Chapter 1 – Let’s Walk
Arcacia was panting with exhaustion and pain. Giving birth always hurt her. It always hurt physically, mentally, and emotionally because of him. But this time, the pain was only physical.“Strength, love,” Beud, her consort, said, gently resting his head on hers to remind her that he was with her. It made her smile between the countless sighs of exhaustion, pain, and memories.She steeled her will because of Beud’s support, and with one last strong push she laid an egg. The egg was gray, fresh, still a little sticky, but hard and intact. It was covered in scales like a true armor while at the same time being a recognizable characteristic of its species.She tilted her head to see the egg beneath her. Perfect, she was relieved, finally resting. Beud’s two other heads rested against Arcacia, giving her even more comfort and relief.“Well done, Arcacia,” Visena said. “Well done, my friend.”Visena, the other and first of Beud’s two consorts, approached. A beautiful and powerful green female dragon with pure yellow eyes. He walked over to join them.“Are you okay, my dear?” Beud asked, concerned. She was more exhausted than he had expected. “What can I do?”“You’ve done everything for me,” Arcacia said wearily. “You’ve given me joy in life again.”“You’re exaggerating,” he said.“She’s not,” Visena replied. “For the first time in our lives, we can give birth to offspring we love. You didn’t just save us, Beud. You reminded us what true love is. And what beautiful lives can come from it.”For dragons like Arcacia and Visena, giving birth to offspring was a nightmare. They had been present at “Dragocide,” a massive dragon massacre led by the most violent of their own kind, Gralgor. With only size, fire, and strength, the Winged Death challenged the world, and won. When others of his own race came to participate in this immense conquest, some willingly and others forced, Gralgor showed that he shared no sympathy or affinity for anyone other than himself. Even though he was a dragon, he conquered the continent not for the dragons, but for himself. Hundreds of the winged beasts fought the Beast, but almost all were slaughtered by the claws, teeth and fury of the End of the World.The ones who survived fled, but two were captured: Arcacia and Visena. Both were tortured and abused by Gralgor to bear his offspring. Having only each other’s trust and faith in that terrible moment, they both swore to step on and destroy the eggs laid by the other, so that they would not feel the guilt of killing their own children and preventing that monster from having descendants.For years it was like this, and none of Gralgor’s offspring remained intact to hatch from the egg and breathe. The monster then decided to separate them, keeping Visena where she was, and taking Arcacia to another place. Even alone, Visena’s hatred for the monster was so great that it gave her the courage to destroy the eggs she had laid herself. After Gralgor was killed by the legendary duo Otes Abiak and his dragon Beud, Visena was found and rescued. Unlike before, she was treated with respect, affection and care, few examples of the many qualities with which Beud treated people. Shortly after, Arcacia was found in a fortress to the north, built on the base and inside the Warm Mountains. Confused and broken, she was brought to the safety of Otesis, where she was reunited with her friend and was well cared for and restored to health. Of all of them, Beud was the one who dedicated himself the most to helping them, as he was disgusted that a being of his own kind would be capable of doing something like what Gralgor did to those two.Even with all the violence, trauma and abuse suffered, Beud’s kindness and genuine goodness helped them heal from these brutal wounds. He transmitted simple security, comfort and well-being just by his presence; the kind of person who makes you sad to see him go, even knowing that he will return soon. With their bodies revitalized, and their minds healing after years of mistreatment, mainly due to Beud’s continuous support and care, Visena and Arcacia became the consorts of Otes’ dragon. And the dragon granted his two companions nothing less than the immense love that one is capable of feeling for another. The love of a family. Arcacia was a beautiful and slender young female dragon, just like Visena. But, unlike her green friend with yellow eyes, she was red with green eyes. And the more sentimental of the two. The red one laid her entire body down, with her neck wrapping around the egg she had just laid; a gentle smile formed as she rested her head on her offspring. “I’m happy for you, my friend,” Visena said, genuinely. “This is just an egg,” Arcacia replied without even opening her eyes; It was as if she wanted to start dreaming about that being that had not even been born yet. “You have already given birth to two, Visena. I saw you give birth to the second one myself, and with such ease and effortlessness. I wish I was as strong as you.”“No. You are stronger,” Visena affirms. “You were rescued two years after me. You were at the mercy of that monster’s minions. So tormented that you can barely remember your time in that fortress. Any more and your body would not have the strength to keep you alive.”Arcacia opened her eyes and raised her head slightly to look at her companion, for her words of consideration had struck her.“Visena…” she was saying, moved.“Don’t strain yourself,” Visena said. “Rest. Live. Enjoy this moment. Because you were strong enough to reach it.”“I will be here for whatever you need, my dear,” Beud said, gently bringing his three heads closer to Arcacia again.“No,” Visena interrupted him. “You will not.”Before their faces could change to one of awkward doubt, Visena continued, “Your friend, Beud, has been gone