Page 109 of Unseen Eye
I can do this.
Instead of thinking back to Kendrys’ lectures on speed and agility, I focus on all the lessons with Theo—the constant corrections, the pointers. I think of Izzy, her lessons on summoning my affinity and shifting it into different forms and shapes. Regardless of being alone in this battle, I know I am far from it. I am determined, focused, and above all, ready to protect my home and the people I love.
I let my light surge forward, bending it to my will, shaping it into a sword. The warmth fills me, and more swords materialize around me, each one glowing.
The warden hesitates for the first time, his eyes narrowing ashe realizes what’s happening. With a flick of my wrist, I send the first sword flying at him. It streaks through the air, radiant and deadly, embedding itself in the joint of his armor with a satisfying sizzle. He howls in pain, but I’m not done.
Sword after sword appears, each one slicing through the air, each one finding its mark. His thigh, his abdomen—he’s a walking pincushion of light. His movements slow as the swords pin him down, but he’s still trying to fight, swinging that massive axe in a futile attempt to dislodge them.
Blood trickles from his wounds, dark and sluggish against the glowing light of my blades.
Gathering what power I have left, I summon one final sword, larger than the others. I feel the warmth of blood running from my nose, and I know I’m close to burning out, but I can’t stop now. With a fierce cry, I send the last sword bellowing toward his chest.
The light pierces him clean through, sinking deep into bone and flesh. His scream is gut-wrenching. His body spasming as the light sears him from the inside out. He falls to his knees, the fight leaving him. His axe slips from his grip, and his eyes dim. He collapses, lifeless, the glowing swords sticking out of his body disappearing.
Breathing hard, I wipe the blood from my face and can’t resist a grin as I walk over to his corpse. “Told you I didn’t need a sword.”
Cal finally reaches me, a matching grin on his face. “Remind me never to piss you off.”
“Just now figuring that out, are you?” I joke, already turning my focus back to the chaos of the battlefield.
As if sensing the loss of their commander, the remaining hellhounds and their handlers begin to falter. Theo and Axel rally the troops, cutting down the remaining enemies.
Cal and I join the fray, moving together with practiced ease,our strikes in perfect sync. I send beams of light toward the hellhounds, their dark forms disintegrating under the intense brightness. Cal’s sword flashes, cutting down handlers left and right, his strength seemingly endless. But with every burst of light I summon, I feel the drain of energy weighing heavier on me.
Cal must notice, because between swings, he glances at me sharply. “You’re close to a burnout,” he says, his voice tense. “You need to stop.”
I swipe the blood from my nose, shaking off the warning. “I’m fine.”
His eyes narrow. “Don’t be stubborn. You’ve already done enough. Let us handle the rest.”
But I won’t sit this one out, not when we’re so close. “I’m finishing this,” I insist, turning back to the battlefield.
With a frustrated sigh, Cal mutters something under his breath, probably cursing my recklessness, but doesn’t push it further. I can feel the strain pulling at my bones, the burn of exhaustion creeping in, but I ignore it. There’s no time for that now.
Every swing of Cal’s sword is deadly, and every beam of light I throw disintegrates the creatures before they can even get close. My muscles scream in protest, the edge of burnout nagging at me, but I push through it.
Slowly but surely, the last hellhound falls. Its handler taken down by a precise strike from Theo. The villagers let out a triumphant cheer, their voices echoing through the trees. The enemy forces are defeated, their bodies littering the ground.
Breathing heavily, I wipe the blood from my face, barely holding back a smile. “We did it,” I say, the exhaustion and triumph clear in my voice.
Cal comes to my side, his eyes flicking over me with concern. “Yeah, you did,” he replies, shaking his head. “But you need to bemore careful.”
I shrug, still riding the high of victory. “Maybe next time,” I tease, though deep down, I know he’s right.
Chapter Thirty
We spend the rest of the day—and well into the night—cleaning up, burning bodies, and tending to the wounded. The cost of victory weighs heavily, with over three dozen lives lost. Each death feels like a personal tragedy. Cal takes the time to speak with every grieving family, offering them aid and whatever comfort he can provide.
By the time we find ourselves at the pub, alcohol is more than just wanted—it’s needed. Scratch that, after the last two days, it’s practically medicinal. I collapse into a chair, feeling the exhaustion set in. I could probably count the hours of sleep I’ve had on one hand.
Izzy, already several drinks in, tries to focus on us, though her finger wavers in the wrong direction. “What I wanna know,” she slurs, “is where the hell were you two when all this started?”
I glance at Cal and feel the heat rise to my cheeks. The Waters of Truth, his confession—it feels like it happened a lifetime ago, not hours. He’s watching me, waiting for me to respond. I raise my glass, trying to suppress a smile. “We took a field trip,” I say, spilling a bit of my drink in the process. No need to dive into everything right now.
Theo, however, isn’t as easily distracted. “Really? That’s the question? How about how the hell they found us here in the first place?” He looks directly at Cal. “There’s no way they just stumbled upon this place, right?”
Cal’s tone is dry, but there’s a hint of tired amusement. “After all these years, you’re just now questioning it? No, they didn’t trace it here through normal means. We’ve been careful. The shield’s been up.” His voice grows serious. “It’s possible there’s a traitor. Or… they found another way.”
