Chapter 12: The Perfect Trick
The tension in the air was thick, and I could feel Aric's eyes boring into me. He wasn't stupid, and I knew he was starting to catch on to the fact that something wasn't right with me. He wasn't the type to back down easily, and if I didn't act soon, he would start digging deeper. I needed to keep my shadow magic a secret, at least for now. It would be too dangerous if he found out.
I leaned casually against the stone wall, my hands shoved in my pockets, trying to appear nonchalant. Aric was watching me with a look of suspicion in his eyes. I knew exactly what he was thinking. He thought I had something I wasn't showing. And he was right, but he wasn't going to find out just yet.
"You think you're special, don't you?" Aric said, crossing his arms. His tone was sharp, probing, and it made it clear he wasn't buying my act anymore. "You've been acting all mysterious since you got here, and I've seen the way you fight. You've got some kind of power you're hiding. What is it?"
I raised an eyebrow, a small smirk playing at the corners of my mouth. "What, you don't like a little mystery? A man's gotta keep some things to himself, don't you think?"
He sneered, clearly not buying it. "You're playing games, Theo. And I don't like being played."
I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, keeping my voice light. "Who said I was playing? Maybe I'm just… waiting for the right moment."
Aric was smart enough to know that I was baiting him, but he wasn't backing off. He leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing. "You know, you're not the only one with secrets. But I'm not gonna let you keep yours for long."
I held his gaze, unflinching. "Is that a threat, Aric? Because I don't think you want to go down that road."
He didn't flinch. In fact, the look in his eyes hardened. "It's not a threat. It's a promise."
I felt the familiar weight of his words, but I wasn't about to let him push me around. "Alright, alright," I said, lifting my hands in mock surrender. "You want to see what I've got?"
Aric nodded, his smirk growing. "I do."
I paused for a moment, letting the silence stretch. Then, I let out a breath, pretending to concentrate. What I was about to do wasn't going to be flashy, but it would be enough to confuse him, to make him second-guess his suspicions.
I focused on my lightning powers, just the faintest flicker of energy, enough to make a spark or two. I wasn't going to reveal anything too extravagant, but I could still make it look impressive. Slowly, I raised my hand, and a crackling blue spark danced along my fingertips. It was barely visible, just a faint shimmer of electricity.
Aric's eyes widened, and I could see the glimmer of excitement in them. He was hooked. This was exactly what I wanted.
But just as quickly as it appeared, the electricity vanished. I lowered my hand and gave him a small, almost apologetic smile. "Not much, right? Like I said, nothing special."
Aric stared at me, disbelief flashing across his face. "That's it?" he muttered, almost under his breath. "That's all you've got?"
I shrugged, making sure to look indifferent. "What, you wanted fireworks? Sorry to disappoint."
I could see his mind working, trying to piece everything together. I had expected this. The fact that I'd shown him a glimpse of my lightning powers, and then immediately downplayed it, would make him question everything. He'd be wondering why I hadn't shown more, why I was being so reserved. It was perfect.
But he wasn't done yet. He took a step forward, his voice growing more intense. "This doesn't make sense. You've got to have more. No way you're just some regular guy with a bit of lightning. There's something you're hiding."
I held my ground, keeping my expression neutral. "Maybe I am hiding something. Or maybe you're just looking for something that's not there."
Aric clenched his jaw, frustration clear in his posture. "I don't believe you."
"Believe what you want," I said with a shrug, "but you're wasting your time. I don't have anything else to show you."
I turned away, walking a few steps before glancing back over my shoulder. "Keep guessing, Aric. You'll find that your answers aren't always as clear as you want them to be."
He stood there for a moment, speechless, trying to wrap his head around what had just happened. But that's the thing about power—sometimes the best way to use it is to make others think you have less than you actually do. And that's exactly what I'd done.
Lyra, who had been quietly observing from a distance, gave me a small nod of approval as I rejoined the group. Kieran didn't say anything, but I could tell from the look on his face that he was intrigued. He had no idea what had just happened, but he could tell that I'd just outsmarted Aric, and that was enough for now.
As we continued toward the academy, I couldn't help but feel a rush of satisfaction. Aric had been played, and he didn't even know it. The best part? He would be so busy second-guessing himself that he wouldn't even think to look for the real power I was hiding.
For now, the trick had worked. But I knew this game was far from over. Aric might have been fooled, but eventually, he'd start asking more questions. The key was keeping him in the dark just long enough to stay ahead.