A Magical Experience (Pat)

The training room was a large space, industrial looking. Steel walls, a somewhat gridded floor, turrets hung from the ceiling and protruded from the walls. From what she could see on the schematics, which hung in a screen before her, the guns where filled with rubber rounds. They would still hurt if you got pelted with them, but they were mostly nonlethal.  Amanda was wearing her yellow and black suit. She pulled the goggles down and initiated the training sequence.

The lights in the room all shut off and a voice came up over the intercom, "Beginning Sequence in 3, 2, -" Shock-heart's goggles light up inside. Three figures materialized in front of her, they were large men, thug looking. They were identical to one another, wearing red headbands, baggy clothing, and attacked with knives, the darkness seemed to not effect the program. Each lunged towards her with expert precision. She closed distance with the first, grabbing his right hand with her left, stepping in, shifting her weight to the rear and spinning. At least the move got all of them on the same side of the room.

As the others attacked she blocked and dealt what damage she could. Sometimes they would fall to the ground and moan, other times it was like they didn't get hit at all. Spin-hook kick to the face, back kick to the chest, hilt to the face. It was nearing five minutes and these things didn't let up.

"Pause program." The holograms froze in their steps and the lights came on. She sat down and whipped the sweat from her face. After lifting the goggles and tossing her braid back over her shoulder she pulled up the screen for the program. Maybe she could tweak it a little. She quickly added code that would cause the enemies to recycle after taking significant damage. Changed around their appearance a little. Added all types of opponents, ninja, alien looking guys, even something she considered to be a vampire. You never knew what you where going to run into nowadays.

"End program." She said, pulling down the back of her mask. The people vanished from the room. She would just relax until Sean showed up. Hopefully it wasn't going to take too long. Shock-Heart needed to make sure she got her beauty sleep. Working all night and training all day can wear you thin. She was starting to feel it. Hunting Deities thugs all around the world wasn't an easy task, even when using the internet.

Her body flopped to the floor and she let relaxation overtake her.

Shock-Heart sat up. The beautiful specimen of a man walked in, his voice moved gently over the room like a rippling wave, even if it did have a hint of anxiety mixed in. She looked at him gently as he walked, noticing her thoughts she let her gaze harden up and stood. She felt the urge to play with her ponytail, instead she smiled and put her fists on her hips.

"I have heared you can do things with magic.." She put notable emphasis on the word, magic. She disliked this, tapping into eternity and all, it seemed like cheating somehow, and lonely. At least with what she could do she hand the computer to talk to. "With the threat we face, I have thought it prudent to learn a new skill. Is there a way to see if someone has a talent for magic?" She asked.

If she could learn anything about magic it would be helpful. The enemies they faced did have some kind of connection to the ethereal abilities, even if she could learn to sense when people used magic. Grasping at straws, an exercise in futility? Maybe, but taking on the mantel of 'Hero' has changed her views on the world, she needed to act.

"So, where do we start?" She smiled. Sweat still beaded on her forehead, but she was confident she could take on whatever he required of her.

The ability to cast a very simple spell, or to see if there is any talent for it? Thoughts tumbled around in her mind, each more drastic than the last. She hated the thought of touching such a powerful source and almost decided against it. If she couldn't face her fear what kind of hero would she be? She asked herself and spoke reluctantly. "A simple spell then. Maybe something to do with this systems computer?" At least it would have had some resemblance to what she normally does.

"Maybe I can force the system to project an image. Or..." She raised her hand to her chin. "Do you have something that could let extend my reach, something that would let me focus on all of the computers in the world!" She said with surprised excitement. With magic she could do anything, she would have to watch herself with this new responsibility, if she could even make anything happen. "Those are probably a little too complicated huh?" She frowned.

Ever sense she was a child she thought about using magic, it was normal of course, daydreams mostly. She had never tried her hands at actual spells. Growing up in a semi-religious household, those kinds of things were looked down upon. 'It's the devils work!' her grandmother used to say. They used to go on about the witch trials and what God would do to people who touched the evil source. Once word spread that metahumans were an actual thing her family almost lost it. This was one reason Shock-Heart had kept herself secluded for so long.

"Okay.." She sighed. "Where do we start?" She clapped her hands. With a thought the room dimmed, candles appeared on the walls and spread out on the ground. They were all holographic of course, they wouldn't burn you, but would break if stepped on. The space around Shock-Heart and Sean was clear for a few feet, then a thick layer of candles filled the ground like small torches on hidden paths towards the wall. Their light have the room an ominous feel. "Maybe I got a little carried away." She smiled and shrugged.