.

Chapter 28: Passing some time with Azykan

Taking her first step on the cold but illuminated floor of the greatest house, with light being brought by both the beacon and the moon, the dark blue giant deploys her entire form on the final stage, all under the gaze of a dragon as great as her, whose scales bear the vivid colours of fire.

With the smaller dragon following, wearing clothes in contrast to the uncovered bodies of the two titans, raw and powerful for everyone to see in their unaltered splendour, the giant dragoness approaches the edge of the highest ground, guiding the little one to where both will best watch the celestial orb of grey and white...

Following with his gaze the two guests, Azykan bears a small smile, fully accepting their coming as he finds a good reason that might explain their presence. But the more he sees the great dragoness and the little one together, the more his curiosity grows, until words leave his mouth, pronounced by a calmer but still energetic voice.

- "Lieju uthu surh ognut sif dusmi yl yukyu oje yth?"

At that, Akhanta turns partially to him before replying, her voice hinting at a mood that reflects his own.

- "Aqerh, yihe Darkstalker jyker iole wulen..."

Putting down the scroll his claws held, the great dragon continues the conversation while eyeing at the nightwing, who does not like having his attention but tries to remain "polite".

- "Oij iole soumvu ashek artufo..."

- "Nestoq uthutias etilmu." Adds the dragoness bluntly, cutting her kin's moment.

- "Ghyt heia iole." Replies the red and orange one with a voice and expression that sounds hurt.

- "Nelkemu yihe yl toijyl tunis heia ivolte uthutias akutmehit, ikul iole ajek yl aeistu." Says the dragoness, continuing to press on him.

While it is true that the great dragon exaggerates his expression, the seer can make out his feelings are genuine, if just hidden and less intense…

Looking away for a moment, the red and orange giant lets his wings fall further, then looks at the sky once again to clear his mind, still not familiar with its new object, before finally facing his kin once more, his voice more serious as he speaks.

- "Yth moxon Darkstalker ignum uthu vuya. Lieju uthutias efebriz olvetu emnapru sif aloco tho fole masne?"

To his words, Akhanta rolls her eyes, like she heard a compliment that was not genuine, or that completely fails to be in this context.

- "Ythias efebriz ezert iole, kes the eiuf heia enubi ythias eqeramu." Tells the dragoness in a sober but stronger tone, correcting her kin.

My instincts are just that, and they will not fix my lacks.

As Azykan reflects on what she said, but remaining not that surprised, the young one turns his full attention to the dragoness' mind, where buried memories and feelings show themselves. From all these thoughts, most expressed into unknown words and others in images that the seer can not understand without proper context, there is one thing, linked to the concept of time that is the center of so many emotions…

The nightwing does not know her life, but if he had to guess what was causing all these negative feelings, it would be all the time she passed here.

Alone in that desolate world. If you had dreams and passions, there would be little left to accomplish them. And the less you work on them, the more they weaken, until they fade away, or they don't, and frustration accumulates until it bursts out of you…

That's why you would never have lead me to a happy future Clearsight. Listening to me was the only way to break out of your chains, but you refused to, and no anger was building up in you to one day make you try to shatter them… Weak.

Approaching the great dragoness, Azykan tells her what he hopefully thinks, his voice more personal and devoid of his previous and more playful attitude.

- "Muvol kion u toij kalup, ythe surh akeju ognut, muvol anetet arkenofar litysar kes ythetias yrqarnek eiuf ashek myleia."

To such words, Akhanta does not remain untouched.

- "Lieju uthu eximn ojure uthutias ifultu?" Questions the dragoness, more unsure and lost than the nightwing ever her saw her before.

- "Ythe eiuf muka u tumok, iole... Zy enyder Zu."

Such words mark the great dragoness' heart, whose gaze starts to fall upon the ground, her mind thinking of important but uncomfortable matters...

First are the memories of a young past, of a little one coming from the unknown and brought to them. And upon his discovery, the realization his essences were the key to solve everything, but he was not ready, he was so far from it in reality, that an Act was decided to compensate for his inherent shortcomings.

It did not take long for the lost one to be brought to the Room that would fix him, to the Altar were their power would feed his sun, their essences pouring into his being, tearing apart everything that would block their path...

Sacrifice, that is the concept that marked what remains of the realm, and what came to it, hunting everyone still alive, with Akhanta's mind showing her fears and regrets far more than her kin, and Darkstalker whose disdain is growing at the reminder of the greatest wrong done to him, but it is only the tip of the iceberg that he has uncovered for now.

Before the young one can really turn to face red and orange one with his anger, the shifting of the dragoness' mind reveals new memories he can not ignore.

Five great dragons standing in a circle around the greatest Altar, surrounded by pillar reflecting light like copper and coal, and by rods of silver and gold, each holding a flame that illuminates the place and reveals the stern faces of the draconic giants.

But despite mustering all their will to stand against what they will have to go through to leave the Altar's room, scales begin to shake as the cold metal of the strangest blade slithers against them, making each of the Five fearful in anticipation.

Words are spoken and echo against the titanic walls of polished stone, but no one can totally focus on them, their mind to occupied by the Ritual and its cost.

...

Blood of all colours run over the glorious scales before falling into a worthy enough recipient while the great ones hiss, barely able to contain the pain of the final cost, no longer being able to look at the others and think about them for fear of losing control over the process.

Their body bend, bowing more and more in suffering as more of their blood, more of their essences must be taken from their body, but they must stand, they must resist...

Coming out of his thoughts due to Azykan reaching his kin, the nightwing watches him extending a wing to wrap around the partially curled up dragoness. As his membrane of hot colours surrounds her, she rises her head and looks at him, still unsure. And that is when he decides to tell her some words, his voice a strong and serious one, both for him and her.

- "Zu hute sartegu aljaln, kalup peul astu ust ythe kes aletru, Zu surh pemku ivolteru… Zu eiuf alkotyr, yth kenib Zu tunis."

Standing completely, the great dragoness finds her resolve, and turning to look at Azykan right in the eyes, she replies with a tone similar to his.

- "Yth kenib, ikul iole surh heia myleia igos, kes yth tunis heia pylt eiatysnu arkenofar ashek somul."

- "Uthu tunis moneos" Adds simply the great dragon, regaining his small grin.

Smiling in return, Akhanta politely unwraps the great one's wing to free herself. Now returning at Darkstalker's side, the dark blue giant stares at his laid down body, still focused on him far more than her kin.

But that level of attention on his part starts to intrigue her, making her wonder if he is really good at reading body language or if there is something else…

Ko pratus. Yl toijyl misytu feshur moxon yl olmukara iole utezu fouit Zye.

Refocusing her mind, the great dragoness has a new idea, one that needs for the nightwing to be far closer to her.

Hesitant for only a second, the young one approaches the dark blue giant until his paw touches the charming scales of her massive tail. Facing Akhanta, the seer understands from her more eager expression and thoughts that he musts climb up. Not minding that, Darkstalker ascends on the dragoness and marches to arrive just before her long neck, above her chest where he can feel her powerful presence to the fullest...

Sensing the flows of their essences connecting, the great dragoness prepares herself, slowly unfolding her giant wings while the nightwing settles on her, getting at ease with that closeness, all under the watch of the red and orange kin stepping a bit closer to her.

"Yth holcu uthu muka jteos tomerz sif moneos. Lieju uthu kasarh iole yth ignum?" Says Azykan, his eagerness matching that of his kin.

Despite all that has been said and the things she has been reminded of, Akhanta's mind becomes clearer as she jumps from the edge of their mythical house, fully starting a new page as the air embraces her wings, allowing her to begin her flight in grace with the little one against her scales.

Following behind in joy at her silent and blunt decision, the great dragon starts to show his power, ready to go to wherever his kin will travel to.

And so starts a little journey for the pair of great ones and the nightwing, all under a moon so young and incomplete…

Flapping their wings only when they need to, the pair flies in circles far above the Pyramid with relative ease, and even if the red and orange dragon starts to tire faster than his kin helped by the little one's presence, they both maintain their celestial dance, a proof of the great ones' endurance and strength, even in a world that can not encourage them to bring out their best...

Staying tightly against the scales of the dark blue giant, Darkstalker has no choice but to trust Akhanta in all of her moves, like a dragonet holding on their parents.

Thinking about it, the nightwing never had a moment like that with his mother since he was maybe a year old or less. Her duties and the war caught up to her, and soon began an uncomfortable cycle of the one he loves leaving and returning after too much time, and with Arctic arguing with her… In the end, the moments together he and his sister were left with were short, far too short compared to what he saw, and what he hoped for…

I should have been faster in my ascension, it didn't pay to restrain myself at all and wait, I just lost precious time until something took mother from me.

The young one now feels sadness and anger growing in him, both for his father, but also for himself as he knows he could have acted and saved her, making him partially responsible for her demise.

I should have been evil, I should have dived into the darkness instead of trying to have it both ways. Even if I always sought to slip between my chains, fully admitting I was doing evil would have fully allowed me to do anything, and to react in time with my powers.

Full of regrets, the nightwing lets these feelings fade away as time passes and he refocuses on the mystical entity he is on, her mind full of pleasant emotions and sensations. To such a mind, little to no words are needed to convey what the being feels at the moment, and that makes the seer smile as he can just be, relax himself and just listen to Akhanta's mind...

Moving through the sky like she should be in a living world, the great dragoness starts to remember and imagine what the sky should look like, well before her realm fell...

Shades of all colours cover the pitch black sheet as clouds of all sizes and shapes reflect some of the light coming from below, where everything, living or not that stands on the earth illuminates.

Flying in it are dragons, the beings that rule the world, reaching heights far higher than the greatest trees or even that of the biggest mountains. With a piercing gaze and sharp senses, theses magnificent but fearsome creatures watch over the lands, their preys being everything that their body made for war and the wild can defeat…

Looking once again at the artificial moon, the dark blue giant finds a bit of happiness despite the absolute darkness that surrounds it, at the sky that is not a true void anymore. And inspired by its bright presence, she decides to get closer to it.

Flapping her gigantic wings with far more strength than before, and hopefully with no one behind to be blown to the ground with the force of a storm, except for the great dragon whose raw strength and power allows him to masterfully deviate the short lived hurricane and draw momentum from it, Akhanta approaches the orb of white and silver little by little, circling just below and gradually gaining altitude, until…

Enchanting wings passes near the celestial body, hinting at a link to be created between the great dragoness and the astral orb of energy to complete it. And now so close to its essences, Darkstalker realizes at his heart how much the moon should be complete and become a true one. Maybe not one as great as those of Pyrrhia, but one grand enough for this realm...

Arriving not long after, Azykan ascends to their level by putting all his forces into his wings before reducing his efforts as his goal is reached.

Looking at the enormous orb for a short moment, the dragon of red an orange turns his gaze to his kin flying at the other side of their circle. His eyes remains attentive and playful toward her, and as the seer checks his mind, he can confirm the great dragon is one of action, choosing to act simply and now, as well as being more focused on his kins than any other consideration, for better or worse…

Satisfied with their ascension, the great Akhanta folds her wings and starts to dive, descending quickly from the height of the moon itself, with her kin following at her side with no delay in his act, like he was ready to pursue her since the beginning.

Feeling the air around him being pierced and moved by the giant form of the dragoness, the nightwing stares at the growing shape of the Pyramid as they approach it faster and faster.

Deploying their wings at the end, the two draconic giants drastically change their trajectory, now descending no more but circling around the old stone structure with an incredible speed that diminishes until the great dragons decide they can land on their house.

Posing their paws on the hard surface not without a shock, Akhanta and Azykan now stand on the ground, their body immediately starting to relax, with their wings most of all, quickly but naturally falling until their edge touch the floor...

Climbing down the body of Akhanta, the nightwing is faced by the giant being who checks to see if all is good for him, and seeing his genuine expression of contentment, the dragoness' face reflects his own.

Turning back to her kin, Akhanta sees him smirking just before he speaks, his voice an amused one.

- "Uthu hute heia elkosur yth."

But before the great dragoness can answer, Darkstalker tells him his own words, his voice retaining none of the hostility, just a curious one.

- "Are you always like that Azykan?"

Silence reigns for a time as the great dragon and the little one stare at each other, with the dragoness at the second one's side ready to intervene like she did before.

While the great one does not understand any of the nightwing's words, him gradually becomes neutral as he ponders about him fully, until his eyes refocuses on him, staring straight into his own.

For a moment, the red and orange giant stays still like a statue, as if he was peering into his mind. But the seer listening to thoughts knows he can not see into his mind, only his being and essences, though that makes him wonder if he is really trying to catch his intent by analysing his body language or the flows of his power…

- "Uthu tunis konles, uthu eiuf heia moxon heij uthu janubt."

To the words of the great dragoness, Azykan's eyes turn to her in an instant before replying a few seconds later.

- "Uthu surh smena."

You are right.

Feeling his body still being a bit stressed, he continues the conversation in a casual tone, thinking about gemstones and water for some reason.

"Yth zikos u toij tarkaur, kes tegusen… Lieju uthu kasarh sif ignum yth sif u ust ythias dezfuez?"

- "Yth tunis." Answers Akhanta, her words ones of agreement as the seer determines.

Turning and starting to walk toward the mean to access the stage below, the great dragon is accompanied by his dark blue kin and the little one watching him with more questions in mind than before, though they will not be answered just now…

Watching the mind of the great dragon, the seer tries his best to understand and decipher it as he walks through the giant maze that will be his house, with the steps of giants at his side echoing in the mythical place like always.

On a first look, Azykan's thoughts are more raw, charged with often short lived but intense feelings pushing him to act if he can, and feelings, nothing evoke them more than the sight of his kins. It is like he behaves a bit similar to an excited dragonet, just with more politeness and "restrain", though it is not all there is to him, like for the other great ones.

The young one saw it clearly, their mind have a deeper layer that surges sometimes.

Predictable, their past and the state of their world is something they can not escape from…

Indeed, and through his short life, he had on many occasions seen dragons that would hide their past, or reluctantly speak about it if at all. The first example was his mother, who, despite her best efforts to not taint his dragonethood, could not keep him from staring at sober parts of the world, including the one that affected her.

He did not exactly understood what was happening to his family, but it was clear the situation was off. Even before he met Clearsight, and with his father's words put aside, the black dragonet could see and feel danger for himself, for sister, for mother, for father, and for everyone or so he thought…

I'm sorry mother and sister, I wasn't good enough to take the best path at such a young age, I didn't know, and I knew no one yet, no one to help a seer like me…

When he started to live in the night palace thanks to the queen "giving" him such privilege, the darkness had not been reduced, they were everywhere and he just had to be attentive to see them.

Despite all the parties thrown by Vigilance to hide the misery of war, at least for the nobles, and maybe to also occupy herself, not that such a paranoid dragoness would let herself be too distracted..., all had a darker corner.

It was more easy to spot it in their mind for some, but each always had some fear, some worry, some regrets, some desires and goal that would be better left unspoken in such a place…

Like Lunescale, who Darkstalker remembers quite well. Despite trying to protect himself from mind-readers like all nobles are taught before entering the palace, the dragon was never a good one at that, and he could see in his mind almost as clear as day.

A sometimes lost noble, who knows he isn't as intelligent as he should, trying to behave like his parents and peers told him to, but failing and so he has to hide completely or find a less populated place.

A bit like Fathom, but less depressed and with a deeply buried anger. The first time I saw him and his mind, he felt really out of place, then I dived into the mind of others, and discovered the palace wasn't exactly like it was presented, but I should have expected that.

Everyone there put up a facade, including me, but you kind of had to or else…

The young nightwing always had a natural, charming attitude, especially when he walked in the palace, often surrounded by hundreds of nightwings going their own way or discussing with others. But even then, it was also hiding his frustration about all the bad in his life, with his family and father being a subject he learned to talk about politely.

Of course, since the war his tribe hated the icewings far more, with some nightwings even loathing them due to prejudice and nothing else. And the fact his father was a prince, as well as the only icewing in the kingdom made the spread of some rumours inevitable.

But the young one could not tell straight he wished for his father's life to end, even if he really wanted to when some ignorants spoke in his face about icewing blood running in his veins and that he was going to betray the tribe to join them.

As time passed, dragons were quieter about such subject, but it was just that, and not even done by respect to him as their mind still thought little of him.

It is because of that Darkstalker understood why Arctic always complained about being in the night kingdom despite hating him. If was in his exact place, he would only have a similar reaction…

.

Arriving at an unexpected corridor, the young one gets a moment to look at its uniqueness, at each door being different and lighter than the one he saw, at the walls bearing far more colourful motifs than average, before entering through a room kept closed by a sort of giant curtain more than anything else, presenting Azykan's form over a dark red background.

Now inside, the great dragon marches until the end where he lays down on the pool, the water just deep enough to relax him. And while the great dragoness goes to the side to fold her talons, the nightwing gazes all around him, passing over the many elements of the place.

While there are jars, shelves full of scrolls, tablets, and even some polished gems and instruments like the ones he saw in the laboratory, the night dragon is more "surprised" to see a kind of crown on a wall, along with what seems to be armour sets and a spear, the latter so decorated and rich in precious metals that it probably won't ever serve as a true weapon…

- "Uthu surh akutme azeiw iolez emelni ust ythias iute?" Says the giant dragon, already having the answer to his own question.

Smiling, Azykan takes the spear, a precious and noble craft big enough for an adult, but not for a great one like him, and present its non-threatening end to the little one.

After letting him gaze upon such an object and its engraved symbols for a moment, the titanic entity drops it to the ground, making some noises as the metal hits the floor, before turning his back to grab the orange crown. It is, of course, to small for him, but that does not stop him to put it on his head to show to the smaller one such an object in more details.

Taking it off shortly after, Azykan lays it down just before the young one in a polite way.

- "Uthu tunis lumu yl okenass." Tells the great dragon to Darkstalker, his voice calmer than before.

Extending a talon but hesitating, the seer concludes from his last gesture, his mind and Akhanta's encouraging expression that he can take the noble piece.

Now feeling the smooth and cold alloy over his claws, the nightwing gets it would makes its wearer noticeable, probably not like a king or queen, its spiky and spiralling motifs, as well as its overall form are not developed enough to be worn by these exceptional individuals, but it would be nice for royal children, or for the winner of a great enough competition…

Now that he thinks about it, the crown bears a strange colour, evoking fire, and even blood if it is put under the right light.

Gold and especially silver would be far more adapted to fit the demand of a ruler who sees himself, his cause and what he rules over as sacred… At least that's what my tribe thought, but maybe these dragons had different tastes, like in my world where icewings prefer metals and gems of blue and white over anything else…

Though looking at the giver's mind, the nightwing sees flashes of old memories.

In what seems to be an arena, so many dragons watch and cheer in the background as a red and orange dragon, having cleaned his biggest wounds and blood stains just a moment ago ascends the place to meet three dragons in ceremonious armour, having watched all the struggle down there with their keen eyes.

Taking a few steps closer to the champion as he stays honourably, still discretely catching his breath as his body is exhausted from such efforts, are the three dragons, with the ones on each side holding their glorious and symbolic scepter while the one in the middle bears with his two talons a copper plate with a shining red crown over it.

Calling the one before him by his name, the dragon in a decorated set starts a speech with a grand, almost thunderous voice so all can hear it…

Finishing his words, the leader of the ceremony approaches the noble plate before taking the precious object. In reaction, and as expected in such a ritual, Azykan lowers his head, bowing while making it easier and more honouring for the crown to be put on the champion's head.

And so it happened…

Being brought out of his thoughts by Akhanta's touch, the nightwing turns to face her and puts down the noble object, a way to show his interest will be elsewhere.

Looking at the spear, an object not only made from a crimson alloy but also having shades of silver and gold, the young one is quickly attracted to the first armour pieces he saw and the set next to it.

Moving to get close, Darkstalker's behaviour makes something new fully appear in the great dragon's mind, a warm and happy feeling at the sight of another showing interest for elements reminiscent of his past…

Gazing and then touching the pieces of an armour long since unworn, the nightwing can only imagine how such crafts of polished and sturdy parts of iron and copper would act as an armour in numerous battles, stopping the blows from piercing the wearer's scales but also allowing him or her to use every muscle, to make any movement with few limitations.

Overall, the set is a good and simple one, made so its wearer would be protected without costing too much in mobility, and with only few motifs and markings on the biggest pieces, the exact opposite of the second set.

Turning his head, the young one gazes upon it…

Shining with its alloy of crimson, blue and gold, it bears symbols and complex markings on each part as if it was telling a story. As for the pieces themselves, there are more numerous, often larger and it seems they are less resistant, or more malleable at least, thought they are still heavy.

But the most eye catching thing in all of this, are a pair of movable and complex parts organized together into wings, and seeing their position on the whole set, these seem to be a pair of mechanic wings placing themselves behind the wearer's own.

Its maker or the one who asked for that set must really have faith in Ankonalmirh… and a lot of money to waste. Though I should not be too judgemental, the nobles and royals have their own way to indulge in frivolous spendings, myself included...

Watching over the little one, Azykan contemplates the new feeling he has compared to all the times he returned in this room. Seeing the nightwing looking and analysing the relics he choose to bring here… there is something pleasant about that.

As for Akhanta, she smiles a bit like her kin, content to have the young one discovering by himself so many things after struggling to present to him their world and its past. It seems now is a lucky moment for them...