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Chapter 48: A little one going to rest
Having progressed for quite a while on their way to a fitting chamber, Darkstalker had the time to delve deep in the mind of the fire kin, the repeating sounds of the giants' steps resonating against the stone of the old place being only soothing background noises for him. And through Azykan's feelings, the young seer could deduce he remains a dragon staying in the present more than anything, with an energetic attitude and vivid will that may turn into impatience.
But that, the hybrid already guessed despite the great dragon's change in behaviour, which he made it his task to understand. And he did succeed, as even if the little one barely learnt of the kin's tongue, he could sense his moderate uneasiness, like a fish out of the water, but also the reason of his coming.
Since the beginning of their walk, Azykan had looked at his companions quite a few times, as well as having a long discussion on the way, with a voice that was often less sure, less pronounced in tone, especially when it seemed questions were said to him, but he always tried his best to answer, and to reduce his presence when doubt stroke him.
So as long as others are around you, you shall not be troublesome one bit, or at least far less, good to know…
Continuing to go forward, the little nightwing stays deep in thoughts, only really paying attention to his surroundings when it is time to turn in another direction, or in the very rare times the group halts. As it was maybe expected, the mind of the seer is still focused on the red and orange kin, on the memories he keeps beneath, memories which he could get glimpses of at the diner room, as the great dragon did not hide his mild tiredness at that time.
If you worked with Xamirh not so long after I deeply went last time into the lands of your empty world, I understand you may be exhausted, though it seems to concern your mind a lot more than your body…
I guess I was wrong, you really are far more intelligent than I thought you were, or at least very knowledgable in the area of… "essences manipulation"? "Moon crafting"? Whatever the name, you're good at that if your help is that needed…
Getting close to their destination, the group gazes upon a very distinct corridor, with scenes painted in brighter colours, like the many motifs and symbols which seems like all shapes to often be less sharp, rounder when it comes to these new walls. So marching in that new area whose atmosphere is not a bad one, especially with many crystals offering their warm light to any visitor, the young seer's attention is drawn to an eye catching drawing of the Great Dragon watching dragonkind in the sky, only to shift to his guardians' mind.
- "Ankonalmirh almunh dusmi omus ythe almu." Mutters the feathered kin in a deep but subtle, almost hidden voice that echoes in the corridor, immediately drawing the blue eyes of the little hybrid.
Spotting his obvious gesture, Kraydirn points his snout at him, his gaze appreciative before he speaks again.
"Jaku yihe uthu kasarh toijyl, oje yth eiuf fushoz uthutias ifulte oje uthu fushoz ythias eastu..."
Having heard clearly the many sounds of the great dragon's words, Darkstalker senses the grand dragoness intensely the moment she extends her wing over him, casting a faint shadow as her beautiful membrane glows slightly like pure magic. Looking at him while Azykan observes the scene from a relative distance with unsure eyes, Akhanta tells him a few words in a quiet voice, her big snout nearing his ears.
- "Jaku yihe uthu okutes toijyl. Ywult heij ajek zait uthutias ekyzu."
Slowing down then halting the walk, the dark blue guardian takes the time to stand with greatness, showing more of her being when she folds her talon and put its paw on her chest, right over where her heart belongs. And looking at her for a moment, the nightwing does understand the intent of her wish partially, and after hesitating with the gazes of others behind, he puts a paw on his chest like she did, a warm grin appearing on his snout.
- "Yth surh heia geska tho gynhim ythe wulen, ikul tho moneos." Says the feathered giant, a smile forming on him as well when he glances at the nightwing before slowly resuming his march.
As the group begins to walk again, the young seer is partially surprised by Kraydirn's enthusiasm, and the same dragon does not wait to speak again, his mind coloured by numerous nostalgic thoughts as he never forgets to stares at the many images depicted on the old walls.
"Uthu linf mylfus gynhim iole, ikul yth eiuf zaptoe th nestoq ythias ekyzu cuxt uthu surh geska ust thias otijehun toijyl." Declares the dragon of winter as a shifts occurs in his thoughts, arranging his many feelings that surge in him while Akhanta silently approves and Azykan still looks with mild doubt at his kin.
Extending his feathered wing a bit to point at the four winged dragon portrayed as watching over the Kingdom below, Kraydirn continues in a deep and resonating voice, with none of his words pronounced faster than little seer could catch up with.
"Ankonalmirh, yl Sazne Dolmukaran, hute surh tsekat ysil yl tumok hute dylnoij, ikul oluhperynulun, thu hute yneia..."
Keeping his steady pace while no kin seems to interrupt him nor wants to as they remain on the same path, the dragon of black feathers continues, his wings unfolding a little more as his mind remembers in vivid details the tale of the world and its god.
"Iti oem fiku thu hute ikus sim surh ryneia, hute kara zait u neyuft alvotail prita Zhuytias kumista tosmyl Zhuytias xefnuit, geskahen feshur uceixt zait ezylkame sif vulkon u ylerpuinun sytmaku kes alkara Dolmukaran oje th soumvu yenuv surh, hute turmak."
- "Yth hefum iole surh efton oltem prita yl toijyl…" Mutters the red and orange kin, his uncertain attitude shifting as his orange eyes gaze back and forth between the great dragon and the nightwing.
Being more than confused by such a speech destined to him, the young seer made the good decision to focus on Kraydirn's mind, revealing his profound sense of fascination, excitement and sadness as he pictures the dragon that is his god falling until the glorious body is no more. Though to his surprise, it will not be that dragon but the one closest to his side that will voice her thoughts next, her presence becoming greater as she focuses further on him when telling the tale.
- "Yl zyrake ust Ankonalmirh hute somul yl tumok kes thutias olmukara hute emruti oueryk sim almeku..."
- "Kes estid iole kishru, Zyetias eurykyn dusmi omus vawrie u tumok, uje Zutias fenyz hute surh eriusen." Continues the feathered kin, both great dragons achieving a partial sync as each reminds themselves of the evoking and legendary tale at the same time, the images of dragons in the wild they imagine being fitting and complementary.
Having heard all of that is quite a lot to take for the hybrid's mind during a single moment, and so the great dragons halts in their speech, allowing Darkstalker to digest all the feelings that simple story births in their minds…
Quite the story you like to tell… I know it is the genesis of your world but… Have you ever seen or felt the presence of Ankonalmirh even once?
If of all that is beautiful words and metaphor, a romanticized ideal you believe in… why have such strong feelings…
Continuing to walk through the corridor with the elders, the nightwing remains too thoughtful, his mind so focused on that enigma around the kins' faith that he barely looks around to gaze upon the new scenes that come up as they progress, the sounds the others' steps and his own unnoticeable, until…
Moving a warm wing to reach out to him, it is Azykan who makes him snap back to his senses, the great dragon's gaze a curious and kind one as the group turns to enter in the final tunnel.
- "Thank you" Mutters the young seer being refocused like he needed to, turning fully to face the new phase of their way.
His eyes drifting away from the kin of fire and the spark of odd satisfaction that colours his mind, the little hybrid looks at what is before him, and discovers all that these walls unknown to him before have to offer, starting by the cold and dark colours present on the edge of the depicted Kingdom.
- "Yl Ervakyr hute wolmkar almeku…" Declares Akhanta as she stares at the whole scene which spreads until the deep end of entire corridor, her voice low and slow while her tail calms down, barely swinging anymore.
- "Th hute ilventu hiea dolmukaran, heia oueryk, heia ajturk, th hute kareia kes th hute ulperka, terlokun almu sim neiatome." Adds Kraydirn in a similar tone, his mind occupied by the concept, and the memories of an undefined force coming from so far away, and progressing, turning everything in its path to stone and dust.
"Enutaj maleke kes orpit iolez destirkar olmukara nestoq heia uyl sif ywult the."
- "Ikul ythe hute alkotyr." Replies Azykan in no time, his voice firm and wilful as he looks straight before him, his imposing body slightly tensing up.
- "Vezkit ythe hute alkotyr, sylis almu ythe hute arkenef th ajek yl zult awirne…" Says the feathered kin as he gently turns his head to the determined, almost defying speaker that covers the depiction of the decaying Kingdom with his large body and wings, his words setting a sober tone the young seer follows with his sharp senses.
- "Yth eiuf ghyt iole vaieb yihe vawrie kishru hute jernup."
Declaring that statement with open wings, it is the great dragoness who blinks in reaction, her mind shifting in an instant as her breathing slows down. But that does stop the discussion from continuing, nor the little hybrid to keep his focus on the pair of great ones.
- "Yth heia kemosi ust uthutias ifulte, Zu hute konurt Zutias ospyk sif ouery velt aluh elzurtu..."
And with that, the group arrives at the corridor's end, where lies a peculiar and imposing double doors, its outer edges painted with motifs so sharp they they may hurt to see, while the surface inside depicts fallen dragons of all kinds, with only a few having the fortunatate fate of only being doomed to sleep in the middle of all the wounded ones, under the roof of an impenetrable and ominous shrine.
Going a step farther, it is the kin of fire, quickly followed by the dragon of winter, who both push the gigantic door open while the dark blue kin watches over the hybrid, offering the light of her mind to the seer despite her recent uneasiness…
Now that the fairly large entrance is opened, each of the four dragons can enter and gaze upon the seemingly endless chamber paved at each side by evenly spaced and ornated stone pillars, their shape and motifs perfect copy except for what is written on the central plate.
- "Masnurik sim yl mertni ust tekelu toijyl." Says firmly the kin of fire, his voice echoing before all others through the vast land such a room possesses.
Observing his environment tainted by a more ominous atmosphere with suspicion, the nightwing finds himself surrounded by Akhanta's wing, a dark blue veil given to him so he knows the great dragoness will be there for him as they venture further in the ancient depths. And seeing that whole gesture, Kraydirn's mind concludes in an instant, the feathered dragon deciding silence shall not settle where they are yet.
- "Iole ozeim surh alkary prita ythe, ikul uthu pyteya heia sif gynhim th igos..."
To the great one's words told in a deep and considerate voice, Darkstalker stares back at him, his blue eyes aligning with the mind he focused on. And from such sight, the young seer only gets confirmations of Kraydirn's intent to help, the more complex and meaningful matters being pushed away, deemed not appropriate for now.
- "Muvol ignum ythe toijyl, uthu surh tsekat sif toeik oje uthu okutes, iole ythe enyder uthu." Tells Akhanta in a quieter but personal voice, her mind only wishing for the little hybrid to simply go along with them as they approach from a standing pool of water.
Understanding he will not really get much more informations and secrets about the place and the memories it is linked to in the minds of his powerful companions, Darkstalker does as expected and walks forward until he reaches the central pool with the group, his eyes fixated on its edge due to its numerous spiralling markings…
Being the first one to step into the distinct area, rising her massive paw to let it down after passing over the limit, bringing the first half of her graceful body into the pool, Akhanta immediately draws the young seer's attention, her gaze inviting as her talons plunge in the water and her wings fall.
Not needing any word, the little hybrid steps forward, only for a feathered wing to extend before him, touching both the floor and the edge of the pool. Hesitating for a few seconds, the young one walks on it as he understands Kraydirn's helpful act, the manner he looks at him confirming such intent, and after passing over the frontier, jumps in water, that environment having no secret for him anymore as he remembers the intimate time he passed with her in a similar place.
As the nightwing swims to end up at a preferred spot of Akhanta's side, the two great dragons do barely more than watching the scene, having no desire to rest like him, though with how the hybrid is still the center of their attention, the one they must protect and guide, even for a still partially unsure kin like Azykan, no one in that peculiar room will abandon him…
So floating in what could be almost considered an oasis, the young hybrid simply let go of all his stress, staying in contact with the dark blue scales of his guardian, of the dragoness who has the patience to remain with him without doing any gesture that could disturb him, except for her wing and paw that are brought to his being on purpose.
Still somewhat drawn to her watchful kins, the feathered one even expressing genuine satisfaction at the sight of the scene, while the fire dragon is impressed and surprised at the realization of what has been said about his dark blue kin, Akhanta stares at both now taking a few steps back and deciding to exchange so words, the dragon of winter judging best to explain some needed things as that the moment is fitting…
Refocusing on her young one now that her kins are occupied, the great dragoness can not help herself but tighten her grip on him, though being massive in size, she still lefts him with a lot of space in that water that rubs the scales of them both. And finally, with the dark hybrid partially closing his eyes and simply enjoying that tender moment, the surrounding giant chooses to unfold her other wing, and to voice her passion as it comes.
- "Toijyl, uthu hyj surh ofemyl esmarh ythias aurediz..."
"Uthu hyj surh zait ythias ofuldy..."
"Zikos ythias ekyzu oje yth moneos sif zikos uthutias eastu..."
"Zikos oij alest yth nodelfa sif oxemin kes detsou Zu..."
Hearing such words, the little seer does not bother to understand them one bit, though they do feel nice for him to hear with such a rhythm, especially when they are coupled with the mind of their speaker, such presence bringing him more joy to his relaxed heart.
"Toijyl, uthu hyj hute surh jukinen zait ythetias ryneia tumok..."
"Kenib iole uthutias lezerun surh myleia..."
"Kenib iole uthu surh kaleaip ylfuz..."
"Dueti ythe eiuf myleias litysen uthu zait vawrie u tumok..."
Are you making the promise that you will never leave me Akhanta? Thinks Darkstalker as the great dragoness closes even more on him, a chain vivid movements in the water that she leans to accomplish with or without her clearly focused mind.
"Toijyl, yth kenib iole uthu hute yrqarn zait yl iute..."
"Yth kenib uthu tunis yrqarn vaieb..."
"Kes yth kenib iole yihe th sitrilm, u oknyt ust th eiuf ajek ythias jupirt..."
"Pelyle, lieju uthu tunis onumel Zy?"
And with these last words, Akhanta concludes her song like she needed to, her head lowering to touch the water, bringing it to the level of the one she holds close to herself, her warm and magical breath touching him as he surprisingly falls fully asleep.
And watching from a distance, Kraydirn can only nod in a gentle manner, while Azykan understands him and the whole scene enough to remain politely observant, almost excessively so as no one would punish him for expressing genuine doubt and partial incomprehension...