Jack stepped through the portal into Kamar-Taj and — yep, it looked exactly like the movies. Ancient stone courtyards, monks in robes doing slow kung-fu-looking moves, incense smoke floating through the air… the whole place screamed "you're about to get spiritually punched in the face."
The Ancient One led him past a bunch of students messing around with magic. One guy was floating while reading a book, another was opening tiny portals like it was a Snapchat filter, and someone was literally walking on air. No big deal.
"Show-offs," Jack mumbled under his breath.
"Everyone begins somewhere," the Ancient One said without even turning. Of course she heard that.
They stopped at a training area where a bunch of students were standing in a circle around a woman who looked like she could kill someone with just a raised eyebrow. Full sleeve tattoos, serious expression, no patience in sight.
"Master," she nodded to the Ancient One. "Is this the new student?"
"Yep. Jack, meet Master Chen. She's in charge of kicking your magical butt into shape."
Master Chen gave him a look like she could already tell he was going to be a problem.
"We'll start simple," she said, holding up a weird little ring. "This is a sling ring. It lets you open portals. Focus, picture where you want to go, move your hands like this—"
She did a little spin-motion with her fingers, and boom, golden portal. "See? Easy."
Jack was impressed. Not that he was gonna say it out loud.
"Now you try."
He took the ring and slipped it on. Cold. Heavy. Kind of like putting on a wedding ring that belonged to someone way out of your league.
He focused, pictured the other side of the courtyard, did the little sparkly circle motion…Nada.
He tried again. And again. Still nothing.
"Focus on your breathing," Master Chen said, as if that was gonna magically fix it.
Jack inhaled, centered himself, tried again. This time he really reached for that power inside him — not magic, but the Force. He felt it, strong and dark and electric… and the sling ring? Still a useless piece of costume jewelry.
Meanwhile, other students were casually opening portals like it was a TikTok trend.
"This is ridiculous," Jack muttered.
The Ancient One stepped forward, her expression... off. She looked like she didn't get it, which was actually terrifying.
"Let me see," she said.
Jack tried again, full effort. Force blazing through him like a storm.
Nothing. Sling ring stayed dead.
The Ancient One blinked, very slowly. "Well," she said, "I was wrong. You can't use magic."
"...Huh?"
"Your power. It's not compatible with the mystic arts."
"So I'm just… useless here?"
"Not useless. Just… not a sorcerer," she said, almost apologetic. "Kamar-Taj can't teach you what you need."
Jack sighed and handed the sling ring back to Master Chen, who was now staring at him like he was some kind of magical glitch.
"Great. Love that for me. Came to Hogwarts and found out I'm a Muggle."
The Ancient One was quiet for a moment, then asked, "Where do you want to go?"
"New York," Jack said. "I was kinda in the middle of figuring my life out before the whole 'hey, surprise monk school' thing happened."
She nodded. "As you wish."
Before he could say "thanks," she pulled the whole Doctor Strange yeet move — raised her hands, swirled them dramatically — and a portal opened under his feet.
"Wait, hold—"
Too late. Jack fell straight through.
He hit concrete with a solid thud, rolled, and came up groaning. He looked around and — yep, New York City. Traffic noises, chaos, the whole deal. And right in front of him: the Sanctum Sanctorum. Fancy wizard house and everything.
"Seriously?!" Jack shouted at the sky. "Can't you just open a normal portal?!"
Some guy walking by gave him a look like "please don't talk to me, silver-haired weirdo."
Jack dusted himself off, looking like he'd just been spit out of a magical Uber. "What the hell am I supposed to do now?" he muttered.
He had Force powers in the Marvel Universe. No plan. No idea what year it even was. But hey — he had money, powers, and a brain full of Edgy lord knowledge. Could be worse.
He sighed. "You know what? I don't even care right now. I just want that damn pizza Ashley told me about."
And with that, he started walking. Because apparently, saving the world (or maybe low-key ruling it) was gonna have to wait until after garlic knots.