Chapter 5 - Living in Kamar Taj

Ray's new life was exciting to himself. He had never thought of becoming a full fledged magician. If he had magic as well as his own powers, he could do so much more but could he defeat Thanos and the infinity stones ? The answer is probably no.

Ray over the period of a few days in Kamar Taj noticed something strange, all the students, magicians and master magicians in Kamar Taj were bald, even the females were bald. Ray wondered if he was losing his mind or it was a fashion trend the people of Kamar Taj were trying to follow by cutting off their hair to follow the Ancient One's bald look. Even female students, magicians and master magicians had shaved off their long beautiful hair to sport a bald look. Ray wondered if it was a conspiracy and whether he had to shave off his own blonde shoulder length hair ?

Ray walked along the corridor of Kamar Taj as he met his master that was teaching him magic, a bald Baron Karl Mordo who looked like a younger version of Chiwetel Ejiofor the actor. Of course Baron Karl Mordo was not a master magician yet, he was only a magician. Only the bald Wong had become a master magician. Baron Karl Mordo sported the bald look well as he shaved off all his hair and locks.

"Master !", Ray shouted out with a girlish voice and a respectful tone.

"Ah, Young Ray, how is Book on magic you were reading ? Do you need any help ?", Baron Karl Mordo asked in a kind voice.

"Thank you master but I am curious about something in Kamar Taj ?", Ray asked in a girlish voice.

"Yes what is it ?!", Baron Karl Mordo replied.

"Master why is everyone in Kamar Taj bald ?", Ray asked in a girlish voice and a respectful tone.

"Shhh..... don't say that word. It's banned in Kamar Taj !", Baron Karl Mordo replied in a scared tone.

"What ? Bald ?", Ray asked in a girlish voice and inquisitive tone.

"Shhh.....!!! What did I say, that word is banned in Kamar Taj ! Never say it again !", Baron Karl Mordo replied in an angry tone.

"Why ?", Ray asked again in a girlish voice.

"The reason why everyone follows a certain style in Kamar Taj and why that word which shall never be mentioned is banned in Kamar Taj is because if that word is said in front of the Ancient One she will go crazy ! That's why we never say that word and we have shaved off our hair. It's to keep the Ancient One happy.", Baron Karl Mordo said in a kind tone.

"Does that mean I have to shave off my hair too ?", Ray asked in a girlish voice and a sad tone.

"No ! No ! You don't have to because the Ancient One has adopted you as a son oops I meant she has given you special exemption and would be upset if you shaved your hair off.", Baron Karl Mordo replied in a friendly tone.

"Oh thank you Master, then I shall be off. And by the way I think of the Ancient One as my mother since I don't have one and you seem to be like the father I never had master. Thank you for everything father !", Ray replied as he left for his studies.

As Ray left, Baron Karl Mordo mumbled, "father..." and then smiled happily. Baron Karl Mordo had lost his wife and family at a young age and that tragedy had always left a scar in his heart. Now thinking of having an adopted son had healed that scar in his heart somewhat.

A month later, the Ancient One brought Ray to the place where everyone was trying to learn how to create a portal using the two fingered sling ring. Ray saw everything with his special eyes which could see the magic flow. From his observation, Ray learned that the sling ring was actually not necessary if he could concentrate a magic square in between his two fingers and create the same portal like those that succeeded. Those that had failed, failed to concentrate magic into a square between the two fingers to create the portal even with the two fingered sling ring.

"Ray take a sling ring and try to create a portal. Think of a place you have been to before.", the Ancient One said in a kind tone.

"Master can I try to create the portal without using a sling ring ?", Ray asked in a girlish voice.

"What ? You can try but no one has ever succeeded before.", the Ancient One said as she smiled thinking that Ray was young and foolish. The Ancient One expected Ray to fail and learn a lesson from this, which is to listen to his elders specifically the Ancient One.

Ray stood together with the rest of the other students and concentrated on forming a square magic circle between his two fingers like those had succeeded in forming a portal with the two fingered sling ring. Once Ray had succeeded in that he began to allow the magic to flow in the same way as those that had succeeded in creating the portal. Then Ray began to use his fingers and arms to swing in a round circle to create his portal. It was Ray's first time in creating a portal and he had succeeded. What appeared through Ray's portal was New York. Every student in that area creating portals all stopped what they were doing. Even some students had their mouth wide open in shock.

"Master ! Mother ! I succeeded !", Ray cried out in a girlish voice and in a joyous tone.

"What ?!", the Ancient One said in shock as her eyes bulged out. It was the first time she had seen someone create a portal without a sling ring. She had heard legends of ancient magicians in the past that did not need a sling ring to create a portal. But that was in the dark ages, nowadays with a simplified magic, it was easier using a sling ring to create a portal. The Ancient One was shocked not only because Ray had succeeded in creating a portal without a sling ring but that he had also called her mother. She felt something warm in her, a sense of family relations, something she never had before, she smiled a true smile.

In the following few months Ray became known as a genius and savant in magic as he successfully modified some spells from the spell books to create new spells. No one had done it before as all spells came from Demons or gods or goddesses. Ray was the first mortal human to create his own spells. Ray had a devious thought as he created his own spells and impressed both the Ancient One and Baron Karl Mordo his teacher, could he used his spell creation to gain access to the eye of Agamotto or better known as the time stone ?