𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘴 ۞ 𝙙𝙤𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚

4

Hours had passed and Lenore had felt pity for Stephen, who kept banging at the temple's door, his desperate cries to take him were left disregarded. Every time she went to check on Stephen, he was there, either knocking or pleading, his voice hoarse. She wanted to help but the Ancient One wouldn't permit it. So she had to do something.

She walked to the room where the Ancient One held a meeting for the other Masters of the different sanctum. She met Mordo along the way and the two Masters nodded in acknowledgment of each other's presence.

"It seems that you need something from the Ancient One as well as I do, Master Lenore," Mordo remarked as he shot her a knowing gaze.

"That depends, " she stated back, "What do you need from her?"

"I want to convince her on something.."

Lenore cocked an eyebrow, it seemed to her like Mordo had the same intent as she has.

"What a coincidence. I too want to convince her about something. However, she might not like it though."

"We shall see then." Mordo beamed at the smaller master next to him and she returned the gesture. She bumped her arm gently against his, eliciting a soft chuckle from him. The smiles on their face soon diminished as they neared the room. The Ancient One spun the dial on the pillar in front of her, the three masters of the sanctions around the world bowed to her before they went to their respective doors.

Both Lenore and Mordo entered the room, their hands clasped behind their backs. Lenore chose to stand by the entrance, anxious about telling her about Stephen. But if she was right about Mordo having the same idea, she'd let him speak.

"You think I was wrong to cast him out?" the doubt was evident in her tone but it didn't show on her face. She kept her eyes on the globe above her, rotating slowly as she turned the dial.

"Five hours and he's still at your doorstep," Lenore remarked with a concerned look on her face, remembering the desperate please she heard from the times she went to check upon him. At one time, she was tempted to let him but opted not to.

Lenore met Mordo's eyes across the room, it was as if Mordo was urging her to do what she had planned but she chose to stay quiet, scared that she might anger the Ancient One.

Mordo saw the hesitation in Lenore's eyes and nodded in understanding. Mordo paced around the Ancient One.

"There's a strength to him," Mordo stated.

"Stubbornness, arrogance, admission. I've seen it all before." the Ancient One responded, the distaste was evident in her tone. Lenore's heart sank, knowing who exactly she was referring to. Mordo noticed the change in Lenore's expression.

"He reminds you of Kaecilius," he said, glancing towards Lenore who closed her eyes.

It was a name she chose to forget. Kaecilius was once a man she looked up to. He was a better sorcerer than her despite having trained under the tutelage of the same master. And through those years, the two had grown attached. He was like a father to her. She remembered denying that he was now the man that he is when she heard of him turning his back to the Ancient One.