Marvel: Familia System

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I just realized, there was a problem with Chapter 53- Big Guns. It should have been published, but it sat in drafts. I now published it, and will re-order the chapters tomorrow. This chapter is continuation of Chapter 56- Kamar Taj

Edward's metal fingers curled slightly, the quiet creak of automail filling the silence. "I didn't come here to stay the same." He met her eyes, unwavering. "Please, teach me."

The Ancient One studied him for a long moment, a flicker of approval crossing her face, then nodded. "You'll need that resolve." She gestured toward the room's floor, etched with intricate patterns that seemed to pulse faintly under her touch. "Sit. Center yourself."

Edward complied, settling himself cross-legged, his back straight as he closed his eyes. The room quieted, and for a moment, he felt the weight of his journey pressing down on him. He'd climbed Everest without alchemy, without shortcuts.

Edward quickly grasped the flow of Eldritch energy around him, the pulsing aura from another dimension resonating with an odd familiarity, much like the principles of alchemy back in his world. As he watched the tendrils of energy twine around The Ancient One and drift through the sanctum, he knew immediately that this was what made Eldritch Magic possible—an endless current of raw power, ready to be shaped.

Remembering Nero's words about the darker forces that some sorcerers dared to harness, Edward sensed an undertone of that same energy lurking within The Ancient One, almost woven into her very being. It was subtle, nothing overtly sinister, yet undeniable—a gamble she had taken. He didn't dwell on it, though; instead, he concentrated, letting his mind sync with the energy as naturally as he would with alchemical transmutation.

The Ancient One was quietly observing Edward as he managed to manipulate Eldritch energy far faster than she'd anticipated. For Edward, it was simply another application of principles he already knew. In his world, he had sacrificed parts of himself to bring back his brother's soul, gained an understanding of alchemy's core, and no longer needed circles for transmutations. Here, he could feel something similar. The rules of equivalent exchange were replaced by an endless pool of energy from another dimension. And immediately, a question began to form: Could this energy be channeled through alchemy instead?

The thought of applying Eldritch energy to bypass equivalent exchange was tempting. The Philosopher's Stone, a tool to bypass this rule in his world, required the cost of countless souls—a sacrifice he could never accept. Eldritch energy, however, was different. No lives were sacrificed, and he could already sense its raw, unfiltered power. The Ancient One noticed his mind churning and spoke up.

"You're adapting remarkably fast, Edward. Though I sense... curiosity," she remarked, her eyes gleaming slightly.

Edward nodded. "I thought the rules here would override alchemy's basics, like Equivalent Exchange. But it's more like using Eldritch energy as fuel—boundless, shapeless. It's just manipulating reality through a different medium," he said. "Alchemy is seen as rigid because we're bound by what's there. This energy is invisible, limitless, making it look like magic."

"Interesting way to put it," she noted, leaning slightly forward. "It sounds as though you're considering alchemy with a fresh perspective."

Edward let out a dry chuckle. "Alchemy was always structured, bound by exchange. You give something, you get something—no free passes." He watched as the energy twisted effortlessly under his guidance, responding without demanding anything in return. "But with Eldritch Energy, it's like... a Philosopher's Stone on tap."

That earned a small lift of her eyebrow. "And yet, you seem untempted by the lure of something without limits."

"Limits keep things grounded," he replied, tapping his metal fingers against the ground in thought. "I've seen what happens to people when they forget that."

After a brief rest and initial testing with the Ancient One, Edward followed her through the winding halls of Kamar-Taj until they emerged into a wide-open courtyard. It was surrounded by towering walls draped with creeping vines, and a few students were already gathered in the center, practicing various techniques with quick, precise gestures. Energy shifted and sparked around them in fluid arcs, though none looked nearly as raw as what Edward had seen in the astral plane.

"Take a moment to observe the others, see if you recognize any principles in their movements," the Ancient One suggested as they walked. "The mind adapts quickly when it sees things in action." She turned toward the nearest group, where a wiry man and a compact woman were sparring, their movements fluid and controlled. Edward noticed how each one moved in sync, anticipating the other's shift in energy, deflecting without direct contact.

Edward watched with interest, studying how they maintained balance and control. He observed how they tapped into the flow around them without appearing rigid or restricted. It was almost like breathing—natural, unforced. "Like a dance," he muttered.

"Exactly," the Ancient One replied with a slight nod. She called over a tall, sturdy man with a shaven head and dark, piercing eyes. The man approached, bowing respectfully before the Ancient One turned to Edward.

"This is Master Mardo. I'd like you to practice with him," she said, gesturing toward the tall, sturdy man with a shaven head.

Edward glanced over, taking in Mardo's stance—solid, direct. He had the look of someone who didn't waste words. Edward nodded his greeting, offering a short, "Thanks for the help."

Mardo studied Edward with a slight frown, his gaze landing briefly on Edward's automail arm before returning to his face. "Prosthetic, huh? That's… new."

Edward grunted, shifting his metal fingers slightly. "Just part of the package"

Without further preamble, Mardo's hands lifted in a fluid motion. "Since you're new, let's stick to martial arts only. No alchemy, no magic. Agreed?"

Edward flexed his metal hand, rolling his shoulders with a quick nod. "Fine by me."

Mardo took a stance, feet rooted, arms loose, his gaze fixed on Edward's form. Edward could see the experience etched into his every movement. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, ready for the first strike. Edward sidestepped, keeping his weight light as he adjusted, blocking Mardo's fist with a quick pivot of his metal arm.

Mardo's expression barely shifted as he adjusted his position and threw another series of quick, precise jabs. Edward ducked, dodged, and struck back with his flesh hand, aiming for Mardo's shoulder. Mardo absorbed the hit with a solid, practiced block and countered with a swift low kick, forcing Edward to hop back.

"Not bad," Mardo commented, taking a brief step back, his stance solid. "The arm gives you some balance issues, though."

Edward raised a brow, unimpressed. "I make it work."

Mardo smirked, launching forward with a powerful roundhouse kick. Edward met it with his automail forearm, the metal absorbing the impact with a satisfying clang. Without missing a beat, Mardo's fist shot forward, aiming for Edward's ribs. Edward twisted, catching the fist with his metal hand, and gave a quick, forceful shove, breaking Mardo's stance momentarily.

After a while, both fighters paused, catching their breath. Mardo adjusted his stance, a hint of respect in his look.

The Ancient One gave a nod, "You've clearly been in fights before. But you're lacking formal training. We'll work on that while you learn Eldritch Magic."

Edward wiped a bit of sweat from his brow, nodding once.

Wong approached, gesturing for Edward to follow. "Come. I'll show you to your room, the library, and the rest."

Edward followed him through the maze of hallways, the quiet steps echoing softly in the empty spaces. The place had an old-world feel, like it held more stories than any one person could imagine. Wong led him to a modest room—bare walls, a single bed, and a small table.

"Library's two halls over," Wong said simply, gesturing down the corridor. "There's a few scrolls in there you'll find interesting. Nothing to break your head over at first."

Edward nodded, understanding. "Sounds good."

Before Wong turned to leave, he glanced at Edward's automail. "Does it limit you?"

Edward shrugged. "Depends on the situation, but not really. It's part of the job description."

A small smirk played at the edge of Wong's mouth, but he just gave a slight nod. "Good. You'll be busy. Magic training starts early. If you get lost, someone will point the way."

After Wong left, Edward took a moment to settle in. The room was basic—nothing but bare walls, a low bed, and a small table in the corner. He shrugged, setting down his bag and giving his arm a rest. Kamar-Taj was different from what he'd expected, but at least it was free from distractions. The real challenge would begin soon.

The next morning, pale dawn light crept through the tiny window, casting a faint glow across the room. Edward pulled himself up and headed to the courtyard where the other students had already started their routines. Standing among them, he observed the way they moved.

Edward mimicked the movements, paying close attention as Mardo led the group through a series of foundational forms. It was a strange balance of stillness and fluidity, blending martial arts with something else entirely.

When the warm-ups ended, a tall, wiry guy who looked like he could blend into any shadow approached Edward. "You're the one from… Everest?"

"Guess I am," Edward replied, unbothered.

A blonde woman nearby chuckled. "And you didn't use magic? Sounds like a load of trouble."

Edward shrugged. "I've had worse."

Mardo clapped his hands, gathering everyone's attention. "Enough chatter. Pair up for sparring. And don't hold back—better to learn your limits now than in the middle of a real fight."

Edward found himself paired with the wiry guy, who introduced himself as Ravi. "So, what's your story?" Ravi asked as they squared off. "A guy climbs Everest just to learn magic. You're not here for some flashy power trip, are you?"

Edward smirked. "Not my style. I'm after something more useful."

"Oh yeah? And what's useful to you?" Ravi threw a punch, which Edward deflected, following up with a quick jab of his own.

"Knowledge. You don't need to destroy the world to understand it." Edward sidestepped, sending Ravi stumbling forward with a light push. "How about you? Why are you here?"

Ravi regained his balance, brushing off the hit. "Protection. Learned the hard way that knowing how to defend yourself can make all the difference." He swung another punch, which Edward blocked with his metal arm.

"Guess that's one thing we have in common," Edward said, tossing a few more hits in his direction, his movements precise.

They continued sparring, each sizing the other up without needing to overthink. Ravi seemed impressed by Edward's moves and smirked as he dodged a hit, landing a quick punch to Edward's side. "Solid work with that arm. Surprised it doesn't slow you down."

"It used to," Edward replied, stepping back to reassess. "But I've had good help. A friend built it—better than most tech you'd find anywhere."

Ravi chuckled, "Didn't peg you for a tech guy."

Edward shrugged, keeping his focus. "I'm not. But when you've lost a limb, you take what you can get."

"Fair enough," Ravi replied, moving in for another quick jab.

Edward blocked, his eyes sharp. "You don't waste time, do you?"

Ravi grinned. "I take what I can get."

After a few more rounds, Mardo called for a change in partners, and Edward found himself sparring with the blonde from earlier. She didn't bother with introductions, diving straight into the fight with a speed that caught Edward off guard. He barely sidestepped her first punch, countering with a quick block.

As the sun rose higher, Mardo called for a break, gesturing everyone toward the side where large clay jugs of water were waiting. Edward took a long drink, glancing around as the students settled in small groups, chatting or silently catching their breath.

The next few hours blurred in a whirlwind of practice. Edward kept pace, his movements gradually smoothing out as he adapted to their way of fighting. It wasn't easy—the techniques required more balance and flexibility than he was used to—but each movement carried a natural flow that felt familiar enough for him to pick up quickly.

As they continued, Edward caught snippets of conversation from the other students, most of whom had come seeking power, protection, or purpose. He kept his own goals close, not interested in grandiose speeches or justifying himself to anyone. It was refreshing, in a way, to be around people who didn't pry too much. Here, your actions mattered more than your reasons.

When the day finally wound down, Mardo dismissed them, telling the group to rest before morning training resumed. Edward felt the ache in his muscles, but it was a satisfying kind of exhaustion, one he hadn't felt in a long time.

Kamar-Taj was unlike any place he'd been. The training was hard, the teachers strict, but that was exactly what he'd wanted. Tomorrow, he'd be back in the courtyard, learning new things..

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