the darkness that has taken hold of your soul."
The Ancient One replied calmly as though speaking to a frightened child.
"Save me?!"
Akanksha let out a shrill laugh that was unhinged and wild with madness.
"I do not need saving from anyone! I have never felt better in my entire life! This power is mine and I will not give it up!"
At her outburst the corrupted energy around her body exploded outward violently. Several thick black tentacles of dark magic lashed out toward the Ancient One howling like living things filled with malice and hunger.
Akanksha was powerful there was no denying that fact. But her power was crude and unrefined like raw ore that had never been properly forged. She was like a child wielding a chainsaw. Dangerous yes but lacking any real control or understanding of what she possessed.
If Sebastian had been stronger in his abilities and if he had his wand in hand she might not have posed much of a threat to him either. But against the Ancient One? She was already outmatched before the fight even began.
With a serene flick of her folding fan the Ancient One conjured intricate rings of flame. Magic circles that blazed into existence and formed a glowing barrier of pure mystical energy. The tentacles struck the shields with tremendous force but were instantly repelled. They disintegrated into curls of smoke that dissipated harmlessly into the air.
Then almost effortlessly as though she were simply swatting away an annoying insect the Ancient One raised one hand. The air around them shimmered with power.
Akanksha froze in mid air unable to move even a single finger.
The Ancient One effortlessly dispersed the power of the dark dimension that Akanksha had unleashed against her. She made it look as simple as breathing.
As the corrupted energy drained from her body Akanksha faltered in her suspended position. She felt it instantly. Most of her strength had vanished without a trace as though it had never existed at all. For the first time since the darkness had taken her a flicker of genuine fear sparked in her eyes. With her power diminished so dramatically fragments of her sanity returned to her corrupted mind. The frenzy faded from her gaze as she looked upon the Ancient One. So calm and so impossibly powerful standing before her.
Panic took over her thoughts completely.
With a desperate burst of the remaining magic she still possessed she vanished from sight. She reappeared ten meters away in a blink of dark energy trying to escape.
She was not done yet. Akanksha moved to repeat the same tactic again. Flickering in and out of space like a shadow trying desperately to flee. But this time the Ancient One was ready and waiting for her.
Her body began to glow from within. Light pulsed through her form like molten lava flowing through veins. Streams of red energy like veins of living flame spilled from her outstretched hands. They wove through the air with terrifying precision and purpose. They snaked toward Akanksha and wrapped around her body mid blink before she could complete her escape.
Cytorak's Crimson Bands.
The ancient binding spell infused with the power of the Crimson Dimension. An entity just as terrifying and potent as the Dark Dimension itself. The bands wrapped tightly around Akanksha's struggling form. Each one blazed with raw magical power radiating immense pressure as they layered over her body like molten chains forged in another realm entirely.
Struggle as she might with all her remaining strength she could not break free from their hold.
Slowly and inevitably the crimson bindings pulled her toward the Ancient One against her will.
She roared and writhed in desperation but it was completely useless.
Facing away from Sebastian the Ancient One raised one hand with slow deliberation. She placed it gently on Akanksha's forehead. In that precise moment a red sigil like burning embers appeared on the Ancient One's own brow. It mirrored perfectly the one etched into Akanksha's corrupted flesh.
Then with a pulse of dimensional magic that Sebastian could feel in his very bones the Ancient One drew the taint of the dark dimension from Akanksha. She absorbed it into herself with chilling precision and control.
The corruption fled its host like a parasite being forcibly extracted. It vanished into the Ancient One's body where it was contained and purified and sealed by one who knew its depths all too well.
Closing her eyes briefly the Ancient One took a slow breath as she digested the remnants of the dark dimension's energy within her own spirit. Then with a graceful motion she released the unconscious Akanksha from her grip. She dispelled the Crimson Bands of Cytorak with a wave of her hand. The mark on her own forehead vanished without a trace as though it had never been there at all. Turning she stepped calmly in front of Sebastian.
"Master Sebastian, how about we find a more suitable place to talk? Somewhere we can speak freely without interruption."
"Of course. That is exactly what I was hoping for as well. But what about Akanksha? What will happen to her now?"
Sebastian replied calmly while gesturing toward the unconscious girl.
"Do not worry about her. Reinforcements have already arrived and they will take her to the proper authorities who can help her recover. As for everything that happened just now she will not remember a thing. The dissipated energy of the dark dimension has wiped her memories of this entire event. She may retain a vague impression somewhere deep in her subconscious but nothing concrete. No memory of you or me or what truly transpired here today."
The Ancient One said this while casting a glance behind her at the approaching figures.
Sebastian let out a breath of relief that he had been holding.
"That is very good to hear. I was worried about the complications this might cause."
"Then Mage Sebastian shall we depart?"
The Ancient One said while extending her hand with a small smile.
With a single swipe through the air in front of them a ring of golden sparks burst into existence. The portal spun rapidly with mesmerizing light. It revealed within its glowing circle an ancient structure steeped in Eastern mystique. The building was ornate and timeless and humming with quiet magical energy that Sebastian could feel even from here.
Without hesitation Sebastian stepped into the glowing portal feeling the strange sensation of space folding around him. The Ancient One followed behind him gracefully. The circle of sparks closed gently in their wake with a soft sound like wind chimes.
As the portal vanished completely the mirror dimension that had enveloped the area dissolved along with it. Moments later a group of people rushed to the scene. Concerned passersby and mages in disguise who had been monitoring the situation. Finding the unconscious Akanksha lying peacefully on the ground they quickly arranged for her to be taken to the police station for proper care.
At the same time Sebastian looked around at the ancient elegant structure before him. He could not help but let out a quiet sigh of wonder at its beauty and the power that permeated every stone.
"This is the Sanctum Sanctorum of New York. It belongs to our order which is known as Kamar Taj throughout the world. We are the guardians of the mystical and the arcane."
The Ancient One said calmly before turning toward a man in black robes who was approaching them. The man bowed respectfully with deep reverence. The Ancient One nodded in return with acknowledgment.
"Daniel would you kindly prepare two cups of hot tea for myself and our guest? Something soothing I think."
"As you command Master Ancient One. It will be my honor."
Daniel Drum replied formally before turning to carry out the task immediately.
Gesturing invitingly toward the comfortable seats nearby the Ancient One motioned for Sebastian to sit. Sebastian followed her lead and sat down feeling the comforting energy of the place washing over him. The Ancient One settled gracefully into the chair opposite him. She continued speaking with that same calm measured tone.
"The mage you just saw is Daniel Drum. He is the guardian of this Sanctum and a highly capable and trustworthy sorcerer who has served faithfully for many years. If you ever face something beyond your current power do not hesitate to seek him out for assistance. He will help you if he is able."
"Master Ancient One I truly appreciate that offer of assistance. It means a great deal to have such support available. But I cannot help wondering about something. Why are you treating me so favorably? You do not receive every mage who wanders into your territory like this do you? There must be a reason."
Sebastian replied with a slight nod while his curiosity got the better of him.
The Ancient One chuckled softly with genuine amusement dancing in her eyes.
"Of course not. You are rather special compared to others I have encountered. You see the magic you cast earlier during your confrontation with that poor girl. It does not belong to this world's system of mystical arts at all. It is different. Foreign. From somewhere else entirely. I am deeply curious about it and its origins. And for that reason I am willing to offer an exchange of knowledge. Something of value in return for your insights provided you are interested Master Sebastian. What do you think? Does such an arrangement appeal to you?"