The aftermath of the battle lingered in the air like a heavy storm that had passed, but left destruction in its wake. Evelyn’s chest still heaved from the adrenaline, her eyes locked on Luka’s form as he lay on the ground, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths. Raine was already by his side, applying pressure to the deep gashes that crisscrossed his chest. The blood seeped between her fingers, but Luka remained conscious, his resolve unyielding despite the pain.

“We need to get him back to camp,” Raine said urgently, her voice tinged with worry. “These wounds are deep, and he won’t heal quickly enough on his own.”

Evelyn nodded, her heart tightening. She couldn’t afford to lose Luka, not now, not when everything seemed to be unraveling around them. She motioned for Darian and Kael to help lift him, and together they began the trek back to camp, their footsteps heavy with the weight of uncertainty.

As they moved, Evelyn kept glancing at Kael. His presence was unsettling, like a constant reminder that they were stepping into uncharted territory. His shape-shifting abilities were unlike anything she had ever seen, and his cryptic warnings about Callan’s dark magic gnawed at her thoughts.

Back at camp, Luka was laid down on a makeshift bed in the healer’s tent. The atmosphere was tense, filled with the sounds of hushed voices and the faint rustling of leaves outside. Raine worked quickly, her hands steady as she cleaned Luka’s wounds and applied a healing salve. Evelyn stood at the entrance, watching in silence, her heart aching with the uncertainty of what lay ahead.

After what felt like an eternity, Raine finally spoke, her voice softer now. “He’ll be okay. But he needs rest. His body will heal, but it’ll take time.”

Evelyn exhaled, relief flooding her chest. She knelt by Luka’s side, her hand gently brushing a lock of hair from his face. His eyes fluttered open, and he offered her a weak but reassuring smile.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he muttered, his voice hoarse.

“You better not,” Evelyn replied, her voice catching slightly. “We need you.”

Luka’s gaze softened, his hand reaching up to grasp hers. For a moment, the world outside seemed to fade, the weight of their responsibilities and the chaos of battle slipping away. There was only the warmth of his touch, the unspoken bond between them growing stronger with each shared glance.

But the moment was fleeting. Evelyn knew they couldn’t afford to linger in quiet moments of connection when the threat outside continued to grow. She stood, her eyes hardening with resolve as she turned to Kael, who stood just outside the tent, watching them with unreadable eyes.

“We need to talk,” she said, her tone firm. “Tell me everything you know about Callan’s magic. You said there’s a price—what is it? How do we stop him?”

Kael stepped forward, his expression serious, though there was a glimmer of something in his eyes—perhaps admiration for Evelyn’s determination. He crossed his arms, his gaze flickering between her and the rest of the camp.

“Blood magic doesn’t come without a cost,” Kael began, his voice low. “It’s one of the oldest and most dangerous forms of power because it doesn’t just take life—it consumes the soul of the one who wields it. Callan has found a way to control this magic without being destroyed by it, but the price he’s paying is steep.”

“And what is that price?” Evelyn pressed, her stomach tightening with dread.

Kael’s expression darkened. “He’s drawing power from the ancient realms—realms that should have remained sealed. By doing so, he’s weakening the barrier between our world and the nightmare realm that lies beyond. Every time he uses this magic, it cracks the foundation of that barrier, letting things through. Creatures, yes, but also something far worse. Callan is inviting chaos.”

The words hit Evelyn like a punch to the gut. She had feared Callan’s power, but this was something beyond what she could have imagined. If what Kael said was true, Callan wasn’t just raising an army—he was threatening the very fabric of their reality.

“So what do we do?” Raine asked, stepping forward, her eyes filled with determination. “How do we stop him before it’s too late?”

Kael’s gaze softened slightly, but his tone remained serious. “There’s a way to close the barrier for good, to stop the flow of power Callan is feeding on. But it’s not simple. We’ll need to find the source of his magic, the place where the barrier is weakest, and perform a ritual to seal it. But to do that, we’ll need the relics.”

Evelyn’s brow furrowed. “Relics? What relics?”

“Ancient artifacts,” Kael explained, “scattered across the realms. They’re hidden, protected by magic and time, but without them, we can’t perform the ritual. And finding them will be… dangerous.”

Evelyn felt the weight of his words settle heavily on her shoulders. The stakes had never been higher, and now they were faced with a nearly impossible task—one that would take them deep into uncharted territory, facing unknown dangers along the way.

“We don’t have a choice,” Evelyn said finally, her voice steady. “We find the relics, we seal the barrier, and we stop Callan before he tears this world apart.”

Kael nodded, his eyes glinting with a hint of respect. “Then we need to move quickly. The longer we wait, the more dangerous this becomes.”

Just as Kael finished speaking, a strange ripple passed through the camp—a wave of energy that made the hairs on Evelyn’s neck stand on end. She turned sharply, her hand instinctively reaching for her weapon.

Before anyone could react, a figure stepped out of the shadows at the edge of the camp—a man, tall and lean, with an eerie, graceful presence. His eyes gleamed in the low light, and his lips curled into a cold, predatory smile.

“Callan,” Evelyn breathed, her heart racing.

The camp froze, all eyes turning to the intruder. Callan’s presence was like a dark cloud that hung over them, suffocating and heavy. His voice was smooth, almost mocking as he spoke.

“Ah, Evelyn. It’s been a while.”

Evelyn’s muscles tensed, her grip tightening on her sword. The air crackled with tension, the promise of violence hanging between them. She could feel Luka stirring behind her, but she raised a hand to keep him from moving. This was her fight.

“You’ve gone too far this time, Callan,” Evelyn said, her voice low but filled with fury. “We know what you’re doing, and we’re going to stop you.”

Callan chuckled, his eyes glittering with amusement. “Stop me? Oh, Evelyn, you still don’t understand, do you? This isn’t a game you can win. You’re fighting against forces far beyond your control.”

Evelyn’s jaw clenched. “Maybe. But that won’t stop us from trying.”

In an instant, Callan’s smile vanished, replaced by a look of cold determination. His hand twitched, and the ground beneath them trembled as dark tendrils of magic began to coil through the air, wrapping around the camp like a suffocating noose.

Evelyn’s heart pounded in her chest. This was it. The battle had begun.