Chapter 38

SWYN

The air crackles with tension as I stand at the edge of the wards, staring out into the darkness beyond the house. My ancestral home—it feels more like a fortress now, the last stronghold against the storm that's coming.

The wards are pulsing beneath my skin, vibrating with the strain of holding something terrible at bay. The night is unnaturally still, like the earth itself is holding its breath, waiting for the inevitable clash.

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to focus, to prepare. Everything feels off-balance, as if the world is shifting underfoot, and it's hard to stay grounded.

My magic hums just beneath the surface, restless and eager, but I need to control it, to use it wisely. This is the calm before the storm, and I have to be ready.

The others are scattered around the room, each one preparing in their own way. I know Kel is reinforcing the wards, Sol and Ri are checking the perimeter, and Oland—he's nearby, watching me, always.

His presence is tangible even when I don't see him. It's like he's become my shadow, never far, his energy mixing with mine in ways I'm still getting used to.

But it's Mavis who I'm focused on now. She stands beside me, her eyes sharp as she scans the horizon. She doesn't say much, but the weight of her silence speaks volumes.

This is it. We're out of time.

"Morfran's here," I say, my voice low, but steady. It's not a question, just a fact. I can feel him, like a dark stain spreading across the land, pushing at the edges of the wards, testing them.

Mavis nods, her lips pressed into a thin line. "He's been biding his time, gathering strength. But he's getting impatient now. The bond cementing between you and Oland rattled him."

She glances at me, her gaze softening for just a moment. "He knows you're unlocking something ancient, something powerful. That's why he's coming."

I swallow hard, my throat tight. "Aether magic."

"Yes. Elias saw this coming, you know. The balance of power is shifting, and you're at the centre of it, Swyn. The curse was never just about your family—it's about controlling the flow of magic itself."

My stomach clenches at the weight of her words. I've always known this curse was bigger than me, but hearing it laid out like that—it feels suffocating.

But there's no room for fear now. I don't have the luxury of running anymore.

"I don't know if I can control it," I admit, my voice barely a whisper. "It's too much."

"You can," Mavis says firmly. "You will . You've already proven that you're stronger than you think."

I nod, but the doubt lingers. The power inside me is swirling like a storm, but controlling it? That's another matter entirely. Every time I try to harness it, it's like grabbing smoke, slipping through my fingers before I can shape it into anything useful.

A sudden gust of wind whips through the trees, and there's a sharp tug at the wards. My heart skips a beat. He's testing them again, stronger this time. The wards hold, but just barely.

"He's getting through," I murmur, panic rising in my chest.

"Not yet," Mavis replies, but there's an edge to her voice. She knows it too. It's only a matter of time.

The ground beneath my feet trembles, and a low, ominous rumble echoes through the air. I look to the horizon, where the darkness seems to ripple and twist, like shadows coming to life.

Morfran is here.

I turn to Mavis, my pulse racing. "We need to?—"

Before I can finish, the wards crackle, a sharp burst of energy rippling through the air. I feel it in my bones, the power stretching, bending under the strain. It's like the very fabric of the magic is being torn apart.

"He's here," Mavis says grimly. "It's time."

I nod, swallowing back the fear threatening to choke me. I'm not ready for this. None of us are. But we don't have a choice. Morfran isn't going to wait. He's coming for us, for the magic, and if we don't stop him—if I don't stop him—everything will be lost.

I take one last look at the house, at the place that's been my refuge for so long. My family's legacy. My future. And then I turn to face the darkness, to face the storm that's coming for me.

This is it. The final battle. My heart is pounding, the weight of the moment pressing down on me. The calm before the storm has ended.

The battle has begun.

The ground shakes again, harder this time, and the wards give, just for a second, just enough to let something slip through. My heart pounds as a dark figure bursts through the door, tall and twisted, eyes glowing with a malevolent light.

Morfran.

He steps forward, a sneer twisting his features as his gaze locks onto mine.

"It's time, little witch," he says, his voice a low, menacing growl. "Time to see if you're as strong as they say."

I swallow, my magic surging in response, but before I can move, before I can react, Oland is there, stepping in front of me, his stance ready.

"Not today," Oland growls back, his voice steady, unwavering.

Oland's presence in front of me is a wall, solid and unwavering, but the tension in the air is thickening, wrapping around us like a vice. Morfran's sneer widens, his gaze flicking between us, amused, as if he's enjoying watching us brace for the inevitable.

The ground beneath us trembles again, cracks spider webbing across the floor as his dark energy pulses, probing for weak spots.

The wards are still holding, but just barely. They're straining, fraying at the edges, the magic inside me vibrating in sync with the breaking seams. I have to act— now —before it's too late.

I step up beside Oland, my pulse racing, magic sparking in the tips of my fingers.

"Oland, step back," I say, my voice firmer than I feel. "I need space to cast."

He glances at me, hesitation flickering in his eyes. Protective as ever. "Swyn?—"

"I can't do this if you're in the way," I cut in. "Trust me."

For a heartbeat, the only sound is the low rumble of the earth and the faint crackle of the wards above us. Then, with a sharp nod, Oland steps aside, giving me room.

Morfran's laughter cuts through the tension like a blade. "So brave, little witch. But we both know you can't stop what's coming. You're outmatched, outpowered."

I grit my teeth, pushing past the fear trying to crawl up my throat. "We'll see about that."

I reach deep inside myself, drawing on the well of magic that's been stirring since the bond cemented with Oland. It's overwhelming, an ancient, wild force and I'm still not entirely sure how to control it. But I don't have a choice now.

The magic responds to my call, swirling up through me, sharp and electric, ready to be unleashed.

I extend my hands, letting the power flow through me and into the wards. They flicker, then blaze brighter, steadier. The cracks stop widening, the ground beneath us stabilising as my magic knits the fraying edges back together. But Morfran is relentless.

His dark energy slams against the barrier again, harder this time, testing my strength.

"Hold on," I whisper to myself, forcing my magic to stretch further, weave tighter, locking the wards in place.

"Clever," Morfran says, stepping closer, his voice dripping with mockery. "But this won't be enough. You're fighting against the inevitable, little witch."

His power surges again, slamming into the wards like a battering ram. I stagger, the force of it rippling through me, but I hold my ground. I won't let him break through. Not here. Not now.

"Keep pushing, Swyn. You've got this," I hear Sol's voice, calm and steady, from behind me. I don't turn, but his presence is a lifeline, grounding me. I know Ri and Kel are close too, watching, waiting for the moment they'll be needed.

"Don't stop," Ri adds, his voice low but filled with conviction. "We're here."

Their support fuels me, strengthening my resolve. I dig deeper, pulling more magic from the Aether, feeling it twist and surge through my veins as it knits with the guys' earth, air, fire and water magic.

The power is almost too much, a tidal wave threatening to drown me, but I hold on. I have to.

"You think you can beat me with parlour tricks?" Morfran snarls, his amusement fading into something darker, more dangerous. He lifts his hand, and a tendril of dark energy shoots toward me, aimed straight at my chest.

I barely have time to react. I throw up a shield, instinct driving my magic forward, and the tendril smashes into it with a deafening crack. The force of it knocks me back a step, my breath catching in my throat, but the shield holds. Just.

"Not so easy, is it?" I snap, my voice shaky but defiant.

Morfran's eyes narrow, his expression hardening. "I've been toying with you, witch. But no more."

The ground beneath us shakes violently, and his power gathers, increases, grows. It's a storm of dark energy swirling around him.

He's preparing for the final blow, the one that will shatter everything.

I can't let that happen.

"Now!" I shout, my voice carrying over the roar of the earth, and in an instant, the others spring into action. Kel and Ri rush forward, moving in unison as they channel their own magic into the wards, strengthening them, reinforcing the barrier between us and Morfran.

Sol stays close to me, his focus sharp as he watches for any sign of weakness, ready to shield me if necessary.

I focus on the Aether magic again, feeling it pulse inside me, wild and untamed. Elias's words echo in my mind, reminding me of what I'm supposed to be—a master of balance, of power. But how? How do I control something that feels like it's ready to tear me apart?

I grit my teeth, forcing the magic to bend to my will. "Come on," I whisper, my hands shaking as I push the power outward, feeding it into the wards, into the earth, into the very air around us. The energy ripples out in waves, creating a protective dome, a final barrier between us and Morfran's darkness.

For a moment, everything is still.

And then Morfran strikes.

A wave of dark energy slams into the wards, and this time, the force is unbearable. The barrier cracks, splintering under the weight of his power. It buckles, the strain too much for even the Aether magic to hold.

Pain radiates through me so sharply, that I gasp and lose concentration for a split second.

"Swyn!" Oland's voice cuts through the chaos, but I can't focus on him. I can't focus on anything but keeping the wards intact, as I pull my focus back and redouble my efforts to keep evil at bay.

The world around me blurs, and the magic slips from my grasp, unravelling.

"No," I gasp, pushing harder, but it's too late. The wards shatter, and the darkness surges forward, crashing toward us like a tidal wave.

I brace for impact.

But it never comes.

Suddenly, the darkness stops, as if it's been yanked back by an invisible force. I blink, disoriented, and then I see it— him . A figure, cloaked in light, standing at the edge of my vision.

Elias. Gramps.

His voice rings out, calm and commanding. "The balance, Swyn. Remember the balance."

I don't have time to question how or why he's here. I just know what I have to do.

I close my eyes, letting the magic flow through me, not trying to control it this time, but guiding it, balancing it with the force of Morfran's darkness. It's like walking a tightrope, one wrong move and everything will collapse.

But I don't falter. I can't.

I am the master of Aether.

With a final, desperate push, I send the magic forward, meeting Morfran's power head-on. The two forces collide, and for a moment, the world is nothing but brilliant purple light and inky black shadow, locked in a deadly dance.

And then, slowly, the darkness begins to retreat.

Morfran roars in fury, his form flickering as the light consumes him, pushing him back, back into the shadows from where he came.

The battle isn't over. But for now, we've won this round.

I collapse to my knees, trembling, exhausted, but alive.

The storm isn't over. But I'm ready for the next strike.

We all are.