Kamar-Taj, training ground.
By the time Henry and Wong arrived, the courtyard was already bustling with magical energy. Apprentice mages were scattered in formation, performing controlled spellcasting under the guidance of Modu, while senior mages watched from the sidelines.
It was a sea of enchantments—conjured shields, elemental projections, levitation spells—all structured around precise footwork and chanting, like a symphony of controlled chaos.
Henry's presence didn't go unnoticed.
As soon as he stepped onto the grounds, Modu halted the drill and approached respectfully. "Supreme Mage. Master Wong."
"Mm." Henry nodded calmly.
Before he could speak further, several older mages approached, bowing in greeting.
"Supreme Mage."
"It's an honor to meet you, sir."
Henry exchanged formalities, his demeanor composed and approachable. But behind his calm smile, his attention was elsewhere—focused.
He hadn't forgotten the disturbance he'd felt earlier. Even now, he could feel the faint traces of residual energy—someone had infiltrated Kamar-Taj.
And they were still here.
Henry's gaze casually swept across the formation of apprentices. A few seconds later, his eyes locked onto one particular figure, standing quietly in the third row, fourth from the left.
There you are.
The woman was mimicking the movements of the other apprentices perfectly—too perfectly. Not once did she hesitate or fumble, even during advanced techniques that normally tripped up fresh initiates.
"Wong," Henry said quietly. "It's her. Third row. Fourth from the left."
Wong squinted, then blinked. "She's… posing as an apprentice?"
Henry gave a slight nod.
"That's ridiculous," Wong whispered, brows furrowed. "Modu oversees training personally. She'll be discovered in minutes."
Henry was silent for a moment, then said, "I think that's the point. She wants to be found."
Sure enough, not even a minute later, Modu's voice rang out with suspicion.
"—You! Stop."
All eyes turned.
Modu stepped directly in front of the unknown apprentice, his tone sharp. "I don't know you. You're not part of Kamar-Taj. Who are you?"
The woman smiled darkly and stood up straight, letting the illusion fall away with a shimmer of black and purple light.
"My name," she said, her voice laced with arrogance and amusement, "is Agatha."
A jolt of tension passed through the entire courtyard.
Even Henry felt the collective stiffening of every mage around them.
Agatha.
Every seasoned mage in Kamar-Taj knew the name. It was scrawled in warning on the edges of old scrolls. A powerful sorceress—a witch—whose studies of black magic had long ago placed her on the list of dangerous practitioners. Her methods were ruthless, her philosophy deeply opposed to the doctrines of Kamar-Taj.
Where the Kamar-Taj taught balance and restraint, Agatha believed in results. In wielding whatever power gave her the edge, regardless of cost.
And now she was here.
Modu's face turned grim. "Agatha the Witch. What business do you have in Kamar-Taj?"
Agatha grinned. "Oh, don't be so tense. I came to say hello. I heard the Ancient One was dead. I wanted to see what kind of child she left behind to fill her shoes."
The black and purple energy surrounding her surged as she shed her disguise, revealing her true form—a sharp-featured woman in her forties with icy eyes and a condescending smile.
Despite her youthful appearance, Agatha was over ten thousand years old, and her mastery over dark magic was second to none.
"Supreme Mage or not," Modu growled, stepping protectively between her and the apprentices, "you are not welcome here."
"Haha, relax, Modu." Agatha waved her hand casually. "I'm not here to attack your little monks. I'm here for him." Her eyes landed on Henry. "You're the new Supreme Mage, aren't you?"
Henry didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he looked around at the mages bracing for a confrontation and gave a quiet command to Modu: "Continue the training."
Modu blinked. "What?"
"She won't interfere," Henry said, stepping forward. "I'll handle this."
"Supreme Mage, she's dangerous," Modu said urgently.
"I know."
Before anyone could protest further, Henry opened his hand—and with a soft hum of energy, the mirror dimension unfolded.
A ripple swept through the training ground, like glass shattering in slow motion. The real world vanished in an instant, replaced with the ethereal, surreal landscape of the mirror dimension.
The crowd, the sky, the courtyard—gone.
Now, only Henry and Agatha remained, suspended within a kaleidoscope of shifting architecture and magic.
Agatha blinked in mild amusement. "Ah. The mirror dimension. Clever. Keeps the children safe, doesn't it?"
She glanced around at the warping skyline, unimpressed.
"But do you really think this will contain me?" she sneered. "Child, you're playing a game meant for adults."
Henry's voice was calm. "I didn't summon it to contain you. I summoned it to protect everyone else."
Without further warning, he raised his hand—and split into thousands.
Form of Ikeen.
In an instant, copies of Henry filled the air, their red-orange robes fluttering like a living tide.
Agatha's eyes narrowed as she watched them conjure shields in perfect unison. Ring of Raggador formed in glowing circles across every hand.
Then, they charged.
Agatha laughed. "So it begins!"
She moved like a tempest, her black-purple magic lashing out and annihilating dozens of duplicates in seconds. But for every one that vanished, another took its place.
The swarm was relentless.
Dozens of Henrys encircled her, firing beams, binding spells, and counter-curses. The mirror dimension echoed with flashes of red and violet.
Still, Agatha held her ground.
"You think melee magic can beat me?" she scoffed, dancing through the air with surprising grace. "You've read my file, haven't you?"
"I have," Henry's real self said calmly, reappearing behind her.
"And yet you still try this nonsense?" she mocked, swiping her arm and sending a blast of magic toward him.
Henry dodged, flicking his wrist and launching a glowing whip that wrapped around her leg midair. He yanked, pulling her to the mirrored ground below with a crash.
Agatha growled, her smile fading.
"This... is how you fight? A Supreme Mage throwing low-level tricks?"
"You wanted me to use the Book of Darkness, didn't you?" Henry said, eyes narrowing. "But I won't give you what you want."
Agatha smirked and slowly stood. "Why not? You've clearly read it. I can feel it in your spells. You've already tasted its power."
"I have."
"So use it, boy! Or are you afraid I'll steal it from you?" she taunted, her tone venomous.
Henry didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he stepped forward and asked, "You came here for the Book, didn't you?"
Agatha's smile sharpened.
"So you figured it out. Good. Saves us both time."
She twirled her fingers, forming a chaotic spiral of energy in her palm. "That book belongs to me. I've safeguarded it for centuries. I left it hidden. And now I find that you, some lucky brat, have stolen it?"
"I didn't steal it," Henry said with a cool smile. "I found it."
"Found it?!" Agatha's voice spiked an octave.
Henry gave a small shrug. "It was just lying there. Sealed up. Abandoned. You know—things that are lost get found."
Agatha gaped at him.
"You—picked it up?"
"That's right."
"You... picked it up?!"
Henry nodded serenely. "What, is that hard to believe?"
Agatha looked like she'd just swallowed a lemon.
"That book sat in my vault for five hundred years! I studied it, bled for it, guarded it—only to have some newcomer 'pick it up'? What kind of twisted luck is that?!"
Henry gave her a smile so innocent it bordered on infuriating.
"You're welcome to search for something else to 'pick up' if you like."
Agatha's hands clenched at her sides.
"You arrogant little—"
Before she could finish, Henry raised his palm, preparing a new incantation.
"No more games, Agatha," he said, his tone finally turning serious. "You want the book. But I won't give it to you. And I won't let you threaten Kamar-Taj."
Their eyes locked—two masters of magic, generations apart, standing off in a realm outside time.
Agatha took a deep breath, her rage giving way to something colder. More calculating.
"I'll be back, Henry," she said finally, stepping away.
"And when I come next time… let's hope your luck hasn't run out."
With that, she vanished into swirling black smoke, retreating from the mirror dimension.
Henry stood silently for a moment, then released the spell.
The world snapped back into normal space. Birds chirped. Wind stirred through the courtyard.
Modu looked up from where he was instructing the apprentices.
"Is it over?" he asked.
Henry nodded.
"For now."
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