As Amon was about to speak Vesper walked into the room and bowed slightly, "I greet his Imperial Majesty and her Highness."
Marcus' gaze stayed on Vesper wondering a bit before he waved his hands and Vesper walked up to sit.
As soon as he sat, Aurora and Catherine sat beside him chasing the young princes beside him.
Vesper said nothing and started serving from the meal bowl before him, it was like nothing different had happened and he just wanted to eat after a rigorous training.
But that was when everyone noticed, he looked a lot more charming and his aura was mysterious, unable to detect the level.
"Congratulations Soldier prince on your breakthrough." Catherine said with a small smile plastered across her face.
"We will move for the northern lands in a week, I hope we all prepare ourselves." Adolfus said.
"I thought the war starts in three weeks, why are we moving a week ahead of schedule?" Aurora asked.
"Because I said so, and it is a means of knowing and understanding the military." Adolfus replied.
"I will be on the battlefield three days before the battle, I am going to search for my squad." Vesper said while wiping his mouth.
Marcus and his wives sat back and said nothing, watching the children make their arrangements.
"You are part of the Royal family's squad Vesper." Damian said in a relaxed tone.
"I was part of it Prince Damian, I am neither a prince nor a royal blood, I am just a bastard who can be enslaved at the whims of the Lord Emperor, I dare not claim or put myself amongst royalty." As he said that he stood up and left.
"You will not leave the Royal family squad Vesper!" Adolfus' voice thundered.
Vesper who was about leaving stopped and turned, his gaze was chilling and his aura shifted to an endless torrent of waves, it was like a predator had set its sight on its prey.
"Your highness, I would beg you do not raise your tone at me, because while you might be the Crown Prince, I am the Soldier Prince, a commander of my own, I have led battles and won for the empire. So before you speak to me in your regal attire, know whom you speak with."
"I answer to the Emperor and the Empresses, as for you, I respect your blood and nothing more, you do not rule over me, the Emperor does, and it is his presence that saves you as we speak." Vesper said in a slow and straight manner.
Everyone was quiet, Vesper was always quiet never raising his tone or had an arrogant bearing, but now they understood why he was called the soldier prince, without this level of arrogance.
Marcus watched Vesper and a smile formed, because he could see that this was how Amara brought him up.
Adolfus was incensed, his rage was palpable, "I demand an answer from you Vesper."
Sigh
"Why do the nobles always think I am a pushover because I don't act, mother told me not to act else drawing a line, fine, let she show you that line Prince."
Vesper waved his hands and everyone found themselves in the training ground except the Emperor and the Empresses, soon after they appeared at the training grounds silent, which was unusual, but Gandalf had forbade them from interfering in any form.
Adolfus was incensed and waved his hands as a long sword appeared and then he spoke, "Come forth Grynn."
A portal opened and a qillin marched out , its antler horns were large and its scales were mixed of black and silver.
"Merge."
The qillin turned illusory and flew into Adolfus body as his pale smooth skin started to gain rough texture, scales surfaced and a pair of antler grew on his head, his eyes were pure silver and his body had the scale of black and silver fully covering it.
"This is the first time I have seen eldest brother merge with his bond." Conrad said while having a troubled expression on his face.
It was also the first time that Adolfus had lost his cool, even when being offended.
Vesper just watched as Adolfus charged at him and he side stepped, dodging the slash of his sword.
Like magic Vespers eyes flashed with a silver light, before returning to their usual colour, but at that moment the entire world froze, nothing moved, everyone could feel the time running, but their bodies were frozen in space.
Vesper waved his hand and Adolfus flew back smashing against nothing but space.
"I normally fought with weapons all of my life, but somehow, I find using my element as easy as breathing." Vesper spoke to no one in particular.
"Since you wished to humiliate me, I am merely returning the favour dear prince." Vesper summoned his halberd and closed his eyes.
In a slow motion he moved his halberd and then his eyes opened, "Let me show you a distinction between us."
"So my Prince never forget this moment, because if you cross me, I might be forced to react."
Vesper drew his halberd back and that is when the sensation of death came, Adolfus felt it, the princes and princesses felt it, the Emperor and his wives felt it, Gandalf felt it.
The aura surged like a raging tide, about to devour a ship in the middle of the ocean.
Adolfus felt fear, then he roared and charged with his sword, the wind surged around him forming a mini storm in his environment as he struck, he slashed his sword downward.
Then Vesper stabbed the space in front of the halberd spear tip quivered as everything seemed to cut in half.
The wind storm of sword slash heading towards Vesper dispersed.
Adolfus felt something trickle down his cheek, then he touched it and saw blood, his blood, he was cut and did not even feel pain.
His gaze turned to see Vesper walking off.