I run faster than I ever ran in my life, branches slap my face and graze my skin. Around me everything is blurry, the wind blows into my hair and my eyes become teary. My lungs are burning. I can barely feel the ground underneath me.

It feels way too long before the shape of the training grounds appears in front of me. I sprint even harder before entering the circle-shaped building.

I cross the surprised face of Lord Eiran who turns immediately in horror seeing the blood that stains my face and clothes. My legs can't take anything and I fall miserably on the floor.

"Raven! What happened!?"

"HELP! HELP ME! THERE IS AN INVATION!" I yell back trying to stand back.

My body is traveling with shivers as it tries to calm my shaky breath.

"Vidarr...h-he is st-still out t-there," I say feeling tears running down my cheek. "He h-he got shot b-by an arrow in h-his chest."

Around me, all the knights are already running around to gather their weapons and armor.

"Where?" asks my mentor with a controlled voice.

"S-Southern wall, it's the S-Scorpions guild."

"Damnit!" he curses, "Raven gathers the other students and tell them to shelter themselves to the Royal Palace. They will have to protect the nobles."

"Let me come with you!" I beg him. "I-I am a mercenary I will be useful!"

"No! You are a future knight and my student! You will do as I say. Do you understand?"

I stay silent pressing my lips together. He takes me by my shoulders and shakes me brutally.

"Do you understand?!"

"Yes," I say halfhearted.

He looks unsatisfied but turns around to blend in with the chaotic movements of the Royal Knight. I allow myself a last second of rest before getting up and running towards the Sienna Palace. I burst into the classes. Everyone looks at me with scared eyes in front of my bloody face and erratic panting.

"ATTACK, GO TO THE ROYAL PALACE!" I scream before running to the other classroom.

Arlette grabs my arm and drags me to the stables, "You are witness. You are going to go with me to the Council."

"What are talking about," I ask getting a saddle of a bench.

"We have to warn the Council, they will send back up to the Royal Knights."

She opens the door and reveals a bluish-grey. She jumps on her horse and starts galloping.

"How are we going to get a meeting with the most important people of the castle?" I ask catching her.

"The Minister of the finances is my father."

She grins at me but her smile doesn't reach her eyes. She gives a quick kick at her horse before gaining a rapid speed.

When the soldiers notice us we don't give them much explanation. Arlette starts screaming her name before throwing her blazon at their head. I don't slow down and jump off Kamari before entering the entrance of the Royal Palace

I let Arlette lead the way. Around us, courtesans and visitors' eyes widen seeing us and our impoliteness.

I bump into a man he almost falls but I catch him, countless emotions pass through his eyes. Under cries of indignation and surprise, I leave him to run after Arlette who is already twenty meters ahead of me. Behind me I can hear the rattling sound of soldiers and guards running, chasing us.

In front of me, I see my companion punching someone preventing her from entering a room guard by a beautifully crafted double door.

I push violently the door, but I only manage to slightly move it. My shoulder burns but I continue to push.

Behind us, the soldiers are coming dangerously close to us. But the door finally gives up and we stumble in a vast round room. Fourteen seats are placed at an equal distance around a spherical table, but two of them are higher and more delicate and the decoration is more opulent. All spots are occupied except the one next to the Queen's.

Someone seizes me from behind. I let out a cry of hurt when he violently took my wounded arm. A kick behind my legs makes me fall on my knees and a hand grabs my hair. Two swords are placed against my neck.

"Forgive us, your Majesty..."

"Free my daughter at this instant!" shouts a man rising brutally from his seat. His features resemble exactly his daughter's.

"Release those girls."

The Queen didn't raise her voice, but immediately the soldiers let go of their grip.

"I believe that you have a good reason to come to this part of the Castle without being invited."

Arlette kneels deeply a hand on her heart, "Yes your Majesty. There is an invasion. They are passing by the Southern wall."

"This is our least well-guarded wall," mumbles a minister.

"That is impossible to conduct a military operation!" says another at the left of the mother of Esmeray.

"Those are not soldiers or knights," I say.

Everyone turns towards me.

"How could you possibly know that?" asks the Marquess.

"They had their symbol painted over their cloaks. Their cloaks were tied behind their neck and were covering their left arms. Their grapples were made of insolusion an alliage that only one guild master. Those persons who are attacking us are the members of the Scorpion guild."

A whisper travels the room. The Queen stays straight and composed but I catch a glimpse of her ethereal eyes twitching.

"What is your name?" asks the Minister of International Affairs. "I don't remember seeing you before. Are you perhaps..."

"Raven Mhyrr apprentice of Lord Eiran," I interrupt.

The air becomes electric and dense when I confirm my identity. From the corner of my eye, I perceive the discreet glint of a blade between the gloved hands of the man closest to the Queen.

I try to not let this affect me. After all, after the story that told me Vidarr. I can do nothing but try my best to not let those kind of reactions affect me personally.

I put myself slightly forward and cross my right leg behind my left one, before putting my hand on my heart and lifting gracefully a pant of my scarf.

"I am really sorry for our lack of etiquette but the son of the Count of Nefeli is in a critical state and currently the Royal Knights are fighting against a threat as serious as if Svenja were sending a battalion."

"Elowen, please send the first and third divisions to help the Royal Knights."

"Your Majesty, I am afraid that this is too much..."

"It is an order Grijnh."

"Then I will proceed as you wish," finally says the Minister of War and the Army.

"You two go back to your peers," orders the Queen.

I bow quickly, "Yes your Majesty, we are going to take our leave."

When we exit the room, my body feels less heavy but a dark feeling is creeping into my chest. I put a hand on my throat. Why when help is currently being sent to the Royal Knights, do I feel death coming along?

"MHYRR!"

Someone grabs me by my shoulder and slams me against the wall. I blindly grab the arm of my aggressor and twist it behind his back.

"Enhya?"

"Because of you, Vidarr is going to die!"

"What are you...Oh...I"

The sudden revelation hits me. Of course, when nobles and Royals are in danger, the life of a mere apprentice even if he is the son of a Count, is not their priority. They will only care about their state after the battle. We can't count on the affection that bares the Commander towards his nephew.

"You left him!" she yells her eyes bright with tears. "You left him to die."

"Enhya! Leave her! It's not her fault!" says Arlette grabbing her wrist.

"He is my only family," she cries "I can't lose him too!"

The daughter of the Minister takes her in her arms and hugs her firmly. She tries to resist before letting go. Arlette's shirt soaks with tears but she doesn't say anything.

Suddenly it is not Arlette and Enhya that are standing in front of me. It is a woman with white silky hair with golden flecks. Her skin is smooth like an untouched canvas. And a man is standing behind her hugging the young woman whose tears are running uncontrollably down her chin.

"Let's go save him."

"Raven we received orders..." protest weakly my comrade.

"So? Is it really worth it to you?"

The two stay silent. Arlette slowly traces down with her finger the shape of Enhya jaw before stopping at the curve of her chin.

"Let's do it Enhya."

She opens her mouth to protest before closing it. She clenched her fist before walking past me.

"Yes, let's do it. Let's go save Vidarr."