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Kalego felt good—really good. He was in perfect shape, neither sick nor weak, but he was... strange. Perhaps it was because the day he hated most was slowly approaching, devouring his shadows with the promise of a "hopeful" day. How revolting! Please, Great Derkila, make everyone miraculously forget it’s my birthday. But he knew that was impossible. Especially since Balam was starting to look at him sideways like an owl watching something interesting. Especially since Opera was more than delighted to pester him as much as possible, like a kitten playing with a mouse.
Sometimes he hated thinking that a cat and a wolf were getting along well enough to bond. Because, of course, Babyls was the school where demons linked themselves to a Warg. Opera and their wolf were already at the height of their bond, much like Kalego and Cerberion, but it gave him shivers in a twisted way. The wolves' breeding grounds crowned the floating islands around Babyls. There were dozens of them, and the wolves leapt between them with ease. Kalego was the most respected teacher at Babyls, and Cerberion was the largest Warg after those of the thirteen crowns and the three greats. Perhaps it was due to his Naberius lineage.
Babyls offered Wargs the size of two-story houses; Levialon offered winged serpents capable of diving underwater, and Jackapo offered griffins with sharp beaks and great claws. But Babyls was the most prestigious of all, and Kalego, as the guardian of its grounds, was delighted and proud of his role. The wolves were noble and loyal. Sullivan and his Warg, Banshee, led the pack of Babyls' wolves and teachers; like a true pack, all canines obeyed the Alpha. Sullivan led the demons and Banshee led the wolves—she was the oldest Warg in history alongside Levi and Belial. Cerberion was the Beta of the pack and was more than happy to nip at young pups when they were mischievous. However, Kalego had never seen Cerberion act the way he did days before his "arrival."
The day was sunny and Kalego felt strange again. His body resonated at a frequency that made the Wargs look at him with intensity. Normally, Cerberion would bite their necks into submission, but Cerberion was also staring intensely at him, baring his long fangs whenever Kalego did something the wolf obviously disapproved of. Wargs did not speak to their riders with words, but with images and emotions. Cerberion flooded their bond with a primal instinct to "protect"—but protect what? Thinking Cerberion referred to the rookies gave him chills, as that had never happened before.
But no. It wasn't the rookies Cerberion was desperate to protect. What left Kalego bewildered was when Opera’s wolf, Flauros, appeared out of nowhere without its rider and stayed by his side all day. Occasionally, Opera would send Flauros to watch or annoy him, knowing Kalego couldn't command a Warg that wasn't his own. But what turned Kalego to stone was when Flauros pressed his large reddish snout against Kalego’s head and licked his cheek softly. Cerberion growled in obvious approval and joined in the grooming. Both wolves pinned the demon down with their massive bodies, snapping at the air in a contest of who could groom Kalego better. They were pampering him! Kalego was dumbfounded.
Of course, everything was resolved when the nausea, dizziness, and cravings began. It all made sense now: Kalego was pregnant. He was expecting, and he knew exactly who was responsible. Now he understood why the wolves were acting this way. They might be bloody beasts, noble and loyal, but they had a primal instinct regarding their young, and that was what spurred Cerberion and Flauros to protect Kalego so fiercely. He wasn’t sure if Flauros had signaled anything to Opera, but the cat-demon didn't show up as easily after Flauros began frequenting the school to check on Kalego's well-being.
His birthday arrived, and unfortunately, everyone threw him a "surprise" party with gifts, drinks, and food he could neither drink nor eat. This seemed strange to the others. But this was Kalego Naberius; you’d only expect a "thank you" once his body was six feet under! Yet, Kalego wasn't rejecting the alcohol or food just for the sake of being Kalego; he was pregnant—no alcohol, and certainly no food he would just end up vomiting later.
Two things happened for Kalego that day. When Opera cornered him, trying to get him to eat from their plate, Kalego told them the truth about his condition. The wolf-riding cat demon showed no facial reaction, but their long ears twitched and their tail began to lash frantically; Opera was extremely happy at the news of becoming a father and did not leave Kalego’s side for a second.
Then, the strangest thing occurred. The wolves vanished, even Flauros and Cerberion. Every wolf began to run at Banshee’s howl, leaving Sullivan and the other teachers equally surprised. They didn't give it much thought at first, as the wolves sometimes went out to play as a pack. But Kalego felt a shiver; he felt there was something more. No one bothered to find out why their bonds with their wolves were suddenly blocked by a wall of steel, but Opera narrowed their eyes and they shared a look: Something has happened.
The party continued with the teachers celebrating and Kalego feeling restless. A closer howl appeared out of nowhere as the doors slammed open. The wolves thundered in, trotting inside and searching for their riders, but they did not break the diamond formation surrounding Banshee... and Cerberion and Flauros? The teachers stood still as the wolves sat and bowed their heads. Banshee stepped forward and stopped beside Sullivan. Cerberion appeared carrying a bundle of furs, while Flauros snapped at the air as a warning.
"Cerberion, what is that?"
"I suppose Cerberion wants to gift you a pelt, Kalego."
"What Cerberion has in his jaws... it’s alive."
Suddenly, a small hiccup was heard. Everyone blinked in shock. Cerberion gently deposited the bundle of furs into Kalego’s arms, revealing a three-year-old boy who looked at everyone with far too much curiosity. He had long blue ears and the most innocent eyes a demon had ever seen. Underworld fledglings were never this innocent. When the boy looked at Kalego, something shifted, and a new connection sparked. The boy wore a collar with a tag that read "Iruma." Kalego sniffed the little bundle, and Iruma laughed happily.
"Is that a baby?"
"He has ears!"
"Jasmir says he smells like a wolf."
"Let me see that precious little meatball!"
Sullivan took a step forward. Kalego bared his fangs, possessively hugging the small bundle. Cerberion bristled and growled, standing over Kalego. Flauros flanked Cerberion, and Opera instinctively stepped to Kalego’s side. The display shocked everyone—even Sullivan was surprised, though not offended, but rather amused. It seemed Kalego had claimed the little hybrid pup as his own.
"Well, well..." Sullivan murmured, chuckling and rubbing his chin with a spark of mischief and joy. "It seems Banshee and the pack have decided Kalego’s birthday gift shouldn't be a simple object, but a lifelong responsibility."
Kalego barely heard him. His heart hammered against his ribs. Little Iruma reached out a chubby hand and grabbed a lock of Kalego’s purple hair, tugging it with a cheerful babble. Kalego’s instinct, amplified by his own pregnancy, roared within him. This pup—demon or wolf—was now his, and he wasn't going to argue with anyone about it. He couldn't think clearly, but his whole body screamed that this creature must be protected and loved just as much as the one in his womb.
"This is ridiculous," Kalego growled, though his arms circled the child with a gentleness that contradicted his words. "A pregnancy, a cat partner who won't leave me alone, and now a pup found in the woods... What else do you want from me, Derkila?"
Banshee approached Kalego, lowering her great head to look at Iruma, who tugged at her whiskers with a sing-song laugh. Banshee licked his hand softly and stared at Kalego. A comfortable warmth flooded his mind. Images unfurled: wolves hunting, the moment they found Iruma crying, and Cerberion gently licking Iruma clean of... blood? When his senses returned, Banshee sniffed Kalego’s womb, pressing her damp nose against it in a blessing.
The party ended. Opera essentially carried Kalego, who was still cradling Iruma, back to the teachers' quarters. Cerberion was at their heels, and Flauros cleared the way. In Kalego’s room, there was no conventional bed, but a mass of furs, soft fabrics, pillows, and blankets. Iruma slept in the center of this peculiar nest, a small blue dot surrounded by Cerberion’s massive body. Flauros curled up by the door. Opera helped Kalego undress and put on his pajamas. In that private moment, Opera pressed their feline ears against Kalego’s belly and purred deeply. Both demons fell asleep together, covered by Cerberion’s great tail.
The next morning, Kalego woke to pressure on his chest. Opera was leaning against his side, but in the center was Iruma, staring at him with eyes too beastly for a simple demon. Kalego yawned, showing his fangs, and Iruma clumsily mimicked him.
"Let’s let Mama rest. Let's go get breakfast."
By six in the morning, the kitchen was unusually crowded. Iruma sat on a pile of furs, ignoring the royal banquet on the table. His blue eyes were fixed on Cerberion. When the teacher Dali offered him food with a spoon, Iruma hissed and hid behind Flauros’s leg.
"It’s useless," Marbas grunted. "He doesn't trust utensils. If it doesn't come from a 'protector,' it’s suspicious."
Cerberion took a piece of smoked meat and dropped it before Iruma. The boy pounced on it, tearing it with his small fangs. After swallowing, he looked at Kalego expectantly. With a sigh, Kalego fed him bread and fruit from his own hand. Iruma ate from Kalego’s palm with contagious happiness.
When Opera entered, Iruma tensed and growled.
"It seems I’ve been demoted to 'intruder' in my own home," Opera murmured.
"To him, you’re just the cat-demon who sleeps nearby, not a provider. Cats and wolves... well, history speaks for itself."
Opera dropped to their knees, flattening their ears and thumping their tail against the floor in a hunting rhythm. Iruma, sensing the change, tried to catch the tail. Soon, the kitchen was filled with the sound of the child’s laughter. Opera rolled onto their back, letting Iruma climb onto their chest, calming him with a deep, vibrating purr.
Kalego decided then that this chaotic, unique peace was something he wanted to see more of. As Iruma scratched his neck, the leather of his worn collar clinked. It felt unnatural. Whether the fledgling was a sacred wolf-demon or something else, he would have to remove that collar eventually.
Weeks passed. Kalego’s protectiveness reached its limit. Every step Iruma took without supervision made his hair stand on end. Opera was always there, grooming and cuddling him like a cat with its mate. Kalego would snap at the air whenever a teacher pointed it out, but he couldn't hide the soft blush on his cheeks.
One day in the garden, as Iruma chased Cerberion’s tail and Kalego’s large belly made movement difficult, Opera refilled his tea.
"This... isn't so bad."
"Which part?" Opera asked. "What makes you feel so warm? The pregnancy or the child given to us?"
"Both. For the first time in my life, I love something more than myself... or you."
"What was that?"
"Shut up!!"
Opera smiled and leaned their head against Kalego’s. They breathed in the scent of happiness and Iruma’s laughter. The twins kicked inside Kalego’s womb so hard he huffed and bit Opera’s tail in response. Opera took it calmly, already thinking of the day Kalego would give birth. They would probably lose their tail then, but they wouldn't leave their partner's side.
They were a family now.
Welcome home... Ascendo and Crescendo Naberius!