Strange Pack (Doctor Strange Fanfiction)

Chapter 4: The Path of a Healer

Sergantis awoke the next morning early to start Stephen's training formally. Luckily, Sergantis was feeling a lot better after a day of rest and he was ready to show that he wasn't as weak as he had seen the day prior.

"Let's go," Sergantis announced as he flung Stephen's door straight open.

He moaned as he sat up in bed. He looked like he ached and Sergantis nearly snorted in amusement. If he was in pain now, he certainly wouldn't like what was coming.

"It's time to get up. We're working with sling rings today," explained Sergantis as he flipped on the lights and Stephen groaned as he raised his hands to his eyes to try and block out the blinding light.

Stephen looked at him in shock. "What's a sling ring?"

"You'll find out soon enough," answered Sergantis as he let out a bark over his shoulder. "Let's go! I don't have all day."

Stephen groaned as he threw off the covers, changed quickly, and headed out after Sergantis. He was surprised that the wolf was outpacing him after the display of yesterday.

"How are you er feeling," asked Stephen awkwardly.

Sergantis gazed over his shoulder, bounding forward with his shoulders thrown forward as he came forward. "Much better than yesterday. But, this isn't about me. I have all the time in the world to figure all this out. You have as much time as the universe has granted you."

"So you might want to hurry up," called Indarra as she leaped forward, nearly knocking Stephen right over. She chuckled as she brushed her nose against his cheek and he rumbled in delight.

She looked over her shoulder at Stephen. "Hello, Mister Strange," Indarra meowed as she kinked her tail over her back. "Are you excited to use a sling ring?"

"It's actually Doctor Strange," Stephen corrected. "And what's a sling ring?"

Indarra fluffed out her fur as she looked over to Sergantis. "Wow, you haven't told him much, have you?"

"Been a little busy, Indarra. But, he'll get the hang of it," pointed out Sergantis as he picked up the pace. "But, he'll learn soon enough."

Indarra laughed as they continued forward. They were about to head outside before they were presented with sling rings. However, Indarra and Sergantis just raised their paws, showing that they already had their sling rings on them. You were never supposed to go anywhere without your sling ring. That could be beyond dangerous.

Stephen took his sling ring and looked at it in surprise. He showed it to Indarra and Sergantis as he looked at it keenly. Indarra purred as she arched her back against Stephen's leg and darted forward. "Don't worry. You'll figure out how to use it soon enough. Come on, Sergantis! We're teaching this class."

"Get in line, Stephen and try to learn everything you can about your sling ring. It would be your most important thing that you could possibly own," Sergantis explained as he followed after his apprentice out of the temple and into the courtyard.

Indarra leaped onto a small stump while Sergantis walked right forward with his head looking around. He gazed at the training sorcerers. Most of them had been training for a while, but some of them were newer than others.

"Alright, we're going to work with our slign tings today. You need to imagine the place that you want to go as clearly as you possibly can so that you can actually reach out and touch it. You need to keep your focus clear and precise. Don't think about anything else. Commit to it," explained Sergatnis as he allowed his voice to carry through the entire temple's courtyard.

Indarra rose to her paws and leaped down, coming over to her mentor. "Let's give it a try. Everyone, keep your sling ring on your fingers and then twirl your paw, wing, tail, hand, whatever you got." She kept her sling ring on her paw before she lifted her paw and started to trace a circle in the air with her paw.