I am so happy to see that none of you have lost interest yet! I appreciate your support! Also if words are in italic that means it's either a flashback or someone's inner thoughts. If the italic words are separated with lines and are more than a sentence long it's a flashback. Hope you enjoy!
Manami calmly breathed in and gently let the air filling her lungs out. She immensely hoped all her hard work would come to fruition. She's been spending most of her free time training with Rio and Akari in preparations for the Bonding Ritual. She feels like she's made big strides, with Rio as her mentor and Akari as her support she was getting better. It was difficult at first, because whenever she tried to summon her own magic she always ended up drawing energy from outside sources or not drawing any magic at all.
"Come on, Manami! You can do it!" Akari cheered.
"Shh!" Rio said placing a finger on her lips to shush Akari.
Akari stuck out her tongue in defiance. Rio just rolled her eyes before redirecting her attention back towards Manami.
"Okuda focus!" Rio instructed.
"I-I'm t-trying b-but I don't think-.."
"That's your problem your thinking! You have to feel! Concentrate on yourself, not me or Akari or anyone else." Rio said…
Manami squeezed her eyes shut and tried to control her breathing…
"Okay good. Don't force it…Feel the energy within you and just do it. Concentrate!"
Manami's focus broke as she let out a gasp of air, she had forgotten to breath out her rosy checks evidence of that.
"S-so I'm supposed to try really hard but not try at all?!" She cried frustrated. "R-Rio maybe I'm just not cut out for this…"
Rio sighed. She didn't want to push Okuda too much, she knew Okuda was sensitive. She just had to be patient.
"Let's take a break. We'll try again later."
All her hard work would finally pay off! She looked at her open palm and imagined her energy coursing through her, swirling around her like misty ribbons as they gathered in her open palm. The class's walls slowly disintegrated away into inky darkness. Manmai could feel a warm heat form in her chest before it coursed throughout her veins. The floor below her vanished and she felt open and empty. She focused on nothing expect her own undefinable existence. She was in a state of concentration where she could feel the magic swirl and coil inside her like a spring winding up before being homogeneously distributed across her entire body. She could feel her fingertips twitch as magic seeped out of her fingers. She closed her eyes allowing the energy to swirl into a small ball in her hand. I can do this. I can't let Rio's training go to waste.
She opened her eyes and she was surprised at what she saw. In her open palm was a light purple orb hovering above her hand….She did it. She had concentrated her magical energy into one place! She couldn't help but look in awe at what she had just done!
"Well done Ms. Okuda you surely have come a long way! You've made excellent strides these past few weeks." The teacher said as she glanced down proudly at her pupil.
"O-Oh uhh…t-thank you Mrs. Scarlet…" Manami said as she sadly watched her magical energy orb dissipated into nothing once her concentration was broken.
Once the teacher had given her some extra pointers like: keeping a balanced center of gravity, gaining confidence, feeling the magic within etc. she made her way around the rest of the class to see how the other students were doing.
Oh I can't wait to tell Rio and Akari about this…! Manami thought happily as she once again tried to summon her magic into a small condescended energy ball…perhaps she could make it bigger this time.
After classes Manami happily jogged her way through the long hallways of the dormitory. She was heading towards Rio's room where they would usually meet up at. They weren't training today; they would be working on their actual summoning spell. Which Okuda was excited for, but she was far more excited to show her two friends how much progress she's made in regards to drawing her magic.
"Hey, Rio." Manami said happily once she was greeted to the sight of Rio in her pajamas. Rio's PJs consisted of a white shirt with the word witch on it in cursive pink letters along with some pink sweatpants.
"Sup, Okuda! What's got you all happy?" Rio asked with a smile. She was happy that Okuda seemed very cheerful today and was curious as to why.
"Is Akari here? I want to show you guys something!" Okuda said with a wide smile as she practically hopped in place with potential energy.
"Yeah she's here. Hey Akari say hi." Rio said as she turned her head towards the inside of her room where Akari was.
"Hey!" Akari cried happily before her gaze returned to the paper she had in her hands.
"Well come on in Okuda I'm curious as to what you want to show us." Rio said.
Manami walked in and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She opened her palm and let her magic pour through her fingertips as it swirled and coiled into a purple orb. Akari and Rio both had amazed looks on their faces as they saw what Manami had done.
"M-Manami…You… YOU DID IT!" Akari shouted gleefully as she sprang up from the floor she was sitting on to give Manami a hug.
"See I told you, you could do it!" Rio proclaimed proudly as she patted Okuda's back.
"T-Thank you Rio for believing in me…a-and thank you Akari for supporting me…I couldn't have done it without you two!" Okuda said happily, as tears brimmed the outer corners of her eyes.
All her life no matter how hard she tried she could never draw energy from her own magical pool, but now with the help of her friends who supported and believed in her she was able to do the very thing she deemed impossible.
"H-hey it's okay. We were happy to do it." Akari said, startled by Okuda's sudden tears.
"Yeah it was no big deal…" Rio added.
"But it is a big deal for me." Okuda stated. "For someone who could never draw upon their own magic up till now…It's a big deal…"
"Well that was only the first step in becoming Okuda the great and powerful!" Rio said.
Manami giggled wiping her tears away.
"Okuda the great and powerful…? No how about Okuda the great witch of poison!" Akari said which made Manami chuckle.
"And if we're coming up with names then Rio would be the Gran Rio." Akari said with a smile.
"Eyyyyyyyy….!" Rio said with a cheesy smile, pointing her finger guns at Akari accusingly.
"Eyyyyyyyy…!" Akari said as she mirrored Rio. Manami didn't get the pun.
"Actually….The Gran Rio…not bad… I have taught you well young Padawan..." Rio said as she stopped to contemplate the name.
Witches often went by many nicknames or grand titles that showed off their expertise or level of power. A witch usually gets to pick her name but weather it sticks depends entirely on the memorability of the witch herself. Or in some cases the witch is given a nickname by the masses.
"Let's see Akari would be the Cute Demon Tamer!" Rio said.
"Well that's assuming I even get a demon as my familiar." Akari said.
"Of course you're gonna get a demon! After all your sister got a demon, it might run in the family and little known fact if you write your incantation with a specific familiar in mind you're more likely to get that familiar." Rio stated.
"R-really..?" Manami asked.
"Yeah I read about it somewhere." Rio said dismissively.
"Hey that reminds me. I've been meaning to ask you. What familiar are you hoping to get?" Akari asked. Manami looked at Rio curiously. She had also been wondering what kind of familiar Rio wanted.
"Just take a look at my incantation it should be quite obvious what I want." Rio said as she handed Akari a piece of paper with her in-progress incantation.
Manami leaned towards Akari to get a better look at the words written down as she readjusted her glasses. The first few words were:
Wondering soul drawn to my ^ flame
Burning
Dwelling in the silence disown thy darkness.
There were a few added scribbles and arrows that showed were one sentence or word should go or be moved to or should just be omitted. Rio even omitted two entire sentences. Okuda's eyes continued to read the rest of the spell.
Blink away the haziness in your way
And lend me thy power
Let our foes feel the heat of our fire.
That's my desire
Burn those sinners down to ash
Jump forth from the flame
Know the world won't be the same
As you arise from the burning fire
Bolder and Brighter
That was all Rio had so far…Let's see Manami thought….Burning flame, fire, darkness….Hmm… Akari snapped her fingers in realization.
"Oh a phoenix!" She stated. Manami's lips formed a small 'o' in realization as the answer dawned upon her.
"You got it!" Rio said with a smile.
"Yeah…I could see you with a phoenix." Okuda said…Akari merely grimaced.
"All I see are burned up houses and endless fire puns." Akari said.
Manami let out a nervous laugh…Akari may have a point…
"H-hey….Yeah….You're right." Rio said sheepishly. "W-well at least about the pun thing…"
"Oh Akari you were working on your incantation spell to…C-can I see it I'm still having trouble with mine I thinks it's too long…and I'm having trouble rhyming…" Okuda said.
"Oh yeah sure…Here you go." Akari said as she handed her paper to Okuda.
"You know it doesn't have to rhyme." Rio said.
"I-It doesn't!?" Both Akari and Okuda shouted in suprise.
"Yeah didn't I mention that before…?"
"No, no you didn't." Okuda said with a poker face.
"W-well hahaha I'm telling you know. Rhyming isn't essential but it does make casting easier and the incantation spell doesn't have a word limit it can be as long or as short as you want it to be just as long as you have strong meaning behind the words. Just because one incantation is longer than another it doesn't make it better and vice versa." Rio explained.
"Well that would have been nice to know earlier." Akari said and Okuda nodded in agreement. Rio just let out a sheepish laugh.
"At least you told us before summer break." Okuda said with a slightly disappointed expression which made Rio's heart fracture.
"No, Okuda don't be mad…" She whined as she hugged the girl's leg.
"I'm not mad…just…disappointed." Okuda said as she let out a sigh and gazed off into the distance.
"No! Please! I'm sorry!" Akari felt a bead of sweat roll down her forehead as she watched her friends, more specifically Rio's antics.
"Oh! Speaking of summer break, what are you guys going to do over the summer?" Akari asked. Rio had finally controlled herself and got up from kneeling.
"Hm…I was planning on visiting some of my European friends over the summer. You know get all relaxed before coming back here and doing the Bonding ritual." Rio said.
Senior witches always had a smaller summer break since the Bonding Ritual always took place on the Summer solstice. This was because the sun provided an extra boost to most witches' power and after a witch performed the Bonding ritual the graduation ceremony would start. After officially graduating the witch becomes their own person and they could do whatever they want with their lives. Manami was beyond nervous at the mere thought of graduation she was absolutely terrified at the idea of being sent out to into the real world with no guidance.
"What about you Manami?" Rio asked.
"H-huh..? Oh uh…I don't know I was going to visit my parents but they went off to visit their Mystic's shop's sister location in America and they'll be awfully busy…." Manami admitted….
She was so focused on the Bonding ritual she had completely forgotten to make plans for the summer.
"Hm…I might just stay here for the summer and relax…or have an anxiety attack…whichever one comes first…" She mumbled.
"What no way you're staying in this old school for you summer!" Akari shouted offended by the mere thought of spending one's supposedly relaxing summer cooped up in an old mossy castle worrying over graduation.
"I'm with Akari, that's no way to treat your last few weeks of freedom." Rio said.
"Hey I just got an idea! Manami, why don't you come with me for the summer?" Akari asked as she grabbed Manami's pale hands in hers, her hazel eyes shining with excitement at the thought of spending her summer with her best friend.
"R-really I-I don't know…Weren't you going to visit your sister…?" Manami asked…She didn't want to intrude on their family reunion and Akari seemed to pick up on this.
"Yeah but you're like a sister to me so as far as I'm concerned you're part of my family as is Rio! Come on you've meet my sister before and she adores you! Come on, come on, come on! Manami please this may be our only chance to have fun together before graduation!" Akari begged. Manami sighed. She couldn't say no to Akari.
"O-okay…" Akari jumped in glee as she hugged Okuda forcing her to jump with her.
"This is going to be the best summer ever!"
"Will be the best summer ever, summer break is still two months away." Rio stated.
"Aw…Rio why you gotta be a kill joy…" Akari whined.
"What! Me a kill joy? NO WAY! I'm fun! If anything I'm the opposite of a kill joy! I'm a fun loving party animal!" Kayano and Okuda just laughed.
"T-Thank you Akari I really appreciate it." Manami said with a smile.
"Hey don't just ignore me!" Rio whined…. "Pfft…Whatever let's talk about something else." Rio said with a pout.
"Oh yeah hey would you guys mind giving me some feedback on my incantation." Akari said.
"Oh yeah…" Okuda said moving closer to Rio so she could see the written down incantation on the paper.
Heed my command and make my dreams real.
You who are trapped in a cage of madness I, the summoner,^ have the key to your chains (omit here).
Will give you the key to your chains
Proclaim yourself as my familiar
"Hmmm…Okay how about instead of this sentence: "make my dreams real." You write catalyze my dreams." Rio said levitating a quill from off her desk and using it to modify Akari's incantation.
"Hmmm I-I don't think you have to call yourself the summoner i-it's kind of a given….maybe you can replace that with y-your master…I hear demons respond better to people with take charge attitudes and strong willpower…"
"Yeah I hear they have a real fetish for power houses!" Rio stated bluntly. Manmai flushed…
"T-that's n-not Oh…Whatever…" Manami said with a sigh, she couldn't reason with Rio. Rio just grinned teasingly before continuing to read the rest of the spell.
So I may set the wings of your soul free so you can^ fly
Our time has come your salvation has begun.
Even if darkness tries to take you I will become the light that destroys the dark you see
Even if the light tries to annihilate you I will shield thee
I won't let even god take you from me
So emerge and swear you allegiance!
"Is that all?" Rio asked.
"Yeah, do I need to change anything else?" Akari asked; she feared her spell was far too short.
"Hmmm I don't think so but this is giving me more of a flügel vibe than a demon…" Rio commented.
"Y-Yeah but aren't demons considered a subspecies of flügel or was it the other way around…?" Okuda pondered.
"Eh whatever I'm sure as long as you direct your words towards a demon audience you'll have a high chance of getting a demon. Perhaps even a winged demon considering how much you reference flight and wings." Rio said. "Well, Okuda, your turn."
"H-Huh…Oh yeah…uhh here it is!" Manami said as she fished around for her rough draft.
Allow me to destroy my weakness in exchange for strength
I don't care whether it's bliss or pain that I gain.
"Hmm…what about instead of: I don't care. Say: it matters not…" Rio suggested as she crossed out the phrase.
Because I wish to be stronger
To protect all whom I love, so lend me thy power.
Swallow all your any doubt let your bloodlust cry out
"Instead of saying: Whom I love. Say: To protect and defend…" Akari said as she modified the spell.
"Is that all you got so far?" Rio asked.
"Y-Yeah I still can't think up of a good ending and I was really worried I was making my spell too long." Manami said.
"No way it's great! Who knows you might get something just as strong as a demon familiar!" Akari said.
"Y-You think so?" Manami asked humbly. Akari nodded as did Rio.
"We're sure of it."
Akari took her leave early. She wanted to inform her sister that she was bringing a friend over during the summer and since she already finished her spell there was no reason for her to stay up late. Rio and Manami both told Akari to have a good night's rest because tomorrow they would be restarting their training. Akari reassured them she would as long as they didn't stay up too late either and after she left the girls immediately began to work on finishing their spells.
I hope you guys like the story and if you have any help criticism or ideas for the story itself please feel free to share them in the comments. I would like to know if I'm not making the characters too OOC ish...I don't think I am but I would like to hear your opinion. Thanks for reading my story and tune again later! BYEEEEEE!