Chapter 19: Adding a first star to the sky.
Flying with the three great dragons, Darkstalker remains hesitant, his mind speculating on all that he saw recently.
So this world has really been destroyed, and these five great dragons are apparently the only living beings left. If I were in their situation, what would I do… I have a lot of power, possibly a lot of knowledge, but I am alone if not for a few others like me…
The first thing I need is to find the others dragons and try to make them my allies, it is mutually beneficial to be together in this dire situation after all. If that succeeds, a group with all the dragons left will be formed.
That's a good start, now what is the next step? Build a sort of base or go with my allies in a building that satisfy our needs and bring comfort. At least enough comfort to not be too distracted when it comes to working.
Now that I am safe in my desolate world with my allies and we have all the time before us, we can start some grand plan to restore the world.
Or leave it to go to a better one. I was banished to this realm, which proves there is more than one world…
But do they know there are others worlds?
Plunging deeper into the great dragons' mind, Darkstalker seeks answers to that question for a moment. After a while, the seer finds and analyses a lot of thoughts about the existence of other worlds, but they all confirm the Five didn't know about that before he arrived and gave more credibility to such concepts and theories…
Getting closer to their destination, the nightwing in the group can sense Ayirn's essences, but being reminded of her isn't something pleasant at all. Two painful defeats and one moment of absolute suffering... they were because of her. Whatever link started to form when the young one met the magical dragoness, it hasn't reformed one bit, even if anger for her is only partially present in him for now.
Ayirn, you may not even realize the wrong you did to me nor had any malice even as you had me beaten with essences, but I don't forgive you…
Still, I must not let my disdain take the better of me, or else no one will be at my side.
Trying to apply that lesson to himself, the night dragon digs into his past, searching the memories where he kept his calm and was patient, the days I had to stand to Vigilance and did nothing even if I could crush her with my powers.
If not for myself, then I at least did it for Clear-
Reminding himself of the dragoness who betrayed her, the nightwing's mind heats up with anger.
Clearsight! You worthless, foolish dragon, the patient and restrain you asked of me was for naught. Day after day, I endured being talked down and seen as an asset and a tool by that unworthy queen of our tribe. There was no end to it, I would have to endure that forever, but you didn't care that much for me. You just wanted that I shut up and accept my pitiful life under the excuse of me making things worse. My suffering didn't matter in your eyes, only your precious futures!
If you can somehow listen to me Clearsight, then know that you disgust me.
Taken by his anger, Darkstalker realizes lately that he has tired himself and expressed his emotions for quite a while, drawing the attention of others. Suddenly knowing that the three giants are watching him, the nightwing's anger instantly fades away, being replaced by instinctive fear and shame.
Approaching the smaller one, Akhanta checks him, not letting this problem slip between her claws. Exposed to her eyes, the night dragon calms himself and tries to reassure the dragoness by forcing his behaviour to be normal. But she doesn't buy it, having seen similar cases in the past that she hasn't forgotten.
- "Darkstalker." Says the dark blue giant, letting the seer know she is aware something is troubling him.
After a moment of the both of them looking at each other with no word being exchanged, the dragoness is forced to deduce the nightwing's feelings from his face and gestures. In the end, both turn away, with him flying in silence, and her returning with Xamirh and Kraydirn, starting a new conversation.
- "Yl toijyl, pratus aftomer zait thotias kumista. Ikul heij ajek th?" Asks Akhanta, still suspicious.
- "Th eiuf eshurv ashek coitem yihe Zo soumvu heia muka astu qurak." Says the yellow great dragon with a lower voice as he imagines what the young one must be feeling now.
- "Thotias feshur alomu alkara dojnum sif yl hunark ust thotias kumista, eia-kemos" Adds the feathered black dragon, having the concept of the night dragon's essences in his mind.
Reflecting on Darkstalker's situation, the three titanic dragons decides to wait for things to evolve, they will have all the time they need to conclude and act when they return at home…
Getting very close to the tower Ayirn is building, the four dragons land a moment later, surprising the magical dragoness so much that Xamirh has to reach her and explain a few things.
Finishing the conversation, the yellow great dragon grabs the bottle from his neckband and gives it to her. For that act similar to giving a gift, or so the seer interprets it like that, Ayirn seems to thanks her kin.
For a moment, the grand dragoness stares at its silver content, fascinated, captivated by the essences she is now holding in her claws. If the four dragons' arrival didn't changed her priority, that is doing it.
By a mix of instinct and desire, Ayirn is suddenly determined to act and grant her own wish. Closing her eyes, the mystical entity infuses her paws with essences, agitating the silvers ones inside the container. After a few minutes, she opens her eyes and unseals the bottle, freeing the sacred liquid and manipulating it fully.
Watching the scene unfolding, Kraydirn leaves his kins and approaches the great dragoness. As he tells her some words, the seer finds it difficult to know what both have in mind nor what they will do. Trying his best, Darkstalker can only make out that the silver essences will be unleashed as it shall be, whatever it means...
Taking a few steps to position herself, Ayirn now stands up on her back talons. Taking the time to breath before acting, the dragoness of magic then unfolds her wings in an instant, marking ascension of a silver star from her paw to the sky.
A short moment later, the little and bright star bursts over the pitch black sky into dozens of burning trails, each representing an essence that was once running into her and the young one's veins. But the instant after, such energy comes back and converges into the same place it exploded, forming an orb of power that is just stable enough to exist.
Seeing the magical dragoness staring at her creation, not paying attention to anything else as she contemplates the new crude but celestial body, Darkstalker gets an idea from the darker part of his soul.
What if I just give you a little like you gave to me last time…
Charmed by the true feeling behind that newly born thought, the nightwing slowly rises on his back talons and extends an arm, the gesture reminiscent of one giving a gift. However, such meaning for his act fades away as the night dragon retracts his limb little by little while rotating his wrist.
Would you… like it... dear Ayirn?
The faintest thing resembling to a grin forms on the smaller one's face and soon, lightning starts to appears in his claws, blessing his ears with the small cracking noise of an angry power who will spare no one in its path...
Spotting Darkstalker's strange course of actions, Akhanta leans her head, quickly getting closer to him. In reaction, the night dragon serenely turns his head, facing her with moderate curiosity.
- "Akhanta?"
- "Heij uthu feshur surh?" Asks the dark blue giant, more serious and worried for the act he is doing now.
Looking back at Ayirn, the night dragon does not answer and continues to charge his power. Seeing the situation worsen, the dark blue dragoness opens her claws and attracts the raging essences partially, forcing its control to be shared.
Sensing that loss, the young one turns back to face a more serious Akhanta, and takes a step back in fear. As his instincts breaks his calm and malicious stance, the power he has in his claw instantly loses all semblance of stability. Half surprised, the great dragoness has to directly absorb and control the lightning bolt being unleashed, almost being hurt in the process, but managing not to be.
Suddenly feeing powerless and aware he is in trouble, Darkstalker recoils in shock, feeling Akhanta won't be as kind this time…
Turning his attention away as the magical dragoness ends her act, Xamirh spots the scene between his kin and the little one. Moderately suspicious, the yellow titan approaches the two, forcing the nightwing to move backward even more, fearing what the arriving kin could do.
- "Darkstalker."
Feeling the situation is getting out of his claws, the young one clenches his fist in frustration, frustration for making that mistake, frustration for the worsening situation he is facing, frustration for his lack of control, frustration for being alone, Frustration…
- "Toijyl?"
Jumping back and doing a wide swing with his paw in front of the two great dragons, the nightwing is losing his mind as violent and rotten passions mix with his power. Soon, a wild and volatile flame appears in his claws, ready to burn everything it touches, including its creator should its chains break.
"Uthu heia tunis boun Zu…" Says Xamirh, starting to realize what the night dragon is feeling.
Casting a quick glance at Akhanta, the yellow great dragon steps to the side while Kraydirn and Ayirn watch in the background, not wanting to interfere but being ready just in case…
"Ythe eiuf opeit qezom." Mutters the yellow giant.
For a moment, the fearful seer is being stared at by everyone, but as no one even say a word, a silence reign, rendering him more and more nervous…
With a brutal rising of his talon, Xamirh executes a spell who make the frightened Darkstalker unleash the fire who should have hit him if not for Akhanta's wing. An instant later, the dark blue titan claps her paws mercilessly, producing a deafening noise that stun the young one before grabbing him with her power.
Holding the smaller one, the dragoness looks at him with a single regret in mind.
- "Votale."
With that single word, Akhanta engulfs the young one in her essences, making him go unconscious with an overwhelming spell...
Darkstalker starts to awake after a slumber of who knows how long…
Feeling the colder atmosphere around him, the nightwing twitches and turns his body before truly opening his eyes. Getting up, he can now see who was near him all this time, and that confirms what he thought, such a chill aura and that calm but powerful mind can only be from Kraydirn.
Surprised, the young one takes a step back, fearful of the being he had seen the might of. But it doesn't change anything, the feathered titan doesn't really react, nor can Darkstalker really be safer from him even by doing all the steps he wants, not that making a step in water amounts to anything.
Looking down, the night dragon begins to fully realizes in what kind of place he is in. Laying in the middle of a small pool, in a room covered in snow in each and every corner, the young one may be in the great dragon's chamber, or some kind of more personal room at least.
Extending a talon, the incarnation of winter creates a simple orb from a bit of his own essences in his blue and white paw. Soon, his power blesses the place as a bit of snow starts to fall, giving to the room a magical atmosphere that the young one can clearly feel.
Getting out of his pool, the nightwing now stands on his legs, only to spot his own reflection on the icy floor covering everything, showing this is Kraydirn's domain.
Not bad of a place to live in, and nothing surprising. Thought I wonder how such a huge dragon can make a room like that, do all great dragons have excellent dexterity? Well… maybe, at least they have a lot of time, so their patience must be worth something.
Taking a step forward, Darkstalker thanks fate for letting him his dress, even it won't protect a wet being like him from the cold.
Facing the great dragon, the nightwing looks absolutely ridiculous both because of his clothes and because of his "unrefined" expression. Nonetheless, he makes the choice to approach the titan of black feathers, proving his ignorance and tiredness.
Seeing him approaching, Kraydirn lets the orb fade away and lays down his huge talon. Staying calm and silent, the great dragon looks at what he sees as the little one, laughing a bit internally at how he look, but still being interested by something deeper.
- "Darkstalker, lieju uthu feshur zikos masne?" Says the great kin, breaking the silence with his curious and slightly kind voice.
- "Yth huko…" Answers the nightwing confused and lost.
Expecting such an answer, Kraydirn turns away before coming back with a bowl containing a few crystals. Laying it down before him, the great dragon takes all the crystals in his paw and crushes them before infusing the result and dropping a glowy powder in the bowl. Pushing the filled object with a single claw, he doesn't hide his intent.
- "Olmaf." Tells the black and white dragon.
Suspicious of that but knowing it is safe, the nightwing doesn't waste too much time and starts to eat the powder, only to regret it the instant after. In his hurry, he completely forgot such powder is completely dry, making him feel as if sand was in his mouth despite how good the essences might taste.
Coughing and making faces of disgust, the young one plunges his head in water the second the pool enters his sight. Getting rid of that not so tasteful feeling, the smaller one returns to the bowl, and having learnt his lesson, brings water to the infused dust until it becomes a soup the night dragon drinks.
Letting the little one the time he needs, Kraydirn watches him serenely, knowing he needs at least a peaceful moment before going trough whatever is to come...
Having finished, Darkstalker sees the great dragon turning his back and slowly leaving. Knowing the Five wouldn't leave him all alone, the nightwing follows him despite still being wary of him.
Reflecting on the few moments he saw and interacted with him, the young one concludes he has been and is still a wild card. Watching his mind confirms he has his interests at heart and will defend him, but in a… strange way. He clearly watches over him when he can and seems to values him greatly for his essences, but not just because of his usefulness.
He is a strange dragon, stranger than the others. He has an inner and powerful instinct like Ayirn, but it is far rawer and wild. He can behave himself calmly but also be without restrain in unleashing his power, and yet, he still had enough control to not break some limits in that Test of his…
I'll see if the future confirms that, I'll see…
Leaving the room, both dragons walk in silence on the cold stone, with the young one behind the far greater one. And as time passes, the nightwing finds himself looking at Kraydirn, as despite his imposing and fearsome form, he appears to be completely at peace for now.
The way his body moves slowly but with tremendous strength coupled with his aura of winter gently cooling what is nearby... There is no doubt the feathered giant is some kind of paragon of ice and snow, but contrary to the icewings he quickly learnt too despise, the grand entity has a somewhat pleasant and charming side to him.
Maybe the fact that I saw far more of him compared to any icewing, expect for my father who is a terrible dragon, doesn't help their tribe to be worth much in my eyes.
Not that I will forgive them for what they have done...
Arriving at the final stage of the building, Kraydirn simply lays down with his wings unfolded, watching the sky who for the first time has a star. But taking more time to climb the metallic surface, Darkstalker arrives a bit later. Seeing the resting great entity before him, the nightwing takes his time before deciding to lay at side and look at the sky in a similar way.
That star they both see is far closer to them than one would imagine, even if it is still far enough that no ordinary dragon could reach it. It is just an orb of essences, even if it is far more tangible than the ones before, it is not that extraordinary, expect for the fact it is in the celestial sheet. It does not contains that much essences in the eyes of a great dragon, the only thing it has for it is its peculiar essences.
When the seer tries to analyse them, he feels something similar to the moons' power, even if it is far weaker. Still, it is surprising such mix of power being so stable, maintaining its regular shape… Or maybe he just doesn't know the great dragons' power and that characteristic is just normal.
Staring at the sky, the young one realizes how such a little thing makes all the difference. Since he arrived to this world, never did his sky was worth of attention, with no sun, no moons, no stars, and not even some clouds…
Am I missing Pyrrhia? I probably am, that realm has nothing for itself. At least it has no conflict, war can't be if no one is here to fight, but… It will never be a place to live in if nothing is added to it, even if one didn't know the existence of a better world.
The night dragon sighs.
No wonder I acted like crazy for my first "moments" in it, and no wander these five great dragons are doing everything they can to restore or escape that damned realm. If I were in their place, I don't think I would let any moral slow me down...
Turning his head to look at the young one, Kraydirn shows he has something in mind. Standing up, the feathered titan walks to the edge of the room, expecting Darkstalker to follow him wherever he goes.
- "Ignum yth." Says the great dragon with authority.
Not thinking he has a choice, the night dragon follows. Now at his side, he falls from the Pyramid and beats his wings to start his flight like the greater one.
Leaving their house behind, the two dragons embark on a long journey in that desert of grey and black stones...