"Mother!" screams a delighted Kallias.

I hear his little footsteps climbing the stairs, and the ruffling of the oversized cloak still attached to him.

"Kallias!"

Weeps and words of welcome fuse from the small crowd. As for the first division and me, we stay facing towards the ground.

"Commander Aldraril," calls gently the silky voice of the Queen of Esmeray, "Please rise."

I hear the metallic clicking noise of armor—surely Eiran rising from the ground.

"Thank you, you saved and brought back unharmed my son."

"There is no need to thank me," responds solemnly my mentor, "I failed my duty the moment the young Prince was kidnapped."

"Please, do not underestimate yourself Lord Aldraril," answers an unknown voice.

The Crown Prince? Or is it the second one? Impossible to know when the only thing I can observe are the multiple cracks on the floor. Breathing becomes more and more unpleasant since Lord Zenon is still holding me by the collar.

"There is someone I must introduce to your Majesties," says suddenly Eiran.

'Oh no please don't,' I pray internally.

Wait, but this actually might be a good idea! After all, I must become a well-known apprentice in order to be sent to Svenja.

"Raven," calls Lord Aldraril, "Come here."

I take a deep breath and take a second to compose a neutral but respectful face. I get up gracefully, making sure to not look up the stairs and walk at the correct measure towards Eiran.

I place myself at his left a little behind—putting yourself at the right of someone means you have a strong relationship, but putting yourself at the left means you have a lower status than the one in front, it is a mark of respect.

'I know that no one would have reprimanded me if I didn't do what I just did, but everything is good to create a lasting impression.'

"I present to you Raven Mhyrr, my new student," introduces me Eiran.

I bow respectfully, with one hand on my heart and the other against my back, "I, Raven Mhyrr, greet the four suns of Esmeray."

I can read the surprise in the grey eyes of Lord Eiran, but he simply nods satisfied before continuing my presentation.

"Raven was a mercenary apprentice," he says, ignoring the shocked faces and cries of the crowd. "I was able to witness her skills myself and after a long period of reflection, I decided that I couldn't let such a rare potential rot in a mercenary village."

'It didn't take you that long to decide,' I think.

But seeing the reaction of the crowd, I realize that he chose those crude words to clean up my image.

I remember Marianna's words, "The other apprentices and knights will give you a rough time before accepting you, just because you come from a mercenary family."

By speaking like this, he makes it sound like I am rejecting my roots and fully converting myself to the desire to be part of the knighthood.

Clever, but it irritates me.

"Raven saved me from the evil mercenaries," comments Kallias. "She killed them all except for one."

'Yes, because it was my friend.'

"Then Eiran came, and they started to beat each other up."

I swallow a smile and keep my head tilted towards the end of the stairs.

"Is that true?" asks the Queen.

I can see the hem of her dress a few steps away from me.

"It is..."

"Lift your head," interrupts the Queen.

Eiran closes his mouth and pushes me in front. I slowly raise my eyes to meet those of the Queen. I can't stop a gasp when I see her for the first time. A beautiful tall figure with skin as white as my mother's. Her bare arms make me discover several scars and burns. The left part of her face is completely crossed by a scar that looks like it was caused by a bear. Her left eye is blind and white, but the right one is the most beautiful shade of blue I've ever seen. The color of a frozen lake in winter with golden flakes falling gracefully over it.

'She looks like a goddess.'

Around us, everyone is silent, holding their breath.

"Child, tell me the name of your parents," she orders without raising her voice.

I blink, still dazed by her ethereal appearance.

"Frederick and Marianna Mhyrr, born Aesira."

Something glints in her eye as she takes my hand and gently presses it.

"Thank you, Raven, for saving my son. I expect great things from you."

I bow a third time, and the royal family goes back to their palace, surely eager to reunite without the watchful gaze of the courtesans and maids. Eiran passes his arm around my shoulder and makes me turn around.

"You did good," he whispers. "Now walk with me, don't look at anyone, and don't talk to anyone!"

"A moment, Lady Mhyrr." I freeze and look at Eiran.

His jaw tightens, and he pushes me reluctantly. I slowly look back; one of the two Princes is standing without his family. His short, flowing dark brown hair partially covers his eyes, the same mesmerizing shade but that doesn't quite render the same way.

"Who taught you courtesy?"

"My mother," I lie.

Without knowing why, I can feel my hands shaking.

He doesn't say anything and turns around. When his piercing gaze finally leaves me, I can feel the tension draining out of my body.

"Let's go, Raven," says Lord Aldraril, abruptly.

"Which prince was it?" I ask, looking back. "Both of them are the same height."

"It was the second Prince," grunts Eiran, "Arzel of Esmeray."

He jumps on his horse, and I imitate him. The soft robe of the horse slides underneath my sweaty palm.

"Let me guess," I say, catching the reins. "Stay away from him?"

"You are perfectly right," he laughs darkly. "But most importantly, if he ever asks you to fight, even if it is to practice, refuse. I don't care if it is considered an insult to the Royal family; you refuse!"

"Can I ask why?" I say ironically, kicking softly the back leg of my horse.

Kamari neighs before starting to trot. I should really send a letter to Evereyn and Gray to thank them for him.

"He has this obsession with being the strongest, the winner," Eiran explains.

"Does that make his relationship with his older brother tense?"

'Is this a new Loreiley?' I think anxiously.

The nails bite my palms until I feel blood flowing out of my half-circled cuts. Was it the reason why I felt so scared?

"No, not at all."

I raise my head, surprised.

"I have to admit that I don't cherish the second Prince the same way as I cherish the Crown Prince and the third one. But his priority is always his family; besides, he didn't used to be so gloomy."

"He became like this after the King's death?" I guess.

If I wasn't killed in my previous life, I would have been broken for life. Strangely, my rebirth prevented this outcome. I was so busy with this new environment that the pain was put away.

"You are quick," he compliments. "I hope you will be the same on the field."

"Commander Eiran!" yells excitedly a masculine voice.

I turn my head and see a student running towards us, his shirt is loose and damp with sweat. His hair is slightly longer than the Prince's, but in a dark charcoal hue that contrasts with his very light brown eyes.

"Welcome back!" he greets joyfully. "And this is...?"

"Ah, Vidarr!" Eiran says, "I present to you my new apprentice Raven Mhyrr. Raven, this young, handsome lad is Vidarr, son of the Comte Nefeli and also my apprentice."

"Nice to meet you," I greet with a polite nod, "I look forward to working by your side."

"I thought you refused to take any students," Vidarr ignores.

"I made an exception for you," responds calmly, "Why can't I make an exception for another person?"

Electric tension fuses between them.

"That is because I am your nephew," continues the young man. "And you refused the requests of every Duke of Esmeray. Is she perhaps a Princess from a foreign country?"

I wince at his last words that are dangerously close to the truth, well not really. Or is it?

"Not at all, Raven is a commoner who comes from a mercenary family."

"A commoner? A me-me-mercenary?!" stutters Vidarr, taking a step back from me and Kamari.

"We happened to fight against each other while Lord Aldraril was looking for his Highness Kallias, and I managed to impress him in doing so," I respond annoyed by his explicit hostility.

"To summarize, that is what happened," agrees Eiran.

"So—so you broke your oath of retirement because of a mercenary!"

"See, I knew you were a bright kid," congratulates Eiran.

He jumps off his horse and ruffles the wild hair of his protégé.

"Now show her around the knights' quarters and facilities, and don't mess around!" warns our mentor with a darker tone this time.

He leaves us alone and rides back to the principal palace.

I take a breath and extend my hand towards Vidarr, "I hope that we get along since we are going to train tog..."

He passes by me completely ignoring my presence.

'Well, this is a good start.'