Cynder and Spyro had reached Cephas' cave and Cynder knocked on the side of the cave and asked, "Hello? Cephas?"
Something moved inside and things could be heard as they were knocked to the floor and suddenly a black dragon about a half-foot taller than Spyro came out.
"The beautiful Cynder has returned to see me," he exclaimed.
Spyro felt he temper flare, but he kept it in check remembering what happened last time.
"This is my friend Spyro," Cynder introduced.
"The Spyro that destroyed the Dark Master?" Cephas asked.
"Yes," Spyro replied simply.
"I…I'm so honored to have to two greatest dragons in the Realms standing before me," Cephas said, "How did he die?"
Cynder began to retell the events and Spyro felt a flood of bad memories well up in his mind. He closed his eyes hoping to dull the memories, but it failed.
Cynder came to the part when she distracted the Dark Master and Spyro couldn't take it anymore. He quickly turned and left the cave and went outside.
Cynder noticed and said, "Excuse us for a second."
She walked outside and found Spyro twenty feet to the right of the cave entrance.
She ran over to him and asked, "Spyro what's wrong?"
"It's nothing," Spyro replied.
"I have known you too long to believe that. I know something is troubling you," she argued.
"It's mostly him. Malefor seems to be mocking me. I know he's dead, but his spirit seems to be alive still. I sense that he is near, too near for comfort," Spyro replied.
"Spyro," Cynder said putting a hand on his shoulder, "If he has returned we can defeat him again, just like last time."
"No I would never repeat the actions or the events that took place that day," Spyro cried out, "It wouldn't be worth it."
"What do mean it wouldn't be worth it?" Cynder asked in disbelief, "The Realms would be saved and at peace. Isn't that of any worth to you?"
"Not if you're gone," Spyro said weakly.
Cynder recoiled at the answer. She knew Spyro liked her, but she wasn't sure how much. That last sentence though showed her. She meant more than anything to him, even more than life itself.
"What?" Cynder asked.
"When you were attack by the Dark Master and knocked unconscious, it enraged me seeing someone so important to me get hurt like that, which then led to the use of Convexity for me. I don't want to lose myself or you."
"Yourself?" asked Cynder.
"Yeah," Spyro replied, "Whenever I use the powers of Convexity it invades my mind and takes control of it. It is extremely difficult to overcome its influence."
"Spyro I had no idea about any of this," Cynder said, "I think I'm being to understand."
"Unless you have the power of Convexity you can't understand its nature," Spyro said solemnly. Spyro turned to Cynder and asked, "How did you know I was in trouble in the mountains?"
"I felt something inside me that said you were endanger," Cynder slowly said, "I also felt drawn to it."
Spyro closed his eyes at the last part of her response and slowly lowered his head as he turned back to the edge of the cliff. Cynder saw a single tear fall off his face and down to the ground dozens feet below.
"Spyro?" she softly asked.
"Spyro?" she asked a second time.
"You have been given the powers of Convexity," he simply said, "It must have been during the battle with Malefor, when my Convexity energy peaked. It must have thrown off some of the energy and your body must have absorbed some of the energy." He shook his head.
Cynder turned Spyro around and asked, "What? Why are you sorry?"
"This is no gift this power, but a curse and now I have given it to you," Spyro said, "I don't deserve any of the kindness or friendship you have showed me."
"Don't talk like that Spyro," Cynder sharply said, "I will show kindness and friendship whether you like it or not, but I'll tell you why. Because you have always been there for me and I will return the favor to my best friend."
"Thank you," Spyro said, "I wouldn't tell anyone else about your Convexity encounter. You have no idea who is with or is the Dark Master at this time."
"Ok," Cynder said, "Do you want to leave or stay?"
"I think I'll stay and make sure you and Cephas don't do anything," Spyro replied with a smile.
Cynder gave him a shove and walked back to the cave saying, "You wish we were."
They entered the cave and Cephas was putting some stuff away. They all sat down and began to chat. Spyro didn't speak much unless he was asked something because he seemed distracted with a dark presence around the cave. It felt oddly familiar to him. He had dismissed the feelings as jealousy until he noticed a book on the ground.
He made sure that Cephas or Cynder weren't looking and he slid the book under his chair and hid it behind his feet.
Cephas offered to them a drink. Cynder accepted, but Spyro refused and said that he was going to leave. Cephas said went to get Cynder her drink and Spyro quickly picked up the book with his tail and wrapped it inside his wing and left.
Flame and Ember were back at the cave when Spyro arrived. They greeted him and Spyro greeted them back. He immediately sat down and looked through the book.
"What do you have there?" asked Flame.
"A book from Cephas' place," answered Spyro.
"What does it say?" Ember asked.
"I'm about to find out," Spyro replied.
