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Chapter 11: The Five's short reunion

After what seems like half an hour has passed, the two great dragons prepares to soar with the young one following without questions. But as the two masterfully ascends, Darkstalker does not, with his wings still covered in blue veins and probably not fully healed, not being rigid enough when he needs them to. Sighing as he sees the two great one watching him, he decides to try again, wanting to be more independent.

Taking his breath and channelling frustration and fear, the bluish nightwing instinctively musters his essences and accelerates far more than before. With one powerful jump, he leaves the ground and unfolds his wings. However, as their fabric is altered, the night dragon must jump another four time to accumulate enough momentum and then adjust his wingbeats to maintain his flight.

Executing such regular movements is annoying, even hard for him as he almost crashes many times before stabilizing his body in the air. But having succeeded in the end, Darkstalker begins to look more serious and ready for what comes next, a bit of his confidence even return as do his ambitions. Maybe the burning power inside of me isn't so bad after all. If they want to increase it, it could be the solution to my problems…

While Kraydirn and Akhanta do not look at the smaller nightwing constantly, they can sense his essences and accurately know what he does, especially when he is that close. That is not lost to the seer either, who can clearly see how they observe him in their mind, even without understanding their words. He also did not missed the fact that the three others could be at the temple, and it would be possible for them to wait for the others to return with him following. But why, the nightwing doesn't know, considering he just waited there with both great dragons.

Why would they bring me here if it is not to do anything at all? They haven't drawn a single glyph, and I doubt they could cast a spell both important enough and absolutely stealthy… Maybe the floor in itself was doing something, as well as these powerful rods, who knows. Next time I'll look around more carefully…

.

Approaching the house of the titanic dragons, Darkstalker can sense the presence of three powerful entities with his altered sight, putting his mind on alert. Then, as the seer calms himself, an idea come to him. What if I show I'm incapable of arriving at the top?I could fake the failure of my wings or exhaustion. No, if they really want me here, they'll grab me instead like Akhanta did.

About to throw away his idea, he realizes something. If I do that, I will get a glimpse at how much they want me here. It is not something that'll make me learn a lot, but it's better than nothing... Having decided his next course of actions, the young dragon starts to destabilize his flight and loses altitude bit by bit on purpose.

Since he started his plan, it does not take long for the two giants before him to turn their head and spot his decline. They can indeed sense my essences very well, no need for eyes to observe me… Continuing to play his act, the bluish nightwing quickly attracts the dark blue dragoness who is adjusting her trajectory to arrive just at his right side. Worry now taints Akhanta's mind, and he feels slightly bad for doing this, until he remembers her betrayal.

As Darkstalker gradually loses altitude and speed, the great dragoness intervenes and puts herself below him before catching him on the back. While he holds on her body, Akhanta accelerates and ascends to correct her trajectory. Watching her mind, the seer spots some concepts being associated with himself and his state, he can see more detailed pictures of essences, powerful rituals and spells.

While the nightwing lacks even basic knowledge on all of that, he can make out with his intuition that she may fear him becoming unstable and wild.

She is not wrong, what happened last time was definitely proof of that. Even if I am calmer now, I may become furious in the future, and when it happens, essences will surely follow… It is almost terrifying how powerful I can be when I am enraged now… but not in the end it does not bring me any good...

Arriving at the Pyramid's third stage, Akhanta and Kraydirn land spectacularly, at least for ones that are not as great as them... Climbing down the enormous dragoness, the young one stays close to her back talons, trying to feel safe from the three enormous and powerful entities staring at him. In his desperate avoidance of them, the night dragon barely looks in their direction, but still does to not be too suspicious, and stays on his guard.

The majority of his body is contracted and almost any of his muscles is ready just in case. He knows what any of them is capable of, he knows their lack of concern for his being allow them to sacrifice him. Or maybe he does not, and that part of uncertainty clouds his mind with more fear and anger, assuming the worst of all who stand before him.

Xamirh, the great dragon whose mind appeared to be cold and logical, and surely merciless. I'm sure he is okay with what they did to me, if not outright encouraging that.

Azykan, the great dragon who weakened him and paralysed him, preparing him for my torturous ritual. If you think I'll forget what you've done… You are lucky I don't have the power to fight you, because if I did, I would be challenging you right here.

And Ayirn, the great dragoness whose aura is the strongest if not for Kraydirn. She is the one who lit the burning essences in her paws and struck him with it without a single bit of restrain. You may be the first to encounter me and show me there is hope for me in this world, but your act is unforgivable. If my magic wasn't in my scroll but in my claws, I would do something worse than what I did to the poor excuse of a father I had! You'll be screaming without any break and I'll get to enjoy giving punishment this time!

What?! No… Calm down Darkstalker, calm down. You can't have vengeful ideas in such situation, they only distract you and lead to a worse future, especially when you have nothing…

Trying to find peace in his mind again by focusing on his breathing, the nightwing realizes none are looking at him anymore, in fact, they have already begun their discussion...

- "Lieju astutyl nemact yl dusmil?" Says Xamirh.

Everyone stays silent for a moment, confusing Darkstalker until he understands from their thoughtful minds a question must have been asked. In the end, Xamirh appears to conclude something.

"Aquj th surh cereuxi. Ythe eiuf namak thotias olmukara, ikul jyin yl ajek xeit."

What lingers in his mind… essences, power, so much power and essences… in a tainted place full of flesh and blood. What?

- "Jyin thotias olmukara yafin sif olnamra thotyl jivun zait thotias salren surha." Answers Ayirn, who the nightwing can only make out in time she thinks about him and his powerful essences.

- "Hie, Yth hute surh nestoq wulen sif kenib tho eiuf heia fuste iole masne." Replies Akhanta in opposition, casting a quick glance at the little hybrid before resuming her antagonistic gaze.

The three dragons suddenly stare at the large dragoness and her young one, their minds flashing with varying degrees of surprise and curiosity concerning Akhanta, who takes a step forward and hides him partially with her talon.

"Yth kenib uthue eiuf heia kareia thotyl, ikul uthue soumvu tunis najak uthue thotyl uthuetias exatri."

After a short moment of silence following her last words, Xamirh continue the conversation in a more serious tone as he focuses only on the dark blue dragoness.

- "Lieju Zu surh misyt?"

- "Ko." Answers Akhanta without flinching as she stands against her kins, her strong will being easily proven by one single look at her mind.

- "Aquj yl sefrit surh melku."

As Xamirh finishes his words, Ayirn and Azykan leaves the room, marking the end of the discussion between the five great ones. But all is not over as the yellow kin approaches the giant dragoness.

While Kraydirn continues to stay passive like he did during the whole conversation, the seer tries to know more about the giant approaching them. Watching for a moment, the nightwing deduces he seems to be marked by the attitude of his "caretaker" and her link to him. In a calmer and quieter voice, he seems to ask her something.

- "Pratus aftomer yth soumvu yenuv kenib. Vecik ythyl heij smyver Zu muka nestoq thotyl."

While Darkstalker does not get the question, but seeing how the dragoness reflects on her feelings she gets from him directly or not, he can make a good guess. After a moment, Akhanta replies in a hesitant and confused voice.

- "Zo iuseq ythyl ust yl temylkesyle ust ythetias azyrtu… Sylis aljuhi mylmyl, Zu tunis heia surh mesraie jyin pratus u fujetu. Yth hefum Zu kasarh sif surh u yfena vaieb."

- "Yth gynhim."

These two words is all Xamirh replies to the dragoness. And for a moment, the two great ones stay still and look at each other in understanding, before he walks away and leaves like the two others. Having watched their minds during that little exchange, the seer has yet another confirmation of the great dragoness' feelings for him and her past as a mother, be it literally or not. As well as getting a glimpse of a more... caring side of Xamirh. If that is possible.

But the young dragon does not have the time to be distracted by his judgement of the two great ones, as the dragon of black feathers suddenly puts himself in front of them, watching curiously before speaking to Akhanta in a more relaxed tone.

- "Yth soumvu tunis ifyat uthu wilute Darkstalker."

- "Yth eiuf kotuf sif uthu ghyt heia romnut thotyl aljalest." Replies the great dragoness while she hadn't really expected what he told her, the concept of him being at her side coming to her mind.

- "Ythe eiuf holcu..."

And with that, the gigantic black dragon leaves them behind to soar from the Pyramid and return to what? the night dragon doesn't know. But what he is sure of however, is that he will stick to the dark blue dragoness, both because he wants to and because he is somewhat forced to.

I should not complain, Akhanta is the best dragon out of the five, she cares more for me than the others and may even step in to defend my side. In all cases, I should not walk away from her, at least not until my power rivals their, but I doubt that day is tomorrow…

I just hope she doesn't passively betray me like last time, because I don't think I'll be ready for it, and because I know it would hurt… so much…