Read Crystal Doors #1 for Free Online Page A

a weakness. He had read a college-level psychology textbook in which the author theorized that hyperfocus and distractibility were survival traits for hunters in the wild. And both Cap and Rip Pierce had assured Vic that he was endowed with “untamed genius,” much like Albert Einstein, who had himself flunked math. Not a bad comparison, he supposed.
    If he and Gwen had somehow managed to land themselves next door to Oz, then Vic would have to gather as much informationas he could. Maybe his mind could fit the puzzle pieces together and find a way home … or bring his father here to Elantya.
    When they descended the spiral staircase and returned to the chamber, bearded Rubicas and his apprentice were crouched beside a blackened crystal, studying it, rearranging the fragments. The once-glittering gems now looked like lumps of charcoal.
    Vic gestured with his chin to the two men. “So, uh, are these guys mad scientists, or what?”
    “They are certainly not mad,” Lyssandra said. “Master Rubicas is one of the wisest sages in all of Elantya.”
    Overhearing them, Orpheon flashed the elfin girl a wolfish grin. “And how would you describe me?”
    Lyssandra blushed, turning away from him. “Orpheon, apprentice to Sage Rubicas, is beginning his fourth level apprenticeship at the Citadel.”
    Sage Rubicas bobbed his head absently. “Mmm. He is one of the most brilliant sages in training that we have. Orpheon achieved the highest level of apprenticeship in less than two years, and I may soon promote him to journeysage. I do not know what I would do without him.”
    The younger man gave the sage a nod of thanks, and Vic could tell by Orpheon’s smug expression that he had no doubt as to his status in the fourth level… whatever that was.
    “What’s the Citadel?” Gwen asked. “Some sort of training program?”
    Rubicas answered, “It is a place of learning, a center of knowledge and enlightenment.”
    Vic grimaced. “Oh. You mean a school?”
    Lyssandra brushed her fingertips along his forearm, tasting his knowledge and memories. She laughed. “Oh, no! Schools like those are for little children. The Citadel is entirely voluntary, a place of growth and enrichment.”
    “More like a university, then?” Gwen asked.
    Lyssandra touched her fingertips to Gwen’s hand and read the thought in her mind. “Closer… but not precisely. Those who study at the Citadel stay as long as they choose in order to reach their desired level of knowledge. A novice may work to attain the rank of apprentice, journeysage, neosage, sage, or master sage. I am a second-level apprentice in Translation and Diplomacy. Perhaps you do not have a similar concept for —”
    “Surely that can wait,” Rubicas interrupted, still fixated on the problem they posed. “We wish to clarify the method by which Gwenya and Viccus came to be here at all. How did the crystal door open? We cannot be certain what allowed you to pass through.”
    “Um, what door?” Vic looked around.
    “The crystal door that Orpheon and I were hoping to create. We were using the rarest and most potent type of aja crystal, brought here from Afirik in hopes of establishing a new crystal door in the center of Elantya. If all had gone as planned, we would have brought a Key sage directly from Chian. Regrettably, the crystals all caught fire at once and poured out multicolored smoke, so we were unable to open a door after all. But you two appeared. Hmm, so something did go right, did it not?”
    “And something went wrong, too.” Orpheon pointed to the scorch marks on the marble floor. “Those were very valuable crystals.”
    “Yes,” Rubicas mused. “Still, there must be a Key. What was it that allowed these children to pass through? Hmm. Something on the other side?”
    Vic was about to point out that at fourteen they weren’t exactly
children,
when Gwen said, “Maybe my uncle’s crystals and mirrors tapped into your complex array here and leapfrogged us into the