Page 33 of Unseen Eye (Aetherian Chronicles #1)

When I come to, I find myself in a different bedroom. “Not this again,” I mutter, the déjà vu hitting me like a ton of bricks. Not a minute later, Izzy enters with a pile of clean clothes, and still wearing the same outfit from before, a clear sign we haven’t been here long.

“Oh, you’re up sooner than I thought,” she says, surprised. “I figured you’d be out for a while.”

“What happened?” I ask, sitting up slowly and rubbing my temples. My head still feels like it’s spinning.

“Callon blinked,” Izzy explains casually, as if that’s supposed to clear everything up.

She then adds, “It’s teleporting. You think of where you want to go, let your magic flow, and—bam!

—you’re there. Not everyone can do it. For those who can, it’s handy.

For the rest of us, it can be overwhelming and might make you faint. ”

I let that sink in, imagining Callon casually thinking about us in another room while I apparently blacked out. “So, Callon just… thought of this place, and poof, we’re here?” I mime a little ‘disappearing act’ with my hands.

Izzy nods, smirking. “Pretty much. Sounds simple, but it takes a lot of control. Callon’s one of the few who can manage it without breaking a sweat.”

That must be how Garet got me to Astermiri so quickly. I glance around the room, noting the inviting, elegant touches: light-colored wood, deep-blue accents, a quilt of blue and silver on the bed. Compared to the cold, formal room in Astermiri, this place feels… warm. Comfortable.

“Where’s Callon now?” I ask, feeling a hint of disappointment that he’s not here when I wake up.

Izzy raises an eyebrow, a glint of amusement in her eyes. “Probably with his father, dealing with the aftermath. Do us both a favor and avoid Drystan for now. Let Callon handle him.”

Before I can stop myself, I blurt, “How long have you two been together?”

Izzy’s eyes go wide before she bursts into laughter, like I’ve just told the best joke of the night. “He’s my cousin.”

“Oh.” Heat rushes to my face. “I… didn’t know.”

She’s still chuckling, wiping away a tear. “Yeah, he’s definitely not my type. But thanks for the laugh—I needed it after tonight.”

“Glad I could entertain,” I mumble, somewhere between mortified and… relieved?

She shoots me a warm smile. “Get changed and come downstairs when you’re ready. We have a lot to talk about.”

I blink at her, surprised. “What, you’re letting me walk down the stairs by myself?”

Izzy gives me a look, like I’ve grown a second head. “Yes?” she says, as if it’s obvious. “Second door on the left.”

***

I pull on a simple sweater and leathers, then head down the stairs.

The difference between here and Astermiri becomes impossible to ignore.

The staircase, with its broad steps and sturdy stone railings, feels more utilitarian—built for durability and defense rather than comfort.

The walls are thick with cold stone, and the narrow windows resemble arrow slits, designed to repel invaders rather than invite light.

The very architecture of the place speaks of purpose over elegance, each corner and alcove seeming to serve a strategic function.

Outside, night has fully settled in, the darkness thick and heavy, with only the dim glow of lanterns pushing back against the shadows in the hallway. When I open the door, I find myself standing in what looks like a war room.

In the center is a large, worn table, surrounded by mismatched chairs that look like they’ve seen their fair share of arguments.

On one corner of the table, there’s a model of a castle, its walls intricately detailed.

The ceiling above is a masterpiece—a map of all Aetheria, showing the five kingdoms in exquisite detail.

Even Pinebrook is marked, making me smile at the sight of it

Bookcases line the walls, filled with weathered books. Dust and the occasional cobweb cling to the shelves. Papers are scattered across the table and some having drifted to the floor.

The far wall is lined with weaponry—daggers, short swords, and bows in varying stages of wear.

No one else has arrived yet, so I let myself drift toward the shelves, trailing a finger along the dusty book spines.

“Some things never change,” I mutter, feeling a familiar tug of curiosity.

Each volume seems to hold stories or secrets, just waiting.

One book catches my eye—a tale about Valtris, who, as it turns out, was legendary for his appetite for wine and indulgences. Even gods, it seems, have their weaknesses. I’m halfway through the story when the door flies open, jolting me from my thoughts.

Two figures storm into the room, mid-argument.

Izzy, now dressed in leathers like mine, is visibly frustrated, her hands flailing as though they’ll help make her point.

Her brows are furrowed deeply, and she’s practically vibrating with frustration.

Beside her stands a man I haven’t seen before, taller, with broad shoulders and a buzz cut so short I can’t tell his hair color.

A bold, eagle-like tattoo stretches across the side of his neck.

The resemblance is too strong to miss, like someone took Izzy’s features and squared them off.

“You know as well as I do, Izzy, that was reckless,” he says, crossing his arms in that universal “I’m-not-budging” way.

Izzy throws her hands up, exasperated. “Reckless? Waiting around for them to strike first is reckless. We need to hit them now, before they think they’ve got the upper hand.”

He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “Charging in without a plan? That’s a good way to get killed. What if they’re waiting with reinforcements?”

Izzy shakes her head, her voice rising in frustration. “We can’t sit here second-guessing ourselves. We have an advantage. We act now.”

They both finally notice me standing by the bookshelves, and their argument grinds to a halt.

Izzy smirks. “You change fast,” she says, gesturing at my outfit.

Then, turning back to the man, she adds, “Eva, meet Theo. And before you ask, he’s not my boyfriend—he’s my twin.

” She winks at me. “And, for the record, he’s single. ”

Theo mutters something under his breath, rolling his eyes. “I don’t even want to know,” he says, offering me a hand. “Nice to meet you, Eva. I’ve heard… plenty about you in the past hour,” he chuckles.

“Hi,” I reply, meeting his gaze and trying to match his light.

“Now, let’s get down to business,” Izzy declares, moving to grab a parchment roll—a smaller version of the map on the ceiling. She unrolls it on the large table, gesturing for us to come closer.

Theo pauses. “Shouldn’t we wait for Cal?” he asks, glancing toward the door.

“No,” Izzy replies in a tone that leaves no room for argument. “Who knows how long he’ll be? Besides, it’s been a hell of a day, and I’m ready for bed.”

Izzy points to a spot on the map. “We’re here, in Coire,” she says, tracing a path with her finger. “Astermiri’s to the west, Catalpa to the east, Providence to the south, Skorda to the north... and just beyond Skorda, Soala—a large island off Catalpa’s northern shores.”

I lean in, studying the map more closely.

Unlike the one Leigh showed me, this map covers all Aetheria, revealing the entire realm beyond just Astermiri.

The mountains, rivers, and fjords crossing the kingdoms catch my eye, their names somehow familiar, as if I’ve heard them whispered in dreams. Coire stands out, the largest by far, sprawling at the realm’s center.

Skorda’s outline resembles a tree, its branches spreading into different landmasses.

“Any questions?” Izzy asks, glancing up briefly. I open my mouth, but she cuts me off. “No? Great, let’s move on.” Theo hides a laugh with a cough, and when I glance at him, he just shrugs—he must be used to this routine.

“As you know, the gods placed five gates across the realm—one per kingdom. With five levels of the Abyss, five gates were needed. No kingdom could hold more than one gate, and initially, they refused to place one in Providence because of the ‘humans’ issue. But after the Great War, they had no choice. So they warded it heavily to cut off magic and keep our world separate from yours.” She gives me a pointed look.

“Given your little incident with Cal the other day, I’d say those wards are slipping. ”

A chill runs through me. “You know?” I blurt, just as Theo demands, “What incident?”

“Of course I know,” Izzy replies with a smirk, directing her comment at Theo. “Why do you think he’s been in such a foul mood lately?”

Theo mutters, shaking his head, “Fucking Cal and his secrets. You have a lot of explaining to do.”

“Take it up with Cal, not me,” Izzy says, raising her hands in mock innocence. “If you don’t know what questions to ask, that’s hardly my problem. Guess that’s why you’re a general and not an ambassador.” She snaps her attention back to the map, flicking her braid in Theo’s face.

“Anyway, after the gates were set and darkness was locked away, the kingdoms went to war over ridiculous things like land and who should rule in the gods’ place. Eventually, everyone got over it… blah, blah, blah.”

“Wow, thanks for the thorough history lesson,” Theo says, laughing. “I’m really feeling enlightened.”

“Shut up,” Izzy retorts. “You want to take over?”

“Can’t be worse than your version,” Theo says, nudging her aside and grinning as she smacks his arm.

“As Izzy was attempting to explain, when the gods vanished, lesser gods saw it as an opening to seize power. Most battles took place within each kingdom, not between them. For example, the lesser gods—those without the Divinities bloodline—and their followers tried challenging Drystan for the throne. He made sure they became an example.”

I hesitate, my gaze drifting to the northern edge of the map. “What’s left of Soala now?” I ask softly.

The room falls silent, and Izzy’s face darkens.