An Entity Within | Stephen Strange

17 - A Test

"Tessa, we have a new member on his way - care to join me?" The Ancient One called as she knocked on the girl's room door.

Already dressed in her apprentice uniform and ready to go, she opened the door with a smile on her face. Tessa loved Mondays so much so that she was always up at the crack of dawn, waiting behind the door for that exciting knock and call. The Ancient One always chuckled when she saw the girl, always impressed with how eager she was to continue learning. A few times she had considered encouraging Tessa to sleep later, but she knew the girl would refuse.

Offering Tessa a hand, they went to greet the newcomer at Kamar-Taj.

Tessa followed the Ancient One into the Tea Temple, moving to the side and watched quietly as the young man spoke to Master Hamir. Busying herself with getting the tea ready, the Ancient One moved swiftly around him, handing a small cup to Tessa too at which point Master Hamir, who had answered none of the newcomer's questions, got up and left.

"Thank you, Master Hamir," the Ancient One called after him, gaining the attention of the young man, "Now I am to understand that your name is Karl Mordo?"

The man was taken aback, "Sorry who are you?"

Tessa made her way over, a cheeky grin on her face, and a faux superior attitude radiating from her demeanor, "She's my assistant. I'm the Ancient One."

Both the Ancient One and Mordo laughed (albeit he a little more uncertainly).

"No but really, who are you?" He addressed the woman again.

"The Ancient One."

Mordo laughed, "But you're not - "

"Ancient? Everyone says that." Tessa jumped in, "But she is certainly far older than me and you."

He was both delighted and perplexed by the child's presence here. Was the girl her own? In fact, if what he had heard about this place was correct, why were children even here? Were they a colony of sorts? Did they make them born and bred to fight?

"Yes," She nodded, "I sense you have many questions but before I answer any of them...you were not exactly clear about why you are here, Karl."

"Mordo, please." He looked between the two curious females, his gaze lingering on little Tessa longest before he spoke in a low tone, "My wife, she was killed. I hear you teach people how to get through things like this in a more...proactive way."

"I am sorry for your loss," The Ancient One began, "But what we teach here does not help one achieve their personal vendettas, Mordo."

"They told me you teach us how to fight."

"I do not know who 'they' are, but they're not wrong. We do teach you how to fight but we do not teach you how to seek revenge - vengeance is a profitless cause."

"The people who killed my wife though, they need to pay."

The Ancient One was prepared to protect Tessa as she stood in front of the girl, noticing how riled up the young man was, "Mordo - "

As the youthful girl listened, she felt a thought branch out in her mind - or, not necessarily a thought, but a strong, suggestive stirring of her soul, one that told her:

Console him.

"What was your wife like?" Tessa squeaked, peeking out from behind the Ancient One.

Thrown off by the question and somewhat calmed by looking at the child again, he said, "She..."

"Go on." Tessa encouraged.