The alleyway was suffocatingly narrow, lined with crumbling brick and heavy shadows. The flickering torchlight ahead barely reached Aaron's position as he crouched beside Tobias, his heart hammering in his chest. Every breath he took felt like it might be his last peaceful one for a while.
"Remember," Gretna whispered from their left, her voice barely audible over the soft crackling of the torches, "we move fast, hit them hard, and get out before they can alert anyone else."
Aaron nodded, though his throat felt tight. The air buzzed with tension, and underneath it all, he could feel the familiar hum of his magic just below the surface, itching to be let loose. But this wasn't the time to lose control. Not when their entire plan depended on precision.
The guards stood near the cart, chatting quietly in low voices. There were two of them—just as Gretna had said—but they were armed, and Aaron could sense the faint aura of magic around them. They weren't amateurs.
"On my mark," Gretna whispered again, her eyes locked on the guards.
Aaron's hand tingled as he prepared to channel a small burst of energy. Just enough to disarm them, nothing too flashy. The last thing they needed was for him to blow up half the street.
The moment stretched, every second feeling like an eternity. Aaron could feel the weight of the magic building up inside him, the tension coiling tighter and tighter.
"Now!" Gretna hissed.
They moved as one. Gretna surged forward with speed that surprised even Aaron, her hands weaving through the air as she muttered something under her breath. Magic rippled out from her fingers, a soft blue light that surrounded the guards like a net, freezing them in place.
Tobias darted forward next, a flash of steel in his hands as he knocked the weapons from the guards' grasps with precise strikes. The guards barely had time to react before they were disarmed, their movements sluggish under Gretna's spell.
Aaron hesitated for a brief second, then followed suit, sending a controlled arc of energy toward one of the guards. The magic crackled through the air, striking the man square in the chest and sending him sprawling to the ground, unconscious but alive.
"Nice," Tobias whispered, flashing Aaron a quick grin.
Aaron let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, trying to shake off the tension from his body. So far, so good.
But as they approached the cart, Aaron couldn't help but feel that something was off. The air around them felt thick, heavy, like it was holding its breath—waiting for something to happen.
"Gretna?" Aaron asked, his voice low. "Are we sure this is the right place? Feels too... easy."
Gretna frowned, her eyes scanning the crates on the cart. "This is the spot. The shipment should be—"
Before she could finish, the sound of footsteps echoed from the far end of the alley. Aaron spun around, his heart skipping a beat as a group of figures emerged from the shadows, their faces obscured by dark hoods.
"Of course," Aaron muttered under his breath. "It was too easy."
The lead figure stepped forward, pulling back his hood to reveal a sharp-featured man with piercing eyes. There was something cold and calculating in his gaze, a look that sent a chill down Aaron's spine.
"You've made a mistake coming here," the man said, his voice low and smooth. "But I suppose you already knew that."
Gretna stepped in front of Aaron and Tobias, her stance defensive. "We're not here for a fight," she said, though her tone made it clear that she was ready for one.
The man chuckled, a sound that held no humor. "You're here for the artifacts. How quaint. Did you really think you could disrupt our plans so easily?"
Aaron's pulse quickened as the group of figures behind the man fanned out, surrounding them. This wasn't just a simple guard detail—this was a trap. They'd been waiting for them.
"Alright," Aaron said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'm guessing you guys are The Veil? I gotta say, I was expecting something a little more... dramatic. Maybe some creepy chanting or a hooded figure with glowing eyes."
The man's eyes flicked to Aaron, a thin smile curling his lips. "You're as foolish as I expected. It's almost disappointing."
"Foolish?" Aaron scoffed, feeling the magic inside him stir in response to his rising nerves. "Buddy, I've been called a lot worse. But I'm the one standing here about to ruin your whole operation, so maybe don't throw stones."
Tobias shot Aaron a look, the kind that said now's not the time for jokes, but Aaron ignored him. His heart was pounding, the adrenaline coursing through his veins, but he couldn't show weakness. Not now. Not in front of these guys.
The man raised a hand, and suddenly the air around them crackled with energy. Aaron felt it—felt the shift in the magic as it pulsed toward them. It was dark, heavy, and suffocating, like a tidal wave of power threatening to crush them under its weight.
"Stay behind me," Gretna ordered, her voice sharp as she raised her hands, forming a shield of shimmering blue light in front of them. The dark energy slammed into the shield with a deafening crash, the impact sending shockwaves through the alley.
Aaron's hands tingled, the magic inside him reacting to the attack. He could feel it bubbling up, ready to burst out, but he forced it down, trying to stay focused. This wasn't the time to lose control.
"We can't take them head-on," Tobias muttered, his eyes darting around for an escape route.
"No kidding," Aaron replied, gritting his teeth as another wave of dark energy crashed against Gretna's shield.
Gretna winced, her hands shaking as she struggled to maintain the barrier. "We need to get out of here. Now."
But the alley was blocked, and the dark figures were closing in. They had to act fast, or they'd be overwhelmed.
Aaron's mind raced, his eyes flicking between the approaching enemies and the crates of artifacts on the cart. An idea—reckless, dangerous, but maybe their only shot—began to form in his head.
"Gretna," Aaron said, his voice tight. "What's in those crates?"
Gretna's eyes flicked to the cart, realization dawning on her face. "Magical amplifiers. They boost the power of whoever uses them."
Aaron's heart skipped a beat. "Boost, huh? Think they'd work on me?"
Tobias's eyes widened. "Aaron, no. That's too risky. You don't even have full control over your powers yet."
Aaron glanced at Tobias, then back at the dark figures surrounding them. "Yeah, well, I don't think we've got much of a choice."
Before anyone could stop him, Aaron lunged toward the cart, ripping open one of the crates. Inside, glowing with a soft, eerie light, was a small crystal. It pulsed with energy, like a beating heart.
"Are you insane?" Gretna hissed, her voice laced with panic. "You don't know what that will do to you!"
Aaron grinned, though his hands trembled as he reached for the crystal. "Well, there's only one way to find out, right?"
Without another word, Aaron grabbed the crystal. The moment his fingers touched it, a surge of raw, untamed energy exploded through him. It was like being struck by lightning, every nerve in his body alight with power.
For a split second, everything went white.
And then the world came crashing back into focus.
The dark figures stopped in their tracks, their eyes wide with shock as the energy radiating from Aaron lit up the entire alley. The magic pulsed through him, wild and uncontrollable, but this time, Aaron didn't fight it. He channeled it.
With a roar, Aaron unleashed a wave of energy, sending a blinding arc of light crashing toward the figures. The force of it knocked them back, their dark magic dissolving into nothing as they were thrown against the walls of the alley.
Aaron stood there, his chest heaving, the crystal still glowing faintly in his hand. He could feel the power coursing through him, more than he'd ever felt before—stronger, faster, sharper.
Tobias and Gretna stared at him, their expressions a mix of awe and fear.
"Aaron," Gretna whispered, her voice barely audible. "What did you just do?"
Aaron looked down at his hands, the magic still crackling around his fingers like static. He didn't know how to explain it. Didn't know what had just happened. All he knew was that for the first time, he hadn't lost control.
"I think..." Aaron said, his voice shaky but triumphant, "I just leveled up."