Welcome to the Innocent World

Afa's lips curled into a sly smirk, and her eyes gleamed with a secret she was dying to spill. She tilted her head toward Alaric, her voice smooth and teasing. "I wonder what kind of face he'll make once he gets to know about you and your powers, my lord."

I rolled my eyes, letting out a loud yawn that echoed off the cage walls. "What are you two up to? Just do it fast so I can get outta here. This place is boring me to death." I wasn't lying—the whole setup was starting to feel like a bad play, and I was ready for the curtain to drop.

Afa's smirk widened, but Alaric didn't even glance at me. Instead, he let out a low, guttural chuckle that made the hairs on my neck stand up.

"Ehehehe... I guess it's about time," he growled, his voice like gravel scraping against stone. Then something weird happened. His red aura, this pulsing, angry energy that had been radiating off him like heat from a furnace, started to pull inward. It was like watching a storm cloud collapse into itself. His massive frame began to shrink, slowly at first, then faster, his muscles tightening, his height dropping. The cage's glow seemed to flicker in response, as if it was tied to whatever he was doing.

I leaned forward, squinting through the bars. "What's happening to him?" I muttered under my breath, my hands gripping the cold metal. Lyra shifted behind me, her shoulder brushing mine as she peered out, her voice calm but curious. "Did he just get... smaller? More human-looking?"

She wasn't wrong. Alaric's monstrous form was changing right in front of us. His hulking body slimmed down, his gray skin taking on a paler, almost human tone, though it still had that eerie, otherworldly vibe. His nails, still sharp as knives, looked even deadlier on his now human-sized hands. He stood up from his throne, moving with a kind of grace that didn't match the beast he'd been a minute ago.

Afa stepped closer to him, and he slid his hand around her waist, pulling her in like they were about to dance or something. His face had changed too—sharper, more chiseled, with high cheekbones and a jawline that looked like it could cut glass. His eyes were still red, but now they had a cold, predatory glint, like a vampire sizing up its next meal.

Afa turned to face me, her smirk practically screaming trouble. "Don't worry, Austin. You'll know soon enough," she said, her voice dripping with confidence. She stood in front of Alaric now, her back to him, her eyes locked on mine through the bars. There was something in her gaze—part challenge, part amusement, like she was waiting for me to figure out a puzzle I didn't even know I was playing.

I couldn't help myself. A grin spread across my face, and I leaned against the bars, crossing my arms.

"Ohho, so you got a little handsome, huh?" I said, my voice loud enough to carry. "Still looks ugly, though." Lyra snorted behind me, trying to hide her laugh, but I could tell she was eating this up.

"Hehe… Leader of Shadow Mystics: Zero," Alaric said, his voice deep and heavy, like thunder rolling in the distance. "Witness what gives me strength."

Afa's smirk widened, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh, this is gonna be good," she purred, her fingers moving to the buttons of her white shurt.

She undid them slowly, one by one, her movements deliberate, like she was savoring the moment. The fabric parted, revealing bare skin—she wasn't wearing anything underneath. My jaw tightened, not because of her boldness, but because the air around her seemed to hum, like some kind of power was building.

"What the hell are they up to?" I muttered, my voice barely audible over the low buzz in the cage. My heart was starting to race, a bad feeling creeping up my spine.

Alaric's hand slid up Afa's side, his sharp nails grazing her skin as he groped her boobs, massaging her soft mounts with slow, deliberate movements. He leaned in closer, his lips brushing her ear, his red eyes still fixed on me. That smug smile of his widened, like he was daring me to say something, to react.

Afa tilted her head back, letting out a soft, teasing giggle that echoed in the chamber.

"Don't tell me…" I said, my eyes widening as the truth started to hit me like a freight train. My stomach twisted, a cold sweat breaking out on my forehead. "It's…"

Before I could finish, Alaric's other hand moved lower, slipping under the hem of Afa's mini skirt. His fingers rubbed her pussy beneath the fabric, moving between her legs, and Afa's giggle turned into a breathy moan. She shifted her hips, leaning into his touch, her eyes half-lidded but still locked on me, like she was enjoying my shock as much as Alaric's hands.

He leaned down, his lips grazing her neck, kissing it with a slow, heated smooch that sent a ripple of energy through the air. His red aura flared brighter, denser, heavier, like a storm cloud swelling with power. The cage's glow flickered wildly, struggling to keep up with the surge of energy pouring off him.

"What happened, Austin?" Lyra's voice cut through the haze, sharp and a little pissed. She stepped closer, her shoulder bumping mine as she stared out at them. "They're just making out, and you're staring like you saw a freaking ghost. What's wrong with you?"

I barely registered her words. My eyes were glued to Alaric and Afa, my throat tight as I swallowed hard. The way his aura pulsed, growing stronger with every touch, every kiss—it was too familiar.

"It's the same power as mine…" I said, my voice louder than I meant, ringing off the cage walls.

Lyra's head snapped toward me, her eyes wide with shock. "Wait, what? You're saying his power is like yours?"