Countless days passed as Stephen learned more and more about the ancient arts of sorcery.

Mordo, Wong, and Amber paced around the courtyard, watching new and experienced students train.

As the other students drew their transmutation circles in front of them, Stephen had no luck in producing one. But, his hope didn't falter by this.

After they were done, they were given a Sling Ring.

"Mastery of the Sling Ring is essential to the mystic arts. They allow us to travel throughout the Multiverse, all you need to do is focus. Visualize." Mordo clenched his fist.

"See the destination in your mind. Look beyond the world in front of you. Imagine every detail. The clearer the picture, the quicker and easier the gateway will come." He explained as the students created small portals in front of them.

Stephen failed to do so.

Stopping beside Stephen's side, Amber stared at the sparks that spewed in front of him, as the Ancient One and Master Hamir entered. Upon noticing them, she shook her head and moved away, "And stop."

Everyone's arms dropped to their side. Stephen grunted with a roll of his eyes, letting his arms go limp.

"I'd like a moment alone with Mister Strange." The Ancient One announced.

"Of course." Stephen sighed to himself.

Amber bowed before waving her hand in dismissal for the class. Once the courtyard was empty, Stephen shook his head. "My hands."

"It's not about your hands." She replied with a little shake of her head.

"How is this not about my hands?"

"Master Hamir," she indicated, allowing him to stand between them. 

Hamir pulled back his left sleeve to reveal a stump instead of a hand. Swirling his arms around, he formed a transmutation pattern in front of them, making the Ancient One's point clear.

"You cannot beat a river into submission. You have to surrender to it's current, and use its power as your own."

"I control it by surrendering? That doesn't make any sense." He questioned, squinting his eyes.

"Not everything does. Not everything has to. Your intellect has taken you far in life. But it will take you no further. Surrender, Stephen. Silence your ego," She said, holding her left hand up and forming a portal. "Then your power will rise. Come with me."

Upon entering, snow and gusts of chilling air whipped around them, throwing up loose ends of their robes. "Wait, is this—?"

"Everest." she finished.

"This is beautiful!" Stephen breathed in the air with a smile.

Ancient One nodded in agreement. "You're right."

Stephen wrapped his arms around him. "Beautiful. It's freezing, but...beautiful."

"At this temperature, a person can last thirty minutes before suffering from permanent loss of function. They'll likely go into shock."

"Great."

"But you will likely go into shock within the first two."

"What?" Stephen quickly asked, whirling around to see the Ancient One pass through her portal.

"Surrender, Stephen."

"Wait, no!" He screamed, jumping towards it, only to land in snow. Getting up, several chills ran down his spine as he wiped off the snow from his clothes and arms.

Back at the palace, the Ancient One stood alone, waiting silently. Amber and Mordo walked through the doors, joining her sides.

"How's our new recruit so far?" Amber asked, holding her hands behind her back, noticing the Ancient One fidget with a fan behind her own.

"We shall see," she responded, her voice having a hint of worry as her eyes moved around rapidly. "Any second now..."

"Oh no, not again." Mordo sighed before reaching for his ring. "Maybe I should–" he stopped when the Ancient One held a hand out to him silently.

Back on the mountain, Stephen's arm swirled, his portal now stronger than before—but still not enough.

Letting out a frustrated grunt, he clenched his shaking fists as tight as he could. Taking a few deep breaths, he raised his arms once more as time ran thin.

Amber silently tapped her thigh with her two fingers impatiently, her eyes searching her surrounding nervously.

Suddenly, a portal grew in front of them and a very cold Stephen fell through to the ground, the portal quickly closing behind him. Looking up at the three, they all smiled back at him.

"I'll take him back." Amber nodded, walking up to Strange and grabbing his arm, helping him up.

"Very well. Well done Master Strange." The Ancient One nodded, walking away with Mordo.

Stephen hugged himself as Amber led him back to his room, sitting him down on the bed. As she gathered new clothes for him, she heard his shutters. "Here," She announced, dropping the clothes in his lap. "Go shower up, you need one."

"Wow, thanks." He almost scoffed as he made his way towards the bathroom. She smirked at him, rolling her eyes. "If you need anything else, I'll be in my room."

"Wait. I didn't catch your name."

"Uh, Abel. Amber Abel." She nodded, pursing her lips. Both nodded at one another until Stephen disappeared into the bathroom. Amber's eyes lingered on the door, hearing the water run.

Averting her gaze, she left the room to her own residence.

Nearly ten minutes later, Amber laid on her bed, as she played a game on her phone. Her earbuds were in, listening to a calming song. Her face scrunched up as she heard the faintest noise.

"Amber!"

Taking out her earbuds, she listened intently.

"Amber!"

Discarding her phone on her bed, she hurried to Stephen's room, knocking on the door a couple of times. "Stephen? You all right?"

"In here!" He called back, allowing Amber to enter his room. The bathroom door was open.

Moving towards it, she flinched back when seeing that only a towel was wrapped around his hips. "Oh—I'm sorry."

He turned around, his long hair and beard adhering to his damp skin. A slight blush rose on her cheeks as she directed her gaze to the floor. "I need your help."

"With what?" She asked, clasping her hands in front of her.

He held out a pair of scissors to her, which made her look up and hesitantly accept. "What do you want me to do?"

"Cut my hair?" he asked evasively.

"Oh. Yeah, sure, let me just go and get my hairdryer." She hastily left, returning with her tool and scissors. Grabbing a stool, Amber placed in front of the mirror and patted it. "Sit."

He did as he was told as she plugged it in and turned it on, instantly running her fingers gently through his damp locks to dry it faster.

The Doctor's eyes fluttered shut as she continued with this until his hair was dry. After brushing it out, she grabbed the scissors, snipping off chunks of hair until she styled it to both of their preferences.

After slicking back the sides of his hair and cleaning up with some gel he had, Amber turned to leave.

Stephen grabbed her forearm, taking her by surprise. "Could you shave for me? I don't know if I'll cut myself."

Amber went to laugh but decided against it, tilting her head. "I'll shave one side of your face,"

"What?"

"And you can shave the other side." She ended with a smug smirk. With a defeated sigh, he nodded.

Sitting back down, Amber handed him the shaving cream while she grabbed the razor.

She placed one hand on the side of his neck and jaw as her other slowly glided the razor down his cheek. Stephen actually enjoyed this, as her touch was gentle.

Once she was done with it, she handed the razor to him, watching him hold onto it with both hands. His hands still trembled as he carefully repeated what she did, ending up with a mustache and goatee, connecting the two with a thin line of hair down the sides of his mouth.

Amber smiled at him in the mirror, placing a hand on her hip. "You look good." Her other hand reached up, fixing a few hairs on his head.

Stephen twisted in his stool, staring up at her. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," Her voice got more hushed, her smile going warm. "You do."

Silence overtook them as she cleared her throat. "I better go. I'll see you soon, Strange."

Stephen watched her go with lingering eyes, exhaling sharply through his nose once she shut the door.