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Chapter 20: A confusing blizzard in the lands of nothing
Flying over the endless, dull and poor lands of this unlucky world for what seems to be hours, enough that only a few light remain in the distance, Darkstalker grows more and more upset as nothing worthy of attention seems to come, or if something interesting is at their destination, it is too far for them to see it.
Despite looking in the great one's mind and discovering the place they are going to was once where a town and its temple stood, with many dragons living their life, the seer can not cling into that much longer...
Bored and irritated enough, the nightwing breaks the silence in a rather crude way, ignoring politeness by making it know to Kraydirn he is annoyed.
- "Kraydirn, when do we arrive at our destination." Says the young one in a louder voice to make sure he is heard.
The feathered titan turns his head, and looks quite surprised at the sight of the night dragon, as if he did not understand at all why the little one would complain, he is in good shape and health after all, and nothing more than flying is asked of him. Then, he seems to find a reason, and starts to lower his altitude.
Having to stay focused to do the same manoeuvrer as him, Darkstalker does not say a word until both land in a good enough manner... As the nightwing starts give his body a break, the chosen one of winter stares straight up into him. With his wings covering his underside and standing up on his back talons, the great dragon appears to him like an absolute judge, with his mind confirming such a vision of himself.
Not daring to move, the young one stays immobile, instantly regretting to have called him out and hoping for the best as Kraydirn's eyes scrutinize him and everything his being represents at the moment...
After a few long minutes full of tension, the feathered dragon lays down on four legs, ending his judging stance and relieving the smaller one from himself.
- "Yth tunis pylt Zu mylmyl, ikul sylis uthutias dezmyl, yth eiuf gystis Zu Darkstalker." Says the great one calmly.
At these words, the seer gets a spike of worry.
He may not understand what he said, but looking at his mind, the nightwing can clearly see he will test him in the future. Still, he tries to calm himself just after, knowing it is the best thing to do, and rests on the cold dark grey stone…
Stay calm, stay calm… Just keep yourself collected and all will go well… I think? I just need to be patient… to be patient and calm...
Soon, ice starts to spread over the ground and a colder atmosphere sets in, bringing tiny snowflakes with it. Surprised but not too annoyed by that, the young one watches how Kraydirn's giant body slowly brings winter, his aura alone being enough as the great dragon does not have to move nor really spend any essences to change the environment.
Where his white paws are, a layer of pure ice forms, allowing the smaller one to see his reflection like in a flawless mirror. His slow and steady breath creates a chill wind in a realm devoid of that. But more fascinating is his belly, who the seer can see the essences flow at each beat of his heart, and pour themselves little by little into the world...
Seeing Darkstalker being captivated by him, the bringer of ice and snow grows curious and extends a paw, spreading the ice further.
But the nightwing stays where he is despite liking a side of him, too suspicious and still feeling threatened deep inside himself. So Kraydirn takes a step forward and brings his paw closer to the smaller one, who does not flinch at that movement. His face just turns a bit, but he still stares at his being.
Displaying his essences before the young one, the feathered giant ends up surrounding the little one with his energy. And he does not resist, not that he thinks he really can, the night dragon stays still in that fresh bubble of power, even as his own essences starts to emanate from his being, linking the two beings with a same flow.
As time passes, both exchange a little bit of the essences, with Darkstalker receiving a bit of the power of winter that calmly makes its way deep inside his being, and the great dragon absorbing a little of the otherworldly essences, his being tasting what the other truly has.
Retracting his paw, Kraydirn turns over and curls his tail around the nightwing, putting himself at his side and letting him rest in silence. The young one soon tames his mind and its many thoughts, focusing on the serene flows of essences…
.
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After a pretty long period of resting, the dragon of black feathers looks at him again with a more wilful expression.
The seer has no difficulty in understanding his feeling of eagerness.It is time for the test.
Simply nodding, Darkstalker stands up as Kraydirn does, having more will to confront what is to come despite the growing doubt in his heart as the great dragon slowly walks a bit to positions himself, to face the nightwing who looks at him with determination, guided by his inner sun.
- "Darkstalker." Says the feathered titan with power and care.
Mustering all of his strength and will, the night dragon tries to be as ready as he can for whatever the dragon of winter has in store for him.
"Ignum yth."
With these simple words, Kraydirn turns his back and starts to walk. Then accelerates giant step after giant step until he is running with his enormous body.
The smaller one tries to follow and catch him, but for each step the giant does, he must do around twenty. Realizing during the first minute that his normal body is no match for it, the night dragon has no choice but to use his essences.
Focusing while maintaining his fast paced movement, Darkstalker gathers his power and guides it to the right parts of his body. A moment later, he begins to gain speed as the essences gives their power to his legs, but it is not nearly enough, he needs far more…
The following minutes, the nightwing is not running anymore, but jumping periodically father and farther with each bound. While he has a harder time controlling himself the larger his jump is, the young one stays adamant and loyal to his burning core, giving what is necessary to pass this test in spite of the growing pain.
A moment later, the night dragon is catching up to the great dragon, doing big jump after big jump to stay at the titan's side. Seeing his apprentice succeeding at his little test, Kraydirn smiles but loses no time as he jumps, ascending his giant form in the air with a beat of his wings so powerful it takes everything in its path and throws them above!
By instinct, the young one unfolds his wings just in time, catching the tempestuous wind and separating himself from the ground now far below him. He has done it, he is now in the air, flapping his wings and flying alongside the feathered great dragon…
Wait, how did I do that? Could it be… I guess my power are starting to blossom then…
Reflecting on himself, Darkstalker grins slightly, looking at his blue veins glowing more intensely with not as much worry as before.
Good. Should I continue like that, I shall become far powerful enough to not fear these great dragons as much, I could actually stand up to them in some way...
Regaining some of his confidence, the young one flies faster like the great one, both ready to meet what awaits them at the end of their journey…
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After what seems to be a few hours, Kraydirn and Darkstalker arrive at their destination… While the nightwing is not as exited as before, he still has a bit of that burning will left in him, and seeing they are at the end of their flight only nourishes it again.
But for the great dragon, things are different. He does not seem too satisfied to have reached that place, and gazing upon this desert, this sea of black mud and inert matter where everything is meaningless, all of that seems to taunt him greatly…
Spotting Kraydirn's change in mood, the young one stares at him and rightfully worry. As soon as they land, he puts himself before him and speaks, trying to keep his voice from shaking to much while he stares straight into his piercing blue eyes.
- "Kraydirn…" Calls out the smaller one, more and more concerned by what he is seeing.
- "Darkstalker… Kovtur uiqout yth kes dusmi yihe uthu tunis. Zy pyteya moneos jivun iole eiuf eiagyst vaieb…" Replies the feathered beast, animated by a profound rage that is growing inside of him.
Stepping to the side, the young one watches the bringer of winter walking to the edge of the sea, his facade of calm and control rotting as he gets closer, with each of his steps becoming slightly louder than the last as he crushes the ground beneath him...
Still looking at the great beast's mind, the seer is left with something he should have spared himself the sight of.
It is clear in an instant that such a burning mass tearing down the structure of the mind is nothing to be proud of. An accumulation of disgust, shame, humiliation and wishing destruction, all crammed together that spreads like wildfire, because comparing it to anything less violent would be a disservice. It is only a matter of time before things devolve into utter Chaos...
Coming back to reality, the young one can see what has become of Kraydirn. A titanic dragon that looks at what is in front of him like it is some kind of ominous force mocking him, something he will have to fight with bare claws if he must.
Such a fury against what appears to be nothing is incomprehensible, even if the young one gets glimpse of what that place once was, of what seems to have been lost, but the smaller one prefers not to think too much about it or else the sight of such emotions would burn his mind...
Closing his eyes and looking down, Kraydirn stops his terrifying hissing and regains his calm for a moment as he starts to speak, his voice beginning as a quiet one that halts the rage that was building before and replaces it with deep melancholy.
"Tueia trufenz ust neiatome, Zue surh dueti Zue khutey mefroy, kes yth tunis zult kotuf iole." Says the feathered dragon, laying and looking down so much he appears to be defeated or bowing to nothingness with no resistance.
"Yth heia tunis estrerak iole uthuetias hute arkanak Zue tumok." Kraydirn is now starting to shake as he tells such words, making his claws dig a little more in the black and grey sand.
"Kes yth heia tunis estrerak iole fole almeku surh ryneia, feshur litysen u alzyna zavon nestoq zyraken." His body is now struggling to not bend over itself more than it already is, to break on itself, forced by the potent feelings of the soul that animates it.
"Ysilil yl teia, zult Zye up apeija, ylfuz zait olhufeia zevol…" Now, the great dragon's voice becomes partially louder as it begins to break, as if he is falling down even further…
"Oij olfuemy ythe ajek, jivun ofemyl, feshur muka vawrie alkara kes keibyr?"
At the end of that sentence, the dragon is making a laugh that has no reason to be, with no one believing it. The instant after, his claws dig willingly and mercilessly in the soil he stands on as the he rises to his old stance.
"Zye ajek pemku aluwulen, Zye ajek heia alest kalup peyj u onuif ust iujash." Tells the great one, now fully standing like before, and with his voice slowly regaining some of its former glory.
"Ikul yth hute surik tsekat heia sif betreia!" Screams the bringer of ice and snow for the first time, his anger dominating again.
"Zu surh tsekat heia sif ashek zosdanes!" With these last words, he scratches the dark beach on his way to stand up.
"Tsekat yth itegu omus neiatome, ikul Zu eiuf loperu iole, jivun yihe iole surh zalmyl." The chosen one of winter is now looking at the horizon, his expression no longer being one of defeat.
"Zu yenuv ostakra almu Zutias alkara kes zosdan Zu, warkeia Zu cuxt Zutias mefroya yenuv heia ashek hyrun!" His wings unfolds in rage.
"Tueia trufenz ust neiatome, Zu efonest anatasra uf-vaie." And while the great one's words have not become louder this time, they still do an honourable job at depicting his will...
"Ashek ulperkan wein eduni kes xefi, wein yl shykyn syvrem olmukara aeisto ajek, yl oknit ust Zuetias eurykyn hyj pemku dusmi omus Zye" The beast of winter now stands fully, his claws ready to apply the unmerciful act on his opponent like the rest of his whole being...
"Ankonalmirh eiuf myleias aeisto yneia!"
In an instant, the great draconic entity ascends and dive into the middle of the false sea, his titanic form wholly coordinated to fulfil his one goal.
Landing with all his power, the supreme being unleashes all of his essences, obliterating what he puts his talons on and creating an expanding sphere of white and blue light. In seconds the land is devoured, consumed and torn apart by winter's power before anything can even become colder.
Ascending in the air to avoid the shock wave and distance himself from the tremendous power, Darkstalker looks back to see the earth becoming frozen and covered in such a thick layer of ice it becomes invisible…
But he turns away the instant later, knowing if he does not focus on flying away as fast as he can, he may left behind more than scales...
Animated by his survival instincts, the young one dashes with the strength of his sun, his being more than happy to tire itself at such a task, at fleeing from Kraydirn, from ice and snow, from the incarnation of unmercy that such a winter is…
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.
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As snow starts to fall even from a few miles away, the nightwing catches his breath, exhausted from his last effort and taking his time before truly standing up again. Rising his head, the young one can contemplate how much the lands belong now to the domain of winter, like the ice kingdom. While he can see its limits, it is still a divine achievement for the bringer of ice and snow to have created all of that.
Looking at the center, Darkstalker can distinguish a kind of egg-shaped structure made of ice, where Kraydirn must probably reside.
Taking a moment before walking forward, the moment of peace is cut short as the night dragon hears a unique and powerful cracking sound, marking the shattering of the distant shell and revealing the great dragon's shape as the cloud of frozen dust dissipates.
Kraydirn is looking at him, even from such a distance. Despite being obligated to bend his utterly tired body and rest to recover, he still has the strength to maintain his neck straight. And the seer can clearly see how exhausted he really is, his essences are now a dim light, like he has depleted almost all of his energy in that last fury.
Starting to walk despite his tired body, the seer spots the great dragon doing the same…
Time passes as the regular sounds of talon steps echoes through the icy desert, a small land compared to the rest of the world, but one that brings colours to that which is devoid of, pleasantly surprising the young one. Such a frozen part of the world is something he can not help but continuously gazes at, seeking to be distracted and reminded of his world.
Who would have thought I would be happy to see anything similar to the icewings' lands… I guess seeing nothing but grey and black rocks with a void above my head helps a lot…
As Darkstalker continues to walk, snow sticks to his paws and fall lightly on his body, including his snout. The nightwing faintly smiles.
I think I have been a bit too harsh, that is something I can like about the ice kingdom. And now that I think of it, I should have passed more time with you my dear sister… If our tribes weren't at war I would have been able to travel to that place. I'm sure you would have liked it...
I know, when I'll leave that damned realm and come back all grown up and powerful, I'll have learnt how to bring snow with me and create it, even without my scroll...
Getting closer to Kraydirn, the seer can sense more of his mind, and already he can make out that the feathered giant is extremely tired, even if he partially hides it. But still, he retains some of his will to go on and fight, even as there is not anything in this place that is not frozen.
Didn't you have won? Against what could you fight now? Why?
Getting close enough, the young one stops, and the great one does as well... After a moment of the both of them staring at each other, the feathered titan breaks, abruptly laying down as low as he can on the ground, far more exhausted than the smaller one he faces…
- "Kraydirn?!"
Still, he immediately tries to stand up and regain his stance, his will forbidding him to give up.
- "Darkstalker…"
Having to catch his breath after saying that word, the feathered dragon succeed a moment later at taking a more imposing posture. His mind still desires to fight, and seeing him gazing upon his being, the young one understands he will have a confrontation with him.
Not denying it, the nightwing, still wearing that crude and now partially ripped dress despite all that he has gone through, takes a step back and does a battle stance, preparing himself to fight the tired giant…
Immediately after seeing him ready, Kraydirn charges the smaller one who then musters the strength to jump and run to the side, avoiding his attack as the enormous dragon takes far too long to turn. But not being discouraged, Kraydirn repeats his move only to unfold his wings and attempts to slam one into the more agile Darkstalker...
While the nightwing jumps in time to dodge the gigantic wing, his and the feathered dragon's momentum make him roll over the black feathers before he finishes into the ground on his back, but is spared from slipping on the ice by his dress.
Turning his body over to stand up again, the young one watches the great dragon trying to maintain himself. It is admirable how he still does not admit defeat and find the strength to continually stand despite his pitiful state, even if a good blow would be all it takes to beat him…
Listening to his inner sun, Darkstalker knows this is it. Charging his power, the nightwing makes his essences rise from his core. Growing the flame, the young one frees it in front of Kraydirn. And the dragon of ice and snow is now facing an engulfing fire that warms up his exhausted body.
Trying to resist for a whole minute, when the orange flame fades away, Kraydirn falls to the ground a short moment after, marking the night dragon's victory.
Approaching him, the smaller one can see how much the great dragon has no more energy left. Only by taking the wise decision to rest will he recover, and that is what he does, while still looking at Darkstalker. His body calms itself as his breathing slows down and he simply lays there, not desiring to move…
Tired as well, the nightwing stands near the feathered giant, staring at him, confused now that everything is over and he starts to reflect on all the events that happened.
Why did you do all of this Kraydirn, why? Did you have anything to prove? The only witnesses were me and yourself. Were you just being… foolish?
I don't understand…
Staying still, the young one sees after a while the dragon of winter closing his eyes and entering into a deep slumber. For the first time, the nightwing sees one of the great dragon sleeping, and that is something he should have expected, but did not as he always saw them far above himself, at least unconsciously.
Watching over the sleeping great dragon, Darkstalker lays silently in the middle of the frozen land, still tired and reflecting on what happened, but never finding a satisfying conclusion as he feels more lost than ever...