Ancient Mystic's War of the Realms Saga by Lady Adellandra Dratianos (book club suggestions txt) 📕

a woman being an Earthly Protector, besides Andrea Richardson for Luna’s brother Kevin, so I don’t know how hard the tests are going to be on you Sierra.”
“Aimee, Aaron,” Ariana said. “Both of you have to take them to the Apprentice. I know he won’t consider you Ancient Mystics, but tell his mate, the Grand Shamus, who you are and who named you such. She’ll understand and convince him to take you on as what I would call an Ancient Mystic Couple. The Grand Shamus will take both of you and teach you your special kind of Ancient Mystic Magic, along with the Silver Magic, if you have it, too.”
“Oh, I get it.” Sierra said. “In order to be an Ancient Mystic Couple, the Earthly Protector has to be tested and taught by the Apprentice, and the Ancient Mystic has to be tested and taught by the Grand Shamus. Am I right?”
“That’s the gist of it, yeah.” Jamie smiled. “If you want, I could take you there tonight.”
Aimee, Aaron, Sierra and Scott nodded.
“I’m surprised we have so much downtime.” TJ spoke up quietly. “After all the fuss about this great war we’re going to be in, I have yet to use my powers against an enemy in it.”
“It’s not official until one of the Lords declares it so.” Shane said. “I’m surprised, too. Maybe the Originators are handling most things on their end, getting ready for it?”
“I know Lord Max is, along with Lord Byron.” Luna supplied. She turned to her twin. “What about Lord Guardian and the Sisters?”
“Challandra’s on Lord Byron’s side, surely.” Ariana said. “As for Enchantra, we know she’s been out of sorts lately, but she still stands by O’Dell.”
“Wait a minute.” Scott said. “When I first met Lord Guardian, he told us calling the Elder Originators by their informal names would be disrespectful. I hope you don’t call him that to his face. He’d have you dismembered.”
“Are you forgetting who I am?” Ariana asked him. “I’m the Young Guardian, O’Dell’s successor. It was his idea I call him, along with the others, by their given names. After all, he told me, we were on the same side.”
“Too bad they won’t let me do the same.” Luna said.
“You’d have to take my place for a week or two.” Ariana said. “Maybe then, you wouldn’t be so quick to be in my shoes.”
“I’ve already seen what being Young Guardian does to you.” Luna shook her head. “I’m happy being the Grand Magus.”
“About time, too.” Shane winked at her.
“I’m glad we’re all in good spirits, considering.” Charlie supplied.
“Yeah, considering what we have to face.” Julie remarked sarcastically.
“Speaking of, what are we doing to prepare for battle?” Jamie asked.
Between the new Earthly Protectors, to Sierra’s Pagan magic, and even working with the leaders of the Dream Realm themselves, the Crusaders believed they’d be plenty ready.

Story #2:
A Plea is Answered

After a long day of discussing the war and how they were going to fight in it, the Grand Magus sought her bed that night with exhaustion. She was sure the Crusaders were going to fight long and hard, and knew in her heart they would win against even the vilest foe.
Before beginning her own patrols of the Dream Realm, she headed to the Realm of the Ancients. Like before, it seemed no one was there to greet her. Also like before, the Grand Magus knew better.
She landed from her flight in the middle of the Goddess Dana’s forest. She adorned the dark blue robes of her title, and held a wooden staff in her hand. The Dream Pentacle around her neck grew warm, and she could feel the special magic in the air. Powerful magic. The Ancient’s own brand of Magic made her system tingle, and she knew at least one of the Goddesses was listening and watching.
“I just came to thank you.” The Grand Magus called into the air.
The Goddess Dana was a wolf as she approached the Grand Magus. “Have you learned to trust the Empathy, Aluna Star?”
Grand Magus bowed, and waited to speak until the Goddess’ form was human again. “I have, Goddess. Though I may not have liked the way you forced me to learn, I knew it had to be done.”
“Do you know why?”
The Grand Magus thought for a moment, the memories of her twin sister’s agony going through her mind. “In order to be a just Ancient Mystic fighter, I had to trust in my own powers. Long ago, I’d shut off my Empathy power so I wouldn’t feel my twin in pain. I focused on learning the different kinds of world magic instead of on the twin-bond. In doing so, I forced not only myself, but the Young Guardian into a silent depression.”
“A depression which ended when you met.” The Goddess pointed out. “You see, not trusting in one of your powers makes the others weak. You were both strong once again when the twin-bond you shattered was secured.”
The Grand Magus looked at the Goddess of Earth.
The Goddess smiled, telling her to rise. “Was there something else you came for, Grand Magus?”
“I wanted to thank you for sending help.” The Grand Magus supplied. “The Unicorn has his Protector, a Pagan named Airmed Starchaser. Amethyst has hers, a childhood friend named Scott Archer. Two Ancient Mystics have found their way to us, Princess Sarabeth’s daughter Julia Lynne and granddaughter Tamara Jane. They brought with them their Protectors, Julia’s new husband Jammins Stewart and Tamara’s adopted older brother Charlie Reynolds. With the six of them, we can’t lose!”
“Grand Magus, you are telling me nothing I do not already know!” The Goddess laughed. “I see you have learned your lesson, and are teaching the new Ancient Mystics their Magic. Be wary, though, for trouble is always leering from behind dark corners.”
Grand Magus agreed. “Can you tell me anything of the war ahead?”
“Only a reminder.” The Goddess responded. “Have faith and grasp the magic.”
Grand Magus watched the Goddess disappear, thinking on her words before she, too disappeared. She had to tell Young Guardian.

II

The Dominionite formerly known as the Warrior Gloriana was thrown back through the Abyss. The Keeper of Souls only smirked at her as he took her remaining power before pitching her tattered soul through the portal to the Unknown.
As she landed in murky waters, she was glad no one was around to see their Queen covered in mud and grime. Since she had no powers, she had to rub most of the mud off with dirty hands.
“I will get even with those Ancient Mystics!” Gloriana grumbled under her breath on the way to the Master’s Dark Tower.
She marched through the forest, ignoring stares and held-in laughs from Dominionites she passed. When she finally met Orthos in the same room, he sensed her there.
Without looking, he droned. “Clean yourself properly before speaking to me, Gloriana.”
“I am afraid I cannot.” Gloriana seethed.
He looked up and growled. “You are a demon witch. Use your magic.”
“How can I use magic the Keeper of Souls stole from me?” Gloriana pointed out. “Not to mention the Ancient spell your brother cast to send me here in the first place.”
Now he was interested. “My brother?”
“O’Dell and those Ancient Mystic women ruined everything.”
Orthos wove an arm toward her, a wave of his own magic cleaning her in seconds.
“About time.” Gloriana supplied in a huff. “Thought I would never get that gunk off.”
“Never mind.” Orthos growled. “Tell me what happened in the Dream Realm.”
“I was this close to being queen of the Kingdom.” Gloriana cried. ‘This close!”
“From the beginning, Gloriana.” Orthos was impatient.
She told him how Damian had sent her to the Dream Realm to wreak havoc. Her first stop was the Ancient Mystic Kingdom Castle. After using a spell from Challandra’s book to bind the Mistress and put her to sleep, Gloriana sought the Lord of the Castle, Lord Byron. With another spell cast on Lord Byron to control him, Gloriana did her worst.
“What spell did you use?” Orthos asked.
“An aging spell. It made his mind and body age faster than his soul.” Gloriana smiled, proud of herself. “I am not finished, yet.”
“Very well, go ahead.”
She then told him everything was working fine until two nosy fighters butted in. The Unicorn named Aaron Schmidt and his new girlfriend Airmed Starchaser. When she tried to get away, she found herself stuck, and for good reason. Lord Guardian and the Ancient Mystic Sisters stopped her from leaving before calling an Ancient Spell of Exile to send her back to the Unknown.
“Starchaser. I have heard that name before.” Orthos muttered under his breath when she was finished telling the tale.
“I could see it in her eyes.” Gloriana announced. “She is descended from the same line of Watchers.”
“Is that so?” Orthos remarked, still muttering under his breath. “Whose daughter is she?”
“Malayna and Barton Starchaser.” Gloriana supplied. “I do not think she realizes it yet, Master. She believes herself a Pagan in the Outer Realm.”
Orthos grinned. “Gloriana, my pet, you have just given me the perfect ruse for my escape from this wretched world.”
“Ooh, I cannot wait!” Gloriana embraced him. “The Ancient Mystics will pay for sure!”
Orthos kissed her passionately. “For now, I must celebrate the return of my delectable, conniving Queen.”

III

As part of their patrols, Young Guardian and the Protector decided to visit an old friend. Something of what Panther Grey had told her was bugging her mind.
“It’s not like either of the kits to be like this.” Young Guardian supplied, half in thought, half to the Protector. “So withdrawn and overprotective of their young.”
“Let’s find out more of what Panther has to say.” The Protector announced before knocking on the door to the Feline Palace. “If we can get the kits to come to their senses in time, they can be a big help later on.”
“As usual, you’re right.” Young Guardian nodded. The door opened to a very distraught Marie Grey. “Marie, are you all right?”
The woman was holding a baby boy in her arms, and looked as if she had been crying. Despite her tears, Marie Grey curtseyed. “Panther is in the yard.” She barely whispered.
Young Guardian and the Protector shared a look, agreeing that Marie wasn’t okay.
“Thank you, Marie.” The Protector said softly, following Young Guardian around the Palace to the yard behind it.
As Marie said, Panther was there, practicing old karate moves with his daughter Destiny.
“Block, child, block!” Panther yelled. “Don’t let me through!”
“I’m trying, Daddy, really.” Destiny was nearly in tears, but kept at the task. She was determined to catch him off-guard. “You’re not exactly making it easy on me.”
“An opponent wouldn’t.” Panther blocked her many kicks and punches. “Have I taught you in vain?”
Destiny’s purple eyes glowed yellow and her smile faded.
“That’s it, girl...” Panther said. “Tap it.”
“Trust me, it were not in vain!” She yelled, springing a powerful kick to his midriff.
She then threw herself at him, grabbing his arm and flipping him to the ground. In seconds, Panther Grey was out-thwarted by his own daughter.
Dumbfounded, Panther tried to stand up. He coughed and wheezed, trying to catch his breath. “Now that was more like it!” Panther congratulated her.
Destiny’s yellow eyes faded back to her lovely violet.
Young Guardian and the Protector clapped their hands, startling the feline duo.
“Bravo, Destiny.” The Protector said. “Not even I could do that when he was Earthbound!”
“That’s because we never had the chance.” Panther joked, grabbing the Protector’s hand and lifting himself up. “I know what brings Young