Vol 1. Chapter 2. A Dragon’s Birth

In the sterile confines of a medical room within the grand Pendragon estate, Rosalind Pendragon, a woman of noble descent with striking green eyes and long, golden hair, was experiencing the excruciating throes of childbirth. Her aristocratic features were contorted in pain as she unleashed a scream that echoed off the walls. "FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!" The sound was raw and unfiltered, a testament to her agony.

Four humanoid golems, each exuding a sense of stoic duty, held her down with meticulous care. They were cautious not to inflict additional pain, though Rosalind was far beyond noticing their gentleness. "WHEN WILL IT COME OUT!" she bellowed, her voice a mix of anger and desperation, eager to end her suffering.

"Your child will be born soon," one golem responded in a calm, measured tone. This did little to soothe Rosalind's fraying nerves.

"Soon? SOON? Soon was three hours ago! Give me a straight answer, you bastard! Or I'll smash your head in!" Her threat was fierce, her face glistening with sweat, eyes wild with exhaustion.

"That would be inadvisable, mistress. Any use of magic circuits now would negatively affect the bab–" The golem's advice was abruptly silenced as Rosalind's fist, powered by a burst of maternal fury, punched clean through its stony body. "PISS OFF!" she yelled as the decapitated golem crumbled to a pile of rocks.

Gritting her teeth, Rosalind gripped the bed handles tightly, bracing herself against a fresh wave of contractions. "It's on its way out," another golem stated, only to receive a venomous glare from Rosalind.

"No shit, it's been on its way out for a while now!" she retorted sarcastically. Her body tensed, and another scream tore through the room, a primal sound full of pain and anticipation.

In these moments, Rosalind Pendragon, a powerful magus and a woman of fierce will, faced the intense ordeal of bringing new life into the world. Despite her strength and her magic, childbirth was a challenge like no other, testing her in ways she had never imagined.

A few moments of intense struggle later, the atmosphere in the room softened as Rosalind cradled her newborn. The small child, with tufts of yellow hair resembling her own, was swaddled in a soft blanket. Rosalind's emerald eyes, despite the exhaustion etched on her face, lit up with a maternal glow as she gazed upon her firstborn. A tired yet tender smile spread across her lips. "He's beautiful," she whispered, her voice filled with awe as she gently stroked the baby's cheek.

One of the remaining medical golems, programmed for blunt factual communication, began, "Factually incorrect, the young lord greatly resembles a lump of fa–" Its sentence was abruptly terminated as a bolt of electricity, summoned from Rosalind's finger, obliterated its head. The remaining golems took immediate note of her warning glare.

"Do any of you have any comments about my child?" she asked, her tone leaving no room for anything less than adoration.

"None," the golems replied in perfect unison, now wisely opting for silence over honesty.

Turning her attention back to the tiny life cradled in her arms, Rosalind cooed softly, her fierce demeanor melting away in the presence of her child. Her fingers lovingly brushed over the delicate golden hair, as she scrutinized him with a mother's critical eye. This child was not just her son; he was the future of the Pendragon lineage. She understood the weight of responsibility resting on those tiny shoulders. Ensuring his well-being and preparing him for the role he was born into became her paramount concern, a duty she embraced wholeheartedly.

With a mother's gentle touch, she channeled a trace amount of Od into the tiny body cradled in her arms. Her intention was to scan for any anomalies or magical irregularities. The process, however, left her more perplexed than reassured.

Despite her thorough search, she couldn't detect any magical circuits in her child, an unexpected finding given her own potent lineage. Yet, she felt an unusual surge of mana and a peculiar reading about his eyes, which were devoid of circuits, yet still felt like mystic eyes. This contradiction caused her brows to knit together in concern.

Exhaling a shaky breath, she lifted her child, observing his serene, sleeping face. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she called one of the medical golems over. "Could you check him over? I'm not quite myself, and I can't get a proper read on his vitals," she requested, her voice betraying a hint of worry.

The golem, understanding the gravity of the situation, gently took the baby and commenced its scan. Once finished, it repeated the process, not once but several times, deepening Rosalind's anxiety with each pass. Finally, after the fourth scan, the golem handed the child back to her.

"The child's vitals are stable. However, for a more comprehensive analysis, I recommend bringing in a researcher golem," it advised.

Rosalind's nerves frayed further at this suggestion. The golem's repeated scans, coupled with its recommendation, hinted at a complexity beyond ordinary medical issues. With a heavy heart, yet eager for answers, she consented. "Go ahead," she murmured, clutching her child a little closer, bracing herself for whatever the future might hold for her and her newborn son.

In the now tense medical room of the Pendragon estate, Rosalind anxiously awaited the arrival of the research golem. Her eyes followed its every movement as it entered the room and began consulting with the golem that had previously examined her newborn. She watched, her heart pounding, as they exchanged silent, mechanical gestures, occasionally glancing at her child.

"My lady, the child if you would," the researcher golem finally spoke, its tone devoid of emotion. With a hesitant hand, Rosalind passed her baby over for another examination.

"Anomaly detected," the golem announced, returning the child to Rosalind. "What's wrong with him?" she asked, her voice laced with a growing unease.

"The child has no magic circuits," the golem stated, confirming Rosalind's worst fears. A child of the Pendragon lineage without magic circuits was unheard of—a potential disgrace in the mystical world they inhabited.

As Rosalind's heart sank, the golem continued, "However, according to the archives, it appears he possesses a magic core in his body."

"A-a what?" Rosalind gasped, her sudden outburst startling the baby into a wail. Quickly, she rocked him gently, soothing him back to sleep with a mother's touch.

Once her child was settled, she turned her attention back to the golem, her gaze demanding an explanation. "Explain."

"Your child possesses a magic core, rendering magic circuits unnecessary," the golem clarified. "Additionally, he has unawakened mystic eyes, and his and heart blood shows traits akin to phantasmal beasts, likely the Red Dragon, akin to King Arthur. Apart from these anomalies, he is in perfect health."

Rosalind's expression softened as she gazed down at her son, cradling him protectively. A sigh of relief escaped her lips.

Rosalind gazed at her son, cradling the small miracle in her arms, her mind racing with thoughts and concerns. The revelation of her son possessing a magic core was astonishing. While a magic core was undoubtedly superior to conventional magic circuits, it presented a significant complication. Her husband, a magus of ruthless ambition and cunning, posed a direct threat to their child's safety. His reputation for being more formidable and merciless than his elder brother was well known, and Rosalind knew all too well the lengths he would go to exploit such a rare phenomenon.

The only silver lining in this, being the fact that he wasn't home, apparently having 'better' things to do than be there and watch his wife 'pop' out a new Pendragon. Had he been there, Rosalind was certain he would have seized their child immediately, subjecting the innocent to inhumane experiments in his relentless pursuit of power.

Determined to protect her child, Rosalind addressed one of the golems with a firm and resolute tone. "Golem, fetch my assistant. I require the services of an assassin." The golem bowed and exited the room without delay. "The rest of you may leave," she commanded, and the remaining golems obediently vacated the room, leaving mother and child in solitude.

Now alone, Rosalind's stern demeanor softened as she gazed lovingly at her son. Gently, she poked his chubby cheeks, eliciting a delightful expression from the baby. A tender chuckle escaped her lips, and her face lit up with a mother's joy. "Naw, my little dragon is so cute!~" she cooed affectionately, her smile radiating a warmth that contrasted sharply with the cold decisions she had just made. In that moment, all that mattered to Rosalind was the precious life she held in her arms, a life she was determined to protect at all costs.

Rosalind's moment of maternal tenderness was interrupted by a crisp knock on the door. "My lady," came a feminine voice from the other side.

Quickly regaining her composure, Rosalind stopped playing with her child's cheek. "Enter," she commanded in a businesslike tone. The door opened to reveal Amelia, her assistant, a woman with long black hair and ice blue eyes, dressed in a professional suit.

"Lady Pend–" Amelia began, only to be cut off.

"Can it, Amelia. It's Rosalind, R-O-S-A-L-I-N-D, get it?" Rosalind snapped, her patience evidently thin.

"Yes, Lady Rosalind," Amelia replied, her voice tinged with a mix of respect and familiarity, accompanied by a slight eye roll. "I heard you were in need of an assassin," she said, producing a small clipboard from her suit.

Rosalind raised an eyebrow. "Do you just have a clipboard full of assassins lying around?"

"Of course," Amelia replied matter-of-factly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Rosalind sighed, her expression softening slightly. "I need someone who can make my husband's death look like an accident," she said, her voice strained.

Amelia's eyes widened briefly at the request before she regained her composure. Flipping through the clipboard, she selected two pages and handed them to Rosalind. Each page contained detailed information on an assassin, complete with photos, a list of their accomplishments, personality traits, and their average fees.

"This Emiya seems to be quite destructive..." Rosalind observed, reading about an incident involving an airplane, which made her hesitant.

"Despite his reputation for destruction, I'd recommend him over Edelfelt," Amelia interjected.

"Why?" Rosalind inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Amelia rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Edelfelt's track record with client confidentiality isn't the best. Several of his clients' names have been leaked. Given the sensitive nature of your request, I'd suggest Emiya. His discretion is far more reliable."

Rosalind nodded, understanding the gravity of the decision. She handed back the papers, her mind made up. In this delicate matter, discretion was paramount, and Kiritsugu Emiya seemed to be the best choice.

Amelia carefully organized the documents and slid them back onto her clipboard, her expression shifting to one of curiosity. "But, I must ask, why now? Why decide to kill your husband at this point? He's not the most pleasant, but his magical circuits are strong, and his research is valuable," she inquired, her tone indicating genuine confusion.

Rosalind's gaze fell upon her newborn, a look of apprehension crossing her face. "Amelia," she began, her voice steady, signaling the gravity of what was to come. "To understand my reasons, I'll need you to sign an additional self-Geass contract."

Without hesitation, Amelia pulled a page from her clipboard and handed it to Rosalind. "Are these terms to your liking?" she asked, a professional air about her.

Rosalind stared at the document, her surprise evident. "What on earth do you keep in that thing?" she asked, half in jest.

With a slight smirk, Amelia replied, "Only the essentials." Rosalind read the contract quickly, then nodded in approval.

"This will suffice," she confirmed, passing the paper back. Amelia signed it promptly and showed the signature to her employer.

"Shall I file this in your office later?" Amelia asked, to which Rosalind nodded. "Yes, that would be best."

Amelia awaited further explanation, her attention fixed on Rosalind. Taking a deep breath, Rosalind's demeanor lightened, and she smiled radiantly.

"My son has a magic core, and we believe he has a dragon's heart and blood," she revealed nonchalantly, buffing her nails.

"I-impossible, that's unheard of in humans!" Amelia exclaimed, taken aback by the revelation.

Rosalind, now wearing a smug grin, retorted, "Well, Arthur Pendragon was born with a magic core and had a dragon's heart and blood. Why not my son?"

Amelia, struggling to process the news, began to rub her temple, her face showing signs of fatigue. "Now it makes sense – the Geass, the urgency to eliminate your husband..." she mused, glancing at the infant in Rosalind's arms.

"Have you thought of a name for him?" she then asked, changing the subject.

Rosalind's eyes softened as she looked at her baby. "Hmm... Calling you Arthur would be a bit on the nose. So, welcome to the family, Alistair Pendragon."

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A/N

Welcome back, my reader Overlords, please add this to your library and give me some comments, stones and Reviews, as it would be much appreciated.

Now that the mandatory begging is done, time to ask the hard hitting questions.

What do you think of Mama Pendragon?

Was it cruel of her to kill her own husband at the drop of a hat? Is it odd that her assistant had a list of qualified assassins on hand? (Perhaps she had a history of working at Boeing?) And what do you expect to happen from here on out?

I am (kinda) interested in your thoughts! 

Now trod along, the next chapter awaits!