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

of the Mortallan Realm’s years. How could I not know of them?” Lady Aura smiled. “What do you know of them?”
“Enough to investigate it for my Blu-Sita.” Ariana supplied, using the same term for ‘blood-sister’ Dracora had used on her. It was Draconian, and Ariana was surprised it simply rolled off her tongue.
Lady Aura’s smiled widened. “I suppose the rumors of three dragonlets that reminded me of them are why you are here?”
“That’s right, m’Lady.” Ariana nodded. “Can you tell me more about them? Why do the three dragonlets remind you of the Emperor’s lost children?”
“They have a certain quality to them.” Lady Aura replied. “All three can shift not only to Draconian form, but Wolfkin as well. The only ones I ever heard about that could do just that were the Emperor’s Dra’Nie and the younger identical twin Dra’Nias.”
“I’m sorry – Dra’Nie?”
Lady Aura paused. “I apologize once again, Lady Guardian. I thought you knew the Empiric Draconian tongue.”
“Only that of what I hear Dracora using, and that’s not much.”
“Dra’Nie means Prince-Heir, as Dra’Nias means Princess-Heirs.” Lady Aura supplied.
“I see.” Ariana said. “Go on.”
“Ah, yes.” Lady Aura started. “The one clue that reminded me of them most is the fact the twins, Melodia and Sophia, are identical. The last known Dragonlets born identical twins were the Princesses, Locanna and Locarra Dratianos. It is rare indeed for identical twins to be born in the Nations, let alone three sets within two generations!”
“What do you mean? Seeming how dragons are born at least four or five to a nest at a time, wouldn’t it be common to have identical twins?” Ariana asked. “After all, I’m a twin, and so is my mother Susan. Her mother was a twin and so was my great-grandmother Enchantra. They kind of run in the family.”
“Perhaps for Ancient Mystics, aye, but not Dragons.” Lady Aura responded. “I was only a kitten myself when I followed my parents to Mal’estar’s Castle. It was during the Mating Festival. I watched as Dra’Nie Lord Draconis and his twin brother Drakkar were Mated to twin Dragonwolves, Adellandra and Adarramena Dranna. The women were daughters of the then-Head of the Armies, Sir Airemus Dranna, who was a Fire Dragon and his mate of the Wolf-Packs’ She-Wolf, Katerina Mout’ella. Anyway,” She shook her head and took a breath. “It wasn’t long when Lord Draconis and his mate of Lady Adellandra were Emperor and Empress of Mal’estar. It brought the dwindling, yet hated Dragonwolf-Packs and the entire Dragon Nations together in peace. That peace did not last long; for shortly after Lady Empress had her twin Kanas, war broke out between our Realm and that of the Demons. Before she and the children could be caught up in the disaster that erupted, she ran away, never to be heard from again.”
A young Dragonwolf girl with gray fur and dragon’s wings offered Lady Aura a cup of hot tea. She nodded to the girl. “Thank you, Melodia.”
Melodia folded her hands and nodded to both before turning to leave.
Ariana stared in thought. There was that familiar pull again, she thought to herself. Before the War, that pull of magic drew me to the Spirit dragonlet that was staying with those rescued from the Province Underground. Melodia was one of his sisters, I’m sure of it!
“Are you all right, My Lady Guardian?” Aura asked gently.
Ariana nodded, blinking to return her attention and thoughts to the Lady. “Oh, certainly, Lady Aura. I’m fine.” It was a bland answer, but it sufficed. There was just so much on her mind it confused her. She rose from her seat. “Thank you, Lady Aura. You’ve been a big help in this investigation. I’ll return later to look into it more. Right now, I’ll return to Dracora with what you told me.”
Lady Aura rose again, and bowed. “I should thank you, Lady Guardian.”
Ariana was confused. “Thank me?”
“Aye, thank you.” Lady Aura supplied. “For bringing the Nations one step closer to eternal peace and serenity.”
Ariana reddened. “I’ve nothing to do with it. I’m just doing my job as Lady Guardian.”
“You are doing a fine job indeed.” Lady Aura announced.
Ariana left at that, and shifted her own form to a Dragonwolf before heading to Monarch’s Glen.

II

“What do you mean, she’s not here?” Derrick’s voice echoed the hall.
“That’s what I said Daddy Derrick.” Kelly supplied from her homework. She didn’t meet his eyes, instead paying more attention to her work than to him. “Momma’s not here.”
“Where is she?” Derrick demanded.
“You wear your Pendant. Use it.” Kelly didn’t mean to be so harsh, but she had to. Something told her if he knew where she was, it wouldn’t bode well for either of them. “Use your Pendant-Locket to find her. That’s what it’s for.”
Derrick huffed, leaving her.
Kelly finally looked up and took a deep breath, letting it out. “I’m sorry, Derrick. Things will be better soon.” She whispered to herself, returning to her homework.
Derrick himself, meanwhile, closed his eyes as he touched the Pendant-Locket. He thought of his wife Ariana and reached his mind to find hers.
Recently, he learned how to control the telepathy they had with each other. It took a moment of searching, but he could see her. The visions’ surroundings were clouded, as if partially blocked or a dream. What he could see of her, he followed. Her Dragonwolf form was flying the skies. Ariana descended at what he recognized as Monarch’s Glen.
He tried communicating with her using telepathy. Ariana?
Either he was ignored or she didn’t hear him because he received no response. After a few moments, the cloud of the vision he’d had of her was gone and his attention interrupted by a piercing headache.
He screamed in his spot, letting go of the Pendant to hold his head and falling to his knees on the floor.
Who are you to probe the Lady’s mind? He heard a rough male voice growl. In his mind, he saw a large, angry black dragon with glowing-red eyes and massive wings. The dragon’s fangs were sharp and deadly. Leave her be, or you will pay!
Both in his mind and out loud, Derrick responded. “I am Lady Guardian’s Earthly Protector. Who are you?”
Who I am is no concern of yours, Mortal. The dragon growled. Just know if you try to probe her mind again, yours will explode and you will pay with your life.
The dragon disappeared then, leaving Derrick struck with fear for the first time in his career as a Detective. Somehow, the feeling wouldn’t go away, no matter how much he wished it.

III

Ariana as the Lady Guardian in her Dragonwolf form told Dracora what had transpired.
The Countess was in awe, shocked as she stared into space for a few moments, holding her chest. “The rumors are true then? The ‘Lost Ones’, my nephew and nieces are truly alive?”
Ariana nodded, confused. “I guess so. Now what do we do about it?”
Dracora clapped her hands. “Tell their Dratyr the news. His children have been found! Peace in the Dragon Nations is assured!”
“I’m sorry, Dracora, but ‘Dratyr’?” Ariana asked, wondering why her blood-sister was acting so strange.
“My brother Draconis Dratianos, Lord Emperor of Mal’estar is the father of those three dragonlets.” Dracora announced, excited. “It’s been told he’s returned to Mal’estar with his duo Drakkar and our younger brother Dranus. He’ll be ecstatic to hear the news.” Dracora hugged her. “Go, Ariana. Go to Mal’estar and tell Lord Draconis about his children. You will know what to do after that.”
“Wait, Dracora!” Ariana cried when she pulled back.
Dracora met her eyes. “Aye?”
“What and where is Mal’estar?” She asked. “I’ve never heard of it but from you. You never told me where it was.”
“Mal’estar is the Capital Empire of the Dragon Nations.” Dracora did something that astonished her. She kissed Ariana’s cheek and hugged her shoulders. “Fly toward Dragon’s Keep and you will see it in the distance. Follow your heart.”
Though still confused, especially at the last statement, she nodded before saluting and disappearing.
Dracora sighed after her, happy for the first time in millennias.

Story #2:
Countess Dracora’s Brother

Ariana wore her Fighter’s Gear, a pair of breeches made of surprisingly comfortable brown leather. The shirt had plumy sleeves that made it easy to move, with a slit in the back for her wings. She had a thick leather belt with two pouches. The first pouch was long enough for the very Dragon Dagger Dracora used to bind them. The second was the magical wand Mystica gave her so long ago, before she became a Goddess. At her back in its hard magicked-metal sheath was the Spiritblade she used in the War of the Realms to destroy both Crucis and Orthos.
Lady Guardian Ariana approached Lord Emperor Draconis Dratianos slowly. As she had been taught, she bowed to him. He was on his Throne, staring down at her in her favorite form, the dragon-winged wolf. Ariana bowed her head, not meeting his eyes, and waiting for him to speak.
"Rise and speak." His voice was rough and demanded respect.
First, she thought. Introductions. "I am known as the Lady Guardian of the Realms, Ancient Mystic's Goddess of Spirit and blood-Sister to the Countess Dracora."
Lord Draconis huffed and stared. Lady Guardian continued.
"I heard from Dracora about those you called 'The Lost Ones.'" Draconis held his breath and nodded. "I believe I have found them. They're in a place not far from here called Dragon's Keep, which is run by Lady Aura."
Lord Draconis stood and frowned, growling. "Bring me proof by daybreak, Lady Guardian."
"There is no need to growl at me, Lord Draconis," Ariana snapped right back. "I merely tell you of my suspicions. I may not be all-knowing and tyrannical like you but I at least know how to treat other Lords and Ladies."
Draconis growled louder, but was silenced by her icy stare. The heat within her bubbled to the surface and she could feel her eyes getting redder and more dangerous.
Knowing she had his attention, she then growled. "With respect.”
He stepped down from his Throne and whispered in her ear, hands behind his back. "You had better watch yourself M’Lady Guardian or the darkness that dwells within you will escape from even my sister's grasp."
Ariana gasped, as did Dracora in her mind. "How did you know?"
Lord Draconis sat back on his Throne. "You are not the only Ancient Mystic plagued by the Darkness, you know."
She stared into his dark onyx-black eyes. They were mesmerizing and familiar. Ariana gulped, quickly looking down and blushing. "Going on, about 'The Lost Ones.'"
Lord Draconis nodded, twitching his tail and smiling. "What about them?"
She decided to be diplomatic, yet polite. "Could you be so kind as to tell me more about them so I can investigate and provide you with the proof you so desperately need?" Ariana grinned back.
His whole demeanor softened as he told her the tale. His Empress, Adellandra Mout’ella Dranna Dratianos, had