Why, yes, son. Yes, I would be happy to help you tie your shoes. I see you’ve already picked up your lunchbox and your backpack, and I’m just as anxious as you are to get on our way to school. However, there is just one thing I need to hear first. One word, in fact, but not just any word. The magic word. Do you know the magic word, son?

No, son. C’mon isn’t the magic word. C’mon is a way to express feeling rushed and frustrated. It can be a good way to do that, but it doesn’t have the power to get us what we want. It’s a common word, not a magical one.

No, son. Rash’kar’lagratar isn’t the magic word. That is magic as speaking it will hurl back any unclean shades which try to approach you. However, it isn’t a word. Rash’kar’lagratar is actually the name of an ancient chthonic entity, imprisoned by the Sun Sorcerer 5,000 years ago. We call on its power to preserve ourselves in times of peril. The magic word may be less old than that, but it is far more powerful.

No, son. Meli’ke’uhlra isn’t the magic word. That is a magic word, the word for light in the Bygone Tongue, which was spoken by the spiritual beings who dreamed matter into shape and left it solid when they died. But it’s only one of many words from their language, and it can be countered by other forms of spellwork. There is no spell that can defeat the magic word, son. That’s why it’s so important to know.

No, son. Trogai’ele’uvalill isn’t the magic word. That’s a simple invocation of flame, and as you can see, I dispel it easily by calling the North wind. But the true name of the North wind also isn’t the magic word, because it only obeys me thanks to the many sacrifices and favors which I have done for it over the years. Your powers are no match for mine, son, and without the magic word, you will lose.

No, son. Ath’m’on’ung isn’t the magic word either. I don’t know where you’ve been learning Corrupted Sorcery, but its power will not avail you. Even if your form were tighter and you had performed more wicked deeds to endear you to the dark forces you call upon, the power of justice and truth would still overtake any who walk your twisted path.

No, son! No! Li’moieth’abulo isn’t the magic word! The price you must pay is terrible, and you won’t be able to control the forces it invokes! Even the magic word may not be strong enough to bind the spirit you’ve summoned! Some of the most powerful demons are too rude for it!

No, son. Vay’ogg’oinor is neither the magic word nor a strong enough word of command to bind that spirit. It laughs at your feeble attempts, and will destroy you first.

Yes, son. I will help you to banish the demon before it claims your soul. Normally, I would ask you to use the magic word first, but as it’s already calling for the Void Fires which burn eternally, I’ll make an exception.

No, son. Joue’li’mallikon isn’t the magic word. Nor are any of the other words which you heard me use during that duel, and I’d appreciate it if you never repeated any of them. They only gain their powers from the sacrifices which I pledged to their patrons. I will not tell you what those sacrifices were.

Yes, son. The demon is now trapped in this bottle. But I’m going to let it out, as soon as I’ve taken it out of the protective circle which surrounds our house. And do you know why? Not because it spoke Gul’outryess, the word of command. That bounced harmless off my mind’s anti-mesmeric shields.

Because it said please. And that’s the magic word. There is no sorcery more powerful than that.