"So... how does this work, exactly?" Draco asked, watching his uncle draw out a pattern in the ground. His energy lingered where he drew, pulsing in a strange but familiar pattern.
Figanti tore his greatsword from the ground, sheathing it on his back and gesturing for Nyla to come closer. "It takes a great amount of energy to break an Ina bond," he explained as he guided Nyla to one side of the symbol. "Sit there, Reku’un." His nephew moved to the spot across from his partner, and Figanti moved between them, which was in the center of his drawing. "Trying to destroy a bond of energy with its own energy proved difficult in the past. I will be the one to sever it, but you two must be the ones that reconnect."
Draco looked over to Nyla, who's wings were anxiously shifting while her tail dragged itself around. He reached out to her, trying to ease her and at the same time trying to find comfort.
We can do this... we can do this, Nyla.
How can you be sure? You've kept me out, even now.
...I just don't know how to react to this. I wasn't born with someone to trust indefinitely...at least I didn't grow up with that.
...
...
Just know that what I show you is all that I am.
...and everything I show you is who I am.
They sat down in their spots and waited on Figanti, who focused on channeling his energy into their mental flow. His mark glowed bright green, his energy's color, and the marking in the ground lit up as well. Draco's body was paralyzed, Nyla feeling the same stiffness, and he felt pressure on his connection to his partner. A groan gurgled its way out of Nyla's throat, followed by a loud gasp from her rider. Figanti's eyes gleamed white, his hands slowly moving away from each other and rising. Shards of blue began to appear around him, breaking away from one another slowly as he started to crush the Ina bond. Draco could feel his energy being drained, slowly being sapped from him and pooled into the air around them.
Nyla... just endure... just... bear with me!
I can..... un.... ear.... ou....
Nyla.... Nyla!
Figanti balled his hands into fists, pulling them back behind him. With a slight grunt, he pounded the ground, the shards flying in nearly every direction. The pair shouted and roared in pain, but they were still connected. Figanti gathered up energy from the two again, slowly creating more shards as the ritual continued. Another slam sent another volley of energy born shards to fly off, and they cried out once again. For the third time, Figanti pooled their energies into the air, but this time added his own, the shards turning black and doubling in numbers. He roared as his arms hit the ground again, energy blasting everything away, including his nephew and his dragon.
The two were sent backwards, sliding to a stop after a few seconds of tumbling. Draco felt considerable weakness as he rolled onto his stomach, propping himself up on an arm. He looked over to Nyla, who groaned as she got her claws under her and lifted herself up, shaking her head to get rid of her dazed vision. Figanti exhaled the breath he'd held, grabbing his left arm and chuckling softly. Draco could see blood dripping from his fingers, and he rushed over to see.
"I'm fine," he said, the fabric receding as he went to look at the wound. "I forgot how strenuous it is on another's body... but now it's up to the both of you to fix what I have broken."
Draco turned to Nyla, his mind empty and quiet as he stared into her eyes. She grumbled lowly, laying her head down in front of him.
Can't hear me, can you?
When he didn't hear or see a response from her, he knew that he was alone. His mind didn't feel complete... he felt as though there was a hole in his heart. It was quiet, almost scaring him to know that he really couldn't interact with her like he used to. She nudged him gently with her snout, exhaling a small puff of smoke at him to try and communicate.
"What do we do?" Draco asked, turning to face Figanti. "How do I let her back in?"
"Place your hands on her." Draco moved his hands to the sides of her snout, waiting for him to continue. "Now, both of you must listen. To reconnect this bond is a matter of whether or not you can show each other your past without fear. Every horrible thing you've done, every petty thing; nothing can be left out when you link to her. This is accepting each other, nothing more and nothing less."
Figanti's dragon touched down beside him, and he climbed on. "Where are you going?" Draco called.
"This is a private matter. Return to me with her and I know my answer, or return alone." He looked down to Nyla, giving her a knowing nod, then tugged on his reins. They took off above the mountain, flying away to another location to wait for them.
Draco sighed as he shifted his hands on her scales, rubbing her snout comfortingly. "We can do this... okay... okay, here we go." He closed his eyes, letting his energy wane out to her.
It felt strange. Her energy was a measly thing compared to his own, but he remembered how much stronger he'd felt with her. His energy touched hers, and she willed her own to latch onto his. Their energies binded together, looking for a way to connect. Draco gasped as he felt a burst of energy, then felt himself lose even more. Nyla groaned lowly, closing her eyes from how weak she was getting. Connecting would not only take their trust, but their energy as well. He didn't know how much he would need, and it scared him to think that he may not have enough. And considering how she herself didn't have much meant he would need to be using his mostly. It would be a price to pay, but he was willing to try.
"We can do this... I know we can." He tried harder, pushing his energy into hers to merge them.
Another link, another portion of his strength sapped up. Nyla was silent as memories poured in, showing her what her partner's early life had been like. He knew an alien as his mother, not a question to their differences in species. His family hadn't been the best, but he cherished it out of innocence and gratitude. When the memories ceased, she felt herself panting from the exertion of trying to establish another link, which Draco was feeling as his body tensed.
Memories... of Nera'ak... a monstrous feeling. Nyla could feel the Ashla and it's twisted Iikro, clashing to control the boy and his power. The war he had trained for played out in her mind, right until the day he went home to his mother. Their bodies were strained with their exertions, Nyla barely holding on as it was. Draco yelled as he kept pushing, connecting several links together and draining him to the point where he fell to his knees, his shaking hands gripping her as she was put through another course of memories.
From the day he'd restored his relationship with his mother, to the day he admitted his love to Ember. It was a confusing time in his life, but an eye opener for the young Doshu'um. Then came her and his kind's arrival, then the training, and ultimately what had happened with Jerosh. Right until now, she saw his memories for what they were. He stumbled through life, and those around him were what kept him alive and well after his unknown place on this world. She could feel everything he had, the sadness and pain, the happiness and glee... it was all there... and there was one thing, especially now, that he had felt.
Determination.
The same determination that led him to train for war, that led him to fight, that led him to become a warrior, that led him to take on his family. He was determined now to make sure he didn't lose her... because he wanted to know her. Nyla felt tears slipping out from her whitened eyes as she saw all of this, and she felt anew. Like nothing could ever stop her as long as he held her rein and spoke in her mind. For so long she wanted to be a Nera’ak, but she had never known what being a Nera'ak meant. It wasn't being a Signa's partner for war....
...it meant being their closest friend no matter what hardship they face.
And right now, they faced eternal separation.
Would a friend let that happen?
Draco felt her energy burst to life, climbing higher and higher until her own energy formed links, and through them came her own memories. Her brothers had hatched her with his faint energy, making her weak but they helped her grow through their own energies. She had dreamt of meeting him, day and night wondering what he looked like, what he sounded like, how strong was he and how nimble. Was he what an Alamonshuor lived up to be? Was he more? Was he less? She didn't care for him to be the best, she cared to help him get there. She wanted to train with him, to know his secrets as her own, to console him when it was harsh, and to give him wisdom with the words of her ancestors.
Throughout the trip to this planet she felt and thought about this. The day they connected for the first time she still felt this. Even now, as he struggled to stay conscious, she fought for his sake. She didn't want to be a Nera’ak anymore. The glory and pride of being a full grown and trained Nera'ak was only something she wished for. For now, what she wanted above all was to reconnect with him, and to be by his side throughout time. As long as the war would be, and as long as it took, she would be there to guide him, and to learn from him as well.
We're.... going to do this.... Nyla! I'm sorry! For..... blocking.... you.... out. I'm sorry! But we have to do this.... and this time we'll do it together!
...
I'm going to fighter harder than I ever have.... but I need you there! NYLA!
...
I..... PROMISE!
...thank you...
Their energies bursted around them, shooting around with enough force to uproot trees, had there been any. Draco laid on her snout, panting his breath away while Nyla slowly slipped into silence. He shakily reached his hand over to her eye crest, rubbing it just how she liked it. He looked to his insignia, the mark burning white until it went out, leaving black in its wake.
I'm... gonna try, Nyla.... I promise....
I promise.