Reawakening of the Nameless Dragon

"Oh! Shut up."

"Hehehe~ What? I didn't say anything," Raum replied, grinning.

"That's the point - don't," Aron snapped, turning away from Raum. He knew that engaging in conversation with the mischievous raven was a losing battle since he would keep teasing him.

Aron dried himself with a towel he found on top of his armor. Surprisingly, his armor was clean, devoid of bloodstains. He wondered if one of the girls had cleaned it, but he didn't dwell on it. He left the chamber and found Mia waiting outside. She greeted him with a respectful bow.

"It's good to see you well, Mister Aron."

Aron smiled warmly at the maid, appreciating how she cared for the children when they were in the cell. "Thank you, and how are the children?"

Mia looked up and replied, "They are in much better shape after a good meal."

"That's great. Show me the way; I'd like to see them."

Mia bowed and led Aron to a spacious room where the children were gathered around a long wooden table. Their smiles had been absent for far too long, but now they were sharing warm smiles, talking, and joking with each other.

Mia walked first into the room, followed by Aron with Raum perched on his shoulder. The room fell silent the moment Aron entered. The children looked up in surprise and excitement as they saw him. Mia stepped aside, allowing Aron to approach the table.

"It's wonderful to see all of you in good spirits," Aron said with a warm smile. "I hope you're feeling better now."

He could see around 13 children in rags, still wearing collars around their necks. They eagerly nodded, their expressions filled with gratitude and hope. They had endured a terrible ordeal, but now, thanks to this man and the girls, it was over.

"You've been through a lot, but you're safe now," Aron assured them.

The children exchanged glances, their smiles growing wider. One of the boys spoke up, "Thank you for saving us, mister. We thought we would never see our families again."

Aron turned his attention to the boy and asked, "What's your name, young man?"

The boy replied immediately, "I'm Thomas, sir."

Aron motioned for Thomas to step forward. He was a small, ten-year-old with orange-red hair and brown eyes. Aron couldn't help but notice the awe in Thomas's eyes as he gazed at him. Thomas, like the other boys, was inspired by Aron's strength and courage when he defeated their captors, especially when they saw how they were kneeling to him.

Aron placed his hand on Thomas's shoulder, making the boy feel the weight. Thomas felt that the man was going to say something important.

"Listen, Thomas, you were fortunate this time, but what about next time?"

"Next time, sir?" Thomas was puzzled.

"Yes, there's no guarantee that this won't happen again," Aron explained.

Mia's eyes widened as she grasped Aron's meaning, and the other children exchanged uncertain glances.

"Tell me, Thomas, will you let this happen to you again?" Aron asked with a serious tone.

Thomas shook his head vigorously. "No, sir."

"And how are you going to achieve that?"

Thomas fell silent; he didn't know how. The world of adults is beyond his understanding

Aron's eyes glowed, and his voice deepened.

"Strength."

"Eh?"

"You need to be strong, stronger than everyone. True freedom and safety come when you stand at the top, where no one can harm you."

Aron knelt down and locked eyes with Thomas, he grabbed his slave collar.

"Remember, Thomas; the strong are always right, and the weak have no right."

Crack. Crack.

He broke the boy's slave collar with a firm grip.

"!!!"  Thomas felt something stirring within him as Aron's words echoed in his mind. For reasons he didn't know, the words made perfect sense to him even if he was just a small kid; he understood them. With clenched fists, Thomas made a vow to himself.

'This Mister is right, I won't let this happen to me again. I need to become stronger than everyone.'

Aron flashed a smile, pleased by Thomas's determination

'This boy has strong eyes.'

He then turned his attention to the other children. "Line up, make a line, and come to me one by one. I'll remove these nasty things from your necks."

The children watched the display with wide eyes, motivated by Aron's words and eager to be free from their collars and chains.

One by one, the children formed a line and approached Aron. He gently removed each slave collar, breaking them just like he had done with Thomas's. With each broken collar, the children felt a burden lifted, a symbol of their newfound freedom.

When it was the turn of the young twin-tailed girl, she asked with sparkles in her eyes, "Are you a prince?"

"Huh?"

"Pfffftt" Raum almost burst out in laughter.

"..."

Aron ignored the raven on his shoulder and proceeded to break the collar. He then smiled gently at the young girl.

"Sorry, young lady, I'm not a prince." 

She pouted and mumbled to herself, "Mmm… Not fair." But when Aron patted her head, she opened her eyes in surprise.

Aron frowned when he saw the girl's surprised reaction. It was clear that she wasn't used to such gentle gestures, given the circumstances she had endured or maybe even before.

"Don't worry, little one," Aron said, his voice soothing and kind. "I can be your prince and help when you need me the most."

The young girl looked up with teary eyes. "Really, can you promise me that?"

Aron nodded, understanding her desire for reassurance. "Yes, I promise."

The young girl raised her hand to him. "Pinky promise?"

"Pinky? Oh!" 

Aron, realizing her intent, removed his gauntlet, revealing his bare fingers. He extended his finger and gently hooked it with the girl's little finger. Their eyes met, and a sense of connection formed between them in that simple act.

"Pinky promise," Aron said with a warm smile, sealing the promise with the little girl. "I'll always be here to protect you and help you whenever you need it."

The young girl's eyes sparkled with happiness, and she nodded enthusiastically. It was a small act, but for her, it meant the world. She had found someone to trust and care for her, someone she could call her prince.

"!!!" As Aron continued to break the collars, the girl was shocked when she realized something important

'H-He touched me! How? I mean he's fine, didn't get hurt?' She kept staring at Aron, shocked to see him fine and not showing any reaction.

Mia watched the scene unfold with tears in her eyes. She knew that Aron and his companions had given these children not just freedom from physical chains but also hope for a better future and a return to their families. They had shown them that there were good people in the world, willing to stand up against injustice and protect those in need.

'He also broke my chains, that kept me in fear for years.'

After all the collars were removed, the children couldn't contain their joy and gratitude. They surrounded Aron, hugging him tightly and thanking him profusely. The boys inquired about how to become strong, and the girls, for some reason, asked if Aron was married.

"There he is." Pethra just entered the hall with the other girls in her tail. She approached Aron and immediately jumped on his back, wrapping her arms around his neck and effectively throwing Raum off Aron's shoulder.

'This is my place now; I won't allow a situation like Freya's to happen again, not on my watch.'

Pethra's eyes were dark as a black hole. Obsession is evident in her eyes; she was jealous of Freya for being too intimate with Aron, and she won't allow that to happen again.

"Are you done, Aron? Can we go back?" Pethra asked.

Aron nodded. "Yes, we're heading back, but first..."

Aron's eyes glowed crimson; he focused his senses to locate the remaining Rat members. He found one person busy with books and journals.

Through the magic seal, Aron realized he could both locate and, if necessary, activate the magic seal inside them and eliminate anyone with ease.

"You there, come here," Aron commanded in his deep, cold voice, resonating in Viper's head.

"!!!" Hearing his voice inside her head, Viper visibly shook and fell off; the fear quickly consumed her, and she quickly responded.

"Y-Yes, Master. Right away."

Hello dear readers I hope you enjoy the chapter, leave a comment and tell me your thoughts