American comics: Starting with Luke the Maker

“I've been with Stephen, well, this universe's version of myself. How did he notify you? Was it last night?” Strange asked, curiously touching the identity mark on his wrist, which had faded to the same color as his skin and was almost undetectable without physical contact.

“Data dimension. Of course, we have our own exclusive mage office network inside. You just need to communicate with it, upload the matters you want to handle, and it will take care of everything it can do for you,” Wong shrugged.

“Sounds like the human internet,” Strange instantly associated it with a familiar tool.

“Exactly, like I said, mages aren't isolated from the world, we also know how to keep up with the times,” Wong said, standing up from his seat.

“I know why you're here, the Ancient One already told me. I've activated Kamar-Taj access and library privileges in your identity mark.”

“I don't remember having these things before,” Strange followed behind Wong, in this internal space that was clearly much larger, no longer the somewhat cramped and narrow Kamar-Taj library he remembered.

“There weren't many mages in Kamar-Taj before either,” Wong replied without turning his head. “When there are fewer people, it's fine to keep things simple. But when the number of people increases to a certain level, you have to upgrade the corresponding rules. Otherwise, things will become troublesome and chaotic.”

“I deeply understand,” Strange agreed.

“This is the old Kamar-Taj library. It's a public area. Any mage who joins Kamar-Taj can read the books here. Of course, the restricted section is definitely not included,” Wong stopped in front of a row of familiar-looking bookshelves.

The library was divided into many areas by some kind of magic, each area with a completely different style, like several mismatched things forced into one space. From the outside, it looked harmonious and natural, but approaching it would reveal the stylistic anomalies.

The old bookshelves made Strange feel familiar and nostalgic. He had once studied diligently here by candlelight.

But nostalgia aside, he had no intention of going inside. After all, Wong had said that this was the old Kamar-Taj library, and still the non-restricted section, which greatly reduced its appeal to Strange, almost to nothing. After all, he should have read all the books here, unless something unexpected happened, and even if he hadn't studied them, he would have some understanding of them.

Wong obviously had no intention of giving a grand introduction, as if he knew Strange wouldn't go in to look, and led Strange to another area.

It was a vast and magnificent library like a cathedral. The architectural style was somewhat exotic.

“This is a collection of various mage schools' spell notes, records, and books that Kamar-Taj has scavenged from the multiverse. Some of them are quite worth reading. The spells here are mostly peaceful, not Kamar-Taj's usual borrowing magic. They are good at using energies called arcane or fel. The danger is much lower than the spell schools practiced by Kamar-Taj. The requirements for temperament are also not high.

Kamar-Taj mages generally have more apprentices, and formal mages will only regard them as a means of drawing inferences and increasing knowledge and spell knowledge as an auxiliary practice method. After all, its upper limit has not surpassed Kamar-Taj's original spells, and it is even inferior in terms of potential. Not to mention the Kamar-Taj spell schools that have been updated now.

However, people from departments such as S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Time Variance Authority like this type of magic very much. Because if you don't trace the source and pursue the root, you can quickly cultivate a lot of mages by rote learning the spell formulas and models summarized and condensed earlier. It's not very useful, but it's enough to bluff people.

After all, the development of this planet is changing rapidly, and there is a shortage of manpower everywhere, especially a shortage of people in the mystical system. In the case that Kamar-Taj mages hold important positions and cannot meet S.H.I.E.L.D.'s mystical consultant needs at all times, they can only turn their attention to other places.”

“Kamar-Taj and Asgard jointly created a magic school with S.H.I.E.L.D., originally intended to train mage talents for S.H.I.E.L.D.. Students who graduate from this school do not need to bear the guardianship responsibilities of Kamar-Taj mages. Like human universities, they are free after graduation and can find jobs on their own. It's just that they study magic.

This magic school has been established for more than seventy years, with a class of graduates every seven years. Each of them signs an employment contract with S.H.I.E.L.D. upon graduation. The recent graduates have been highly sought after. It is said that many countries' upper echelons and giants are dissatisfied with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s monopolization of all the mages in the magic school, and have also officially joined the competition. After all, they also contributed some valuable resources such as new currencies.

Of course, Kamar-Taj will not refuse if the mages who graduated from that school want to put down their affairs and choose to study again. It's just that they may have to work harder at that time. After all, Kamar-Taj is also short of people.”

Wong walked Strange through the bookshelves, explaining corresponding anecdotes and information to him.

Strange casually flipped through two books and found that they were indeed significantly different from the Kamar-Taj spells in his memory.

“Energy? Where does the energy come from? Is it what I feel?” Strange stuffed the spell manual back. Although these spell insights were novel, they could only serve as an auxiliary role for him to draw inferences. What he wanted to see more was information about Kamar-Taj's new spells.

“That's right. Kamar-Taj has separated a portion of its energy and converted it into arcane energy,” Wong said vaguely, without revealing much on the topic. Strange obviously realized that there might be some secrets in it, so he didn't ask any further.

“It seems you're not too satisfied with this place either. Then the only remaining options are the Ancient One's spell repository and the restricted section. You definitely can't enter the restricted section. Even Kamar-Taj mages have qualification requirements,” Wong was very satisfied with this Strange's understanding, and after enthusiastically showing him around, he headed straight for the Ancient One's library.

“But the Ancient One doesn't mind sharing her knowledge and power. This place not only contains the various spells created by the Ancient One, but also the culmination of the efforts of all the mages in Kamar-Taj. Most of the spells here are in the same vein as the original Kamar-Taj spells, from the same source, but they are more powerful, less costly, more stable, and safer.” (End of chapter)