Five children grew up, as did five great celestial dragons. Though young by soul star standards, the five young Sykajume had finally reached an age where idle play and fancy became more directed and structured. The strands of fate had reached out to them, calling them to walk their paths with guidance from the ajukaras.

For Anje and Unelma, that meant their days or nights were spent beneath the suns and stars of the cosmos, their fates tied together. Sarasan would travel with their father, Hiran, and was as rarely seen. Aetshiran went to the great caverns, following a similar path to Kaeseltra. 

Kaeseltra spent a vast amount of time in the Great Library with Shynae. Occasionally, she was joined by Aetshiran in the deep underworld of their home. They seldom spoke though, as they both studied in diligent silence. She was often aware of Shynae and Vizvakaeru, Aetshiran’s ajukara, staring at each other from time to time, deep in silent conversation.

She wondered if the celestial dragons knew of their partners’ fates and that was the nature of their concealed thoughts to each other. Normally, they would speak in the language of crystals or otherwise make such a raucous din of chirruping whistles, growling and purrs. 

Both she and her eldest brother were studying The Book of Life, she was certain. Though never at the same time. It seemed the ajukaras made certain there was never a conflict or crossing of paths within the Great Library. Certainly, they never seemed to be in the same space or needing the same book at the same time. Maybe they were not meant to know the others’ paths.

She sighed, turning another page and despairing at the tiny handwriting that continued on. It detailed more instructions for the channelling and manipulating of energy. Different breathing techniques seemed the major factor in energy work. It was followed by the addition of music, and then by sound to tune the energies. Sometimes the addition and blending of colour would be called upon too.

The worst thing about her previous lessons was the arduous task of learning every single aspect of the language of crystals. On most occasions, the language was a subtle one. It was understood through the merging of minds, the transmittance of emotions and the sharing of memories and imagery.

For Kaeseltra, she’d had to learn of every crystal and the possible variations. She’d had to decipher and learn the energies and messages of all those crystals, particularly their symbols. It had taken countless years of single dedication to work through the enormous tomes. Times that produced new information when being read a second d discovered after Shynae had instructed her to read them over.

On the plus side, she’d had to study music and dance as well, that was something that had become a favourite pastime. It was something she shared with Shynae whenever they rejoined their sibling back in the glowing ambience of the gardens. Now, the dancing had become a technique they used in their lessons. At least once a week they worked on connecting their energies together, though they were yet to join to two in practice. Kaeseltra would sing or hum as she entered a trance. Shynae would whistle, creating an ever-changing song imbued with power and magic, and they would dance and spiral together.

“I wonder if your ajukara was born a wyrm because he already loved your voice and wanted to dance?” Anje had once asked as their dragons grew. The other four had grown into large, bounding four-legged creatures that resembled lions. All with huge bird-like wings, the plumage rich with fascinating colour that shimmered under the lights.

It was true that celestial wyrms were a rare occurrence, but that made Kaeseltra love Shynae all the more. There were many tales of former soul stars that had done great things when paired with a wyrm. It made her excited to think that she too might join with the legends with whatever her destiny could be.

Kaeseltra’s daydreaming and speculation were interrupted by Shynae; and a strange, gekkering sound. It was something he did whenever her student was not paying attention as she should be.

“I’m sorry Shynae. There’s only so much I can read about how to breath before my mind wanders.” Kaeseltra whispered, aware that Aetshiran was giving her a condescending look already. Shynae seemed to pick up it too, his eyes losing colour as he closed his mind off to Vizvakaeru who was also trying to glean any details she could.

Shynae’s vision cleared. Deep pools of iridescent light staring deep into Kaeseltra’s soul before he turned and leapt into the air. His serpentine body undulated through the air towards the training grounds. As Kaeselltra followed, she could hear the rustling of both Aetshiran and Vizvakaeru ceasing their own activity. All pretence of maturity and seniority lost as they too came flying behind her.

Neither of them had ever yet done anything practical with their learning. A blend of excitement and anticipation coursed through Kaeseltra as she came to a halt in the middle of the flagstone courtyard. Shynae had landed atop a great stone that protruded through the middle of the floor. Silver talons clawed into the glowing veins of crystal that moved like lava within. It was engraved with countless symbols of crystals that sparkled all over, some Kaesetlra had learnt, and many More she hadn’t. 

The stone was the source of power to the Sykajume. There were many of the great stones throughout their domain, each serving a different purpose. This one, she knew, would help her connect with her powers and give her a boost with her lessons while also offering protection.

There were lesser stones around the courtyard; four cardinal stones at each corner, and another four between those. Those stones would limit the power she could utilise, preventing her powers from overspilling. It would have diabolical consequences, both to herself and far-reaching should she lose control.

“Your first lesson as an Architect.” Shynae’s mind spoke to Kaeseltra, it’s talons still reaching into the crystalline supply of energy. “Create something.”

For a moment, Kaeseltra froze and forgot how to breathe. She hadn’t expected Shynae to drop her so far in the deep end without any order or instructions. Then she took control of her thoughts and silenced her mind, reaching out for the mental connection to Shynae who was waiting patiently.

She started with a single, clear note, letting it start to rise and fall as her mind connected with Shynae. The dragon remained atop the stone. His talons clicked against the unyielding stone and set the rhythm for Kaeseltra to follow. As she sung, her mind started visualising a simple droplet. Starlight was overflowing from the little seed and she separated the colours she wanted from the light. Brilliant pink, gold and the subtlest wash of indigo. She let the energised light flow through her, charging it with her soul and song before directing it back into the little droplet. 

With one final note, her hand came to breast height, fingers opening like a flower where a brilliant orb of light flashed into existence. It was so bright it forced Aetshiran to close his eyes and look away. Shynae and Vizvakaeru leant forwards towards the light, however, their eyes unblinking.

When the light faded, Kaeseltra’s fingers closed around a small droplet of warm crystal. She’d captured the brilliant pink with indigo slowly moving throughout, while gold flashed like stars across the surface. She smiled, seeing the perfect reflection of their sky captured inside of a jewel, a seed of potential.  Shynae flew over to her, catching her before she fell and wrapped around her slight frame as he lowered her to the ground.

“Is she okay?” Aetshiran asked, rushing over to his sister’s side.

“She’s just sleeping,” Vizvakaeru whispered to his mind, Shynae nodding. Aetshiran let out a deep breath, the deep wrinkles of concern relaxing as he crouched down so he could pick her up. Vizvakaeru nudged the back of his leg with a soft chirrup, gesturing for Aetshiran to place Kaeseltra on her back.

Original article: The Lost Chapter II : Lessons in Architecture.

Each Sykajume was paired with a celestial dragon, an ajukara, a being of stars and magic that provided the Sykajume with their powers and learning of esoteric secrets.

She didn’t really understand how it worked, or why, and nor did it matter much to her. She knew her parents were some kind of architect, and that she would finally have her own dragon at last.

Her mother was carefully perched at the edge of deep black celestial waters, her fingers reaching out for the albino serpentine creature that was still blind, its little wings keeping it afloat as it squirmed and writhed about like a slippery eel. The other infant ajukaras were crouched around the hatchling pool, chirruping and whistling to their fellow sibling with just as much fever and excitement at the meeting as Kaeseltra has. She knelt beside her mother and reached her small hand out as far as she could reach, almost falling in and gasping at the icy touch of the water. 

She often came to assist her mother with the birthing and nurture of the ajukaras and lesser dragons. Her mother was the only one who could withstand the water, and Kaeseltra would normally back away from the water shivering violently to watch from a safe distance among a deep pile of furs, attending to the newborns and checking them over before later taking them to the eyrie.

This time, however, she preserved against the cold breath of the water and the chill seeping into her bones as she too called out to it. She’d spent the last five months sleeping in the crystal cavern, and every spare moment of the day watching over the luminous egg, telling it stories or singing lullabies to it, or otherwise coaxing it to hatch.

The other ajukaras had hatched out just before then, and we’re already developing the individual markings and colours, and testing out their rapidly growing wings. Kaeseltra had often worried that maybe this little ghostly egg would never hatch, and often she would climb into her father’s lap whenever he joined her in the cavern, and he would tell her again not to worry, that his own ajukara had taken nearly two years to hatch.

He was away, busy herding dragons through the fields of stars or searching for any vaejume that might encroach on their rich pastures. They never knew how long his work would take him away, and she hoped he would be back soon so she could introduce her ajukara to him.

The little creature finally managed to manoeuvre itself in the right direction and made its way into her mother’s embrace. Kaeseltra sat back on her heels and watched patiently as her mother held the dragon up with the same story van expression she reserved for her own children and whispered something to it, a spell perhaps, Kaeseltra knew better than to ask. Hatching dragons was the power given to her, as protection of the Sykajume constellation was her father’s.

None of the children knew what their destiny would be yet, only years of teaching from their celestial dragons would reveal their fates. They often discussed it though, and dream of what they might become. Unelma hoped to become a chronicler and travel all through the heavens studying and writing about what she might find, Anje wanted to grow and cultivate the crystalline trees if their home, and more than anything, Kaeseltra longed to follow in her mother’s footsteps and eventually take over the hatchling pools, or maybe even one of her own. As to what Sarasan and Aetshiran wanted to become, no one knew. They were often goofing off and preparing pranks to deploy on everyone else.

At last, her mother turned to Kaeseltra with her glowing smile and handed the baby dragon to her, its skin silken and glowing with the faintest rainbow colours through the skin. It made soft chirruping noises as it swayed its head, almost purring, and Kaeseltra pressed her face lightly against it, sighing in delight as she finally embraced her ajukara after so long.

“Shyna” she whispered to the ajukara, naming it spirit for its spectral colouration.

{Next Chapter: Lessons In Architecture}

Original article: The Lost Chapter I : The Hatchling Pool.