Ancient Mystic's War of the Realms Saga by Lady Adellandra Dratianos (year 7 reading list .TXT) 📖

for Ariana Moon?”
Dracora looked up and nodded. “Aye. I cannot sense her on our Path.”
“Grand Magus Adarra did say she was in a Healing Coma after her fight with Balor.” Terrantis said.
Dracora nodded again, her thoughts elsewhere once more.
Rather than ask her about them, Terrantis left her to them.

Story: #1:
The Lure of Evil

Shane sat by the bed, watching his wife sleep peacefully.
It was two days later and she still hadn't woken up from Firestorm's Blood-Binding trance. He knew the Watcher-kin from the Wars for Power, and he'd seen Firestorm at work. The Dweller had a certain passion and honor. He was also the one, in cold blood, to call the very powers over fire against anything live or undead that would wish him or his kin harm.
That didn't mean he had to like what Firestorm did behind his back. Sure, Shane could trust Firestorm and Emerald with the care of his wife if they were separated. If anything magical happened to her and Shadow was at a loss to help, they could now count on the two Dwellers to answer a silent plea on a separate mind-path that was now forged between them.
Shane listened when Firestorm explained how he, instead of another Dweller-kin, was able to handle the Grand Magus, should she lose control of the Dragon Magic inside. He didn’t understand that one thing. From all his years of knowing her, she'd never shown any sign of Dragon Magic inside. Sure, she was wild about learning other kinds of magic, but was that the Dragon Magic? Then again, they hadn't seen any Unicorn Magic in Ariana until the Crusaders saw it in Aimee and Aaron Schmidt when they came to Hill View at eighteen.
"Could it be? Polar opposites?" Shane whispered to himself, staring at the Grand Magus' Dream Pentacle. "The twins were polar opposites to each other?" He shook his head. "Couldn't be. Ariana is the Ancient's Goddess of Spirit, and now has some Dweller powers, thanks to the Countess."
He pondered that last statement. He then recalled how Young Guardian fought in the War in her Earthbound form. First, when she met Ramon Martiya and the kin-Clan Hunters and Healers, she took it in stride, as if it was no big deal. Second, she helped Ramon Destroy his own Stalker father, Crucis. She kept working with the Dwellers and Companions until she exhausted herself in a one-on-one battle with the new leader of the Stalkers, Balor. It was there she used a very Dweller-like power -- Stealth.
No one knew where it came from until after the battle with Balor. That is, very few knew about it. With Young Guardian, it took a Dweller's Compulsion spell to make her forget what her then-fifteen-year-old mind and Ancient Mystic Magic couldn't handle until she was ready and much older. Hence the War of the Realms. Once Young Guardian met Ramon and Daniel's eyes, the Compulsion spell was broken and she began slowly remembering what was hidden in the back of her mind.
That didn't explain his wife, Luna. He shook his head again, trying to focus his thoughts on her this time. He sensed she was hiding something from him. Something that could be extremely dark and dangerous if she didn't handle it right. Her twin still lay in what they called a Ancient Mystic Healing Coma, unable to wake to help her own sister.
Shane's own persona the Shadow agreed with him on one thing. The Crusaders still had a lot of talking to do. Just too many questions needed to be answered. Shadow himself didn't like where it was all leading them, and where it would end, if it really did at all.
He rose after pecking a single kiss on her cheek. He headed to the kitchen to get her something to stabilize her magical energies and ground her.
It just didn't make any sense, he thought. What captivated Lu's attention so much; she ignored her family, her entire family, which included her twin? Not once in a week did Lu see how Ariana was doing. Why do I sense something dark and dangerously familiar in my own house? I know it has to do with Lu. I know it, and I don't like it one bit.
What was going on? Were we still at war? Couldn't be, he thought as he shook his head once more. Lord Bane called the retreat. Is he planning more attacks? Who knew for sure of anything right now?
The only thing he was sure of was that the Grand Magus had been taking her sister, the Young Guardian's place, partnered by the Protector. The Protector was both best friend to Shadow and Grand Magus, so Shadow trusted them together. The Protector confessed his worries over the Grand Magus' behavior as of late. Partial patrols, disappearances, strange behavior, not even trying to fight Dominionites and other Demons. Her heart didn't seem to be in it anymore. Shadow asked the Protector about it, but sensed his own best friend was keeping something from him.
He trusted she knew what she was doing, but it just wasn't like her to back out of a patrol or a fight. The six of them -- the Crusaders: Grand Magus, Young Guardian, Protector, Shadow, Aaron "Unicorn" and Amethyst Schmidt -- were all trained at the same place, the System Agency.
Shane had to admit to himself as he headed back upstairs to the bedroom. Luna has always been the one Ancient Mystic with the love for anything paranormal and magical. She'd study it until she knew everything about it. Then, she'd learn it and control it. She'd always been like that, ever since they met at the System Agency a long time ago. The thought of it now scared him, as it did back then.
As soon as he stepped into the doorway of their room, his Pendant-Locket buzzed. He could feel a familiar dark magic that didn't belong in this Realm. He thought hard for the name of the magic thing but nothing came. It was black, and the feeling alone irked him.
Like the loving husband he was, Shane sat on the bed once more, waiting for her to wake up. He stared at her, wondering how angelic of a woman he'd married and had children with. Luna was his beautiful angel, with her long red-blond hair so gentle and fair. She slept so peacefully, though he could sense her mind was at war.
Seeing she wasn't going to be awake for a while, he ate half the sandwich and set the other on the bedside table. It helped his upset stomach. What it didn't help were his upset thoughts.

II

"There must be something I can do to make up for my past mistakes." Sabrina announced, pacing the floor and biting her lip.
"Why not confess to the Grand Magus?" Cyrix suggested. "Tell her what you told me. I am sure she will understand."
"Understand, Cyrix? Are you mad?" Sabrina stopped to glare at him. "Grand Magus will not understand how I threatened Shenara with a secret just so she can have the Crystal in her own Realm."
"Sure she will. You know her more than I, but I know you Ancient Mystics." Cyrix grinned. "All will work out, darling. You will see."
Sabrina frowned. "I think not."
Cyrix stood to rub her arms and peck her cheeks. "Well, I think so. She has to know more about it now, and who better than you to fill in the gaps?"
Sabrina's black-blue eyes met his red ones. "Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"So, what I did with Shenara --"
"You controlled it, correct?" He asked and she nodded. "Therefore, it was a good use of Dark Magic."
"Are you sure, though?" Sabrina asked. "She is one of the most powerful Ancient Mystics I know, second only to her own twin. I would not want to face her wrath."
"Sabrina, will you relax?" Cyrix laughed. "Darling, I have never been so sure of anything in my life." He kissed her, holding her close. "It almost beats out my assurance of you." He teased her nose with a kiss and a finger. "Almost."
Sabrina finally smiled. "Oh, thank you Cyrix!" She hugged him. "I needed that!"
"Anytime, anywhere, my sweet." Cyrix smiled. "Now go, before you lose your nerve."
A final happy kiss and Sabrina shifted into a raven. In moments, she was in the skies, flying free.

III

Luna didn't know where she was. She felt funny, like she was in between Realms. Could she be an Invisibite? She felt something buzzing in her pocket, handling the Black-as-Night Crystal.
Ah well, she thought. Might as well test some of those experimental theories I've been working on. I’ll start with astral projection.
Months before, when Sabrina first brought this little Crystal out of hiding, she confused Luna about her Empathy just a little. When the five Woods' sisters bound together to beat Sabrina out in the beginning, Luna tried to astral project then. That was her first time and she'd been too scared to try it again. As it was, Ariana had to give her some of her own Healer's Magic to help her. She didn't want to make that mistake again.
At first, she couldn't see, nor could she sense anything. It took a few moments for her to see that she was standing in her own bedroom. Shane had left a plate with half a sandwich on the table by the bed. Luna reached for it and couldn't get it.
Jackpot! Luna smiled, knowing she was finally in control of being Astral Projected. The first place she wanted to go was her sister's bedside. How to get there? How did she do it before?
Luna closed her eyes and thought of her twin's bedroom. She felt the Black-as-Night Crystal heat up and take her away. She opened her eyes to see her twin sister, the Young Guardian known as Ariana Reading still resting. Luna sensed she was in an Ancient Mystic's Healing Coma, almost fully healed and recharged. She sensed a difference in her fair sister that she didn't understand, but it would have to wait until Ariana woke up for an explanation. For now, all Luna knew from her sister was the Blood-binding from the Countess Dracora did something to make Young Guardian use stealth. Stealth was a key trait in all Dweller-kin. Had Ariana as the Young Guardian known what she was doing all along, or did it come to a surprise to her as well?
Luna tried reading her sister's mind, but the usual opalescent healing rainbow of magic was still protecting her. She stared at her sister's form for a few minutes, thinking over the past. She fingered the Crystal in her hands, still wondering why Ariana would want to use its Dark Magic. She still worried for the entire family, thanks to that Crystal. That was the main reason Luna busied herself every waking hour, learning all she could about it.
Ariana was the perfect Ancient Mystic, the mighty and wonderful Young Guardian of the Realm of Dreams. She was strong, powerful, beautiful, and everybody looked to her for advice or for the Ancient Mystic lines. It didn't matter that Luna was just as powerful, or beautiful and such. It was the Young Guardian everyone wanted and adored. It was all because she gave all, or none, sacrificing her very self for a battle or anything she believed in. She took her role as Lord Guardian's successor very seriously, wanting to keep all Dreamers from their nightmares and fears, not to mention evil like Orthos used to be.
Luna took a deep breath. Now was the time to pay her back for all her sacrifices.
Before she could cry, Luna closed