A Name Already Chosen
The next morning.
Lakia woke a little earlier than usual. Sunlight seeping through the gap in the window filled the room with a soft glow. Around the house, nestled at the very back of the gorge, everything was still quiet. Only the low, sleeping breaths of the great dragons far away and the faint rush of wind along the cliffs reached her ears.
Half-buried under the blankets, Lakia stared at the ceiling and let the previous day drift back to her piece by piece. The orcs’ festival and the roaring cheers that shook the square. The unfamiliar Dragon Speech she had heard during the reed wrestling. Nadugin returning covered in blood. The conversation with Canefisara about Liberia’s future. And the Hatchery, where she had spent the last hours of the day.
The moment she pictured the hatchlings swarming her the instant they spotted her, a small smile curved her lips.
"...I went there to heal, and ended up even more exhausted."
She had only meant to rest, mind blank, while she stroked the children. In the end her calves had been claimed by clinging hatchlings, her arms and shoulders occupied, and one especially plump, short-legged little one had treated her thigh like a personal throne. She hadn’t been able to take a single step, yet somehow she hadn’t minded. Thanks to that chaos, the fatigue of the day had lightened considerably.
Lakia stretched long and full, then slipped out of bed. She roughly smoothed her hair, threw on her robe, and opened the door. The cool morning air that had settled overnight brushed her cheek. The sunlight was warm, yet the rocks still held the chill of dawn. She drew the clear air deep into her lungs.
"...Nice."
The house and the Hatchery stood side by side at the innermost reach of the gorge. She had walked that short path countless times over hundreds of years; she could have found it with her eyes closed. As she followed the familiar stone trail, high and low cries began to rise from inside the Hatchery.
Peep.
Pee-eep.
U-ang.
Kyiiing.
Something rolled across the floor, followed by a series of thumps and tumbles.
"...Excited already this early."
Lakia reached the entrance and peered inside. The hatchlings were already in full play. Some chased one another, teeth locked on tails; others blundered about with eggshells still perched on their heads. Beside a hatchling proudly puffing tiny sparks, another practicing wingbeats lost its balance and tumbled across the sand.
"...Peaceful as ever."
Smiling, she stepped into the Hatchery. The nearest hatchling froze. Round eyes swung toward the entrance. The one beside it turned its head as well. One pair of eyes after another joined until, in an instant, dozens of gazes fixed on her. A brief silence settled over the cave.
Pee-eep!
The first hatchling to recover its wits kicked off the floor. Taking that as a signal, the rest charged toward Lakia all at once.
"Ah—wait."
Her voice was immediately swallowed by the drumming of tiny feet. When a leading hatchling stumbled, the one behind vaulted over it; the fallen one scrambled up and dove straight back into the pack. Watching the little avalanche of dragons rush toward her, Lakia finally opened both arms.
"...Here we go again. All right, come on."
At those words the hatchlings grew even more excited and picked up speed. In no time her legs and robe were completely overrun. One clung to her calf; another took the hem of her robe in its mouth. A third pinned a lock of her silver hair with its front paws and flopped its belly right on top of it. Lakia began stroking the nearest heads first.
"There, there. Everyone looks happy today."
Peep!
The stroked hatchling puffed out its chest with pride. Seeing that, another stepped forward and opened its mouth wide.
Puff.
A flame no bigger than a candle flame popped from its snout. Lakia’s eyes widened a little.
"Oh, you’re starting to use breath, too."
The praised hatchling wagged its tail furiously. The watching children each pushed forward in turn. One spat a tiny droplet of water; another exhaled a chill breeze just strong enough to stir the dust on the floor. The one that only managed a thick plume of smoke startled itself and coughed in rapid succession. Laughing, Lakia stroked each head in turn.
"It’s all right. You’re just starting, so take it slow. You did well, and you’ve improved a lot too."
Every word of praise set tails thrashing without rest. The power was still small and clumsy—hardly worthy of the name “breath.” Yet for the children it was a precious first chance to show their strength. They puffed out their chests, stretched their necks long, and opened their mouths as wide as they could, pride impossible to hide.
Then one hatchling that had been playing deeper inside walked forward. It was a little larger than its peers, with a thicker chest and neck. For the past few days its breath had been growing especially fast. Lakia remembered this one.
"...You want to show me too?"
Peep!
The hatchling stepped forward with a confident cry. The others made way, eyes bright with expectation. It planted all four legs firmly on the ground and drew a deep breath. Its chest swelled, and a faint red glow flickered inside its throat. Lakia clasped her hands and smiled.
"Good. Take it slow. Don’t push yourself."
The hatchling nodded and opened its mouth wide.
Hoooooo.
Everyone expected a small spark. The next instant a red flame burst forth with a fierce roar.
Kwaaaak!
It was a blaze far too large to believe a hatchling had produced. The little one’s eyes went round with shock as it failed to control the force. The breath had already lost its aim and was pouring straight toward Lakia.
"Wha—wait!"
She twisted on pure instinct. Her face and torso cleared the fire, but her outstretched right hand brushed the flame.
Sizzle.
A short sound of searing flesh, and hot pain flared across the back of her hand.
"...Ugh."
The skin flushed red in an instant; the place the fire had grazed began to blister white. A faint smell of scorched flesh drifted through the air. Silence fell over the Hatchery. Every hatchling that had been showing off its breath froze and stared only at Lakia’s hand. The one that had breathed the fire stood rigid, mouth still open. Its large eyes trembled with fear.
Pee...
A sound that threatened to break into sobs slipped out. Lakia lightly clenched her injured hand and forced a smile toward the little one.
"It’s okay. You didn’t mean to."
The burn was fairly deep. It was astonishing that a young dragon’s breath had grown this strong in only a few days.
Just then small footsteps pounded rapidly across the Hatchery floor.
Thud-thud-thud-thud.
A plump body squeezed between the frozen hatchlings and came running. Exceptionally short legs. A round body that swayed left and right with every step. The one that always claimed Lakia’s thigh first.
"Huh?"
U-ang!
It did not try to leap into her arms as usual. Its round eyes fixed solely on the injured right hand. Short legs pumping madly, it reached her, planted its front paws on her knee, stretched its whole body long, and brought its snout close to the burn.
Sniff.
It carefully smelled the wound, then stuck out its small tongue.
Lick.
A pink tongue gently brushed over the burn. Lakia braced for a stinging pain. What wrapped her hand instead was a soft warmth like spring sunlight. A faint golden light flowed from the tip of the little tongue and spread across the wound. It was not a light bright enough to dazzle—more like a quiet candle flame, gently covering the reddened skin. The blistered flesh settled. The blackened traces vanished. The stabbing pain melted swiftly into the warmth.
Lakia held her breath and stared at the back of her hand. The burn that had been so clear moments before was gone without a trace. Only her original pale, smooth skin remained, clean and whole. Only after confirming the wound had completely disappeared did the plump little one draw its tongue back in.
U-ang.
It slowly wagged its tail, as if relieved. Lakia turned her restored hand over several times, examining it. No pain, no heat remained.
"...Heh. You’re adorable."
She naturally stroked the little one’s head. The hatchling half-closed its eyes and pushed its head deeper into her palm.
Oong.
A pleasant rumble rose from its throat.
"I’m better thanks to you. Good child."
As if it understood the words, its short tail thumped the floor hard.
Thump.
Thump.
Every time the tail moved, the round body swayed with it. There was nothing majestic about the sight. Yet this was the child who, with its plump body and short legs, had outrun everyone else to heal Lakia’s wound.
Lakia slipped both hands under its belly and lifted it high. The hatchling rested its chin on her chest as if long accustomed to the place and settled comfortably into her arms.
"...As a reward, I’ll give you a name early."
Names held special meaning for dragons. Lakia only named the children after she had come to know their personalities and traits thoroughly. This one, she felt, could receive its name a little sooner. Being the first dragon to heal her was reason enough.
She looked down at the round face in her arms and considered seriously.
"Let’s see. What should it be..."
At that moment the hatchling suddenly sat bolt upright in her embrace. Its round eyes sparkled.
"Ugalu!"
Lakia’s mouth stopped mid-word. The surrounding hatchlings all turned their heads at once. The sound that had just been heard was clearly different from ordinary cries. It was not a chance string of similar noises. It was a single word spoken with distinct pronunciation and clear will.
Lakia blinked and repeated it.
"...Ugalu?"
U-ang!
The hatchling answered vigorously, as if it had been waiting. Its tail never stopped moving. Lakia gazed at the child in her arms for a long moment. There was not a shred of hesitation on its face. It already knew its own name and had only been waiting for Lakia to call it.
"...Don’t tell me you chose the name yourself?"
U-ang!
Again the answer came without the slightest pause. Lakia finally burst out laughing and lightly pressed a finger to its forehead.
"Greedy little thing. First you claim my thigh, and now you try to name yourself too."
Ugalu buried its face happily against her chest.
Oong.
Lakia slowly stroked the small back.
"All right. From now on, you’re Ugalu."
The moment the words ended, Ugalu hugged her robe with its short front paws and burrowed deeper into her arms. A short distance away, the hatchling that had misfired its breath still stood with its head bowed, watching Lakia. Holding Ugalu in one arm, she held out her completely healed right hand.
"You come here too. I told you it’s okay."
Pee...
The hatchling hesitated a long while before carefully approaching. When Lakia stroked its head, it could no longer hold back and buried its face in her palm. From within her arms Ugalu poked its head out and watched. Lakia smiled softly as she stroked the two children in turn.
One had proudly shown its newly grown power and caused an accident. The other had raced over on the shortest legs of all and erased the wound. That day in the Hatchery, one more dragon with a special gift revealed itself. And a child appeared who called out its own name before Lakia could give it one.
Ugalu.
A dragon born with the power of sacred healing.