<< The crystal and the feather

Previously Previously: Flying around Sileya’s father, Meggalar, ordered her to leave the island in two days for her Emancep, which SIleya is afraid of.

Narrator Narrator Meanwhile, at Wisiarr’s place (a six-legged wingless dragon), in a cave outside the town. The dragon is reading a book, in front of a black crystal.

Wisiarr Wisiarr (to himself) So, if I get it right, this is a Black Skial? Hum… They say it highly reacts to the daylight… That explains why I found this deep in that dark gallery ! Hum…

Wisiarr Wisiarr (playing with the crystal with one hand, reading with another) “The hexagonal structure of the submolecular elements in that crystal makes it very resistant to pressure, but the extra atoms between the main crystallographic layers weaken its internal structure, so the crystal can easily be cut in thin slice. Thus, these same intermediate atoms gives this crystal a completely black color, absorbing not only the visible light, but also a large part of the infrared frequencies too. Exposed to the daylight, it can then accumulate a lot of energy, leading to violent implosion if that energy is not properly released. That charging time depends on the daylight intensity, but can be consider as around an hour per Ovail. It…”

Sileya Sileya (entering the cave silently, though a small hidden tunnel in a corner) Wisiarr?

Wisiarr Wisiarr (surprised, dropping his book and crystal) Whooah !

Wisiarr Wisiarr (catching them both with his two mid-paws, before they reach the floor) Sileya! You surprised me.

Sileya Sileya I’m sorry.

Wisiarr Wisiarr No problem. But I should have put a ringing bell on that tunnel! That’s not the first time you surprise me by using it.

Sileya Sileya (smiling) It may be a good idea.

Wisiarr Wisiarr Well, at least, I haven’t digged it for nothing.

Sileya Sileya Sure.

Wisiarr Wisiarr (after an awkward silence) Well… I’ll get back to my book then.?!

Sileya Sileya Okay…

Wisiarr Wisiarr (reading in his head for few minutes) sme minerl group… Oggìen, bt whe broug to daylight…

Wisiarr Wisiarr (seeing Sileya is still standing in the cave) Well…

Sileya Sileya …

Wisiarr Wisiarr (closing his book, turning to her friend) Okay Sileya, what’s wrong?

Sileya Sileya Hum… nothing?!

Wisiarr Wisiarr It’s obvious something is bothering you. What is it?

Sileya Sileya I had a… “talk” with my father.

Wisiarr Wisiarr And what was the outcome?

Sileya Sileya He wants me to do my Emancep in two days.

Wisiarr Wisiarr What? Like… All of a sudden?

Sileya Sileya Yes.

Wisiarr Wisiarr Hum. And seeing your face and now-dark color, I conclude it’s not something you want to do?

Sileya Sileya No.

Wisiarr Wisiarr You would rather stay here?

Sileya Sileya Yes!

Wisiarr Wisiarr So… just tell your father?

Sileya Sileya You know him. I’ve already tried in the past.

Wisiarr Wisiarr And it was a success in that past: he gave you some time.

Sileya Sileya Yes, but that was the last delay. Now, it’s over.

Wisiarr Wisiarr And you cannot do anything else?

Sileya Sileya … I’m afraid not.

Wisiarr Wisiarr Hum… We should tell the others then.