Ryan got home bemused with his find. It's a nice looking old book, it would add an air of sophistication to his décor and maybe one day he can show it off to a nice woman, once Matt is 4-6 years older and ready to deal with the idea of him dating again.
"Hey Matt, I'm home!"
"Hey Dad." Matt, his 12 year old son, returned the greeting. Ryan discarded his shoes at the entry and went to the kitchen placing his book on the table next to Matt and his homework, and washing his hands preparing to start dinner.
Matt, ever distractable, grabbed the book, "What's this?" He opened the old pages carefully and looked through the contents.
Ryan chuckled, "I thought it looked cool. It looks like real leather binding with gold leaf accents."
"It says its a spell book? 'Warp thine world to thine whim, yet let not recklessness be thine sin. What which be done in an instant, take strife to undo. You are warned.'" Matt read.
Ryan scoffed, "Yeah, can you believe people used to believe in magic? I say some words and the world bows to my will... what a laugh. You do realize there's no such thing as magic, right Matty? People just needed a word for things they didn't understand. Bacteria and disease was magic, an eclipse was magic, chemistry was magic... You understand right?"
"Yeah, those things, but it looks like all these 'spells' are just words... What would make someone think they changed the world by just saying some words?"
"I don't know, Matty. Things used to be much worse so maybe pretending that they had control made them feel better... People are complicated, so the history of people is complicated... but it got me a cool book." Ryan looked back and smiled at his son.
Matt was staring off into space pondering his dad's words when he realized he was being looked at. He smiled back, "Yeah, I guess that makes sense. But we should recite one of these just for fun. You know, prove them wrong."
Ryan bellowed with laughter... "Okay... but don't get your hopes up you crazy kid. Is there one for making dinner make itself?"
Matt leafed through the spells and read the descriptions. "Child for life, dog curse, day in the life, eager to please curse, equal and opposite... Nothing about dinner... sorry dad!"
"Darn. These onions make me so sad!" Ryan again looked at Matt but with tears as he had been chopping onions and they had gotten the better of him... they both shared a laugh and Matt continued looking through the book.
Minutes passed and eventually Matt found a spell that looked interesting and set the book in the living room for after dinner, returning to his homework as dinner was sauteed.
Homework done and dinner made, eaten, and cleared, the pair went to the living room for their evening activities... today isn't a chore day so a movie or tv show, sometimes a game, talking, or they choose an outdoor activity. "Before we decide, I'd like you to read this spell off." Matt said with a grin.
"Equal and Opposite" Ryan read off...
"Yeah," Matt responded. "There were some interesting looking things in there but nothing I'd want done to you or me. I don't want to live as a dog or be a child for the next 70 years..."
"Matt, this is all made up..."
"Yeah I know, but that one looks perfect for us.. read the description! Cast on a loved one and together you will complete one another, Two as one. Your weaknesses become their strengths and your strengths are shared. Reality will be forever changed, but opportunity will abound."
"Matt, what does that even mean?"
"I dunno, but it doesn't sound bad. And we don't believe it will do anything anyway, right? This is just so we can call ourselves real mages next Halloween..."
"I think this might be for a married couple? It sounds a little... targeted?" Ryan didn't know how to explain what the "two as one" phrasing meant in normal adult context but the spell itself had no actual words, ingredients, or ritual requirements, so he just needed to read a paragraph of gibberish and be done with it... "Well, you're sure, this is the one you want?"
Matt smiled and nodded, Ryan sighed, "Whatever... Icnampthuc parlectium..." and so he incanted for 40 seconds butchering his way through, and upon completing it, nothing happened.
Matt smiled and laughed, "Thanks dad, that was great! Now we can call ourselves wizards!"
Ryan smiled and closed the book, "I think it'll look nice... here." He set it on a shelf attached to the wall and perfected its placing... So what should we do tonight?... The pair rehashed another watching of Encanto before Matt's 8:30 bedtime.