Chapter 14

The next morning was Monday and the wizard was supposed to be by early so Asuna had set her alarm for 7:30 A.M. She managed to get up before Kim came in to wake her but she didn't manage to avoid her entirely. She wandered into the bathroom in her sleepshirt yawning and stretching and ran into Kim toweling off from a shower.

“Oh! I'm so sorry!” Asuna blushhed and turned away, “I should have knocked or something. I figured it would be locked if there was somebody in here...I'm really sorry.” She opened the door carefully so as to slip out without showing too much of Kim when the fact that Kim was laughing registered.

“No worries, girlfriend! If I really minded I would have locked the door. Go ahead and shower, I'm just going to dry my hair before I leave, don't want to be walking around with wet hair right?” She grinned at me and tossed the towel in to a hamper and bent over to dig a blowdryer from under the sink.

Asuna stared then blushed and shut both her eyes and the door, “Is this some sort of hazing ritual for your circle of friends? Are you trying to make me explode from frustration? Or is this really how you are normally?”

Kim giggled as she plugged in the blowdryer, “What if I just said yes? Really, you have got to relax. It's just skin Sue, nothing to get all excited about. Unless you are trying to tell you have a crush on me?”

Asuna stammered and stuttered and blushed as Kim turned away and started using the blowdryer. She finally stopped unsure what she would say even if she could get her voice sorted out. She just sighed, dumped her nightclothes in the hamper and went to take her shower.

She was almost disappointed that there was nobody in her room when she went to dress but only almost. She dressed in slacks and a polo shirt then went down to breakfast.

Linda had made another good breakfast, “I'll be here today at least until the wizard is here and done. Anything special you wanted to do today?”

Asuna asked “Well I was hoping to get in some sparring but I'm afraid I'll hurt anyone who isn't super. Do you know any agents I could spar with and not worry about accidentally injuring them?”

Linda nodded, “I'll ask around. I'm sure we have somebody, for that matter I'll ask the wizard. He might have a spell for that. Keep in mind when dealing with mages that they can mimic any power and most tech with the right spell and you never know what spells they might have available at any one time.”

Asuna nodded, “Okay so what's their weakness?”

“Generally either time or energy,” Linda said. “Baseline mages don't have to reserves to cast many spells back to back and even most mutant mages need time to cast or they have to set things up beforehand. The other limiter on them is knowledge, most wizards are secretive and don't share spells so while any mage you meet might know any spell there is a practical limit to the number. It's one of the advantages of being a DPA mage. They get access to more spells and if necessary superior numbers in return for helping police their own.”

“I'll remember,” Asuna said then the doorbell rang.

“I'll get it!” Kim said and ran for the door.

She brought in the mage Asuna had met at the testing. He introduced himself again, “Hello, I’m Wallace Malleus, the wizard you briefly met at your initial testing?”

Asuna smiled and shook his hand, “Yes I remember you. You and Linda seemed to be the only reasonable people there.”

He smiled, “I try.” He was of average height, which made him a few inches shorter than her and had brown hair and eyes. The only thing that separated him from being completely ordinary was the cane with the crystal on top and even that wasn’t terribly unusual.

“I’m surprised you don’t look more...” Asuna trailed off.

Wallace chuckled, “More magical? A lot of people expect me to wear a pointy hat or robes with odd symbols on them. However blending in is part of my job so I try to appear as normal as possible.”

“You do a good job,” Kim said. “I’d never guess you were a mage. I was guessing accountant with a limp when I saw you.”

He nodded, “So I’m here to test your magic resistance. Do you have any place you’d prefer?”

Linda nodded, “Why don’t you go out back by the grill? It’s all brick and open. I’ll move the lounge chairs so there won’t be anything breakable nearby.”

The nondescript wizard nodded and they all moved outside, “Okay, first thing to say is I’m a Baseline mage. That means I have less access to the power and will tire faster than a mutant wizard all things being equal. I did bring a few power sinks with me to make sure I can do a full job but be aware that there are wizards much more powerful than I am. This testing only gives you, and the agency, a general idea of your resistance. Even if nothing I do affects you that does not mean you are immune. Are we clear on that?”

“Yes agent Malleus,” Asuna replied.

He nodded, “Good. I don’t want you to be caught unaware in the future.”

Once the area was clear he held up his cane, “The first type of spell I’ll be casting will be detection spells. The ones I tried before failed hard so I doubt these will work but they should be tested thoroughly.” The crystal on the cane glowed as he waved it in an intricate pattern. He nodded, seemingly to himself and traced a second pattern, then a third, “Okay, Location spells and diagnostic spells are being blocked.” He made a note.

“The psychic could pick up your thoughts so I’ll try a telepathy spell next.” He waved his cane in a new pattern and thought a question to Asuna.

She answered out loud, “Yes, I can hear you.”

“Good,” he replied verbally. ‘Communication spells are so useful in general that it’s worth it not to be resistant. Let me try the Far Whisper spell next. I’ll just walk to the other side of the yard and you tell me if you can hear me.”

Asuna nodded and he walked about 25 feet away. He cast the spell but it didn’t work. He tried several other long range communication spells but only the ones that mimic psychic abilities seem to work. He made another note, “That is very interesting. Only the spells that act like a psychic power work on you.”

Asuna shrugged and he smiled, “Well okay, just food for thought. The next few spells are spells for restraining someone. Wait a moment while I pull out a power sink.”

“A power sink?” Kim asked.

“It stores power for later use,” Wallace replied. “I can only hold so much at a time and it regenerates after use. Since I do not often use it I store in objects to use when I need extra.” He held out a small jade statue of Ganesh, “Different things work for different people but I generally use Hindu statuary.”

“Cool,” she replied.

Holding the statue in his left hand he uses his right hand and cane to cast the spells. After casting ten or so different spells he put the statue away, wiped sweat off his forehead, and sat down, “I need a break for a bit. Can I get a glass of something cold?”

“Sure,” Linda replied. “Lemonade good?”

“That will be fine,” He replied.

“Kim?” Linda asked, “will you go get it?”

“Sure!” she said and headed for the kitchen.

Agent Malleus looked up from his notebook and spoke, “That seems fairly conclusive. All the spells directed against your body hit resistance and fail, at least at my power levels. Those that are directed at either your mind or the space around you succeed. It is fortunate that you are strong enough to break ropes but you might have trouble with chains. Also remember there are alloys meant specifically to contain bricks and those you will certainly not be able to break. Although I am given to understand you can create a sword?”

“Yes,” Asuna said.

“Then perhaps it can saw through a chain. I don’t know any iron conjuring charms unfortunately. If I need handcuffs I use the ones I’m issued and normally I stay far away from those with superstrength.” He accepted a glass of lemonade from Kim and sat back.

Linda said, “I have a pair of cuffs I can spare and I’d like to know if you can cut them. If I go get them can you manifest your sword?”

“Sure! Or at least I think I can,” Asuna said.

Soon Linda was back out with the cuffs, “Okay, I’ll just leave these on the brick floor here.”

Asuna concentrated and the sword reappeared, “Cool!” She smiled at her success and took a tentative swing at the cuffs. The chain was scratched by not cut.

“Try a harder swing,” Linda suggested.

Asuna gripped the hilt in both hands and swung. With a sharp metallic sound the chain was cut. The sword was also slightly damaged but when she banished it and summoned it again it was as whole and sharp as before.

“Kickass!” Kim said. “You’ll cut your way of restraints in no time.”

“If I can reach them,” Asuna agreed.

In an hour or so the mage declared himself recovered and asked, “May I attempt some direct damage spells? I won’t use enough power to do any real damage but it would help to know if, as seems likely, these are affected by your resistance as well.”

Asuna shrugged, “Just don’t damage my clothes.” Then realizing how that may have sounded she added, “I just bought them and I don’t want to end up naked again.” She blushed, “I mean not that I end up naked a lot...”

Kim started giggling like a fiend as Asuna trailed off, “Aww c’mon Sue! You do your best work naked!”

The wizard smiled but thankfully didn’t laugh. He held up a hand to stop her protests, “I think I can just aim at a hand or something if you’ll stick one out to the side?”

Asuna nodded, still blushing, and stuck her hand out. The wizard pulled out a small statue of Shiva and started casting. Again spells that created real things, such as lightning or fire and sent it at her hit but those that were more arcane in nature such as pain spells or spells designed to cut with pure magical force were blocked.

He stood and gathered his things, “That is a very useful and impressive ability you have there Ms. Hinato. I thank you for letting me test you.” He shook everyone’s hand and Linda walked him out.

Kim walked over and giggled a bit, “Just don’t damage my new clothes? You’re well on the way to being a normal teenage girl! I’m proud of you.” She hugged Asuna then, “Seriously though that was a pretty amazing display. Even if you didn’t get naked for it.” She giggled some more, “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”

Asuna hugged her back, “Help me get the lounge chair back in order and we can lay out and tan some more.” She winked, “That way you’ll at least get to see me in my bikini.”

Kim smiled and said,” That’s the spirit! You’ve a long way to go of course before you can flirt like I do but you’re getting there!” She headed inside instead of helping though, “You arrange the chairs though and I’ll call the girls over. After all you’re the one with the superstrength.” She was grinning as she fled inside to make the call.

She was starting in on that when Linda came back out and said, 'I'm thinking of heading in to the office to deal with any new paperwork. Are you two going to be okay by yourselves?”

“Yeah,” Asuna replied. “We're just planning on getting some sun, maybe pizza for dinner again?”

“Sure, I'll pick one up,” Linda replied and left.