January's bitter cold had settled over Kamar-Taj, blanketing the mountains in pristine snow. Arthur had grown accustomed to the rhythm of daily training, but something had been nagging at him for weeks.
One evening, he sought out the Ancient One. He found her in the Orrery, a vast chamber where mystical representations of celestial bodies drifted in silent ballet.
"Sorcerer Supreme," he began, offering a respectful bow.
She turned, and he caught the hint of a smile. "Mr. Hayes. You've become quite the frequent visitor to my chambers. Even Kaecilius doesn't seek me out half as often, and he has twice as many burning questions about forbidden knowledge."
Arthur chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment."
He had discovered over their many interactions that she was surprisingly approachable. Unlike the fearsome reputation that preceded her, she welcomed questions and seemed to enjoy their conversations.
"What troubles you today?" she asked.
Arthur settled himself, choosing his words carefully. "I've been observing something that strikes me as... peculiar."
"Oh?"
"In all my time here, I've only seen mages training. Endless training." He spread his hands. "No mobilization to fight threats. No urgent missions. No war councils. I haven't even heard stories of recent battles from the masters."
The Ancient One tilted her head. "And this concerns you because...?"
"Because from my memories of the future and everything I've read from the books, sorcerers are supposed to protect Earth from dimensional incursions and extra-dimensional entities." Arthur leaned forward slightly. "So where are they? The daily operations seem focused almost exclusively on training and maintaining the sanctums."
A knowing look crossed her features. "Ah. You believe we're merely theoretical practitioners? Academics polishing mystical concepts with no real purpose?"
"Not at all," Arthur replied quickly. "I just expected... more action, I suppose. I thought I would have gotten a chance to fight a real battle by now."
"Too eager to fight aren't you, Mr Hayes." She began walking, and Arthur fell in step beside her. "The absence of visible crisis doesn't indicate absence of threat. Rather, it suggests successful prevention."
With a graceful sweep of her hand, the Ancient One opened a portal—its edges crackling with golden sparks. Through it, Arthur glimpsed the nighttime skyline of New York City.
"Come."
They stepped onto the rooftop of a tall building. The wind carried the distant hum of traffic, and the glowing city stretched endlessly in every direction. Just ahead, a familiar structure stood out—tall, stoic, and marked by its signature circular window.
"The New York Sanctum," Arthur said, recognizing it immediately.
"Indeed." The Ancient One moved closer to the edge, eyes scanning the alley beside the Sanctum. "Watch carefully."
Arthur focused his attention on the shadows below. At first, there was nothing—just the dimly lit alley and the soft sound of a passing siren.
Then he saw it.
A faint shimmer in the air, like heat rising from summer pavement. It twisted unnaturally, forming a tear that widened with silent, uncanny pull. From its center, something emerged—a tendril of iridescent energy, coiling and undulating as though sniffing the air.
"An interdimensional entity," the Ancient One said calmly. "Minor, but potentially problematic if left unchecked."
A door opened in the Sanctum, and a tall figure stepped out. The man moved with confident purpose, his well-groomed goatee catching the streetlight. A red cloak billowed behind him, moving with unnatural life.
"Master Drumm," she identified. "The current guardian of this Sanctum."
Master Drumm raised his hands, conjuring glowing sigils that hung in the air like ancient script. The tendril recoiled, agitated, then slowly withdrew into the tear. With a sweeping motion, Drumm traced a final seal, causing the rift to collapse and vanish into nothingness.
The entire encounter had lasted less than thirty seconds.
Arthur exhaled slowly. "How often does that happen?"
The Ancient One tilted her head thoughtfully. "Far more often than you'd imagine. Such intrusions occur around the globe daily—but thanks to the Sanctums, most are handled before anyone notices."
"So the three Sanctums form a mystical barrier around Earth," Arthur said, recalling his studies. "And the guardians ensure that barrier stays intact."
"Correct," she replied. "Each Sanctum protects a third of Earth's metaphysical lattice. They repel incursions before they manifest fully. Most humans will never know how close their reality comes to collapse on any given day."
Arthur absorbed this information, watching the now-peaceful alley. "The threat seemed relatively minor. Is that typical?"
The Ancient One's expression grew more serious. "We live in a time of unusual stability. Major dimensional powers have learned to respect Earth's boundaries—not out of benevolence, but practicality."
"You mean they fear confrontation with the Sorcerer Supreme," Arthur suggested.
A slight smile played at her lips. "Fear is indeed a powerful deterrent."
Arthur turned to face her fully. "But what about the greater threats? The entities powerful enough to challenge even the sanctums? Surely they test our defenses occasionally?"
"That does happen," she acknowledged. "Though rarely."
"How strong are they?" Arthur pressed. "What kind of power are we talking about?"
The Ancient One studied him with penetrating intensity. "You wish to understand the true scope of what we face?"
"I need to know what I'm preparing for."
A long silence followed as she seemed to weigh his request. The wind howled across the rooftop, and the city lights twinkled like earthbound stars.
Finally, she nodded once. "Very well. Some lessons are best experienced firsthand, not merely described."
Golden sparks cascaded from her fingertips, weaving into a complex, shimmering gateway that pulsed with unfamiliar energy. This portal felt different from the simple transportation gateways Arthur had grown accustomed to—older, more dangerous.
"If you wish to broaden your horizons, step through," she said. "But be warned: some vistas, once seen, cannot be unseen. Some knowledge carries a weight that changes you forever."
Arthur looked at the swirling portal, then back at the Ancient One. There was no hesitation in his eyes. This was precisely the kind of knowledge he craved—the kind that couldn't be found in any book or heard in any lecture.
He took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever lay beyond. "Lead the way, Sorcerer Supreme."
The portal's edge crackled with energy as they approached it together. Arthur caught one last glimpse of New York's familiar skyline before stepping into the unknown.
Behind them, the gateway closed with a sound like reality itself sighing in relief.