Kassilius's arrival had caused no disturbance at Kamar-Taj. Aside from Feeney, no one held any prejudice against him. After all, most people here had their own stories, and someone like Feeney, who had gotten in through connections, was one of a kind.
In the library.
Feeney closed the ancient, hefty Magic Book in frustration. He had nearly worn it out from flipping through it, and he recognized most of the words, but he still couldn't cast any spells related to spirit bodies.
Forget knocking someone else's soul out of their body—even getting his own soul to leave his body was beyond him. He was starting to wonder if the method in the book was even real, though of course, that was just a suspicion born of frustration.
But he couldn't keep going like this, so he decided to ask The Ancient One for advice.
After informing the librarian, Feeney took the Magic Book with him and went to find The Ancient One.
"Teacher, could you give me a hand?"
Feeney came up to The Ancient One, holding the book, and explained his predicament. "I really can't make heads or tails of what it says. Could you just let me experience what it feels like to have my soul leave my body?"
"Perhaps you're being too hasty."
The Ancient One brewed tea at an unhurried pace, looking as though she couldn't be bothered to lift a finger.
"I can't afford to take my time." Feeney gazed at The Ancient One with a mournful look. "January's almost over, and I still haven't got the slightest clue."
"That's why I told you from the beginning that Kamar-Taj Magic might not be right for you."
The Ancient One remained perfectly composed.
"Teacher, if I go out like this, I'll make you look bad. Just give me a hand." Feeney looked at The Ancient One pleadingly. "It'll only take a wave of your hand."
"You!"
The Ancient One rose from her chair with a helpless sigh and walked over to Feeney. She placed her left hand at her waist, formed her right hand into a palm, and struck Feeney in the chest.
In an instant, Feeney felt the world change.
He felt light and weightless. When he looked down, he saw that his body had become semi-transparent, though his clothes looked unchanged. Even the Magic Book in his arms had been brought out of his body with his soul.
His body was right in front of him. After The Ancient One had pushed it, it was retreating at an extremely, extremely slow pace.
Before Feeney had much time to take it in, he suddenly felt an immense pull coming from his body.
The next second, he returned to normal, his body shifting back a step.
Feeney savored the sensation. It was his first time experiencing Soul Ejection, and the strange new feeling made him want to try it again. But The Ancient One wouldn't let him.
"More haste, less speed. Nothing can be forced."
The Ancient One returned to her chair, sat down, and took a sip of tea before dismissing Feeney. "Go back. I believe you'll master it sooner or later."
"How much later are we talking?"
Feeney muttered helplessly under his breath. But he knew The Ancient One well enough to know that she rarely changed her mind once she'd made a decision, so he left with the book.
On his way back, Feeney saw Kassilius again. He was practicing alone, working hard. His expression had changed slightly; he no longer looked as sorrowful as before. The Ancient One must have talked to him about something.
Feeney watched him from a distance. What had happened with Tony had taught him that the future could be changed by his actions, so for now, he didn't want to approach Kassilius. He was worried it might affect Kassilius's decision to turn to Dormammu ahead of time.
After that, Feeney tried practicing with spirit bodies again. Thanks to The Ancient One's help, he finally had some direction, but he was still a long way from achieving Soul Ejection.
After returning the book to the library, Feeney opened a portal and went home. It was morning at Kamar-Taj, but already nighttime in New York. He was used to the constant time-zone shifts and no longer felt out of sorts.
Back in his room, Feeney was just about to rest when he suddenly heard a knock at the door.
"Feeney, are you in there?"
"I am. Come in!"
Feeney answered and watched Skye open the door and walk in. He asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"
"Feeney, there's something I want to talk to you about."
"Sure!"
Skye looked hesitant, as though she didn't know how to begin. But the trace of determination in her eyes still led her to say, "Feeney, I don't mean anything by this. You know I've been happy all these years. Mom and Dad have been just like my real parents...but..."
As soon as Skye started speaking, Feeney knew what she wanted to say. Being abandoned by her birth parents had become an obsession for her. Although she had found a real home here, she still couldn't let the matter go.
"You said before that Master Ancient One could see the past and the future. Could you ask her about them for me?"
Feeney sighed inwardly. Skye had been investigating the matter for over a year. Back then, he had worried that her search might lead her to S.H.I.E.L.D. and cause a conflict, so he had done everything he could to stop her.
Now another year had passed, and Skye still couldn't stop thinking about it.
"Skye, I understand."
Feeney motioned for Skye to sit beside him on the bed, then looked at her seriously. "Actually, I do know a little about your parents. But I should warn you: things might not be going well for them."
"You really know!?" Skye grabbed Feeney's hands, asking nervously, her feelings tangled. "Who are they? Where are they now?"
"I've forgotten their names."
Feeney scratched his head awkwardly and cleared his throat, then quickly continued, "I'm not really sure where they are, either. Anyway, I know part of the reason you were abandoned."
For his family, Feeney could let go of some principles—like keeping spoilers to himself.
He hadn't told Skye the reason outright before because he hadn't been strong enough to protect her, and he had also worried that she might act rashly.
But over this past while, Skye had seen the Sorcerers of Kamar-Taj, witnessed Iron Man's spectacular debut, and even experienced Possessed by Evil Spirit herself. Her understanding of the world had changed a lot.
And he had gained some strength of his own, so he no longer needed to be quite so cautious. Most importantly, he didn't want Skye continuing to investigate alone.
Realizing she might finally learn the truth she had cared about for years, Skye felt more conflicted than she had expected. She took a deep breath, as though making sure she was ready, then asked seriously:
"What happened?"
"Your hometown was attacked. They took your mother, and another organization took you away to protect you, then sent you to an orphanage."
"So they didn't abandon me on purpose, right?"
Skye seemed not to realize that she had quietly breathed a sigh of relief. After Feeney nodded, she pressed him for more details. "Who attacked my mother? And what about my father? Who took me away? Why did they send me to an orphanage?"
Skye realized that her background might not be simple at all. She could tell a lot from just those few words Feeney had said.
Cough... Not many people replied about the Fifth Skill. So much for all those fake favorites~ As for whether the guesses are right or wrong, I can't say, I can't say. Here's another hint: she usually wears a hat~ Give me some recommendation votes! I'm at the bottom among authors who started at the same time as me. How embarrassing!
Before you continue