.
Chapter 22: To the deepest part of the House
After a long moment during which the young one rested, Akhanta finds herself thinking more and more about one of her kin, Azykan. Reflecting on the situation, the dragoness finally takes her decision.
Standing up, she does not surprise Darkstalker who leaves his soft surface to get at her side. But before she can leave the room, the dark blue giant sees the ripped clothes she gave him before.
Looking at the nightwing again, she realizes something and goes to collect some clothes and pieces of fabric, and presents them to him, her gaze saying it all. Understanding what she wants him to do and not opposing her one bit, the young one takes the sort of dress eagerly and starts to wear it.
Covering him from neck to tail, it is definitely better than what he wore before. And coloured dark green, the fabric is a bit thicker and seems more resistant than the last one as he passes a claw over to check. Now looking at the far smaller sheets of tissue, the night dragon has a harder time finding what to do with them...
Seeing the hesitation in him, Akhanta points at her huge limbs, making the young one realize what these pieces are for.
So they are bands to put over my talons, I guess they can work as protection for my still vulnerable body…
Tying the four white bands on his arms and legs, the nightwing is now ready for the day, and after looking at him for a final time, the great dragoness leaves the room...
Moving through the Pyramid and changing direction quite often, the seer looks around him and gazes at walls he had never seen before. But now is not the time to think about them as the young one has a far more important preoccupation, Azykan. He does not know much about the great dragon, only that he participated in that awful act done to him, and that makes Darkstalker shake to the core.
That moment was one of the worst in his life, as painful if not more than when Clearsight betrayed him, or even when he lost his mother.
No… Maybe not that painful… I-I don't know, I don't know anymore... Maybe I have already passed too much time here…
In the end, the nightwing knows almost nothing about him, not that he knows much about the others... And that unknown scares him, maybe it is just paranoia and trauma speaking, but he can not suppress that feeling of unease as he thinks about that red and orange dragon…
I guess I have no other choice…
Darkstalker, you've got this, just stays calm and ready and things will be better… And if things go bad, just move closer to Akhanta, she'll protect you more than any other...
Looking back at Akhanta, the young one do not see her being very suspicious of him, with her walking steadily and serenely, being more focused on what is in front of her. Of course, the great dragoness still has some healthy doubts about the young one, but for now she not worrying more than just a little.
Good…
.
Arriving at what is certainly Azykan's room, the great dragoness knocks at the large pair of doors before pushing them open quite loudly… As the dark blue giant enters, the red and orange titan puts down the very long scroll he was reading, and taking a small step forward, speaks to his guest with a more surprised voice.
- "Akhanta? Heij ajek yl kehusit ust uthutias esfima?" Asks Azykan before getting an answer to his question as he gazes upon the young one.
"Cuxt… Heij uthu kasarh sif ghyt?" Says the great dragon, his massive wings twitching a bit like his tail.
- "Yth kasarh iole uthu ifyat yth nestoq tho." Answers the great dragoness while pointing to the nightwing at her side.
The red and orange stares at Darkstalker, who does not like his gaze one bit...
- "Yth holcu… Yth eiuf ifyat uthu." Says the kin despite being doubtful, turning fully toward his kin to avoid the one she takes care of.
As the dark blue dragoness leaves the room, so do the two other dragons, with the nightwing maintaining some distance with the great dragon and keeping an eye on him...
As the group walks, surrounded by ancient and marked walls honouring and telling of the past civilization, the seer focuses more and more on his powerful sights, curious about the many auras that fill it and trying to make out any information on the Pyramid that he could use for his future plans…
Then, something comes to his mind.
That sort of library and laboratory, I felt a lot of essences down there and yet, I didn't get to really explore it. And what I have seen isn't nearly enough to explain such a strong aura of power…
I should return to that place, something important is inside, I'm sure of it...
.
- "Cuxt… Heij hute sitrilm nestoq toijyl and Kraydirn?" Asks Azykan, curious as his mind focuses on the young one and the feathered dragon.
- "Ythe huko, ikul jyin yl uh hute esfim, thoe hute surh tarkaur, kes Kraydirn khutey jukin yl almet ust Zotias ust olmukara. Xamirh surh feshur olvumt ust Zo yihe uthu bastot." Answers the giant dragoness with a bit of tiredness in her tone, while her mind thinks of Kraydirn's arrival and his weakened state.
- "Yth soum-hute ojtea iole…" Says the red and orange one to himself more than to his kin.
.
Arriving into a simple room with no furniture inside, Darkstalker is guided to the center and under Akhanta's wing while Azykan stays more distant. Now that everyone is positioned, the great dragoness can begin to draw a large circle of glyphs on the ground, moving her titanic form under the watch of the nightwing who is still wary of the situation.
After a few minutes, the dark blue giant triggers the spell, and with a sudden glow of all the symbols, the young ones feels his essences being freed, ending up more around him than inside him, leaving him in a way naked as the two great dragons stare at him with utter focus.
Stopping the spell and letting it fully fade away, Akhanta turns to Azykan who appears to be more surprised than ever. Slowly approaching him, the great dragoness' presence make the kin speak in his most serious tone without showing his authority.
- "Zo muka… olmukara ust Kraydirn." Says the dragon of red and orange, still marked by what he saw, his mind even shocked.
- "Ko, ikul kalup peuj iole, the ceiven nestoq Zotias eastu?" Replies the great dragoness in no time.
- "Cuxt thotias alkara eiuf alomu kalup teinmyl peuj ythe hute hefum…" Saying that, Azykan seems to be wondering about the state of the young one.
- "Kes iole otije Darkstalker eiuf ashek kalup shoshra… Kraydirn misytu hute ghyt iole sif Zo." Adds the dragoness, thinking of the dragon of winter with hints of bitterness.
Looking back at the young one, the red and orange one is thinking more than ever, starting to overwhelm the seer with his working mind… Walking closer to the night dragon, Akhanta lays down and looks at him straight in the eyes, wanting his attention at all cost.
- "Darkstalker…" Says the imposing dragoness while infusing her paw with essences and pointing at him and at her belly.
The nightwing quickly understands what she tries to say. Closing his eyes and focusing on all of himself, the young one can feel the recent nature of his essences. No longer do they all originate from him, from beyond this world as some of Kraydirn's essences flow in him, integrating into his very being and mixing with his powerful core…
Opening his eyes, the smaller one immediately nods to the great dragoness, confirming the intensity of what he feels to her.
Having her answer, the dark blue giant stands up and makes sign for the others to follow her out of the room. And beginning to course through the corridor, the seer deduces quite easily they are going to where Xamirh and Kraydirn are, but to the first in priority.
Reflecting on the last events, the young one is not as lost as before…
So Kraydirn filled my being with his own power, more or less willingly, and now, my power is growing more than ever…
When we where on that frozen land, my instincts, my sun guided me and pushed me to connect with his powerful being so that I could make a sort of celestial object… That object, which looked for a second like a moon. Is it a more advanced version of that star that Ayirn created last time? It seems to be…
And she used that silver liquid being some of my essences. What is so special about my essences?
But what would be the utility of that of these "celestial" bodies? Aren't they just huge quantities of essences under a different form?
There is something I don't know, something important, no doubt about that...
.
Arriving at the room where the two great dragons they seek are there, Akhanta and Azykan opens the doors with their large and powerful front talons, allowing Darkstalker to discover this new part of their house.
Such a room contains the great dragon bearing shining yellow scales, wings unfolded and covering the feathered titan, who rests in silence and stares at his kin with a thankful, relaxed expression while his caretaker can not find himself to be really angry at the other despite his firm expression...
Entering the place, the young one quickly finds himself surrounded by water, the room being almost entirely covered by it, and while the water is not deep at all for a great dragon, it is still enough for the water to touch his belly.
Going forward, the three dragons draw the attention of the two kins who simply turn their head, not breaking their stance while Xamirh is still keeping Kraydirn under his gigantic wing.
Getting close enough to them, Akhanta puts herself before her two companions and says what she has to say in an informal voice.
- "Darkstalker muka ofemyl jteos olmukara feltone tey Kraydirn. Tosmyl the ajek artufo, the surh feshur sefromu masne aqouf tho. Yth muvol iujash vawrie feshur alomu alkara heia ghyt shushra tho alj-alest zait yl teiu."
- "Kraydirn hute vecik yth azeiw iole, kes oje uthu yth iujash tomerz eiuf ajek jykon moneist iole kishru." Replies Xamirh in a neutral and calm voice, knowing in advance the information she said about the feathered kin and Darkstalker.
Seems like he has calmed down since last time, maybe everything is under control now. But I do wonder if I will see him being more… emotional in the future… I surely will if Kraydirn get the same anger and hatred when he looks at what's left of his world.
- "Pylt yth exuvo. Yl toijyl muka vuyahe alkara neyuft fouit Zo, kes th tunis oxemin Zo sif ejurhym." Says the dragon of winter to Akhanta and Azykan before slowly standing up.
Taking a step forward with the yellow kin behind him, the dragon of ice and snow extends a talon to offer him his paw, proposing for the nightwing to be in contact with him.
Hesitant, the young one accepts under the pressure of the giants around him, as well as that of his sun… Joining with his own paw, the link is created and the two beings now feel their potential growing as the essences of the other becomes more and more easy to draw from and combine with one's own core.
As Kraydirn and Darkstalker start to show the power of their connection, the three great dragons watch the scene unfolds.
Xamirh shows only mildly surprise, restraining well his feelings and being the one that expected the most something like that would happen sooner or later. And still keeping his attention on his feathered kin, he stays ready to help him just in case.
Akhanta, however, appears to have that feeling mixed with concern, staring at all the paths taken by essences and checking them constantly. She, of course, focuses more on the nightwing, scrutinizing his body to not miss any sign telling her of his state.
Finally, Azykan, watching with greater distance than the others, thinks and reflects on the last events and the numerous discussions he had since the young one arrived in their world and was discovered. But if there is one thing he is sure of, it is that Darkstalker will survive no matter what happen, him and his kins will never let him perish after all…
Breaking the link, Kraydirn and the nightwing regain their old stance in a slightly better state than before, as if such a link restored them. Casting a glance at Xamirh and thinking for a moment, Akhanta finally approaches Darkstalker and makes sign for him to be at her side. Now turning back in direction of the exit, she says her words to the other kins.
- "Xamirh, lieju uthu tunis surik nestoq yth kes Darkstalker? Azykan, lieju tunis olvumt ust Kraydirn?"
Agreeing both, the yellow great one leaves the dragon of winter behind to join the dark blue dragoness while the red and orange one comes for the feathered titan, starting by curling his finned tail around his giant form.
Leaving the room, the three march in silence as the seer tries to find in the others' mind what is happening, but it is in vain. He already know the basics, trying to understand anything more complex would require him to know more of their language, their words and symbols...
.
.
Descending in the depths of the Pyramid, climbing down the marches as the walls are marked more and more by bright symbols, Darkstalker's expectation is fulfilled, they are coming to the laboratory.
Entering that impressive and mysterious place, he knows no one is in there this time, as he feels no peculiar aura that would be the mark of one of the five great ones. But what he senses is not unworthy of attention nor common either…
It gets closer, but it is still so far from me. Inside that lab, some essences… no, a lot of them, they pulse, beat like a heart, it seems like there are many beings, many individual auras crammed or very close to each others...
Is there something alive?
Not having the time to speculate further, the young one comes back to reality as the two giant dragons have settled, and both wait for him to sat down and listen, their face serious like their mind.
Laying down in front of the huge pool, the smaller one stares back at the both of them, staying calm and focusing on the present event... A moment later, Xamirh starts to speak.
- "Darkstalker, heij uthu eiuf moxon ajek aftomer ythe pyteya esimte uthu, cuxt ashek lihotu."
The nightwing has heard all the words, and while he can not comprehend the sentence at all, he gets enough of an idea from the concept being present the most in the great dragons' mind.
Something big, something important is to come, in that place, and I have to be prepared.
After a moment, the young one nods, confirming to Xamirh and Akhanta he is ready.
Seeing he is sure of himself, the yellow giant stands up and turns to walk farther in the room. The dark blue dragoness stands up as well, but approaches Darkstalker to have him at her side before following her kin.
Living the library and entering the room on the left, then going through the entrance at the far end of its right side, the three dragons step inside a room with shelves present sparingly on the walls that end surprisingly far, so far it is very hard for the little one to perceive the end of it, like all of that is the greatest corridor of the Pyramid.
So this is it, that is where the great dragons will show me something I need to see...
As the two great dragons and the young one walks through it, nothing blocks their way and doors appear periodically on each side of the room as they progress… But despite how many doors, shelves and scenes being depicted appear in their sight, the dragons continue to go forward, ignoring what is on each side and focusing on what is at the end of the tunnel, except for Darkstalker, who tries to gaze at all of it but barely has the time to…
.
As he gets closer to the end of it, the seer realizes that if there is a place where the strange aura he felt at the beginning would be, what lies beyond must be it. He can sense that more and more clearly, the beating of power appearing more defined, like the essences which the nightwing starts to really be able to distinguish…
.
Getting close enough to the final doors, the two giants stops their march, halting the smaller one as well. Now surrounded by that entrance and another on each side, the two great dragons turn to him, more serious than ever even if both do not want to scare him.
With a slightly slower voice, Xamirh speaks to the young one once again, surely asking if he is still feeling confident.
- "Darkstalker, lieju uthu surh lihotu?"
The nightwing was about to hesitate when his inner sun, as well as his curiosity and ambition make him nod after a short moment, overwhelming his doubts and fears about what is behind these doors and the power that emanates from them.
Searching for a flaw in his stance, the yellow dragon casts a judgmental stare, scrutinizing him...
After a long moment of silence, the great dragon finds worry overcome by an adamant desire, and finally turns away.
Casting a quick glance at Akhanta before going to the right entrance, his mind is occupied by the image of silver fluids and crystals. And as he does that, the dark blue dragoness curls her tail around the smaller one, and partially drops her serious expression, trying to bring him comfort…
Coming back with a sort of portable hourglass for a dragon like him, Xamirh does not lost time and begins to push the two greatest doors Darkstalker has ever seen, greater even that the ones sealing the entrance to the throne room of the night palace.
A loud and stressful noise echoes through the grand corridor as these doors slowly open, the glorious image of Ankonalmirh they depict disappearing from sight as what is behind them is revealed bit by bit until…
The titanic doors stop moving, now being fully in contact with the walls and letting anyone who wants to enter in the sealed Place have their wish.
The young one gazes into what is before him, and what he sees is…
Disappointing?
Wait, no. What really is that…
As the three dragons enter the new room, they can see it in all its glory…
Sludge taints the floor and walls, glowing faintly and adding a mystical shade to the first part of the Room whose essences deep inside radiates so much…
Vines and tendrils of bright and colourful, of oily and fleshy matter covers and spreads over the ancient stones…
Crystals are so numerous that their pale light is enough for such a gigantic place, and they connect to the vines so well that they might as well be one with that vast web of energy...
And yet, it is only the beginning…
Marching forward, the two great ones and the nightwing progress step after step on the cold ground that, little by little, gets more cracked,
then fractured,
then gets softer,
until the old ground is no more, replaced by something most similar to mud, the earth in which life could be born from. But it is never just that, it is infused, filled gradually with essences as one approaches the center of that mystical place…
.
Here lies the monolithic Crystal, a gem of power so big its volume could contain more than one great dragon, and so full of essences that the Five great one combined can barely rival it. Such a treasure is also, against all common sense, devoid of cracks, or flaws on its so, so many facets it possesses...
From the smallest triangle to the biggest mirror, the Vessel of power is one always worthy of greatness.
.
Coming closer to it, Darkstalker is shocked by what he sees, momentarily forgetting about his sun burning brighter when he entered such place, and even the Gem despite it being right before him…
Corpses or bodies, of many dragons, lay around the Crystal, covered by vines and tendrils, having far more flesh than the ancient remain of a being could ever have.
Forcing himself to go forward, the young one can not look away from them, and from their closed eyes, making it appear like they are sleeping peacefully, totally ignorant of the outside world… But their exposed insides, their wounds closed and protected by a single, thin veil, and their open head suggest otherwise, especially for the immobile little one…
.
Do you think your magic could awake them?
Did you try?
Why didn't you did it?
Why don't you do it?
Are you afraid, too scared to even attempt it?
Don't lie to yourself, we know one day you will…
Or maybe…
No, let's not imagine something too cruel…
.
- "Darkstalker!"
The young one comes back to his senses as Akhanta leans toward him, worried as he stayed frozen in place for too long to be normal. Seeing the dragoness, the nightwing tries to show her he is okay as he moves forward, catching up to Xamirh, but the dark blue giant stops him immediately.
Lowering her head, she looks at him, fully showing her worried state and caring side as the seer has no difficulty watching her mind.
After a moment of silence, the great dragoness lets him go as she has him closer to her side.
Now having joined Xamirh around the Monolith, the great dragon partially unfolds his wings and puts down the sort of big hourglass he transported.
Opening it, the yellow giant starts to extract the silver fluid inside, slowly gathering it into a mass of essences held by his paw. Focused, the young one can not looks away from the silver mist of power who originated from him…
Finishing to collect all the content of the object, Xamirh turns to look again at his kin and Darkstalker, checking on them. As the great dragoness nods, the yellow giant extends his talon directly at the titanic gem, pouring all the essences from his claws to the Crystal...
A moment later, the great dragon moves to face the two others, having accomplished his task, and then discovers Akhanta is taking care of Darkstalker as he starts to behave strangely.
His eyes are closed, but his frustrated body tries to close them even more.
Shaking and being frustrated, the nightwing moves more and more chaotically, agitating all his parts until he inevitably falls down to the ground.
But still, he panics more and more, starting to claw at the ground itself uncontrollably…
- "L-let me alone… Let me... Leave me, leave me alone!" Says the young one frantically.
Seeing that, Xamirh joins her kin, but does not do anything, not wanting to make things worse and knowing his kin is better at dealing directly with such a situation.
Grabbing him, the great dragoness lays down and puts him against her belly, trying to calm him down and to immobilize his limbs completely…
"Don't touch me! Go away! I don't need you, stop saying that lie! Enough!" Says Darkstalker while clawing at Akhanta's scales, still being able to move his limbs and paws.
Knowing the situation will only get worse as she senses the young one's essences starting to be drawn to serve his chaos, the dark blue giant puts him away from her, almost throwing him into the corpses around before charging a spell…
"Argh! No, no… No! You can't do that, you can't take that from me! I will kill you father! I will kill you Clearsight and Fathom! You don't de-"
- "Votale."
With that final word, Akhanta unleashes her power, engulfing the pitiful nightwing in light for a split second, shocking him and putting an end to his mad words as he falls down, unconscious...