NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 11: Summer Days
Chapter 12: Summer Days*
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Summer vacation had been going on for two weeks now. Peter, Gwen, and Ned had spent a lot of time hanging out together. Whether it was just chilling in Peter's room, wandering around the city, or visiting the nearby café, this vacation had been pretty fun despite not always being luxurious.
The days passed quickly, each filled with challenges and moments of happiness. Peter kept practicing, determined to master the mystical arts. Gwen balanced her responsibilities, finding solace in the moments she could spend with her friends.
Ned, always the supportive friend, was always there with a joke or a word of encouragement. He didn't fully understand what Peter and Gwen were going through, but he was perceptive enough to sense everything going on beneath the surface of their lives. He respected their privacy, never asking too many questions, content to simply be there for them.
Meanwhile, Gwen faced her own challenges. Balancing her duties as Ghost-Spider with her personal life wasn't easy. She constantly had to find excuses for her absences, and the burden of her secret identity haunted her. But she didn't show it. She cherished the time she spent with Peter and Ned, knowing how important it was to maintain those relationships.
Although Gwen had to keep lying to Ned and her dad about her new activities as a hero, she still made time for them. It was a bit sad to keep lying like that, but she didn't want to put them in danger by revealing her identity as Ghost-Spider.
Unlike Gwen, Peter found it a bit harder to come up with good reasons and time to sneak off to the New York Sanctum. Since his comic or manga was still in the brainstorming phase, he couldn't always use the same excuse without any physical proof to May.
If he at least had one completed volume, it wouldn't be so troublesome. It would be very suspicious to conduct research for months without having any tangible results.
Fortunately, Wong gave him some leniency after Peter explained his difficulties. He no longer had to always be present at the Sanctum or Kamar-Taj. Peter was allowed to just come and pick up books to study on his own at home.
Peter felt both happy and sad—happy because he could practice portals again after setting them aside while studying his mysterious energy, and sad because it was hard to study spells independently at home without being able to prank Wong during training anymore. Despite that, he was pleased with the current situation; this vacation allowed him to focus more on the mystical arts without school.
Every day, Peter would wake up early, have a quick breakfast, and sneak off to a hidden spot in the park or on the rooftop of his apartment building to practice. The sun blazed down, but he remained determined, sweat pouring down his face as he focused on conjuring Tao Mandalas. His progress was visible, but he knew he had to keep pushing himself.
Sometimes in the afternoons, Peter would return home to spend time with Gwen and Ned. They often relaxed on the floor of Peter's room, the sound of the air conditioner providing relief from the sweltering heat outside. They talked about various things, laughed together, their laughter echoing in the small room. Sometimes they played video games or watched movies, enjoying those rare, carefree moments.
One evening, as the sun began to set, painting the city in golden hues, Peter and Gwen sat on the rooftop, gazing at the horizon. "Beautiful, isn't it?" Peter said softly.
"Yeah, it's really beautiful," Gwen replied, her eyes fixed on the skyline. "Sometimes I wish things were simpler."
Peter looked at her, sensing the weariness in her voice. "I get what you mean. I wish for that too."
They fell silent for a moment, enjoying the refreshing evening breeze.
"You know," Gwen broke the silence, "sometimes I think about what it would be like to live in a world that's more peaceful. A world without constant superhero and villain conflicts. Would we be happier?"
Peter pondered for a moment. "Maybe, maybe not. Life might seem safer, but crime would still exist. That's how we humans work, we can do good today and bad tomorrow. Having superpowers or not won't change that. They still have guns though."
Gwen chuckled softly, reflecting on Peter's words. "You really think so?" she said, then asked, "You have knowledge about the future, right Peter? You've never told me in detail, but how far into the future can you see?"
Peter took a deep breath, turning to look into Gwen's eyes. "I don't want to say anything because all that knowledge can't be entirely trusted. You already know this; in this timeline, the one bitten by the spider should have been Peter Parker, not Gwen Stacy. Seeing that change made me skeptical about future knowledge and I only use it to identify enemies' strengths and weaknesses."
Gwen frowned and said, "You didn't answer my question," puffing her cheeks at Peter.
Peter chuckled at Gwen's expression. Giving in to her little tantrum, he answered, "Okay, I'll answer. The future knowledge I have goes quite far, maybe a few years. But like I said, there are many variables that can change everything. I focus more on what's happening now and how we can handle each threat that comes."
Gwen pondered for a moment before asking again, "Is there something in the future that you want to change?"
Peter shook his head slowly, staring ahead for a few moments, then said, "Of course there is, but changing that requires a lot of factors. And I'm afraid, the more I interfere in other events before that future, the more I mess up things and miss the chance to truly change them."
Gwen sighed, thinking deeply about that, wishing she could disagree with Peter, but she didn't have a good reason to do so. She reluctantly nodded and said, "Yeah, you might be right. But still, it's hard not to think about what we might be able to change."
Peter looked at Gwen with empathy. "I know how you feel. Sometimes I get frustrated too because I can't control everything. But we have to remember that we can't control everything. All we can do is keep doing our best and hope for the best outcomes."
Gwen smiled weakly. "I hope you're right, Peter," looking at him then saying, "You always know how to make me feel better. Good job, Tiger."
Peter returned her smile. "We're here to support each other, right? Besides, all experiences, good and bad, shape who we are. I believe everything happens for a reason and we can learn from all of it."
Gwen just stayed quiet, slightly lost in thought before replying, "...When the time comes, we'll do our best, right?"
Peter nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. "Yeah, we will, no, we definitely will."
Gwen smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. "I hope we can keep facing everything together. Everything feels so exhausting, but with you by my side, I feel like I can face anything."
Peter gently took Gwen's hand. "I feel the same way, Gwen. And I promise we'll face whatever comes, together."
The night grew silent after that, and they simply enjoyed each other's company as they had over the past five months. Peter briefly remembered his conversation with Ned back then, but he quickly dismissed the thought and continued to savor the moment.
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The next day, in the afternoon, Peter was training on the rooftop of his apartment building. The sun was still high in the sky, providing a scorching heat, unlike the peaceful night he and Gwen had spent together the night before. However, the gentle breeze that blew made the atmosphere a bit more comfortable. Accompanied by the summer heat, Peter trained himself in the mystical arts.
At the moment, Peter was working his mind hard, continuously processing and honing his mysterious energy with the Tao Mandalas spell. He was trying to access the spell as quickly and powerfully as possible, infusing the magical shield with his energy source. Peter took a deep breath, trying to clear his mind and focus on the energy flowing within his body.
He stretched out his hands, palms facing forward, and began reciting the new spell softly. Slowly, a shimmering white light began to form around his hands, creating the magical shield he had been practicing. The shield formed perfectly within seconds. Peter smiled, feeling satisfied with his effort.
Peter decided to test the strength of the magical shield, converting it from a shield into a magical weapon. He prepared himself, then threw the circular shield like Captain America towards the empty bottles and cans at the edge of the rooftop. The white light shot forward quickly, striking them and splitting the trash, leaving blue burn marks on the severed pieces.
"Wow, that's pretty strong," Peter muttered, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "But I need to do it even faster."
He continued training, this time focusing on speed. Peter tried to access the spell as quickly as possible, creating it in a shorter time. Time and again he failed to meet his own criteria, but Peter didn't give up. He kept trying, correcting his mistakes, and improving his speed and energy output.
As the sun began to set, Peter felt exhausted but satisfied with his progress. Despite the tiring training, he knew that every effort he made would help him become stronger and more prepared for future dangers.
Breathing heavily, Peter finally decided to stop his training. He sat at the edge of the rooftop, looking at the sky, which was gradually changing color to orange and pink. "Good training today, the energy output didn't tire me, and the usage is now more flexible and aligned with my imagination, exactly how I want to use it."
Peter pondered his next training plan, muttering. "Maybe next time I can try changing the energy source of the portal. I haven't tested this before due to time constraints, and I rarely use it. The Tao Mandalas have met the criteria, and I'm also curious about how my energy will affect the portal."
Peter then tidied up the area, cleaning up anything that looked suspicious before heading back down. As Peter descended from the rooftop and re-entered the apartment, he met May standing in the kitchen. "Peter, what were you doing on the rooftop all afternoon?" May asked with a suspicious tone.
Peter smiled awkwardly, trying to hide the fatigue he still felt. "Ah, just looking for a quiet place to study, Aunt May. The atmosphere on the rooftop is nice and quiet, so I can concentrate better."
May looked at him with eyes full of suspicion. "Studying on the rooftop? Peter, you need to be more careful. It's really hot outside, you could get dehydrated."
Peter nodded, trying to look convincing. "I brought a water bottle, May. Besides, there's a nice breeze up there that keeps it cool."
May finally smiled, though still a bit skeptical. "Alright, but be careful. Don't get sick from staying too long in the sun."
Peter nodded again, feeling relieved that May didn't ask further. "Don't worry, May. I promise I'll be more careful."
May then turned to continue cooking dinner. Peter sighed in relief and walked towards his room, ready to start his other duties as the Guy-in-the-Chair hero of Queens this year.
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Wong's POV
As the Sorcerer Supreme, free time is a rare luxury for me. Today is one of those few opportunities where I can focus on personal training and delve into the knowledge received from Strange's memories. Although some parts of those memories still disturb me, especially those related to the fifth dimension, I remain determined to learn from them.
The fifth dimension is a complex and challenging topic. The energy in this dimension is different, and there are significant risks if explored without adequate preparation. I found a powerful spell that could help enhance my abilities as the Sorcerer Supreme.
I remember one useful spell from those memories is the prison spell designed to contain the universe's criminals in the Sanctum Infinitum. This is a rare opportunity to try recreating that spell.
I chose to train in the basement of the Sanctum Sanctorum. Taking a deep breath, I began to open the pages of memories from Strange, searching for the relevant parts for my training.
This mystical prison is designed to hold criminals from various multiverses, including dangerous villains like Loki, Thanos, and Infinity Ultron. The spell is highly complex and requires full concentration and a deep understanding of mystical energy.
I decided to start by revisiting the initial ritual used by Strange to create the prison. I began chanting the ancient incantations used to summon energy from different dimensions. My voice echoed, creating subtle vibrations that spread throughout the Sanctum.
Slowly, I felt the energy gather around me. A blue shimmering light formed in my hands, and I knew that I had successfully accessed a small portion of the power needed to create this prison. However, this was just the beginning. There was still much to learn and master.
I refocused my mind on the prison spell. I had to ensure the structure of this prison was strong enough to hold even the mightiest of villains. With calculated hand movements, I chanted the more complex spells, summoning energy from deeper dimensions.
The blue light that was previously just a flicker now transformed into a stable orb of energy in my hands. I felt an immense power flowing through me, and I knew I had reached the next level in creating this prison.
However, I knew I couldn't be reckless. I decided to test the prison's strength by capturing a small entity from another dimension. Carefully, I opened a small portal and summoned the entity. As soon as it appeared, I immediately trapped it within the energy orb I had created.
The entity struggled, but the prison I created was too strong for it. I felt proud, but I still needed to train further to ensure this prison could hold stronger villains.
As the training session came to an end, I sat quietly, reflecting on what I had learned. Each practice session was a small step toward deeper understanding and greater power. I was determined to keep delving into Strange's memories and make the most of them.
For as the Sorcerer Supreme, my responsibilities are immense; maintaining mystical balance, being an investigator and guardian of the mystical, safeguarding legendary artifacts, and being a mentor to other Sorcerers. And on that note, I thought of Peter again, one of my students for nearly half a year now.
Though Peter's talent in the mystical arts is quite poor, sometimes seeming almost hopeless, I can sense extraordinary potential within him. It might be true that his theories about energy are not fully understood yet, or perhaps he simply isn't the best at magic. However, the energy he possesses has always been the reason I insisted he continue learning at Kamar-Taj.
Whether it was due to Strange's immense respect for his potential, or my own decision as the Sorcerer Supreme, Peter remained a student I had to keep an eye on. Peter is a good kid, full of enthusiasm, and has a sincere heart.
But the responsibilities he bears on his shoulders are greater than what any teenager his age should have to carry. Sometimes, I see the confusion and doubt in his eyes, and I know he is grappling with burdens that shouldn't be his alone.
Yet, I can't blame him. Peter is still a child, and though he has incredible powers, he still needs guidance and support to face them. I see him still searching for his identity amidst the powers he possesses, and often, I feel that this task is too heavy for him.
Every day, I watch him train, striving to understand and control the mysterious energy within him. Sometimes he succeeds, sometimes he fails. But each time he falls, I see an undying spirit within him. He always gets back up, with an increasingly strong resolve. Perhaps that is what made Strange believe in him from the start.
I know that this journey will not be easy for Peter. However, I also know that with the right guidance, he can become more than just a hero. He can become a symbol of hope for a world full of uncertainties.
And as his teacher, it is my duty to ensure that he is prepared to face any challenges that come his way. So that, in the end, Peter Parker can truly become the hero he desires to be, not just for himself, but for the world.
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Back to Peter, after he cleaned himself up, Peter perched in his room and started his new task. That teenager sat at his desk, surrounded by various tools and electronic components. The desk lamp illuminated his workspace, filled with blueprints, schematics, and notes.
Today, he decided to recreate a backup mask for Gwen. This mask was not just a face cover but also a sophisticated device that helped Gwen in her missions as Ghost-Spider.
Peter began by reviewing Gwen's original mask that he had created before. He was familiar with every detail, from its shape to the materials used. Peter knew that the primary material of the mask was strong yet flexible elastic fabric, try to making it similar to the Spider-Man's costume in another universe.
Carefully, Peter selected the same material from his collection of supplies. He already knew that a ski mask was the perfect choice for the base fabric. He then started cutting and sewing the fabric with precision, ensuring that every stitch was perfect and strong.
The next step was to create the basic frame of the mask. Peter used a 3D printer to print a frame that fit Gwen's face. He remembered how, eight months ago, Peter's neighbor had given him a 3D printer they no longer wanted.
The printer was in a broken condition, but Peter saw it as a golden opportunity. With perseverance and his knowledge of technology, Peter began repairing the printer. He dismantled the printer parts, cleaned and replaced the damaged components, and updated its software. After several weeks of hard work, the 3D printer was back in working condition.
Back in the present, he made the mask frame, ensuring it was comfortable yet sturdy. Next, he installed special lenses that functioned as night-vision goggles.
These lenses had the ability to enhance vision in low light conditions, providing Gwen an advantage in night battles. This process was not new to him, as he had done it before with Gwen's original mask.
Peter didn't stop there. He also added a small video recorder hidden in the front part of the mask. This recorder was connected to an advanced video compression system that allowed Gwen to record and store battle footage or crucial evidence undetected. A small audio recorder was also installed on the side of the mask, enabling Gwen to record conversations or sounds that might be useful in her missions.
All these components were connected to a small processor unit hidden at the back of the mask. Peter designed this unit meticulously, ensuring that all functions could operate smoothly without interfering with Gwen's comfort while wearing the mask. He also added a small cooling system to prevent the mask from becoming too hot during prolonged use.
After all the components were installed, Peter proceeded to attach the outer cover of the mask made from the modified ski mask. He ensured the fabric fit the frame perfectly and covered all the electronic components neatly. The sleek and aerodynamic design of the mask made it almost indistinguishable from Gwen's original mask.
When the backup mask was finally completed, Peter activated it to ensure all functions worked properly. The night-vision lenses lit up perfectly, the video and audio recorders worked well, and the processor system ran smoothly. Peter smiled with satisfaction at his handiwork.
"With this, Gwen will have a backup mask ready to use anytime," Peter murmured as he looked at the finished mask. He knew that as a hero, good preparation and equipment were keys to success.
Peter grabbed his phone and called Gwen. After a few rings, Gwen answered cheerfully, "Hey, Peter! What's up?"
"Hey, Gwen! Your mask is done," Peter said enthusiastically.
"Great! Did you add anything cool?" Gwen asked curiously.
"Yeah, I added something cool. There's a new addition of a small cooling system so you won't get too hot while wearing it," Peter explained proudly.
Gwen laughed. "Of course you added something cool. Thanks a lot, Peter. You have no idea how much this will help me."
Peter smiled. "Oh, don't mention it, just a small effort. So, got any plans for today?"
Gwen sighed. "Sorry, I think I'll be busy with some 'business to take care of,' I'll let you know if I have some time."
"That's okay! I might be busy with magic school too. Alright, if there's anything that needs testing or checking, just let me know. We can evaluate it later," Peter said.
"Alright then... I'll try it out soon. I gotta go now. See you later, Nerd." Gwen said with a slightly somber tone at first but covered it with an enthusiastic tone at the end.
"Okay, hope you have a smooth day, Gwen," replied Peter with a smile on his face, unaware of Gwen's shift in mood.
"You too, Peter. See you later!" Gwen hung up, feeling a bit sad.
After calling Gwen, Peter packed the backup mask neatly and stored it in a safe place. He felt proud of his technical and mechanical skills that had successfully created this advanced device. Of course Peter wish he have a tool and material to make it more advanced.
Like nanotech or something will be a huge help if Gwen want to eat and wear it and the same time. She just need to open the mouth part of the mask. But what he can do is just a small help like this. So, there's nothing he can do about it. Besides, Iron-Man will help her to upgrade her costume in the future, so let's leave it to The Great Tony Stark.
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