Volume 1 Chapter 11:

Above the chaos was a sight for sore eyes. Two dragons soared right above the children. They’ve been saved as the rats were blasted backwards by a wind spell before being carried away in a flood by water magic. The nearby remaining fires were put out and the rats floating away were then turned into frozen statues after the dragons casted an ice spell on top of them. The large rat commanding the horde attempted to run, parting his horde with his large body and scurrying on all four, but was grabbed by the mighty claws of a light red dragon before being squeezed and popped like a bubble. Behind the rats were several squads of guardsmen attacking the rats who fled the icing. Within a short moment, the chaotic battle for the children’s lives was over.

Recovering from their fear, the children look down from their breached fortified position. Dead rider rats laid everywhere. Dozens of rats were stuck on the spikes that were put up and many were swept away into their ice graves. Beyond that were rats who were wet and slowed by the flood and they were taken out by several squads of guardsmen who were fighting up the hill. They couldn’t believe their eyes. The horde that seemed endless was effortlessly taken out almost immediately. Many of the children, some of whom were already crying, broke down as relief like no other washed through them. Leah hugged Danjela while Hiram sat down along with many others. Peter drops his warhammer and shield and lays on his back before expressing his relief.

“It’s just like you said Aldrich. The Guardians and guardsmen won’t let us die.”

He starts crying before continuing,

“I’m so… glad… you were… right.”

Some of the children chuckle at the crying Peter as their tension leaves their bodies. After the moment of relief that they celebrated, the light red dragon descends next to them

The dragon was large, much bigger than Gaelia in her dragon form. Even the tallest of trees there did not cover her height. On her back was a large carriage, most probable for the children to take back home. Landing on the ground, she instantly begins crying out.

“I’m sorry it took so long to get here. I just got the word that you all were stranded here. You poor children.”

While it would look like she would cuddle them from her demeanor, she doesn’t as her size would result in crushing the children instead.

“Climb on board my carriage and we’ll head back home. Don’t worry, dragon carriages are fast and safe. You will be home in no time.”

One by one, the children all gather into the carriage before the light red dragon calls out to two guards and tells them to guard the children inside. They too boarded the carriage and set off. Inside the carriage are seats with seatbelts. A few of the children with energy remaining are excited to sit in a rare dragon transport carriage but many simply want to relax, some even knocking out the instant they sat down such as the younger Issac and Shun. As they set off, the carriage shakes violently before the dragon shouts “Stabilize”, casting a wind type spell that greatly reduces the amount of shaking the carriage does. While on the carriage, Aldrich asks Peter about his blue necklace now that he has a chance.

“Hey Peter, what’s with your necklace? I’ve never seen it before.”

Peter, though tired from today’s events, responds.

“This is a safety necklace. It was given to me in case I ever get into any sort of trouble and will teleport me to the nearest and safest location I can think of.”

Leah, who is still awake, asks him.

“Why didn’t you use it then? We could have gotten out without all of that if we could just teleport home.”

“The necklace only allows me to teleport away.”

“I see, kinda expected, so why didn’t you use it when you got caught.”

“Well Aldrich saved me so I didn’t need to use it.”

“True, then why didn’t you use it to get yourself out then. Surely there wasn’t a reason to stay with us. If the guards hadn’t came in time, at least you would have survived.”

Peter responds with a conviction in his voice they rarely hear from him,

“Because I believed in Aldrich. He said that they’ll save us.”

“That was jus-”

“To inspire us? To give us hope? Yeah I knew that, but even then I wouldn’t have left you all. I would have never left you all to die there without me.”

Surprised at his mature language, she laughs however before mentioning,

“This is coming from someone who was crying while the rats surrounded us.”

“WHAT! You saw that? Well what about you who was also crying.”

“I have no idea what you are talking about. Did you not see my brave and gallant self ready to pounce on whichever rat came close?”

“Nope. I saw none of that.”

Aldrich chuckles at their conversation before ultimately they all fall asleep.