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𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗘     𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧

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"ARE YOU SURE she's going to be okay?"

"For the hundredth time, Strange, she is going to be okay." Cassandra heard Wong assure as soon as she regained consciousness, his annoyed tone seeping through his words clearly.

"Okay, okay. I just... I just want to make sure she's going to be fine because there was this strange symbol -- almost like a rune glowing in her wrist and forehead when she fainted in my arms earlier."

"Cassandra is a fighter. She will get through this."

"Yeah, I believe that, but... she was terrified out of her wits when I found her, Mordo. I mean, what or who did she see out there that scared her so much?"

"Only she can answer that question for us, Strange." answered the Ancient One. "We just have to wait for her to wake up."

The young woman tilted her head to her right, showing everyone that she was now awake. She grunted, her eyes fluttering open. Natural light streamed in from a front window, calming her unlike earlier. She easily recognized her bedroom for warm neutrals decorated the walls. "I'm already awake." announced she, her voice cracking.

"Cass!" Her parents rushed to her side, holding her hand. "Oh, thank the gods, you're alright!"

"Water." she drowsily requested, sitting up. She winced when she felt a dull ache all over her body. "Can I please have some water? I need water."

At this, Stephen strode over to her table, filling a glass with water. "Thank you, Stephen." She smiled, wrapping both of her hands around his shaking fingers when he handed the glass to her.

"How are you feeling, little flower?" questioned her father, his fingers checking her pulse while her mother took her glass of water to set aside by her bedside cabinet.

Cassandra rolled her shoulders. "I feel tired, really tired, like I've been flattened by a rolling pin." The others let out a small chuckle and she simpered. Turning her head to Stephen, she grabbed his hand. "Hey, uh, I will need some time to talk with them in private, Stephen, is that okay?"

"Of course."

"Thank you. I will tell you everything soon, I promise."

He nodded and proceeded to take his leave. When Cassandra was certain Stephen was out of earshot, she shifted her position on her bed and faced everyone surrounding her. She saw the Ancient One paced across her room, her hands clasped behind her back and her yellow robes billowing beneath her feet. "Who did you see out there, Cassandra?" grimly queried the Sorcerer Supreme, her shoulders tense.

"It's Dormammu." She breathed out, shaking the picture of the primordial entity away from her thoughts. "I-I saw him. He found his way here on Earth again. Someone let him in."

"Kaecilius." immediately concluded her mother, glancing at the Ancient One. "He finally deciphered the ritual."

"Impossible."

"Nothing is impossible to a determined man, Wong." implied her father, standing up. "The guardian Vishanti's protection spell have kept Cassandra safe from Dormammu for years, but if Kaecilius has indeed successfully deciphered those writings then there's nothing stopping that entity from reaching my daughter."

Cassandra bowed her head down, pinching her nose in distress and hot tears began to sting her eyes. "I never should've opened that damn book! I never should've dabbled with the dark arts."

"No, darling, listen to me." Olivia soothed, lifting Cassandra's head by her chin with her forefinger. "You were young. You had no idea how evil that book was. You didn't know it was going to corrupt you."

Cassandra was only twelve years old and a novice when she encountered the Darkhold, the Book of the Damned. It was a time when she was still struggling with her magic and was desperate to excel immediately in the study of the mystic arts. She remembered it appearing out of nowhere on her bed, feeling an intense connection with it like it was calling her. A part of her wanted to surrender the dark grimoire to the librarian, but as if it sensed her desperation, it opened to a page about enhancing one's magic, making her all curious and interested so she hid the book and studied it herself. It greatly amplified her magic and catapulted her to the student rank she desired to reach in a short time.

Yet, just like how the saying goes: all magic comes with a price.

When her classmates locked her in the school's comfort room as a prank, Cassandra tapped into her dark magic to get back at them, slowly corrupting her. However, this attracted a powerful entity of the dark dimension for she had performed a complex dark curse effortlessly. Before she could even finish her casting, the entity pushed her astral form out of her body and dragged her to dark dimension. Thankfully, the Ancient One heard her pleas in the astral plane and was able to save her.

But, it didn't end there.

Her vast magical knowledge and power then led her to meet the lord of the Dark Dimension, Dormammu. Impressed with her magical prowess, he sought to corrupt her, influencing her thoughts and actions. As a result, Cassandra almost destroyed the three Sanctums single-handedly, but the Sorcerer Supreme was able to stop her in time. The mystical guardian of Earth then demanded to the inter-dimensional being to free her, but would only agree to do so if Cassandra will join him in the dark dimension as his servant once he successfully conquers Earth upon his second return.

That's when she started to really fear the darkness.

Cassandra lost her control over dark magic as soon she cut her ties with it, but it took quite some time for her to forget that memory. It was true what they say. That once a person had a taste of true power, they will always crave for it, look for it. Ever since then, she asked Wong to keep an eye on her so that if she steps a line that she shouldn't cross, he would be able to stop her immediately because between the two of them, he was more insusceptible to a dark magic's corruption.

Actually, it was because of her former affiliation with the dark arts that she immediately knew of Kaecilius' betrayal. The moment he challenged the Ancient One, she knew he was secretly using dark magic just like she once did.

Even though Cassandra felt immensely guilty for her past actions, she was still thankful because it made her understand Stephen Strange more. In a way, they were a bit same. She and Stephen feared making mistakes because it would then lead to failure. The difference between them was that she was more willing to accept and admit if she was wrong.

She nodded, listening to her mother's words. "It's okay. You made a mistake and you have learnt from it ever since." assured Olivia, wrapping her arms around her. Her eyes flickered over to Karl who let his hand out for her to hold. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it, smiling through her tears.

She turned to the Ancient One who gave her a nod, "You are going to be alright, Cassandra. No harm will come in your way... for now." Cassandra watched her mentor step forward. "Prepare yourself. Your journey begins."

Cassandra swallowed the lump in her throat. Even after all the years of training, the thought still scared her. What if she made a mistake that would result to her failing to fulfill her responsibility? What if she was really not meant for the task?

If only the young woman knew how much the future had for her, she would say that nothing -- not even her training prepared her for them.

Her world was going to soon fall apart.

CASSANDRA LEANT AGAINST one of the pillars of the temple, watching the disciples train in front of her. The bright blue sky laid in the humid air, with no clouds to be seen and the rattling wind swam through her hair, directing it over her shoulder. She clasped her hands together in front of her as she watched the ever stubborn Stephen practice on his own. He was adamant that he would teach himself and Cassandra could only glare at him whenever he becomes so thick-headed.

"You're staring at him like he's some kind of forbidden fruit."

The woman jumped slightly, startled by the presence. She inclined her head to see her mother beside her with a small smile on her lips. "Mom! You scared me."

"Stephen Strange," she began. "He's brave, headstrong, a bit arrogant, but still a good person. Why are you pushing him away?"

"What? How? I don't -- "

"Don't fool me, girl. I know that look."

"Am I really that obvious?" Cassandra shook her head. "He's my student, mom." asserted she, straightening her posture.

"Kaecilius was your student too and yet, you dated him."

The brunette sucked in a breath. She and Kaecilius had a brief romance four years after he arrived in Kamar-Taj. Despite his arrogant and strict personality, Cassandra chose to believe there was goodness in him and their relationship blossomed into something more after that. However, as time went by, she began to see his true colors when he badly wounded the trainees that he was tasked to mentor, callously dismissing the aforementioned trainees' fighting ability as being sloppy and predictable. She immediately broke it off when his behavior continued, insisting that it was better that they remain as friends instead. Kaecilius didn't accept it at first, but later on, respected her decision. "Briefly. We were only together for a year, mom."

"Still." Olivia shrugged. "You didn't have a problem with it."

Cassandra sighed. The more she thought about her and Stephen, the more she thought that they can't be together. "Love is the death of duty. You know he's going to be the Sorcerer Supreme. I can't let anything distract us both. We have responsibilities we need to fulfill. Everyone will soon depend on us to keep them safe from threats."

"So, you'll sacrifice your happiness for the world?"

The brunette's eyes swept to the setting sun. "We won't last anyway."

"And how do you know that?"

"Because I can die anytime."

"Everyone can die anytime, Cass. You, me, your father, the Ancient One, Stephen... no one is truly safe from death. You think you're keeping him safe with what you're doing? No, you're just giving yourself something to regret later on."

Cassandra snapped her gaze toward her mother. The afternoon sun shone upon Olivia's face, making it glow like an aura. "Duty must always come first, mom. Love will do nothing, but end up overriding one's duty."

The two then heard a loud cough behind them and turned to see Harry approach who was wearing an apologetic expression on his face. "I think your mother and I are to blame for this mindset of yours. We have instilled these thoughts that we forgot that your happiness should come first."

"Dad..."

"Don't be afraid to take a leap of faith, little flower." He gently laid his hand on Cassandra's shoulder. "Like you just said, you might die anytime. We don't know when it's going to be our last. You don't want to die with regrets, Cassandra."

Her father's words struck through her that Cassandra swallowed and he continued saying, "What did I tell you before? Your time is limited, make every second count."

Cassandra hung her head low. Those were the words he engraved on her watch, the one that was still with Stephen. There were only a few times when she had put herself first because she felt like she shouldn't. Harry placed his hand on the sides of her face. "It's not selfish to put yourself first. Remember, your life and happiness must always come first. You must feel comfortable in everything that you choose to do. You have a duty to fulfill, yes, but you also matter."

"You will always have a choice, Cassandra, for you don't owe this world a thing. You never did." Her mother added, laying her hands on Cassandra's shoulders.

Honestly, she felt reassured again that she has control her life, that she was the captain of her ship. It wasn't fate or whatever godly creature out there. Her life was her own. Her parents removed their hands and stood beside her, observing the students.

The young woman brushed her hair back. "Gods, why do we want the things that we know are bad and dangerous for us?" She returned her gaze to Stephen and watched him focus intently on his practice session. She groaned. Isn't it awkward to date someone you had a one-night stand with? Gosh, this wouldn't be so hard if I didn't have sex with Stephen.

"Wait, you... what?" Her mother blinked, her lips hanging open slightly.

Cassandra's eyes bugged out of their sockets. "I did not just say that out loud, did I?"

"Yes, you did." confirmed her father, flinching.

"Shit."

"Wait a second," Olivia gasped, her face turning that into of excitement like she had received the best news of her life. "Was he your first? Why didn't you tell us it was him?"

Cassandra's eyebrows furrowed. "Wha-- Why would I even tell you, guys? You're my parents! You might even kill me!"

Olivia retorted, "What? No! I would be proud!"

"Oh, my gods, mom! How can you be so casual about this?"

Olivia coolly shrugged, brushing some lints off her brown robes. "Because we all have needs. Come on, it's perfectly normal!" She then playfully punched Cassandra's arm. "Plus, you've never had a boyfriend -- well, you had two, but they were all assholes so they're not counted..."

"Mom..." Cassandra spun around her heel and left her parents, not wanting to delve further in the topic. However, her parents weren't going to let it go easily. They ran to each of her sides, bombarding her with questions.

"But, let me ask," This time, it was her father who spoke. He raised his eyebrow. "was he a jerk to you the morning after?"

The daughter sighed. "No, dad. He wasn't. I actually left while he was asleep. Can we not talk about this anymore?"

"Did you have fun though? Used any protection?"

"Yes, of course!"

"Good. That's what matters to me."

"Dad! Gods! Can you two act normal?"

Her parents blinked twice.

"I mean, act like normal parents! Like most parents would be angry with their kid for sleeping with a total stranger!

Her mother's lips contorted into a frown as her hair swayed from side to side, being lightly pushed by the warm summer's breeze. "Come on!" She cried dramatically while they turned around a corner. "Screw normal! Normal is boring! Why conform when you can deviate? Be an orange in a box full of apples! Right, my love?" She nudged her husband's side. "As long as we don't break any major rule, we're fine."

"Correct!" He chuckled, moving his pointer finger in a check way.

Cassandra couldn't help but laugh at her parents' playfulness. They never judged her for anything she did, only guided her, advised her. They still gave her the right to choose and make a decision which she was so grateful for because they never let her feel she had no control over her life. The young woman threw her arms around her parents' shoulder, bringing them both closer to her. "I love you, mom and dad! Always know that."

Oh, how little did she know it was going to be the last time they were all going to be together.

DARK CLOUDS STRETCHED over the sky as rain pounded down, each drop a small stone, piercing cold. The sprinkles trickled down her windowpane like crystals drifting down to the world. Then, they turned into blankets of rain drops, pouring onto the ground. Cassandra stood by the entrance of the temple, sipping a warm mug of tea. She thought about her parents' words earlier again. Her fingers wrapped around the handle as she swallowed the beverage that helped clear her mind.

"Cass," called Mordo behind her. She turned around to face him with a smile. As usual, his hands were behind his back and the yellow ceiling light accentuated the lines on his face. "Wong is waiting for us in the courtyard. The Ancient One has tasked to check on the Sanctums again."

"Right." Nodding, she followed closely behind him, making a quick detour to the kitchen to drop her mug. They met with Wong and soon, the three of them walked inside the library, venturing into the masters section with ease. The young woman's eyes darted down to the wooden floor. It was a chorus of browns, those many soulful hues calming the spirit and elevating the heart. She didn't know why, but it was giving off a sense of courage and warning like something was going to happen that she had to be ready.

As soon as she lifted her head, a sudden emerald light radiated from the room of the masters section and exchanging a swift glance with each other, the three masters ran to the source. Cassandra's breath hitched as she realized where it came from: The Time Stone.

"What the..."

"Stop!" Mordo exclaimed, his voice resonating through the room. Cassandra caught sight of the Eye of Agamotto hanging around Stephen's neck and she immediately rushed to his side. She harshly pushed him away from the ancient tome she easily recognized, The Book of Cagliostro, but he was able to regain his footing and returned to his side, gasping.

"Are you insane?!" She vociferated, furious with his action. "Are you aware of what you are doing? Tampering with continuum probabilities is forbidden! It is dangerous!"

As soon as she said this, she remembered the time she was first caught using the Darkhold and swallowed. Stephen was exhibiting the same actions she did years prior and her heart raced. It was her desire to know more that got her entangled with Dormammu. It was then that the young woman began to fear for his safety since he might accidentally cross paths with the dark entity like her before.

"I -- I was just..." Stephen started, avoiding Cassandra's rage. "doing exactly what it said in the book!"

"And what did the book say about the dangers of performing that ritual?" confronted Wong, slamming his hand atop the table to catch his attention.

"I don't know. I hadn't gotten to that part yet."

"What the fuck, Stephen?" Cassandra slid her fingers through her hair in frustration. "You could've died, you idiot!"

Mordo took a step forward, bellowing, "Temporal manipulations can create branches in time. Unstable dimensional openings. Spatial paradoxes! Time loops! You wanna get stuck reliving the same moment over and over forever, or never having existed at all?" He strolled over to their front, his visage displaying pure anger and shock.

In Cassandra's opinion, her friend's anger was justified. Stephen was manipulating time, a natural law they should never should tamper with for it will cause devastating effects if disrupted. The Ancient One made it clear to all of them once that drawing power from the Dark dimension and manipulating time was strictly forbidden for good reasons. Disrupting the flow of time may shatter one's reality and universe and siphoning power from the Dark dimension will corrupt a person, warp their minds.

"Really should put the warnings before the spell." Stephen shrugged, nonchalant as if he had little regard for his action. He shut the book close, still avoiding the glares each of them give him.

"Goddammit!" exasperated Cassandra, now jabbing a finger to his chest. "Your curiosity could have gotten you killed! Can you please, for the love of all that is good, do not make the same mistake I did before! You do not know the dangers that will follow, Stephen!"

"Mistake? What -- what do you mean by that?"

"You weren't manipulating the space-time continuum, you were breaking it." The mystical librarian snatched the book that contained the study of time, pointing its end toward Stephen. "We do not tamper with natural law. We defend it."

"How did you even do that?"

Stephen hummed.

"Where did you learn the litany of spells required to even understand it?" Karl questioned, curious.

"I've got a photographic memory. That's how I got my M.D. and Ph.D. at the same time."

"What you just did..." emphasized Karl, confused but also a bit amazed. "takes more than a good memory. You were born for the mystic arts."

Cassandra agreed with her friend's statement. After all, Stephen was destined to be the next Sorcerer Supreme of Earth. But, even though it's his destiny, he still persevered. He studied hard, day and night to really master each spell.

"And yet my hands still shake." retaliated Stephen, venom spitting like death in his tone. Cassandra knew the memory of how he lost his hands still hurt him. He admitted it to her one time when they were alone, conversing. Everytime he saw the scars in his fingers, it reminded him that he might never gain his old life back and it hurt because his life revolved around his work.

"For now, yes."

"Not forever?"

"We're not prophets."

"When are you gonna start telling me what we are?" Stephen straightened his posture, tilting his head.

Cassandra slammed her hand atop the study table, her eyes dangerously glowing a bright amber. "You really think you're ready?" challenged she, her lips forming into a frown. "Fine, let's tell him everything. Time for the second orientation." She spun around her heel, heading toward the Narthex and beckoning all the three men to follow her.

When she felt that they weren't behind her, she turned around again, narrowing her eyes. "What? Are you all just going to stand there or do I have to drag you three in here?" She yelled, throwing her hand to the side, summoning an Eldritch whip, striking the ground.

Instantly, the three sorcerers followed her to the Narthex, tad bit terrified.

"WHILE HEROES LIKE the Avengers protect the world from physical dangers... we, sorcerers, safeguard it against more mystical threats." expounded Wong, turning the dials to light the globe floating above them. Cassandra's eyes flickered to Stephen who stared at the golden world in awe.

"The Ancient One is the latest in a long line of Sorcerers Supreme, going back thousands of years to the father of the mystic arts, the mighty Agamotto." He carried on, his eyes directed at Stephen to make sure the man was intently listening. "The same sorcerer who created the eye you so recklessly borrowed. Agamotto built three Sanctums in places of power where great cities now stand."

Cassandra pointed to the door on her right. "As you already know, that door leads to the Hong Kong Sanctum." Then to her right. "That door to the New York Sanctum." And finally, to the one in front of her. "And that one to the London Sanctum. Together," She cleared her throat, preapring herself for the next question that Stephen will throw at them since she was certain he will ask another. "the Sanctums generate a protective shield around our world."

"The Sanctums protect the world," Karl spoke. "And we, sorcerers, protect the Sanctums."

"From what?"

"Threats." Cassandra shrugged. "Or well, other-dimensional beings that threaten our universe."

"Like Dormammu?"

"Where did you learn that name?"

"I just read it in The Book of Cagliostro. Why?"

The young woman nodded to Wong, giving him the go-signal. "Dormammu dwells in the Dark Dimension. Beyond time." He shifted the dials again in the device and soon, the shields vanished. "He is the cosmic conqueror, the destroyer of worlds. A being of infinite power and endless hunger on a quest to invade every universe and bring all worlds into his Dark Dimension."

"The same being that holds my future." commented Cassandra bitterly, regret and anger biting in her tone of voice. She had been so focused on looking at her future with Stephen that she forgot she was still bound to the inter-dimensional entity.

"I'm sorry, what?"

Sighing, Cassandra crossed her arms and faced Stephen. "I made a terrible mistake when I was young." She started. "I siphoned power from the Dark dimension to surpass my peers because I didn't want to be left behind, but just like the Ancient One warned us all, the magic I drew forth corrupted me and eventually, I crossed paths with Dormammu." narrated the woman, pacing across the room. "I begged him to let me go, but he refused to free me. So, we made a deal. He will leave Earth and let me go... if I join him once he successfully conquers Earth."

"Why does he want you to join him?"

Cassandra clasped her hands. "Because he plans to use me in his conquest to unite all dimensions and planets under his rule."

"Why you?"

At this, Karl joined their conversation, "Because Cassandra isn't just any sorceress. She isn't like us. She has multiple magical energies inside of her. Cassandra may convert her own life force and form it into any type of magic she desires whether it be light or... dark."

Ever since her knowledge about the mystic arts had been widened, Cassandra discovered her mystical ability of using her own life force to create any form of magical energy, but as expected, her own life would be the price of that ability.

"Is that why your eyes glow when you use your magic?"

"Well, my eyes glow because I have a lot of Eldritch magic stored in me. Think of me as some source of that energy you may harness from."

"Wow..."

"She still has other abilities you are not aware of, Strange. They were gifted to her by the entities as a preparation for her journey ahead." Karl apprised, proudly. He knew about her duty and ever since then, he had been very supprotive of her. He encouraged her to do well and that he will always have her back if ever she needed it.

"Gifts I have gained because of my soon-to-be responsibility."

"Responsibility?"

"Wong, please continue." Cassandra cut their discussion, knowing Stephen shouldn't know yet her task.

"Right, as I have mentioned earlier, Dormmamu desires to bring all worlds into his dimension and he hungers for Earth most of all."

"The pages that Kaecilius stole..." Stephen slowly began to piece all the puzzles together.

"A ritual to contact Dormammu and draw power from the Dark Dimension." confirmed Wong.

Stephen's shoulders slumped and he stared at each of them, nervous and uncertain of everything. "Uh, okay..." he looked down. "Okay. I'm out." He raised his trembling fingers slightly. "I came here to heal my hands. Not to fight in some mystical war."

Cassandra understood his hesitance. Stephen was used to saving lives, not take them. He was a medical practitioner and they swore an oath to do no harm. To join them would mean, he would have to break that... perhaps, several times or always.

Suddenly, bells began to ring from her right, catching their attention. Cassandra instantly recognized it coming from the London Sanctum. It was a warning. The woman paled when she realized that her parents were in danger.

"London."

"No, no, no!" She repeated, dashing to the door of the London Sanctum. Pulling it open, she caught sight of her father being held by Kaecilius. Harry's arm was twisted behind his back and their enemy had just thrust a scythe dagger into his abdomen. Her father yelled in pain as he was stabbed with the weapon and he crashed to the ground, unconscious and bleeding profusely.

"Dad!"

"Cass!"

Cassandra ran forward to help him, but stopped when Kaecilius conjured a ferocious ball of energy in his hands. Reacting immediately, she gestured her hands into an 'x' and invoked the Shield of the Seraphim, covering the entirety of the entrance.

"Kaecilius! No!"

But, she wasn't fast enough.

And soon, the pulsating energy sphere in Kaecilius' hand exploded as it hit the ground, shattering her shield and sending her flying backwards. Cassandra crashed against the wall just as rocks rained down upon the door of the London Sanctum. She groaned, feeling pain roll across her body in intense waves. Coughing, she placed a hand behind her head to check if she had any wound. Thankfully, she had none, but she still couldn't move as her body ached from the impact.

She heard steps beside her and rolled to see a grinning Kaecilius kneeling in front of her.

"How are you, my darling?"