Reuben's silver eyes shone brightly while the others looked to the two newcomers in confusion. Stell clutched her locket, the feeling of so much power in one place making her weak. The beautiful older witch before her scanned the group with intense, violet eyes.

After a moment, the witch smiled sweetly, still sending chills through Stell's body. "Well, that's one way to make an entrance," the witch's spoke, the man behind her smiling as well, however with a darker vibe. "I'm going to be honest, I was expecting to see you all sooner. The night brings many shadows here in Kespain."

Stell looked around, praying the witch was just saying that and Kabuto was the only shadow for miles. If anything, she didn't want this particular witch to know she broke the law and rose the dead. Especially when her husband was the Guardian of Trapario. Stell was the very reason the Mallor army had grown stronger rapidly.

"Great Guardian of Trapario Cuan!" Reuben exclaimed cheerfully as he stepped closer to the two before him. "And you must be his lovely wife, Wendy the Wonderful!" he bowed deeply in great respect, the others behind him still frozen. "Forgive our intrusion, but we have some-"

"Questions," Wendy interrupted, still smiling kindly as Reuben raised his head to look up at her, "yes, you may have your answers. However, I do believe there is a courtesy called 'ladies first'." she turned her gaze to Stell, who flinched in unsuspected shock under the Guardian's witch's eyes. Everyone turned to look at Stell, Reuben looking baffled.

"How did-" Stell began.

"Everyone has questions," Wendy answered, "and while I do admit your questions are similar to Shadowsoul's here, yours is more intriguing and it's only 'lady-like' of me if I let you go first, since you are of the female origin."

Stell hesitated, holding her heart-shaped necklace tightly in her hand. She was going to ask about her vision but she hadn't expected to ask it so suddenly. There was also a new question about what her vision had to do with Reuben's when all she wanted was to go home.

"I... I... Um..." Stell stuttered before taking a deep breath and gathering her strength to speak clearly. "For the past few years now, I've been having the same dream over and over again, each one getting easier to see more clearly. I'm walking down a hall I've never been in before, the windows mosaic with images that look like it's telling a story and pictures just opposite the windows with paintings doing the same as the windows. Then I get to a door with all these markings. When I get through the door... There's a book. Nothing but a book on a pillar. And when I go to open it... It opens rapidly and a face jumps out at me... Screaming. It just keeps showing itself and I don't know what it means or how to stop it."

Wendy looked Stell over before smiling again and turning to Cuan. "You owe me a date night," the witch chuckled, her husband rolling his eyes. She looked back to Stell with the same kind smile. "Well, Stell Mooney, I believe this dream is a sign that your meeting Shadowsoul and Stryker isn't just by coincidence."

Before Stell could ask about how the Guardian's witch knew her or anyone else's name, Wendy turned to Reuben. "You're searching for the Grimorie, yes?"

"Your unlimited library of knowledge is astounding," complimented Reuben as his eyes shone brightly, "yes, we're looking for the Grimorie and we're hoping you know the exact location so that we can collect it!"

Wendy looked to Reuben before looking back to Stell. She then looked to Kabuto, keeping the same sweet smile. "You're turn."

Kabuto stood in silence for a moment before asking his question. "You're here, so do you plan on doing about Alabaster? Are you going to arrest him, tell him he can't be king, kill him?"

"I'm afraid none of that is happening," Cuan spoke, Wendy frowning as she looked to the Guardian. "I'm sorry, but what Alabaster is doing doesn't concern all of Trapario," Cuan explained when Kabuto eyed him darkly, "Alabaster is under Kespain jurisdiction until he does something to threaten Trapario's safety."

"He's raising an army of the dead to spread the fear of shadows throughout the rest of Trapario!" Kabuto exclaimed angrily as he bagan storming over to the Guardian. "What's more threatening to this God damned planet than that bastard raising the dead just to prove a point!"

"He's not planning to destroy Trapario, kill off an entire species, nor is he planning to kill the Capital's royal family." Cuan told Kabuto sharply as he stood to be face-to-face to Kabuto. "Protecting Trapario from ultimate peril is my duty, protecting it from fear is beyond my control or care."

"Then what good are you?" Kabuto spat.

"Now, now, Mr. Stryker," Wendy stepped between the two arguing men, "I know how much Kespain means to you, but I can guarantee that if you believe in fate, you'll get your wish to see Alabaster die."

"Fate," Kabuto scoffed, rolling his eyes, "if I believed in fate, I wouldn't be here." the shadow returned to Tak's side, still glaring the two powerful beings down. "My next question is about him," he nodded his head to the fire mage, "I've been raising him for a year and he still hasn't produced a spark of fire."

"But of course," Wendy giggled, "you're a shadow he's a fire mage, you two have completely different kinds of magic. Tak is, what, eight? His fire will come in time. What I can tell you, as you're very impatient, is that Tak's fire will come when his heart is in the heat of the moment. So far only his strength has been what he's been using. A fire mage must also use his weakness to release his fire."

"Wow, that really..." Tak spoke, "yeah, I don't know what that means, can't you just like give me a potion or something to work with?"

"No," Wendy answered, "you and you alone must be the one to use his strength and weakness to spark your flame."

Tak groaned and rolled his eyes before storming off to sit on the ground, his head in his hands. Kabuto shook his head at Wendy before going to join Tak and look back to the desolate village below the castle.

Wendy then looked to Thorne and nodded her head.

"I have... Three different... Personalities," Thorne began shyly, looking to Reuben during each pause, "and I'd like to get rid of two of them, but I don't know how."

"I see," Wendy rubbed her chin as she looked Thorne up and down. She then looked to Alia. "And you?"

"I have a friend who ran off without saying goodbye," Alia began quickly, "I think he's in trouble and I want to help him, but I don't know where he is. Do you know where I can find him?"

Wendy frowned as she shot a quick glance to Reuben and back to Alia and smile once again. "There is no need to search for him," the witch answered, "he will return to you in time. But, I must remind you, the Netherworld can do horrible things to the mind. You may have escaped unscathed, but fate can be cruel. Remember, you have friends who will do anything to protect you, even if it means losing your trust."

Alia blinked as Wendy stepped away from the red-haired girl to return to stand before Stell, Reuben, and Thorne. She looked over their heads to call Kabuto and Tak back over, who both hesitated to stand and make their way to the group. Stell fiddled with her locket in her fingers, waiting in anticipation for her question to finally receive a clear answer for what her vision meant. From what Stell had heard from Wendy's vague answers, she wondered if the book she saw was the Grimorie. But that wasn't possible. Stell hadn't expected to meet anyone in Kespain that she'd have to help. She only dreamed of the book, there was nothing in her dream about necromancers, shadows, or mages.

"Well, I have some news for all of you," Wendy began, "all of you have unknowningly been asking the same question. What I mean by that is Stell's vision has been a look into the past and future. The book she's been seeing is the Grimorie itself and the place she found it was its home before its present resting place."

Stell felt her body run cold. She was dreaming about a book she only heard of yesterday? How could that be, she was just a lowly witch? Not to mention, her only quest in all this was to go home. She didn't want to search for some book that was possibly cursed and waiting to steal her soul.

"The previous owner had placed a spell on the Grimorie that their successor will find the book and will either use it to save Trapario from centuries of darkness or use it for evil and spread centuries of pestilence throughout the world," Wendy went on as she turned to Stell kindly, "it seems the Grimorie's creator has some big shoes for Stell to fill."

Stell shook when everyone turned to her, their eyes boring down on her. Stell took a step back and gripped her hair feeling a breaking point within her begin to bend.

"That's ridiculous!" Stell cried out loudly. "I can't be the one to take the book, I'm just one small town witch who's not even a pure blood, my father was a human. I can barely even control my magic, how am I supposed to control whether the book lets me use it for good or evil? There has to be a mistake."

"Why do you think, someone as young as you, cannot learn to control your magic?" Wendy asked, still smiling sweetly. "Especially with such an opportunity to do so by joining Shadowsoul on his journey?" Stell remained silent. She searched her mind for a reason, but all it came down to was her past with the Mallors. She didn't want to be the reason all of Trapario would face an eternity of darkness. She didn't want to be evil because of a bunch of shadows.

"When I was your age," Wendy went on without an answer, "an old friend once told me 'make your past a better future'. Don't let who you were before this, make you who you are now. Fate has brought you here, yes, but now it's up to you of whether or not you take responsibility as the Grimorie's chosen owner."

Stell looked down, her face feeling hot for a moment. She never really believed in fate or destiny. However, she had to admit that it was strange how she had been dreaming of the Grimorie long before she met the necromancers. And whether or not Wendy knew about Stell's enslavement to the Mallors, she seemed to know her past had something to do with her uncertainty about choosing between good and evil in the future. Stell had to trust she'd make a better life for herself once this was all over. Even if it meant taking the responsibility of becoming the owner of an ancient book.

"Sorry to interrupt this little enlightenment speech," Kabuto replied, ripping Stell from her thoughts, "but what does all this have to do with the rest of us?"

"The Grimorie is full of spells, hexes, curses, incantations, everything a spell caster can only dream of learning," Wendy pointed out as she turned her purple eyes to the shadow, "who's to say nothing in that book will assist in ending Alabaster's reign in one swift flick of Stell's wrist?"

"Are you saying that because Stell is the Grimorie's chosen one, she can help Kespain dethrone that son of a bitch?" Kabuto eyed the powerful witch skeptically. Wendy nodded. "You do realize that witches and shadows aren't on the best of terms? Stell and I are no exception. We're tolerating each other for now, but who's to say we won't remember why we're fighting in the first place?"

"As far as I'm concerned, Mr. Stryker, I have nothing to worry about when it comes between the silent war with shadows and witches," Wendy explained. "After all, are you really willing to let Alabaster remain king over accepting help from a witch?"

"I'll take a damn goblin over letting Alabaster continue to rule over Kespain," Kabuto admitted sharply. He then looked to Stell before sighing in defeat and running his fingers through his black hair. "Alright, I'm willing to put whatever this silent war between witches and shadows behind me to save Kespain from Alabaster."

"What about you, Stell?" Wendy asked as she looked to the younger witch.

Stell looked from Wendy to Kabuto then back again. Too much was happening too fast. All she wanted was to go home, all this talk of her being the chosen one to be the new owner of the Grimorie and now being asked to join a war she had nothing to do with? Why now of all times? It was just one slip of furious magic that started this craziness. She even punched herself for not having an actual broom, even if it meant letting Master Yama stereotyping her.

She then thought of how amazing it would be to see the old geezer's face when she kicked the Mallor's butts for everything they've done. She wanted all shadows to feel sorry for ever thinking a witch wasn't good enough to fight. She'd make Sefloria proud.

"Of course I'll fight," Stell replied determined, "I'll make sure to protect Sefloria from Alabaster with my life!"

Wendy smiled. "Wonderful, I'm sure Sefloria will be very grateful when this war is over."

"This is sweet," Reuben spoke up, clapping his hands together, "but, still curious here, how's this supposed to get these personalities out of my little Thorne?" Thorne flailed her arms as Reuben rubbed her head roughly, messing up her dark brown hair.

"Why Shadowsoul, I'm surprised at you," Wendy turned to the necromancer with the same smile in mock shock, "don't you know what kind of spells are written in the Grimorie? Once Stell gets the book and is able to perfect her magic, she can rid Thorne of these little personalities once and for all."

"Can't we just get it over with?" Thorne whined as she slumped over. "Already one is trying to get out and she's really chaotic."

"I'm sorry my dear," Wendy looked to the young girl with true sympathy in her voice, "but I'm afraid, due to some personal matters between my husband and I, I can do nothing except to tell you that Stell is the Grimorie's new owner and she will be the one to use the spell that will free you from these personalities."

Thorne sighed in defeat as she gripped her arm tightly, it twitching slightly. Reuben shared a look with Alia, both biting their lips in uncertainty. Something about these "personalities" seemed off to Stell, especially with how the older necromancers were looking to one another. What was there to hide about Thorne's multipersonality problem?

"Now that we got the chosen book keeper out of the way," Wendy spoke after a moment of silence, "you will find the Grimorie hidden within a cave at the top of the Midnight Mountain. I will warn you, the book does have a mind of its own without a master, it will use its magic to take form of your greatest fears to keep you as far from it as possible. Only the true owner can cease its wrath."

The older witch turned a kind eye to Stell, who flinched slightly, still feeling self-conscious that there had to be some mistake in choosing her to be the Grimorie's new owner.

"The Midnight Mountain, huh?" Reuben thought aloud. "Yes, I believe I know where that is. Thank you, m'lady!" the necromancer fell to one knee, grabbing Wendy's hand and kissing it fiercely. "Thank you, thank you for your guidance, we shall take to heart and find the book!" he continued to kiss the witch's hand before Cuan stepped up and snatched his wife from Reuben's grasp, giving the old man a death glare that made Stell shake. "You heard the witch! Back to Sefloria for the Midnight Mountains!"

With that Reuben began to lead the group away from the Guardian and his wife. Stell looked back once before picking up her pace to stay with everyone else. Tak groaned his complaints about not receiving a straight forward answer about his fire while Kabuto remained silent about having to work with a witch. Thorne asked Reuben about making camp seeing as how it was night and too dark to return to the docks where they had arrived. The older necromancer whispering that he didn't want to make camp too close to the Guardian, fearing he'd slit his throat in his sleep. Alia and Kabuto remained silent, looking stern as it seemed usual for them.

Before the group could get too far, Wendy's voice cried out for Stell to wait. Stell froze in her tracks and turned to see the witch jump from where she stood near her husband and float elegantly down before Stell, an object glittering in her hand opposite the one holding her broom. Wendy held out the silver item to Stell, revealing in the moonlight to it being a small, beautifully crafted mirror.

"What's this?" Stell asked, looking at herself in the reflective glass. She admitted to herself she looked far better than she had when she lived under the Mallors, her face less sullen and her hair unmatted.

"That is the Celestial Mirror," Wendy answered, "it's my gift to you. It can tell you the past, present, and future. All you have to do is ask it for the when, who, and where. It should assist you in what spells to look out for when you're practicing with the book."

Stell looked to the mirror in awe. First the book and now an all-seeing mirror. She was at a loss for words. Why her when it was obvious Wendy was more the more powerful spell caster out of all of them.

"Thank you, Lady Wendy," Stell uttered shyly, "I... Really don't deserve this."

"You may not think so, but in time, others will beg to differ." Wendy told her, confusing Stell even more. "And please, just call me Wendy."

"Do we get a gift as well, Wendy?" Reuben asked, winking to the witch as he gently pushed Stell aside to stand before the older witch.

"But of course," Wendy smiled, tilting her head. She snapped her fingers and a puff of silver and purple smoke swirled in Reuben's hands. Once the smoke had cleared, a white shirt with the words "I Met the Guardian and His Wife and All I Got Was This Lousy T-shirt". Reuben's beaming smile immediately vanished and was replaced by a disappointed frown, Tak holding back a snicker. "Courtesy of the Capital." Wendy beamed. "And you may refer to me as Lady Wendy!"

With that, Wendy climbed on her broom and flew off speedily into the sky, Cuan following after her quickly without the use of wings or a broom. Tak had given up and burst into laughter, falling to the ground as he pointed cruelly at the saddened Reuben.

"Damn capitalist," Reuben grumbled, his shirt vanishing in flames of silver.