War Magi: The Star Magi Saga, #3

By Andrew Dobell

Amanda wanted to unite the Nexus to fight the coming darkness.
But just when she needs them to work together, war erupts.

Amanda's efforts to unite the Dynasties have only driven them apart.
Now Dynasty fights Dynasty, as the Terran Foundation is forged.
Amanda finds herself caught in their power games and must protect what she had built.

Meanwhile, outside forces are massing. The Crux are preparing for invasion. The threat Amanda warned about, is coming.

Conflict and treachery are everywhere, and Amanda's in the middle of it.

Urban Fantasy goes intergalactic in this Epic Space Fantasy that fans of Warhammer 40K, Star Wars and Dune are sure to love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Creative Edge Publishing
• Release date: May 23, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224414826

Book preview

About this book

Thank you for reading book 3 of the Star Magi Saga.

This series chronicles the continuing adventures of Amanda-Jane Page, and this series follows on from the seven-book Magi Saga series.

Star Magi is part of a wider universe of books that is growing all the time, and there are events and characters in this book that have come from elsewhere in the universe, and even from outside of this universe.

While you don’t need to read any of the other books that contain events that are referenced in this book, they do add depth to the story.

Firstly, you might consider reading the first Magi Saga series to learn more about where Amanda comes from and her history.

Secondly, you might want to look at reading the Quantum Legends books, which detail Amanda’s adventures in the universes of other writers.

Quantum Legends is available on Amazon.

Along a similar line, the two BOB’s Bar Anthologies features Amanda and is where she first meets characters from other universes.

BOB’s Bar is available on Amazon

Another series of mine that’s referenced in this book is Wasteland Road Knights, a post-apocalyptic adventure series in the style of Mad Max, but with zombies and daemons.

The series is available on my website.

A complete reading guide is available on my website.

www.andrewdobellauthor.co.uk

Thank you for reading this book.

Andrew

Lexicon

Terms

Magi – (Pronounced Mah-Guy) Humans who can harness Essentia and bend it to their will to work ‘Magic’.

Scions – Creatures of nightmare and legends. Vampires, werewolves, and more. Created by the Archons.

Nomad – Magi who serve the Archons or Crux. Magi who walk the dark path.

Essentia – An extra-dimensional exotic energy that when used to fuel the wishes of a Magus. Creates Magic.

Aegis – The Magical shield that Magi use to protect themselves.

Aetheric Realm – The Spirit World.

Riven – Humans with no Magical ability.

Initiated Riven – Riven who are aware of Magic.

Archons – Ancient creatures of god-like power, creators of the Scions. They once ruled Earth, and they want to rule humanity again.

Crux – Ancient alien creatures of immense power who fought the first Star Magi and lost. They retreated to an area of space close to the galactic core.

Aeon – Beings that live between universes and outside of time. Amanda’s mother, Sophia, is an Aeon.

Organisations & Locations

Nexus Arcadia – The central group of Magi in space. Primarily made up of Dynasties

Dynasties – Ancient, aristocratic, and powerful Magi families.

Terran Foundation – The merging of several pro-Sol groups: The Foundation and the Terran Alliance. The organisation grew out of the old Sol Protectorate.

Created by the Tempus Dynasty, the Foundation was a neutral Magi group based at Proxima Centauri (The Star closest to Earth’s Sun) who hosted the Nexus Council.

The Terran Alliance was a collection of smaller groups, including the Ormond Dynasty, the Magi Council of Earth, the Wraith mercenary group, and several systems close to our solar system.

The Accord – A group of Dynasties who oppose the Magi of Earth joining the Nexus and gaining as much power as they have so quickly. They see the swift rise to power of the Terrans as a threat to their own power and are fighting back. Their actions are bringing the Nexus closer to war.

The Sol Protectorate – The exclusion zone around Earth, the rules that prevent Earth joining to Nexus, and the governing body that polices this.

The Earth was left to advance at its own rate by the Magi of the Nexus, so that while the Earth is still in the early twenty-first century, out beyond the solar system, there is a vast interstellar civilisation of humans. The Ormond Dynasty managed the Sol Protectorate with help from the Foundation of the Nexus, and the Sentinels of Earth.

Sol Prime – A huge city-sized space station about two hundred AU from Sol (Earth’s Sun).

Ultima Thule – A large castle on Saturn’s moon, Enceladus, the location of the Magi Council of Earth.

Axia – The city planet at Proxima Centauri, home of the Nexus Council.

The Quantum Realm – Amanda’s personal magical realm located in the space between universes just outside of our universe.

The Sentinels – An Earth group dedicated to keeping Magi and Riven affairs separate, they were also the former prison guards for the Archons.

Crux – Ancient god-like creatures of evil who want to destroy the Nexus. Also, the group of Nomad Magi, dragons, and Scions who follow them.

Dynasties of Note:

The Ormond Dynasty – A small dynasty based at Sol Prime, led by Ylena Ormond.

The Tempus Dynasty – Leaders of the former Foundation, and custodians of the Nexus Council. They have a pro-Sol stance.

The Valk Dynasty – The first dynasty to oppose the Terran Ascendancy. Tend to be isolationist and authoritarian.

The Wraxleith Dynasty – Allies of the Valk, between them they form the backbone of the Accord. A proud, fierce, and expansionist dynasty.

The Septhian Dynasty – A part of the Terran Foundation, they are elegant and egalitarian with a focus on the natural world.

The Arcturus Dynasty – A part of the Terran Foundation, they are strong, stoic, and viewed as a little rough around the edges.

Characters

Amanda-Jane Page – A Magus from Earth. The daughter of an Aeon (extra-dimensional being) and human, she’s been marked as someone with a destiny in the fight against the darkness.

Sabine – A Magus from New Orleans, trained in special ops. She’s a sensation junkie and occasional lover of Amanda’s.

Rane Ormond – Daughter to the matriarch of the Ormond Dynasty and the wild-child of that family.

Jinx – AI from another universe.

Matt Walker – A Riven human from Earth and a bit of a computer wiz.

Samhain – Amanda’s sabretooth cat familiar.

Trevelyan – Ancient Magus. Chair of the Earth Magi Council, and a member of the assembly leading the Terran Alliance.

Elden Tempus – Head of the Tempus Dynasty, speaker of the Nexus Council.

Dasha Ormond – Foppish brother to Rane.

Ylena Ormond – Magus. Mother to Dasha and Rane. The matriarch of the Ormond Dynasty

Crystal – Leader of the Sentinels.

Valerya – A Riven human woman who’s been fighting the Crux for thousands of years.

Aris – A stoic Riven soldier, undercover agent, and companion of Valerya.

Astrid – Magus leader of the paramilitary group, the Wraiths. Friend to Amanda.

Anastasia – Nomad Magus from Earth with plans to gain power.

The Demiurge – Ancient, powerful creature who first banished the Archons to their spirit realm prison ten thousand years ago. Has been missing ever since.

Sophia – An Aeon and Amanda’s mother.

Theletos – Powerful leader of the Crux.

Previously...

Freed from their prison in the Aetheric Realm, the Archons were liberated from Earth by the Crux during an attack by a flight of dragons.

Having successfully covered up the attack, hiding it from humanity, the Magi of Earth realise that the Magi of the Nexus cannot protect Earth, and take matters into their own hands.

Much to the displeasure of most of the dynasties of the Nexus, who see the Terrans as a threat to their power, the Terrans join the Nexus, helped by a few within the Nexus who support them, such as the Foundation.

Amanda and the new Terran Alliance know that the Archons have joined with the Crux and are a growing threat to the Nexus. Amanda wishes only to unite the Magi to fight the Crux and Archons. The dynasties, however, don’t see the danger. They defeated the Crux once before, thousands of years ago, and don’t understand why they couldn’t do the same again.

As the Terran Alliance ascends to the Nexus, several dynasties who oppose them, and disbelieve their warnings about the Crux, join forces to create the Accord, an organisation of Magi whose goal is to stop the Terrans.

Violence breaks out, and Amanda is forced to deal with these incidents.

Meanwhile, growing frustrated with the politics of the Nexus, Crystal chooses to travel to Crux Space to follow a lead.

The Archons were defeated once before, ten thousand years ago by the being known as the Demiurge. Crystal wishes to find this Demiurge and convince him to fight the Archons once again.

Back in the Nexus, tensions escalate and result in an outright conflict on the edge of Foundation Space between the Accord and the Terran Alliance.

Concurrently, the Foundation discovers that the dynasties have infiltrated the Foundation and work to expel it.

During the fight with the Accord, Amanda discovers that a Nomad from Earth called Anastasia has infiltrated the Accord and grown in power. She’s now a weredragon. The Alliance defeats the Accord when Amanda suddenly reaches a new level of understanding about Magic and uses that power to win the battle.

Following the battle, the Terran Alliance and the Foundation join forces to become the Terran Foundation.

Elsewhere, the Crux are expanding their territory now that they have the Archons to help them. Following an attack by the Crux, Crystal meets with a Magus called Anka, who knew the Demiurge and knows where he is now...

Un-Sundered

Deep Space, somewhere in the Nexus

Anastasia stood on the bridge of her Aether ship, the Obsidian Fire, as it dropped out of Flux and returned to a more sedate speed. On the main viewer, the scene before the ship revealed a bright orb in the distance with glaring jets of light bursting from its poles that appeared to be rotating, making the steamers of light wobble around, illuminating the gases all around it. The vista it created was beautiful.

It’s still here, Glass said over the ship's speakers. Dead ahead. Shall I set a course?

Anastasia smiled at the ships AI’s pronouncement. Intercept course. If they flee, let me know.

As you wish, the AI replied as the Obsidian Fire boosted forwards towards the dark speck on the screen before her.

You’re sure this is going to work? Sapphira asked from across the bridge.

Anastasia smiled as she looked back at her second-in-command. She was a tough, strong person who looked imposing in her dark armour, but this nervousness didn’t suit her. Although, given the task ahead, she could understand her apprehension. But of course, she replied.

It’s risky, taking on an Un-Sundered.

Nothing in life that’s worth doing is without risk, Sapphira. Not getting cold feet, are we?

Of course, not, my Baal, Sapphira replied, suddenly puffing out her chest to look a little more confident. I’ve just heard talk about the power of these Magi.

Anastasia nodded. The Un-Sundered were legendary, that was true. The first Magi to leave Earth behind before the Archons enacted their global Magical effect of separating all Magi from Essentia, turning all Magi into normal humans. It didn’t go entirely to plan, though, and while the Magic didn’t neuter all Magi, it did weaken their connection to Essentia. Suddenly, a lot less Magi were appearing, and the Sundered Magi were no longer able to rely on having Magi children. It also took longer for the Magi to learn their Magic.

Those that had left the Earth before the Sundering were spared these effects and went on to create the dynasties of the Nexus. That was over ten thousand years ago, though, before the Demiurge banished the Archons to their prison deep in the Aetheric Realm.

Some of these Un-Sundered still lived with their dynasties, but others did not. Time was a cruel mistress, and even as powerful as these Magi were, they were still human and prone to hubris and madness.

The Aether ship before her was home to one such Un-Sundered, and he’d been here, orbiting this pulsar for years now after leaving Concord Prime.

She smiled to herself. It was a mistake he would regret.

They can indeed be formidable, Anastasia said, her gaze fixed on her Coven-mate as she spoke. "Do you wish to stay aboard the Obsidian Fire?"

No. I was merely expressing concern for your safety, my Baal.

Cute. Very well, get everyone ready, she said, and looked back at the viewer as they closed on the target ship, manoeuvring to match speed and direction.

Behind her, Anastasia felt Sapphira reach out and contact the rest of the crew. It only took a moment, and with a series of magical bursts of energy, the other members of her Coven appeared on the bridge. Ebony the vampire, Azerrad and Thorne, both of them Sage Magi, and Lyka, the mysterious Arch Master and Scion who had accompanied her from Earth.

We’re ready, Sapphira said as Magic flared from the Magi in the room.

Commence attack, Anastasia said, and reached out, summoning Essentia to her and sending it lancing out at the Aether ship just ahead of them. She could feel the other Magi doing the same, and as she watched, the two dragons aboard the Obsidian Fire, Kragen and Tallon, took off from the hull and flew towards the ship, blasting Essentia laced fire at the Aegis that surrounded it.

The shield did not last long under such an onslaught, and the moment it flickered and died, she reached in with her senses to find her target. It didn’t take long to find the most potent concentration of Essentia on the vessel. She smiled to herself as she looked upon the mighty Un-Sundered.

She was not impressed.

With a thought, she Ported herself and the rest of her crew across the void and into the Aether ship.

They appeared in a large room located just behind the bridge. There wasn’t much in here apart from the raised platform at the back with its single chair. Sat upon it, a lone figure looked up at her, moving only his eyes.

He was a middle-aged man, although that was by no means an indicator of how old he was. Dressed in robes, he looked thoroughly unimpressed with Anastasia’s sudden appearance.

Four Magi, two on either side of the throne, stepped forward, their Essentia flaring in her Aetheric Sight as Magical energy lashed out and slammed against her Aegis.

Beside her, her Coven retaliated, their Magic rushing out to meet the attackers and tear them apart. It only took a moment to leave the guards as smoking corpses on the floor while Anastasia reached into herself and called on the new, draconic part of herself to manifest.

She’d gained a little more control over it now. So, rather than transforming into a massive dragon and ripping this ship apart, her body instead grew by a couple of feet as horns sprouted from her forehead, leathery wings grew from her back, and her hands and feet transformed into scaly talons that she flexed to get a feel for them.

She stepped forward, smiling, revealing the fangs that had grown within her mouth as she approached the solitary figure.

Behind her, more guards were running into the room, but Sapphira and the others moved to take care of them.

You should have moved on from here, Valkus, Anastasia said as she neared the Un-Sundered.

The man blinked slowly as his voice filled her mind through an open Link. ~I have been living on borrowed time for too long, little Nomad. I welcome this release.~

Anastasia shrugged. As you wish, she answered, and worked her Magic, reaching out to the man before her and using her Magic to grip his soul and pull it from him. His Anima resisted, but the Magus himself did not. Instead, he was smiling. Anastasia pumped more power into her Magic, drawing on the local Essentia and leveraging its power to make her desires a reality.

A feeling of ripping washed over her as the Anima of the Un-Sundered finally tore free. Anastasia called on her new draconic heritage and pulled the Anima towards her, reversing the gifting of power that Void Dragons were able to do. Anastasia felt energy flood into her, through her body and out along her arms and legs, making her shake as it filled her up. For a moment, she couldn’t breathe and forgot where she was. Her whole attention was elsewhere, focused internally on the centuries of knowledge that rushed through her.

Her connection to Essentia strengthened as the new level of Magical understanding burnt itself into her mind.

It wasn’t the leap of power that had happened on consuming the dragon’s Anima. The increase in power was much smaller. Instead, the main change was a deeper understanding of the Magic she could use, and what she could actually do with it.

The blinding light that had filled her vision faded and drew back as she felt all her strength leave her for a brief moment. She fell. Dropping to her knees, she took a long, cleansing breath, filling her lungs with life-giving air once, twice, and then three times as her awareness returned.

Sitting up, she looked over to see a shrivelled corpse on the throne where Valkus had been moments before. She looked down at her hands and clenched her fists before opening them again. She was back in her human form once more, the draconic part of her having pulled back during the consumption.

Closing her eyes, Anastasia focused inwards and looked at her soul, her Anima. It was still here, but there was a darkness there now that wasn’t there before. It was faint, barely there at all, and probably not visible to any but the closest of observers. She knew what it meant. The cost of consuming the Anima of another tainted her own life