The theater was a mess. Half of the stage had been scorched by Aaron's uncontrolled magic, and the lingering smell of smoke hung in the air like a bad omen. Tobias paced anxiously backstage, while Aaron leaned against a wall, trying to catch his breath. He could still feel the residual energy buzzing beneath his skin, a reminder of just how close he'd come to losing control completely.
"Someone's been watching me?" Aaron finally asked, his voice strained. He looked at Gretna, who was standing by the door, her eyes scanning the darkened alley beyond. "And you're just telling me this now?"
Gretna didn't look at him. Her focus remained on the shadows outside, her expression grim. "I wasn't sure until tonight," she said quietly. "But now it's clear. Whoever—or whatever—it is, they're getting bolder. That fire wasn't just a random accident. Your powers are reacting to something... or someone."
Aaron ran a hand through his hair, still trying to process what she was saying. "Okay, so let me get this straight: I've got out-of-control magic, some mysterious creeps watching me, and now fires spontaneously breaking out during my performances. That about sum it up?"
Gretna turned to face him, her expression uncharacteristically serious. "It's worse than that. Whoever is watching you... they want your power. They're either trying to manipulate it, or they're waiting for you to lose control completely so they can take it."
Aaron blinked. "Great. So I'm, what, a magical piñata? They're just waiting for me to crack open and spill out the goods?"
Tobias shot him a look. "Aaron, this isn't a joke. We need to figure out who these people are before something really bad happens."
"Something really bad?" Aaron snorted, though there wasn't much humor in it. "What do you call that?" He pointed toward the still-smoking stage. "That was pretty bad."
Tobias ignored the comment, his face tight with concern. "We need a plan. We can't stay here, not if they know where to find you."
Aaron raised an eyebrow. "What, you think we should just pack up and run? Nostoria's not exactly overflowing with places to hide. Besides, I don't even know who they are. It's not like I can just zap them out of existence."
Gretna crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "Running isn't the answer. We need to confront them. But we can't do that until we know who we're dealing with."
Aaron sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on him like a heavy blanket. He'd always known things were spiraling out of control, but this? This was worse than he'd expected. He wasn't just fighting his own unstable magic anymore—he was fighting something much bigger, something he didn't understand.
"So... what now?" he asked, his voice quieter than usual. "How do we find these people?"
Gretna glanced at Tobias before stepping closer to Aaron. "We don't have many leads, but I've been hearing rumors. There's a group, an old one. They operate in the shadows, pulling the strings behind the scenes. They've been searching for someone like you—someone with raw, uncontrollable power."
Aaron frowned. "Sounds like a real fun bunch. Let me guess—they don't do birthday parties, right?"
Tobias ignored the sarcasm, his brow furrowed. "If they're after you, that means they're dangerous. They won't stop until they get what they want."
Aaron stared at the ground, his mind racing. He didn't like this. Not one bit. He was supposed to be the guy who cracked jokes, the guy who made light of every situation—even the bad ones. But this? This was something he couldn't laugh away.
"Alright," he said, straightening up. "So where do we start?"
Gretna hesitated for a moment before speaking. "There's someone I know. She's... not exactly a friend, but she has connections to the underground. If anyone knows who's behind this, it's her."
Aaron raised an eyebrow. "Not a friend, huh? Sounds promising. What's the catch?"
Gretna's lips pressed into a thin line. "The catch is that she's dangerous. She's not someone you want to cross. But if you want answers, she's the best lead we've got."
"Great," Aaron muttered, rubbing his temples. "Another dangerous person. Add it to the list."
Tobias stepped forward, his hand on Aaron's shoulder. "We'll go together. Whatever happens, we're in this as a team."
Aaron looked at him, surprised by the intensity in his friend's voice. "Tobias, I appreciate the whole 'we're in this together' speech, but maybe you should sit this one out. I don't want you getting mixed up in whatever magical mess I've stumbled into."
Tobias shook his head, his eyes resolute. "You're not doing this alone. We've been through too much for me to bail on you now."
Aaron opened his mouth to argue, but something in Tobias's expression stopped him. This wasn't just about friendship or loyalty—Tobias genuinely believed in him, and that realization hit Aaron harder than he expected.
"Fine," Aaron said, forcing a grin. "But if we get turned into frogs or something, I'm blaming you."
The streets of Nostoria had never felt so oppressive. The usual bustling energy of the market square had faded as the sun set, leaving only the flickering lights from taverns and the occasional shadowy figure darting through the alleys. The further they walked, the quieter it got, until even the distant sounds of the city faded into nothing.
Gretna led the way, her steps confident, though Aaron could see the tension in her shoulders. He wasn't sure where she was taking them, but it was clear that wherever they were going, it wasn't the kind of place you'd want to visit alone.
"So," Aaron said, trying to break the silence, "what's the deal with this not-a-friend of yours? Does she have a name, or should we just call her 'The Plot Device'?"
Gretna shot him a warning glance, but there was a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Her name is Seraphine. She deals in information—if it's worth knowing, she knows it."
"Sounds like someone I'd love to have on my Christmas card list," Aaron muttered.
"She's not someone to joke about, Aaron," Gretna warned. "Seraphine plays by her own rules, and she's not interested in loyalty. If she's willing to help us, it'll come at a price."
Aaron rolled his eyes. "Of course it will. Because why would anything in this world be free?"
As they turned a corner, Aaron spotted the building they were heading toward. It was an old, run-down structure tucked away in a narrow alley, barely distinguishable from the other dilapidated buildings around it. The windows were dark, and the only sign of life was a faint glow coming from a crack under the door.
"Are we sure this isn't just a condemned building?" Aaron asked, eyeing the place warily.
"Quiet," Gretna snapped, pushing the door open.
Inside, the room was dimly lit, the walls lined with shelves crammed full of scrolls, bottles, and strange artifacts. In the center of the room sat a woman—a tall, elegant figure with dark hair and eyes that seemed to gleam in the low light. She was draped in flowing robes, her posture relaxed as she watched them enter with a faint smile on her lips.
"Gretna," the woman said, her voice smooth as silk. "It's been a long time."
"Seraphine," Gretna replied, her tone clipped. "I need your help."
Seraphine's smile widened. "Oh, I know. But you'll have to convince me why I should care."
Aaron stepped forward, trying to keep his usual bravado. "Let me guess—you don't work for free, and you're going to ask us for something outrageous in return."
Seraphine's gaze flicked to him, and for a moment, Aaron felt as though she could see straight through him. "Oh, I don't need anything from you," she said, her tone casual. "But what you're dealing with... now that interests me."
Aaron glanced at Tobias, who looked just as uneasy as he felt. This was starting to feel like walking into a trap, but they didn't have many options left.
"So," Aaron said, forcing a grin, "what's the deal? You tell us who's behind all this, and we... owe you a favor?"
Seraphine's smile didn't falter. "Something like that. But first, I need to know just how deep you're willing to go. Because once you start down this path, there's no turning back."
Aaron swallowed hard. He'd known from the moment his powers had first appeared that there was no turning back. And now, standing here, facing a woman who knew more than she was letting on, he realized just how deep he was already in.
"I'm already in deep," Aaron said quietly. "So let's do this."
Seraphine's eyes gleamed. "Very well. Let's begin."