The Masters of the Mystic Arts have acquired numerous relics and artefacts over their many years of existence, whether they be sorcerer-made, or confiscated from dark mystics and their patrons. Kamar-Taj is the home of the more unique, powerful and dangerous of these items, while the Sanctums host those that aid in defence of the ward they sit upon. The area of Kamar-Taj that holds these relics is located underground, directly under the Intersection, the room containing the Orb of Agamotto.
The vault itself is only accessible through a large, stone slab, carved with magical runes that only powerful mystics can understand, and can only be entered by the Sorcerer Supreme and the Masters. To protect the relics it contains, the bounds of the vault have been successively enchanted by hundreds of generations of sorcerers, with the aim of making the room as indestructible as possible, and invisible to those who harbour malicious intentions.
The vault is only ever opened under three circumstances; one, when the enchantments are to be maintained and updated or a relic is to be added, two, when a large gathering of sorcerers are to be dispatched from the temple to deal with a dangerous threat, and three, when a disciple is chosen to find their fated relic. That disciple must be accompanied by either the Sorcerer Supreme or a master sorcerer, in case the temperament of their relic is fickle, posing a danger to the disciple.
Standing before the engraved wall to the vault, Yi Hye-Rin in front of me, her hand placed against it, I try not the let my excitement affect my judgement. The vault I'm about to enter is home to a wide range of useful relics, any and each of which could greatly aid me in my survival. From support relics such as the Vaulting Boots of Valtorr, a pair of boots that grant their wielder the ability to walk through the air, to weapons like the Staff of One, that can manipulate the environment and the elements.
I don't have to wait long, a golden mist appearing around Yi Hye-Rin's hand and running along the wall, the runes carved on it lighting up. The wall starts to fade, the stone becoming invisible as the runes stay suspended in the air, showing the interior of the vault. Yi Hye-Rin looks round at me and nods, then walks inside, with me following behind.
As I enter, my burgeoning magical senses are assaulted by the strongest presence of mystical energy I've ever felt, the impact making me stumble. My arm is caught by Yi Hye-Rin, stopping me from falling, her hand already extended in anticipation. I steady myself with her help and close my eyes, utilising my spiritual senses to find my position in the mystical currents, centring myself.
Opening my eyes, I find Yi Hye-Rin smiling at me, "Well done. Most disciples don't recover from their initial trip to the vault as quickly as you." I nod and thank her for her praise, while internally not particularly proud of my feat, not with having undergone years of training precisely for moments such as these. Besides, any two-bit cultivator with a little power should be able to handle themselves in an unfamiliar environment, especially when so many others lose their lives in secret realms and while out treasure hunting.
Mostly recovered from the experience, I start to look around the room as Yi Hye-Rin leads me down the rows of stored relics. The structure of the vault is domed, a smooth, stone wall running its entire circumference, curving above us. As we walk, a figure at the far end of the room draws my eye, where I see a cross-legged, stone simulacrum of a nigh-humanoid being, the orange of sorcery visible through the open joints of its four arms, sitting on a layer of sectioned stones.
Its two pairs of arms, two above, two below, extend from its bare, chiselled torso, the upper pair covering its ears, while the lower palms its eyes. Underneath and around its long-skirted lower body, drawn across its bed of stone, is a thin, golden circle, from which branches of gold flow out, each one linking to a relic housing. Each time our feet pass by a podium or rack containing a relic, the corresponding line pulses with energy, causing the stone body to shift slightly, its bald head turning incrementally.
Yi Hye-Rin says nothing, nor does she bring attention to it, so even though I'm almost overwhelmed by my curiosity, I hold my tongue, focusing on my task. She has me stand before each relic we pass, waiting for any sort of reaction, then moves me along when none appears. The variety of relics and their forms greatly increase my estimation of the power of the Masters of the Mystic Arts, with some relics listing their connection and power source to epic and mighty beings.
From the Living Tribunal, the representative of the One Above All, to Hoggoth of the Vishanti, and to the members of the Octessence, such as Watoomb, and Cyttorak, the patron of Juggernaut. Each and every power listed is either a mystic principality, or an abstract or cosmic entity, responsible for the development and functioning of reality, both its scientific and mystical sides. As I look upon the resting artefacts, I can't but only hope that my fated relic is not linked to any of these beings.
While I have no doubt that my presence has already been noticed by these entities, especially when Twos mentioned them watching us during his visit, I don't wish to be beholden to anymore great powers. From what I remember, and from what I've learned during my time with the sorcerers, most powers are benevolent, or at most apathetic, to those who draw power from. But, I'm trying for aspects of my power to be independent of external forces, especially when they can withdraw their power at any time, potentially leaving me in awkward situation.
We pass through to the back half of the room, closer to the figure, with no reaction from any relic, causing me to be slightly worried. Should it come to it, I'm sure I can settle for a normal relic, such as a simple attacking-type, like a staff or axe, but I'd prefer something that focuses on defence or support. With all these thoughts in mind, we round a large cabinet, it doors displaying the figure of some angelic being, coming to a small wooden case, secured by a small hook latch.
I don't think much of it, and move to step beyond, when I feel a small tug on Chi, the movement causing me to gasp, and the Sorceress Supreme to spin to me. Catching my breath, I turn back to the box, where I see its small body shaking and rattling, sounds of impact ringing out from inside it. Without input from me, my arm starts to extend towards the box, before the hand of Yi Hye-Rin grips my wrist and pulls me back. Turning to her, I find her staring at me.
She opens her mouth, starting to explain, "When one first finds their chosen relic, the connection between them can suppress conscious thought, leaving them open to danger." She says, her expression serious, but not harsh, "This is why one needs to be accompanied by a master sorcerer. We watch over the first meeting and protect the disciple from danger." She finishes, then looks over at the relic, the curious look in her eyes replaced by understanding.
"Ah, yes. I suppose something like this would best suit you." She releases my wrist and pick the box off its podium, holding it in both hands, then passes it to me, "It's up to you if you wish to open the box. I'm here should anything untoward happen." Nodding at her in thanks, I take the box in one hand, bringing my other to its latch with a nervous heart. Flicking it open with a click, I grip the upper half of the box, then slowly open it up, where a small object shoots out, flying at my face.
My enhanced reflexes enable me to catch it before it impacts, grasping it in my palm, feeling its heat radiate out. With the object in hand, I look over at Yi Hye-Rin, who's simply smiling, looking at ease. With relief, I lower my hand and slowly open it up, finding a small, finger-width dark copper ring, its face engraves with lines and dips, resembling the waves of the sea. As I turn it over in my hand, it starts to float above my palm, slowly rotating.
The ring begins to pulse with the colour of sorcery, that gradually shifts to match the colour of my Chi. As it does, the ring starts to feel like an extension of myself, an external part of my being, a sensation slotting into the back of my mind, like I've found something that I didn't realise I was missing. With greater ease than anything I've ever encountered, my Spirit Read connects to the ring, its history now displayed to me,
[Spirit Read
Name – Ring of Containment
Type – Magical Relic (Ring, Storage, Eldritch Magic)
Function – The storing of energy and objects, with the option to put things in temporal statis.
History – Born from the idea of a Sorcerer Supreme, the Ring of Containment was created to ease travel and capture nigh-unkillable threats. With his mastery of sorcery and the power of an Infinity Stone, the Time Stone, the Sorcerer Supreme spent twenty-one days in ritual, calling upon great principalities and cosmic powers, in order to create this ring.
The Sorcerer Supreme used it to great effect over his life, capturing demons and monsters alike, then bringing them to Kamar-Taj to bind their spirits to artefacts, increasing the strength of the Masters of the Mystic Arts. Unfortunately, the Sorcerer Supreme lost his life battling a nigh-omnipotent force from the Dark Dimension, wherein the ring escaped back to the earth, the soul of the Sorcerer Supreme safely stored within it.
After making sure his ring made it to the sorcerers, to aid them in future battles, the Sorcerer Supreme accepted his final day, his spirit being taken by the cosmic entity, Death, to the Well Beyond the Worlds, where he chose one of eight paths.]
Isn't this just a storage ring, like in xianxia? Was this done on purpose? From the very moment I died, my existence has been tied to the Dao, with my path becoming that of a cultivator. Within the first few days in this reality, I learnt divination, Taoist magic, found a sword, and began to learn to harness my Chi from Taoists. Now, upon acquiring my first, true magical artefact, it's a storage ring? One that used to host the soul of a powerful being?
Do you know how many times I read that trope back on my world?
Beyond those thoughts, I am happy with my chosen relic. It's ability to store energy will greatly help me, as I can keep stores of Chi or spiritual power inside it for emergencies, or to power rituals. Its temporal statis function is also convenient, though I don't yet know how it affects living things, but that's something I can experiment with later. A fleeting sensation from the ring causes a new piece of knowledge to appear in my mind, the ring seemingly semi-aware.
My eyes widen as I parse the knowledge, pushing the ring away and activating an aspect of it not listed by the Spirit Read. As I do, the ring expands, going from being able to fit over my finger, to being large enough for a person to walk through, its size changing with a thought. While the applications of this function run through my mind, the voice of Yi Hye-Rin sounds out, causing me to look to her, finding her with a weird expression on her face.
"Putting aside the Ring for now... You did it again, you pulled on the world." She says, an interested look in her eyes, "I'm know I felt you do this before, during our first meeting, but the events of the day were quite troubling, so I mostly forgot. But now, I'm certain." She step to me, "You are casting Weaver Magic."
Weaver Magic? That's not a magic I've ever seen in the movies, nor that I've read about in the library of Kamar-Taj. Ring in hand, I prepare to perform Spirit Read again, and ask, "Do you mean this?" I cast the divination, Yi Hye-Rin's eyes focusing on a point I can't see, before she looks back at me, an expectant look on her face.
"Yes!" She says excitedly, "I don't know how you learnt to cast it, but Weaver Magic is a very specialised form Ecocentric magic, one that no human sorcerers has been able to learn in the last few hundred years." She takes my hand and starts to rush us out of the vault, waving goodbye to the stone figure as she does. Once beyond the runes, she reseals the vault then opens a portal, through which I can see a featureless stone room.
Pulling me through, we step onto the hard ground, where Yi Hye-Rin kneels down and grasps at the stone, pulling up a metal handle. As I look about in confusion, the series of events unexpected, she turns it, pushing it back into place, causing the room to rumble and the walls to glow with runes. Standing, she turns to me, "This is an isolation room, designed to shield its inhabitants, with no one being able to portal in or out as long as the handle is active."
She smiles at me disarmingly, "I'm sorry for rushing you, but this is important. I need to know where you learnt Weaver Magic, and if you can teach it to the sorcerers." She looks at me seriously, her eyes expressing her hope.
I finally speak, "I... don't know what Weaver Magic is, I'm sorry. What I was doing is called Spirit Reading, a form of divination, a power gifted to me by my patron, that golden hand that you... met." I say, my tone apologetic. Even if I could teach divination, which I'm not sure I actually can, I wouldn't. Divination is my most powerful tool, one which will guide me on my path to immortality, that will give me an advantage over most of my future foes.
If it starts to become a widely used power, I'll have to compete with other precognitives, working around their own manipulations of the future in order to find the best outcome for me. That's something I don't think I'm intelligent enough to accomplish, nor do I have any experience doing. In fact, who's to say that blatant and constant manipulation of the future won't draw down punishment from some higher power? So no, I'm not going to be sharing it out, unless it's to someone incredibly important to me.
A look of regret comes across Yi Hye-Rin's face, before she closes her eyes and sighs. Opening them, she speaks, "I can't say I'm not disappointed, but if comes to you instinctively, there's not a lot I can do." A thoughtful expression appears on her face, before she says, "... Actually, I'm not sure that's true." She gives me a look, then turns to the centre of the room, flicking a hand. My eyes widen as the space before us starts to crack, seeing the real mirror dimension for the first time.
Yi Hye-Rin flings her arms out, the cracks spreading as she does, then brings them together, her hands meeting in a forceful clap, causing the cracks to slide and gather into a dark line. She interlocks her fingers, hands shaking as she does, the line becoming a small black hole, then turns to me, a concentrated look on her face, "Grab anything from your bag and spirit read it, then toss it through the hole." A bead of sweat runs down her face as she speaks.
Unsure of her intentions but trusting her, I dig through my bag, selecting my writing pencil, then spirit read it and approach the floating hole. Turning to her, she nods, causing me to push the pencil in it, its length disappearing upon contact. Moving behind Yi Hye-Rin, I watch as she unclasps her hands and claps them together a second time, where upon the hole collapses in on itself, disturbing the air of the chamber as it vanishes. Yi Hye-Rin slumps as it does, her breath coming out in pants as she catches it.
Knowing there isn't much I can to help, I simply pass her over my gourd, where she holds it and takes a drink of water. Once she seems to have recovered somewhat, I finally ask, "What was that? What did you have me do?"
She takes a deep breath and turns to me, her tone slightly breathless, "... It's been quite a while since I've had to do that." She starts, "I altered the mirror dimensions local connection to this reality, opening up a path along the skin of the world, creating a bridge to the Winding Way." She speaks of magic that is beyond me at my current prowess so easily, even if the strain it places upon her is evident.
"Then, I had you send out a beacon, the object you chose imbued with your... Spirit Reading. To my senses, it's similar enough to Weaver Magic that it should grab the attention of the Witches of Tapestry Island. Should it do so, then they will send me a message, asking to meet." Most of the terminology is lost on me, the beings and locations she mentioned not something I'm familiar with from the comics, nor from my studies.
She sees my confusion and gives me a smile, "No need to worry, Sarah. A requirement of becoming a master is gaining familiarity with other dimensions and their inhabitants, so you'll soon start to learn of what I speak." Moving back, she kneels down and messes with the handle, the room rumbling a second time, the runes on its walls vanishing. She gestures, opening a portal to a courtyard of the temple, then steps through, waving me on.
As I exit the portal, seeing the sun for again for first time in what feels like days, I witness Yi Hye-Rin greet the students, then turn to me, "This is where I leave you for today. For now, familiarise yourself with your relic and train; I'll contact you when the Witches wish to me meet." Taking the order for what it is, I bow to her, causing her to nod at me and smile, before she opens another portal.
The portal closes behind her, leaving me standing alone, the Ring of Containment in hand. Picking it out of my palm, I place it on right ring finger, its form pulsing with my Chi as I do. The day might not have gone as I expected it would, but I'm happy with the overall outcome, even if it did get off track towards the end.
Turning the ring on my finger, I make my way to my apprentice's room, hoping to tell him about my day.