Chapter 10: Calm returning for the young one

Darkstalker's mind is clearer now, his tears having dried out as his will slowly forms again. Seeing him rising his head and standing up, the great dragoness does the same and walks to the giant doors before waiting there. After a moment of hesitation, the young one joins her one unsure step at a time. Pushing the two doors open, Akhanta takes her time as she walks forward in the corridor with the nightwing following just behind.

Hearing only their talon-steps, the two dragons progress silently in the building, with the dragoness never forgetting to watch over him, and the night dragon focusing on what is drawn on the wall, taking his mind off to something he starts to be intrigued by. Gigantic drawings depicts many things…

Three dragons in the center standing like they were royalty with the many others dragons either bowing or standing to them. The many individuals and their tall buildings spreading over the world, with some fighting at the edge what seems to be wild life. At the top of the houses stand dragons with their wings unfolded, guiding and holding trails of symbols.

Continuing further in the scene as both walk, Darkstalker sees a palace over which two dragons fight, each representing a side of the kingdom. In the background, some cry, probably being friends or family of the fighting figures. Below the scene, under the earth, is a titanic dragon with four eyes and four wings like the one he saw before, totally asleep...

Realizing the young one is staring at the many scenes on the walls, the great dragoness lets him in peace, content he is in better shape than before and now getting glimpses of their history.

How much time did their civilization lasted? And what ended it? They seem to have a monarchy, but even a civil war and a bloody conflict can't explain the state of this world now. And how did the five great dragons survived? Why are they so grand and powerful? And so terrifying when they want to...

The nightwing looks at the dark blue dragoness for a moment, observing her with scrutiny, he quickly comes to the conclusion that such being can't be from a normal dragon developing naturally, even with centuries of growth and experience. Could it be dragons from that realm have more power, more potential? But if that's the case, why are there so little of them? Five is very little compared to the number of individuals drawn in each scene.

And what even is their powers? The essences they hold and manipulate, it's like animus magic in some way, except one must move his body and put a lot more will into a strong unleashing instead of thinking or telling a spell. Kind of like what I have inside of me now, I could be becoming like them. Do they plan to transform me like they might have done to themselves?

I hope not, not before a long time if it means breaking my limits until I scream. Do they even care if I am ready and well? The question makes the nightwing freezes, despite how much he wants to forget what was done to him, the thought of him struggling again like that can't be silenced, and the terror it evokes paralyses him completely, with his heart beating so much faster.

Seeing the night dragon in that state, Akhanta legitimately worries and stops. Leaning her head but not too much, she tries to determine the cause of problem. The shaking body and heavy breathing support her doubts, he is terrorised, likely about being burned by the essences last time. Assuming he will not come back to reality after a good moment, the giant dragoness takes him and keeps him close to her belly. He'll complain if he wants to later, she can handle way more than that and can always leave him alone if that is what he needs.

Marching steadily and faster now that she holds Darkstalker, the great dragoness quickly arrives at the entrance where she prepares to soar into the black sky. With one powerful beat of her wings and the use of some essences, the enormous entity is now in the air, leaving behind the Pyramid and going to where her objective is…

Coming back to his senses in the middle of Akhanta's flight, the young one begins to feel anger but also fear, the situation he is in could quickly devolve into her bringing him to a second tormenting ritual, or that's what his mind thinks could happen. Being so close to the great dragoness, the nightwing can't shake his feeling that something is wrong, even his body stresses now that he realizes who is near him.

Despite the adverse reaction he has to her because of what she did before, the night dragon tries to calm himself and relax, knowing he needs that before his mind can properly work and focus. Searching for a feeling of peace or happiness, Darkstalker finds that part of himself, the one inside his heart wishing for love and affection no matter where it comes from.

Realizing he still has an affectionate link with Akhanta, the night dragon starts to follow it reluctantly. Little by little, he grows more accepting of the giant dragoness, his fear and anger taking time to diminish but fading in the end. The seer's mind is now clearer, but instead of focusing like he said to himself before, he decides to let the flow of feelings continue.

Holding her scales a bit tighter, the nightwing can sense how she acknowledges him in her mind, regaining more motherly and loving colours, marking the unity of the two. And it surprises him how much he holds on to her has he let himself the chance, but on another talon, it makes perfect sense. The one he lost and suffered the most because of it has always been his mother. He felt more alone than ever after that.

And now that he thinks of it, there never really was anyone in his life that could be a mother figure to fill the gaping hole in his heart. Even just potentially, there was no one for him. So now that he finds out a dragoness that can play the role, he can't stay indifferent, no matter how hard he tries to deny it. It may not be healthy, but now that Darkstalker saw the genuine care and affection in Akhanta, he will have this dilemma, to accept her or not, and it will play again each time they are close enough.

Spotting another mind from far away, the seer slowly refocuses on reality and what he seems to see as their destination, nine great rods holding essences in pure form. Wait, how do I know that? Checking his altered future sight, the nightwing see the importance of these rods persisting, what they have at their top making them unforgettable. So my foresight still warn me like before, but instead of presenting a future, it presents essences…

As they approach, the two dragons can see the rods are forming a circle, delimiting an area where the ground is made of flat and polished chunks. But more surprising for the young one is the presence of another great dragon, one that is black and white. It must be the fifth great dragon, the one I haven't encountered yet. I hope that one doesn't make things worst, but I should probably prepare myself to it.

Trying to analyses the dragon's mind at this distance, Darkstalker doesn't make out anything. That one must be calm enough that the distance between us silence his or her thoughts to me. Maybe be Akhanta can give me some insight…

Watching her mind, the seer begins to have a better idea about who the fifth is. He is a great dragon covered in black feather except on his belly where his white and light blue scales are exposed. From her memories, the young one sees he breathes ice like an icewing, but to a much greater extent, almost spreading ice and snow a much as he can. What? Why is that? Is it a sort of wild icewing? As if I needed a reminder of my enemies…

After a moment, the great dragoness slows down her flight once she enters in the circle marked by the large powerful rods, and takes the time to land gracefully before putting the nightwing down on her left side. The feathered black dragon reacts to the two dragons more calmly than expected, at least for Darkstalker. He simply stares at them, his expression neutral if not for his faint grin.

- "Woukoshei Kraydirn."

- "Woukoshei Akhanta, yth holcu uthu muka yl toijyl oem uthutias genuf."

The dark blue giant nods and walks closer, leaving the young one behind. The nightwing could follow, but he is wary enough of this new individual to keep his distance and wait for more informations to come.

- "Uthu kenib ujaie yth wuteri, Darkstalker okut nolmui kes boun prietan thotias olmukara."

- "Yth gynhim, yth hute esfim sif yl noneij zeites."

Seeing the night dragon behind, the great dragoness was about to push him forward when she stops the idea, he can stay there if he wants to. And while he only analyses the situation, the feathered beast of black and ice approaches him step by step. Being of such size like the others, it doesn't take long for him to be as close to the young one as the dark blue dragoness. Scared, the nightwing recoils a bit, his adrenaline returning.

Not missing the change in behaviour of the little one, Akhanta unfolds her wing between the two, making Kraydirn stepping back without question. Then, she positions herself at the side to better watch them and lays down, as does the great other, leaving Darkstalker surprised and without goal. To solve his situation, the seer inspects both mind, seeking what they want of him for now, just to be sure.

The great dragoness' mind hasn't changed that much, she is as calm in her head as she appears to be from the outside, still thinks a lot of him as he is near her, and doesn't seems to have some big plan for his being. She can't hide such an ulterior motive, anything being similar to the ritual I was the center of would be too important in one's mind. I was just careless last time, I let myself be overwhelmed by the event, maybe if I had realized what was going on…

Focus Darkstalker, please. Looking at Kraydirn's mind, the nightwing sees strong desires and feelings, as well as essences. Are essences influencing the mind and are linked to it? Maybe… But what is astonishing, is the complete control the dragon of black and snow has over all of that. Such power emotions, such power wanting to be unleashed and freed, but the great one's mind is an unbreakable wall that blocks anything.

As time passes, both great dragons have no important change in their mind, they just rest and stare at him, undisturbed. But the night dragon doesn't feel good where he is, even if nothing is happening at all, the lasting silence makes him confront his feeling of solitude and lack of safety. Not being able to handle that any longer, the young one decides to discretely go closer to the only one he can partially trust.

Seeing his cute and unsure little act, Akhanta takes the time to chuckle a bit before regaining a more adequate stance. As he is about to arrive, the gigantic dragoness extends a wing over him and stops him instantly. After a moment of hesitance, Darkstalker go straight to her side, almost touching her skin as he realizes there is no one to shame him for being closer to another.

A bit more distant, Kraydirn watches the interaction between both dragons unfolding, and it makes him content. It may not seem like much, but with how miraculous the arrival of that night dragon is, a bit of peace and comfort is the least he deserves. And is even necessary for the future of everyone...