Waking up, Aldrich is in his room. Stepping out of his room, slightly confused on how he got here, he sees Noriko cooking with ingredients they had bought together the day before.

“What happened?”

He asks Noriko as he walks up to her.

“What do you mean what happened?”

“How did I get here? How did I get home?”

“What do you mean by that? You were always home.”

Now very confused, he ponders on his memories and what had happened. Noriko looks at him and laughs.

“Look at you. Did you think yesterday didn’t happen because that’s the look your face is giving me.”

“Did it?”

Laughing some more, she says,

“Yes silly, those things did happen. Also Gokin took us home after the hospital finished with the examinations. Luckily nothing more than the bites and scratches from the rats was found.”

Aldrich feels a slight relief as he hears that his friends are alright.

“Your birthday is tomorrow, you know.”

“I know. Do… you think mother will be there?”

Taking a moment to think, Noriko explains,

“Your mother is currently on a mission.”

Looking at his face, she could see that it was saying “Obviously”, she continues,

“She said that the mission would take 2 days.”

“So… she’s not going to make it.”

“Well I didn’t say that. She said that she’ll hurry. Maybe she’ll make it. She might come back at the end of the day.”

“Maybe.”

Noriko, looking to change the topic, says

“So… what do you want to do on your birthday? We’re setting up a party but there’s still the rest of the day.”

“I don’t know yet. Are we still doing lessons?”

“If you want.”

“Could you teach me elven magic?”

“Elven magic… sure. I only know some stuff though and it works differently than other magic. Are you sure you want to spend your time on that though?”

“Well what else am I going to do?”

“Have fun I guess? Go hang out with your friends or something.”

“I like learning with my friends though and your lessons are fun.”

“Thanks. Guess I have to brush up on elven magic then.”

Afterwards they eat breakfast and head out. As they leave the dragon embassy, they see Kyrie flying towards them. Kyrie is quite flustered as she lands next to Aldrich and hugs him..

“I’m so glad you’re not hurt. I can’t believe what happened out there. I heard what happened from my mother.”

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“Thanks Kyrie. Did you check with Danjela and the others who were hurt?”

“No, I’m going to see them right now.”

Noriko chimes in, saying

“Aldrich, go with her and check on Peter while you’re at it. I want to see if he is going to be coming to today’s lesson.”

“Sure.”

Seeing how Peter was asked by his house to return to the matriarch, Noriko worried if he’ll no longer return to the lessons. Aldrich understood this and Noriko’s intentions.

Getting into the elevator and then separating at the base, they say their farewells before Aldrich and Kyrie head out to the Sinclair household in the village.

From the description that Leah and Hiram told, they had a modest house. Unlike their description however, the Sinclair household is a mansion. Beyond the gate that surrounds the entire mansion itself are many servants that are seen busily working on the mansion. Carpenters and workers building new rooms and housing, gardeners shaping the landscape, maids and butlers cleaning and maintaining the mansion. On the decorated walls and light posts are flags of the Sinclairs. Dozens of guards holding their post in different parts of the household. Many of these guards have an insignia of the Sinclair house, most probable that they are long time retainers or of deeper bonds than their current duties show as normal soldiers and militia men do not hold such a mark on their uniforms. As they approach the mansion, they are stopped by two guards at a gate leading to the mansion. They salute Aldrich and Kyrie before the older one of the two starts speaking.

“Good morning Lord Aldrich Elden Agnis and Princess Kyrie Sun-Crest. Are you here to see the young princes and princesses?”

Aldrich responds with

“Yes. We are checking on all of our friends.”

“That’s great to hear. I’m glad that both of you cherish our young masters so well.”

The two guards open up the gates and the two enter.

Out of their hearing range, Kyrie whispers to Aldrich.

“It’s so embarrassing that they say our full name and title. I mean, I’m not even a very important “princess”. There’s plenty more princesses after me.”

Aldrich whispers back

“I know what you mean but it’s how they talk. Besides, you are pretty important.”

To Kyrie, hearing that she was “pretty important” made her blush a little.

Recalling what the guards said, he was not aware that Hiram, Leah, Danjela, and Issac were of a royal family or bloodline. Despite Lord Sinclair being an important figure and ruler of the village, he had assumed that he was an appointed ruler from the Dragon Orders. Being the lord was not an inherently inherentable title and could be passed onto a different house or individual should a need arise. Leah or Hiram being called Prince and Princess meant that they inherited something.

Walking along the path, they can fully see the entire garden that was laid before the mansion. A grand spectacle of colors and floral smell blooms so gracefully around them. As they walked along, people talked and waved at them. Reaching the front door to the mansion they stop as they see Lord Sinclair exit through the doors, carrying Leah on his shoulders as she laughs. The lord himself yelling,

“I am the Red Dragon. Hear me ROAR!!!”

Before imitating a dragon blowing fire. He and Leah are both wearing common clothing with no accessories to speak of. Around them are a few worried servants and some of Leah’s younger siblings following along. They make a sudden stop in surprise as they see Kyrie and Aldrich standing there and watching them as children bounce around them in laughter. A few moments of shock and silence ensues before Leah and Lord Sinclair scramble into proper standing positions and shoo the children away. Clearing his throat, Lord Sinclair says,

“Greetings Lord Aldrich Elden Angis and Princess Kyrie Sun-Crest, may I ask why you are here?”

Aldrich and Kyrie, who were watching the scene unfold in front of them, could not believe their eyes that the tight and proper lord of the village was doing such… normal father behaviors. A few seconds of shock and awe continued even after Lord Sinclair had recovered and spoken before Aldrich awoke back to reality.

“Greetings Lord Sinclair. We have come to see our friends and to see their good health.”

Acting like nothing just happened seemed to be the best choice both sides had taken as the shock was simply too great.

“I see. I welcome you to our humble home. Enter inside our guest room and wait while we freshen up.”

The servants at his side are motioned to escort the two visitors through a hallway after entering the main hall. The main hall itself was impressive. Massive banners of Sinclair house can be seen decorated on the walls of the inner mansion. The woodworks of the structure and columns are masterwork made while arms such as spears and shields are hung as decorations in safe but open locations. Entering the guest hall, Aldrich and Kyrie sit down as they are served tea. After sipping a few, Kyrie says

“What was that?”

Which prompted Aldrich to reply,

“No idea.”

“That was Lord Sinclair right?”

“Yep.”

They continue to sip in silence before the guest doors open and cause them to jump a little. Entering with stoic gracefulness is Lord Sinclair.