I The Elven Tree Decrees It So.

'Lotus...? Shit! What happened must have disrupted her electronics.'

When I had this thought I heard two voices yelling my name at the same time, Both of which I immediately identified as Ayla and Viessa's voices.

"Revalor!?!?"

As Ayla helped me stand up she asked me while looking worried.

"My Lord are you okay?"

I felt some sort of energy sweep through my body after she asked that question.

'I wonder if this is soul sense? I remember reading about it in a book that said users who can extend it outside their body are extremely rare.'

I heard sniffling and turned my head to look at Viessa who was looking my way while wiping her tears with her sleeve.

"Viessa stop crying, Do you see any injuries?"

She stopped sniffling while looking at me scanning for anything visible and found nothing.

As Viessa walked to Ayla and I, Everyone within the courtyard suddenly heard a voice in their head that sounded like an ancient being.

<Boy with multi-colored eyes, You are here by selected to be a candidate for the throne of the Elven Empire. I the Elven Tree decrees it so.>

Everyone was shocked including myself, Moments later our group was awoken by the sounds of the Royal Guard's armor moving around. They started to shout like wild beasts and organized themselves while starting to encircle us in the middle of the courtyard.

'Why would they betray their Princess and fellow Guards? Because of what the Elven Tree decreed? Jealousy? Though neither of those options seem likely as they have organized with the intent to kill and usually spur of the moment decisions like that result in sloppy execution.'

As the traitorous Royal Guards started to enclose their encirclement our forty four guards prepared themselves to sacrifice their lives to save the Princess and I.

The traitors started to charge us while shouting crazily and hurling all sorts of insults that were aimed at me.

Among the all of the shouts and insults there was one sentence that stood out.

"Take his life to uphold our mission for His Grace Rydell!"

The one to yell these words started a chant that sent them charging towards our group of 42 guards and two children.

"For His Grace Rydell!"

'These are Grand Duke Rydell's men?'

"Men gather up! The ones who wield shields, Form an arrow head formation. Men carrying pikes, Hold the line behind the shield wall. The remaining men, Form our rear defense. Make sure to hold the rear! And keep the formations tight! We only have so many men. Use whatever means possible to save the Princess and the Grand Duke's heir. We must get out alive to tell the Grand Duke and His Majesty what has been decreed by the Elven Tree!"

Ayla spoke while having a demeanor and tone I had never seen her use, Rallying the men to pierce through the horde of plate-armored enemies that were attacking us from all sides she shouted and the rest of our guards followed.

"FOR ICURIS."

"" FOR ICURIS. ""

'I am so weak, I cant do anything to help when any casual swing of the sword could reap my life. I have to stay with Ayla and Viessa's bodyguard to have any chance of surviving.'

While thinking this I grabbed hold of Viessa, I covered her eyes and ears to the best of my ability while I followed Ayla and the guards.

I half-jokingly asked the Elven Tree why it said those words and left us in this situation. Half-joking because I didn't think it would answer.

'Oh great Elven Tree why in all your wisdom did you say those words then just leave us with the mess you created?'

<What mess has been created by my words selected one?>

The ancient being asked.

'Are you joking around? Or are you seriously asking what happened?'

<This ancient one does not joke. My memory seems to be fogged and I only awoke due to feeling a vast life energy affinity in you, I then woke up out of my sleep and selected you before falling into a forced slumber again thus I have no idea why they are attacking you and why the guards in the Royal Empire's Palace are so weak.>

....

Meanwhile back in the Royal Family's room at the Royal Academy.

"Where are they? We told them to be back in an hour!"

Imryll said in an irritated tone as they soon had to get ready for the affinity assessment.

As she said this Erland and Aien walked out from the study, When Aien asked a question seemingly worried about what they had spoken about.

"Where did the kids go?"

Syvis answered for Imryll as she noticed her husband and Erland's worried expressions.

"Revalor asked to take Viessa to take a trip to the Royal Palace for a play date to see the Elven tree. We both agreed but demanded them to take more guards then usual and for them to be back in an hour for their assessment."

Imryll asked with a worried look on her face.

"Is something wrong Erland?"

Erland answered while looking at both of their wives with a sorry expression.

"I didn't expect him to ask her for a play date of all days, We have to leave quick Ill explain later."

Aien commanded as they all started to get ready to leave for the Royal Palace.

"All Royal Guards, Load into your transport carriages we are heading to the Royal Palace on an emergency."

....

Back in the Royal Palace Courtyard.

Hundreds of plate-armored elvish men are surrounding a group of only forty four elves including two of the highest ranking noble heirs in the Kingdom.

"Men do not falter now we are close to the exit!"

Ayla said trying to boost the morale of our guards but after fighting for three minutes they were already exhausted and whittled to just 23 guards.

'Their morale is low if we don't get help soon we will all die. Everyone should be coming soon, We have stayed past the one hour limit mom and mother set.'

"Don't lose hope guards! Help should be arriving any minute now."

I shouted at my guards who have been losing their lives to protect Viessa and I to give them some hope however small it may be.

When I said this I could see Ayla put herself into overdrive probably remembering what mom said before we left.

"He is not lying men His Grace and His Majesty should be here any minute! Keep killing these traitorous bastards!"

Ayla yelled as she chopped the head off of a guard before moving to the next and taking his arm, In the process blood spurted hitting the side of her face as she ran in between the traitors seeming like a ghost reaping their lives as if they were wheat.

'This battle reminds me of my time in the military except modern warfare is much cleaner in the body part and fluid department.'

While Ayla was busy being the vanguard the arrow formation pushed behind her securing our path until we were left with five people and 400 feet to go. The last three guards include Viessa's bodyguard, Ayla and the Captain of the Kings Royal Guard.

Still numbering around 80 strong the traitors blocked our exit from the Elven Tree's courtyard leaving us with no where to go.

As if answering a prayer the Elven Tree spoke for all to hear.

<You have broken the rules of the Ancient Elven Tree Contract decreed by our species eons ago. The rules broken are, #3. "No Elf is allowed to ignore the decree spoken by the Elven Tree unless it harms the person or their morals.", #4 "No Elf is allowed to attack the selected one chosen by the Elven Tree unless the selected one has harmed them or their family." For these crimes I the Elven Tree decree the punishment of death unto said criminals!>

After the Elven Tree finished its sentence the courtyard started to crack apart leaving us with a spot of land before the cracked stone revealed massive roots whose ends were pointed and sharpened by some sort of energy.

Suddenly the roots began to fly around piercing the chests of the traitorous elves while chunks of meat, blood, tendons and limbs flew around causing a coat of blood to paint the courtyard a deep red.

Before the Elven Tree could finish meting out its punishment the roots stopped mid-air before dropping to the ground while crushing a few more criminals in the process. As if predicting this, None of the roots were positioned directly above our group leaving us unharmed.

<Selected one, I have done my best to help you out for it was my mistake that landed you in this position. You survival is up to fate now, If you live we can talk soon.>

'HEY! YOU SHITTY TREE!!!... Because of this all of these men died to protect me and yet we still might not live!'

I received no answer to my grievances making me yell out loud to no-one in particular.

"ARGGGGGGGH, I swear I will get revenge for all of your sacrifices by killing Great Duke Rydell!"

A few moments after my yelling their was a condescending laugh to my words but in the dust filled courtyard it was hard to see where they were.

"Kid you have no idea about the real world, Killing the Great Duke? HAHA! Plenty more of your friends and family will die protecting you because you are weak so how can you think about getting revenge on a Great Duke!?!"

The dust finally cleared and we could see ten traitors left standing in the rubble of the courtyard.

'We only have three people left and I am too young and weak to help...'

While looking at Viessa I thought to myself.

'I couldn't cover her ears or eyes at all times and now she is standing in shock next to me.'

I gave her a hug, Trying to give her some sort of comfort in this situation.

As I hugged Viessa, I heard her bodyguard and the Captain of the Kings Royal Guard say they were going to fight two against ten before telling Ayla to grab us and escape leaving them as the sacrifices.

I turned to face Ayla and I saw she had wounds covering her body after her plated-armor had been smashed and pierced from the stress of so many strikes. She turned to look at me giving a sad smile before she started to take us and escape from the courtyard.

As we started to run I saw a sudden light flash and I felt the grip of death for the second time in my lives before it left just as swiftly as it had come. When I looked up to see what just happened another flash of light came that targeted Viessa, Ayla couldn't block it as she was fighting to the death with the first light user and would not see the attack until its was too late. I threw my body instinctively in front of Viessa to shield her and I was promptly hit in my back with the projectile hitting my left lung before dissipating.

'Is this how I die again? Protecting someone I was close to? Why is this always my fate?'

I looked to the side only to see the person that killed me being incinerated by the most beautiful of multicolored flames that were coming from Ayla while she screamed in pain.

"sorr-"

I tried to speak before having a last thought, Dying again.

'I'm sorry Ayla my foolish goals will not be achieved, No combat maid lover for me.'

....

In the massive Royal Palace there were four elves leading a battalion of one thousand loyal veteran soldiers.

"Aien/Erland will you guys explain what is going on?"

Syvis and Imryll pleaded with Aien and Erland while they were running toward the Elven Tree courtyard.

"Erland noticed that someone was inciting a rebellion a few years ago, Biding his time Erland let them place all of their pawns while leaving today for the moment to eradicate all of them at the same time. One group is gathered at the affinity assessment which would be the noble rebels and the other group being his "loyal" Royal Guards, The problem is that he stationed the rebel guards in the Elven Tree courtyard so there would be an easier time killing them."

Aien explained to Syvis and Imryll whom were both shocked for the same reasons, They were shocked about the location Erland had stationed the traitors as that was exactly where they let their kids go on a play date!

"Aien, If any harm has come to our son I will be marching on the territory of whoever owns these traitorous dogs to kill them."

"Erland, If any harm has come to our daughter I will be taking the head of every person involved myself."

Both women said at the same time while reacting in the same manner but each had different paths, One wanted complete destruction while the other would savor the kill of each person that harmed her daughter.

"Lets not get ahead of ourselves, The rebels are still acting as loyal guards why would they hurt Viessa or Revalor?"

As Erland said these words they reached the courtyard and at the same time they heard a heart-wrenching scream.

"REVALOR!!!!"