~Emeric~

　　Fine. It shall be a new day, new me.

　　I won't be monitoring Aurora Fangborn as closely anymore and make any attempts like previously to help her with the power assemblage. She can do it by herself. And if she doesn't, I shouldn't care much and let her go back into the wild, to her pack. To Darkforest pack...where she will be humiliated even more and that bastard of a fiance of hers...

　　Ugh. What am I thinking about again?

　　After yesterday's cold shower to calm myself down, the meetings were postponed to today morning. I have to rush down to the court hall where all discussions will be held in both a court room and a private room. A private room for everything to be more secure.

　　"Good morning, Prince Emeric." The guard who I yelled at yesterday, accidentally, greeted me as I walked past him. I winced remembering how I treated him yesterday, and I have a little task for him today as well.

　　"I beg your pardon for yesterday, Payne. Could you perhaps do me a favor today? I have a little bit of work from you that needs supervision on one of the contestants."

　　"Your majesty, it was nothing I took to heart. I understand that you were in a rush. Which contestant do you wish for me to observe, your Highness?" He spoke softly, and I replied with a smile,

　　"Contestant number 12, Aurora Fangborn." Suddenly, Payne's smile fell as he recollected who the girl is. Well, I shouldn't care if he has an opinion on Aurora or not. I have some work with him, might as well do it.

　　"As you wish, your Highness. I'll be leaving duty now." Nodding my head, I watched from my periphery as the substitute soldier had taken his place. He would probably go down the dormitory for a change of costume, to appear more civil and blend into the crowd to observe Aurora Fangborn's training and progress.

　　However, I don't think she'll have any significant progresses. She's been stubborn and a loud mouth, that must have gotten her into lot of trouble lately as well. I'd be surprised if she still has her name in the commander's regime list.

　　"Well, good morning, Alpha Emeric."

　　"Prince Emeric suits me better. I'm not a regular werewolf, even if our rank systems are similar."

　　"Oh, alright. Someone seems to have gotten up the wrong side of the bed." I shoved the files I carried with me into Roman's chest. He held onto them whilst chuckling teasingly,

　　"How are the..." My words were diluted with me being distracted by the sight in front of me. We were walking from the center, crossing the training ground to go to the east wing.

　　"Alpha Emeric...?" None of them attempted to follow my gaze, towards where I'm staring. And I'm thankful. I don't wish to be caught staring at someone whom I deem not to care about at all.

　　Aurora Fangborn has been working hard. Her gains are visible by the amount of efforts she's been putting at her training. Without an awakened wolf, she's quite strong and adept. Her progress makes me want to smile, but at the same time, her words have hurt me. When I think about my words of genuine suggestion to her, I also think about her suspicion and blame she's put on me. I don't blame her for that. The poor girl was under grief.

　　'You say this and you say that as well. What is going in with you, Emeric? Do you wish to support her or not? Decide right now. You've already asked four people to keep an eye on her. Not to mention, you've also pushed her into the training by making Roman inform her about it. You gave her a headstart! What else do you want to do with her!? Make up your goddamn mind, will ya?'

　　'Marrok, it was better if you stayed quiet in my head, my friend.' I heard a growl from Marrok as I chuckled in my head. Well, I shall continue about my day anyway.

　　I don't care about her. I shouldn't, too.

　　If she wins by herself, well and good. If she doesn't, it's not my fault and no, I wouldn't regret helping her in her initial stages as of now.

　　She seems to be doing...great in her regime training as well. Good for her, good for her~

　　Evening struck, my leg couldn't stop shaking at all. Today is a team work regime that commander and I have discussed about last night. I have a rough idea over how that task works this evening. Perhaps, I should go over and maybe watch them as a supporting Alpha and host of these Trials?

　　Seems like my body was too excited by the thought even. As soon as the thought crossed my mind, I crushed the pen between the hardbound record book as I slammed it close over the desk. I then strode towards the door, flinging it open. I swear I scared the soul out of the guards who were about to doze off. Sending a subtle glare their way, my message to stay alert was conveyed wordlessly.

　　I briskly walked myself down the east wing, reaching the training ground hallway almost too quickly. My excitement induced concern in Beta Roman who caught a glance of me through the open library doors. He slammed his books shut as well, and began racing down to catch up with me.

　　"Whoa whoa whoa! I thought you had a tough job to do tonight, Alpha Emeric. Aren't the records more important to you than, well..." Roman was walking backwards as I raised my eyebrow, slowing down my pace visibly.

　　"I know what's important to me, Beta Roman. To emit all thoughts of doubt, I come down here myself to remove them by observing." I kept my words formal, to appear as uninterested as possible. But Beta Roman could see right through me. The way he chuckled tells me he knows the reason for my halt by the open hallway which showed me the training ground.

　　In front of me, sixteen cadets and my loyal, fierce and trustworthy commander of warrior ranks was training them in groups. The task was simple, but efficient in building teamwork. Teamwork will be an aspect tested somewhere in between the trials. For entertainment reasons, the rules aren't revealed so early to the contestants.

　　Behold...my great warriors and future Heirs to my Trials...

　　Oh, watching them work together brings a smile to my face~