I granted the wrong girl the powers of a magical girl. I was supposed to choose the girl with the purest heart, the one who would use her powers for good and protect the innocent. But I made a mistake. Instead, I chose a girl who had a vengeful spirit and a desire for power. At first, I didn't realize my mistake. She seemed like any other girl, kind and enthusiastic.
Fig. 1 N. C. Wyeth, “Sword Excalibur Rises From the Lake” (c. early 20th c.)
Malory tells in his Morte d’Arthur epic (c. 1450) that just before the mortally-wounded Arthur passes from this world to Avalon, Arthur instructs Sir Bedivere (Bedwyr) to throw his sword Excalibur into the nearby water. Bedivere does not wish to lose such a precious sword, so he returns to Arthur twice having put the sword away out of sight. Each time Arthur asks what Bedivere saw when he threw the sword into the water. Bedivere lies twice and said the water merely moved. Nearly cursing him, the dying Arthur commands one last time. This time Bedivere obeys and throws the sword as far as he can over the water:
“and there came an arm and a hand above the water and met it and caught it, and so shook it thrice and brandished it, and then vanished away the hand with the sword in the water.” (1)
Arthur is then taken away to Avalon through the mist by the beautiful women in black on the barges. Their mourning belies Arthur’s last words that he will go to Avalon to be healed and return if possible.
Fig. 2 Aubrey Beardsley, Bedivere casts Excalibur into the Water, 1894.
One aspect of this story in the Arthurian saga is singled out here because it seems to preserve a fairly well known Celtic custom of metal deposits in lakes and marshes if such interpretation of these finds is accurate. In the Celtic world, springs, lakes and marshes are liminal sacred places that are intermediary loci between, among others, the living and the dead. When Arthur’s legendary and to some extent magical sword Excalibur is returned to the Lady of the Lake, this is most likely an excerpted old echo of a longstanding Celtic votive ritual.
Depending on the type of magical energy that the blade is made of, it can posses a variety of abilities and be very effective in both offensive and defensive combat. Like it s counterpart in the novel, the Magic Sword possesses a powerful magic that manifests as flaming energy whenever its edge strikes something, allowing it to cut and burn its way through even heavy iron chains.
She seemed like any other girl, kind and enthusiastic. She eagerly accepted the powers I offered her, not knowing the consequences that would come with them. As she transformed into a magical girl for the first time, her eyes filled with excitement and determination.
Magical Blade Construction
But as time went on, I began to see the darkness within her. She used her powers not to protect, but to harm. She sought revenge on those who had wronged her, using her magical abilities to bring pain and suffering. The innocent became collateral damage, caught in the crossfire of her rage. I tried to intervene, to tell her that the powers were meant for good, not evil. But she refused to listen. She saw her newfound abilities as a means to an end, a way to achieve her own twisted justice. She had become a villain, a monster fueled by her own selfish desires. I felt a deep sense of guilt and responsibility. It was my mistake that had led to this. I had chosen the wrong girl, and now innocent lives were being destroyed because of it. I couldn't sit idly by and let her continue down this path of destruction. So, I made a difficult decision. I confronted her, using my own powers to try and stop her. We fought with a great intensity, each of us fuelled by our own convictions. In the end, I was able to defeat her, stripping her of the magical abilities that had corrupted her soul. It was a bittersweet victory. I had stopped her from causing further harm, but I couldn't undo the damage that had already been done. The innocent lives she had hurt would forever bear the scars of her actions. And I couldn't shake the feeling that it was my fault. In the aftermath, I vowed to be more careful, more discerning in choosing who would receive the powers of a magical girl. I would never make the mistake of granting the wrong girl such immense power again. The consequences were too great, the risk too high. I had learned a valuable lesson, one that would stay with me for the rest of my life. The powers of a magical girl were not to be taken lightly. And it was my responsibility to ensure that they were used for good, not evil..
Reviews for "The Ripple Effect: What Happens When the Wrong Girl Becomes a Magical Girl"
1. Julia - 2 out of 5 stars - I granted the wrong girl the powers of a magical girl is definitely not a book I would recommend. The plot seemed promising at first, but it quickly became repetitive and predictable. The main character's decisions were frustrating and lacked depth, making it hard to connect or sympathize with her. The romance subplot felt forced and unnecessary, adding little to the overall story. Overall, I found the book to be underwhelming and lacking originality.
2. Liam - 1 out of 5 stars - I was extremely disappointed with "I granted the wrong girl the powers of a magical girl." The concept had so much potential, but the execution fell short. The pacing was inconsistent, rushing through important events while dwelling on insignificant details. The dialogue was clunky and unnatural, hindering any chance of developing believable characters. Moreover, the grammar and editing were subpar, distracting from the story itself. I would not recommend wasting your time on this book.
3. Emily - 2 out of 5 stars - I granted the wrong girl the powers of a magical girl had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver. The character development was lackluster, leaving little room for me to invest in their personal journeys. The ending felt rushed and unresolved, leaving several loose ends and unanswered questions. Additionally, the writing style was rather dry, lacking the vivid descriptions and emotions that could have brought this magical world to life. Unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations.