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Successful magic, as with all things, follows the KISS principle: Keep it Simple, Stupid.<\/p>\n
Forget complicated rituals, rare ingredients, hours-long chants and lengthy evocations of gods and spirits. Once you understand the principles of magic, complexity is a curse. I don\u2019t usually dabble much with rituals myself. But a case like this requires extra firepower.<\/p>\n
After dinner, we stroll leisurely to Punggol Park. Along the way, we discuss the spell, distilling and simplifying until we\u2019re certain it\u2019s foolproof.<\/p>\n
The nagas, of course, would see us, and see the ritual. But I\u2019m counting on it.<\/p>\n
Lamp posts light our way through the park. A group of cyclists speed down the bike path. Anglers cluster at the fishing promenades by the central lake. Dog walkers and senior citizens and joggers flow down the trail.<\/p>\n
We find an empty pavilion off the main trail, by a deserted footpath. I\u2019m confident we wouldn\u2019t be interrupted, but just in case, I cast a camouflage spell, causing curious gazes to slip right off this patch of space-time.<\/p>\n
Eleanor would take over from here. I specialize in field magic, quick and dirty energy manipulation and effects; she prefers more complex and involved ritual work. I place my GoRuck on the table, open it completely, and distribute the packing cubes with the ritual ingredients.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou brought all this here?\u201d Diana wonders.<\/p>\n
I open a packing cube and set out a set of cups.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you walk around with these all day?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly when necessary,\u201d I say, producing a packet of salt and a water bottle.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou came here prepared to do a ritual with everyone?\u201d<\/p>\n
I prepare a bundle of tea lights. \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
With my Benchmade, I cut open a packet of salt and pour it into a cup. Eleanor opens a bottle of water.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you ready?\u201d I ask.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s do it,\u201d Shun Tian says.<\/p>\n
He claps his hands. Lowers his head and mutters something. A few moments later, he twirls his wrists and snaps his fingers. Energies rush from the pavilion, expelled through his intent.<\/p>\n
Armed with the salt cup, I pour a circle of salt around the pavilion, walking clockwise around it. The girls set up tea lights at the cardinal directions just behind the salt circle. Shun Tian fills a cup with water and places it in the middle of the circle. I take a lighter and light up the candles, going north, east, south and west. A soft wind blows, flames sputter and die, and we relight two more candles before we proceed.<\/p>\n
Standing in the pavilion, in the middle of the circle of salt and light, Eleanor and I speak.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe circle is closed.<\/p>\n
\u201cBright powers of the universe, Buddhas and gods and spirit guides and all other allies, we invite you into our circle. Thank you for protecting and supporting us. We offer light and salt and water. Come, enjoy!\u201d<\/p>\n
The tea lights grow still and calm, burning steadily and brightly. A pleasant coolness dispels the humidity of the night air. Motes of gentle light dance at the edge of my sight.<\/p>\n
\u201cGautama Buddha, we seek your help. Diana Ho is under attack. Her former teacher has sent a kingdom of nagas to harm her, in an attempt to bring her back into the fold. We did not seek this fight, and we have no desire to cause harm. We seek only to resolve this conflict peacefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease intercede on our behalf. Please help the nagas understand the harm they are causing, and lead them back to the Middle Way. Please help Diana heal her disease and peacefully bring this conflict to a conclusion in a manner that harms none.<\/p>\n
\u201cPowers of the universe, please watch over and guard us. May all harm directed at us be returned threefold, and may all the good we receive also be returned threefold. Help us see through these days ahead, and may all beings involved return to harmony with Universal Law.\u201d<\/p>\n
A cool breeze blows through the area. Leaves murmur. The tea lights flicker for a moment. Then, all at once, they extinguish.<\/p>\n
\u201cWoah,\u201d Diana whispers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for coming,\u201d Eleanor and I continue. \u201cPlease enjoy the last of these offerings, and fulfil our requests. Please continue to watch over us. Thank you. With this, you are free to depart, with our blessings and our goodwill.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe circle is open.\u201d<\/p>\n
The light-motes zip away. Wind caresses my cheek. Energy flows out, leaving only the memory of a pleasant coolness.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is done,\u201d I say.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid it work?\u201d Diana asks.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou sound confident.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou saw what happened to the lights,\u201d Shun Tian says.<\/p>\n
Diana bites her lip. \u201cWas that\u2026 them?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d I say.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell! I thought\u2026\u201d she shakes her head. \u201cI didn\u2019t expect that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you know where to look and what to do, the world never ceases to surprise you.\u201d<\/p>\n
We clean up. The tea lights and other props go back into the bag. I pour the water over the salt circle. Once we\u2019re packed up, we head back the way we came from.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that everything?\u201d Diana asks hopefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the only the beginning,\u201d I say.<\/p>\n
\u201cHah? Why?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMagic isn\u2019t a cure-all. We need to tackle the problem from multiple angles.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to take action too. Here, in the material world. Have you lodged a police report?\u201d I ask.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood. The next step is to apply for a Protection Order from the court.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo serious?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, you want them to keep harassing you, it\u2019s fine by me,\u201d Shun Tian says. \u201cYour life, your problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
She sighs. \u201cFine. And then?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talk to Somchai.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence, for a second.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?!\u201d Diana says.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talk to Somchai.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re going to tell him that you are done with him, and you\u2019ll never come back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, but\u2026 Is that necessary?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a skilled magician in his own right,\u201d I say. \u201cHe may cast magic to counter our magic, and we\u2019ll have to come back here to do this all over again. Better to go straight to the source and end this once and for all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust one last talk with him, and we\u2019re done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Diana folds into herself, a mouse curling up as a cat stalks past.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll try,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I say. \u201cYou will. You must. Commit yourself to action.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t do this alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll help,\u201d Eleanor says.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if it\u2019s dangerous?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be there,\u201d I say. \u201cShun Tian?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure,\u201d he replies.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we\u2019ll be fine. Besides, we\u2019ve got the karmic reflection spell. Anybody who tries anything will regret it.\u201d<\/p>\n
She smiles. \u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
We spend the rest of the journey hashing out timelines and actions, and part ways at the Hougang MRT station. The girls go northeast, Shun Tian and I head southwest. Seated next to me, his knee and shoulder rub against mine. I endure the sensation, letting it pass through me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou planned this from the start, didn\u2019t you?\u201d Shun Tian asks.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course,\u201d I reply.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew it. I knew there was a reason you brought three magicians to meet her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe more the merrier.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know that the nagas will tell Somchai what we did, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m counting on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll know about the ritual and the spell we cast. He\u2019ll understand that we\u2019re ready to defend ourselves if things go wrong. If he\u2019s smart, he\u2019ll cut losses and let her go in peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018Ey, brother, people are dumb, lah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve planned for that too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe spell will trigger the instant anyone does anything to us. We\u2019re protected.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMagic takes time to act. You can\u2019t count on it activating the moment you need it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich is why I have backups to the backup plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLike?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou keep up with judo training?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI earned a black belt last year.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood. I still train in Filipino martial arts. If things go wrong\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
He sighs. \u201cWe fought enough for ten thousand lifetimes when we were teenagers. I don\u2019t want to go back to those days. Harming beings generates bad karma for everyone. And these are nagas we\u2019re talking about. You harm one, their entire kingdom will come after you. Unless you think you can wipe them all out\u2014and all their allies and vassals\u2014you shouldn\u2019t fight them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t plan on starting fights. I plan on preventing them. But if they choose to escalate, we must be ready to respond in kind.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another sigh. \u201cVery well. But I won\u2019t use violence until\u2026 unless they do something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRelax. No matter what happens, just one more contact with Somchai at the temple, and we\u2019re done.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope you know what you\u2019re doing,\u201d he says accusingly.<\/p>\n
\u201cMe too.\u201d I sigh. \u201cThere is one thing though.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got a contingency plan. But I need you to pull it off, if we need it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
I tell him.<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
![\"Cheah](\"https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/0x0\/https:\/\/cdn.steemitimages.com\/DQmcSX4MiYdPvqUChc7eBRiaSvNLAb2vT71wFubG75cArg8\/Cheah%20Git%20San%20Red.jpg\")
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Previous parts:\u00a01<\/a>,\u00a02<\/a>,\u00a03<\/a>,\u00a04<\/a><\/p>\n For more magic, martial arts and mayham, check out my latest novel\u00a0HAMMER OF THE WITCHES<\/a>. Please nominate HAMMER OF THE WITCHES for the Dragon Awards\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n