Aldin’s eyes were fixed on the motionless body before him, the once fierce gaze of his adversary now just hollow. As the Alpha’s underlings fled or were captured, Aldin stood rooted to the spot, haunted by the secrets that died with those glazed eyes. Evan had acted without hesitation, but what had the vampire been about to reveal?

A grimy feeling enveloped Aldin as he stood there. The surrounding chaos quieted down, leaving a suffocating silence where even time seemed to pause. He was unsure how to feel about someone who had so readily resorted to killing. Although, he himself hadn’t hesitated when he destroyed the two underlings. Could he really judge Evan? Something about it still felt off.

As he looked around the world came to a standstill, everyone frozen in place.

“What the…” he started, but his words were interrupted.

“Hello, Aldin,” a voice said from behind him. “It’s time for us to talk.”

A woman stepped out from the shadows, her hair dark with streaks of red. She was dressed in leather armor, with vials strapped around her waist and a sword across her back, looking like a warrior out of a legend.

“Who are you?” he asked.

“I’m the one who came before you. Alice the sorcerer, that’s who I was until I met my end.”

“What? I thought the Sorcerer couldn’t be killed. And if you’re dead, how are you here?”

“Well, aren’t you full of questions. Can’t be killed? That’s a myth. We can be, but it takes a lot of power. Corthus was the end of me, as he was for all before me. And I am always near. We are irrevocably linked through time and space. It was time for us to speak so, here I am.”

“You’re saying, one person has killed every Sorcerer? How is that possible?”

“Corthus has been around for centuries and his thirst for power is insatiable. Magic has always been part of the world, but not mankind. And Corthus will stop at nothing to get more power.”

“What do you mean not mankind?”

“Long ago, we fought just like everyone else, with strength and will. And for a time, we had magic. A mage, powerful and strong fought against demons to defend the world and eventually sealed the rest of it off from gaining power. Before that, magic was everywhere and almost everyone had it. As this mage fought against the demons, another mortal man who’s twinned soul was ripped from his own, searched for a way to regain his lost magic. He found that he could gain temporary power through the consumption of blood. Not just any blood mind you but the blood of Dragons.”

“Dragons?” Aldin asked.

“Yes, dragons. On a hunt with his king and warriors of the human lands, they came upon a dragon. As they fought it and slowly lost, a drop of its blood ended up in this man’s mouth. Suddenly full to the brim with magical energy once more the man cast a spell that trapped the dragon. Before his king could slay it, the man asked permission to study the dragon for a night. With this he took vial after vial of the dragons’ blood so he could study it and learn how the magic he had lost had once again returned. A few days later he ran out of mana, and it did not return until he drank the blood once more.”

“What does that have to do with…?” Aldin began.

“Hush child, I’m getting there. After decades of study and a few dozen dragons being captured and tortured they captured the first Dragon. Havin wasn’t the strongest of the dragons, but he was the oldest. In his blood the man believed he would finally regain what he had lost permanently. The night before he could use the ritual he had gained from a devil’s deal, Tempus, the first sorcerer, claimed the Dragons soul. He became the strongest mage of the time. He was also the mage who was fighting against the Demon’s. In order to stop them from destroying the planet and devouring all magic, Tempus sacrificed his own power to create the Veil.”

“What’s the veil?”

“The veil is what stops mortals from seeing magic. No one without it can see the truth of the world around us. You recently experienced the break of the veil, which is when one gains magic.”

Aldin thought for a moment. He had so many questions, but the most important was, “I think I get it but, what does any of this have to do with Corthus.”

“It is his and the first Sorcerer’s origin. Corthus was the man who lost his twinned soul. Eventually Tempus sealed the Demon’s in their miserable realm and sealed the magic of the world with the veil. But he was left without magic. Corthus, angry with Tempus for what he had done, captured him and used him in one of his experiments. Corthus accidentally turned Tempus into the Sorcerer. Using what he learned from this he attempted the same on himself. But there can only be one Sorcerer. It is an unwritten rule due to the magic used to create him. Corthus failed to turn himself into another Sorcerer and in doing so turned himself into a Demon. However, he could not withstand Tempus’s might and was defeated.”

“If he was defeated then how is…”

“Patience Aldin, we’re getting there. Corthus was defeated but not destroyed. Tempus cast him into the pits of hell. But a few centuries later he arose from the abyss and ended Tempus. But, unbeknownst to him, the soul of the Sorcerer does not simply return to the soul basin, it immediately moves on to the next host. And so, our never-ending battle with the Demon Corthus has ensued for centuries. And now he is coming for you.”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“Soul Basin? Demon’s? I don’t…”

“That is a discussion for another day. For now, focus on learning the limits of your abilities, unseal them so you can, and then focus on the giant. Good luck.”

“Wait, what giant? I…” he started.

Suddenly, time resumed its normal flow, and she was gone.

The giant she had mentioned, could it be? Were his dreams a sign…

“Hey! Aldin!” Luna called out.

He looked around; the yard was empty. The house was in ruins, and she was calling to him from across the street.

“Are you going to stand there all night?”

“No. Sorry. But… wasn’t everyone…” He stumbled over his words.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, never mind.” He followed her.

“Let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“Our coven house is destroyed, and Inferno has offered us shelter. Everyone’s already left. I came back to check for stragglers. I didn’t expect to find you. Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked.

“Yeah…” he glanced back at the pile of debris that was once the house. “It doesn’t matter. Let’s go.”

“Whatever you say, tough guy.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.” She opened a portal and stepped through, with Aldin following close behind.

Aldin and Luna stepped onto the corner of H and 4th street in Auburn, where a seemingly abandoned house stood.

“Is there some kind of magic hiding this place?” Aldin asked, a bit unnerved.

“Just follow me,” Luna replied, her voice hinting at secrets to be revealed.

As they walked on, the strange haze that had been hanging in the air cleared up, and suddenly, there it was—a mansion that made Evermore look like a dollhouse. The place was huge, with spires that seemed to touch the sky and walls that shone like they were polished every day.

Each window was a work of art, with little creatures carved into the frames, and the light hit them just right to throw colors everywhere. Standing guard by the front door were big marble statues, looking serious like they were keeping secrets.

The gates creaked open, and you could almost smell history in the air, mixed with the scent of old wood. The path up to the door was lined with the reddest roses you’ve ever seen, like they came out of a fairy tale.

It wasn’t just a house; it was like something out of a storybook, a place from another time when people built houses to tell the world they’d made it big. And now, it was right there in front of them, as if it was inviting them in for a story of their own.

“It’s huge!” Aldin exclaimed; his voice filled with wonder.

“This place is home to young Pyromancers, bound by spells that dampen their fire. It takes them a long time to learn how to control their abilities without losing control. They train in the mountains, accessible only through hidden portals. Before we head upstairs for some rest, let’s eat; I’m starving,” Luna said with urgency.

Aldin’s stomach growled in agreement. “I could eat.”

The doors closed on their own as they headed to the kitchen, where an irresistible scent filled the air.

“What’s that smell?” Aldin asked, captivated.

“That’s marionberry cobbler,” Delphine answered as they entered. “And yes, I can hear your thoughts.”

“That’s amazing! Could I possibly…?”

“It’s all set. You want some, right?” Delphine anticipated his request.

“Yes, that would be…”

“Wonderful? Here you go,” she said, placing a plate before him and Luna. “I knew you’d want some too,” she said to Luna with a wink.

They ate heartily while Delphine and Melissa discussed Evermore’s future.

“It wouldn’t hurt to ask other covens for help with repairs,” Delphine suggested.

“Thanks, but there’s nothing left to repair. We’d have to rebuild from scratch, and that could take months. We can’t wait that long; we need a new place,” Melissa stated firmly.

“I’m just glad everyone’s safe.”

“If the children had been there during the attack, it might be a different story.”

“But they weren’t, and we’re all safe now. No use worrying about what could have been.”

“Thank you for offering us shelter when we needed it most.”

“Of course. But tell me, were they after the Sorcerer?”

“Yes, the Alpha tracked him down to our coven and sent his minions, then showed up himself.”

“Do you really think it was just coincidence?” Delphine pressed.

“Are you suggesting there’s a traitor among us?” Melissa’s voice rose with tension.

“Ridiculous!” Luna burst out. “No one in our coven would risk our safety, not even to get rid of the Sorcerer! How could you even suggest that…”

“Watch how you speak to your elders, young lady!” Melissa cut her off sharply.

Luna’s hands balled into fists, and she glared at her mother with barely contained anger. It looked like they might come to blows, but instead, Luna stormed out, the door slamming behind her.

“She definitely has your fire,” Delphine commented lightly.

“I just don’t know what to do with her sometimes,” Melissa admitted.

“Maybe you should try listening to her,” Aldin chimed in unexpectedly.

“I beg your pardon?” Melissa said, taken aback.

“If you listened more and scolded less, maybe you wouldn’t argue so much. She’s earned your trust. She fought bravely, but you act like it was nothing. You didn’t even check on her after the battle.”

Melissa’s eyes stayed on him, a storm of shock and understanding passing over her face before she dashed off in search of Luna.

“You’ve got a knack for reading the room,” Delphine said softly, almost a whisper.

“Sometimes I get it right. Like today, I had the alpha in my grasp, but I just… stopped short of doing anything. I thought maybe I could glean some sort of information from him. I guess I was wrong.”

“You see that as a mistake?” Delphine’s voice floated through the room, light and probing.

“I do. My pause could’ve cost lives.”

“Or perhaps it was a moment of insight?” Delphine suggested gently.

He gave a small nod.

“You held back for a reason, considering your next step. Evan acted on impulse, driven by anger. You need to remember, your decisions affect everyone, not just you. That pause? That was you being wise, not weak.”

He murmured his thanks, barely audible in the vastness of the space.

“You look like you could use a shower,” Delphine said matter-of-factly. “There’s one just down the hall. We’ve got clothes and a room set up for you too.”

Thankful, Aldin headed for the shower.

Alone in the shower, Aldin let go of the day’s burdens. The water washed over him, each droplet speaking softly to his skin, cleansing more than just the dirt. And then, the emotions he'd been holding back broke free. Tears mingled with the water, each one a silent testament to the secret his mother had kept, the weight she carried alone to keep him safe.

His tears felt icy against the warmth of the shower, all of it swirling down the drain, like his world had been upended. His sobs filled the room, a solitary echo.

Feeling empty yet somehow renewed, Aldin stepped out to find clean clothes waiting for him. The thought of food was distant now, sleep calling to him. He made his way to the room Delphine had mentioned and fell into bed, sleep enveloping him swiftly, a welcome escape from the day’s turmoil.