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Chapter 37: Passing time in the other house of the great ones and getting glimpses at magic

- "Nightful...? Nightful, wake up."

Trying to open his eyes the nightwing twitches by reflex his resting body, marking the beginning of his senses coming back, sending him all kind of sensations that shock him awake.

- "What…"

- "Are still feeling tired your highness?" Asks another dragon of the night wearing a medium satchel, his voice somewhat kind and intimate but restrained as to not be too personal.

- "Maybe… I… I am just… more confused than anything." Answers Nightful as he rolls over himself to stand on his four talons, pushing away the delicate fabric that covers him.

- "I see…"

Turning away for a moment, the nightwing wearing a prestigious robe goes to a plate over the table, being near the entrance of the ancient room, his eyes focusing on a shining recipient made from a single big gem…

"In that case, I still recommend you to take some of these essences, they may clarify your mind and will surely bring vitality to your tired body." Tells the servant whose valuable clothes wears all the symbols of his tribe, returning with the plate and what stands over, only allowing himself to smile a little for the lord.

- "Thank you Sharpgazer." Says Nightful as he is now out of the bed, standing on his talons while his mind fully returns.

Putting the plate on the bed, the noble servant then opens his satchel to retrieve a bottle, the attention and care he gives to it hinting at its preciousness… Laying it on the same silver plate, Sharpgazer also takes out some pieces of cotton and a crystalline blue orb, things that he do not doubt of their future uses.

- "Just stay relaxed and all will go well…" Declares the servant as he opens the valuable bottle and pours its content in the crystal clear container, drawing the eyes of Nightful on his preparation.

Taking the worthy recipient, the night lord takes a little breath before drinking the purple liquid, adding the infused solution into his being quickly as its taste does not seem to be a bad one, all the while Sharpgazer looks at him attentively, observing any change over his body having a few spots where faintly glowing veins are visible…

"Are you feeling better?"

- "Yes… I think…"

- "Then take this orb and apply it on the traces of your old wounds." Says the nightwing servant as he presents the captivating sphere, remaining calm and confident…

After a long minute of the lord following his instructions in silence, Sharpgazer takes a piece of cotton in his paw and rubs it on Nightful's underside, making sure to go over any spot reminiscent of an old wound or anything else… Having finished, the noble servant puts down his untainted item.

"I see your healing has progressed a bit more than expected, especially after doing so much physical effort…"

- "You are right Sharpgazer, our last travel was a long one, and I have to admit I feared my blood would still drop a little from my skin."

- "It is perfectly normal to have such worry my lord. But now…"

Taking the pieces of fabric and the orb to put them back in his satchel, the nightwing servant turns his back and takes on a stronger stance before speaking again, his voice more powerful.

"I think it is time we go to the temple's zenith."

- "You are right, the moons are almost full, we can not miss that occasion..." Replies the night lord, still a bit confused even if his strength and well being has returned to a greater extent.

Leaving the recently remade room to accommodate a resting royal, the pair of nightwings starts to walk through the corridors of the ancient and meaningful building, with the servant leading his lord proudly…

.

- "May I ask about what fading memories of new dreams you still remember lord Nightful?" Ask Sharpgazer as the two turn to enter another corridor of the mythological place, its atmosphere mystical despite the two being so far from of its altars.

- "I think… I do remember some things, and yes, I can speak about them." Answers the higher nightwing, still a bit tired and slower when he comes to conclude, though his persisting doubt is genuine.

- "Then I will start with a simple question. Did you have some kind of nightmares? And by the way, did you slept well? Sorry for not asking that sooner…" Replies the servant as both keep themselves focused on the other, ignoring the many paintings on the walls.

- "I would be lying if I said my slumber wasn't a good one, so yes, I slept pretty well. As for the other question… I keep seeing their Heart breaking… no matter how many times I see it."

- "So no progress on that… But you told me that in your dreams, after the Heart was broken, you always tried to remake it. Did it end in catastrophic failure like you told me last time?"

- "… Yes, it ended terribly, even worse than before…"

Nightful looks down and catches his breath, disappointed at himself as he remembers his last dream under the watchful eyes of his caring but silent servant…

"I was closer than before… when it came to put all of its bits back into a whole…"

- "That must be quite frustrating indeed… Maybe it is a sign you should delve deeper in healing and repair magic…"

The lord is moderately shocked when he hears these words, staying voiceless for a few seconds before replying.

- "That would serve me a lot, but I do not think it is really what I need to reform the Heart… It was shattered like a mirror, and what was needed was to put even the tiniest of pieces back to where it was, do you understand?"

- "I do, but repair magic can, in its strongest and most complex version, be used to put all the pieces together without cheating at the puzzle."

- "Really? How have I missed such a thing?" Asks Nightful dumbfounded, and a bit disappointed in himself for not knowing about something having such potential.

- "Well… The dragons that have perfected this type of magic are quite rare, as it demands a lot of specialization and dedication, time and efforts. And also because to test the limits of such art often means breaking a taboo."

- "A taboo? I see people may be reluctant quite often when it comes to drastic measures, but I do not see how such an opposition could form… Can you enlighten me on that Sharpgazer?"

- "As you wish my lord… You must know that while normal dragons when faced with ones stronger, higher than them in one or many ways, they may not rebel outright, but will act in the shadow, holding on a grudge, a sense of betrayal for years or even decades…

Hearing that response, Nightful takes a moment to think, and to manage the raw feelings that start to emerge as his innate speculation develops…

- "You mean that I surely have some enemies in my ranks, formed by a betrayal I did not even know about?"

- "Maybe, it is bond to happen when you lead enough people after all… But no, I do not think your situation is that dire, as the magic you have employed under the sight of everyone was neither too powerful it ponders uneasy questions nor had ended in failures that would be… too impactful we shall say."

- "So what is it with an art that makes dragons so ready to betray their saviour?"

- "You should know that, so I'll be straightforward in my explanation. Dragons, at least the vast majority of them… are mortal creatures full of passions and having some reasons, which is why some actions or projects are difficult to choose for them despite the reward obviously making sense and being desirable."

"You have to get this lord Nightful. Common dragons grow attached to their normal lives, to their routine even if it is limited, even if it left them unfulfilled, even if it destroy them and they know it, or at least they think they do and can say that truth without flinching."

- "…"

"And what if I am one of these dragons? Have you seen such a problematic behaviour? Have I failed?"

- "You have failed, and you will certainly fail again, but you also have learnt from them and corrected yourself and your life… That fact shall never be forgotten!"

Darkstalker wakes up slowly, feeling the water all around him rubbing the scales of his underside with that quiet and relaxing sound… Uncurling his body from head to tail with the intent to stretch his form like he instinctively desires, the little nightwing then unfolds his pair of front talons, rising the first half of his form before opening his eyes...

"Tho feshur olvetu. Akhanta, Ayirn, yl toijyl surh olvetu!" Says a deep voice to his kins, whose being is a great entity radiating cold and snow.

Recovering his sight after such a long rest, the young one first gazes upon Kraydirn's form, spotting him halted in his endeavour, with a scroll in his right talon probably taken from the table at his side full of similar objects, or maybe the reverse is true. In any case, the feathered giant decides to put it down and steps closer to the small hybrid while the two great dragoness being farther approach as well.

Putting his front talons in the water of the larger pool before him, the dragon of black feathers lays down his titanic form, making sure Darkstalker does not find his greater self too imposing as he lowers his head before speaking…

"Oij uthu zikos azeiw uthumej?" Asks simply the great one, his casual voice best representing his calm and relaxed state, his not so great focus on him while the thoughts of the texts he had under his eyes and what stories they told still linger in his mind.

To his question, the seer begins to look at himself, breathing in peace and taking the time to feel his body by twitching each part, all under the curious and watchful gaze of a draconic giant…

A pair of blue eyes and a pair of green eyes come to stare at the young one, their owners laying down at each side of their feathered kin. Satisfied from what she can get from there, the magical dragoness lets the dark blue one speak, her mind coming back to the scrolls she worked with and the circles of symbols they depicted.

- "Lieju uthu surik sif yth?" Demands Akhanta with a peaceful voice, her extended talon being closer to the little nightwing telling of her desire to interact more, even if she does not force him...

- "...Ko…" Answers Darkstalker as he walks toward her, the remaining mix of hesitation and fatigue slowing him down, even if he has genuinely accepted her offer, coming far closer to her while he can hardly ignore the thoughts of others.

With a grin appearing on her face, the great dragoness turns her back to walk into a table deeper in the room, followed by the nightwing staring at the many paintings put on the walls…

They must have had quite a lot of time to make all of these... Thinks the young one as his eyes passes over a piece depicting Kraydirn and Xamirh standing side by side, the image doing its best to convey the seriousness but also the bond the two great dragons share, with both holding a spear that crosses the other…

Arriving at the circular table, the young one settles just before the elevated surface strangely adapted for his size, which is full of all sorts of things, but mostly has scrolls and tablets, while his eyes stumble upon a sheet showing a circle of glyphs, with each element having his own little text.

- "Uthu bastot azeiw yl otijehun ust iole uqeuri?" Says the dark blue dragoness, getting what made the little one interested.

Settling down with her giant form, Akhanta puts the object aside with her massive paw before bringing two big bowls at its place. Discovering that one is filled with gemstones and the other with water, Darkstalker gets the idea of what to do but still remains hesitant, turning his head to look into his caretaker's eyes…

"Uthu eiuf pyteya sif olmaf." Says the giant dragoness with a kind but authoritative voice, pulling the first bowl closer to the other with one claw.

Taking a little blow to his pride, the young one turns back to the table and takes a red gem in his paws, sighing as he touches it… Fracturing it with all of the strength in his paws and letting the dust produced fall over the recipient full of water, he then watches the liquid being infused as he puts down the shattered stone and begins to shake the large bowl gently…

- "Geskame pratus u sulma telast sif somul peuj iole..."

Finally giving up the tablet she holds, the giant dragoness bearing green and blue scales decides to join the table, putting her massive form quite far from the night dragon, all under his surprised eyes, his face hinting at intimidation and irritation.

Feshur jukin uthutias zesrukal oem yl olcan ust Zy… vaieb.

- "Ko, ikul th linf heia surh afcunet." Replies the dark blue giant, partially refuting the idea of her kin as she cast a quick glance at Darkstalker, keeping in mind to check the two dragons.

Turning her head to gaze upon the two bowls for the first time, as if Akhanta's words have not been pronounced, the magical dragoness takes the recipient filled with gems without giving a care to others. Thinking for a few seconds as she stares at its content, she then speaks again with an annoyed voice.

- "Akhanta, uthu tunis heia muvol mulys tho iolez eskirt mopesaz? Zo okutes aftomer amuk sulma, abesun estid ythe surh heia istemulun ust thotias ueris itia thotias solmaw."

Instantly making her right talon glow with essences, the powerful kin moves a single claw and all the gems are now levitating. Seeing her bearing a slight grin, the little seer watches Ayirn connecting them with her core and melting them with ease before merging all in a single glowy mass…

Ujaie tha pyteya sif nutarie prita velt toij...

Turning immediately, the young nightwing gazes upon a somewhat annoyed Akhanta, before she stares back at him, becoming shocked for a split second before bearing a more polite expression for her kin and him...

- "Uthu soumvu yenuv surh yutive Darkstalker, ythias ryna eiuf somul aftomer uthu eiuf geskame jyker, ezkot ust muvol eskirt mopesaz." Says the great dragoness partially in defeat, but also happy for the little one who she is certain will be satisfied by her kin's creation.

If I don't have to eat it, but just absorb its energy, such a creation of her will satisfy me indeed…

Finishing her precious stone, the dragoness of magic puts such a creation just before the small hybrid, looking at him and her kin with a proud smile on her face. Shortly after, a repeating sound can be heard by anyone at the table, the sound of Akhanta's claw hitting the table periodically, like the mockery of a reward for the kin's "achievement".

Slightly worried, Darkstalker turns to the dark blue one, putting an end to the noise as she looks back at him before telling a few words with a kind voice, her focus shifting entirely to him for a short moment.

"Uthu tunis olmaf ofemyl."

Turning back to the polished and infused rainbow stone before him, the nightwing's gaze shift immediately to the great dragoness at his left, the mistrust still present in his mind despite her recent behaviour and expression. And because of such suspicion, the seer begins to dive totally into her mind, to see what is beyond her cheerful facade…

To such an action that she can only determine from the outside, Ayirn's expression does not really change, but her mind begins to shift drastically as a deeper curiosity takes over… And when the young one pierces as deep as he can, he stumble upon the full sight of the dragoness' focus for the moment.

Myself?

Realizing that, Darkstalker can only watch as the great one holds his whole being at the center of her mind, scrutinizing every detail of him, every part of him, every essences of him, with a persistence that starts to make him sick…

"Ayirn." Says the dragoness coldly as she moves her talon to lay it before him, separating him from her kin and circling him with her giant body, making the fire in her kin's eyes fade.

Turning to him, Akhanta's face changes in an instant, shifting to a kind expression before her eyes stare at him in a way that asks if he is alright.

- "I am alright Akhanta… Yth ajek masne."

- "Uthu surh masne." Corrects the dark blue giant, feeling relieved the little one is well before turning back to her kin, her expression changing to a neutral one.

- "Uthu kasarh yth sif uzedim ythomej?" Says Ayirn, her expression changing to match that of the one she faces, while her voice is colder, especially for dragons who have relationships this deep between them.

Akhanta was about to confirm the statement, but stops at the last second, understanding the situation and having the wisdom to not make things worse…

Surprised by what happened, Darkstalker's gaze switches back and forth between the two dragoness, examining the both of them to be sure he determines correctly the resolution of that conflict.

- "Toijyl, uthu tunis olmaf ofemyl." Says the caring great one she pushes the smooth stone her kin created closer to him, expecting that he now starts to fill his being with it.

While Ayirn smiles again, the little one tries decides after a moment to consume such an object. First, he simply puts both talons on his solid surface, but the face his caretaker makes tells him he is doing something wrong. But before the night dragon can try another way, the draconic giant takes the colourful gem and plunges it in the water bowl, infusing the water and eroding the stone.

Staring at the bowl's content getting coloured, the young one takes the recipient once the gem is taken away, and after a moment of hesitation, he begins to drink from it… A bit of time passes as Darkstalker fill his stomach with such a soup, blinking and twitching his ears without care as he focuses solely on his food...

Having finished, the little one puts down the bowl, feeling sated and a bit tired from drinking so much.

That was better, but I think I am more than prepared for the rest of the day with all that… And maybe fate could be kind for once, and Not impose me to run or fly like my life depends on it in a close future. Thinks the nightwing as he glances at his belly, feeling and seeing it takes a bit more volume now...

"Uthu surh feshur zikos u toij aljhajun?" Asks lightly Akhanta as she chuckles a little, looking at his belly as well.

- "Astemilu, ythias ijopt hute surh jykon th soumvu tunis heia ajek leaqisiton." Replies Ayirn with a joking tone, drawing the sight of her kin and making her having harsh thoughts for a few seconds before they are replaced by ones fitting the tone of the moment.

Great, the conflict is resolved, but what will we do next? Thinks Darkstalker, starting to look around and focusing on the feathered giant as he spots him in the distance still managing a pile of scroll around shelves full of them. Kraydirn, why are you still doing that work?

- "Uthu kasarh sif usazit tho? Ythe tunis ghyt iole."

Standing up, the magical dragoness turns to the distant great dragon before she starts her marches, though she does cast a glance at her kin and the young one, making them follow her after a quick stare between each other…

- "Cuxt uthue yvelqes surik sif yth…" Says the serene dragon of black and snow as he rises his head to gaze upon his kins coming, putting down the scroll he holds on the 'little' table.

Staying a little behind, Darkstalker watches the three giants discussing with a less casual attitude than expected, though the affectionate bonds they share is clearly visible in their mind and varying tones of voice, if only with more subtilty…

Spotting a scroll laying not so far from him, and realizing they might still talk to each others for a while, the smaller one steps toward it with curious eyes, the feeling kindling before being crushed as he sees such a sheet only contains lines upon lines of symbols he can not decipher.

If only there was a way.

Sighing, the night dragon looks away, before starting to scratch the floor a moment later in annoyance. And after hearing the noise of his act for a few times, he begins to draw letters on the hard surface, his claws being though enough to allow that…

Sensing the great ones concluding and moving far more, Darkstalker stands up and turn to them, gazing upon a leading Akhanta and her kins following closely at her sides.

- "Darkstalker, surik sif ythe."

Nodding, the smaller dragon joins the group as they walk back to the table, their mind thinking about many texts, circles of glyphs, many symbols that seems to have strong meaning even on their own, and many way to control, to use the essences…

- "Cuxt ofemyl ythe tunis crumes." Declares Ayirn, taking a scroll of her choosing just after settling at the circular table with her kins, then grabs another one that is blank.

Unrolling the second fully on the middle of the surface, the dragoness greatly extends a talon to bring a bottle filled with some sort of dark liquid and a thin brush. Putting the second in the first, she starts by simply drawing a big circle on the sheet, under the somewhat attentive eyes of the little seer, who is still kept busy by the sight of the minds around that he does not ignore.

Then, the green and blue draws evenly spaced smaller circles on the first one, and stops right there, retrieving her talon and now looking at the young nightwing, her gaze and mind devoid of hostility and annoyance for now.

- "Uthu tunis ghyt th, yth surh oem uthutias genuf Darkstalker." Says Akhanta in a quieter but closer voice, her head lowering as she gently pushes the little hybrid forward with her paw.

Understanding her supporting act, the smaller one climbs on the table, all under the personal gaze of the more caring dragoness, the simple but slightly expecting stare of Ayirn, and the distant but observant eyes of Kraydirn… Stopping as he feel no more talon behind him, Darkstalker is at the edge of the gigantic scroll, casting a quick glance at its content that did not change before sifting his gaze to the magical dragoness whose green eyes remain the same.

- "Toijyl, ignum ythias arakh." Says the great dragoness as she brings back her tainted paw, pointing at the circle closest to the little one.

Staring at the element she designates, the young nightwing puts his paw inside before glancing at her again, all the while the two other great ones watch over scene with patience.

"Jykon, ofemyl ozneb aftomer oje yth ghyt." Tells Ayirn with a formal voice before she starts to draw a symbol in one of the many circles the sheet has.

Finishing to observe her in action, Darkstalker begins to imitate her, drawing in his circle and making sure it is the symbol most identical to her own. But as he finishes, the talon of a dark blue giant moves at his side to draw a different sigil.

- "Uthu tunis ozneb yl uston uthu kasarh toijyl." Whispers Akhanta before drawing another distinct symbol under his watch, her face encouraging him to continue.

Passing a whole minute during which the young one writes a glyph in all the smaller circles with the participation of the two dragoness, Ayirn ends up somewhat satisfied. Recoiling her talon and then rising, the magical one frees a bit of essences over the circle before speaking again, her voice as formal as before while her gaze has not left the little nightwing.

- "Jykon, ofemyl velko uthutias olmukara omus yl elpuj toijyl." Says the great dragoness, expecting the night dragon to do the same as she stops using her power.

Replicating her gesture, Darkstalker focuses on his being, attempting to free his own essences, and after a moment of silence, such energy pours from his paw to spread over the very large scroll, making the green and blue giant do a slight grin, as does Kraydirn even if it is not seen… Turning her back, Ayirn steps away from the table, having in mind a next exercise involving some shining plates.

Turning as well, the young one watches her walking to some shelf before coming back with flat pieces of a metal not that precious. Putting them on the table, the great dragoness brings one to her side before loudly scratching its surface with a glowing claw, the mark of her power.

Having her once again staring at him, the little nightwing is expected to do the same, but as his gaze focuses on the plate he took, he appears to be a bit… unsure.

Can I really scratch the metal deeply with my claws? I am sure my new powers can do wonder but...

- "Ignum ythias arakh Darkstalker."

As these words are pronounced, the dark blue kin extends her talon, bringing her paw close enough to the little one, her big claw touching the shining piece. Casting a quick glance at her, the young nightwing returns to its metallic piece with the will to scratch it. Infusing his claw with more and more power, starting to heat it until it glows and then… shatters.

Ayirn looks instantly at the breaking scrap, her gaze piercing for a split second before she appears faintly disappointed and speaks again.

- "Ghyt heia mesita, uthu tunis moneos vaieb." Says the great dragoness as she brings back another shining piece, her voice still formal but having a kinder undertone.

As if I would believe your kindness for even a second. Thinks the young one as he frowns instinctively, taking the new object in his claw to try again…

A few minutes passes during which Darkstalker tries a few times to dig into the metal in controlled manner, as luck is not on his side despite Akhanta giving him support… But finally, and after many failures, the nightwing succeed in his act, digging into the solid with his infused claw without fracturing it too much, and receiving the "praise" of the two great dragoness and even their feathered kin, who seems to lean closer into them for the first time.

Standing once again, the green and blue kin leave the table, but instead of walking to reach and grab something, the draconic giant halts after only a few steps, where she turns to face the table and speaks once more.

- "Uthu tunis surik, tsekat ajek ule yl umishe gecuit eiuf surh." Tells the dragoness, making sign with her wings to be sure the little hybrid gets he has to come.

Now at her side, Darkstalker stares at her, prepared for the next step. So when the magical one lets her essences be on the verge of leaking out of her scales, the little hybrid does like her, though it is far easier to only loads his front talons with essences…

"Yth moxon uthu surh xeshim sif ignum yth, ejurh. Ikul ghyt heia higus sif moxon oem yth ysil opeitun." Says Ayirn to who she sees for now as her pupil, all the while her two kins put themselves to the sides, preferring to be more distant and watch the scene unfold.

Finishing speaking, the great dragoness begins by only doing simple movements with her infused body part, extending and retracting the muscles of her talons, wings, neck and tail, all with ease and grace despite her trivial acts… A bit annoyed by the apparent dullness of that exercise, despite the movements speeding up and being sharper at the end, the young one tries to move the same way, but faster due to his irritation.

But despite these efforts, his teacher does not seem convinced, the seer getting from her mind she expected something a bit more… flashy.

- "Moneos vaieb, ikul ywult uthutias olmukara kalup iole elzurt." Says Akhanta who steps toward him with her giant form, lowering her head to tell her message.

Turning toward the imposing and caring dragoness, Darkstalker tries to imitate her when she lets her power be far more apparent through all of her magnificent body, the pace of such a process being slower for him to catch up to… After a moment of calm and focus, the small nightwing's form is fully tainted by the aura of his essences, making the veins between his scales and the bluish shade of his otherwise black skin far more visible and explicit.

Becoming slightly satisfied at such a sight, the magical dragoness redo her movements, but slower this time while her eyes keep their focus on the young one who replicates her without letting his deployed aura really fade, the mystical glow over each part of his form never disappearing. But as he tries to fully move and bend his neck, Darkstalker suddenly halts in his action, letting out an instinctive noise of hurt.

Blinking at the event, Akhanta leans toward him, watching attentively the little one trying to refocus himself before executing the same movement a second time… and halts as pain is felt. Trying a few more time to move and bend his neck, the young nightwing finds himself incapable of making an angle to small and a movement too fast with that part of his body.

A bit worried but being prepared that such a thing would happen, the dark blue dragoness comes closes enough to him before extending her talon to the trusting little one, carefully rubbing the dark but bluish scales of his neck where a few spots of their last operations done to him remain.

- "Uthu pemku okutes sif olum kes usalomu ushkehan, iole ajek heij ythe hute ojtea." Says the great dragoness to the nightwing, her mind flashing with the time they used tools and instruments on him when he slept, as well as the wounds they saw inside him, so many wounds and twists...

- "Zait iole tetrumi, ythetias tuliun eiuf loperu u toij. Ikul sazne..."

Finishing to speak, Ayirn leans toward the otherworldly one, her eyes filled with pure focus on his being. In a short moment, the great dragoness arrives in front of him, her intimidating form rising a paw to point at him, the aura of power that emanates coming in an instant… Protected by the dark blue kin's presence and her will to defend from another's acts, Darkstalker remains stressed by the event, shaking a bit but keeping his attention all on her.

The seer should have been relieved to find no hostility in the great dragoness' mind, but what replaces it is worse in a different way. Ayirn looks at him like he is a gem that she needs to spot its every flaws, her mind sees him as a precious being that needs to be analysed and corrected, making the little one regret the time feelings clouded her mind, even disdain and hate…

"Neiatome aljrysim. Ythe tunis ienum." Says the green and blue giant, her voice becoming less formal and more casual as she steps back, dropping that focused and emotionless attitude she had seconds ago.

- "Ko, ythe tunis ienum." Utters the feathered kin as he steps in the scene, breaking his silent and watchful stance, his mind keeping in a dark corner all the ways they have observed the young nightwing last time.

And so Darkstalker resumes his basic "training", feeling safe with Akhanta staying close to him and feeling safer each time he looks at her, but also feeling dread as he faces Ayirn, especially when their eyes meet despite her mind thinking like a teacher. As for Kraydirn, the little night dragon finds him strange for being distant, but does not mind his presence...