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PROLOGUE

They h hill, far above the world, beneath a sky struck with the dazzle of stars and a white, waiting moon

Together the goddesses looked out beyond the castle shining on its own fair hill, to the dark glass of the sea

“Two stars found, and held safe” Luna lifted her face to the sky in joy, in thanks “The fates that be chose ith the six The guardians’ own hearts are strong and true”

“Their test is not finished,” Celene reminded her “And what they come to face will need more than true hearts”

“They will fight Have they not proven themselves warriors, sister?” Arianrhod demanded “They have risked They have bled”

“And will risk more I see battles to come, blood to spill Nerezza and the evil she created want uardians They want annihilation”

“It has always been so,” Luna murmured “In her heart, it has always been so”

“They have weakened her” Arianrhod put a hand on the jeweled hilt of the sword at her side “All but destroyed her Without the human she turned, they would have destroyed her”

“Did we not think the saht of the queen’s rise, on the night we created the stars?”

Celene stretched out her ares of what had been shimmered

“A night of joy,” she continued, “of hope and celebration And we three conjured three stars For wisdoed in fire”

“For compassion,” Luna added, “fluid as water”

“For strength,” Arianrhod finished, “cold as ice”

“Our powers, and our hopes, in a gift to the new queen A gift Nerezza coveted”