Battle cries thundered outside the palace gates.
The guards of the Arkham Court soon fell into a losing battle.
"What do we do? What do we do? They're about to break through!"
Behind the lines, Prince Silaire was so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead.
Having never experienced war, he was now completely at a loss.
"Your Highness, I'm afraid the front line won't hold much longer. Let us escort you to safety first."
The royal adviser, a court mage who had once studied in Atrelin, urged him to leave.
"No, how can I abandon the guards fighting for us? Besides, there's nowhere good to go now..."
Amid his panic, Silaire noticed the Atrelin Battle Mage who had accompanied them.
"Master Lamb, could you help us put down the rebellion?"
"I'm very sorry. We haven't been authorized to intervene in your civil war."
Lamb, a Middle-Tier Mage, refused without hesitation.
The court mage said, "Your Highness, please don't put Master Lamb in a difficult position. They're only here to guard against demons and foreign invaders."
"But now... this is an emergency!" Silaire said helplessly.
Lamb betrayed nothing on his face, but sneered inwardly.
What does your emergency have to do with us?
Just then, Princess Rosa walked in. "Master Lamb, please lend us your assistance."
Lamb looked troubled. "Lady Rosa, I..."
Rosa waved a hand. "I know your duties place many restrictions on you, but a little intervention should be easy enough to justify.
"Once this is over, I can grant you ten knightly fiefs. They'll belong privately to you and the mages under your command. Even if you can't openly claim them, you can have someone trustworthy hold them on your behalf."
Lamb hesitated. "That's not what I meant. This concerns our authority to engage in combat..."
"Fifteen!"