"You mean 'Heroic Age'?" Peter sighed.
"That's right." The Ancient One looked at him, "You publicly announced its arrival, which is equivalent to putting a huge target on your back. You have become the benchmark for a new generation of heroes and the guardian of this world. Peter, are you really ready to take on such a responsibility?"
Peter drank the cold tea in the cup in one gulp.
"In another world, Strange once said to me: Web of Life and Destiny is the greatest power in the multiverse, and the supreme power must be accompanied by the greatest responsibility." He took a deep breath, "I am in awe of power, and even hate the trouble it brings. But I need it now. If I shrink back, what qualifications do I have to face the future?"
The Ancient One stared at his firm eyes for a long time and sighed.
"Very good. Training will begin at dawn tomorrow. Go and rest, apprentice Parker. From tomorrow on, your life will not be easy."
"I have been mentally prepared for a long time." Peter stood up and prepared to leave.
"Wait." The Ancient One took out a palm-sized yellow talisman paper from his sleeve and pushed it to the table.
Peter picked it up and looked at it. There were complicated and obscure mystical runes drawn on it with cinnabar. "What is this?"
The Ancient One had a flash of joking in his eyes. "A small gift. Stick it on the door. It can isolate all sounds inside and outside the room. I think you will probably need it tonight."
Peter put away the talisman in confusion, scratched the back of his head and walked out of the meditation room.
Not long after returning to the monk's room, Peter heard a knock on the door. Felicia stood outside the door and asked if he could chat for a while.
The two sat down at the table. Felicia talked about his departure, his voice getting lower and lower. Peter didn't interrupt, just listened.
Qin also came later. It was a little awkward at first, but she took the initiative to sit next to Felicia, and the two of them were finally willing to talk about what they had been holding back.
Peter put the mute note given by the Ancient One on the door frame to prevent the night talk from disturbing the neighboring houses. When he came back and sat down, he held Felicia's hand.
"Promise me that if we encounter danger in the future, we will face it together. Don't leave without saying a word just to protect me."
"I promise you." Felicia nodded with red eyes.
Qin also held her hand. This time, the three of them did not avoid their respective feelings.
Peter looked at them and thought of his two children in the future. He swore in his heart that he must let Ben and Hope live in a world where they don't have to fight all day long, even if they spend their whole lives for it.
In September, the autumn wind becomes cooler.
Time passed quickly during the arduous practice. A few months passed in the blink of an eye, and Peter's secret skill cultivation in Kamar-Taj improved by leaps and bounds. Although he still could not grasp the ultimate secret of Web of Life and Destiny, the magic power reserves and magical attainments in his body were no longer what they used to be.
His seventeenth birthday passed quietly in the boring training. Except for Qin and Felicia celebrating him privately, Peter himself almost forgot about it. After experiencing so much, his mentality has already surpassed that of his peers. Even his stature has grown to about 1.85 meters, completely losing the youthful youthfulness.
Now, he has put on the blue robe that represents the official secret magic mage.
"Get going." Master Mordo's voice sounded sternly.
On the martial arts field in the early morning, Peter moved smoothly and accurately, each move was precise and full of explosive power. The last punch stopped in mid-air, and the violent wind pressure caused scattered leaves on the ground.
"Condensing weapons!" Mordo shouted.
Peter flipped his wrist, sparks flew in the void, and a double-edged Magic battle ax emitting reddish light instantly condensed. He stepped forward and slashed, the ax blade tore the air, and slashed down with a terrifying downward slash!
"Too slow!" Mordo shouted coldly.
Spider-Sense suddenly screamed! The hair on the back of Peter stood up, and he instinctively tightened his abdomen and shortened his body. The staff in Mordo's hand instantly turned into an energy whip, whizzing past his scalp. Peter took advantage of the situation to roll sideways, and spread out Shield of the Seraphim with his backhand!
"Clang!"
Magic's shield trembled violently, blocking Mordo's continuous blows.
Mordo retracted his long whip and stood with his hands behind his back, with a rare hint of approval on his face. "I have to admit that when Sorcerer Supreme insisted on taking you in, I was deeply skeptical. I thought you were just a frivolous young man who relied on mutant abilities and could not understand the rigor and profundity of the secret technique. Now it seems that I was wrong."
Peter dispersed the shield, cupped his fists and saluted. "Thanks to Master Mordo for your advice, I am also very happy that I did not disappoint you too much."
Mordo pursed his lips slightly, looking across the courtyard to the beginners' square in the distance. There, Felicia, dressed in white robes, was sitting cross-legged, with his brows knitted into a tight knot, obviously trying hard to sense the flow of energy in his body.
"Your talent in physical fitness and close combat is impeccable, but your female companion..." Mordo shook her head, "She knows almost nothing about Magic induction. Maybe you need to give her some 'private guidance', Parker."
Peter smiled helplessly, "I'll try my best."
At this time, Tandy, wearing a dark red robe, walked quickly. "Master Mordo, Sorcerer Supreme, please come over."
Mordo nodded in agreement, and before turning around, he told Peter: "The rest of the day is free to study, and we will continue at dawn tomorrow."
As soon as Mordo left, Tandy immediately came to Peter and lowered his voice and said, "Hey, Peter, I made a bet privately with Uncle Ben on whether Master Mordo and Sorcerer Supreme would have an affair. What do you think?"
Peter almost choked on his own saliva. "...Tandy, Sorcerer Supreme have lived for hundreds of years, what are you thinking about?"
Tandy curled his lips. "Tch, boring. Then why are you going now?"
"Go back to the room to study the runes." Peter pointed to the other side of the courtyard, "By the way, I can help a certain cat with fried hair to feel better."
He closed his eyes and connected Felicia's consciousness in his mind through Mind Stone induction. "Xiaomao, relax."
Felicia's irritable voice immediately exploded in his mind. "Peter?! Damn it, first it was Qin, and now you can even do this! How on earth can you mobilize this useless energy?!"
Peter smiled slightly and passed on a memory of his meditation. In those memories, every time he felt irritable during training, he would focus on Felicia's figure to clear away distracting thoughts.
"Because I have someone I must go back to see." Peter said to her gently in his mind.
Watching Felicia's frown in the distance gradually relax, and even a faint arc appeared at the corner of his mouth, Peter withdrew his senses.
"Are you helping her run a small stove again?" Tandy murmured sourly from the side, "In my opinion, she is not suitable for learning this at all. Why do you spoil her so much? She used to treat you like this..."