Doctor Strange - This One Summer

Sapling

Patron

"Trust, Hazel," Mordo insisted after another of Hazel's shield-conjuring acts. "If you don't learn to trust me, you'll never pass this class."

"Give me one reason to trust you," Hazel spat. "Or your students. I can't just switch gears and trust everyone, because that's not how being an American girl works."

"I've trained plenty of girls from America and places worse off than America," Mordo informed her. "It's not your origin that made you this way. The Ancient One and I couldn't save you from your Guests, not entirely, but we defended you to the best of our abilities, did we not?"

Hazel sighed and averted her eyes. He continued.

"We have no reason to harm you, Hazel."

Another sigh from the American girl. You're not listening to me. It was as if she couldn't be heard.

"Now, try again. This time, you don't have to attack. Only defend."

Hazel tried her best. She dodged his attacks and blocked as she had been taught, but when cornered, she cowered and crossed her arms above her head defensively.

With a sudden, unexpected flash, a fair-sized specter materialized out of thin air. The phantom-like figure had the aspect of a wolf, and the energy of a descendent of chaos. It leaped before Hazel to defend her, but the girl wasn't having it.

"Fen!" Her shout cut across the courtyard, catching the attention of anyone who hadn't been distracted by the wolf alone. The wolf-specter glanced over its shoulder at her. Hazel spoke firmly; the others in the plaza could tell she was irritated and humiliated. "We have a deal, Fenrir."

The wolf turned around and said something no one in the courtyard understood. It sounded like an excuse.

"This doesn't count! This is training, not battle," Hazel argued. She watched the beast for a moment before sighing heavily. "Go home, Fen."

The beast stood still for a moment before disappearing back into thin air. Hazel heaved a sigh and looked to Mordo, who she knew wanted to confront her.

"You made a deal with Fenris." It wasn't a question.

"I did," Hazel nodded. She didn't act like she had anything to be ashamed of. "Fenrir is my main patron--I pay tribute to him, and he serves me in kind."

Mordo was incredulous. "You don't honestly believe a child of the God of Chaos will bend to you. Paying tribute to such things only makes them stronger, and once he's strong enough, he'll overpower you and bring chaos to our reality--don't you understand that?"

"And I guess you read that in a book somewhere?" Hazel snapped. She was uncharacteristically bold in that moment, forgoing her usual chagrin now that her favorite Guest was involved. "You don't know him. He's a child of chaos, but he's still real. He's not like a monster. He feels fear, longing, and loss, just like anyone. And you saw me send him away, so it's not like I'm not powerful enough to control him."

"You're not strong enough to control him," Mordo corrected firmly. "You can't even control yourself. And at this rate, I fear you never will."

Hazel stared up at him, her legs trembling. She was exhausted and sore from days of this, yet she still stood. She'd feel spoiled or weak if she let her injuries get the better of her. Mordo left her there, turning to the other students who were gawking at the girl as if the wolf still stood before her. Or perhaps she was the wolf to them.

"Class is dismissed," Mordo announced.

Hazel's shoulders sagged in defeat. What was she going to do?