Chapter 14

Callum's eyes snapped open. Something was wrong: very wrong.

He had been dozing fitfully by the embers of their small campfire. Just as he thought he might be getting off to sleep a strange feeling of emptiness roused him from his slumber.

Across the camp, Lena sat bolt upright. She glanced round the camp until her eyes finally settled on Callum.

"What on earth was that?"

"I don't know." Callum's face was etched with concern. "How do you feel?"

"Strange" Lena replied, "It almost feels as if I'm floating outside of my body, but I'm not I know I'm not. Does that seem strange to you?"

"It would if I didn't feel the same way myself," Callum said with a frown. "It's almost like a part of me is missing. I can think of no better way to explain it."

At the sound of his friends' voices, Aaron strode over from where he had been sitting on watch. "What's all this commotion then you two? What's up?"

"Well we're not sure," Lena said as he sat down next to her. She reached for his hand. "You didn't feel anything by any chance, did you?"

Aaron shook his head, "No, why?"

"Something's wrong and whatever it is it just sent a major shockwave through the magical plain."

"And yet it clearly wasn't strong enough for Aaron to be affected," Callum mused.

"Perhaps he just hasn't felt it yet?" Lena suggested. "Either way something big just happened. If even only a small portion of what the Seer said is true then this can only be the beginning."

Callum sighed and shook his head in disbelief. "First Phae and now this"He shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know about the rest of you but I'm not sure I'm going to be able to get much more sleep tonight. You can get some rest if you want Aaron I don't mind taking your watch."

Aaron nodded appreciatively and settled down close to the smouldering embers. Beside him, Lena hugged her knees tightly to her chest.

Whatever had just happened, Callum didn't think any magic user would be able to sleep now

The remainder of the night passed slowly for Callum and Lena who both shared equally in the distinct feeling of loss that had settled upon them. As the first rays of dawn finally started to creep over the horizon, they were both relieved to make ready for another day of travel.

Aaron complained bitterly as Lena did her best to rouse him.

"Is it that time already?" he yawned, "Make yourself useful and start on breakfast would you Callum? I don't know about the rest of you but I"

Suddenly he cut himself short. "What in the blazes?!"

Lena looked concerned. "What is it?"

"My sight: it's"

"What?"

"Faded."

"Faded?" It was Callum's turn to look concerned. "What's wrong with it?"

Aaron sat up and rubbed his eyes. His expression changed for the worse. "I don't know. The world looks different somehow the colours are changed. It's hard to explain."

Callum looked to Lena. "Do you think this has anything to do with what happened last night?"

"It has to," she nodded and turned to face Aaron. "But the question is, why didn't you notice the change last night when we did?"

Aaron shrugged, "Well it's not always light in my world you know. The world changes at night just as it does for you. Perhaps," he said thoughtfully, "perhaps whatever it was that happened took a while to have an effect."

They paused as they each gathered their thoughts. Finally, Lena spoke. "Well whatever the cause of this change in magic we need to get to the bottom of it and soon," she said. "As if there wasn't reason enough to find Phae this whole situation makes things twice as urgent. As soon as we've eaten, I think it's a good idea we set off straight away."

They all nodded their agreement.