NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: next day
Ah,' I groaned softly as the morning sunlight streamed through the window, its brightness forcing my eyes open. I rubbed my face and rolled out of bed, stretching lazily before making my way to the bathroom. A warm shower sounded like the perfect way to start the day, especially after the chaos of yesterday.
As the water drop over me, the steam filling the small bathroom, I let out a contented sigh. Warm water was heaven on my skin. Who even likes cold showers in the morning? Psychopaths, that's who, I thought, rolling my eyes at the idea.
Still, the memories of yesterday crept back into my mind like unwelcome guests. Waking up in the middle of nowhere, stealing from drug dealers, fighting Daredevil... and beating his face to a bloody pulp. The adrenaline had made it all feel surreal in the moment, but now, as I replayed it, the reality of my actions started to sink in.
The thought soured my mood, and I quickly turned off the shower, stepping out onto the cool tiles. Water dripped from my hair as I grabbed a towel, wrapping it around my long black strands. Drying my hair was one of those tedious chores I hated, but there was no avoiding it.
Standing in front of the mirror, I caught sight of my reflection. My dark eyes stared back at me, a slight frown etched on my face. .
I ran a hand over the fogged-up mirror, clearing the glass. "Nope, definitely not a crazy-ass dream," I muttered under my breath.
Yesterday had been a turning point. If I was going to survive in this world and uncover the truth about my "murder?" , I needed to stay sharp and proactive. This wasn't just about making ends meet; it was about preparing for whatever was coming next.
Drying myself off quickly, I glanced at the door where K stood, his shadowy form standing guard as I'd instructed. "Good job, K," I said with a small smile.
"Alright, let's get moving," I said to myself, already formulating a plan. The city was full of opportunities and dangers, and I intended to face them head-on.
I had finally picked up some decent clothes—no more running around in cheap, ill-fitting rags. My current outfit? A sleek black leather jacket over a crisp white shirt, paired with black jeans. It was a simple look, but on me, it felt effortlessly stylish. My hair was tied back in a ponytail, neat and practical.
New York was as chaotic as ever, with honking cabs and crowds rushing past me, but my destination wasn't far—a few blocks away was the New York Sanctum. I'd rented a room nearby, keeping a low profile after yesterday's eventful night.
"Why are you going to Kamar-Taj?" you might ask. The answer is simple: to learn magic, of course.
Sure, I already had powers thanks to my Gacha system, but you know what they say—more power is better power. Portals, mirror dimension , and other sorcery tricks were too good to pass up. If I was going to navigate this world, staying ahead of both heroes and villains, I needed every edge I could get.
With K trailing behind me like an ever-watchful shadow, I made my way toward the Sanctum. The city seemed alive, vibrant and chaotic, but I kept my focus.
The thought of adding sorcery to my growing arsenal brought a smirk to my lips. "Alright," I muttered to myself, the leather of my jacket creaking slightly as I adjusted it. "Time to level up."
As I approached the grand doors of the New York Sanctum, I raised my hand to knock. Before I could touch the wood, the doors swung open on their own with an almost theatrical creak.
"Well, someone clearly enjoys showing off," I muttered under my breath, stepping cautiously inside.
The interior was...imposing, to say the least. Ancient, intricate designs adorned the walls, and the atmosphere was heavy with a sense of power that made my skin tingle. Each step I took echoed faintly, amplifying the quiet tension that settled in my chest.
I wasn't scared. Okay, maybe just a little.
After all, I was about to meet the Ancient One, a being who, if the power scaling was accurate, could probably go toe-to-toe with Odin. And that's saying something.
I wasn't exactly a power-scaling nerd back in my old world, but I knew enough to recognize that the Ancient One was a league above most beings in the Marvel universe. Stepping into her territory felt like willingly walking into a lion's den—but it was a necessary risk.
With K lurking in the shadows, as ready as ever to spring into action, I took a deep breath and moved forward.
"Alright," I whispered to myself, "time to charm my way into learning some magic. Or at least...try not to get obliterated."
As I stepped further inside, my gaze fell on a man standing a few feet away. He was a tall figure with deep brown skin, a sharp face, and an aura of disciplined calm. He looked like he could be in his late 20s or early 30s, though I wasn't great at guessing ages without directly asking. Before I could so much as utter a greeting, he spoke.
"The Ancient One is expecting you. Follow me," he said, his tone even and unreadable—neither welcoming nor hostile.
"Alright, good sir," I replied, trying my best to sound confident. On the outside, I plastered a polite, neutral expression. On the inside? A whole different story.
As I followed him, my mind raced. How did they know I was coming?
Was it the Time Stone? Did it still function normally, even with me being an anomaly in this world? I thought it might not work on me, considering I didn't exactly belong here.
Had the fanfics lied to me?!
By the time we reached a large wooden door, the man stopped and gestured for me to enter. "the Ancient One is inside," he said simply.
Whatever the Ancient One knew—or didn't know—it was clear that my mere presence in this universe wasn't going unnoticed. Time to see if I'm walking into enlightenment… or a trap.
As the man left, I stood before the large wooden door, taking a moment to close my eyes and compose myself. A deep breath in, a slow exhale out, and I pushed the door open.
She stood by the window, draped in her flowing orange robes, radiating calm and control. Her gaze was fixed on the mountains outside, The view was breathtaking, the kind of picturesque scene that could pull you into a moment of peace if you let it.
She turned her head slowly, locking eyes with me as if she had been waiting all along. Her expression was unreadable, but the faintest smile tugged at her lips. She raised a hand, gesturing for me to come in and sit.
I nodded and stepped inside, crossing the spacious room to sit in the chair across from her. My eyes briefly flickered to the breathtaking view of the mountains. The scene was serene, almost too perfect.
For a few minutes, silence hung in the air between us, heavy but not uncomfortable. I felt the urge to speak, to say something clever or disarming, but her quiet presence seemed to fill the room, urging me to simply exist in the stillness.
Finally, she broke the silence.
"It's not beautiful," she said, her tone light and her smile soft, as though she had been contemplating something deeply.
I blinked, caught off guard. "What do you mean?" I asked, unsure if she was referring to the view, the world, or something entirely else.
"The mountains," she clarified, her smile deepening slightly. "They are often seen as a symbol of permanence and tranquility. But they are not what they seem. Beneath the surface lies turbulence—earthquakes, storms, the slow erosion of time."
Her words hung in the air, enigmatic and layered, as if they were meant to spark something within me.
"That's... an interesting perspective," I replied, leaning back slightly in my chair, unsure how to navigate this conversation.
"And yet," she continued, "you did not come here for philosophy, did you?"
Her knowing smile widened, and I suddenly felt as though she could see straight through me, peeling back every layer of pretense and fear I had built up.
=======
hope you enjoy i tried to write some clever dialogue
until next time