Chapter Text
Akoni stared at the crystal placed in her hands. As long as her forearm and curving ever so slightly, it glittered a million colours as light sparked off its surface.
A gentle nudging: affectionate, from the not-so-little dragon before her. Dark blue all over, save for where crystals sprouted along the sides of her back all the way down to her tail. Her wings, too: the webbing looking almost like stained glass as shards of purple spread out at the ends.
Aurene, Glint's surviving Scion, much loved by the guild of Artox Gyr.
The crystal in Akoni's hands were not like those jutting out from Aurene, though. Or was it? She turned it around, admiring the way it shone and sparkled.
"You are not just the Commander," Aurene said, her voice ringing clear as a bell, bright yellow eyes intense as she regarded the Sylvari. "You are my Claw. You'll protect me and my Champion, won't you?"
A smile graced Akoni's lips as she knelt down to give the dragon a fond scratch under the chin. "You don't even need to ask me that, Aurene."
A happy chirruping as the Scion leaned into it. "I give you my Claw to carry, so you may bear its name. It will be as strong as the bond we share."
"A weapon?" Akoni mused as she angled it into the light, watching as it split the rays into shimmering rainbows along a razor edge.
Beautiful, she marvelled, then blinked. There had been a reflection of herself passing across one of the facets, along with the Scion before her, except… Except it was not so much a reflection, as a scene.
A memory, encased in glitter.
"A dagger, strengthened by our past," Aurene confirmed softly. "I know you will wield it well." Even quieter, now, "I hope having tangible memories comforts you."
The edges of Akoni's eyes crinkled and she blinked back tears, the curve of her lips softening as she pressed a kiss on the Scion's cheek before wrapping her arms tight around the long, sinewy neck. Her issues with her past were a well-kept, delicately handled secret, even amongst her inner circle; the desperation to claw back whatever she could remember was a struggle even fewer knew about.
"Thank you, little one."
The chirrups deepened into a purr. "Every laugh we've shared; every trial we've faced: all reflected in my gift to you."
Akoni's arms tightened, and Aurene hummed understanding.
No more words needed to be said.