The Darksield Chronicles

Chapter 14: Confession

Cynder POV

Cynder glanced at Wraith on the way back to the temple. He seemed to be more on edge than usual. She wondered why he had looked scared when Spyro asked him about Darksield. It was as if he knew something. She had decided not to press him for information because they were in public, but she decided that now was the right time. "Hey Wraith?"

He glanced at her. "Yeah?"

"Why did you panic when Spyro asked you about Darksield?" she asked curiously.

Wraith glanced over at the others who were all looking curiously at him. "I'll explain when we get to the temple. I don't feel like talking about it outside."

Cynder and the others nodded.

Roughly ten minutes later, they arrived at the temple and walked inside. "All right," Cynder said and turned toward Wraith. "So how did you know Darksield?"

Wraith sighed, then looked at the others. "Promise not to tell anyone else? Not even the guardians?"

They all nodded.

Wraith took a deep breath. "When you guys asked me how my day was while you were at the academy, I wasn't entirely honest. I was visited by the Chronicler." He explained how the Chronicler had visited him while he was on the roof, and how he had explained that something was coming, but the Chronicler couldn't tell him what it was.

"How does this relate to Darksield?" Flame interrupted.

Wraith held up a hand. "I'm getting there. So, after the Chronicler told me that something was coming, he explained that he was going to have to turn me into a dragon."

There was a moment of silence. Cynder felt confusion shooting through her veins. "Then how come you are still human?"

"The Chronicler gave me the ability to switch between a human form... and a dragon form."

Cynder stared at him, uncomprehending.

He sighed. "And that form just so happens to be—" he was cut off when his body started to glow. Black energy crackled around him, and there was a flash of darkness. When Cynder could see again, a black dragon stood before them. Darksield grinned. "Me."

Darksield POV

Darksield watched everyone's faces for their reactions. They all looked shocked. "Wait a minute," Flame said, "you're Darksield?"

Darksield nodded. "Yes."

"You're the one who beat Spyro in that fight?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Cynder asked.

Darksield thought for a minute. "Because I wasn't sure how to tell you. And I wanted to see your faces when I revealed myself to be Wraith."

"So, when you defended me—"

"And I said that I did it because it was the right thing to do? Yes. Also, you owe me three now." He grinned. Then he turned to Spyro. "I'm guessing you have a question. What is it?"

Spyro took a deep breath. "When we were battling, you pulled some kind of teleporting trick. How?"

Darksield considered the question. Finally, he came to a conclusion. "I think that the Chronicler might have given me an added ability."

Flame nodded. "Makes sense to me."

Cynder nodded as well. Then she said, "Wait a minute. If you were Darksield at the restaurant, then you didn't hear everything Ember was doing?"

Darksield nodded. "I didn't think I should leave Spyro hanging, so I decided to intervene."

"I have to admit," Flame interjected, "you had me going there when you said you didn't know Darksield."

Darksield winced. "Sorry about lying to you guys. I just didn't want to say anything out in public." His eyes suddenly lit up. "On the bright side, I get to hang out with you guys during the day at the academy!" He grinned.

Flame and Spyro grinned back. Then their grins faded. "Should we tell the guardians?" Flame asked.

Darksield shook his head vehemently. "No."

"Why not?" Spyro challenged. "You said that you forgave them."

Darksield nodded. "You are half right. I said that I would forgive them, not that I would trust them."

They were all quiet for a time. Finally, Cynder broke the silence by asking, "Can we tell Hunter?"

Darksield nodded. "You guys go ahead. I'll head outside the city walls and catch some shut-eye."

They all exchanged glances. "I'm not sure that's a good idea." Spyro said carefully. "There are many creatures out there. You were lucky to not have encountered any grublins or apes."

Darksield stared down at his claws. "So where can I stay?"

The others glanced at each other. "Maybe you could stay at the temple," Cynder offered.

He stared at her. "Seriously?"

She nodded.

Darksield grinned. "Thanks, guys." Then his face darkened. "So how are we going to convince the guardians to let me stay here?"

Spyro grinned at him cheekily. "I got it covered." He walked out of the room.

When Spyro returned thirty minutes later, Flame and Darksield were in the middle of a contest with Cynder refereeing. "Go!"

Immediately, Darksield charged a shadow comet and released it, blasting a metal bucket and sending it 50 feet down the hallway.

Cynder pointed at Flame. "Your turn."

Flame nodded and released a fireball. The fireball smacked into the other metal bucket and sent it 30 feet.

"Darksield wins!" Cynder announced.

Darksield grinned and shook paws with Flame. "Good game, man." Then he noticed Spyro. "Hey," he greeted. "So, what's the news?"

Spyro grinned. "I told the guardians that since you're an orphan, you could stay in one of the extra rooms on our side of the temple. They agreed."

Darksield grinned. "Sweet. Let's go check out my new digs."