FSE

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A.N.: no sexy stuff in this segment...but soon

The mountain town of Silverside was a remote little settlement, notable for only two things. One, was the beasts of burden they bred there- something between a work horse and a mountain goat, strong and docile but surefooted and hardy. The other, was the Temple of Aurenai, the home to a great divine dragon... and her son.

Divine dragons were beloved by mortals and most towns would stop at nothing to convince one to stay, to protect and nurture their civilization for generations. Silverside was fortunate enough to have ended up with their beloved lady Aurenai by chance. She desired a small, remote following, away from the cities where she would be hounded in droves by desperate followers. She only wanted a handful of desperate followers at a time. It was a suitable arrangement for everyone. The Silverside region was a peaceful, snowy valley thanks to her. The temple her followers made to house her was modest compared to the temples of her brethren, but far beyond what an ordinary town of modest means would build for normal worship.

It was in this temple where Aurentos, Son of Aurenai was born and raised. Grown now, he was given space elsewhere to call his own. While the temple itself was no longer his home, the priests welcomed him back like he was the young master of an estate. He made his way to his Honorable Mother's chamber. He was dressed, as always, in his dark, foreboding armor. It was unnecessary - this was a peaceful town, after all - but he preferred to keep himself somewhat removed from his mother's following. He didn't want to meet their eyes, or for his expressions to be read. His mother encouraged this.

Aurenai's chamber was the most open room in the temple by necessity. As a fully fledged dragon, she was well over 15 feet even just in her lounging position. She could stand, if she was careful not to shatter the blue and white stained glass overhead in the moon window with her grand, spiraling horns. Aurentos, on the other hand, was only a bit bigger than the mortals of Silverside, and of course humanoid in shape. He was only 26- Well into adulthood by mortal standards, but just a fledgling among the silver dragons. The first hundred years or so of a silver dragon were much like any other mortals. If he cultivated his divine powers well, he might be able to ascend to a form like his mother's by age 200.

He knelt before his mother. Priests were busy lovingly polishing her grand claws. She dismissed them with the most minute gesture.

"Honorable Mother," Aurentos greeted solemnly.

"My son." She said in return, coolly. "I'll waste no words. It is well past time for you to contribute to the propagation of our kind." She sank into a comfortable position, arms crossed neatly, long neck extended to face him. "I'm receiving pressure from other Divines to ensure you father some whelps."

Aurentos kept his gaze on the intricate mosaic floor. His mind raced with imagined scenarios. Mother was sure to explain more, but already he was thinking of what eh would need to do comply. One does not make whelps from thin air. He already broke out into a cold sweat. Sexual acts were forbidden for him- to maintain his virtue. However, he knew there was an exception for reproduction. He just wasn't expecting that topic to be brought up now.

"Don't make that face, you coward." His mother's chiding made him break his gaze from the single, tiny tile he had locked onto. "It's not like I'm sending you to war. Your virtue won't even be endangered." Her tail swished,annoyed.

He swallowed, trying to regain his composure. "Is there-" His voice cracked. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Is there a, um, marriage candidate...." This was happening so fast. While he had no illusions of being able to fall in love before starting a family, he wasn't imaging it to be arranged by his godly mother in a quick meeting.

"There is not. I've reached out to a few Silvers your age only recently. In the mean time, there are some who have requested a donation of your seed. Some dragonesses are willing to bear children without the need for marriage." She rolled her haunches. Shrugging. "It worked fine for you and I."

Something about that did not make him feel better. This seemed wrong, like he was abusing a loophole to satisfy his vile lusts. It didn't matter that it wasn't his idea. Was this a test? No, his mother wasn't that kind of god. He hated that little spark of excitement that ran through him. This was nothing to get giddy over. It was merely duty. That thought tempered his rampant emotions. "Very well... I will provide them."

Aurenai pulled her head back as she rose to her feet. "I'm glad you're willing. I've already had the priests prepare for collection."

That made him lose his composure. Even with his expression behind the metal visor, his body language said it all. He wanted to ask what "Collection" entailed, but having just this conversation with his mother was already uncomfortable. He didn't need to hear the rest from her. Anyway, she was turning around to retreat into her bed chamber, an enclave bearing a mountain of cushions behind a dense veil.

He was alone with his thoughts for what felt like an hour, but must have only been a few minutes. One of the priests drew him from his stupor, guiding him to the temple's cleansing baths to do whatever rituals were needed to ready him for... collection.