Danny Rand (POV)

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Behind him, Danny could feel Mordo's eyes on his back. Minutes ago, before he'd closed his eyes, Baron had been sitting cross-legged across his own woven mat, eyes sharp as Danny prepared the room for their spell. He can imagine his Master in the same position now, arms relaxed by his side as his fingers rubbed his bearded chin thoughtfully, garbed in his dark robes that spilled across the floor around at his sides.

The stress and importance of this spell was like a lead weight on Danny's chest, and he knew he would be tested on his performance. Aside from Baron Mordo aiding him in figuring out his ailment, he always went out of his way to make sure Danny did everything to perfection. Even the smallest mistake made while using the Mystic Arts could be disastrous, particularly when using his Personal Energy. If he didn't focus, he could very likely kill himself.

The sharp perfume of the incense was more than enough to keep him awake, but it did little to appease the anxiety weathering his nerves. The next magical shift of the Miscellaneous Nexuses would begin any minute now, and he needed to be both mentally and physically prepared for the raw energy about to breach their dimension.

Legs crossed under him, hands positioned on his knees - poised in a forthcoming gesture - Danny called upon his Personal Energy. The magical energy flowing through every being, like chi, only this one is malleable. Something raw and unfocused that could be molded into a new shape or form if done correctly. He could sense it running through his body. Lighter around the surface, like thin, glowing strings gliding through his veins, but the deeper he searched the more abundant it became. The energy thickened the farther he went until he reached down into his very core, where the soul was tethered with the body, and tapped lightly into the whirling pool keeping that connection intertwined.

Instantly, energy began flowing up through his body, rushing out like water from an unblocked dam, and he switched his focus to harnessing it. Channeling it through him, taking it in his hands and molding it in a shape that would best suit him.

Outside the sphere of energy twisting around him, he could feel the peak of the Nexus approaching. The magical aura of their sanctum began to level out, dropping lower and lower into a subdued state, like the calm of the ocean just before a storm hit. Danny focused his energy, feeling it grow tight in his chest, twisting together in a painful pinch. He held it there, waiting.

Every second it was restrained, he could feel it sapping at his strength, burning it up like an eager flame to a piece of soaked candlewick. Despite the tame heat of the hearth on his back, his brow was chilled with cold sweat. Around him, he felt the aura reach its resonating thrum.

He began to chant, "By the everlasting power of the Sphere of Cyttorak, I call upon the incantation of magical detection, by the power of Dormammu!"

The Nexus shift broke, and a high wave of raw energy swept over Danny, nearly snapping him from his focus. He held strong, feeling the swell of energy absorb into his own contained ball of energy, and unleashed the spell. A wave of warm air enveloped his body and a flash of gold light overtook him. He could hear his own heart beating, the run of blood in his own veins, feel every blood cell in his body in one unfailing swoop. But more than that, he detected his prize. A bit of gold energy balled up far into his core, small and withered, but beating steadily. Danny reached for it, stretching himself past the barriers he knew to respect, and barely grazed the golden surface before the power of the spell began to wane. He was pulled back by an invisible hook tethered to his ribs and plopped back into the normal world again.

The energy expelled into their dimension disappeared, settling into its normal rhythm, as Danny's own Personal Energy receded back to its shores. As soon as the spell was gone completely, exhaustion hit him like an Eldritch Beam and he slumped forward, barely catching himself on his shaken arms.

Sweat clung stickily to his body, and it suddenly felt too hot for a fire to be burning in the hearth. Breathing in rasps, he felt as though he was sucking up ash rather than air. When his panting began to subside, Danny pushed himself back up, brushing the strands of his blonde hair from his face. He turned wearily, looking back at Baron Mordo who was still perched on his mat.

Baron gestured in a small, inquisitive way, "Well, Disciple?"

Despite the overwhelming urge to curl into a ball and sleep for the next few moons, Danny grinned and nodded. "I saw it. I felt it. It's still there, we still have time."

Baron Mordo smiled back, a small pleased upturn of his lips. "Good, then we will continue with our previous experiments over the next week. We'll check back again with the next Nexuses shift."

Danny nodded again, feeling pleased too. He had been so worried that his abilities would be gone this time. They've been debilitating rapidly the last few weeks, faster than they had before. It was worrisome, but it was a relief that they weren't gone for good.

It was a close call.

He slowly got to his knees, then his feet. The room swayed dizzily when he stood and he stumbled, catching himself on the small table before he could collapse. When he tried to move again, this time Baron Mordo's arms looped around his torso and Danny swung his arm over his Masters' shoulder. He was walked to into the next room and laid down on the small bed.

"Now get some rest, Daniel," Baron instructed. "You'll need all your strength. We're heading out to New York tomorrow."

Danny had already been settling into the thin blankets, but his Master's words brought him back up. He looked back at Mordo, frowning as he sat up. "Master, why are we going to New York?"

"It's nothing terribly big," Mordo assured, "A training exercise. For now, just sleep."

Still frowning, Danny lay back down. Through the corner of his eye, his attention flitted to the chest near the wall, containing the cloak and clothes he wore when he went out with Baron. Looking at it put a bitter seed in his stomach.

Why did they need to go to New York for a training exercise? He always did his exercises at the havens Baron Mordo had set up all throughout the world, more recently in the Sanctum his Master set up in T'Si-Nen, in China, which was where they were at now. Besides, New York was close to the other sorcerer. The one Baron Mordo detested. It couldn't be "nothing big" if it was bringing his Master back to that place.

Baron must've noticed his uneasy look, and mistaken it for Danny's personal problem. "Don't worry Daniel, we'll find and restore the power of Shao'Lao within you."

Saying it out loud sent an ache in Danny's chest. Not wanting to voice his concerns, Danny smiled and nodded back. Yet his smile dropped as soon as Baron Mordo left the room. Turning over in the bed, he tried not to let it trouble him. Both this news AND his waning power.

If he were being honest, he'd prefer if they didn't go to that exercise at all. Whatever it was, if it didn't involve finding his Iron Fist power, it was a waste of time. His powers were declining at a faster rate now, and he didn't have the time nor the patience to take part in a silly little exercise when he could be figuring out what was wrong with him.

But, he owed Baron Mordo. The magician had taken him off the streets after his banishment, given him a place to stay, and began teaching him the Mystic Arts to better defend himself. When his powers started leaving, Baron Mordo had been there to help him replenish them. They've been searching endlessly for ways and reasons to bring it back. Danny was in-debt to Baron Mordo, and if he were being honest, the magician's company was appreciated. It had been a rough few years since...since the incident. He appreciated having someone around.

Sighing, Danny brought his hand to his face. He called upon his Iron Fist energy, feeling it resound throughout his hand. His skin began to glow gold as the power uncased his hand in its aura. But it was dim and weak, and he was barely able to hold it a few seconds before he worried that he was using too much. The power of Shao'Lao had no real limits, but it still scared him to think that using it only made it diminish faster.

He tucked his hands back under the blanket, keeping them close to his chest as if to keep the energy held tight to his heart. He closed his eyes, trying to find sleep. Baron would most likely have him cast the teleportation spell tomorrow, he was going to need all the sleep he could get.

Hey guys, Danny's chapter isn't as big as the others because, well, it didn't really need to be. They're pretty straight to the point.

I had to do so much research on Marvel's magic XD It's some pretty interesting stuff, I'll give you that.

Disciple, in this, is a level of student in the Mystic Arts. There are different stages a student goes through before becoming a Master, and Disciple is one of the higher ones.

But anyway, look at Danny! :D 

He looks like such a ninja warrior in his outfit. XD An adorable ninja warrior. I didn't have time to draw the other two position I had in the other three pictures. Sorry :C