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Chapter 33: Dreaming and seeking alone

In ancient times, a civilization as high and powerful as the divine once stood.

It happened, and that could not be a complete surprise...

Nostralius the First, having lived through so much to forge his being and attain greatness, led his sons and daughters to prosperity, giving his very essences to the ones in need and being strong enough to save everyone from the ultimate Failure.

Like a Guardian would...

Hundreds of cycles passed, and the many born on the fertile earth bathed in bronze and malachite light grew to be imposing and magnificent dragons like they were destined to, though their growth was far from over…

It always realizes itself in a merciful world, though its wealth did speed up the process.

With the civilization reaching a sufficient size, the First though wise to try and bring the enchanting green down to earth and colour his world along with all its being.

Arrogance was unavoidable, a flaw and virtue that all beings reaching the top feel deep in their heart and soul. No matter how times they refuse, the door will always be there, closer than ever...

But the Nexus did not obey the Command, and instead shattered in the sky in front of everyone, creating countless stars like a shattered orb of glass.

History repeats itself, the dices are rolled once again...

Shocked and ashamed of his Mistake, Nostralius ordered numerous temples to be built around the world, using all the wealth of the lands in hope of restoring Balance.

A good decision, as wealth only has value when used, but it is not like transforming all of it into glorious buildings with an important purpose make it disappear. And now everyone can see the fruit of their treasure...

Always arriving on time to be the first working on them, the First was forgiven a hundred cycles later when the last stone was laid down on top of the last beacon.

Even with all the time in the world, the best decision one can take is to solve the problem as soon as possible, even if it seems too big to be solved alone...

But despite restoring Balance, the shattering of the second Nexus fractured the Wall between worlds, and that consequence would last for…

Was that consequence bad or good? Nobody truly know, but I have my clear idea about… Just look at the poorest ones who saw a better world so far from them… It didn't matter, they would try to reach it, they would try to realize their hopes...


Lightning strikes the earth, the sun burns the clouds, the wind screams in despair, smoke bursts out of the earth as the very ground that everything stood on for centuries shatters and collapses...

The cursed moons are now One.

Flying in a direction distinct from all the others, a black dragon bearing a crystallised scar on his chest stays wilful as he keeps getting closer to the beam of crimson light hiding between mountains so far away… With eyes focused entirely on the beacon, the dragon does not let anything distract him, no matter how loud the screams of his fellow are and the continuous fall of his tribe, he will arrive to his destination...

.

The black dragon is now far closer to the light, able to see the vague shape of a great tower holding it. It was tiring and consuming, perilous even to fly straight with such a roaring wind bringing more and more chaos to everything it embraces. But the will of the dragon is as hard as steel, no matter the effort, no matter the pain, he will reach his Destination.

Remaining tenacious in flight, the dark one can only think of his objective and how to achieve it as quickly as he can, leaving no place in his mind to wonder about something else like the lands being consumed into dust and the lunar eclipse whose light brings a blessing no one wanted…

.

Finally, the nightwing is no more than a single minute away from the sacred building… Gazing upon its obsidian and sharp exterior, the damned watcher can not let himself be distracted by his aching wings, he needs each every seconds to seek for a landing spot and then prepare for the adapted manoeuvrer, despite the lands screaming as they are torn apart leaving him almost no time…

Passing close to the dark and ancient stone of the sacred tower, the dragon deploys all the strength of his black wings to fully oppose the air in an instant, losing almost all momentum in a short moment, then starting to fall like he had to… Now fully looking down, the night dragon stares directly at his target, a relatively small platform, far from ideal but he can not step back…

Diving near it, the dragon unfolds his wings at the right moment, changing drastically his trajectory and gaining just enough altitude and momentum to land without breaking a bone.

Having no time to pay attention to his paw hurting from having hit the floor, he runs through the corridor of the empty tower, passing beside countless pictures and symbols that tell of a past many would be curious to uncover, and now doing his best to ascend the steps of the central staircase, jumping over the greatest amount of them without falling…

.

Doing the last few steps, the night dragon reaches the highest room of the temple, one full of mirrors and where the atmosphere is in a way cut from the outside, warm but not too much, and quieter…

Stepping inside, the black dragon is quickly greeted by a black one tainted by red who puts down her tablet that appears to be made of emerald, but unfortunately, the guest will have to be happy with what he has, as the reflecting glass stops both beings from entering in the other's realm…

- "Salutation Nightful, it is a pleasure to see you are not too late." Says the dragon in the mirror who does make a few steps toward the other, her eyes blinking once and her ears twitching continuously as she leans her head bearing a crown of bronze and green.

- "Salutation Moonless, and excuse me for my attitude, but time is running out!" Exclaims the nightwing, his voice not hiding his fear as his breathing starts to accelerate again.

- "No need to panic my dear, my domain will protect you."

As if to test her confidence, the room starts to shake soon after, creating an ominous noise resonating from all sides and bringing the nightwing on the verge of panicking… But Moonless does not even flinch as she simply extends her talon to take the silver staff laying at her side. Now in possession of her powerful tool, the dark red dragon casts a spell in silence, bringing an end to the shaking.

"Alright, it is time we start the ritual, are you ready?"

Seeing Nightful agreeing without hesitation, the crowned one walks through the reflection until she ends and settles straight below him, her talons now touching his. Locking their eyes into the other, the two dragons prepare to be the best image of the other they can be…

Once it is done, Moonless slams the glowing staff into the ground while Nightful brings his front talons to the spot. Glass shatters in instant, the sound produced being the same for both Sides…


Darkstalker wakes up in his chamber, alongside his surprised sister.

- "Brother, are you well? You look like you've gone through a restless realm again…" Says the black and white sister, bearing a worried expression that hides a far more worried mind flashing with violent colours taking ugly shades, and chaotic but merciless waves like that of an enraged sea.

In reaction, the nightwing brother gets up instantly before calming down, trying to reassure her sister from all those feelings that consume her more than anything.

- "I am well. My dream wasn't even a nightmare, it didn't end terribly, so please calm your mind, you really need it…" Says Darkstalker with soft voice before extending his wings to embrace her.

Accepting such closeness, Whiteout dives into him, laying her neck on his shoulder and covering him with her blue and white wings for a moment…

- "Brother, my gaze can't leave what desolate smoke and spiky warmness follow you… I fear…"

- "I will always be there, always come back for you sister, my heart can't allow myself to not do anything to return to you."

To his words, the young dragoness recoils her head to stare straight into him, giving him a window to all the messy feelings that plague her mind… Touched by seeing his sister in such a state, the brother extends a talon past her neck and with it puts Whiteout's head against his chest, her ears now fully in contact with his black scales and listening to his heartbeat accelerating slightly.

"Do you hear this? Yes, it is the rhythm of my heart, and I know a few things about it, some that I should tell you…"

The sister rises her head to look into his eyes, her mind calming down and receiving love that pushes back her worries. Whiteout was close to him for long enough she knew her brother's every moves on the board of fate, but seeing him in action in the present… It always surprised her one way or another, and his bright, adamant love was the thing that embodied that concept the most...

"First is that it will never stop, no matter what happens, and second, it is that my heart will always beat for you, make me remember of who you really are to me no matter what I think."

Slowly moving backward while making sure his sister is not plagued by other nasty feelings that could get out of control, Darkstalker finally stands up before looking at the window, refocusing his mind on what he might do while he gazes upon the cloudy sky…

Turning his head back, the nightwing now casts a glance at the door, a new idea in mind.

"I think I have something to check below, it could take a few minutes, or half an hour if I'm unlucky, but I shall come back sister." Says the black hybrid as he steps toward the door, followed by Whiteout's cautious eyes.

- "Be careful brother, the steps are slippier than you could think…"

- "You really believe that?" Asks Darkstalker as he stops in his track.

The dragoness nods under his watch, so after a moment of reflection, the black dragon resumes his march, his pace now slower…

Descending the stairs in one of the most quiet ambiance, the seer surprises himself as he starts to wonder about father, the silence in his mind triggering his instinct to worry about what happened to the ones he uses to be around, even those he disliked and hated…

Having reached the lower stage, the nightwing son walks forward with slight nervousness as the tree of vision that his mind can explore is a dark and blurred one, not in the sense of having terrible fates at its ends, but because he can not see any of its details. Though if there is one thing Darkstalker can be sure about, it is that his father is absent.

Entering the dinner room, the young nightwing only sees an empty room with a clean table except for a single note on it. Approaching the note, he can only imagine what had gone through his father's head as he reads the crude sheet of paper…

My dear children that fate decided my heart could not be open anymore.

Foeslayer has been away since eight months. You all know how much I love her, even if events triggered by your tribe tears us apart, so it should not be a surprise when I announce to the both of you that I am going to bring her back.

PS: I know I caused too much trouble for you so don't bother going after me, it will only makes things worse.

Written by: Your father, Arctic of the icewings

Shaking a little without realizing, deep in thoughts for a long moment about mother and father, the nightwing finally arrives at a conclusion...

Casting a quick glance at the window, the young one walks off to the other room, opens a large wooden shelf and checks what is inside with more determination than he though. Immediately grabbing the small chest surrounded by hanging clothes, Darkstalker looks inside to find only jewellery reminiscent of the ice kingdom.

Taking a silver amulet containing a pretty big sapphire, he now stays still, in trance between thinking and examining the snowflake shaped object…

Deciding to keep it, the brother closes the chest and puts it back before leaving the room… Approaching the entrance of their house, the young one stares one last time at the window, at the landscape behind illuminated by the sun.

Catching his breath, Darkstalker opens the final door and steps outside…


Nightful has been walking for days in the grasslands, the wind being almost always against him since he began his trip, and the lack of any hill sharp enough made his attempts to soar into the sky close to impossible. But at least the moons are quite filled and shining recently, bringing their pale light to a more quiet realm…

Taking a small break, the nightwing breathes serenely with his relaxing body, gazing all around him to colour his mind with something simple, or so he thought.

As he stares into the many parts of the landscape tainted by varying shades of green and blue, all worth watching and giving some of one's time, the black dragon spots what he never thought he would find that soon, the partially standing remains of a giant statue…

Despite its relative distance, the resting dragon could reach it in moment if he wanted to, and that is what he does. Standing up and beginning his march, Nightful is eager to get closer to such an ancient structure despite his tiredness persisting… Approaching the remains with an already speculating mind, the lone nightwing realizes that the statue is one of a dragon laying on his back, in contact with the ground from head to tail.

Seeing gradually more details about it, the walking one has a harder time thinking such a figure is just represented as sleeping, and not as a wounded character or even a dying one, the ancient decaying stone giving an overall aesthetic feeding such morbid interpretations easily, even with all the vegetation covering it…

Arriving close enough to the ancient statue, the black dragon barely has the time to contemplate its finer details before his gazes passes over the shape of a dragon standing on the chest of the structure, watching him since he came here.

Curious, Nightful immediately moves closer to yellow individual as she climbs down the stone with relative ease, showing more of her graceful but quite strong body during the time she approaches him, her expression a curious and welcoming one...

- "What is your name my dear black dragon?" Asks the dragoness, her tone clearly hinting at her lack of seriousness while the two stand near the beginning of the statue's chest.

- "Nightful, Nightful of the nightwings." Replies the black dragon, not really prepared to find someone so soon let alone speak casually with one.

- "Then it is a pleasure to meet you Nightful. My name is Ofenamous, but you can call me Ofena…" Says the yellow one with growing passion as she gazes upon him, a grin on her face until she spots the scar on his chest.

"Is… is that a wound that your crystal covers on your chest?"

Her eyes and voice says it all, and to such worry, the nightwing tries his best to answer appropriately for her, even if his pseudo-neutral voice instantly reveals his uneasy attitude.

- "Yes, but it will not bleed anymore, I took care of it and in spite of some difficulties, it is now solved."

- "I see… So why are you coming here? What do you think you'll do?" Asks Ofena as she puts a talon on the vines and leaves that cover the older stone, her head on the verge of turning so her eyes can point at the overall remains.

- "Sorry to disappoint you, but at first I didn't came here for the ruins you stood on, or in more details, I was not expecting to find such a thing that soon…" Answers the black dragon, genuinely surprised and impressed as he looks at the structure again, its many gems revealed by sunlight drawing his attention even more.

- "Understandable, but do you have a precise reason among many? Did a peculiar legend, scroll or any other type of hints that marked you kindled your will to come and discover?"

To this question, the nightwing takes some time to think, slowing down Ofena's eagerness…

"You do not need to force an answer, we have a lot of time I presume and many possibilities. How about I show you more about these ancient remains that catch your interest?"

Not letting him the time to answer, the yellow dragoness immediately starts to turn her back and reaches the spot she wants in no time… Following at a slower pace, Nightful catches up to her as she starts to cut a great amount of vines off the ancient stone surface, revealing a fractured amethyst engraved next to her paw.

Pulling out the precious stone crudely with a knife she took from her talon-band, Ofena presents it the black dragon in a way that arises suspicions, merely holding the gem like it is a big but crude chunk of average ore like iron or copper…

"Is this an important example of what you seek or is there far more to your goal? You know what…"

After a short moment of thoughtful hesitation, the eager dragoness puts back her tool in an instant and starts to climb, the cracks in the giant statue and its invasive vegetation allowing her to insert her claws and elevate her whole body, though she have no thought of seeing herself falling, even when it might be a concern…

Dragging her form almost crudely in her haste, the eager one looks back on the nightwing as she stands higher on the old remains, almost getting impatient without realizing it…

Having seen all of that but not trusting such ancient rocks one bit, Nightful opts for the easy and safe way, simply walking on the giant talon of the stone that the dragoness blatantly ignored… Now on the same height as her, the nightwing does not take the time to gaze upon this new side of the ruins as questioning words occupy his mind far too much.

- "Is this where you live? Were you waiting for me in secret or are you that energetic around everyone?"

To his questions, Ofena thinks as she chuckles for a moment.

- "You are right that such a place is familiar to me, but no, I don't live here… My house is wherever I go."

Almost jumping to end at his side, the yellow individual stares at him in such way it shows she has the desire to drag him on her path if she must. But calming down, Ofena simply suggests with her head the way they will go... Starting to walk forward, the black dragon follows as well.

- "So I suppose you have something you want to show me almost at all costs?" Points out Nightful as they move forward, before having his attitude ceased as his eyes gazes upon the chest of the giant statue, the sight of its inside being vivid in a way shocking his mind.

- "Pretty impressive isn't it? I suppose that whatever you were seeking, this might be similar or at least worth almost as much." Declares the yellow dragoness as her talons touch the edge of the crystalline cavity, where below rests a naked heart for all to see…

"You can come closer." Whispers Ofena as she leant her head closer to his own before jumping inside without a second thought.

Hesitating as he watches the somewhat small area on which he should land on if he wants to jump down, the black dragon finally does it, his eyes blinking as he falls, but in the end, his fear is proven unfounded…

- "I… I never heard more than hints about the existence and locations of these many remains when they show such treasures naked in the light… I… Are you the only one who know about that statue?"

- "Maybe, I didn't encounter more than a few dragons passing in the close area, so…" Answers the dragoness as they stand near the enormous but shattered block of frozen vivid red, sorry she does not know more.

- "You have nothing to regret, your mere presence is a good surprise in itself." Replies Nightful, holding her talon with his own as a sign of support.

"And maybe, just maybe, I'll accomplish my dream with another… Why don't we start now?" Adds the nightwing as he looks around him once again, contemplating the interior of a structure that shows a side almost opposed to what the inert stone presented to its watcher.

Turning to the massive crystal that reflects blood in each of its aspects, the black dragon decides to extend his talon toward it.

He could already feel the aura of such an entity, but the second he touches it, a direct connection is made, the very essences contained within beginning to course through his own veins more and more…

Turning his head, Nightful sees the yellow dragoness watching him, speaking to him, but her words quickly diminish until he hears nothing, and soon, his own eyes would met the same fate, his vision blurring gradually until he sees no more...


Waking up from his resting place, Darkstalker starts by barely opening his eyes as his body still shakes for a moment. Trying to stand on his four talons, the nightwing quickly realizes how deeply troubled his mind is…

Again… This is getting too redundant, but I… must not let… fade away, I have to save it…

Almost falling down as he reaches his desk, the young black dragon is lucky to have his claw directly plunging into the pitch black ink, preparing him to write anything he might need to… Sating down ungracefully like one of the most tired dragons in the kingdom, the eyes of the black hybrid gaze once again upon the note he wrote in the past...

Never forget Twelve

The Glory is right above us

Blood and flesh will consume even stone itself

A wound so great… who caused it? TELL US!

M should be mother and moon,

Y is the signature set

The Power was meant to merge with us, how could you not see?

Stop spiting on its name… Stop trying to bring it into the dirt!

The great Dragon, the First one was shattered Remake Him and Her bit by bit

Their light and shadow were supposed to bath the world

Js is the key matrix Twelve sought all his life,

do not let his efforts be for nothing

Beware of the perfect mirror, and of its broken self, but know that something of the greatest value resides deep inside, hidden and protected by its worst peril…

Set me free

Tau of Y equivalent to UnderN M does not harmonize with Js, over-symmetry is unacceptable

Staring at the piece of scroll for more than five minutes, Darkstalker is close to let his head fall on the desk, tired and frustrated at not remembering anything he dreamt about nor making any sense of all the notes he wrote before.

Feeling he has lost too much time trying to decipher something he would not be able to with such a rough awakening, the young nightwing leaves his personal table and starts to walk out of the room, having recovered enough to face the rest of the day, or at least enough to go where he is needed…

Marching through the corridor of the palace, its walls bearing banners and paintings of many kinds, the young dragon maintains his steady steps, not letting himself be distracted by the many dragons crossing his path. But as he courses through everything with determination, someone comes to halt him in his track.

Being strongly asked to stop, Darkstalker stares at the seawing before him. Such individual bears navy blue scales, a noble cape and holds a ceremonious spear... Still expressing surprise at the sight of the nightwing, the taller one is nonetheless happy about this sudden encounter.

- "Darkstalker, there is something that might be better for everyone if you learn about it." Says the seawing, taking a scroll bearing the royal seal and presenting it without hesitation.

- "I… First who are you? I need that information and more to accept anything of that level of importance." Replies the nightwing, staring at him with utter focus, determined to be cautious until this new individual has proven himself to be trustworthy.

- "My name is Diluvien, I am the head of the royal institute of archaeology, and I can prove it."

- "I knew you were someone I've heard of, but I am not sure-"

- "At least you should look at that scroll for a moment, it contains the definitive answer to your question after all" Replies the navy blue one, showing a second scroll closer to him so the black hybrid has no choice but to read it.

Gazing upon sheet for a moment, Darkstalker has difficulties truly concluding from it, the big sized text written on it coupled with some tiredness and pain of his mind stopping him from succeeding at such a task. Finally, he decides to speak again, appearing uneasy and a bit ashamed.

- "I… am somewhat tired. And I need time. Excuse me for my behaviour, but now is not a good moment I live through."

- "I understand. In that case, would you accept to continue your march with me at your side young Darkstalker? And do not worry, I have the time for such a thing."

To that offer, the black hybrid can only politely accept, seeing no inconvenience and appealed by the opportunity of having some company at his side…

"So how is it being a high student and seer at the royal school?" Asks Diluvien, hoping the topic is a good one.

- "It offers a lot, but with it comes a lot of problems." Answers Darkstalker, making the seawing's smile fall.

- "That is something I expected. Do you want to explain these points?" Asks Diluvien, prepared to accept both responses.

- "I can. The royal school teaches to its pupils and students the most in the shortest amount of time. Even if you have a few schools teaching as many things, they won't teach them as fast. Because of that, those who took that school have a lot opportunities, being able to start a prestigious carrier..."

The nightwing pauses, catching his breath and appearing unhappy as he begins to speak of the second part.

"But all of these advantages come at a huge cost. In that school, it is always expected that you do your best efforts and dedicate all of your to time. It quickly becomes exhausting, and the relationships one develops there can not bloom at all. And the constant asking for work kind of creates an unhealthy climate of tension…"

- "It is… sad my expectations are proven true." Replies Diluvien with compassion, thinking for a moment about what words to tell next.

"Are you doing well despite that? Can others support you enough through your life in this period?"

- "Maybe… I… I don't know. Its difficult to answer, the work I'm asked to make just now is clouding my mind quite often." Answers Darkstalker, blinking and frowning slightly as something starts to bother him…

- "May I ask what kind of work it is?" Says the seawing, bringing his worried head a little closer.

- "It's… It's… I must bring one out of her eternal slumber."

- "Have they truly asked that of you?"

Yes, and far more is to come...

The nightwing says no word, only nodding as he appears to be stressed by the topic.

"May I ask who is that one? And in what state she is?"

- "Blackless, her name is Blackless. She is a beautiful one, and a dragoness that I had the privilege of seeing far more of her memories than any other… Right now, she lays peacefully in her own room, without any wound…"

You can not forget her importance, do you? Not like these other apprentices at least…

- "What does Blackless mean to you? Is she by 'chance' a relative?" Asks Diluvien, fearing that question might be too much.

- "I wish I would know, but…"

Deep in your heart you know the answer. Her name was created first.

- "I understand. I will not press on that subject, your answer is enough for me…" Replies Diluvien, not wanting to make the young one more uneasy just to satisfy his curiosity. He will ask again later, when the black dragon will be in a better state of mind...


Darkstalker awakes on a ground harder than he expected. Beginning to feel the world around him again, the young one realizes quickly who are the centres of the three great auras that surround him. Such aura of pure essences, cold and water can only be the mark of Ayirn, Kraydirn and Akhanta respectively, though it is not that difficult to determine considering the seer's ability to watch minds, even if they seem pretty distant.

Slowly, the young nightwing uncurls his tail and rolls his body, preparing to stand up as he tries to open his eyes…

Grey and green are his chamber's colours, a chamber having a moist atmosphere and multiple shadows that circle him, though there are just coming from inert but imposing instrument made of weakly shinning alloys.

Coming back to his senses, the dark hybrid opens his eyes to watch all around the room, and quickly some things get his attention…

Why are these tools and instruments so close to… Where they just observing me or doing more?

And what's with all these scrolls and tablets…

Approaching one the many shelves this place has, Darkstalker grows very curious and grabs one the few tablets on the verge of falling. What he gets was predictable, despite a few drawings that are more expressive, the text written in unknown symbols is what take the most space by far.

Maybe another one will be easier to understand…

Taking a second tablet almost too big for his claws, the young one barely has an easier time understanding this one. If he really wants to understand enough about a piece, he will have to be lucky so such an object presents a majority of pictures, and very detailed ones.

Sighing, the young hybrid starts to pull out tablets and scrolls at a faster pace, checking them for a few seconds before deciding to put them back or at his side…

Minutes passes and almost nothing hasn't been put back, making the young one grow irritated. Despite stumbling upon very graphic images, he can not really get informations from them expect the bare concepts he already knows. It seems that if he wants to learn something new, he will have decipher the great ones' language.

I… I am surrounded by informations and notes probably about their doing and myself, but I can't read anything. Maybe I should try something else…

Spotting numerous crystals on multiple layers of a large shelf, Darkstalker gives up on scrolls and tablets, taking that new opportunity…

Arriving with curious and brighter eyes, the nightwing extends a talon and passes his paw over the many gemstones, taking the time to feel what they radiate... Surprisingly for him, such objects can feel very different from one another.

I guess their colour aren't just for aesthetic, there is something deeper about them…

Why am I thinking like that? I almost sound like my sister now…

Evoking the subject by accident, his mind now wonders for a moment about Whiteout, letting his paw laying near two precious stone on the brown surface.

Now that I think of it, with my new sight and all of these essences existing…

No, sister didn't saw that, at least not like the way I am experiencing now. And beside, she never took into account some universal and vital substance like a sort of blood running through everything, only fate and the minds of others...

As for animus magic, it does feel unnatural for anyone close to it, but there wasn't some sort of essences the user took from his or her personal pool. As for the soul, I think magic only makes you lose a bit of your soul, but does not need to consume it.

Or else, how would Albatross be able to cast all these spells during the massacre if he lost all of his soul. You don't pay with your soul for a spell...

Snapping out of his thoughts, the young one recoils his limb, concluding the answers he seeks are not there. Turning back, the nightwing looks over the many instruments that remain close to his resting spot…

Touching the cold metal of these complex objects of varying shapes, he can only imagine what functions they serve, speculate on why the Five would put them near him.

But their purpose must always be linked to essences, right?

Approaching what resembles a telescope ending with a large needle attached at its end, Darkstalker takes a step, then another, and another... until he ends up in front of the giant tool. Morbidly curious, the smaller hybrid stands up and lays a paw over its second half, gently pushing it down until the spike, still tainted with a bit of silver essences points just below his chest.

Seems like it has been used on me… Why am I even surpris-

Spotting some veins contrasting far more with his scales, the nightwing brings his claws to ever so slightly rub that spot of his belly… Focusing totally on it, the young one realizes it is just a little scar that will heal rather sooner than later, sending no pain at all even when he presses on it.

But as he took the time feel his body the most, the darker hybrid senses other spots all over his form that act like little scars as well, nothing bad nor lasting, just the marks of things done to him…

I shouldn't complain, it's not like I had to suffer even a bit from that, though I should take into account what they can do to me each time I am sleeping…

Stepping aside, the young one takes one last moment to gaze at the instrument before going to another, one shaped the closest to an hourglass repeating itself several times, with each section having pieces of various metals being inserted into. Inspecting it, Darkstalker finds out some crystalline dust and glowy liquid remain inside.

Is it still almost empty, or was it filled before? They did got an object similar to that filled with my essences in the past… Whatever, these bits of informations are insufficient, I need far more…

Looking at the closed doors of his room, where behind it the three great dragons are, Darkstalker walks all the way to the entrance before settling and focusing to listen…

The first thing the seer realizes is that the three beings are close to each others. However, their thoughts are not as easy to hear as he expected, the group is somewhat far from him, probably in another room, but that will not stop the seer to try.

As predicted, each of the three dragons thinks from time to time of him, associating his being and essences with the concepts of experimentation, the "moons", and the final room and what it contains. Though the second one has some growing ambitions behind, and the third is… almost too vivid.

Listening to them for longer, the young nightwing makes out after a long moment what happened to him. He was in a throne room before being moved out there, in one room amongst so many in a ridiculously long corridor…

Wait. Why didn't I realized it sooner? It's not normal that I am here, I should have stayed in the royal room on a soft bed… And I am in the Laboratory apparently, not sure if that is good news...

Growing ever more suspicious, the smaller hybrid takes some more time to really get all the informations he can from the great dragons' minds, not liking one bit the manner in which they have chosen to act…

Despite being attentive for a few long minutes, Darkstalker does not get something really new, just more confirmations of the Five's interest in his essences and the many projects they might begin. However, the name Ikarh comes far too often to not be something important, and what he is associated with only confirms that, as well as the nightwing's memories.

A fleshy mass attached to a crystal of tremendous power, the essences flowing in it like it was a heart, but also its inside are changing, transforming, taking shape, like an egg devoid of a shell…

Snapping out of their mind, the young one refocuses his mind, looking all over the room to really take everything into account.

What do I do? They don't seem to have expected my awakening, but maybe it is better that way?

I can't get out of here without drawing their attention, can I? But Akhanta is there, so maybe there is nothing to fear? Don't be stupid, even if they don't want to harm you or do anything drastic to you, they'll likely do it in the future… But how do I prepare myself?

The darker hybrid laughs nervously at his last though, knowing well he is no match for a great dragon, and should he make one retreat, they are five, they care about each others, and he is in their House.

Okay, my situation can quickly become terrible, and I have basically no chance of fighting back, but can I do anything, even small, that will increase the odds in my favour?

Looking at the instruments and gems being present, Darkstalker thinks deeply for a moment, slightly shaking as he feels now that his fate is at stake…

I need more knowledge… Any bit of information will help me in the long run...

After a few minutes of staying still, the young one moves again, walking to the shelf where numerous gemstones lie. Immediately grabbing a pale yellow one in his paw, he approaches it to his head and stares at it with utter focus. After a moment, the essences contained inside leave their inert shell, obeying the young one's will and bringing a fulfilling feeling mixed with pain as if he plunged his entire paw into hot water.

Putting down the now empty gem which lost his glow, the hybrid observes his paw and the new energy that is stuck in his flesh. To his surprise, such power does not want to integrate into him, and simply stays in his body part, continuously being painful to hold, but not enough that he would want to get rid of it as soon as possible. Still, the young one grabs the same stone again to put the essences back, though he underestimated the pain his paw felt, discovering that the crystal is now fractured…

Learning to control the essences seems to be a long road… Is there something in that place that might be useful without having too many drawbacks?

Suddenly with an idea in mind, Darkstalker approaches one of the instruments, watching over and touching it with his claws. Such a complex object is made of many parts, and some might be far easier to take off than other, even if one does not have the tools for that…

After a moment of hesitation, the young one decides to pull out a metal plate from the cylinder, bending it back and forth in an almost desperate attempt to separate the piece. But with his relatively small size, he clearly is at disadvantage, still, he continues in his endeavour, and after putting all of his strength for a time, the part of the instrument abruptly separates, making a loud noise that resonates in the whole room for a few seconds.

Staying still and attentive to any shift in others' mind, the young hybrid is relieved to sense nothing of the sort. Looking back at the metal plate he took, the nightwing stares at it, rotates it as he thinks of what he will do with the big piece…

If only I could melt it and hit it, there is enough material in there to make a good tool…

Looking at the other instruments once again and then all around the place, Darkstalker finally sighs.

There is nothing to shape that chunk, at least not if I want to be more quiet.

Casting a final glance at the piece of metal, the young hybrid puts it down before walking to the closed entrance, looking close to being defeated in a way. But as he approaches the doors, doubt persists in his mind and stops him from continuing his act.

This is one of the rare time I am truly alone, under the watch of no one. If I want to leave that room, I must be damn sure I have prepared, done, thought about all that I could, because there certainly won't be a similar situation before a long time.

Strengthening his stance, the nightwing turns back from the entrance, his thoughts getting bolder and more creative almost in defiance of his powerlessness.

First looking at the shelf full of tablets and scrolls he gave up on pretty soon, the young one almost runs into it, and once here, there is only one clear thing to do.

You can only be sure that they are all worth naught once you read them all.

Determined to accomplish his task, Darkstalker catches his breath for a moment before starting to pull out everything from the giant container, not caring if more and more of its content litters the nearby floor, scrolls and tablets can support being thrown away as long as there isn't any liquid after all…

But now something new is an obstacle to his goal, height. After emptying all of the area he could reach with bare talons, the only way to get more objects is to go higher.

Not a problem, I can climb as high as I need to…

Standing up and grabbing the higher layers of the shelf to climb up, nothing seems to stop the young one from achieving his goal as the pile of everything he has pulled out increases in size until the last scroll and tablet are taken by his paw and thrown on the top.

Climbing down now that his task is over, the black hybrid tainted by blue gazes upon his work's results.

That's quite a mess, and if I would have done that in the library… let's say I wouldn't hesitate to use my magic to clean that up.

Nervousness takes over the smaller one as he thinks about the great ones' reaction if they were to discover the pile he made with their stuff. And it is not like that has no chance to happen, as without magic, he has close to no chance of putting even the majority back to where it was in time…

I am stuck in this situation, how unfortunate... There is nothing to do but go forward now.

Remembering the importance of why he did what he did, Darkstalker settles and starts to do what he has in mind, taking scrolls and tablets one after the other to check for any useful information, and once he is done with one, he can just throw it aside…

Drawings of himself, of the great ones themselves, of crystals and of "moons"… All of that is good, comprehensible informations, but there is nothing new, at least not until he learns their language, that would give him a lot of details that he constantly misses.

After a long moment of checking what is in the pile, the nightwing's eyes stumble upon a peculiar scroll showing drawings of himself in different positions alongside the same tools and instruments that were close to him. Regaining his will at this discovery, the young hybrid continues to seek in the pile, and it does not take long until he finds something noteworthy again.

Pulling out the interesting scroll, Darkstalker sees drawings depicting the uses of these tools and instruments on him, and that would be looking quite nasty if the concept was acted upon…

So these are similar to how anatomy experts are asked to manipulate corpses to get deeper knowledge… except it is done to living dragons like me… At least these acts don't seem to damaging if you are cautious and know what you are doing, but mistakes must cost so much…

Cutting short his speculating thoughts, the young one resumes his search, and for the next long minutes, he sees other representations of the instruments' uses amongst all the texts he can't read, until he finds something new and interesting again.

A distinct scroll shows images of developed dragons that show peculiar features like large fins chains, four wings, more than a pair of horns, or even four eyes…

Checking a few more elements of the diminishing pile, the nightwing discovers a large drawing of a great dragon being compared to a normal adult one, the feature being added by the greater form alighted by markings and lines of symbols.

Are they trying to become closer to their god's form? Probably. But… they don't have a lot to experiment with, these five dragons are all that is left alive in their world, right?

A sudden memory hits the darker hybrid, the image of dragon corpses laying in peace around the supreme crystal forcing its way into his doubtful mind…

That's… that's… Are these really alive? How many were they? Are these corpses really being experimented on or are they more here for preservation?

But why put them so close to the tremendous power? Wait, if its aura alone has an effect so strong on my mind, can it do anything to my body? And how much time did these dragons pass near it? Are they transformed in a way?

Yes

Bombarded with question he can not answer, Darkstalker takes a break to calm down and refocus his mind. Once it is done, he continues to check the elements of the now smaller pile serenely and in silence, until, after a few more minutes of repetitive actions, there is no scrolls nor tablets left to check.

Appearing somewhat tired, his talon almost aching from having to hold and move so many objects too big to be convenient to handle for him, the nightwing don not let his will fade that easily, there is still things to do even if progress is slow…

Listening once again to the three minds outside to see if there is any shift in their thoughts, the hybrid turns away as he spots nothing different… Approaching the shelf with layers full of evenly positioned gemstones, the young one thinks for a while.

They hold power but I can barely control it... Maybe they have other uses…

Looking back at the instruments, ideas begin to bloom in his mind… Taking three precious stones with him, the nightwing walks to these complex objects, almost eager to test them. But as he starts to think of how he could use a crystal to experiment, the seer senses something is changing...

They are approaching my room, and they think… of opening it and checking me…

Paralysed by the thought for a few seconds, Darkstalker's heart accelerates immediately as he comes back to his senses, shaking in fear as his time alone is close from ending.

Quick, what must I do to make things less suspicious?

Casting a quick glance at the three gems his talon hold, the nightwing runs to the shelf and puts them back exactly to their old place before looking back at the rest of the room, almost passing out at the sight of the pile he can not clean up.

Starting to panic, the young one comes back to the center of the room, his eyes and thoughts uncontrollably switching back and forth between his resting spots and the mass of scrolls and tablets littering the floor.

Starting to curl on himself as he hears the sounds of the entrance opening, Darkstalker regains his will to stand up at the last moment, tapping into his hatred of Ayirn.

When the doors are opened widely, the three great dragon discovers what the room has become, and how angry the awake little one seems to be. From such a surprising sight, it is only natural their expression changes drastically...