Adrian Caleena

Aiden stumbled through the dense underbrush of the woods, branches clawing at his sleeves and leaves crunching beneath his boots. The moonlight filtered through the canopy in fractured beams, offering just enough light to guide him forward. His breaths were shallow, his heart a relentless drum in his chest. The shouts of the Hunters echoed in the distance, growing louder and closer.

He didn't know how long he had been running, but his legs felt like lead, and his mind swirled with panic. Then, suddenly, he saw it- a wrought iron gate hidden beneath an overgrowth of ivy, its spiked bars half-concealed by the twisting vines. Relief flooded his chest as he hurried forward, his hands trembling as he reached for the lock.

It was a heavy, intricate thing, rusted with age but still sturdy. Aiden fumbled with it, tugging and pulling, trying to force it open, but it wouldn't budge. His fingers scraped against the cold metal as frustration mounted.

"Come on… come on…" he muttered under his breath, sweat trickling down his temple. The voices of the Hunters grew closer, their torches casting flickering light against the trees.

Panic gripped him like a vice. He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes darting through the darkened forest, every shadow a potential threat. He couldn't let them find him. He couldn't.

When suddenly...

His breathing was erratic, his chest rising and falling in frantic bursts as a cold hand clamped over his mouth. The shadows around him seemed alive, swirling and enveloping him until his very form felt nonexistent. He couldn't move, he couldn't scream, but could only stand frozen as the Hunters stormed past the clearing.

"Check the woods! He must've gone deeper!" barked Evander, his torch casting flickering light onto the iron gate.

Another voice called out, "Don't let him slip through! Keep moving!"

The group dispersed, their footsteps crunching against the forest floor as they pushed further into the darkness. Aiden's heart thundered in his ears, the grip over his mouth unrelenting even after the last Hunter disappeared from sight.

When the tension finally became unbearable, he twisted violently, breaking free just enough to turn toward the one holding him captive. The shadows clinging to him flickered away like smoke, revealing a tall, hooded figure standing ominously close.

"Let me go," Aiden hissed, his voice low but venomous.

The figure didn't budge.

"Do you want them to hear you, you idiot?" the voice snapped, smooth but sharp, like a blade gliding against stone.

Aiden's panic flared into anger. He could feel the heat building in his chest again, his power simmering dangerously close to the surface. Without thinking, he let the fire rise, his palms heating as he pressed his hands against the figure's arm.

The response was immediate.

"Bloody hell!" The figure jerked back, releasing Aiden as a burst of smoke hissed from the seared fabric of his sleeve. "What the fuck are you doing?"

Aiden stumbled backward, flames flickering faintly around his fingers. He raised his fists defensively, his voice trembling.

"I'm not about to trust someone who grabs me out of nowhere and holds me like that!"

The figure staggered into a shaft of moonlight, clutching his arm. For the first time, Aiden got a clear look at his captor. It wasn't a man, as he'd assumed, but a boy- maybe 13, like him, though taller and leaner.

His black hair was tied in a messy half-up, half-down style, with stray strands framing his pale, angular face. His outfit was as chaotic as his hair: a black leather jacket adorned with patches and spikes, a shirt with a band Aiden never head of, and boots that looked like they'd seen more fights than the Hunters combined.

He exuded an air of rebellion, a wildness that set Aiden immediately on edge.

The boy glared at him, his grey eyes full of irritation. "Burning me? Really?" he growled, inspecting the smouldering hole in his jacket. "I just saved your sorry arse, and this is how you thank me?"

Aiden faltered, the flames in his hands sputtering out. His lips parted in confusion. "You saved me?"

"Yes," the boy snapped. "You were standing out there like a bloody beacon, about to get caught! I pulled you into the shadows so they'd lose you. Ever think of saying thank you before you start setting people on fire?"

Aiden blinked, his anger waning as the words sank in. "Wait… you're a Magi?"

The boy rolled his eyes. "No, I'm the Queen of bloody England," he drawled sarcastically. "Of course I'm a Magi! How else do you think I hid you from those Hunters?"

Aiden took a step back, still eyeing the boy warily. "Why would a Magi help me?"

The boy arched a brow, his expression caught between amusement and exasperation. "Because you're not exactly quiet about your powers, are you?"

He gestured to Aiden's hands.

"You think I'd stand by and let another one of us get caught because you don't know how to keep it together?"

Another one of us. The words struck Aiden harder than he expected.

"I don't even know how to use this," Aiden said, his voice low and defensive, glancing down at his hands. "It's not like I asked for it."

"Well, figure it out before you kill someone you don't mean to," the boy muttered, pulling his jacket tighter around his singed arm. He took a step forward, his towering presence making Aiden tense. "I don't have time to babysit you. Either follow me or try your luck with the Hunters. Your call."

Aiden hesitated, his gaze flickering between the boy and the gate still looming behind him. His gut told him not to trust the stranger, but he couldn't deny that he had little choice. The Hunters were still out there, and he couldn't unlock the gate on his own.

"What's your name?" Aiden finally asked, his voice quieter now.

The boy smirked.

"Call me Adrian. Adrian Caleena," he said. "And you'd better keep up, Chase. I'm not waiting for you."

With that, Adrian turned and strode toward the gate, his movements quick and purposeful. Aiden hesitated for only a moment longer before following, his heart pounding with uncertainty.

The forest was eerily silent save for the occasional rustle of leaves beneath Adrian's boots. The moonlight barely filtered through the canopy, and their path was a maze of roots and brambles, forcing them to tread carefully.

Adrian led the way, his dark hair falling into his eyes as he glanced back at Aiden with a sly grin. "Relax, Chase. The Hunters are too slow to catch us now."

Aiden, still glancing nervously over his shoulder, tightened his jaw. "I don't even know why I'm trusting you," he muttered, his tone sharp. "How did you even find me?"

Adrian smirked, clearly amused by Aiden's suspicion. "It's what I do, mate. I can blend into shadows—become one with them, actually. I could feel your flames from a mile away. Subtlety isn't exactly your strong suit."

"Blending into shadows?" Aiden asked, curious despite himself.

Adrian nodded. "Yeah. I can shift myself and anything I touch into shadows for a few seconds. Handy for hiding from people like your Hunter friends." He gestured to the dense forest around them. "But my main power is staying hidden, moving through shadows. That's how I found you so fast. Your power? Lit up like a bloody beacon in the dark. Took me no time to figure out where you were."

Aiden frowned. "So you've been following me?"

"Not for long," Adrian said with a shrug. "But you're hard to miss, Chase. You're not exactly inconspicuous."

The conversation lapsed into silence as they continued walking. Aiden's nerves were still raw, and the idea of putting his trust in this Magi stranger wasn't sitting well with him. But the boy seemed confident, unshaken, and Aiden couldn't deny that Adrian's shadow power had saved him earlier.

After what felt like an eternity of walking, Adrian suddenly cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "Mum! Dad! I've got him!"

Aiden's eyes widened in horror. "Are you insane? Keep your voice down!" he hissed, his flames flaring faintly in his palms.

Adrian rolled his eyes, grinning. "What, worried the Hunters are still after us? Relax. They're heading the other way by now. Besides, my parents can handle themselves."

Before Aiden could respond, distant voices called out in reply, "Adrian? Is that you?"

"Where have you been?" another voice followed, this one more frantic.

Aiden froze, his body stiffening as the voices grew louder. Within moments, two figures burst through the trees, their faces illuminated by the faint moonlight.

They both had the same angular features as Adrian, with dark hair and pale skin. The man was tall and broad-shouldered, his face stern but softening with relief when he saw Adrian. The woman, on the other hand, looked furious, her dark eyes narrowed as she stormed forward.

"Adrian Caleena!" she snapped, her tone sharp enough to make Aiden flinch. "What were you thinking, running off like that? We've been worried sick!"

Adrian grinned sheepishly, holding up his hands in surrender. "I was fine, Mum. I told you, I can handle myself."

"Handle yourself?" his mother repeated, her voice rising. "You could've been caught—or worse! Do you have any idea-"

"Mum, Dad, relax," Adrian interrupted, gesturing toward Aiden. "Look, I brought someone important."

Both parents turned to Aiden, who immediately felt his stomach twist in discomfort. He shifted his weight, staring at his feet as the two Magi studied him.

"You're Aiden Chase," the woman said, her voice steady but laced with a sorrow that seemed to echo through the air.

Aiden froze, his stomach tightening. "How do you know who I am?" His voice cracked slightly, betraying his unease.

The man beside her gave a small, rueful smile. "You're the son of Orion Chase, heir to the Hunters Association." His voice was calm, but there was something heavy in the way he said it, a certain weight to the words. "Your family is very well-known in our world."