Kamar-Taj Daily Life (Part Two)

Magic: Blue Fire

If Haki and Devil Fruit abilities were Chen Xiao's "built-in" powers, then magic was what he had truly learned at Kamar-Taj.

Two years ago, after Ancient One took him in, the first time he used a mystic art to borrow power from the dimensional lords, he drew quite a few malicious gazes. Since the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was a manifestation of dimensional power, whenever Chen Xiao sent out a contract invitation, he stood out like a beacon in the darkness.

Later, it was Teacher Ancient One who drew Vishanti's attention, allowing the trinity of supreme beings to notice Chen Xiao and willingly form a contract with him, without asking any price. But Chen Xiao understood perfectly well that the free things were always the most expensive.

Vishanti.

The trinity of supreme beings.

The source of Kamar-Taj's magical system.

Chen Xiao still remembered the scene when the contract was formed. Ancient One drew a massive golden magic circle before him. It rotated with a low hum. Sitting cross-legged in its center, he felt as though some vast, boundless force was pressing in on him from every direction, permeating and reshaping him.

"Relax." Ancient One's voice came from somewhere far away. "Do not resist, and do not deliberately cater to it. You only need to bear witness—to the connection between yourself and Vishanti."

Chen Xiao did not quite understand what that meant.

But the contract had indeed been formed.

From then on, he could use Kamar-Taj's mystic arts—portals, the Mirror Dimension, Cyttorak's Crimson Bands, the Bolt of Balthakk... he could cast every standard spell.

And he cast them absurdly fast.

For an ordinary disciple to cast a portal, they needed to focus, draw a magic circle, and guide the energy. The whole process took at least three to five seconds. Someone as gifted as Strange might be able to compress it to one or two seconds.

But Chen Xiao?

The thought arose, and the mystic art was complete.

It was not because his talent was so extraordinary, but because his source of energy differed from everyone else's.

Most sorcerers "borrowed" energy from Vishanti or other dimensional demons. When casting, they first had to establish a connection, guide the energy, then shape it into form. No matter how fast the process was, there was always a delay.

Chen Xiao's energy, however, was his own.

The lightning power inherent in the Rumble-Rumble Fruit could, after being "converted" through his contract with Vishanti, be used directly as magical power. He did not need to "borrow" or "guide" anything. He only needed to "think"—think of a portal, and a portal opened; think of the Mirror Dimension, and the Mirror Dimension came.

Fast.

Incredibly fast.

So fast that the first time Kamar-Taj's disciples saw it, their jaws nearly hit the floor.

Of course, speed came at a price.

Every spell Chen Xiao cast carried a strong personal flair—or rather, "lightning flair."

Take portals, for example.

Traditional Kamar-Taj portals were golden, with sparks flying everywhere, as if someone had ignited a blaze of golden fire in midair.

Chen Xiao's portals, however...

He casually drew a circle in the air.

Crackle—

Blue electric sparks burst through the air, rapidly spreading into a round portal of blue lightning. The frame was formed from leaping arcs of electricity, while the scene beyond it showed another place—the kitchen. He could smell porridge.

"Blue." Chen Xiao smiled helplessly. "It's all blue."

And it was not just portals.

The Mirror Dimension—everyone else had golden shards, while he had shards of blue lightning.

Cyttorak's Crimson Bands—everyone else had red energy chains, while his were blue chains of lightning.

The Bolt of Balthakk—everyone else summoned golden lightning from the sky, while he summoned... thicker blue lightning.

"That isn't magic," Kaecilius had once assessed expressionlessly. "You're using lightning and pretending it's magic."

Chen Xiao had wanted to argue at the time, but after thinking about it, he realized he really could not refute that.

The Chief Disciple's Little Scheme

"Senior Brother—"

A clear voice came from behind him.

Chen Xiao turned around and saw a young disciple jogging toward him with a scroll of parchment in his hands. "Master Ancient One asked me to give this to you. She said it's today's cultivation assignment."

Chen Xiao accepted the parchment and unfolded it for a glance. Several lines of Sanskrit, handwritten by Ancient One, were written upon it. Their rough meaning was the day's meditation topic—"The source of power is also the prison of power."

He frowned.

Another one of these cryptic topics.

"Thanks." He rolled the parchment up and tucked it into his belt.

The young disciple did not leave. He stood there, looking at him with sparkling eyes.

Chen Xiao raised a brow. "Anything else?"

"Senior Brother," the disciple hesitated, lowering his voice, "I heard... you became the chief disciple after only two years. Is that true?"

Chen Xiao froze for a moment, then smiled.

"Two years? It wasn't that exaggerated." He waved a hand. "One year and eleven months."

The young disciple: "..."

Chen Xiao patted him on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Remember this: at Kamar-Taj, cultivate quickly, but stay humble. The capable are the teachers. As long as you have real skill, the position will naturally be yours."

The young disciple nodded as if he understood, though perhaps not entirely.

Chen Xiao smiled, turned, and continued his run.

In truth, he knew perfectly well.

He had indeed obtained the position of chief disciple by "exploiting a loophole."

It was not some conspiracy or trickery. It was a very simple method—he helped everyone.

When new disciples could not draw magic circles, he taught them hand by hand.

When the ancient books in the library needed sorting, he voluntarily took on the work.

When someone went wrong in their cultivation, he was the first to lend a hand.

When someone was punished by Ancient One and ordered to copy scriptures, he helped copy them too—though his handwriting was terrible.

On top of that, he genuinely had strength.

Haki-based martial arts, Devil Fruit abilities, and magical talent—combining all three, no one in Kamar-Taj aside from Ancient One herself could defeat him.

So when the position of chief disciple became vacant, everyone naturally thought of him.

Ancient One asked whether he was willing.

Chen Xiao did his best to maintain a calm expression as he said, "This disciple is willing."

But inside, he was already exploding like fireworks.

Because there was only one thought in his mind—

Strange.

The future Doctor Strange.

Stephen Strange.

That arrogant, gifted neurosurgeon who would one day become the Sorcerer Supreme.

When he came to Kamar-Taj...

He would have to call me Senior Brother.

At the thought of that scene, the corners of Chen Xiao's lips could not stop rising.

Strange would respectfully cup his fists and call him "Senior Brother."

Strange would be unconvinced, but would have no choice but to acknowledge that he was Senior Brother.

Strange—

"Calm down." Chen Xiao patted his own face. "Calm down, Chen Xiao. Strange still has several years before he gets here. Don't celebrate too early."

But his steps were visibly much lighter.

Kaecilius

Speaking of Kamar-Taj's disciples, there was one person Chen Xiao could not avoid.

Kaecilius.

Chen Xiao first saw him during a group cultivation class. Kaecilius stood among the crowd in a gray training robe, his face cold and stern, his eyes always carrying an indescribable gloom.

He had originally had no impression of the name Kaecilius, but that familiar face was too distinctive. He suddenly remembered—Kaecilius was the man obsessed with reviving his wife and children, who believed Teacher Ancient One was withholding the true teachings from him. He secretly used dark power, betrayed Ancient One, and pledged himself to Dormammu.

Not a major villain, but still definitely a villain.

From then on, Chen Xiao felt something indescribable toward Kaecilius.

It was not hostility. Kaecilius had done nothing yet. He was merely a pitiful man who had lost his wife and children, seeking strength and comfort in Kamar-Taj.

But it was not goodwill either. Because Chen Xiao knew this man would betray them in the future.

So he chose the safest approach—keeping his distance.

He did not take the initiative to approach him, nor did he deliberately avoid him. They would nod in greeting when they met, and occasionally team up during cultivation classes, but they never chatted much, never confided in each other, and never interacted privately.

Kaecilius seemed to notice his distance as well.

After one class, Kaecilius walked up to him and asked a very strange question. "Are you avoiding me?"

Chen Xiao had been packing up magical implements at the time. His hands paused at the question.

"No," he said. "You're overthinking it."

Kaecilius stared at him for several seconds. The corner of his mouth twitched faintly. "I know how to behave, but I do not know how to 'be human.'"

Oh no. That joke mocking that actor had reached his ears.

Chen Xiao watched his retreating back, his feelings complicated.

Later, he finally could not hold back and found an opportunity to ask Ancient One.

"Master," he began cautiously, "Kaecilius... don't you think there's something wrong with him?"

Ancient One was drinking tea. At his words, she lifted her eyes and looked at him.

"What is wrong?"

Chen Xiao hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "He... his obsession runs too deep. To revive his wife and children, he would do anything. With that kind of mindset, it would be easy for him to be..." He swallowed. "Used by dimensional demons."

Ancient One set down her teacup, her gaze as calm as water.

"You are right."

Chen Xiao was stunned. "Then you..."

"Everyone has their own path." Ancient One's voice was neither hurried nor slow. "Kaecilius must walk his own path. I can teach him magic, but I cannot choose for him."

"But—"

"Do you think I do not know of his obsession?" Ancient One tilted her head slightly. Those deep eyes seemed capable of seeing through everything. "Do you think I do not know what may happen in the future?"

Chen Xiao fell silent.

Ancient One looked at his expression, and the faintest smile rose at the corner of her lips—a detached smile that seemed to say, I have seen too much, so none of it matters.

"Chen Xiao," she said, "you are an anomaly. But the meaning of an anomaly is not to make choices for fate. It is to possess the ability to change fate when it comes to pass."

"You have not reached that point yet."

Chen Xiao opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, nothing came out.

Ancient One picked up her teacup again, her tone indifferent. "You may leave."

Chen Xiao rose, gave a respectful bow, then turned and left.

As he walked out of the meditation chamber, he muttered inwardly—

Fine, fine. You're noble, you're the Sorcerer Supreme, you're amazing.

But your disciple can't stay as calm as you!

He glanced back toward the meditation chamber and sighed.

Fine.

He would deal with it when the time came.

There were still several years before Kaecilius rebelled. He had plenty of time to figure something out.

If it really came down to it...

He would just knock Kaecilius out and lock him up ahead of time.

Chen Xiao flexed his fist, electric arcs crackling between his fingers.

Daily Life: Epilogue

The morning run was over.

Chen Xiao stood on the platform, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he looked over Kamar-Taj in the morning light.

The disciples had already begun their day of cultivation.

Some practiced martial arts in the training grounds, their fists and kicks cutting through the wind.

Some meditated in quiet chambers, eyes closed in concentration.

Some pored over ancient texts in the library, brows tightly furrowed.

Some were opening portals, golden sparks blossoming through the air—beside them stood nervous new disciples attempting portals for the first time.

Chen Xiao took a deep breath, feeling the morning air fill his lungs.

Two years had passed.

He had already grown accustomed to life here.

Morning runs, meditation, cultivation, teaching, meals, sleep.

Sometimes Ancient One punished him by making him copy scriptures.

Sometimes he trained in the Mirror Dimension until he was drenched in sweat.

Sometimes he secretly used a portal to slip into New York for a cup of overly sweet Mixue Bingcheng—though Ancient One surely knew, she had never said anything about it.

Peaceful.

Fulfilling.

Even somewhat... warm.

Chen Xiao turned, preparing to eat breakfast.

After taking two steps, he suddenly remembered something. He pulled the parchment scroll from his belt and looked at the Sanskrit upon it again.

"The source of power is also the prison of power."

He frowned, pondering the meaning of those words as he walked.

By the time he reached the entrance to the cafeteria, he was still thinking about it.

Then he was bumped by a disciple coming toward him.

"Ah! Sorry, Senior Brother, sorry!"

"It's fine, it's fine." Chen Xiao waved a hand and kept walking inside.

After taking two steps, he suddenly stopped.

He turned back to look at the apologizing disciple—a new face, probably a recent arrival.

"Hey," Chen Xiao called out, stopping him. "What's your name?"

The disciple froze for a moment, then hurriedly answered, "This disciple... this disciple is called..."

"Forget it, forget it." Chen Xiao waved his hand. "It's not important. Have you eaten breakfast?"

"Not... not yet."

"Come on, together." Chen Xiao crooked a finger at him. "The porridge is good today. I caught the smell during my morning run."

The disciple followed along, flattered and overwhelmed.

Chen Xiao strode into the dining hall, sat down at a long table, and casually picked up a bowl.

As he ladled out porridge, he continued pondering Ancient One's words.

The source of power was also the prison of power.

The source of power...

Wasn't that himself?

Then wasn't he his own prison?

Chen Xiao scooped up a spoonful of porridge and put it in his mouth, grimacing from the heat.

Forget it.

He wouldn't think about it.

Food first.

With Ancient One around, the sky wouldn't fall.

And even if it did—

Chen Xiao looked at his hand, where azure arcs of electricity danced silently between his fingers.

Hehe, Stephen was still here.