I consider this chapter a turning point for the story, many great revelations will be revealed now, and setting the stage for what's to come. I feel I am a stepping stone from the halfway point now, so I hope you all are still interested!
Ch19: Clearing the Air
Setting: Wasteland Precursor Temple
The monks had evacuated the arch chamber, returning to their additional task in interpreting the runes they had traced from the arch body. Before departing with them, Seem told Cynder to find her in the monk library where they were working so they could collaborate in preparing for the upcoming debate with Damas regarding the dragons, after she had dealt with Calidan of course. The wastelander still had not moved from his previous spot, and appeared to be spacing out staring at the statues in the hall. However, he was interrupted from his solitude by Cynder once again, who had walked up from behind him and sat down by his right side. Nothing was said between them for about 5 minutes, before Calidan broke the silence…
"You sure have a knack for interrupting my alone time, is this going to be a regular thing?"
"Depends, do you want it to be a regular thing?" Cynder asked feeling a bit irritated.
"Not a chance," Calidan replied sternly.
"Then shape up and stop causing dissention! I know this whole working on a team thing is new to you, we have the rocky start to prove that, but usually the longer one sticks with working on something new, the better they get at it. Though from what I've been seeing, you've only been getting worse!" argued Cynder.
"Maybe that's because teamwork is not for me," said Calidan.
"Wrong!" shouted Cynder, "It's for everyone, whether they like it or not. Believe me I know, I used to think I was better off on my own as well, that after I was saved by Spyro and the guardians, I was better off finding my place in the world on my own. I even ended up running away, and that was the most foolish choice I had ever made by my own will."
Calidan then started listening with intrigue, especially hearing that she had been saved once by Spyro. Then again, up to now he never bothered to ask anyone on this team their backstory. Perhaps that was something that needed to be addressed, and since Cynder appeared to now be sharing hers, this seemed like a good place to start.
"It was only after Spyro found me again that I realized where I truly belonged. That place was by his side serving the greater good, we've stuck to it since, and despite the hardships I've loved every minute of it with him," Cynder said softly, remembering everything she had been through with the purple dragon and how he had always been there for her. The change in Cynder's tone made Calidan finally realize something, that the two dragons were more then just friends.
"Wait a minute," he began, "So you and Spyro, you guys are…together?"
Cynder smiled with a nod, before turning toward him, "took you long enough to catch on."
"Hehe, well sorry, never been in that sort of thing so it's not quick for me to point it out," replied Calidan, "but what does talking about your love life have to do with me and being part of the team?"
"Nothing actually, but you're the one who brought it up not me," said Cynder, "but back on the real topic, you should have realized by now after meeting up with Jak and Spyro that no one should be alone forever, and that a conglomeration of individuals bringing their own talents together can accomplish much more then just one person can on their own. Think about it, if one person can make a difference, then a whole group together can accomplish greater wonders."
"Very poetic, where did you learn that from?" asked Calidan.
"The same way everyone learns, from great teachers, if not from trusted friends or parents," explained Cynder. "Surely someone must have taught you, no one comes from nothing after all."
Calidan immediately turned away and stared out into space again, after a few seconds he said gravelly, "That was a long time ago."
Cynder finally felt like she was getting somewhere, as if Calidan was about to open up about his past, so she asked again, "It's just us here so it doesn't have to go anywhere but between us, who was it Cal? Who did you lose?"
Calidan finally took a deep breath, like he was opening an old wound, "I lost the only family I had ever known, my grandfather." Cynder's eyes went wide, she had finally done it, she immediately silenced herself, it was now Cal's turn to speak.
"I was six, so I couldn't remember much other then what he looked like or who he was, and that my last memory of him, was burying him in the sand."
Cynder felt like she could weep, "and your parents?"
"Gone by the time I was born, Pap never really talked about them, even though I did ask him once, but he never did tell me what happened. Though when you think about it, they were banished to the wasteland, and not everyone is fortunate enough or able to adapt quickly to survive out here. It was logical to say they didn't make it, so I've learned to live with that. I did hold on to the last thing my Pap said about them, 'they loved you Cal and sacrificed everything for you, you honor them by living life to the best of your ability, surviving or otherwise'."
"That's a beautiful memory," Cynder said feeling tears in her eyes, "your grandfather sounded very wise."
"The best," said Calidan smiling, "I know it's not as much as you wanted to hear, but it's all I have."
"It's actually more then you know," Cynder said sadly, which then caused Calidan to turn back toward her, "Spyro and I never knew our parents either, by the time we were eggs, we were in the guardians care as was custom on our world. We would have hatched together in fact, that is until 'he' came."
Calidan heard the dark edge in her tone when she mentioned a 'he', obviously whoever it was wasn't anyone good, but he knew he needed more specific details, "Ok, whose he?"
"Gaul, one of the vile minions of the Dark Master himself. He led an army of brutal apes to siege the temple, overrun the guardians and smash all the other eggs. They nearly succeeded in killing Spyro, before one of the guardians rescued his egg and sent him down a nearby river. From there, he ended up in the care of dragonflies, growing up among them and forging a brotherly bond with a young dragonfly who was born on the same day he hatched," Cynder illustrated.
"Sparx?"
"That's right," confirmed Cynder.
Calidan then asked, "what about you? How did you survive then?"
Cynder closed her eyes in pain, of the emotional kind. Her gesture immediately concerned Calidan, making him wonder if he should have asked. Unbeknownst to him of course, there had always been brief moments before when Cynder's past came back to haunt her, but now she was about to recall the full story to a total stranger that had become her friend and put his complete trust in her. She wondered though if he would still trust her after the horror tale.
"I was kidnapped, taken by those vile apes, and I ended up hatching under their hideous care. Gaul immediately took me and infused me with dark elements granted to him by his master. I can't recall everything, nor do I wish too, what I do know is they made me age to full growth almost instantaneously, clouded my mind with the Dark Master's twisted plans, turning me into his greatest weapon, his tool, his terror of the skies."
Calidan wore a horrified look, like he had never heard of such a thing before in his life. Which was true in that regard, the only evils he had ever known growing up were the terrors of the wasteland. The Marauders were a load of greedy barbarians that relied on their strength and numbers to hoard whatever they wanted. The metalheads, including the metalpedes were they most vicious monsters he had ever encountered, not to mention the biggest. But the story he had just heard terrified him to the core, kidnapping a newborn was bad enough, but subjecting that newborn to unspeakable tortures that ended up brainwashing her? He couldn't think of a word horrible enough for it.
"Damn," was all he could say, since meeting this group, he had only come to know of their accomplishments, both from what he had been a part of and before they had met him. Destroying the metalhead leader after all was no small task, and hearing that is what won them his trust and respect. But he never once considered that these people had gone hardships as well, hardships that made his own pale in comparison, at least in Cynder's case. Realizing this, he could only say one thing.
"I am so sorry, I never should have asked."
"Why not? You shared your story with me, I felt obliged to do the same," replied Cynder.
"But yours is so…awful, that's something no one deserves and should never go through," Calidan spoke sadly.
"Your right, it shouldn't," Cynder began, "Just as much as a child should not grow up without parents because of banishment, or end up burying his grandfather all by himself. But you know what, it happened and it's in the past, and it can't be changed. But just because a story has an unhappy beginning doesn't mean it will be like that forever. In fact, for me, it's barely just begun, and despite everything that may be transpiring soon, I've never been happier in my life."
"Because of Spyro right?" asked Calidan grinning, noticing that Cynder's tone was beginning to lighten as she continued, "he saved you?"
"Yes he did, one of many things I love about him" she said smiling, "even though we were enemies the first time we met, he was able to purge every dark cloud out of my mind and body, returning me to who I truly am."
"Awesome," he commented, "And Sparx is his foster brother? Heh, then it's no wonder they quarrel like a bunch of immature siblings."
"Welcome to my world, I've had to deal with his loud mouth every day I'm with Spyro, and that's literally every day," Cynder chuckled.
"I see, and due to recent revelations that have now become clear to me, he doesn't seem to approve of you and Spyro's relationship, according to what he told me before," Calidan revealed.
"He just won't let go of the past, mine in particular, he says he can't forgive me for nearly trying to kill him during my darker days, even though we've been trying to make amends, whether he acknowledges it or not," said Cynder.
"Really? Cause from what I've observed up to now some things never change, your constantly taking snaps at him, almost like your trying to eat him," replied Calidan.
"That's just my way of getting the point across, as irritated and annoyed as I am with that dragonfly, I would never actually harm him never mind eat him, and I can wait as long as it takes until he finally gets it through his tiny little head that I'm nothing like I was before. Even if we never really get along, I'm willing to try for Spyro's sake," Cynder explained.
"Certainly could have fooled me, with your constant threatening toward him and all," replied Calidan.
"Your one to talk, it was your wildcat who nearly ate Daxter after all."
Calidan retorted, "Hey! As much as I've been able to tame Robin, he's still a wild animal at heart, and if you recall, I'm the one who stopped him from trying to lunge again remember? If anything, Daxter owes me one."
"Right, trying telling him that, or Jak for that matter," Cynder responded.
Calidan grunted at the sound of Jak's name and turned toward the statues. The sunny friendly air surrounding the two seemed to quickly dissipate, like they were back to where they started. Something Cynder was quick to notice. She sighed with a frown before starting to ask.
"Huff, what did I say now?"
"You know what you said," growled Calidan.
"What? Jak? Seriously what happened with you two earlier? It's like you instantly downgraded your friendship to a level below from where you started out, all because of this Damas guy? You may not have been with us for long, but from what I've seen, you and Jak have made a pretty seamless team, like Spyro is with him, but unlike Spyro you actually live on the same planet," said Cynder.
"Just because we are from the same planet doesn't mean we see things the same way," Calidan responded with latent rage.
"True, but everything seemed to be going well until this Damas was brought up, I may have never met the guy so I know I have no say in the matter, but from what I've heard everybody else say about him, he seems to be someone of respect and integrity."
"Of course, but only to those he chooses," Calidan said distastefully.
"What makes you say that? What have you heard about him? and from who?" Cynder sternly asked.
"Damas may claim to take in anyone who comes to his door, but it's only when he feels like it! I know, my grandfather was proof of that!" shouted Calidan.
Cynder went wide-eyed, Cal's grandfather was denied access to Spargus? Even though Spyro had told her Damas took in all exiled refugees? It was starting to make sense why Calidan seemed to hold a grudge against this desert king. If what he said was true though, why didn't he mention it before?
"Your grandfather tried to get into Spargus and he couldn't?" she asked as Calidan just turned away again, "when did he try, and why couldn't he? Did he fail the tests?"
"After losing my parents and having to look after me himself, he sought to get into Spargus, and he told me himself when I was old enough to remember, 'the Spargus king will not have us Cal, so we must look after each other ourselves now, we are all we have left.' As for the tests, he never was given the chance to take them, the kingsmen just shut the door on the both of us, against Pap's pleas for sanctuary," Calidan answered.
"I see," said Cynder sadly, "I guess it's my turn to be sorry Cal, and you know, our stories actually don't seem too dissimilar from a certain perspective. I mean think about it, we were both denied the opportunity and sanctuary for a better life in our early years."
"Guess we were," replied Calidan, who was actually feeling a sense of connection. Cynder seemed to feel it as well, it was in a way similar to the connection she had made with Jak when they had met, though not quite the same. Feeling a bit more understanding of each other, she continued.
"You know, you are old enough to speak for yourself now," said Cynder, "maybe you can talk to this Damas face to face and build something better in Spargus, for Robin and for yourself."
"Forget it," growled Calidan, "my parents died in the wasteland, my grandfather died in the wasteland, and I'm going to live my life and die in the wasteland myself."
"So you're going to throw away a chance at a better life because of an old grudge?" she stated standing up on all fours and looking him right in the eye, "You better abandon that train of thought right now, I already told Jak to do the same earlier and he has, so if you are half the man I think you are, you will do the same."
She then turned and started walking around him and toward the wall path that led out of the chamber. Calidan was silent at her departure. Cynder stopped walking just a few feet away from Calidan before sighing to herself, believing and knowing she couldn't leave it like this. Especially after everything they had found out about each other, so she turned to say one more thing,
"You should still talk to someone about this, I suggest Seem, she appears to know Damas the best out of everyone in here, and holds him in high regard. There is the chance that she doesn't know what happened to you, so she might just be able to help put a good word in for you. We are going to see him anyway regardless, and adding your story to the pile won't be a burden, alright?"
Calidan was stagnant for about another minute, appearing to take in Cynder's words. She saw him take a deep breath before turning around to face her. They appeared to have another silent conversation with each other, Cynder giving him a convincing look and Calidan giving her a skeptical one. Deciding he had enough arguing with the black dragoness for one day, the wastelander stood up.
"Fine, let's go."
"Good, come on dirt boy," she chuckled turning toward the walkway. Calidan growled at the nickname she had impromptly given him with hasty reply as he began to follow.
"You know, if we are going to get along at all, you better stop calling me that."
Setting: Dragon Realms Precursor Temple
Everyone finally gathered together outside the temple, though upon exiting more introductions were made. Volteer introduced Spyro, Sparx, and their two alien friends Jak and Daxter to his own pupils, Pulster an orange-yellow dragon with a disciplined logical mind, and Zaxto a sunny yellow dragon with a cheery attitude and avid fascination for learning. Unlike the other guardians and their students, Volteer seemed to favor one student over the other, particularly Zaxto over Pulster, since he claimed the dragon reminded him so much of himself when he was younger. Zaxto had even rambled on at times, proving he was adopting his mentor's electric tongue, much to everyone else's distaste. Pulster seemed to ignore all of this, though it wasn't clear yet if the favoritism really was getting to him and he was just burying it behind his stoneface attitude. Their issue was of no concern to Jak and Daxter however, reminding them all of their real reason for traveling to this planet. His primary statement was heard by all of the dragons present, and mentors and acolytes all sat down in front of the duo so they all could listen to the human as he spoke. Spyro and Sparx sat close to Jak, believing they could still act as a buffer in case any of them got lost during the tale.
"The story begins as I've been told," Jak began as he sat down in front of the dragons with Daxter on his shoulder, "thousands of years ago, when my planet was much healthier and the eco that enriched it was more fruitful then ever."
"This eco you speak of," said Terrador, "It is like the lifeblood of your planet?
"Yes Terrador," answered Jak, "In fact, we once compared how eco on our world acts similar to the way gems feed your world."
"He's right," mentioned Spyro, "I've compared the notes you all have taught me with what Jak and his mentor have described about the properties of eco, and there are quite a few similarities."
"Really? Like what? I'd like to hear it all!" said Zaxto enthusiastically.
"Zaxto!" shouted Saphira, "They are supposed to be explaining the urgent situation at hand, not give a lecture on planetary comparisons for you to digest." Her statement made the electric acolyte go silent, but not without a grunt.
"She's right," said Jak sternly, "I'm not here to give a lecture, that's someone else's job, I'm just here as my planets primary liason."
"It's ok Jak, we can just give a quick synopsis," said Spyro, before turning toward the others to begin his explanation, "the most notable similarity between the Dragon Realm gems and Elorin's eco stores is the different colors, and properties associated with them. As you know here, red gems grant life, green gems give energy, blue gems grant wisdom, and purple gems give elemental fury."
"Nice to know you haven't forgotten what you've been taught young dragon," said Cyril cheerily.
"Indeed, though how does this eco compare?" asked Volteer.
"Well my mentor Samos explained it to me like this," Jak began, "On my world, green eco is the energy of life, blue eco is the energy of motion, red eco is the energy of close range strength, and yellow eco is the energy of long range strength."
"Fascinating," said Volteer taking in every word the human spoke. Though he knew this synopsis was short, he knew there had to be more to it and was determined to learn more. "I must converse with this Samos, it sounds like he truly has a lot to share."
"Volteer," exhausted Cyril, "I highly doubt there's anyone in the apparent universe that can…"
"Oh by all means!" interrupted Daxter, "we should let them meet! I mean if Volt here is as much of a blabbermouth as he's let on, then he and old greenie will be conversing for days!...and finally leave me in peace." He whispered that last part to Jak. His comment drew exhausted and confused looks from all the dragons, though they were quickly brought back to reality.
"Right," Jak said dryly, "Though maybe we should get back to the topic at hand."
"By all means," said Volteer, offering his full attention again.
"As I was saying, our planet was once in a state full of abundance and balance, eco flowed freely, enriching and feeding life everywhere, while its counterpart dark eco was kept contained. For if it were ever allowed to get out of control, it would twist, mutate and destroy everything."
"As is the nature of such essence," groaned Terrador, he had anticipated there was always an anti-element that would counteract anything that gave and enriched life. "Please go on"
"Of course, there have been people crazy enough to believe they can actually control dark eco and even tried unleashing it, only to pay the ultimate price themselves," Jak explained, though feeling uneasy sharing details of his first adventure that was unknown to all of them including Spyro. "But as dangerous as some of those people were, they were nothing compared to the true threat that came from across space, the metalheads, also known by the Precursors as the Horaquon."
"The alien race whose leader you destroyed a year ago?" asked Jace.
"Yes, though in his life he still caused a colossal amount of damage, a damage that we mutually share, as we had uncovered a year ago much to our apparent shock," Jak said to the dragons.
"Quite," replied Terrador, "We are still trying to comprehend and accept it ourselves, and it is a knowledge that will stay among this council, and its students until a proper time can be determined." He turned toward everyone else sitting by him down the line, they all nodded in understanding, the gesture he was hoping for.
Jak continued, "From your statement I'm guessing Spyro has already told you about the alliance between the Dragon Father and the precursors."
"Yes he did," answered Terrador, "The story of the Dragon Father was originally believed to be a hatchling folk tale, and although most tales hold truth within the myth, we were quite surprised that it actually illustrated history, though nothing was ever mentioned of precursors, only that he was the first dragon to have ever appeared, and that all dragons today are linked to him in an ancient way."
"Well I guess that's where your planet's history begins," said Jak, "why nothing was recounted from before I have no idea, but we're getting off topic again. After the metalhead leader Kor lost to both the dragons and the precursors on my planet, he vanished for an apparent long time. The precursors and the dragons together built a set of portals for the dragons to journey to a new planet too, and in exchange for their help, the dragons opted to safeguard some significant precursor artifacts for them, as an apparent act of alliance."
"That much we know as well from Spyro and Cynder," replied Cyril.
"What about these new monsters called Dark Makers you mentioned? How do they fit in? Are you sure there's nothing new to this lost history that you can provide?" Chloro asked.
"I'm afraid I'm not able to answer either of those questions," said Jak, "but I can say this for a fact, two of the artifacts that your ancestors offered to safeguard, are the reason I'm here. I need to find them to attach to this side of the gateway, and activate the master control of the Alliance Arch."
"Alliance Arch?" questioned Volteer.
"I have never heard of that title," added Terrador.
"Neither have I," finished Cyril.
"Really?" asked Spyro, "you knew about the Armageddon Arch when it was first uncovered, but you don't know about this one called Alliance?"
"The Armageddon Arch story was in near the same category as the tale of the Dragon Father Spyro," said Terrador, "Remember, it was said to have been created by a purple dragon, and anything that happens on this planet related to dragons is always recorded, as I'm sure the previous Chronicler before Ignitus told you." The purple dragon nodded in understanding.
"It's quite possible this new gateway we've discovered may have been a secret leftover from one of these precursors," said Terrador before turning toward Jak, "and to our knowledge we've never even heard of such beings until Spyro and his friends returned from their previous venture to your world."
"Meaning we've stumbled upon some history that's been kept so secret there's no record of it anywhere?" Jak asked.
"I didn't say that," said Terrador, "It's likely but just as equally unlikely."
"Perhaps there is a hidden message that isn't clear to just anyone," Pulster suggested, speaking for the first time, "the greatest puzzle is one whose solution is the least clearest and most uncommon. The runes that were discovered in the chamber could not be interpreted by anyone we know, not even our Chronicler. In that realization they may just contain some hidden cipher that could fill this gap."
"A probable explanation Pulster," said Volteer, "though if that would be the case, we are at a standstill since no one currently present on our planet is qualified to interpret them."
"Maybe someone on Jak's world could do it!" blurted out Zaxto, catching everyone by surprise, except Pulster who was about to follow up on his mentor's statement himself before his sunny yellow counterpart beat him to it. "If these are beings known to his people, they must have experts in studying them! If we can activate this master control he's talking about, not only can we revive this old alliance, we can take our rune transcriptions with us and have them analyzed specifically by a specialist!"
"In turn helping clear the conundrum that has clogged us in our efforts to connect the gaps of history here!" finished Volteer, "Excellent suggestion Zaxto!"
"Never a cloudy day up here sir!" cheered Zaxto tapping his head with his wing. Pulster merely grunted, and scowled at having his one chance of recognition taken from him. Everyone else just let out sighs of relief that the fast and long exchange of words between the two dragons had ended. None the less, their discussion did give a great idea. Jak knew he couldn't interpret the runes, studying ancient precursor languages was not his specialty, though others like Samos, Onin, and especially Seem might be able to help them. Jak wondered if Seem would mind the possible extra work on top of everything else she was dealing with, either she would love it or hate it, it was another weigh of the scales as she said earlier.
"I think I might know some people who can help you with that," said Jak, "In fact one of them is waiting on the other side right now, but as I said, unless we find these last two artifacts, none of that will matter."
"Maybe we can help narrow the search," said Cyril, "This temple isn't the only old ruin on this isle, my pupils and I were exploring another one a couple days ago before Spyro fell through the portal the first time."
"I can't believe I forgot about that!" said Spyro.
"Where is this ruin?" asked Jak.
"It's actually at this isle's opposite end," said Cyril.
"Then that's where we are going," Jak answered before standing up to ask the guardians directly, "I also could use your help, this may be my mission, but it's your world and I have no idea how any other lifeforms I may encounter will react to my presence."
"Fortunately you won't have to worry, this isle is actually quite deserted, just the local wildlife and they are all unintelligent and relatively harmless," said Cyril, "But you are correct Jak that we should accompany you, should you require professional aid only a guardian can provide."
Jak could only raise an eyebrow, Cyril's proud and upstart tone was not lost on anyone, for like Volteer and his rambling tongue, Cyril's fulsome attitude on his stature was exhausting as well. Everyone else other then the aliens knew that, and it was no surprise how the two always seemed to be at each others throats due to their different discrepancies. It was no wonder to anyone including Jak now that Terrador appeared to be the leader of the trio, for none of the other two demonstrated good or even adequate leadership qualities.
Terrador sighed figuring it was best to take action now, "Well, now that we have completed the explanations, we had best get a move on. Cyril and I will accompany Jak to this other ruin, while Volteer should stay and stand guard over the portal. We will split the acolytes between us so we have a near even guard on both fronts, one of each element. Now who will volunteer to come to the other ruin with us?"
"I will!" Vacu was the first to volunteer, quite instantaneously "You can count on me master."
Terrador raised an eyebrow to his pupil, he could sense his transparent impatience as always, but something else. He could see Vacu was determined to prove himself to make up for his outburst earlier. Realizing that it was best to keep everyone at ease especially the acolytes, he conceded, "very well, who else?"
"I volunteer as well!" said Jace.
"I'll go as well, I might offer or even gain some insight," said Pulster.
"It's settled then, Vacu, Jace, and Pulster will accompany Cyril and I in escorting Jak to this additional ruin, and Spyro and Volteer will stay and help the remaining acolytes defend the portal chamber, in any case that it might be activated again."
"You sure you don't want me to come with Jak too?" asked Spyro, "I'm practically his guide here as he was to me on his world."
"Ah don't worry Spyro," said Jak, "you had to deal with a whole city before, this place on the other hand is just a jungle, with no other intelligent lifeforms. If these guys are the guardians you say they are, then I shouldn't have any other trouble."
"True," said Spyro while giving his friend a suspicious glance, "but what if something 'else' were to happen, albeit upset?"
The guardians and acolytes gave the purple dragon a puzzled look, wondering what the two heroes were referring to each other. Jak knew all to well what he was referring to, he was afraid something may happen to unleash his Dark Jak side, and even though it had been balanced by the light, that didn't make it any less vicious when unleashed. He figured Spyro and Cynder had told the guardians everything about what they had experienced on Elorin, but they must have left the dark monster out of the story for Jak's sake, if he wasn't being clear on explaining it in front of them.
Jak just gave him a serious look and said, "no need to be paranoid buddy, it will be fine."
The dragon appeared apprehensive, but nodded, hoping that he wasn't too conspicuous to everyone, but preferred not to drag it on. The others continued to look puzzled, but before anyone could say anything a certain ottsel blurted out.
"Well then what are we waiting for? Let's get this show on the road!" yelled Daxter. Everyone seemed to sweatdrop, including Vacu who thought to himself, 'this mission would go a lot better if that loudmouthed rat would be silent the whole time.'
Setting: Wasteland Precursor Temple
Cynder led Calidan toward the monk library where Seem and her colleagues were currently residing in studying the arch runes. Fortunately, Seem had explained earlier to the black dragoness how to find it, and Cynder was no slouch in following directions. Once they arrived, Cynder took Seem aside along with Calidan apart from the monks who were still analyzing the runes to share what she had learned about Calidan's predicament. She elaborated the whole story Calidan had told her, with him backing her up when she needed it, for he was not real enthusiastic about sharing his lifestory twice in one day. As she heard the tale, Seem's expression seemed to actually show some shock, a rare trait to experience from someone such as her.
"…so after losing him, he ended up surviving and growing up by himself in the wasteland, and well here we are," finished Cynder.
"I see," said Seem, before turning toward Calidan, who wore an exhausted expression that also seemed sad. "Your tale is definitely a tragic one young warrior, though not unheard of on this world I'm afraid."
"Thanks for the sympathy," replied Calidan.
"Keep in mind," Seem returned to a stern voice, "your outburst earlier was juvenile, disruptive, and completely rude." Calidan turned his head to the side feeling ashamed.
"But at least I now know that it wasn't without good reason," she said in a softer tone. Calidan turned back a bit surprised to hear that from her, but nodded in response while Cynder gave him a soft smile.
"I must admit I am quite shocked at this revelation," Seem continued, "As long as I've known Damas, and even from what I've heard from my former master who knew him even before me, rest his soul, I've never heard of the fair king of Spargus turning away any exiled refugees as soon as they walked to his door. The only ones who do not become citizens are the ones who do not pass his tests, and they do not make it after that anyway."
"Yeah, well like I told Cynder," argued Calidan, "my Pap wasn't even given the time of day by him, so forgive me if I don't share the same viewpoint as you do."
Seem continued, "Damas may act hard at times, but never toward someone that he hasn't given a chance, I am sure there is more to this story then anyone of us know right now, and the king himself is the only one who can fill in these gaps for us. I must ask though, how long ago was it when your grandfather was denied access to Spargus?"
"Hmmm…it has to be 18 years now, I wasn't even a year old when he tried, and it's been 12 years since he passed," said Calidan. Seem gaze suddenly seemed become more serious, like she came to some realization. Calidan and Cynder saw her expression, and it was confusing them.
"What is it?" Calidan asked.
"That's impossible, Damas has only been king for 6 years," explained Seem. Calidan and Cynder went wide eyed, Damas had been king for only the past six years? Then he couldn't have been the one that had his Pap turned away then. A whole bombshell had been thrown onto the situation.
"Only the past six years?!" exclaimed Cynder.
"Young warrior, you have been harboring a grudge against the wrong king," Seem enlightened with serious gaze, Cynder followed her example. Calidan was in a state of shock. He felt like his entire life had been unfolded and undone. He now realized Jak, Spyro, Cynder, and Seem had all been right, and he had been in the wrong. Growing up he believed the Spargus king was nothing but a favorable tyrant because of what happened to his grandfather. Then suddenly, he remembered something, that he had never learned the name of the king of Spargus until he was teenager, years after his grandfather had passed. It was then he now realized, that the source of learning the name, was hardly a worthy reference…
***FLASHBACK: 5 years ago***
Calidan snuck around the wasteland cliff, determined not to be seen. The camp below was teeming with those mindless brutes that had plagued the desert longer then he had been alive, the Marauders. They were like cockroaches in the desert, always scooping up whatever refuse they could find. Also, no matter how many of them you could squash, they would somehow continue to spawn. Honestly, that was fine by him, just more brainless thugs to steal from in his opinion. Even if it was thievery, he thought he was actually doing a favor, because whatever ended up in the Marauders possession usually ended up hoarded in their vault, in the sea because it seemed worthless to them, or broken and even abused for they were not known for their gentleness. If they had any decent toys that could be scavenged for tinkering, he preferred to get his hands on it before it ended up broken. Calidan dropped down to a rock that was just 7 feet above the sand, and dropped down to his belly to remain inconspicuous. He was right behind the edge of the camp, where crude tents littered the whole perimeter. Suddenly, he saw two Marauders actually start to walk out of the camp, forcing him to steady his breathing. Although he knew he was smarter then them, the brutes were three times his size. Two of these human behemoths would be more then enough to overpower and crush the newly aged teenager.
"Can we go home now?" one asked.
"Master says he must finish counting, the bounty must be maximum if we are to feast, feast, feast, tonight!" the larger one replied with an unintelligent tone.
"I can't wait to devour a whole platter of desert rats, make a new record!" the smaller one said sounding gluttonous if not ravenous.
"You little pig! Your stomach cannot hold as much as me! I am bottomless!"
"You're big-mouthed! I'll devour you!"
"Not if I devour you first!"
"Graarrgghh!" They both exchanged headbutts and growled like animals at each other. Calidan wasn't sure to be terrified or amused. Though watching these guys argue like animals was nothing short of hilarious, he hated to be in between them in the middle of the argument.
"Bah! You're not even worth a taste you dog! I'd spit you out! You smell that bad!" yelled the large one.
"You too dog! Your food for the mutts anyway! I'd rather devour one of those two legged desert city rats!" growled the smaller one.
Calidan stuck out his tongue in a silent gesture of disgust. He knew they were referring to the desert people of Spargus, the other tribe besides the Marauders who lived in the wasteland. Though he never had any love for them, he would never dream of them being victims of cannibalism, these Marauders were nothing but barbarians at the very least.
"Fool! We would all be food if we attacked that large city! Their desert rat king has fortified the walls even more so then ever!"
"Walls smalls, I climb it if not break it, then puny Damas will…"
"SMACK!" Calidan watched in shock as the larger one struck down the smaller one with the full force of his right armored hand. The smaller one ended up falling flat on his face, eating the desert sand.
"Infidel! You know our code! Never speak the desert rat kings name! You give it importance when we all know he is nothing! As they all are!" shouted the larger one with even greater spite.
The smaller one turned himself over to face him again, and spoke with a somewhat pathetic tone, "I called him puny you know."
"No excuses! You broke our code! Now master will punish you," he grabbed him by his helmet and roughly dragged him back into the camp.
"No, No, I called him puny! I called him puny! NO! NO!" As the smaller whimpering brute was dragged back into the camp, his fate unknown, Calidan reflected on what he had heard. The name of the Spargus king was Damas. Up to now, he had only heard the title of the man who had denied his grandfather sanctuary years ago. Now he had a name, and it was a name he would begin to loathe, for years to come…
***FLASHBACK END***
Calidan swept himself back to the present as the memory faded away. The history he had just remembered along with the revelations of the present had finally enlightened him. He turned to notice that Seem and Cynder were looking at him with curiosity. The two females had seen him zone out standing up, something they had never seen him do up to now. Seeing him blink and look at them again, Cynder asked him first.
"Cal, are you okay?"
"Uh," he stammered, "yeah, yeah I am, just a bit of a wake up call."
"I'm not surprised," said Seem, "Usually when one finds significant revelations they are shocked to their very core. Judging from your previous and current facial expressions, that is something you have just endured."
Calidan just nodded frowning, he realized he had been living a lie these past 5 years, holding a grudge against the wrong king of Spargus. Whoever held the throne before Damas was surely the one who denied his grandfather a new life. With this new revelation came other questions, how did Damas take up the throne if he was not the original leader? Who was the name of the former king? Also, why did his grandfather never tell him the name? The last question he had to guess that his grandfather himself probably didn't know, but it wouldn't have been the first time he had held something from him, regarding the mysterious circumstances of his parents death after all. Seem was right about another thing, only King Damas himself could help illuminate this lost story and shed further light on the situation. However, he knew there was one thing he knew he would have to take care of first.
"What are you thinking now Cal?" Cynder asked noticing he was deep in thought.
Calidan swallowed his pride and didn't hesitate to answer, "I'm thinking that when Jak does get back, I owe him a big time apology." The dragoness and the monk both smiled and nodded at him, proud that he was willing to admit his mistake.
I'd like to think I reflected some significant growth in Calidan this chapter, showing that no matter what skills you have, you always have a lot to learn. Next chapter will take place in the Dragon Realms completely, its time to find those last two artifacts!
