The theater’s lights dimmed further, plunging the room into an almost eerie darkness. A single spotlight remained on Elowen and Tim, casting long shadows that seemed to dance with a life of their own. The air buzzed with tension, and the audience watched with bated breath as Elowen’s voice rang out, clear and commanding.
“Tim, you doubt the power of magic,” he intoned, his eyes gleaming with a mysterious light. “Allow me to enlighten you.”
With a dramatic sweep of his arm, Elowen began to chant in a language that sounded ancient and powerful. The words echoed through the theater, and as he spoke, the air around Tim seemed to shimmer and pulse with an otherworldly energy.
Tim’s defiant smirk faltered, replaced by a look of confusion and then fear. He glanced around nervously, his bravado melting away. “What’s happening?” he stammered, but Elowen continued his incantation, his voice rising in intensity.
Suddenly, Tim gasped as he felt a strange sensation coursing through his body. His skin tingled, and he looked down in horror as his feet began to stretch, growing larger before his very eyes. His sneakers creaked under the strain, the laces snapping one by one.
“What the—” Tim’s voice cracked, panic rising as he realized his entire body was expanding. His legs lengthened, muscles bulging and straining against the fabric of his jeans, which quickly became too tight. The seams groaned and split, the denim ripping apart with a loud tear.
The audience gasped, a mixture of awe and fear spreading through the crowd. Tim’s friends, wide-eyed and pale, clutched each other, unable to comprehend what was happening to their friend.
Tim’s torso followed suit, his hoodie stretching taut across his chest and shoulders. The fabric strained, threads popping and splitting as his arms thickened, becoming more muscular with each passing second. His sleeves rose up his arms, tightening painfully before they too ripped apart, the hoodie shredding under the relentless growth.
“Stop! Please, stop!” Tim pleaded, his voice a booming echo in the vast theater. His eyes were wide with terror, and sweat poured down his face as he continued to grow. His t-shirt, now far too small, rode up his expanding frame, exposing his midriff before it too succumbed to the pressure and tore in multiple places.
Elowen’s chant grew louder, his eyes fixed on Tim with an almost otherworldly intensity. The boy’s growth showed no signs of stopping. His head brushed the ornate ceiling, his neck craning awkwardly as he hunched over to avoid causing more damage.
Tim’s shoes finally gave way, exploding off his feet with a loud snap, the leather and rubber scattering across the stage. His pants, now mere shreds of fabric, hung loosely around his massive legs, barely clinging to his frame.
“Please! I’m begging you!” Tim’s voice, now a deep, resonant bellow, echoed with genuine fear. His friends were huddled together, tears streaming down their faces as they watched their friend transform into a giant.
The theater creaked ominously, the weight and size of Tim threatening to overwhelm the structure. He hunched over as best he could, trying not to cause further destruction, but his sheer size made it difficult. His hands, now enormous, clutched at the remnants of his clothes, futilely trying to cover himself.
Elowen’s chant finally ceased, the last words hanging in the air like a final, ominous note. The magician looked at Tim, his face inscrutable. “Do you believe now, Tim?” he asked softly, his voice carrying a dangerous edge.
Tim, trembling and terrified, nodded frantically. “Yes! Yes, I believe! Please, make it stop!”
Elowen studied him for a long moment, the theater deathly silent except for Tim’s heavy breathing. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the magician spoke a single word, and the shimmering aura around Tim began to fade.
Slowly, agonizingly, Tim’s growth halted. He remained hunched over, his immense frame dwarfing the stage and the terrified audience. The magic had left its mark, and as Tim struggled to comprehend what had just happened, the audience erupted into a cacophony of whispers and gasps.
Elowen turned to the crowd, his face composed and calm. “Let this be a lesson to all who doubt the power of magic,” he said, his voice resonating with authority. “Sometimes, belief is all that stands between us and the extraordinary.”
With that, the magician bowed deeply, the spotlight dimming until only darkness remained.