Page 77 of Unseen Eye
“Do you think every one of them is real?” My mind spins at the possibility.
“I’d bet on it,” Callon says, his voice filled with conviction. “Or at least, the vast majority of them. I knew I recognized some ofthe descriptions, but I wasn’t looking at it from the right angle.”
Izzy sighs, dropping into the chair nearest to Callon. She takes the journal from his hands and flips it open. “It’s going to be a long night.”
We spend the rest of the evening and most of the night poring over every entry in my journal. Theo grabs a corkboard, pinning our notes and cross-references to organize the information. The connections between the names, locations, and events are mind-blowing.
For example, “Coire” turns out to be an old name— “Coirennan,” meaning “victorious,” used before the Reckoning. The Reckoning was a cataclysmic event that shattered the world’s balance, diminishing the gods’ power and transforming their realms.
Izzy finds an ancient book in the war room revealing that “Galaris,” mentioned in the journal, was a significant pre-war city, its destruction aligning with what we know about the Reckoning. The city’s disappearance from maps now makes sense.
One intriguing revelation is about the Land of Trees. The journal hints at secret tunnels beneath the forest. This immediately makes us think of Skorda, but there’s no concrete evidence or historical record to confirm the existence of them.
As we piece together the fragments, the history becomes clearer. The shifting names and forgotten cities reveal a deeper, more intricate picture of the world and its hidden truths.
“So drakos, they’re real—” I start to say, but Izzy cuts me off.
“Yes, they’re real! Extinct, but real nonetheless. Seriously, every damn time?”
However, it’s the dream I had one of my last nights in Pinebrook, that leaves me with more questions than answers. “Who is that woman?” I ask Callon again, the uncertainty in my voice cutting through the silence. He’s still rereading thepassage, eyes narrowing as if searching for something hidden between the lines.
The woman from countless dreams, etched into my mind—tall, with a commanding presence. Her dark waves cascading down her back like they held a power of their own. She didn’t resemble any of the gods we’ve read about, none of the familiar statues or stories we’ve studied. Yet there’s something about her that unnerves me, like she holds the key to something important, something I’m not ready to face.
“I think,” Callon starts, causing me to look at him, “I think that’s Kora, the last Queen of Catalpa.” His face goes pale, as if the realization has hit him hard.
“Irisa’s daughter?” I ask. The name sounds familiar from some of the history books I managed to read in Astermiri.
“Yes, I think you had a vision about the night Catalpa fell,” he says slowly. “Look,” he points to a section of the entry, “you mention creatures coming out of a gate. This is the night the gate were opened.”
“But why would Kora have salts, and even a skull? What was she up to?” Theo asks, his voice tense with curiosity.
“Was that how the gates were opened?” Izzy exclaims, standing up and beginning to pace. “We always suspected she was dabbling in dark magic, but this might explain everything.” She turns to me. “Did you ever have any other dreams about her?”
“Yes,” I answer, but another thought hits me. “When did Catalpa fall?”
“Twenty-three years ago.”
I inhale sharply. No, it can’t be... “But when?” I press. “What time of year?”
“The fall equinox” Callon replies.
It can’t be a coincidence... My face pales as a chill spreads through me, my legs feeling suddenly heavy as I start to pacedespite the weight.
“Why? What are you thinking?” Callon comes to stand next to me, concern etched on his features.
“That’s my birthday...” I manage to say, watching their faces as they absorb this revelation.
“Why didn’t you mention you were born on the equinox?” Izzy asks skeptically.
I shrug, feeling a mix of disbelief and anxiety. “It never seemed important, but that has to just be a coincidence, right?” My eyes dart between Callon and Izzy. Theo, once again, is refilling his empty glass.
Izzy and Callon exchange a look, one that tells me they think it’s anything but a mere coincidence.
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that less than a week after you show up here, a Fate appears for the first time in centuries. You were born on the day Catalpa fell. On top of that, you just happen to be a light wielder and a seer.”
I shrug, causing him to raise an eyebrow. “You’re awfully calm about all this,” he challenges.
Theo walks back with a drink in his hand that I don’t think twice about taking from him, causing him to roll his eyes. “It’s always me,” he mutters as he walks back to the corner. “If I was Cal, no one would think twice about taking my drink.”
