The most important day of Christine's life was the day the baby came. The baby was not hers. It was not her flesh and blood, but it was a baby. A child. They were the purest things that could ever come from a society of such vile beings. The day of August 25th, 1885, was the day that her life began. This was the day her life became an eternity of endless laughter.

Christine had a book open while she sat on her rocking chair with the sun shining through her window. She jumped when she heard a shout.

“Christine!”

The bedroom opened and her best friend and disciple, Penelope, ran in. She was out of breath, flushed. Her wavy blonde hair was out of the usual high and sophisticated bun. Once she entered, she didn’t know where to begin. She stood in that lonely bedroom in silence for a few moments, blue eyes wide and a smile on her face. Christine stared back at her. She was not expecting such a dramatic entrance, and she was not a fan of surprises.

“What is it, Penelope?” Christine asked, closing her book.

The ground shook as a low and soft roar seeped through the floors. Christine smiled at the adoring sound, knowing another baby had arrived on their doorstep.

She looked up at Penelope, who was now jumping on her heels in excitement. Her voice was soft, whispered. “King. He said we're ready.”

Another soft groan came from downstairs. This time, Christine did not hear it, eyes wide as she stood. Her voice shook. “Are you sure?”

“Positive! Ash from the council is downstairs waiting for us right now!” Penelope's eyes welled up with tears and she slapped her hands to her cheeks. “I'm going to be a mother!”

Christine stared at her disciple as they stood in shocked silence. Christine could not believe what she was hearing. King was the founder and schoolmaster of the KSDL, or “King’s School for Dragon Leaders.” Nobody had ever seen him before except for a very select few council members, and most Universe Dragons.

So, this was serious.

Christine settled her excitement. She had been waiting for this moment for twenty years. She slowly walked up to Penelope, who was nervously fixing her hair. Christine set a hand on her shoulder, swallowing. “Then let's go.”

Penelope settled, giving up on her hair. She wiped her tears away with a nod. “Let's.”

Christine pulled her disciple out of the small apartment style home, leading Penelope down the hallway. They took the rickety elevator down to the first floor, and when the doors opened, the hall lights were on. They shined as the windows were drawn open. The sun blinked in the women’s eyes as they walked down the hallway. Christine smiled at one of the male Universe Dragons, his large body jumping around in excitement with his multichrome glittering scaled wings outstretched.

The creature settled by the front doors. He thumped to the floor on his belly, his large head leaning closer to the babies that were wrapped in blue blankets. They were being held by the KSDL’s members of the council, Ash and Amelia. The dragon let out a small croon as he nudged the bundle Ash holds. Christine and Penelope walked up to them, shaking with nerves. The dragon turned to them with what could have been a smile. At least, he tried.

Ash and Amelia stood together, intimidating, and powerful. Ash turned to smile at Christine, who waited anxiously. Her eyes were hopeful as the red-headed council member showed her the sleeping baby boy. “Welcome Cailin, Christine. Your new adopted son.”

The dragon crooned again, face leaning towards Christine. She set a hand on his cheek before stepping forward. Her eyes watered as Ash came up to her and set the baby in her awaiting arms. Amelia followed, setting the other baby boy, Finley, into Penelope's.

They were both sleeping. The babies were calm and collected with flushed cheeks, Cailin letting out a big yawn. Christine stared down at him, wiped away a tear, and caressed his cheek. Once she felt ready, she looked up towards the council members of the school, who were staring at her expectantly. “I promise to take care of him and give him a life filled with love and discipline.”

The council members grinned, Ash nodding once. They then turned to Penelope who stated the same sentence. Even at this time they knew. They would take care of them until they breathed their last breath.

Christine and Penelope both went their separate ways, carrying their children as they walked to their homes. Christine's eyes never left the small baby. She never thought she would ever come to hold one in her life. This was a day she would remember forever. 

She made it back home, opening and closing the door absently behind her. She paused, before walking into one of the nurseries next to her bedroom. The walls were painted yellow, but Christine was determined to change that. Soon, she would cover the walls with her own designs. She would start off with painting dragons across the ceiling with dragon scholars and their wands, showing off their abilities. It would be magical, and she hoped, when her child grew up, he would think the same.

She sat little Cailin down in his crib, smiling when he began to fuss. He was annoyed by the tight swaddle of his blanket, sputtering.

Christine unfolded the blanket, shushing the baby when he began to cry. She draped the blanket over him instead, tucking him in nice and snug, so he did not feel as tight. This calmed the baby down straight away, his clenched eyes relaxing. His cries settled, and the lines across his forehead disappeared.

All was silent then as Christine stared down at this baby.

At her son.