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I let out a deep breath, lying flat on the ground with my arms spread out like a starfish. My chest rose and fell heavily, the blue sky above looking far too serene for the exhaustion coursing through me.

"You have five minutes to rest," Mordo said, his voice carrying that unmistakable tone of a strict teacher.

I turned my head slightly to give him a side-eye. "Okay, Mordo," I replied, my voice dripping with tired sarcasm.

"It's Master Mordo," he corrected, a faint hint of amusement creeping into his tone. "And if you keep that attitude, I'll make you run more. That should help you remember next time."

"Alright, Master Mordo," I said, surrendering for now. He moved to tidy up some of the magical tools we'd been using, and I let my body relax against the cool ground.

It had been a week since I started learning the mystic arts—a term that Mordo loved emphasizing every chance he got. To my surprise, I'd been told I had a lot of potential, something I credited to the Flames of Divinity I'd received from the gacha. They seemed to amplify my affinity for magic, making the lessons easier to grasp than they should've been.

Still, none of that made the training any less grueling. Every inch of my body ached with pain and exhaustion as I forced myself to sit up, my back leaning against a nearby pillar for support. I closed my eyes, letting the memories of the past week flood my mind.

The days started early—before the sun even considered rising—with an intense jog, followed by a cold bath, breakfast, and then hours upon hours of practice. I'd only learned the basics so far, but even those had me fascinated. Magic wasn't just about power; it was about control, understanding, and discipline.

Outside the Sanctum, the world was moving forward too. News had reached that Tony Stark had been found and rescued, marking the start of his journey to become Iron Man. Meanwhile, the Brotherhood of Mutants had attacked a U.S. base, reminding everyone that chaos wasn't confined to just one corner of the world.

Lost in thought, I almost didn't notice the faint sound of something slicing through the air. Instinct kicked in at the last moment, and I tilted my head just enough to avoid a spear that embedded itself into the pillar next to me. My eyes snapped open, following the trajectory of the weapon back to its source.

Mordo stood there, his posture calm but his gaze sharp. "Your five minutes are up, Rin," he said simply.

I sighed, dragging myself to my feet. "You know, I'm starting to think you don't like me all that much," I said, brushing dust off my clothes.

"Why would you think that? I've been teaching you with my full effort," he replied, his tone betraying the faintest trace of satisfaction.

"Because all you've taught me so far is how to get beaten up," I shot back, though there was a playful smile on my face.

"A fighter must know how to take a hit as well as deliver one," Mordo said, walking over to the rack of weapons. He selected a black and brown staff, its surface glowing faintly with runes.

I tilted my head, eyeing the weapon. "That's unfair. You get to use a magical weapon, and I'm stuck with nothing."

He paused, clearly amused by my complaint. "Says the person who excels at hand-to-hand combat," he retorted. "Your fighting style is effective, yes, but it's incomplete. It lacks the versatility of the mystic arts."

"Sure, sure," I muttered, shifting into a basic fighting stance.

Mordo didn't waste time. "Fight!" he shouted, lunging at me with the staff.

The weapon shifted mid-air, transforming into a spear aimed at my legs. I reacted quickly, twisting my body to dodge the attack and stepping in close to counter. My fist shot forward, aiming for his head, but Mordo anticipated the move.

He spun the spear, deflecting my strike with a sharp movement and forcing me to back off. The momentum of his spin brought the spear around again, this time targeting my ribs. I ducked low, using my momentum to close the gap and launch a sweeping kick aimed at his legs.

Mordo jumped, landing lightly a few steps away. "Good," he said, a faint smirk on his face. "But not good enough.you're relying too much on raw strength. Magic is about precision and control, not brute force."

"Thanks for the lecture, Master," I said with a smirk, stepping back to reassess my stance.

He didn't respond with words, just action. The spear transformed again, this time into a long, bladed sword. Mordo swung it horizontally, forcing me to duck under the glowing arc. As I crouched low, I saw an opening and went for it, aiming a low kick at his legs.

The kick connected, making him stumble slightly, but he recovered almost instantly, flipping backward and landing gracefully on his feet. His weapon morphed again, shrinking into two shorter, baton-like sticks.

"You're learning," Mordo admitted as he moved in close for a series of rapid strikes with the batons.

"Yeah, learning that you're really hard to hit," I quipped, blocking his strikes as best I could. His blows were relentless, each one calculated to find a gap in my defense. It was clear he was holding back, but even his "training strikes" packed enough force to make my arms ache with each block.

As the idea struck me, I wasted no time. Creating some distance between Mordo and myself, I focused my energy, channeling it into the ground through my hands. A faint glow pulsed beneath my fingertips as the energy seeped into the earth.

Mordo watched me carefully, his weapon shifting into a long, sleek staff as he prepared to counter whatever I had planned.

Without giving him a chance to analyze further, I dashed toward him at full speed, my feet pounding against the ground. He moved quickly, aiming the tip of his staff at my head, a strike that could disorient even a seasoned fighter.

But I was ready.

I smiled as a thick root suddenly erupted from the ground, intercepting the staff just before it could connect with me. Mordo's eyes widened, clearly caught off guard by the maneuver.

"Surprise," I muttered under my breath.

The root held the staff firmly in place, and before he could adapt to this unexpected complication, I closed the gap between us.

Not wasting the moment, I delivered a swift, powerful kick to his leg. The blow caught him off balance, and he dropped to one knee, his grip on the staff loosening.

Before he could recover, I followed through with another strike, a solid punch to the face that sent him face-first onto the ground.

I stepped back, catching my breath, a triumphant grin spreading across my face as I looked down at him.

"Looks like I finally got one over on you, Master," I said, teasingly emphasizing the title.

Mordo groaned slightly, pushing himself up with one arm while brushing dirt off his robes with the other. His expression shifted into a smirk as he looked up at me.

"Not bad," he admitted, standing and retrieving his weapon, which had already reverted to its dormant form. "But don't think for a moment that this means you've surpassed me."

I chuckled, shrugging. "Hey, I'll take my victories where I can get them."

Mordo shook his head, the smirk still lingering. "You used your surroundings effectively, I'll give you that. But remember—surprise only works once. Next time, I'll be ready."

"Looking forward to it," I said, my confidence bolstered by the small victory.

After my grueling training session with Master Mordo, I decided to head to the library to deepen my understanding of magic. Knowledge, after all, was just as crucial as physical training.

As I entered the library, its air thick with the scent of old parchment and faint traces of incense, my eyes landed on a figure I recognized instantly—a man with an Asian appearance.

With a mischievous grin, I approached him. "Yo, Wang, how are you, my friend?"

He looked up from his book, his expression one of mild irritation, as if I had just interrupted his favorite pastime. "We are not friends," he said, his voice a mix of boredom and disapproval. "And you should address people with respect, Miss Rin. Now, why are you here?"

Undeterred by his tone, I smirked. "Alright, Master Wang, I'm here to find some books on magic. Specifically, something about dimensional travel."

His gaze sharpened at my words, and he snapped the book in his hands shut. "That is off-limits to you," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Fine, fine," I said with a playful shrug. "Then what books are within my limited access?"

With an exasperated sigh, Wang raised a hand, and a group of books floated off the shelves, hovering briefly before settling down in front of him. He gestured to the stack, barely concealing his impatience.

"These books are suitable for beginners," he said flatly.

I gave him a thumbs-up, flashing him a grin. "Thanks, Wang."

"It's Master Wang," he corrected, his tone heavier with annoyance.

I chuckled as I grabbed the books and began heading toward the exit. "Sure thing, Master Wang."

Behind me, I could hear him muttering something under his breath, likely questioning how someone like me ended up here. Smiling to myself, I exited the library, eager to dive into the knowledge I had just acquired.

As I settled into my room with the books Master Wang had begrudgingly given me, I flipped through them, finding their contents to be the basics of magic. They focused on channeling magical energy into your body, mind, and spirit—a foundational skill for anyone in the mystic arts.

One section delved into the various types of creatures and dimensional planes, which caught my attention. Among the books on dimensions, one stood out to me: Limbo.

I paused, narrowing my eyes at the name. Limbo... it stirred a vague memory. My thoughts churned, recalling fragments of a story from the X-Men comics. If I wasn't mistaken, Limbo was the domain of demons, a chaotic and dangerous place often linked to a character named Illyana Rasputin, aka Magik. It was a dimension where time flowed strangely, ruled by both magic and malevolent creatures.

"Huh," I muttered to myself, leaning back in my chair. "That's a rabbit hole I'll have to explore someday, but not today."

I bookmarked the page for later study and continued flipping through the book. The descriptions of mystical creatures were equally fascinating, ranging from elemental spirits to interdimensional entities that could rival gods. The sheer variety of magical potential these dimensions offered was both thrilling and terrifying.

As much as I wanted to dive deeper into Limbo's lore and figure out how it tied into this world, I reminded myself that I was still just a beginner. First, I needed to master channeling magic effectively. Once I had a solid grasp on the basics, then I could start venturing into riskier territory like dimensional travel.

"Baby steps," I said aloud, closing the book and glancing at the others in the stack. With so much to learn and so many secrets to uncover, one thing was clear—this journey was just getting started.

It had been two weeks since my arrival at the Sanctum, and now I was on my way to meet the Ancient One—or as I had started calling her in my head, the Big "A." The nickname made me chuckle every time, though I'd never dare say it aloud.

I knocked on the door to her chamber.

"Come in, Miss Rin," her voice floated out, sweet yet filled with an undeniable authority.

As the door opened, I saw her standing alone, gazing out at the mountain range. She always had this aura of calmness that was both inspiring and intimidating.

I stepped in cautiously, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves.

"I heard from Master Wang that you were asking for me," I said, breaking the silence.

She turned, her gaze piercing but kind. "Yes. I've been informed of your progress. Master Wang and Master Mordo both agree that you've mastered a significant amount of basic and portal magic in a remarkably short time."

A small smile played on her lips. "So, I've decided to teach you a spell. If you can successfully learn and perform it, you will be considered a qualified practitioner of the Mystic Arts—or as you might prefer, a magician."

My eyes widened. This was unexpected, and the weight of her words hit me immediately. This wasn't just a step forward; this was recognition.

"What kind of spell?" I asked cautiously, trying to keep my voice steady.

she moved her hand an all around her Marrio started from all around as. 

"This is the Mirror Dimension," she said, her voice calm yet commanding. "It is a realm separate from the real world, where you can train without causing harm to the world—or yourself."

I glanced around, feeling a mix of awe and apprehension. The Mirror Dimension felt alive, as if it was watching me, bending and twisting to accommodate our presence.

She continued, "You can use this space as a personal training ground. However," her tone grew serious, "there is one critical rule you must never forget: you can only exit the Mirror Dimension with a Sling Ring."

She held up her own Sling Ring, the golden band glinting faintly in the ambient light.

"If you enter without one or lose it while you're here, you will be trapped in this dimension indefinitely. No one will be able to retrieve you—not even me."

I swallowed hard, the gravity of her warning sinking in. "So... always have the ring on me. Got it."

The Ancient One nodded approvingly. "Good. Now, the Mirror Dimension will amplify your spells, allowing you to see their effects more clearly and refine your techniques. Begin by familiarizing yourself with its environment."

I glanced at my own Sling Ring on my finger, suddenly hyper-aware of its presence. This was no ordinary training session. Here, failure didn't just mean making a mistake—it could mean eternal isolation.

"Alright," I said, shaking off the unease and focusing on the task ahead. "Let's do this."

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