Toon It Up: Spellcasting Koopa (Preview)

Hmmm… Hank stared curiously at the wand within the glass display case, scratching his chin. The long silver shaft positively glowed as if it had recently been polished. The end of it was built almost like a scepter, a large, round, smooth purple jewel in the center of it.

It seemed familiar, but the man couldn't place his finger on where.

Instead, he looked back at the green woman running the store. “Umm, you sure it's safe to just sell something like this and for only a hundred bucks?”

The witch looked up from her magazine. She didn't seem all that interested, more annoyed by his question. “Yeah. It's fine. The wand can't really cause any trouble. It's just for simple growth spells and such. Nothing major.”

The witch went back to her magazine as Hank looked back at the wand. Growth spell, eh? The gears in his head began turning.

Hank was a gym nut. He loved working out and getting into peak, physical shape to impress the ladies, thinking they'd love that. He was even on his way back from the gym before he arrived.

The guy was walking over to the bus stop when something caught his eye. There was a store he had never seen before wedged between the two buildings behind the stop. It was such a curious sight, the storefront windows cloaked with black drapes and its door cracked open.

Curiosity got the best of him. He entered the doorway and found himself in an impossible room. It was far wider than the building implied, filled with rows of shelves and glass display cases. Magical trinkets, artifacts, curios, items, potions, and more were all on sale with a green witch running the place!

It was impressive, only hampered by the actual witch running the shop, her name tag reading “Beatrice”. She looked incredibly disinterested in everything going on, busy with her own reading and less with what he was doing. Asking her about the wand was the first time she actually addressed him since entering.

Hank didn't really care though. He was just intrigued by the magic wand on display. It was so simple, but yet, it felt as if it was calling out to him.

Plus, that little addition fact the witch divulged only piqued his interest more. “So, by growth…” he asked casually, trying not to be too obvious, “Would that include muscle growth?”

Beatrice looked up, glancing at him and then at the wand. She sighed, “Sure, it can do that, I guess. Among other things.” She went back to her magazine.

That was good enough for Hank. Bet I could save a lot of money with that. His eyes traced the wand's shaft up to its jewel end. Cut several gym memberships, stop buying all that protein powder, stop with the constant running and jump roping…

“Hey!” he called over to the witch, who only looked marginally interested in being talked to, “I would like to buy that wand!” He tapped the glass.

“You sure want that?” Beatrice frowned, actually letting go of her reading material and standing up straight. “Gotta be talented to use a wand, ya know. Even if it only does a few things, experience matters and all that crap.”

“Oh, I'll be fine!” Hank smirked, feeling pleased with himself. “Don't worry! I can handle whatever it throws at me. I'll buy it!”

The witch stared at him. Everything about her expression said “no”. “No, I don't believe you.” “No, you're stupid and in over your head.” “No, you don't have the right to buy it.” “No.” “No.” “No.” All no's.

Yet, instead of any of those words, Beatrice ended up shrugging her shoulders. “Fine. Whatever you want.” She snapped her fingers and with a small puff, the wand vanished from the case. Half-a-second later, it reappeared on the counter beside her. It was now inside of a shopping bag, gift-wrapped in nice paper.

Hank hurried over and paid for it. Beatrice didn't say anything else about whether or not he should even buy or use it. She merely accepted his money and added at the end a half-hazard warning. “Probably should open this at home to avoid problems and yadda ya. Don't care. Just enjoy it or whatever.”

“I… will?” Hank was a bit put off by her lackadaisical attitude at that point. He took the bag and left, not wanting to be around her any longer.

Though, the second he stepped outside, a thought occurred to him. Turning, he called back, “Wait, are there any instructions with-”

But when he turned, it was gone. The witch, the store items, and even the store itself were all gone. The space between the buildings was empty once more, as if it had never existed.

Hank was taken a bit back. It was as if he had just experienced a scene out of a movie. It briefly made him forget about his question and worry.

But even when he remembered, it did not matter much. Hank looked back at his bag and nodded. I'll figure it out when I get home. It's fine.