Frozen Mystic: Children of the Zodiac Book 3

Frozen Mystic

Children of the Zodiac: Book 3

By: Steven N. Mouland

Developmental Editor: Colleen McKie

Copy Editor: Crystal Vaughan

This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real

Copyright © 2016 by Steven Mouland

First Printing 2016

Jan 22nd, 2016

Publisher: Steven Mouland

Online, Amazon

Table of Contents

Prologue: Whispers in Time

Chapter 1: The Scorpio Sting

Chapter 2: Child of the Flame

Chapter 3: Secular of Shadows

Chapter 4: I Am the Darkness

Chapter 5: Tormented

Chapter 6: Flower of Life

Chapter 7: Frozen in Time

Chapter 8: Darkwood Journey

Chapter 9: A Fragile Soul

Chapter 10: Gate of Chaos

Chapter 11: I Am a Delarus

Chapter 12: The Forest That Does Not Live

Epilogue: Epsila

Notes

Acknowledgements

Bonus

Prologue: Whispers in Time

Iscala sat cross-legged upon the icy floor of the citadel. The young girl, whose long azure hair flowed past her shoulders, stared forward with curiosity and intelligence.

A female voice, powerful and commanding, spoke to her from the shadows of the massive chamber:

"Ages ago, no one knows for certain when, twelve stars fell from the sky. They crashed to the surface of Arteriea and caused destruction and havoc, nearly destroying life on this planet. These sentient stars concentrated their energy into the form of crystals. These crystals, hidden away in secluded parts of the world, intertwined with the elements of nature as well as the Epilobium of the world, forming our world’s magical essence.

As civilizations grew, the crystals began to grow tired of their slumber and wished to explore this world and to release their magical energies. To do this, each crystal sought out a soul with which it could be compatible — an avatar to host its crystalline essence. The crystals sought equals to co-exist with, but sometimes the host could not contain the power within and the sentient crystal would dominate the host’s mind, driving the host mad and becoming a dangerous beast: a Zodiac-Beast. An animal cannot resist its primal nature. The nature of the crystals is one of destruction and power.

Iscala nodded in understanding, her eyes never wavering from the source of the voice.

"The selected avatars — the Zodiac Children — had to seek out the crystals and prove his or her value by passing the Trials of the Crystals. Many lives have been lost over the millennia. Few have been strong enough to reach the crystals, and even fewer have not gone insane.

Five thousand years ago, when civilization had mastered this world and society had become advanced, a sage became aware of the existence of the crystals. He embarked on a grand journey across the landscape of Arteriea to find them and study them. He analyzed the crystals and learned of the power stored within them, knowing that they could be used as powerful weapons. As the Zodiac Children stepped forth to claim the crystals, the children were captured for study.

"Who was this sage? Iscala asked.

There is no record of his name, so no one knows for certain. When this happened, the innate power of this world fought back and the Shadow and Holy Crystals were born from the earth. Then from the shadows the Shadow-Lurkers emerged, born to kill the Zodiac Children before their powers could be unleashed. There was a prophecy that when all twelve Zodiac Children walked the earth they would bring about the Apocalypse. The Lord of the Shadows feared this prophecy and created Gateways, portals to the Shadow Realm where he could use the power of the shadows to enhance his sorcery to try to contain the Zodiac Children. Little did he know that by opening the Gateway to the abyss it would become a two-way portal, so that from it he would unleash the Horsemen of Chaos.

Iscala’s expression darkened. So this power … is evil?

Only as evil as the avatar. There was a terrible war between the Zodiac Children, the Shadow-Lurkers and the Horsemen, which caused mass death and mayhem. Soon after, civilization had fallen and several of the Zodiac Children were dead. The survivors managed to seal the Shadow-Lurkers within the Realm of Shadow. The Epsila — a being originally not of this earth — possessed a woman named Quantenessa, who stole the Holy and Shadow Crystals and wielded them both. Legend says she then destroyed life on this world with the Shadow Crystal, and resurrected it with the Holy Crystal. In doing so she banished the Horsemen.

Quantenessa became a Goddess, sworn to protect Arteriea from ever seeing such chaos again. The few survivors, somehow protected from the destruction of the world, rebuilt anew. The Zodiac Crystals were sent back to their slumber, and the Shadow and Holy Crystals were banished into the bowels of Arteriea.

Iscala smiled, her eyes wide with excitement. And the crystals? Have they awakened?

The massive blue-scaled and feathered dragon appeared from the shadows, dwarfing the girl like a mountain and smiling a fanged grin of delight. Indeed they have, my daughter. And it is our duty to protect them. To protect your Mystic.

My Mystic, Iscala pondered the words as she spoke them. I will … I will wait for him — my time-keeper.

Chapter 1: The Scorpio Sting

City of death,

I drift through your waters.

My soul clinging to a hollow shell

Not upon currents,

But my frame moves swiftly.

Who are you that carry me through this torrent?

Life or death,

I am lost in this place I call my mind.

I must wake up.

I must save myself

For I am utterly alone,

And I cannot hold on to what is real.

Wake me up,

I do not want to be alone.

Gallowyn,

My lady of the shadows,

I can no longer see your face or hear your voice.

I simply hear the insanity within my skull.

The sea of death carries me away.

— Frost Mystic

A voice called out to him: Awaken, Jeremisias. I can see the dream in your eyes. I am your salvation. No more slumbering, sleeper. I await you now.

Jeremisias stirred. His vision was blurred for a moment, but as it cleared he could see he was in a place full of light.

Did I die? he asked himself, as the world around him slowly came into focus.

As his vision fully cleared, he noticed that he lay upon a stone slab in a small room. The place was so bright because the ceiling above him was made from glass so the outside world shone through upon him.

Jeremisias sat up slowly and felt a jolt of pain through his chest. He noticed he no longer wore his robe, but only his breeches. His chest was bandaged heavily where he had been wounded.

The room around him was similar to the one in his dreams. Here the walls and floor were pure ice, including the slab where he had slept. He thought it was strange that he felt no chill from the surface. He knew he should be shaken from the cold, yet his bare feet touched the ice floor without hesitation.

Jeremisias could see a hefty, thick stone door with a metal handle in the distance. He crept toward the door and then leaned against it in exhaustion. Cautiously, he listened for anything on the other side. He soon realized it was far too thick to hear anything beyond. He reached for the handle and pulled with all his might. Slowly, the massive stone moved toward him; it was much lighter than he had imagined it would be.

He feebly leaned against the side of the doorway, which led to an expansive chamber ahead. His body tired quickly and ached from the wounds that were not completely healed. He took a deep breath and mustered his strength. Then a scream caught in his throat and he stared wide-eyed at the sight before him. He froze with fear, not cold.

In front of him was a gargantuan blue dragon with light, frosty-blue scales. The beast stood tall and stared at the sky through the smashed glass ceiling above it. It spread its wings, the span of which filled the entire chamber. Its wings were shaped like those of an angel, but with blue feathers amongst its leather skin. Jeremisias was mesmerized by the beautiful beast, with a fascination matched only by his fear. He remembered seeing this creature before, as it too haunted his dreams.

With a deep, guttural growl and a thump from its tail, it leapt upward through the open ceiling and roared out to the sky.

I know you, he thought to himself as he stared after the mystical beast. I cannot be afraid … not anymore.

Jeremisias shut his eyes for a moment as he heard the dragon roar in the distance. He could feel her voice within his essence, which trembled ever so slightly — he could feel her growl within his very soul.

This connection he felt to the dragon started to put him at ease.

He opened his eyes again and stared upward as he moved farther into the room. The ice walls were reflective like mirrors — his likeness and that of the various objects in the room seemed so alive. The room was expansive, with a pool of water in the distance. He could not recall ever being in a building as large as this one before and wondered how many farmer fields would fit into this place. Growing up in Shesshar, farmland was all around him; he was not used to seeing massive interiors such as this.

He approached the pool. It was broad and extended farther across the length of the room. He reckoned it was large enough for the dragon to dive down into. A memory of terror flashed in his mind as he recalled drowning and the massive fanged mouth that enveloped him. Was that the dragon? Did she save me from the depths? The water was dark and calm. He was amazed that it wasn’t frozen from the cold, just like the pool in the mountains where he had thought he would surely die.

As he stood at one end of the pool, he looked beyond and saw a pedestal with a bright blue light that glowed and beckoned him forward. He suddenly felt dizzy and stepped back from the water, fearful that he would fall in like before. His knees shook from the strain of his injuries and soon he was kneeling upon the floor.

So close, he thought to himself as he slumped forward. Exhausted, he could not move and soon he could only see darkness as he fell unconscious.

Wait but a while longer, Scorpio Crystal. I am coming. I am coming to claim you.

***

"Are you all right?" Jeremisias asked quietly as he cautiously moved through the realm of dreams. He stepped toward the sobbing figure before him.

This realm, this state of existence, flowed like the ocean. The air and surroundings all connected and intertwined. He felt like he could change this world, mould it like a sculpture.

Her long, auburn hair moved on its own accord, swirling like tendrils of magic — alive without wind. He could barely see her as the shadows all but consumed her. She appeared to be trapped, unable to escape the darkness that ensnared her.

"Are you the woman that I need to help? I want to help you," he called out, but she did not reply.

He could see that her arms and legs were completely black and merged with the surroundings. The shadows slowly climbed her torso, like tiny hands creeping upward.

Her voice whispered in the shadows, I cannot do this alone…

He reached out but could not touch her. His hand should have clasped her shoulder. Instead, it passed through the shadows like it was moving through mud.

"I will find you, and with the Scorpio Crystal I will have the power to save you — to save you and anyone else that I care about. Jeremisias stepped back and added, I will not be weak any longer; I will have power."

He looked back quickly as he heard clapping behind him. The sound echoed.

Jeremisias watched as a robed figure emerged from the shadows. The face was concealed, yet he recognized the stranger’s robes and felt the familiar foreboding presence he knew from the Island of Stars and the dream that he experienced there: the Dream-Weaver.

"Wise of you to choose the correct path, boy, he stated coldly. Soon you will embrace the power of the Scorpio, and you will taste its raw power."

Jeremisias stared at him and replied cautiously, I will embrace the crystal, but not for you or anyone else. I will use the power to help people who need me.

The Dream-Weaver barked out fake-sounding laughter. Foolish notions, boy, but it does not matter. The crystal will show you what is possible, if you can control it. Can you, boy? Can you truly contain such a potent force?

Dumbfounded, Jeremisias stared at him. I ... I will.

"Believe it, or it will control you, the Dream-Weaver retorted. I see it within you. I see the potential for you to be the most powerful Frost Mystic throughout time. But in one quick instant such power could consume your