Why is magic not more used, it would help so much of Oliver's story and help the character's lack of a healing factor really make sense.. among other things.

This is my last Arrow story for a while, I need to get this right... I am trying really, really hard.


Seven months before Oliver returns to Starling City

At the Queen Mansion, in a room on the third floor, a boy worked hard. His light was on and he was wearing only his shorts, sitting on his bed with books strewn about everywhere. He was reading from a single tome though, a leather bound, musty tome written in Latin.

"Focus is key." Dakota lay on his back, focusing on his breathing, on the energy he knew existed in the world. Opening his eyes, he continued to read the book before him. An old rustic tome on the essence of casting magic. "Magic is the essence of thought mixing with the powerful energies of the world. Without thought, magic is just use less energy, but with thought, it transforms into an unrivaled force. To use it you need an anchor, something to hold the mystical energies. Some of these anchors could be magical blood, a pact on your soul, a blessed icon or totem, talismans, or runic tattoos. Words can also act as an anchor for magic, but for one without innate powers or a stronger anchor the magic will be weak and unstable." Frowning, Dakota looked at his hands. "I am pretty sure I have no magic... but I can change that. I have something worth fighting for, and that changes everything."

Determined, he continued reading the grimoire.

"Anchor can be made from natural materials, creating a talisman to focus the magic through. One can create a talisman by mixing magic into an artifact that contains natural materials such as amber, coral, quartz, or even petrified wood or bones. Each object would have innate power, such as the purifying essence of Amber. Metal can also be used, though it would be best if it was made of silver, bronze or gold as they work best with magic. Iron works terribly with magic and should be avoided. Anything with a strong emotional tie will work best for any talisman. There is a spell to create a talisman later in the chapter."

Reaching onto his chest, Dakota pulled off the necklace he had around his head. It was an old coin, one he found when he first became homeless, something that stopped only a month ago when he was taken in by the Queens. It was a silly thing, but it meant a lot to him. Worth only thirty or so dollars, it was rusted and it used to be covered in pigeon shit until he cleaned it off. If anything was going to work, if anything had a connection to his heart, it was this. It got him by on many a sad day and kept him from throwing himself into traffic several times.

Moving from his bed to the bathroom. he took the book with him, reading to himself the spell to create the talisman. It was simple requiring a verbal spell, an object to hold the magic and an offering of his blood. Pulling out his pocket knife from his dresser as he passed it, he moved into the bathroom. Looking into the mirror he took on his square head and blonde curls, smiling at himself for a moment. "I can do this." he said before pulling the knife out.

After dropping the necklace into the sink, he pricked his finger and let the blood drip onto the soon to be talisman.

Then, he uttered the incantation, and let his very soul fill with the hope and faith it would work.

"Doloris oblatio, sanguis meus tibi, vires magicae. Hanc oblationem reple virtute tua, et sit ancora magicae extra numerum!"

Only for nothing to happen and he sighed, sucking on his finger til it stopped bleeding and then, he prayed, not to any god or goddess but to the magic he hoped beyond anything existed.

"I... sigh... I was needing that to work. I need magic, I need something... to help Starling city. This place is hell. I got lucky, the Queens took me in for some reason, maybe Moira misses her son Oliver and took pity on me... maybe not. All I know is that to help I need help, and magic could be it. I believe in it, I swear I do... seeing helps though, and I need it to be real." Sighing tears prickled at his eyes. "My mom was terrible, she became a mean addict after she lost her job in Mr. Queen's factory. When she died, I thought things would be better but I was homeless for a year, it was only a month ago that Moira found me and gave me a chance at life. I still don't know why she took me in... but I need to help others. I am not sure I am going to be super-wealthy like the Queens, so I can't help with money. Being a nurse, like I want to will force me to deal with bureaucracy and bullshit. With magic I could stop the bad guys and save the weak... I just need a chance."

He might have said more, he wanted to, but as he watched a single tear fall from his face and land on the blood-covered coin, something amazing happened. Fire exploded into existence, only it was richer and redder than normal fire and had no smoke. It radiated warmth, the warmth of magic, that filled the room and somehow did not set off the fire or smoke alarms. The fire grew hotter and bigger, reaching the ceiling before vanishing entirely, leaving not a trace it once existed.

Stunned, Dakota approached the sink and saw his coin,.. only it looked different. It was shiny and new, a beautiful bronze.

Reaching down, he touched it only to gasp as pure warmth shot through his body. His skin tingled, his soul screamed out. "This... this is magic, it worked!" He didn't shout, he barely managed to stop the urge. "I did it!"

Excited, he turned on heel and hurried of his bathroom with his new talisman and the book of spells in hand.

"With this, I can cast spells... with this, I can get started... with this, I can make a real difference."

And so he continued to study, desperate to fulfill his goal and make the difference his soul so craved.


An offering of pain, my blood to thee, forces of magic. Fill this offering with your might, and let it be the anchor for magic beyond counting!

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews,

This was fun and interesting and great to write.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika,