Stephen's soul returned to his body. The headache caused by the excessive strain on his soul made him urgently raise his hands to look at them.
A few seconds later, Stephen exclaimed excitedly, "It worked! My hands are finally better. They've stopped shaking!"
After countless hardships, Dr. Strange had finally healed his hands.
The Ancient One watched Stephen, who was overcome with emotion. His magical talent was the greatest she had seen in her centuries of life. But she also knew that now was not the time for Stephen to become a sorcerer. He was far from ready.
And Kamar-Taj was not yet facing an existential crisis. The Ancient One knew she still had plenty of time to wait for Stephen to truly grow.
"Stephen, you've solved your problem. I'll give you this Sling Ring as a keepsake. Whenever you need to, you can come back to Kamar-Taj and find me." The Ancient One handed Stephen an ancient bronze ring.
The Sling Ring was a magical artifact unique to Kamar-Taj. It was essential for tracing a circle and opening a portal. By giving Stephen one, the Ancient One was clearly acknowledging him as a disciple and allowing him to enter Kamar-Taj freely.
Stephen hadn't grasped the significance of it yet. He simply thanked the Ancient One sincerely. "Sorcerer Supreme, I'll always remember how much you've helped me. If Kamar-Taj ever needs me, I'll do everything I can to help."
It was a solemn promise. The Ancient One nodded to him, then sent him out of the Mirror Dimension.
When Tony and the others saw Stephen appear, they hurried over to ask how he was doing.
"I'm fine, really. I've completely dealt with the problem of my anger. Look at my hands—they've stopped shaking entirely." Stephen was thrilled.
After Stephen explained