The Dragoso Series 3: Peace in Agony
Chapter 4

Trevor huffed as he swung his newly forged sword at the training dummy. Salem stood nearby watching Trevor test the blade. It was basic, but built to Trevor’s preference.

This was something Salem always loved, watching a newly forged weapon be used for the first time. Armor being fitted to its new owner ready for battle. Speaking or armor, Salem wondered how Trevor would look in armor fit for a warrior but match his scales. Probably use a strong but light metal, spray it white and add ocean blue accents.

Trevor noticed Salem not really focusing on him and he cleared his throat. Salem snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head.

“My apologies, Trevor. My mind likes to wander to new projects I could work on,” Salem stated, bowing his head slightly. Trevor walked over to where Salem stood, setting the blade in its box that Salem had presented it in earlier.

“Oh yeah? Like what?” Trevor leaned against the nearby wall.

“The sword is a basic short blade, but you need a shield to accompany it. I’ll have to replace a shape that works to your style. You have a built body versus what someone with a slim build would use, like Kathey.”

“What’s she use?” Salem waved him over to the weapon wall and pulled a red blade and what looked like a standard shield, though the top had two concave parts to form a point in the middle of the top edge. The shield was decorated with a red design while the base of it inside the raised outline was pink.

“This is a beveled edge shield. Most of this here is for aesthetic, but it’s one of my proudest works.” Salem boasted and smiled at the metal. He returned the red blade to its sheath on the wall and held the shield to Trevor. It was on the smaller side, but it was also a woman’s shield technically. “I have in mind to make you a kite shield. It looks a lot like an upside down teardrop. The point would come to your elbow with a curved edge on top.” Salem illustrated the shape on the shield Trevor had strapped to his arm.

“You think that’ll suit me best?” Trevor asked and slid his arm from the strap and replaced it on the wall.

“I do. I have your arm measurements, I’ll probably have one ready by tomorrow.” Trevor nodded. Leaving Salem to his work, he walked out of the armory and made his way to the griffin stables. The griffins were out for some exercise and standing by the fence was none other than Vatuna, the oldest of the Exotics. Trevor fixed his hair a bit and walked over to where she stood watching.

“Hey, congrats on joining the team,” Trevor spoke up and Vatuna looked over her shoulder as he approached before looking back at the griffins.

“Thanks. It’s not like we really have anywhere else to go honestly,” Vatuna stated, her voice touched with sadness. Trevor raised an eyebrow.

“How come? Didn’t you guys have lives before the hunters captured you?” he asked, leaning against the fence with her. Vatuna shook her head, brushing a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.

“No, not really. Ractor and I didn’t anyway. I was a cashier at a grocery store in Nevada. Ractor was a fry cook in Washington. Ferentar and Comeli are just kids, they told me their parents were killed by the hunters thinking both were dragons. Ferentar’s mom and Comeli’s dad were dragons, the other parents weren’t and they watched them get slaughtered.” Vatuna gripped the fence railing before shoving away from it and turning her back to the field. Trevor listened intently before rubbing the back of his neck.

“Well, what about you? You’re a Divine Dragon, right? Aren’t they like, super rare or something?” Vatuna shrugged.

“In a way, we are. I wasn’t born a dragon though.” Trevor tilted his head curiously and Vatuna turned to face him. “I was born early. They said I wasn’t going to live for long. My parents found a God’s Spring and Kaylano saved me.”

“How?”

“There’s something that the Gods can do. Take the spirit of a dragon that already died and bond it with a living being. I was given the old soul’s name in honor of it.” Trevor blinked with surprise. “Sadly the spirit was a victim of the hunters in the past. And now once again, she... I was revictimized. I have some of the memories from the past life, it’s how I’m so comfortable as a dragon. She... didn’t go quickly. They did some Gods-awful things to her and it still haunts me, even if it’s not actually my memories, you know?” Vatuna rubbed her arm. Trevor pushed off the fence and held his arms out to her.

Vatuna looked to him before exhaling and stepping into his arms, accepting his hug. Trevor hugged her tightly, he couldn’t do much else right now. He could only imagine how she felt, having those memories in her head, seeing the death of the dragon that she was bonded with.

“Are they still alive? You’re parents?” Trevor asked. Vatuna nodded against Trevor’s chest.

“Yeah, they live in Florida now, relocated from Nevada.” Vatuna stepped away and fixed her hair again. “They were so supportive of me and my dragon activities. I had a bad feeling and they took it seriously. I mean, we do have a sixth sense that’s instinctual. Soon as I said that something made me uneasy, they asked my opinion on what to do and I said they should move out of state for their safety.” Trevor nodded.

“Yeah I know that feeling. My mom has a Royal Guard watching out for her. She was moved to Ohio after we were brought here in June.” Vatuna smirked.

“You’ve been here four months then, you like it here?” Trevor shrugged.

“It’s definitely a great school, and it’s become my life as well as my siblings.”

“But...?”

“I want Aya and David to have something more than just a life of dragons and fighting, you know? Aya is turning fourteen soon. David has so much growing up to do. I don’t want them to feel stuck. On top of hardly knowing our dad is hard.”

Vatuna tilted her head. “When did your father leave?”

Trevor raised an eyebrow at her.

“Your mother wouldn’t have a guard if she could protect herself. She’s not the dragon, your father is. Unless he...”

“No, you’re right, he left. I was seven and my family has relied on me over the years.” Vatuna smiled and ruffled Trevor’s hair.

“Then you’ve proven already you have leadership skills. You’re brave and strong, exactly what everyone looks for in a leader. It’s what has made me a leader for the Exotics.” The two looked over when a griffin cooed at them. Stephanie to be exact. “She’s quite a gentle griffin.” Vatuna approached the fence and Stephanie lowered her head to be pet.

“She belongs to Kathey, that’s why.” Malice said as he stepped into the field, slipping a halter on Snowflake, a white griffiness. “We got some borrowed griffins coming today for breeding season if you two wanna help me later.” Trevor perked up at this.

“What’s all coming?” Trevor asked.

“Got a white for Snowflake, green for Roselia, yellow for Thunder, Madix is being paired with Stephanie, and best of all we managed to replace someone who owns a Royal Indigo which we’re pairing up with Midnight.”

“Indigo?” Vatuna questioned. “That doesn’t sound like something you would see in the wild.”

“It’s not, he was bred in captivity and we have the honor of breeding him with one of our griffins.” Malice led Snowflake into the stable.

“This’ll be fun. He’s been telling me about breeding season ever since I took an interest in griffins,” Trevor said. It was true, anytime Trevor was working with the griffins, he and Malice talked about them a lot. Trevor had been most excited for breeding season.

Griffins in the wild naturally paired up in October and bred through what was called a “hibernation season.” Griffins stayed together through the fall and winter months. Come March, eggs would be laid which would hatch in June. Nine months later the babies would be full grown and off on their own.

“Incoming,” Vatuna warned and Trevor looked over his shoulder, seeing Kathey approaching them.

“Kathey,” Trevor greeted.

“Trevor, can I steal you for a moment?” Kathey requested, gesturing for him to follow. Trevor looked to Vatuna.

“I’ll see you around.” Vatuna nodded and Trevor pushed off the fence and followed Kathey as she started for the front of the Academy. “What’s up?”

“I was going to go talk with Deathbore, thought you would want to accompany me, see what the real vibe of the Underworld felt like without the feeling of doom hanging over our heads the entire time,” Kathey offered and Trevor smirked.

“Yeah, that would be nice, are we taking the portal?”

“No, I have a shortcut.” Kathey held up her amulet, the dragon pictured on it glowed pink and in a flash of light, the sunny outdoors was replaced with a dim and stale air. Trevor looked to his hands, replaceing he was in his dragon form now. Looking around, he realized he was in Deathbore’s throne room, turning when he heard the light chuckle behind him.

“Welcome back to the Underworld, Trevor.” the Death Dragon spoke. Deathbore Hell, the current King of the Underworld. He kept the Underworld demons in the Underworld, well most of them. Deathbore looked fully recovered from when he sustained injuries from Brokenstar when the Underworld was taken over, no thanks to a demon that double crossed him.

“Uh...thanks,” Trevor mumbled and looked out the viewing window that gave a decent view of the Underworld. Now that he was high up, he could tell that the Underworld was covered with a red fog of some kind along with the fire and lava pools he could see. “How’s the Underworld been since you reclaimed the throne?”

“It was a mess, but it’s cleaned up now. Demonic Hellhounds back where they belong, Hell Dragons under control, the Toxic Dragons locked away where they should be. Was quite the mess, now it’s only a few demonic creatures that wander the safer part of the Underworld, including a few Hellhound packs and the Hell Dragon pack.” Deathbore said, looking to his claws. “What brings you here, my niece.” Trevor turned to face the two dragons and sat back on his haunches.

“The Council of the Underworld,” Anna said. “They’re back. Cenod answers to Agony, they’re all back.” Deathbore stared at her dumbfounded before looking over his shoulder. The chamber where they killed Brokenstar.

“Are you sure?” Deathbore insisted.

“Who else can induce nightmares without being anywhere near us?” Anna questioned and Deathbore sighed.

“What do you wanna know?”

“I know there are books about them. Where are they?”

“Your uncle has them.” Anna tilted her head curiously.

“I thought you were my only uncle.”

“Who do you think is training Shooting Star? Blazefore is Dawn’s brother.” Trevor frowned at the exchange and stood, moving closer.

“How do you not know he’s your uncle? You can read minds!” Trevor asked.

“Trevor I never once saw him, just heard about him from Shooting Star, my older brother,” Anna replied.

“How many siblings do you have?” Trevor exclaimed. First her twin sister Eshala and now Shooting Star.

“Four. Anyway, let’s head back and to the temple, who knows, maybe we’ll stop by the castle and you can meet my family.” Anna looked to Deathbore. “Thank you for the information, we’ll get out of your way now.” Deathbore looked to his left and a blue portal appeared in the room. “That works.” Trevor stood and stepped through the portal. Anna stood to walk through as well, but stopped when Deathbore spoke again.

“Do come back should you defeat Agony, the Council doesn’t exactly die after defeat,” Deathbore said. Anna stared at the portal for a moment before stepping through. The portal disappeared and Deathbore sighed. “Good luck, my niece.”