"Okay, but how do I blast someone with magic laser beams? Like Iron Man. But with magic."
"Really? Stark? Everything he does is basically the opposite of the mystic arts," Stephen said, not looking up from the thin silvery book Wong had brought for him. Who knew what the title was; it literally changed and blurred every time she looked at the spine or cover.
"Why do you want to be like Iron Man?" Wong asked. He was sitting at the kitchen island, looking through their massive pile of restaurant brochures. Between the two of them, she and Stephen had accumulated a sizeable stack. The pile was normally confined to a box that sang old songs every time you opened it; Stephen hadn't had another use for it, and he had only looked mildly exasperated when he discovered that she was using the Container of Forgotten Melodies to hold restaurant hand-outs and a few coupons.
"I don't really want to be like him, but I like his lasers." She pointed at Stephen. "Aaaand at this point, I understand magic more than I understand how his laser beams work. So I'm closer to having magic laser beams than I am to having science laser beams." Casey closed the book she had been flipping through. "And you guys can't lie to me, I know there has to be a laser beam spell."
Stephen rolled his eyes. "No one's lying to you. We don't do laser beams."
She gave Wong a long-suffering look that was heavy with commiseration because he obviously knew how difficult Stephen was to deal with.
"I think I know of similar spells," Wong said, ignoring the glare Stephen gave him, "First these books, then more."
"Can we borrow some cookbooks next time?" Casey had never had so much takeout in her entire life. Her gramps might not've been the best cook, but he could make a few very well and at least half of their meals were homemade. She never would've thought she would miss his asparagus and chicken casseroles, but…yeah. She missed a lot of things. But she was growing around the ache, and it didn't loom over her as much as it did, which sometimes made her feel guilty.
Stephen's eyes cut over the top of his book at her. "You're really determined about this, aren't you?"
"Look, you don't have to learn. I'll figure it out."
Stephen's eyebrow twitched. "I can—"
"I am not sure if you'd like the cookbooks in the library," Wong said, "But come to Kamar-Taj, and we can work on a few easy recipes so you do not starve."
"She's not starving," Stephen said coolly, "I can cook."
"No, I'll learn." Casey made a face. "You hate it."
"I don't hate cooking," Stephen argued, "I never had a lot of time for it. It's never been my favorite hobby."
"What can you cook?" Wong asked, the smallest of smirks on his face. "Eggs? Macaroni and cheese?"
Stephen stared at both of them before turning away to focus on the order from the Peruvian place. Casey smirked and shared a glanced with Wong, who looked amused.
"In any case, you should start coming to Kamar-Taj for extra training." He held another book out to her as Stephen gave him a sideways glance. "This one is exceptional for meditation practices."
"Exciting," Casey said, lifting her eyebrows as she took the hefty book from him. It was heavy enough that she had to pull to her chest and cradle it against her elbows. "Why's it like fifty pounds?"
"We meditate often," Wong said, and she could swear he was teasing her.
"Uh-huh," she said, lowering it to the table and shoving it toward the rest of the hoard.
The kitchen table was covered in books, each one boasting a weirder title than the last. Her least favorite so far was 'Extradimensional Parallel Lifetimes and the Limitations of Metaphysical Thought' while the one she had already opened was 'Teluvon's Temporary Weaponry.' There was a small stack set to the side for Stephen, and both Wong and Stephen had told Casey it was off limits. Not too long ago, that would've been enough to keep her away. But nowadays, magic didn't seem so scary, and she was more interested in testing her limits.
Casey looked at all the books and then at Stephen and Wong. Maybe they had been hoping that she would forget, but she had simply been waiting for the right time to ask. Actually, she would consider herself to be incredibly patient. "Sooo…is this a good time to ask about my parents?"
"I suppose," Wong said.
"Let's have tea," Stephen said, meeting his gaze for only a moment. He grabbed the tea kettle and started filling it from the sink while Wong sat down at the table.
Sinking down in the chair opposite from his, she suddenly felt nervous. Casey had been young when her parents had died, and she didn't remember much about them. And she had never known anything about the magic part of their lives, or if she had, those memories were faded or locked away. Her hands went for the books and starting piling them up to give herself something to do.
"I did not know your parents well, but I was an acquaintance of theirs, and I've talked with others who knew them. They were exceptional practitioners of the mystic arts and kind people," Wong said. "Your father's side of the family has had many masters of the mystic arts through the generations. Your great-grandfather and your grandfather took a different way, but your father sought out the path to Kamar-Taj. He was skilled at banishment, sending beings back to their own dimensions."
She had very few memories of her father. He had passed away when she was so small. She mostly remembered smile wrinkles and his laugh, but the details were faded.
Wong rested his hands on the table. "Your tendency toward weaponry and battle spells most likely comes from your mother. The Ancient One said she was a notable warrior."
"They were real estate agents," Casey said weakly. She reached out and picked up the saltshaker from the middle of the table to give herself something to play with while he talked. How had she not known any of this?
"Yes, after you were born," Wong said.
"I don't understand," Casey said, wrapping both hands around the saltshaker. "All the magic stuff was supposed to be more dangerous, but they still died when I was little. Why?"
"The world isn't always kind to us, even when we step away from what we feel is the true threat," Wong said, his normally stern gaze softening. "But I do know they loved you."
A teapot floated over her shoulder, landing in the middle of the table. It was followed by a trio of mugs, each brown and earthy. One each settled in front of Wong and Casey, and the last landed in front of an empty chair that Stephen sat down in as the tea began to pour itself. He could technically make beverages appear out of thin air, but magical drinks were temporary. Great for hosting guests that wouldn't be there long, but they didn't have any real substance.
"Arpath has a long history with your father's side of your family," Stephen said, picking up his mug. The monster's name made Casey's shoulders tighten. "I did some research. He was first sighted four hundred or so years ago, in Scotland. He wreaked havoc across the countryside, scorching farms, killing innocents. He seems to feed off fire and despair, so the more of those he makes, the larger he grows."
"Got it," Casey said, eyes narrowing.
"Kinmonts were the ones to banish him then, using a very complicated spell one of your ancestors created." He frowned, long fingers wrapping around the mug. "The spell has been used multiple times throughout the years to banish him, but each time it's used, the years between him appearing again shorten."
"Is that the spell my grandpa used?" Casey asked. She didn't like how small her voice was, but she needed to know.
"He used a simplified version," Stephen said gently. They were both being careful with her, and she didn't know whether that made her aggravated or thankful. Maybe both. It was complicated. "I honestly don't know how long Arpath will be kept away, but it should be two or three years." He turned toward her, intense and serious. "I'm studying the spell your family uses, and I think there are ways to strengthen it. Your parents used a new form against him twenty years ago, and it held him longer than the last time. I think if their version is used with some modifications, it could possibly be made permanent."
She stared into her tea. Was that part of why he shut himself up in the attic for hours at a time? Looking up information for her? If it was permanent, then no one in her family would have to worry about him ever again. If they wanted normal, magic-less lives, they could have them. "I'll have to do the spell when he comes back, won't I?"
Stephen's frown became deeper. "Only members of your family have done it before, but I'm trying to figure out if I can do it instead. I have an idea—"
"I want to do it," Casey said quickly, jerking her head up.
"Casey—"
"I can do it. This is my family's problem, and it's our spell. It might not work if you do it. I'm not rejecting your help, but I need to do this."
Stephen and Wong shared a look, and Casey scowled. "I mean it. I don't know how to banish things, but if my dad could do it, shouldn't I be able to?"
"I'll teach you, if you really want to learn," Stephen said firmly. "But it won't be easy. And you don't have to decide right now."
"It hasn't been easy so far," Casey said. She knew there was a bit of pleading in her eyes as she focused on him. Since he was technically her guardian or whatever right now, he was the one she really had to convince. "Please. Let me do this." If she could keep this from happening to anyone else, she wanted to try.
Stephen sighed and then nodded toward her. "Fine. But not alone. I'll be there with you."
"And me," Wong said, "And I can help with your training."
"Got it," Casey said before she took a gulp of her tea, regretting it since it was still pretty hot. But all right. Two or three years to learn magic, fighting, banishment, and dimension stuff. Good thing she hadn't tried out for softball that year…it didn't seem like she was going to have any free time.
