LoS: Heirs of Shadow: Final Ch

Yesterdays Doubts, Tomorrows Dreams.


Ravina and the others got the Valley in sight as the sun started to set in the distance. It had been a very long day and as they descended towards the plateau Ravina could feel a certain degree of fatigue set in and her wings were starting to ache.

Nonetheless, she was smiling as Spyro and Cynder stood by to welcome them back and as Gravi and Kyowin landed, Rea and Acuan rushed towards them.

“Welcome back,” said Spyro with a smile as Ravina landed, though she noticed him eyeing the Observer, “I trust there were no problems?”

“None, Demetrius proved quite passive, though also too much on guard to really make a move on him,” told Ravina.

“A pity,” snarled Cynder quickly, but it soon vanished in a smile, “but it is as it is. Why did he summon you?”

“He had information regarding Malefor’s last words. Nothing conclusive, but enough to give us a new lead to go on,” told Ravina.

“You can tell us all over the dinner, you must be starving,” said Spyro as he turned towards the cave.

“Yeah, quite so,” agreed Ravina.

“As for you,” said Spyro firmly as his attention turned to the Observer, who leapt of off Ravina’s back as he spoke.

“Don’t mind me, I can wait. Have your dinner and then we can talk,” said the Observer with a cold smile as moved to the cliff face and leaning against it, sat down.

Meanwhile Gravi had weathered the initial onslaught by Acuan and Rea. He was now looking around a bit confused. “Have Vynin and Sceranu left?” he asked.

“They have, just before Kyowin headed out to meet you,” said Acuan. “Wanted to get the two young ones back to cave in good time.”

“I see,” said Gravi slightly disappointed.

“Larshyr also left early, needed to get back to Warfang, Ghronur following him on the way,” added Rea also seeming a bit sad by it, though she soon cheered up as she walked up alongside Gravi. “But now, tell me what happened.”

Gravi smiled and told them about their encounter even as they all headed inside.

They ate a warm meal, enjoying each other’s company and any thoughts of Demetrius or Malefor were pushed aside for a time as they ate.

Afterwards Spyro withdrew to his own chamber, Ravina soon following.

Spyro was looking at an unfinished crystal mural embedded in the wall, small shards of crystal laying in bowls organized by color around it. He had started work on it long ago and his powers as they were work had slowed to a crawl.

“Spyro, I need to talk to you,” said Ravina slowly as she approached him, looking behind her to make sure Cynder was not nearby.

Spyro turned towards her, smiling gently, though his words did not quite match the smile. “Is it regarding Demetrius?”

“Yes,” answered Ravina slowly, but before she could continue Spyro asked another question.

“And it is something Cynder should not know?” he asked, still smiling, but there was an edge of seriousness to his voice.

“Yes,” answered Ravina again, not quite sure where Spyro was going with all this, the contrasting tone of his smile and voice putting her off.

Spyro simply smiled again and turned back to the mural. “Then I don’t want to hear it,” he stated simply.

Ravina was surprised by the matter of fact way Spyro had said it and unsure how to understand his refusal to hear it, resulting in a simple question from her. “Why?”

Spyro looked back at her, his smile from before now a slightly embarrassed grin. “Because I would not be able to keep it a secret to Cynder.”

This statement dumbfounded Ravina. “What exactly do you mean?” she asked quickly.

“Pretty much what I said. If I try to keep something secret that has an important connection to Cynder, there is a good chance she will notice me hiding something eventually. It is really as simple as that,” explained Spyro, “so if you tell me anything regarding Demetrius, chances are that Cynder will know soon enough.”

“I see, I did not realize,” said Ravina as she bowed her head in apology.

“It is fine, mother,” said Spyro smiling deeply now as he fully turned towards her, “I honestly prefer not thinking about Demetrius in the first place. He has long since proven that trying to track him down would be nigh impossible, so worrying about him feels pointless at the moment.”

“Well I will try to keep him out of your horns then,” answered Ravina with a smile.
“That would be nice,” answered Spyro with a smile.

His smile soon vanished as he looked past Ravina and Ravina looked behind herself to see the Observer enter the room, his head bowed, the hood hiding his face in shadow and leaning on his staff.

“So you return,” said Spyro as he watched the Observer closely.

“Well you did ask me to report any findings to you,” said the Observer with a cold smile.

“I asked you to report the findings, not necessarily to me,” snarled Spyro in annoyance. “You are not welcome here.”

“I see, oh well,” said the Observer, “but as I am here I might as well tell you what I found and deliver a message from Hazeri.”

Spyro’s expression lit up a bit as he heard that name. “What is it?” he asked.

“He hopes you are all well and reassures you that things are fine across the sea. He is settling into his new role as chronicler quite well, though it has been a bit of a tough going due to his young age as not everyone is taking him seriously, though there are those who back him up and help him stay focused,” told the Observer in a formal tone. He then grinned a bit and changed into the colder tone Spyro more often remembered from him, “and I might have helped the young guy a bit as well.”

“Good,” said Spyro simply.

“Anyway, he is keeping his eyes open for anything unusual, just as I am,” said the Observer.

“And?” asked Spyro.

“I have found nothing. No signs of unusual seismic activity or other strange phenomenon anywhere. Whatever Malefor has set into motion it is well hidden or beyond my sight,” said the Observer, “like something from beyond our world, as Demetrius suggested to Ravina and Gravi.”

“I see,” said Spyro as he turned back to the mural. “Thank you,” he added half-heartedly.

“Don’t thank me, we both know you don’t really mean it,” snarled the Observer, but his voice softened a bit as he continued, “and you have every reason not to mean it.”

He then turned around, starting to leave. “I will return if I find anything, until then I will be watching over you, your family and friends…and your enemies.”

“But that won’t exactly bring him back, now will it,” snarled Spyro simply, but there was no answer as the Observer was already gone.

Ravina had watched the entire conversation feeling a bit torn. She considered the Observer a good friend or had at least, but she saw where Spyro’s dislike was coming from. She too had felt the loss, knowing that the Observer had had no small part in it.

However, she did not hate him. She knew he had not intended what had happened, that it had been beyond his control even if he made it possible…and in the end, he had helped them find victory as well.

However, as she looked at Spyro again, it all seemed a bit hollow as he stood with his head bowed before the mural, the half-completed image of a young red dragon right in front of him.

She was about to approach him when she noticed movement to her right and turning hear head she saw Cynder walk into the room, nodding briefly to Ravina who took the hint and withdrew from the room.

Cynder approached Spyro even as Ravina vanished out of the room, walking up next to him.
She could see that he was crying ever so gently and she too felt a sting of sorrow as she looked at the half-finished mural.

Finally though she spoke. “Spyro,” she said gently.

Spyro looked up, seeming surprised and smiled gently even as he blinked a few times to wipe away the tears. “Cynder…how long…” he started.

“I just got here silly, see how you were doing,” answered Cynder with gentle smile as she placed one wing across his back.

“I am fine,” answered Spyro quickly, “these last two days have just brought things to mind that were troubling…” he looked at the mural again, “and…” he started, but did not finish.

“Not to say it has not been nice,” he added after a moment, “it has been amazing to see everyone again, but…”

“But it brings back memories, good and bad,” finished Cynder his sentence in agreement, as she too watched the mural.

Spyro nodded as he turned away, Cynder following him as he turned to face her.
“How much did you hear?” he asked quickly.

“A bit of the Observer’s conversation. Something about that we may have to look beyond our world for Malefor’s threat?” asked Cynder.

“Yeah,” said Spyro with a slight sigh.

“Any idea what it could mean?” asked Cynder.

“Nope, but whatever it is it is bad news for us,” said Spyro sounding mildly annoyed, “and I am not ready.”

“It is not yet Spyro,” said Cynder reassuringly.

“But we don’t know when,” answered Spyro exasperated. “And my powers…even with the progress I have made I don’t think I have ever been as weak as now…if I could just gain some control of the crystals again I could repair the tower…that would help us.”

Cynder walked up to Spyro catching his eyes with her own gaze and keeping him focused on her. “We will be ready, we always have been. We will not let Malefor take anyone else from us!” she said firmly.

Spyro took a deep breath and relaxed a bit as he smiled. Before he could really react, Cynder drew in closer, gently licking him across the face before drawing him into a passionate embrace.

“It has been an amazing two days and they are not done yet,” said Cynder in a gentle tone, “come, we still have guests…my purple dragon.”

She let go of him and he immediately leaned in and gently kissed her cheek, “of course, my black dragoness.”

They headed out towards the plateau, everything being unusually quiet.

There they saw Ravina laying near the edge, the Observer sitting next to her. As they approached, the Observer got up, bowed towards them and then leapt of the plateau. By the time Spyro and Cynder reached the edge and looked down there was no sign of him.

“What did he want?” asked Spyro as he lay down at the edge.

“Just wanted to talk, ask what I had been up to, discuss what was happening in general,” said Ravina.

“I thought he already knew that,” said Cynder as she too lay down next to Spyro.

“In a sense, yes,” said Ravina, “but even he enjoys a bit of discussion on how he think’s things will go.”

“And what does he think will happen?” asked Spyro with a bit of concern.

“Well he thinks that a strong winter might be coming so plenty of stock will need to be set aside,” said Ravina with a small smile and seeing Spyro’s confused expression added, “not everything is about the end of the world for him.”

“Well he has not exactly made that clear in the past,” said Spyro with a sigh, “but I guess if he really had any information of importance he would tell us.”

“I would certainly hope so,” added Cynder.

None of them said more at first, simply watching the horizon where the sun was still illuminating the tip of the other side of the valley, even as the plateau they were on lay in shadow. Far below them in the valley they spotted Rea, Gravi, Kyowin and Acuan playing around near the river running through the valley.

“I am glad they find time to play like that,” said Ravina gently as she watched them.

“Us as well,” answered Cynder with a smile.

Spyro also smiled and then looked at his mother. “What are your plans now, mother?” he asked gently.

“For now I will relax, here if I may stay for a bit,” said Ravina with a smile.

“Of course you may,” answered Cynder immediately and Spyro.

Ravina smiled and bowed her head in thanks, before speaking again, her expression more serious, “but after that I think I will have to keep an eye on Demetrius, make sure he does not try anything.”

“Of course,” said Cynder simply as she looked off into the distance, her teeth barred for just a second.

“Do be careful,” said Spyro more worried.

“Don’t worry about me, I know how deal with him,” said Ravina confidently.

Spyro nodded and focused his gaze towards the horizon again. Cynder drew closer as they lay there, draping a wing across Spyro’s back as she leaned her head against his.

Ravina watched them out of the corner of her eyes, smiling, before deciding to give them some peace. Getting to her feet, she smiled towards them and headed towards the cave.