Incantation

The real Rapid Casting was the friends we made along the way.

*“Schilden van reflectie, weren elke vloek af,*

*Spiegels van magie, mijn kracht om te verspreiden!.”*

Words of power echoed across the training room. The mana crystalized in the air surrounding Elaine, with square-shaped distortions of light appearing in front of her.

*“You’re still over three seconds.”*

Monika said as she stood in front of her, a counter within her left glasses lens showing “00:04.12”. There was a disappointed frown on Elsie’s face, her usual cheerful smile was absent.

*“Damn it. How strong were the Mirrors at least?”*

*“Based on the stability I observed, they would have reflected most two-line curses, Magic Missiles and Bullets at an intensity of three, and would have made Isa’s reinforced serious punch bounce back slightly.”*

*“Not bad for a four second incantation.”*

Isa said as she sat at  the side benches of the training room. In her hand was a cup of soda as she watched her two squad mates. Monika’s comment gave her half the mind to try if Mirror’s mirror could indeed block her serious punches.

*“Not so impressive when a mage like Monika can hit me with a four line curse a seconds into my incantation.”*

Elaine said with a sigh before sitting down on the floor. She’s been repeating the same incantation for almost two hours now, the same spell over and over again but no matter how hard she tried, she never got the cast time down below two seconds. She glanced up at Monika, walking towards her as she took her glasses off before sitting right next to Elaine.

*“That might be true, but in that situation, you would be fully suited up so it wouldn’t be a big disadvantage. Even a curse that kills instantly could be weakened by our armor.”*

Monika said, placing a reassuring hand on Elaine’s shoulder. Her friend’s frustration was still eating away inside her, and Monika could see it from the defeat on her expression.

*“If it makes you feel better, Ellie, none of us can cast that fast either, it doesn't stop us from kicking ass. Teamwork is stronger than some fancy-pants Order mage casting curses at a machine gun rate, er, no offense, Moni.“*

*“None taken.”*

Before Elaine could reply, Isa was already behind her and picked her up from the ground without much effort. Grim had to hide the fact she found it cute, like a kid picking up a cat from behind and showing it to her friends, by pushing her glasses up and standing up faced away from the two.

*“It’s not that- it’s just…”*

*“It’s what?”*

Isa said, still carrying Elaine. She had to resist the urge to lift her up higher like that scene from the Lion King.

*“Can you please put me down first?”*

*“Oh, sorry.”*

Back to her feet, Elaine took a deep breath, composing herself so she could spit out what was on her mind. She hated these moments of weakness. Smiling and joking around was better than this air of awkwardness and hesitation around her. Elaine felt the expectant gazes of her two friends, more pressure for her to speak up.

*“Rapid Incantation and Casting was one of my family’s specialties. It was something my brother was praised for, and something I fell behind in and got mocked for, so… I guess I’m just a little insecure when Monika effortlessly does it, even more so when we’re fighting an enemy who’s quicker to the draw than me. What’s the use of my mirror when the spell it’s supposed to reflect is already behind it? Pretty useless if you ask me.”*

Elaine let out a self-deprecating laugh, her voice fading into silence. Isa and Monika shared a worried look, before the bespectacled magus suddenly spoke up.

*“It took me seven years to master Rapid Incantation techniques, and that was with regular training. The fact that you can cut down a two line spell into a four second casting time after years of little training is  already impressive if you ask me. It’s not useless. I’m not sure if you noticed the looks of awe from enemy magi when their own spells are turned against them thanks to what you can do. You’re an impressive mage, and I will not tolerate anyone saying otherwise. I learned from my time in the Order that you shouldn't let other magi dictate who you are or what you can or can’t do.”*

Monika Placed her hand on Elaine’s chin and gently lifted her face, ensuring that she looked into her eyes. She gave Elaine a warm smile in the hopes of cheering her up.

*“Moni… Thanks, that means a lot, coming from you. Also… damn, since when did you learn how to cheer up a lady like this?”*

Elaine jokingly placed her hand on Monika’s, prompting the bespectacled mage to disengage. She knew when Mirror was back to her old and flirty self. Elaine pouted jokingly from the interruption.

*“No need to mention it. You are a valued member of this team, and it upsets me too whenever you are upset. Isn’t that right, Isa?”*

Monika said, back to her matter-of-fact way of speaking. Isa nodded in agreement.

*“I swear if I meet your parents right now I’d-”*

Isa cracked her knuckles menacingly.

*“-Be the more mature adult and tell them that I strongly disagree on how they raise children.”*

Mirror couldn’t help but laugh, giving Isa a little jab in the shoulder.

*“We have your back, Elaine. Always. If ever a curse comes at you a second into your cast time, I’ll be there to block it.”*

Monika said. Elaine found her insistence endearing. Moni had a point, she thought. Why let the expectations of people she already cut herself off from define who she was?  Screw what the others say, all that mattered was how the people she cared about saw her, like the dorky cutie in the glasses and the statuesque stunner standing in front of her.

*“Say, Moni. Let’s put your seven years of training to the test.”*

Elaine quickly got her phone, typed quickly into Google, did a little copy and pasting into her notes app, and  showed Monika several lines of verse.

*“Read this as fast as possible like you’re casting a spell.”*

*“Ok.”*

Elaine handed the phone over to her and watched for the magic to happen.

*“Uh, sama lama duma lama, you assuming I'm a human*

*What I gotta do to get it through to you, I'm superhuman?*

*Innovative and I'm made of rubber*

*So that anything you say is ricocheting' off of me and it'll glue to you*

*I'm devastating, more than ever demonstrating*

*How to give a motherfuckin' audience a feelin' like it's levitating*

*Never fading, and I know that the haters are forever waiting*

*For the day that they can say I fell off, they'll be celebrating*

*'Cause I know the way to get 'em motivated*

*I make elevating music, you make elevator music.”*

In a few seconds, she fired off the lyrics without stumbling a single word. Isa looked at Monika with her eyes wide open while Elaine was trying hard not to laugh.

*“An interesting way to craft an incantation. The modern slang and word choice and rhyming makes it easy to remember but hard to master at the same time to the uninitiated. My question is where did you find such a spell?”*

*“Some mysteries are best left alone.”*

Elaine said with a smile. Isa scratched the back of her head in astonishment.

*“There goes one mystery though. Who knew Monika can drop fiery bars like a natural?”*

Isa said. Monika raised her brow quizzically.

*“I have no clue what that meant, but I will take it as a compliment.*