Becoming the Sorcerer

Step 10: Contact

Aldin's eyes snapped open, his clammy skin clinging to the sheets. Another restless night had left him drenched in sweat, the remnants of dreams slipping through his fingers like smoke. The room felt oppressive, as if shadows clung to the corners, whispering secrets he couldn't quite grasp.

He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, the floor cool against his bare feet. The journey to the bathroom was a blur—a cascade of dimly lit hallways, the distant hum of pipes, and the rhythmic patter of water droplets. The shower offered temporary solace. The water sluiced down his back, washing away the residue of nightmares. Leaning against the tiled wall, he let the heat seep into his bones, lost in thought.

Life had taken a dizzying turn. Each day seemed to hurtle forward, leaving Aldin scrambling to keep up. The ghostly figure in the abandoned tunnels—their hollow eyes haunting his every step. To then return to find the market there instead. The stranger who had attacked his neighbor, leaving her dead with the eerie explanation from another neighbor. And that piercing screech at the hotel, from himself, a sound that had knocked him unconscious.

Then there was the food—the tainted morsels that had drained him, leaving him weak and disoriented. A vampire, they said. The faces of strangers morphing into something otherworldly, their eyes glinting with secrets. And the Evermore Coven—their existence a revelation. Meeting them had been like stepping into a forgotten tale, where magic and danger danced hand in hand.

The attack on the coven—their sanctuary violated because of his presence. Aldin's guilt weighed heavy. He had stumbled into their world, unwittingly unraveling threads that bound them together. And now, the Skree—the enigmatic creatures that defied explanation. The sorcerers cryptic message echoed in his mind, "Find strength in defeat."

But how? Aldin dried himself off, the rough towel scraping against his skin. He stood in front of the mirror, his reflection a stranger's face. Should he seek out Corthus—the elusive demon who swayed so many? Was this his battle alone? Responsibility weighed on him like a stone. No one else could face this darkness for him.

He dressed in fresh clothes, the fabric crisp against his body. Someone had prepared them, silently tending to his needs. The house was too quiet, an unsettling hush that clung to the air. Aldin descended the creaky stairs, heart pounding. The wood stove crackled in the kitchen, casting flickering shadows on the walls. Luna and Melissa were nowhere to be found.

As he moved through the rooms, Aldin wondered if he was a pawn in a larger game—one he didn't fully understand. But he would keep moving forward, seeking answers, even if it meant facing Corthus alone. Strength in defeat—the sorcerer's advice echoed through his mind once more. Perhaps it was time to unravel the threads further, to find the hidden power within himself. The silence pressed in, urging him onward. There was no turning back now.

Maybe they're outside? He clung to hope.

The front door led to more solitude. "What's going on... Where is everybody?" he called out, his voice tinged with alarm.

Around the house, a figure in the yard caught his attention. At first uncertain, then with a jolt of recognition—the ghostly woman from the tunnels, her ragged black dress and dark hair flowing behind her. He backed away as she turned to look at him. A gasp of terror escaped him, but she didn't give chase. She simply floated away, ascending higher as she moved down the street.

"Now what? I can't just..." He trailed off. "Can I fly?"

Only one way to find out he thought. He closed his eyes and focused his intent. He could feel the mana around him form to his body and lift him. Aldin opened his eyes and found himself hovering above the ground. He flipped and flailed, then steadied himself and took off after her, flying high above Auburn, catching sight of Federal Way, and following the ghost southwest towards Tacoma.