Marvel: Ned the Master of Mystic Arts

After Thor left, Ned opened a portal and returned home, collapsing onto his bed in exhaustion. The next morning, after a quick breakfast, he summoned another portal to arrive at Kamar-Taj.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Come in," came the calm voice from inside.

Though Ned held a special position at Kamar-Taj, he dared not show any disrespect to the Ancient One. He waited respectfully at the door until her permission allowed him to enter.

As he stepped in, he immediately noticed Mordo seated cross-legged on a cushion, intently listening to the Ancient One's teachings. Ned's heart skipped a beat. Today, he needed to discuss two issues—both highly unconventional. While the Ancient One was understanding, Mordo's rigid nature might complicate matters.

"Ned, you never visit me without reason. What trouble are you in this time?" the Ancient One asked, sipping tea with an amused expression.

Mordo, too, turned his gaze toward Ned, making him feel increasingly uneasy. But Ned wasn't about to speak openly in front of Mordo. Bowing respectfully, he replied, "Master, your words wound me. You work tirelessly to protect Earth; surely, there's no harm in me visiting to pay my respects?"

"Oh? Is that so?" The Ancient One smiled knowingly. Then, she turned to Mordo. "Mordo, we'll continue our discussion later. You may leave now."

"Yes, Master," Mordo responded, bowing deeply. Without hesitation, he stood up and left the room, unquestioning of the Ancient One's instructions.

Once the door closed, the Ancient One turned back to Ned with a playful smile. "Now, are you still claiming this visit is purely to pay your respects?"

"You're too wise, Master," Ned admitted with a sheepish grin. "Tony Stark wants to donate a billion dollars to Kamar-Taj, but he insists on visiting the sanctum himself. I suspect he's trying to learn about our magic. Nick Fury seems to have a similar interest."

The Ancient One remained composed and replied, "If that's the case, Mordo would likely use the Staff of the Living Tribunal to smash them to bits—for desecrating the sanctity of our grounds."

She added with a faint smile, "On charges of blasphemy."

Ned's face paled at the thought. Despite Stark's brilliance and influence, he realized Mordo's loyalty to Kamar-Taj far outweighed any outsider's importance. In fact, even to Ned, Mordo was the one who had first guided him down the path of a sorcerer.

Deciding it was best to drop the subject, Ned silently vowed to bury the idea of "Supreme Sorcerer Tony Stark" deep in his mind.

"I've recently discovered someone with incredible potential for magic," Ned said, moving to his second topic. "I believe she has a natural talent for it. What do you think?"

"You mean the young girl with immense latent power?" The Ancient One said, already knowing who Ned referred to. She shook her head gently. "Her strength doesn't stem from magic, but from something uniquely hers. It's not a path she needs us for."

"But her power is unstable and dangerous," Ned argued. "Wouldn't it be better for you to seal it away?"

"Ned," the Ancient One's tone turned serious, "power itself isn't inherently good or evil. At Kamar-Taj, we forbid the use of otherworldly forces not because they are evil, but because most sorcerers lack the strength to control them. And the entities behind these powers are rarely benevolent.

"Remember, you cannot control everything. Trying to do so will only lead to catastrophe when the slightest thing goes wrong."

The Ancient One's words struck a chord in Ned's heart. He bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Master."

"Now go," she said, turning her back to him.

"Yes, Master."

Ned left Kamar-Taj through the portal to the New York Sanctum, stepping out into the bustling city streets. He walked for some time, reflecting on the Ancient One's teachings.

Suddenly, a deafening explosion shattered his thoughts.

BOOM!

Ned whipped around to see a blazing inferno not far from where he stood. Amid the flames, he spotted a familiar figure crawling out, struggling against the heat.

"Happy?!" Ned shouted in shock.

Without hesitation, he opened a portal beneath Happy Hogan, its other side connecting to the ground beside him. Happy collapsed through the portal, landing with a thud.

"Hold on!" Ned conjured a golden rune, channeling magical energy into Happy's body to stabilize him. Then, he opened another portal above Happy, dumping a cascade of water from Tony Stark's unused swimming pool to extinguish the flames on his body.

SPLASH!

Happy lay soaked but alive, his critical injuries beyond Ned's ability to heal. Acting quickly, Ned opened another portal, sending him directly to Stark's mansion, where the billionaire's advanced medical technology would take care of him.

With Happy safe, Ned turned back to the raging inferno. Leaping into the air, he donned his full sorcerer's attire—the Cloak of Levitation, a mystical robe, and his signature mask.

He summoned a massive portal, connecting it to the Hudson River. Water roared out in torrents, clashing against the flames.

Sweat dripped from Ned's brow as he rapidly cast golden runes, controlling the river's flow to ensure it didn't worsen the already precarious situation.

"Focus!" he muttered through gritted teeth, his arms trembling under the strain of the spell.

From below, a crowd of New Yorkers watched in awe as the "Demon Sorcerer" controlled the flood with incredible precision.

"It's him! The Demon Sorcerer!"

"Wow! I'm a huge fan!"

Cheers and cameras filled the streets as people began to record the scene, utterly captivated by the display of magic above them.