Aaron had always prided himself on keeping things light—metaphorically speaking, that is. He was the kind of guy who would rather crack a joke than deal with his feelings, and that had worked for most of his life. But now, with actual, literal power buzzing beneath his skin like an overcharged battery, he wasn't sure how much longer he could keep it together.
Tobias, however, was a whole different story. If there was ever a human embodiment of relentless positivity, it was Tobias. He'd been ecstatic since Aaron's newfound powers began to surface, which, if Aaron was honest, made the whole thing feel even more terrifying.
"You want to put me on stage again?" Aaron groaned, slouching in a wooden chair in the theatre's makeshift dressing room. "Did we not learn from the last time when I almost burned the stage down?"
Tobias flashed him a smile that was equal parts charm and naivety. "Aaron, this isn't just another performance. This is an opportunity. You have something special, something spectacular. We need to make a show out of it!"
Aaron raised an eyebrow, staring at him as if he'd just suggested they juggle flaming swords while riding unicycles. "A show? You mean my random, out-of-control magic bursts? Do you know how hard it is to not spontaneously blow something up when I get nervous? I'm not exactly ready to headline 'Magicians of the Middle Ages.'"
Tobias, unbothered by Aaron's sarcasm, waved a hand dismissively. "You're selling yourself short. With a little practice—and maybe some help from that alchemist friend of ours—you could pull off the greatest show Nostoria's ever seen. Just imagine it, Aaron: real, magical effects integrated into a performance! It'll be legendary!"
Aaron scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Right, 'legendary' as in 'the last show Nostoria ever sees before I accidentally zap the whole town into oblivion.'"
But deep down, Aaron knew that Tobias was onto something. He couldn't ignore these powers forever. And if he was going to figure out what was happening to him, maybe a controlled environment like the stage was the perfect place to start.
"Fine," Aaron sighed, leaning back in his chair. "But if I end up turning someone into a goat, you're dealing with the aftermath."
The evening of the show came quicker than Aaron would've liked. The small theater was packed, filled with townspeople eager to see what kind of chaos Nostoria's most unpredictable entertainer would bring to the stage this time. Word had spread about Aaron's talents—well, his new talents—and the anticipation in the air was palpable.
Backstage, Aaron paced nervously, running a hand through his hair, feeling that electric tingle coursing through his veins again. He glanced down at his hands, half-expecting them to start glowing. "Great. Here we go. Nothing like a magical breakdown in front of a live audience."
Tobias popped in, positively glowing with excitement. "Everything's set! Are you ready?"
Aaron shot him a look. "Define 'ready.' If by 'ready' you mean 'one nervous breakdown away from throwing myself out a window,' then yeah. I'm ready."
Tobias laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. "Come on, you've got this! You'll be amazing."
Aaron grimaced but didn't argue. He didn't feel amazing. He felt like someone who had just been handed the nuclear launch codes without any instructions.
As the show began, Tobias worked the crowd, performing small comedic bits to warm them up. The audience ate it up, laughing along with his over-the-top antics. But Aaron knew that wasn't what they were really here for. They were here for the magic. The whispers about his mysterious powers had spread far beyond the theater. Everyone wanted to see what Nostoria's new 'wizard' could do.
Finally, it was Aaron's time to take the stage.
He stepped out from behind the curtain, feeling the weight of hundreds of eyes on him. The theater, usually small and intimate, now felt like a massive coliseum where every misstep could mean disaster.
"All right, all right," Aaron said, holding up his hands as the crowd quieted. "So, I hear you're all here to see some... magic?"
A few cheers from the crowd. Aaron smirked, though he still felt that electricity surging just under his skin. "Yeah, no pressure. No big deal. Just, you know... literal magic. Something every kid dreams of, right? Except, turns out, when it's real, it's way less fun than in the movies."
A few chuckles from the audience. Aaron felt himself relax just a little. He could do this. Just treat it like any other performance, with the added danger of possibly electrocuting someone. No big deal.
"Okay, so… I've got this new power, apparently," Aaron continued, raising his hands as if to emphasize the word. "It's not as glamorous as you think. No capes, no flying around. It's more like... I got hit by lightning and now I'm just really good at ruining people's hairdos."
He flicked his wrist, and a small burst of blue energy sparked from his fingers, lighting up the room briefly before dissipating. The crowd gasped.
Aaron raised an eyebrow, looking at his hand. "Huh. That actually worked. Maybe I'm better at this than I thought."
The audience, now intrigued, leaned in closer, eager to see what would happen next. Aaron could feel their excitement building, and for the first time, he realized that maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all. There was something about the energy of the crowd, the way their anticipation seemed to feed his powers, making him feel more in control.
"Okay, let's kick this up a notch," Aaron muttered under his breath, focusing on the energy pulsing through his body.
He raised both hands, concentrating on the power, willing it to manifest in a way that wouldn't destroy half the theater. Slowly, sparks of light began to swirl around his fingers, forming small orbs of glowing energy. The crowd gasped again, this time louder, more impressed.
Aaron grinned. "Now we're getting somewhere."
He began to manipulate the orbs of light, tossing them from hand to hand like juggling balls, each one leaving a trail of sparkling energy in the air. The crowd erupted into applause, and Aaron felt a surge of confidence. Maybe this magic thing wasn't so bad after all.
"See, the key to magic," Aaron said, juggling the orbs, "is to make it look effortless. That way, no one realizes you're actually just one screw-up away from blowing the whole place to kingdom come."
The audience laughed, clearly enthralled by his performance. Tobias watched from the wings, beaming with pride.
But then, as Aaron prepared to wrap up the act, something shifted. The energy in his hands began to build, faster than he could control. The orbs of light grew brighter, larger, and suddenly, Aaron felt that familiar surge of panic.
"Uh, okay, maybe not so effortless," he muttered, his hands shaking as he struggled to keep the magic contained.
Before he could stop it, one of the orbs shot out of his hand, spiraling toward the ceiling. The crowd gasped as the orb hit a chandelier, sending a shower of sparks raining down.
Aaron winced. "Whoops. Didn't mean to do that."
The chandelier swung dangerously, the sparks causing small flames to flicker across the edges of the stage. For a split second, Aaron felt his heart stop. This was it—he was about to turn the theater into a giant bonfire.
But then, something clicked.
Without thinking, Aaron raised his hand, focusing on the flames. The energy inside him surged again, and this time, instead of panicking, he channeled it. With a flick of his wrist, a gust of wind burst from his hand, extinguishing the flames in an instant.
The crowd was silent, staring in awe.
Aaron stood there, panting slightly, his heart racing. He glanced at Tobias, who gave him a thumbs-up from the side of the stage.
Aaron grinned, turning back to the audience. "And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you end a show with style."
The theater erupted in applause, the noise deafening. Aaron bowed, still feeling the adrenaline coursing through his veins.
As he walked off stage, Tobias rushed up to him, practically bouncing with excitement. "That was incredible! You were amazing!"
Aaron smirked, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. "Yeah, well... let's just hope I don't make a habit of almost burning down the stage. Again."
But deep down, as he walked backstage, Aaron couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. His powers were growing, and while they could be used to dazzle a crowd, there was a part of him that knew—knew—that something darker was on the horizon.
Something that wouldn't be solved with just a well-timed joke or a light show.