Page 31 of Unseen Eye (Aetherian Chronicles #1)

The warden’s sword is a void, absorbing the light around it and crackling with an unnerving energy.

Izzy’s voice is low, almost fearful. “He’s got his eyes on you, Eva.”

I glance at the warden, who moves with unerring purpose. His gaze locks on me as if I’m the only thing on this battlefield.

“Get away from here, now!” Callon commands, stepping between me and the warden. His tone leaves no room for argument.

I start to protest, but Callon interrupts, his expression deadly serious. “Eva, listen to me. I know you can fight. You’ve proven that. But this… this is different.”

He glances back at the warden, who continues his relentless advance. “Wardens are rare, and they’re powerful. You need strong magic to defeat them—magic you can’t control yet. But you will. In time.”

Izzy, her usual humor gone, looks at Callon with concern. “Don’t burn yourself out, Cal. You’ve already used a lot of magic.”

Callon nods, then his gaze softens as he looks at me. “I’m not telling you not to fight. Just not him. Not yet.” He tries to lighten the moment with a wry smile. “Next time we see a warden, he’s all yours. I promise.”

His words, especially the “we,” send a strange flutter through my chest. For a moment, it feels like he sees right through me, sensing my anxiety. I nod, swallowing hard.

“Be careful, Callon,” my voice steady despite the fear thrumming through me. “And next time, he’s definitely mine.”

Callon offers a tight, reassuring smile. “Always. Now go.”

As I turn to move away, I catch Izzy watching us, her eyes narrowing slightly, as if she’s piecing something together. There’s a flicker of curiosity in her gaze, as though she’s seeing something in Callon that hadn’t been clear before.

Glancing back at Callon, I see him stepping toward the shadow warden, his expression shifting to one of cold indifference. His eyes are calculating, every move measured as he assesses his opponent with the precision of a seasoned warrior.

The air crackles with tension as the battle begins. The warden strikes first, sweeping his hand to summon tendrils of dark magic that snake toward Callon with alarming speed, leaving trails of inky blackness in their wake.

Callon responds with equal ferocity, drawing upon his affinity. Energy pulses through him as he channels the aether, summoning a torrent of aethereal light that clashes brilliantly against the warden’s darkness. The forces collide, sending shockwaves through the battlefield.

The warden’s lips curl into a twisted smile. “What an honor to face the prince himself,” he taunts, his voice a deep rumble that cuts through the chaos. “But you are not the one I seek. It’s the girl I need.”

Callon’s jaw tightens. “Humor me and explain why. Who needs her?” he demands, sending another wave of aether toward the warden.

The warden effortlessly deflects the attack with a flick of his wrist, his smile widening. “If you don’t know, then you clearly don’t understand what’s at play. Now, give me the girl.”

“Never,” Callon declares, ending the discussion. He charges forward, their swords meeting with a resounding clang, sparks fly with each clash. The warden relentlessly hurls dark magic, but Callon stands firm, redirecting the energy into bursts of aether.

Magic and steel intertwine as the battle reaches a fever pitch.

Callon’s sword glows with raw energy, channeling the power of ley lines beneath the earth.

With a fierce swing, he drives earthen spikes up from the ground, jagged and deadly, aiming directly for the warden.

But the warden is ready. A wall of shadow springs up before him, the spikes shattering against it in a burst of dirt and stone.

The warden retaliates, launching black tendrils of shadow that lash out like whips. Callon dives and rolls, narrowly avoiding them as they crack the ground where he stood moments ago.

Callon springs to his feet, and the air hums with energy as he draws deeper from the aether.

His sword pulses with light, slashing it in a wide arc, sending a crescent-shaped wave of pure energy hurtling toward the warden.

The attack tears through the battlefield, but the warden raises his hand, forming a dark barrier.

The energy crashes against it, shattering like glass against the impenetrable shield.

Then, in the blink of an eye, the warden closes the gap, moving with unnatural speed, his blade aimed directly at Callon’s chest.

Around me, the earth shakes with the force of their fight.

I can barely focus on the enemies in front of me, cutting down hellhounds almost mechanically as my attention is drawn to the duel.

Callon’s eyes, once a faint glow, now blaze with an intensity I’ve never seen.

He’s fighting like a man possessed—determined, relentless.

Garet, nearby, slashes through a darkling, his usual calm cracking as he watches Callon’s fight unfold.

His grip tightens on his sword, his attention, like mine, torn between his own battle and the duel.

Even Izzy, fighting at my side, can’t help but glance at them.

“He’s such a showoff,” she mutters through clenched teeth as she impales a hellhound.

Despite her frustration, there’s a hint of pride in her voice.

I glance toward Leigh—she’s darting between the wounded, hands glowing as she heals and mends the fallen. Even she looks up from her work, eyes drawn to the intensity of the fight.

Callon and the warden clash again, their blades ringing out like thunder. Each strike felt throughout the battlefield, shaking the ground beneath us. Callon’s glowing irises are locked onto his opponent, his voice steady as he snarls, “You’ll never touch her.”

The warden’s lips curl into a sneer. “We shall see,” he hisses, dripping menace with every word. He breaks the stalemate, sweeping low with his blade, forcing Callon to leap back to avoid a strike meant to sever his legs.

Without missing a beat, Callon slams his hand into the earth.

A fissure erupts beneath the warden’s feet, the ground splitting apart and threatening to swallow him whole.

But the warden leaps into the air, twisting in mid-flight as he hurls a ball of dark energy at Callon.

The orb seethes with shadow, but Callon raises a shimmering barrier of aether, deflecting it.

The two forces collide in mid-air, exploding with a blast of raw power that sends a shock rippling outward.

The battlefield holds its breath.

As the dust settles, Callon charges forward, his sword and aether working in perfect harmony. He delivers a flurry of rapid strikes, each one infused with energy.

With a final, desperate push, Callon channels all his remaining energy into one last devastating attack.

His sword glowing so brightly it’s blinding.

He swings down with all his strength, aiming for the warden’s heart.

The warden raises his blade to block, but the sheer force of Callon’s strike is unstoppable.

The dark sword shatters, shards of metal flying in all directions.

The warden staggers back, eyes wide with shock and fury. Before he can react, Callon releases a blast of energy, slamming into the warden and sending him crashing to the ground.

Breathing hard, Callon stands over him, sword still glowing with residual power. The warden, his form flickering, begins to dissipate into shadow, his voice a low, venomous growl. “This isn’t over,” he snarls, eyes burning with hatred. “He will have the girl.”