Aaron sat on the theater's worn-out backstage couch, staring blankly at the wall as the soft hum of the city drifted in through the open windows. It had been days since their meeting with Seraphine, and every minute since then had felt like a countdown to disaster. He could feel it—the storm was coming. The Veil was lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.
His training with Gretna was progressing, but not fast enough. Every time he thought he'd gotten a handle on his powers, they slipped away, just out of reach, like trying to hold water in his hands. And the pressure was building. He wasn't just fighting to control his magic anymore—he was fighting the knowledge that if he failed, The Veil would win. They would take everything.
Across the room, Tobias was tinkering with some stage props, his usual enthusiasm noticeably dimmed. He'd been quieter than usual lately, the weight of everything clearly taking a toll on him. Aaron had tried to joke with him, but it didn't have the same effect anymore. The stakes had gotten too high for even sarcasm to fully cover.
"Hey, Tobe," Aaron said, his voice cutting through the silence. Tobias looked up, his eyes tired but attentive. "You ever think about how all of this... wasn't part of the plan?"
Tobias chuckled softly, shaking his head. "What plan, Aaron? I don't think there ever was one. We've just been winging it since day one."
Aaron leaned back, rubbing his temples. "Yeah, but I'm talking about this. Secret societies, out-of-control magic, some shadowy group trying to turn me into a walking weapon. None of this was supposed to happen. I was supposed to be... I don't know, normal."
"Normal?" Tobias laughed, the sound a little bitter. "You, Aaron? You've never been normal."
Aaron smirked. "Fair point. But seriously, this whole 'chosen one' thing isn't really my style. I'm more of the 'accidentally burn down the stage while pretending to have it together' type."
Tobias stood up, walking over to where Aaron sat. "You've been dealing with this better than you give yourself credit for. I know you're scared—hell, we all are. But we're in this together. You're not alone in this, man."
Aaron sighed, looking up at Tobias. "I appreciate the pep talk, but let's be real—I'm the one with the giant magical target on my back. You guys... you shouldn't have to deal with this."
"We're here because we want to be," Tobias said firmly. "You're not the only one in this fight."
Aaron's mouth twisted into a half-smile. "Yeah, I know. I just... I don't want to screw this up. Not when you guys are counting on me."
Tobias slapped Aaron's shoulder in a friendly gesture. "Hey, we've survived worse, right? And I'm not just talking about your disastrous attempts at stage magic."
Aaron rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I'm a walking catastrophe, I get it."
The two shared a quiet moment of understanding, the weight of their situation hanging over them like a storm cloud ready to break. Aaron knew Tobias was right—they had survived a lot together. But this? This was different. This wasn't just about keeping the theater running or entertaining a crowd. This was about survival. And the stakes had never been higher.
Later that evening, Gretna returned to the theater, her face set in a grim expression that immediately put Aaron on edge. She didn't say anything as she entered, but the tension in her body language spoke volumes.
"Gretna?" Aaron called from across the room. "What's going on?"
She glanced at him, then at Tobias, before walking over to where they stood. "We need to talk. Now."
Aaron exchanged a look with Tobias, then followed Gretna to a more secluded corner of the theater. The shadows from the dim lighting made the room feel smaller, more claustrophobic.
"I've been doing some digging," Gretna said, her voice low. "And I've found something—something big."
Aaron raised an eyebrow. "Big as in 'we're about to solve all our problems,' or big as in 'we're even more screwed than I thought'?"
Gretna didn't smile. "The Veil is making their move. I don't know exactly when, but it's soon. They've been gathering in the city, waiting for the right moment to strike."
Aaron's stomach dropped. "In the city? Here?"
Gretna nodded. "They've been keeping a low profile, but my sources say they're getting ready. Whatever they have planned, it's going to happen soon."
Tobias, who had been standing silently beside them, finally spoke. "Do we know what they want? I mean, specifically. We know they're after Aaron's power, but why? What's the endgame?"
Gretna took a deep breath, glancing at Aaron before answering. "They want control, Tobias. Over magic, over people, over everything. And Aaron... he's the key. His power is different—it's not tied to the usual magical laws. If they can harness that power, they could reshape the entire world to their liking."
Aaron felt a cold chill run down his spine. "Reshape the world? That's a little grandiose, even for me."
Gretna's expression remained serious. "It's not a joke, Aaron. They'll stop at nothing to get what they want. And they'll use whatever means necessary to push you to the breaking point."
"So what do we do?" Tobias asked, his voice tense.
"We have to move first," Gretna said, her tone decisive. "If we wait for them to come to us, it'll be too late. We need to disrupt their plans, weaken their forces before they can make their move."
Aaron's head was spinning. "You make it sound like we're going to war."
Gretna met his gaze, her eyes hard. "In a way, we are."
Aaron let out a long breath, trying to wrap his mind around what she was saying. This wasn't just about controlling his magic anymore—this was about stopping a group of people who wanted to rewrite the rules of the world. And for some reason, they thought he was the key to doing it.
"Alright," Aaron said, rubbing his temples. "Let's say we buy into this plan. How do we 'disrupt their forces'? We're talking about a shadowy group that's been doing this for centuries. What are we supposed to do? Throw a few magical light shows at them and hope they get distracted?"
Gretna smiled faintly. "Not exactly. But we can start by targeting one of their supply routes. They've been moving magical artifacts through the city, and if we can cut them off, it'll weaken their position. It's not a final blow, but it'll slow them down."
Aaron frowned. "Magical artifacts? What, like glowing rocks and cursed trinkets?"
"Something like that," Gretna replied. "But more dangerous. These artifacts are powerful—some of them can amplify magic, others can disrupt it. The Veil has been stockpiling them, preparing for something big."
Tobias leaned forward, his expression serious. "If we can take out their supply lines, it'll give us time. Time to figure out their next move, and time for Aaron to get a better handle on his powers."
Aaron glanced between Tobias and Gretna, feeling the weight of their words settle on his shoulders. He wasn't a strategist, he wasn't a hero. He was just a guy trying to survive in a world that kept throwing curveballs at him. But now, it was clear—he didn't have a choice. If they didn't act, the Veil would win, and everything he cared about would be lost.
"Alright," Aaron said, straightening up. "Let's do it. Let's cut off their supply and see how they like it."
Later that night, the three of them gathered in the back room of the theater, poring over the details of Gretna's plan. She had maps of the city spread out across the table, with several points marked in red—locations where the Veil's supply routes were most vulnerable.
"This is where we'll hit them," Gretna said, pointing to a narrow alleyway near the city's southern wall. "It's not heavily guarded, but they move a lot of their artifacts through here. If we can disrupt this shipment, it'll set them back."
Aaron nodded, though his stomach churned at the thought of what they were about to do. This wasn't just sneaking around or playing with magic—this was a real fight. And there was no telling what would happen if they were caught.
Tobias studied the map, his brow furrowed. "What kind of resistance are we expecting?"
"Not much," Gretna replied. "The Veil operates in secret, so they don't usually deploy large forces for these kinds of operations. But they'll have a few guards—mages, probably. We need to be careful."
Aaron leaned over the map, trying to focus on the details rather than the rising anxiety in his chest. "And what's my role in this? Am I just supposed to blast my way through if things go sideways?"
Gretna shook her head. "No. Your job is to keep control of your powers. If you lose control, the Veil will sense it, and we'll lose any advantage we have. Stay focused, and use your magic only when necessary."
Aaron swallowed hard, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on him like a lead blanket. "Got it. No blowing things up unless absolutely necessary."
Tobias gave him a reassuring smile. "We'll be fine. We've faced worse."
Aaron wasn't sure if that was true, but he appreciated the sentiment.
The night was cool as Aaron, Tobias, and Gretna made their way through the darkened streets of Nostoria. The city was quieter than usual, the normal hustle and bustle replaced by an eerie stillness. It felt like the calm before a storm.
As they approached the alleyway Gretna had marked on the map, Aaron's heart began to race. He could feel the magic simmering beneath his skin, ready to explode at any moment. But he pushed it down, trying to stay focused. They had a plan, and he couldn't afford to lose control.
"Stay close," Gretna whispered as they slipped into the shadows of the alley. "We don't want to draw attention."
They moved quickly, sticking to the darkness as they made their way toward the Veil's supply route. Aaron could see the flicker of torchlight up ahead—guards, just as Gretna had predicted. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising panic in his chest.
"Are you ready?" Tobias whispered, his hand resting on Aaron's shoulder.
Aaron nodded, though his stomach was in knots. "Yeah. Let's do this."
They crept closer, staying low and out of sight. As they reached the edge of the alley, Aaron could make out the silhouettes of the guards—two figures standing near a cart loaded with crates. Magical artifacts, no doubt.
"Wait for my signal," Gretna whispered, her eyes locked on the guards.
Aaron's heart pounded in his ears as they waited, the tension in the air growing thicker with each passing second. This was it. The first strike.
He just hoped they were ready for what came next.