Inscrypion x Wings of Fire : Leshy's Endgame

Chapter 6 - Darkstalker

Darkstalker can feel everything completely stop as Clearsight steps out in front of him, and he knew what it was. He knew he'd get it, the feeling of knowing that the dragon before him is the one he will love but still being nervous of everything going wrong. Thank the moons she can't read his mind. And to think, he had just gotten his sister out of trouble mere minutes ago. This will be a very good day.

"Very impressive," Clearsight says. Her voice was exactly how he'd imagined it.

"What?" he asks, giving her a charming grin. "What'd I do?"

"I don't know how you did it," she answers with a smile of her own, "but, wow, you covered everything, didn't you? Courage, check. Cares about his sister, check. Defending the vulnerable, standing up to bullies, making sure everyone apologizes neatly. With a little demonstration of power to show off your intelligence at the end too. Did you pay those guys? Because that was perfect."

Darkstalker shudders at all the praise. How can he not? He's cursed with the knowledge that he'd turn all that around and betray each and every one of those. He won't be courageous, but cowardly. He'd make his sister cry just because he hates Arctic. He will strike the vulnerable, be the bully, and force everyone to watch without any sign of an apology. And, worst of all, he'd do what Arctic had warned him not to do the instant the test was conducted and he was revealed to be an animus: he'd flaunt his power and show it off in all the worst ways. And now, after having been able to forget it, it comes flooding back, harder than ever.

That's why he needs to talk to Clearsight today and no later. Only this path leads to a future where all of that doesn't happen.

He closes his eyes, forcing the thoughts out. I need this to be a normal conversation. I will discuss it later. "Do I know you?" he asks, trying to pretend that his silence was him pretending to try remembering.

Clearsight laughs. Darkstalker frowns when he realizes, from her thoughts, that she noticed that he was feeling troubled and that she herself is hurt by how he hadn't said why he's so depressed... as if she could see every future and know exactly which ones will help cheer him up.

Darkstalker tries again to brighten the mood and make her think that he's genuinely just straining himself. "Oh, wait. Did we meet on that fishing trip last month? No, hang on, I'll remember. Aha! You're on the queen's Council of Ancient Elders, is that it?" He has to mentally slap himself for that.

"You goober," she says, wrinkling her snout at him.

Think, Darkstalker, think. Be normal. Nothing's wrong yet. How would you have acted if this was just one day earlier, before you learned the truth? I know! Let's try this.

"You're the one taking all the romance out of this," he whines. "It's supposed to go 'That was so brave, how you stood up for your sister like that!' 'Oh, that? What? No. It's what any dragon would do.' 'No, no -- You're special, I can tell.' 'Not as special as you. There's a magic about you that I've found in no other dragon!' 'Why -- why do I feel as though I've known you forever?' 'Because you have... and you will.' Fireworks! True love and happiness for the rest of our lives!"

Even though it was just another attempt to bury everything going on, he still finds himself smiling. He's always loved his stories. Stories to him are like paintings to Whiteout... or... or... how Leshy treats that weird game he's been working on. He's caught his friend working on it, though he never admitted to watching him. Leshy just seemed so... passionate.

"You didn't prepare actual fireworks, did you?" she asks nervously.

Oops. That could've caused a problem if I actually had the time to prepare. Good thing she ambushed me and not the other way around. "N-nooooo," he says, forcing nervousness to creep into his voice, which isn't that hard. "Not if you... hate fireworks?"