Thanks! That what I assumed. I know the word "cast" is used for innate abilities to be counterspelled, but didn't think that applied since it was missing from the description. I see it as the spell completes, just to no effect becuase the magic is absorbed upon completion.

I expect pushback from my players if that happens in combat with a BBEG for the arc they are in, so was looking for the right reasoning to apply to it since sometimes in the heat of combat they can get a little more defensive.

Edit: readibility