American comics: Starting with Luke the Maker

“I’m afraid I have to interrupt your conversation; we need to hurry. Of course, don't worry about not seeing each other again. Your identification information is on file with the Time Variance Authority and S.H.I.E.L.D. You can add each other as contacts in the data dimension later.”

Phil Coulson interjected as Jaina and Susan were about to discuss something.

Remember the original website domain 𝕥𝕨𝕜𝕒𝕟.𝕔𝕠𝕞

“Aren't we already on our way, Agent Coulson?” Jaina turned to look at Phil in surprise, assuming that the asteroid-like object beneath their feet was their mode of transportation.

Of course, she wasn't shocked or bewildered by the vast and magnificent cosmic scenery around them. In Azeroth, there were concepts of planets and the universe, and mages had even encountered dangerous outer realms. So, she had always regarded this as the cosmic space where Phil's headquarters was located.

“If you think so, sure. But I don't have the authority to control this asteroid. I don't even know where it's going. Its purpose is just to serve as a coordinate assigned to us, allowing us to gather and converge again,” Phil said, shaking his head.

“So, we're just drifting around aimlessly?” Susan looked at the desolate surroundings in astonishment, sharing Jaina's initial thought. But quickly, she thought of another question: “Will someone come to pick us up?”

“No one is picking you up; we are the ones picking you up.” Phil slipped a uniquely shaped ring onto his finger. He drew a circle in the air with one hand, smiling as he said, “But this is the data dimension, a magical and incredible world. Here, those with authority are omnipotent.”

A swirling, sparking portal appeared before them, revealing a glimpse of another place.

“Heavens, I've seen such portals in Azeroth! That's a spell used by your mages. Are you a noble mage, Agent Coulson?” A strong look of surprise flashed in Jaina's eyes. She clearly hadn't sensed any magic from Coulson, nor had she felt any magic fluctuations around them, yet he had personally opened a portal right before her eyes.

Spatial magic and knowledge are considered very profound magic among Azeroth's mages. To successfully cast these spatial spells, your study and mastery of arcane and magic must be deep enough. Although she knew that in some other magic systems, the difficulty of these spatial spells would be greatly reduced.

“Mage? No, no, no, you overestimate me. I'd love to be a mage, but I'm not talented enough. Besides, I'm busy and don't have time to meditate and study spells like those mages. Worse, the Sorcerer Supreme explicitly told me that I'm not suited for the magic of their Kamar-Taj lineage,” Phil said, waving his hands repeatedly, his friendly smile still on his face as he corrected her.

“Ah, Kamar-Taj, I know it. It's your world's mage sanctuary! The Sorcerer Supreme is the most powerful among them, isn't he?” Jaina showed off her knowledge. She had indeed gathered quite a bit of information about this world, and the more she knew, the more she wanted to come and see it and study.

In her opinion, this was like leaving her own country to study magic in Dalaran, only this time, her journey was to leave her own world and go to another powerful world to learn.

“Also, you're too modest. Just this spatial portal alone shows how powerful you are. At least, I didn't sense any magic fluctuations from your previous actions,” Jaina pointed to the wide-open and stable portal, smiling at Phil.

“I love what you're saying. Unfortunately, I don't know any magic. This portal is just a [skill]. Do you know what a skill is? It doesn't require knowing the principle, or the incantation, or where the energy comes from. It's granted to you, and you can use it. Of course, this is only limited to the data dimension.”

Phil patiently explained to Jaina and Susan, “Many people in the data dimension have this teleportation skill. It's a practical skill that most entrants inevitably choose.

Although the data dimension has various teleportation methods, those are fixed and require payment. Money is very important here. More importantly, this skill allows you to control more convenience. After all, the data dimension is too big, so big that you might spend your whole life without leaving a planet. It's not good to waste time on travel.”

“Does everyone here have teleportation magic?” Jaina and Arthas couldn't contain their inner shock any longer. Arthas, who had been silent, showed a rare hint of dismay on his face.

“No, no, it's not necessarily magic. I just admired the mages of Kamar-Taj and thought their portals were cool, so I chose this skill. In fact, if you want, other fancy teleportation methods are also possible. What about fixed-point teleportation, technological equipment teleportation? If you have enough authority, you can even choose to be swallowed by a cat and then spat out, and you'll arrive at your destination. This is not a world that strictly follows real-world logic and rules,” Phil corrected. “[It] is just a simple way to travel here. We really have to go now, follow me.”

With that, Phil stepped into the portal first. Susan and Jaina exchanged glances and followed suit. Finally, after everyone had entered the portal, it disappeared from the asteroid.

In a vast square, Jaina and the others curiously looked at everything before them. Phil signaled them to follow, leading them through the crowd, zigzagging and walking for a long time before finally stopping in front of a church-like building.

“This is your destination,” Phil pointed to the church and said to Jaina and Arthas, “I'll take you inside, and that'll be the handover.”

“Here?” Jaina looked up at the somewhat old church-style building, feeling that it wasn't as magnificent and magical as she had imagined, but rather ordinary.

“Kamar-Taj's data dimension office. You can only formally enter Kamar-Taj in reality for study after passing the corresponding assessment. Frankly speaking, accepting a mage from another world to study seems to be a first. You two are lucky, but maybe unlucky,” Phil said meaningfully, then led them up the steps and used his pre-existing authority to open the door of the building.

Jaina was a shrewd person; of course, she understood what Phil's last sentence meant. The lucky thing was that it was the first time, so it would receive considerable attention, but precisely because it was the first time, many of the rules established for it had not been verified. Neither the mages nor the apprentices had relevant experience. In other words, without comparison, the criteria for judgment might not be determined.

“Wong, are you on duty today?” Phil immediately saw a familiar, chubby figure. As the mage who dealt with S.H.I.E.L.D. the most, Wong was already an old acquaintance.

“Oh, Phil, so many apprentices? I remember there were only two?” Wong greeted him with a smile, then looked at the large group of people behind Phil, somewhat astonished.

“Only these two are. Jaina Proudmoore, and this is Arthas Menethil.” Phil pushed Jaina and the other forward, introduced them, and then pointed to Reed and the others behind them: “This is another group, going to Hebron for evaluation.”

“Teacher!” Jaina looked at Wong, unsure of what to call him. After thinking for a moment, she used the title of teacher.

“Don't rush to call me teacher yet. Just call me Wong,” Wong stopped Jaina's address. “You can adjust first. As agreed, I have to assess your basics first.”

“Then I'll leave first.” Phil immediately turned and left after delivering the people. He still had to go to the next location.

The door of the building closed heavily.

In the empty hall, only Wong, Jaina, and Arthas remained. Wong led them towards the interior of the building, saying, “The magic you wield is your world's arcane magic system, right?”

“Yes, I systematically studied arcane in Dalaran. Oh, Dalaran is our Azeroth's human magic city, the best place to learn and exchange arcane magic.” Jaina said, seeming to realize that Wong might not know what Dalaran was, and proactively explained it.

“I know,” Wong replied. “We are not completely ignorant of your world. In fact, information about your world and the arcane magic system may have reached our world much earlier than you think.

I heard you want to come here to study? As allies who help us fight the Burning Legion and the Void Lords, that's no problem. Kamar-Taj is not a self-serving mage organization. In fact, we, like the mages there, are responsible for guarding our own worlds. But before that, I need to know how much you know about Kamar-Taj's magic system?”

“Very powerful, difficult to control, very dangerous,” Jaina said in one breath what she knew.

“I can't say you're wrong. But obviously, this understanding is somewhat superficial.” Wong understood roughly where Jaina's understanding of the Kamar-Taj magic system was at.

“We all know that to cast a spell, you need energy. This energy can be magic, or what your world calls arcane energy, or other energy, etc. You are lucky because your planet has arcane, a powerful magic energy suitable for you. But before the emergence of psionic energy, we didn't.”

“If you want to learn Kamar-Taj's magic system and history, it's divided into two stages. One is before the emergence of psionic energy, and the other is after the emergence of psionic energy.

The former, the essence of Kamar-Taj's magic system is a kind of transaction magic. We use some kind of price to exchange energy from some powerful existence, or other powerful existences, to release our own spells. But what is difficult to give up with this magic is maintaining the balance between transactions and distinguishing what kind of existence is willing to lend you power. I don't know if you understand the concept of payday loans, but if you do, you can substitute it. This is a precarious situation, where your life is not in your control, and you have to tread on thin ice at all times. So, the Kamar-Taj mages at that time generally borrowed power from relatively orderly dimensional deities, such as the Vishanti.

The latter, after the emergence of psionic energy, the Kamar-Taj magic system changed. Still using loans as an analogy, there is a kind of external guarantee. The heavy price you will have to pay in the future will be guaranteed and filled by psionic energy. Even now, you can even say that the Kamar-Taj mages have their own [energy bank]. In many cases, they don't need to borrow those dangerous powers anymore. Of course, many powerful Kamar-Taj spells require specific dimensional powers. This is a point that even the Ancient One is difficult to change. So sometimes, we still need to deal with the masters behind those dimensional powers. It's just that now we have other chips to trade with him.”

“So the Kamar-Taj's magic power system is chaotic. You can use one kind of arcane energy, but many of Kamar-Taj's spells require powers of different attributes.

I must remind you that to learn Kamar-Taj's spells, mental will, disposition, caution, and talent are indispensable. Any omission may allow you to be affected by the power behind it, and then fall, becoming a puppet and puppet of the master behind the power.

Do you still want to learn Kamar-Taj's magic system now?”

Wong looked at Jaina and the other with a serious face. He almost told them: Powerful? It's exchanged for playing with your life on the edge of a knife!

Jaina and Arthas looked at each other. Finally, in silence, Jaina stood out, “I want to try.”

“Perhaps it's difficult to make you understand that danger with words. I can let you feel it with your spiritual bodies.” Wong took a step forward, slapped out with both palms, hitting Jaina and the other who were caught off guard. The chubby body was agile beyond belief, and even Arthas didn't guard against this attack.

Two illusory figures vibrated out of Jaina and the other, and then were thrown by Wong into a strange and dangerous dimensional world. That bizarre and peculiar everything, accompanied by a large number of whispers and power radiation infections, caused Jaina and the other, whose souls had left their bodies, to let out soul screams. They were almost dancing on the tip of a knife, and if the speed of their shuttle in the dimensional world slowed down even a little, their souls would be stained with something terrible. (End of this chapter)