Page 46 of Unseen Eye (Aetherian Chronicles #1)

The next morning, Ingrid’s coffee is hot and strong, but it barely dents the fog clouding my brain.

My skull feels like it’s wrapped in a vise, every heartbeat throbbing through my temples, and even the smallest sound scrapes through my head like metal on stone.

I try to sip my coffee, but my mouth feels like I’ve swallowed dust, dry and raw, Damn alcohol.

And damn Cal—I mean Callon. What he said wasn’t wrong, exactly.

We were both drunk, but I hate myself more for what I let slip.

After hearing Leigh’s stories and the way Garet talked about him, I didn’t know what to expect from Callon. But somehow, it wasn’t this.

I shove those thoughts aside and focus on his words from last night. You would be very easy to fall for. Eight words that looped through my mind all night, haunting my dreams.

“Good morning, sunshine!” Theo’s voice cuts through my haze, his tone far too cheerful as I approach him and the others on the training grounds.

I recognize the familiar faces of Theo’s squad, who’ve become regulars in our training sessions.

There’s Troy, towering with his lean frame and a mane of long auburn hair that rivals mine.

At first glance, he’s easy to overlook, blending into the background with an unassuming air.

But when he’s at your side, his sharp eyes and precise movements demand attention, revealing exactly why he’s their go-to archer.

Axel, red-haired and wielding an axe, reminds me of Emmet, though his wit is a little sharper and his patience significantly thinner.

Dacia, the lone female among them, wears her hair in a braided crown that matches her regal bearing.

She’s a warrior who could have taken on ambassador duties, given her father’s role as an adviser to Drystan, but she chose this path instead.

I give a half-hearted wave, blinking and squinting against the sharp morning light.

“Someone clearly drank too much last night,” Theo says with a smirk, eyeing me as I clutch my coffee like a lifeline.

“How are you so awake? You drank twice as much as I did,” I grumble, wondering how he looks so annoyingly refreshed.

“Secret of the trade,” he says with a wink. “Anyway, thought we’d switch it up. Troy offered to work with you on archery. From what I recall, you could use a little help hitting something other than air.”

“Finally,” I mumble, relieved I won’t be knocked to the ground this morning.

“Don’t celebrate yet.” Theo chuckles. “We’ll keep it short. Izzy wants you to meet her behind the training grounds later.”

“Why?” I ask suspiciously.

“She has an idea, and I wasn’t about to argue.” Theo’s grin tells me he’s only half-joking. “Now, let’s get started.”

We dive into warm-ups, and Theo doesn’t miss a chance to trip me up, sending me sprawling more than once.

“Someone’s a bit distracted today,” he says, far too smug about it.

“Thanks, General Obvious,” I shoot back, borrowing Izzy’s go-to sarcasm. This earns a laugh from the group, including Troy, who smirks behind his bow.

“Hey now,” Theo says, attempting a serious face. “Only my sister is allowed to call me that.” But there’s a softening in his eyes when he glances back at me, a warmth that feels as familiar as family.

Troy’s guidance is patient, his observations quick but always precise.

When I miss, he doesn’t criticize, just adjusts my stance or my aim.

Bit by bit, my shots start landing closer to the center.

It turns out my old bow was the wrong size, and the new one he hands me fits perfectly.

The string pulls back with surprising ease—or maybe I’m just getting that much stronger.

“Good shot,” he murmurs when I finally land an arrow dead-center, his quiet pride somehow more satisfying than any applause.

It turns out Troy’s dedication came from humble roots. Growing up in a small village, archery was the one thing that set him apart, so he poured every ounce of himself into it. I can see that same dedication in every shot he takes, every calm breath before he releases the arrow.

After a while, Theo calls it for the day, tossing me a sack of cheese and dried meat to snack on while we cool down. I lean back, savoring the moment as he joins me, sweat streaking his face after sparring with Axel.

“So,” he says, handing me a water flask. “How are you holding up?”

“To be honest,” I say, stuffing a cube of cheese into my mouth, “I’m finally learning that it’s okay not to know everything. I don’t have to have all the answers. Right now, just dealing with the chaos in front of me is enough. But... I feel in control for once.”

“Good,” Theo says thoughtfully. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re doing great.”

“Thanks, Theo.” I grin, genuinely touched by his words.

He stretches, then says, “I’m sure Cal will be thrilled to hear about your latest self-discovery when he gets back.”

“Gets back?” I repeat.

“Yeah, he left this morning. He’ll be back in a few days, give or take.”

I can’t hide my grin. Coincidence? Maybe last night meant more than I thought.

“Don’t overthink it,” Theo says, as if reading my mind. I shoot him a questioning look, but he just shrugs. “You get the same look Izzy gets when she’s thinking too hard. Typical female.”

I roll my eyes. “Keep talking, and I’ll tell Izzy you said that.”

“Let’s go find her,” he says, chuckling as he claps me on the back.

***

“About time!” Izzy calls from the corner of the field where she’s been waiting, her tone sharp enough to cut through the morning haze.

“Geez, is everyone cranky today?” Theo jokes as we approach, but his grin falters when Izzy shoots him a look that could melt steel. I silently thank the gods I’m not on the receiving end of that one.

“What’s with the change of scenery?” I ask, looking around.

We are behind the castle, outside the stone wall that surrounds it.

The field is lush and green, dotted with wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze.

Trees line the perimeter, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

My heart begins to pound as I unintentionally recall the suffocating memory of Astermiri, and the field they forced me to train on.

Sensing my discomfort, Theo places his hand on my shoulder, a small reminder that I am safe here.

“Today we start training your affinity,” Izzy says, her tone matter-of-fact. “You’ve got control now, and you know how to will your magic, so I figure now’s as good a time as any.”

“So, what should I do?” I ask, bouncing slightly on the balls of my feet, trying not to let my nerves get the best of me. Noticing this, Izzy steps into the field and faces us, her expression all business.

“Watch me,” she says. She begins to move her arms and hands in different directions, sending bursts of wind and air in our direction.

The grass ripples like water beneath the force, and the wildflowers bend and sway, their petals catching the sunlight as they flutter in the breeze.

Next, she shoots a burst of air down and sends herself flying into the air with a leap.

She lands gracefully, her eyes glowing brightly, the energy she wields crackling around her like a living thing.

There’s a raw, untamed power in her movements, and for a moment, I can’t help but feel a little envious.

“Picture your magic running through your veins like you do with lesser magic,” she begins, “but this time, let it consume you. Feel it run through your fingers and will it to take the form of light.”

I watch as Izzy demonstrates again, a gust of air forming in her hand before she sends it streaking across the field, blowing everything in its path. The power she wields is both beautiful and terrifying, and a small part of me wonders if I’ll ever reach that level of mastery.

“Now you try,” she says, stepping back, her eyes still glowing.

“I hope you brought a chair,” I quip, trying to mask my anxiety with sarcasm. “This might take a while.”

I suck in a breath, trying to steady myself.

My hands tremble slightly, but I focus, calling on the magic I’ve felt stirring within me.

At first, it’s just a spark, a warmth deep in my core.

Then it spreads, reaching into my limbs like fire, until every inch of me hums with energy.

I will it forward, letting the rush take hold, and the world outside of me begins to fade.

All I can feel is the pulse of magic moving through my veins—alive, fierce, and endless.

I hear Theo, “Her eyes are glowing...”

“Shh,” Izzy hisses, cutting him off. “Let her focus.”

The pressure builds inside me, and for a split second, it’s too much. Then I remember everything—the anger, the fear, the frustration that’s been torturing at me for so long. I demand it. I force it to bend to my will. And with a shock of power, it answers.

I picture the light beam materializing before me, just like I’ve seen it in my mind a thousand times.

And that’s when I feel it.

A surge. A pulse. And I open my eyes just in time to see the light burst from me, sending a pile of rocks flying into the air.

The shockwave hits me like a punch to the chest, and I stagger back, gasping for air.

Izzy, already reacting, deflects a few rocks with her affinity, sending them spinning off into the distance.

I stand frozen for a moment, staring at the spot where the beam had been. My heart racing in my chest. That was me. I did it. I’m not a failure.

Theo rushes toward me. His face lit up with pure excitement. He spins me around, grinning like a kid who’s just won a game. “Eva, you did it! I knew you could. That was incredible. I’ve never seen anything like that!”

Izzy chimes in, her smile broad and proud. “That power... It’s impressive. You’re strong.” She pauses, eyes glinting with challenge. “But can you do it again?”