As the magical community began to take a keen interest in Michael, subtle tests and veiled inquiries started to manifest in his life. Minor magical mishaps, seemingly random occurrences, would plague Starling City – objects levitating inexplicably, localized weather anomalies, and strange illusions flickering at the edges of perception. While seemingly innocuous, these events were often orchestrated probes, subtle ways for powerful magic users to gauge Michael's abilities and his reaction to the arcane.
One afternoon, while Michael was working with Oliver and Diggle at the Arrowcave, a sudden gust of wind swept through the normally sealed bunker, extinguishing the lights and scattering equipment. "What the hell was that?" Oliver growled, reaching for his bow.
"Felt… magical," Michael murmured, his senses picking up a faint residue of arcane energy.
Before they could react further, the lights flickered back on, and a disembodied voice, smooth as velvet and laced with amusement, echoed through the cave. "Just testing the structural integrity. Impressive shielding, by the way." The voice vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving a bewildered silence in its wake. Michael recognized the subtle magical signature – a hint of sulfur and an ancient, almost languid power. Lucifer.
Another incident involved a series of intricate illusions that briefly enveloped Starling City, transforming buildings into fantastical castles and the sky into a swirling vortex of colors. The illusions were harmless but undeniably powerful, a clear display of arcane mastery. Zatanna, recognizing the complex weave of the magic, identified it as Circe's handiwork, a theatrical calling card designed to pique Michael's interest and showcase her own power.
Michael, though aware of these subtle probes, consciously chose to react with restraint, subtly showcasing his own abilities without revealing their full extent. When objects levitated, he would gently guide them back down with a focused pulse of emerald energy. When illusions flickered, he would subtly disrupt their weave, causing them to dissipate harmlessly. His goal was to demonstrate his control and his awareness of the magical disturbances, subtly signaling that he was not to be trifled with, at least not easily. He understood that a blatant display of power might attract unwanted, and potentially overwhelming, attention. His conversations with Zatanna revolved around identifying the likely culprits behind these probes and strategizing on how to subtly deter further incursions without escalating the situation. He adopted a cautious approach, aware that he was now a player on a much larger, and far more dangerous, magical stage.