Stanley had hoped the incident in the alley would fade into obscurity, just another bizarre moment in his unusual existence. But by the next day, the nagging feeling of unease lingered. The faint ripple in Earth's magical field hadn't entirely disappeared it was as if something, or someone, was still lurking.
As he walked through the school gates, he noticed Mia waiting for him at the usual spot near the vending machines. She tapped her foot impatiently and narrowed her eyes when he approached.
"What's with the look?" Stanley asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Don't 'what look' me," she said, crossing her arms. "What were you really doing behind the school yesterday? Don't tell me you were just 'taking a breather.'"
Stanley chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "I told you, I needed some fresh air."
Mia leaned closer, squinting at him. "You're hiding something, Stanley. Don't think I didn't notice how weird you've been acting lately."
He froze for a moment, searching for a good excuse. "Uh… I've just been distracted by, you know… life stuff."
"Life stuff?" she repeated, unconvinced.
"Yeah, like the science quiz," he said with a sheepish grin.
Mia groaned. "Fine, keep your secrets. But if I find out you're sneaking off to do something illegal"
Stanley laughed, cutting her off. "Relax, I'm not getting into trouble. Trust me."
Her suspicious gaze softened slightly, and she sighed. "Alright, alright. Just… don't be weird, okay?"
The two of them walked into school together, the conversation shifting to lighter topics as they approached their first class. But despite his calm exterior, Stanley couldn't shake the feeling that Mia's curiosity might eventually lead to questions he didn't want to answer.
Later that day…
During history class, Stanley found himself staring out the window, his mind wandering back to the shadowy figure from the day before. Who had sent him? And more importantly, why? The ancient magic the intruder had wielded wasn't native to Earth it had to come from one of the other realms.
"Stanley?"
His teacher's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Would you care to repeat what I just said?"
Stanley blinked, realizing the entire class was looking at him. Mia, who was sitting a few rows ahead, stifled a laugh.
"Uh…" Stanley fumbled, glancing at the chalkboard. "Something about… ancient civilizations?"
The teacher frowned, unimpressed. "Pay attention, Mr. Ordinary."
A few students chuckled, and Stanley managed a sheepish smile. But inside, he was relieved his slip-up hadn't drawn more attention than necessary.
After School
As the school day ended, Stanley decided to head straight home instead of sticking around to hang out. He needed time to think.
On his way back, he noticed something unusual. A faint, glowing trail of energy shimmered in the air something no normal human could see. It led toward the nearby forest.
Stanley hesitated, weighing his options. He could ignore it and maintain his cover, or he could investigate and risk drawing more attention to himself.
With a sigh, he decided to follow the trail. It wasn't like he could leave something so suspicious unchecked.
The trail led him deep into the forest, where the trees grew denser and the air felt heavy with magic. As he reached a clearing, Stanley stopped in his tracks.
A figure stood in the center, their back turned to him. They wore a cloak adorned with runes that shimmered faintly, and in their hands, they held a staff glowing with an eerie light.
"I was wondering when you'd show up," the figure said without turning around.
Stanley narrowed his eyes. "Who are you, and what do you want?"
The figure chuckled, finally turning to face him. They removed their hood, revealing a youthful but determined face. "The real question is: why is someone like you trying to live as a mortal?"
Stanley tensed. Whoever this person was, they knew more about him than they should.
"You have no idea who you're messing with," Stanley warned, his voice low.
The stranger smirked. "Oh, I know exactly who you are. And soon, so will everyone else."
Before Stanley could respond, the stranger raised their staff, and the clearing erupted in a blinding flash of light.