Chapter 101 - A Grand Depature

~Two Days Later~

Savina and I were hugging our respective parents one last time before the escort arrived to take us to the Imperial Capital.

"Oooh I'm going to miss you so so much snowbean! It only feels like yesterday I've gotten you back...", Lavian said with tears in their eyes.

"I'm going to miss you too Baba! I'll be sure to write to you as often as possible", Savina replied.

"Make sure to keep your chin up, bearing strong and head straight. And if anyone tries to intimidate you with their majimonsters, you look them dead in the eyes and throw the challenge back at them!", my father said after breaking off the hug.

"Yes father".

"You're going to learn a lot of different techniques on how binders work with their monsters as well as what monsters are capable of doing. Absorb as much as you can so that your foundation knowledge is strong. Just because Scholars are the ones meant to identify monsters on the fly doesn't mean you can't as well".

"Yes mother".

"And most importantly, remember that we'll always be here for you", my mother said with one last squeeze.

I felt myself getting a little misty-eyed at that statement, but held back a bit. An occasion such as this should be done with a smile and wave, not with crying uncontrollably...despite me wanting too.

"Ho There! Is there where I am to pick up my passengers?!", a loud aether-infused voice range out and broke us from our tender moment.

"Scraw"!

A few moments later, a giant bird made of stone and sand descended from above and landed right in front of the five of us. Recalling my lessons (and with the help of the Dragon's Eye), I identified it to be a Sandroc

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Species: Sandroc

Grade: Gold

Affinities: Earth/Wind

Trait(s): Flight,Massive

Description: Sandrocs are huge desert birds that are known to travel great distances in order to hunt for prey such as deer, sheep and elephants. Some specimens have been to known to grow to such huge sizes that their wings can block out the sun. While normally found in solitude as a.d.u.l.ts, they are sociable creatures when young. It is believed their isolation is self-inflicted as to prevent over-hunting in a given area.

Voxea's Notes: Out of all the dragons created to serve as both convoy and weapon, Sandrocs are arguably the best. Created by the maji known as "The Desert Beauty of Illusions", the Sandroc was considered an odd duck out of her usual creations, which included the Djinferno, Poltertheif and Dancense Burner, all of which can best be described as tricky, illusive and downright pretty. I met the "Desert Beauty" once and she was indeed gorgeous...sad eyes though.

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As the Sandroc landed, I could see that near its head was a saddle like fixture where its presumed binder was sitting in a strange leather get-up. On its back was a box-like fixture made of wood with elaborate carvings on it. Riding in the box was a group of young people about my and Savina's age. It appears we weren't the first group to be picked up for escort.

"Ho there! Are you two Silvia Rosewood and Savina Alderman?", the rider at the front said with a wave.

"Yes, we are", Savina shouted out in reply.

"Jolly good then! Let em up, Rancor"!

"Scraw"!

The Sandroc lowered one of its massive wings to act as a ramp up to the box on its back.

"Now hurry along! We have one more stop to make and then its onward to the capital"!

Savina and I gave our parents one last hug before walking up the Sandroc's wing ramp.

"Please choose a seat and store any luggage or belongings beneath it. Keep your hands and arms within the box at all times, you will be held responsible if you fall off and cause a delay", the rider stated as Savina and I climbed aboard. The two of us moved to the very back of the box, passing the gazes of our fellows riders, and settled in.

"All settled? Good. Rancor, take flight"!

"Scraw"!

The Sandroc flapped its giant wings once and already began to hover in the air. Before it took off for good, I turned towards our watching parents who were waving good bye at Savina and I. We managed to get out one last wave good-bye before the Sandroc took off into the sky.