Casters

Chapter 16

"Okay, shall we start?" Sheena asked, standing up. Charlotte nodded.

"We'll be here, watching the two of you," Fred called out. Steven chuckled.

"Let's not mind them for the while," Sheena said,

"Let's start with protective spells."

"There are different protective spells?" Charlotte asked. Sheena nodded, "one protective spell we make is when we are about to be attacked, and we simply cross our arms over where we are about to be hit.

Like this," Sheena crossed her arms over her head, instantly forming a shield made of her mist. "Of course, you need to know the strength of your spells. Not every spell is helpful, such as mine."

"This was harder than I anticipated," Charlotte mumbled. "Oh, so it is like a game?" Fred asked.

"Sort of - without the leveling up or whatever those in-game things are called," Sheena said, "you may control it, though."

Charlotte crossed her arms and a purple force formed in front of her. "Why do you call your spells out when casting if you could just use your gestures?"

"Casting spells could get tricky if we don't say them," Sheena answered, "it is because our minds could get distracted, we would cast a different spell despite what we planned to cast. Letting it out could help.

"So unless you control it properly, stick with the words," she pointed out.

"I do not feel like this whole shield is strong enough, either," Charlotte commented, poking it with her finger, "who uses these spells?"

"Other elemental casters find protective spells such as the shield very helpful," she replied, "Matilda, for instance, uses her earth elemental to form a shield that is sturdy and secured. It really depends on what you use, who you face, and a lot more. Strategy is the key."

"What if," Charlotte whispered, waving her hand in front of her, "I use this instead?"

Nothing appeared out of the ordinary, but when Sheena tried to touch her, she couldn't enter her space. "You made a barrier using your force?"

Charlotte was mouthing a reply but Sheena couldn't hear her. Charlotte was confused so she removed the barrier. "You couldn't hear me?" She asked. Sheena nodded, "was that a part of the spell?" Charlotte shrugged, "probably."

"Basic spells are boring, though," Charlotte said, crossing her arms.

"It is normal for it to sound boring," Sheena smiled, "you're starting to like this, don't you?" Charlotte shot her a glare and smiled, "whatever, let's start with the attacks."

"Actually, this is a tricky one," Sheena started, "all casters could cast the same spells, but their elements determine which spell they are capable of controlling well and strengthens them."

She raised her arms to the side and slowly started to dance gracefully through the air, following the movement of the wind. Her eyes lit up and mist started to form around her. "I am a water elemental caster,"

Steven choked on his drink and Fred dropped his jaw when they both saw how amusing Sheena was.

"I control any water, even the droplets on the ground and the mists. It is rare for a water caster to master controlling the mist as water is intertwined with the air.

She waved her hands above her head and suddenly, she was surrounded by ice daggers. Charlotte's jaw dropped in awe. "You can freeze it, too!"

"Of course, took me a while to master this," Sheena grinned. She pointed at the tree and whispered, "strike." The daggers flew, penetrating the tree. Fred jumped from his place and gulped. "Hey, Steven?" Fred said. Steven looked at him, "remind me to list down whatever Sheena hates, dislikes, everything. Okay? I don't wish to end up like that poor tree," he said, eyeing the ice inside the tree.

"Poor man, being scared by his girlfriend," Steven chuckled. The ladies laughed.

Sheena looked at Charlotte and asked her, "what do you feel like casting? You may hit the same tree if you like."

Charlotte stared at the tree. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Suddenly, there was a dark shadow forming around her. Her eyes lit up and she pointed at the tree. "Cloak," she cast. The tree was then surrounded and cloaked by darkness. The boys could only see the dark shadows forming around the tree. "Swallow," she whispered again. Sheena looked up and saw small forms of clouds swirling above the tree, being sucked by air.

"Woah, okay!" Sheena exclaimed, "hold your horses." Charlotte suddenly stopped and the spell died out. "Did I do something wrong?" Charlotte asked in innocence. "Let's think of some other spells aside from killing something, is it alright?" Sheena said. Charlotte scratched her head and replied, "sorry, I did too much."

"Let's think of a striking spell," Sheena said.

"I haven't heard of the moon elemental yet," Sheena sighed, "this is why it is difficult for me to teach. Sorry, Charlotte."

"No worries," she brushed it off, "at least you'll get to know me."

Charlotte eyed the tree again and decided to kick in the air. A purple flame came out and hit the tree, hard enough for it to c***k.

"What if I'm not good at striking or defending?" Charlotte asked. "What if I am more capable of summoning?"

Sheena thought about this for a while and nodded, "you may try, but please create a barrier over the boys first before making casting some spells."

Charlotte raised her two fingers at them and created a protective force. Steven tried to poke it and he realized it was hard as a brick.

Charlotte suddenly started floating and her eyes lit up. "Lupi accersi," she cast. The ground shook and opened, allowed Lycans to walk up to the surface. They were black wolf-like shadows with purple flaming eyes. Sheena made a stance and Charlotte noticed this, "Don't worry, I heard they don't attack without my command."

She whispered another summoning spell and shadow figures started appearing beside her. "Are they spirits?" Sheena asked. Charlotte shrugged. She looked at them and saw they were wearing a cloak, floating above the ground as well.

"When did you learn to summon?" Sheena asked in curiosity, holding her hand out, trying to pet the Lycans.

"Be careful, Sheena," Charlotte said, "I don't know. I could hear a voice whispering in my brain."

She let down her hands and the shadows disappeared. The Lycans turned to ashes. She held out her hand and a small fire appeared. "That's cute," Sheena commented. "that's a lunar fire."

"A what?" Charlotte asked.

"Wait a minute," Sheena hushed her. "What if you could control most elements since there are things the moon has as well?"

"What do you mean?"

Sheena held out her hand and water started to dance on top of her palm, forming a circle.

"Try this," she said, "the moon could be seen on the sky today."

Charlotte nodded and held her palm out. They were surprised when the circle grew wider and large amounts of water were collected from the air. "Are you doing this?" Sheena asked, "because I'm not."

She let go to see if Charlotte could handle the water, and as expected, she did. The water turned purple after that. "No way! You just made lunar water!"

"I did?" Charlotte asked in confusion. She held out her other hand and formed a purple flame. She tried transferring her dancing water to the flames. Sheena grinned when she saw that the lunar water continued to dance around the flames. "That is why you were able to elevate Aunt Grace using the earth during that day," Sheena exclaimed, "because you could control them well!"

"So, you cast dark spells, earth, fire, and water," she counted, "I haven't seen you cast air nor light."

"Maybe it's because the moon never has a light of its own," Charlotte explained, eyeing the elements on her hand, "it depends on the sun."

"It also explains why you could control gravity and use the force," Sheena nodded, "I understand now."

"So," Fred interrupted, "is she like the caster version of the 'avatar'?"

Charlotte laughed. "Oh, don't be ridiculous, Fred," Sheena laughed, "go home and scan your science textbooks."

Charlotte eyed the moon and whispered, "I want to try something."

"What is it?" Sheena asked. "Please enter the barrier," Charlotte pointed. Sheena went to the boys and Charlotte locked up the force.

She eyed the moon and held out her hand. "your strength is our strength," she started to chant. The three were shocked to see that the moon started to turn slowly, but then stopped.

Sheena stood up and started to walked, but she bumped on the barrier and she fell back down. Steven laughed at this and she shot him a glare. "Charlotte!" she called out. Charlotte looked at her and opened her barrier.

"What did you do!" Sheena exclaimed as she was walking towards her.

"You couldn't have possibly done that!"

"I just tried to see what I was capable of," Charlotte mumbled, biting her lip.

"What could be its purpose?" Sheena asked. Charlotte gave her a curious look, "what do you mean?"

"Well, there must be a reason why you could move the moon," Sheena asked. "I guess we'll never know for now," Charlotte replied.

"Let's keep practicing our striking spells, shall we?" Sheena invited.

"Need my help?" A voice called out. They all turned to where it came from. "Matilda!" Steven smiled.

Matilda held out her hand and the earth shook. Two human-like figures formed and the trees moved to life. "you can practice using my creatures," she smiled.

"We could use that," Sheena nodded.

"Don't be too hard on us, creatures," she joked. Charlotte rolled her eyes and made a striking pose. Her hands started to glow with purple flames. "Hah!" she exclaimed as she punched her flames towards the creature along with the force.

"Continue producing striking spells," Sheena shouted. "You can use your creativity with your spells later!"

--

Charlotte fell to the ground, breathing heavily as she was exhausted by the training. "Can we fight using my own spells, now?"

Sheena thought about it for a bit and nodded, "well, let's try."

Charlotte opened the barrier and motioned for them to enter, "there are endless possibilities of what could happen." The girls entered the barrier and Charlotte conditioned herself.

Her eyes started to glow, and ashes and dark shadows started to form around her. She began to float and eye the creatures. She held her hand out at one and cast, "Lunar craters, burn."

The creature started to burn into ashes until eventually, it died out. Matilda crossed her arms and pouted at the sight. "Hey!" she called out, "can you think of spells that avoid killing creatures!"

Charlotte shrugged her shoulders. Her powers were really hard to control. "Obviously, I am not planning on using these spells against a person! I'll only be using these against any summoned creature!"

Matilda sobbed, "they are living creatures, Cee!"

"And so are we!" She replied, crossing her arms. Matilda really does have a soft spot for these creatures.

"Fine," Matilda said, sitting down.

Charlotte looked at the creatures again and thought, she's right, though. I might need a spell that could be used against people.

She held out her hand to two creatures and closed her eyes. However, she suddenly stopped.

"I think I have enough practice for today," she said, lowering her hands. The barrier disappeared and the four stood up, stretching their bodies.

"Why is that?" Steven asked. Charlotte let out a sigh, "I might have suddenly lost my energy."

"Are you tired?" he asked. "Perhaps, yes."

Charlotte went on ahead, leaving the four behind.

"Was she thinking of something?" Fred asked.

Matilda frowned, "she must have seen something in her vision."

"What do you mean, Mat?" Sheena asked.

"I couldn't come in, but she must have seen something or remembered. Her head was a mess," Matilda explained.

"Maybe she was just tired of thinking about spells that she could possibly cast?" Steven asked.

"We must have overdone her today," Sheena frowned, "well, come on! Let's go home!"

"Are you and Fred both coming in tomorrow to prepare for Charlotte's birthday?" Matilda asked.

Steven looked at her, "tomorrow?" Matilda nodded, "we'll be cleaning the house and preparing the grand designs for the feast and the ceremony!"

"I guess we can help!" Fred smiled. "Say, why don't we sleep over their house tomorrow night, Steve?"

Sheena looked at Matilda, "well, let's ask Aunt Annalise about this once we get home."

"Oh, goodie!" Matilda said, skipping down the hill.

---

Charlotte continued to walk down with the thoughts on her head. She could hear someone speaking to her, but she couldn't come up with the message.

You are the key... the voice would say.

We'll see you soon, child.