The Traitor by A. Lombardo (i can read with my eyes shut TXT) 📕

“Being full-blooded Katori might make a difference, but I had help the first time—Kendra talked me through it. My second solo attempt at reaching out with my sight across long distances left me drained and incapacitated for hours.”

Hot steam swirled around the spoon in Rayna’s hand. “Is there something I could do to help you?” she asked, pouring honey into her tea.

The answer seemed simple enough. Rayna was Katori, and she could help collect the extra energy Kai needed, but would it be enough to allow him to search for a Half-Light? Kendra had once said that he could search for anyone—now he was older, more powerful. And he had his crystal. He took a sip of tea and looked around at the stone dwelling.

There was magic in everything, but sunlight and growing plants would provide a stronger connection to the world. “I think you can help. I know in theory what to do, but I need more power. Plus, your Kodama healing abilities could keep me from passing out as my mind travels the world on the light.”

He took another sip of tea and continued to tell Rayna the process. She agreed they needed to be outside, and she knew just the place. She told him that she would take them to the eternal summer garden the Kodama created to explore their powers. Empowered by other Kodama magic and nature itself, Rayna would be stronger—and so too would Kai.

♦ ♦ ♦

Kai’s silver dragon cast a dark shadow over the Kodama sanctuary, a plot of land encircled by Stoneking magic. Even in his Beastmaster form, he could sense their power vibrating within the structure, a constant hum. One thing he had never noticed before was a ring of yellow crystals, set aglow, presumably by Lumens, embedded into the tall rock formations. As he neared the ground, his scaly dragon body felt the warm air move in a delicate but steady breeze. Had even the Weathervanes contributed to the creation of this special place?

His wings fluttered the trees surrounding the glade as he landed. Smoke and Rayna hopped to the ground and he transformed back into his natural form. The change in weather wrapped him in warmth and he removed his coat and placed it on a nearby rock with Rayna’s cloak. The magic-infused air surrounded them, and he saw it pour into Rayna. The Kodama sanctuary cradled her in her arms bonding with her as the animals of the forest did to him.

“Not sure why, but I never noticed how this sanctuary connects with you.”

“It was not always so. My openness to the land, and the growth of my magic creates a stronger connection. Each plant I nurture makes me stronger, connects me to the world. But this place,” she waved her hand around the clearing, “is special to the Kodama. Many of the older trees are living people, the Kodama who loved nature and chose to be a tree. If I listen, I can hear them whisper. But we did not come here for me; we came to help you find Riome. What do I need to do?”

“You are right, please sit with me.” He motioned to a sunny spot and sat on a grassy knoll, Kai closed his eyes. With a deep breath, he recalled Kendra’s instructions. Sunlight melted into his head and shoulders. He infused the energy with memories of Riome. Images of her flooded his mind. Years of hand-to-hand combat training and the various accents and disguises she used on missions flashed before him. Kendra’s words echoed in his ears: Memories possess a power all their own. He focused on the energy her memories created and pulled it inward.

Speaking to Rayna, he instructed, “Collect the energy from the air and the earth and blend it with your own. Push your energy to me. See the power I pull from the sunlight in the meadow. Allow our surroundings to strengthen you. Share what you can with me, and I will mix it with my own.”

Connected to his sight, Kai gleaned Rayna’s movements. Like Kendra, her cupped hands swirled through the air as she folded magic and pushed it at Kai. Around them, he noticed the flow of power. His gleaning revealed particles of light swirling through the air. The green crystal around Rayna’s neck glowed, as did his white stone.

At first, the magic flowed slowly and easily into him. Waves of Rayna’s magic merged with his; he grasped at the raw energy and began to shake. His soul felt momentarily overwhelmed, but he knew what he needed to do. Rayna's magic and the power within their surroundings needed to be shaped by his desire to find Riome.

Drawn inward, he summoned his magic. To his surprise, the depth of his power seemed limitless. Rayna’s magic compounded on itself. Sweat dripped down his brow. His body shook with more intensity.

“Hold on as long as you can!” he heard Rayna call. She sounded very far away even though she sat close.

Mentally, he grabbed onto the raw power he’d created and thought of Riome. In an explosion of magic, he felt his mind punch through the air and a focused white light darted over the Katori Mountains. A blur of white, green, and brown landscapes rushed below Kai. His eyes watered as if stung by the wind pressing against his face, yet he physically remained seated in the green meadow.

Before him, a city of black metal rippled across the landscape, and Kai’s mind flew toward the sprawling city of Milnos. Its massive size dwarfed anything he had ever seen. He knew Diu was around five miles wide, but Milnos was fifteen miles, with three rings of massive walls. His mind raced past the black iron gates toward the towering ironclad fortress. Then his mind neared the coast and darted out over the ocean. Clouds blew past him, and he felt a special connection