**Loki POV**
In the throne room in front of the kneeling Loki was a crystal ball, with many nobles and retainers of the Imperial crown on the sides. Receiving the command to rise Loki stared into the eyes of his father with some trepidation for what would happen next. Guin IV tapped his scepter against floor as if to further draw any attention that hadn't come his way at this point.
"My youngest son, Loki Drai Zoval has survived his first hunt despite the great threat which had lurked in the Caestinn woods! A Goblin King had stalked those words and was slain at the order of the very star of this show!" Some applause could be heard for a short while with some of the country bumpkin nobles showing surprise as if they had heard of it for the first time. Once the applause died down practically everyone in the throne room was staring at the Crystal Ball which would shown Loki's stats to the world.
"Now then, Loki press your hand on the top of the Crystal Ball and show the vassals of the Empire what you have earned from your hunt!" Taking a deep breath Loki then pressed his hand to the Crystal Ball as projected and within a few seconds it was projecting his stats into the air showing the following.
[Level 5]
[Tier 1]
● HP: 60
● Str: 60
● Mag: 140
● Skl: 80
● Spd: 55
● Lck: 50
● Def: 40
● Res: 100
● Charm: 65
Silence had quickly introduced a strong reign over the throne room as various nobles began furiously whispering to each other while others were rubbing their eyes in disbelief. Even the Emperor couldn't stop his mouth from slightly gaping likely wondering if he had been drugged. On the other hand the Elven Elders of the Verdant Council were shooting Loki with gazes full of fervent worship. Those gazes made goosebumps rise all over his arms and it took everything he had to not start rubbing them.
It took the Emperor loudly clearing his throat for a majority of those present to look his way once more. "This showing allows me to say this with ease, I am looking forward to the growth of my youngest! I wish to see how he might cause his older siblings to temper themselves in a clean fight for succession!" Everyone in the throne room could hear the emphasis on the word clean and they all saw the not so discreet glare that was placed on the Crown Prince.
"Now then, my loyal subjects! With this knowledge in mind while my youngest Loki entertains our guests from the Verdant Council at the matches within the Colliseum, the venue for the ranking match must be one that will stand strong against such magic and precision from my daughter Serena! For the glory of the Zoval Empire!" The nobles chanting along with the Emperor that lasted for a few chants before everyone began to disperse which included a rather weary Loki now being in a room with the mentioned Elders of the Verdant Council.
The scene in that waiting room had three Elves with the oldest appearing as if he was in his 30s and the other two appearing in their 20s yet all of these figures were on their knees and looking up at Loki with clasped hands and shining eyes. Though for Elves whose physical aging drastically slows after reaching 16 meant they were all rather up there in their years. "Ahh, to think that we worthless Elders would be graced with the divine presence of a High Elf!" That was just the Eldest of the Elders who had spoken and the other two were on a rather similar vein leaving Loki with a blank look. Even after five minutes had passed the worship rather than starting to patter out had gotten even more fierce and he had to throw a light ball at the ceiling blinding them in order to shut them up.
"Ahaha, thank you for all the praise friends from the Verdant Council. I am requesting that you three don't talk to me in such a stiff manner. I heard that there was a guard regiment that I might be shown?" Loki hated that he had to emphasize the way he mentioned his request to foreign statesman in a way, but he had already gotten a good taste that with these three hesitating might only cause them to extol his patience and mercy for some reason.
"Ah of course, please forgive me Lord High Elf." Loki had a slight scowl on his face for a second about that way of addressing himself, but he tucked away the complaint that he had voiced quite often which always fell upon deaf ears apparently.
"My humble name is Hyrein Galthax and these two gentlemen are Unos Talthax and Reid Dalthax." The reason for all their last names practically being the same had to do with the last High Elf that was known to exist before Loki with many branch families of the Althax name not daring to use it so long as the High Elf blood remains dormant supposedly. Of course internally Loki was apologizing to Scyren for his doubts on the Elves being this fervent for the High Elf blood.
"Lord High Elf, please follow us to where our gift is waiting." The three had bowed in unison and Loki reluctantly followed them to the training grounds. Once they arrived at the training grounds there were fifty Elves that were standing at attention. Three of them were priests and two were Priestesses. Fifteen were equipped with heavy armor, shield, a sizable pike, and a short sword sheathed along their hip. Ten of them were in light armor with daggers and bows with arrows. Ten of them were mages in appearance from the robes and the final ten were in a thick plate armor that had runes squirming around signifying them as artifacts and they seemed to be proficient with both blade and magic making them spellswords. One of the spell swords in particular stepped forward not kneeling for the Elders, but instead for Loki.
"Lord High Elf, I am known as Eurys. My men and I will be responsible for your safety. Please allow us to work for you as subordinates that you acknowledge." At first it had sounded alright until Loki began digesting that pledge.
(Wait a second. Did he just essentially say he would protect me regardless of if I recognize them or not? If I deny them won't this create a scandal down the road and maybe even a reason for conflict? Might they use that as an excuse to try and abduct me?)
He could already envision an incident with one of his siblings getting impatient and outsiders struggling fiercely to defend him or in the worst case to avenge him. Letting out an audible sigh and a hand on his own temple Loki looked down at Eurys warily though part of his mind found that name familiar for some reason.
"Eurys, I will accept the loyalty of you and your men under conditions. You must call me Prince Loki, His Higness or Your Highness. My other condition is that you and your men will no longer have anything to do with the Verdant Council." There was not a single dissenting remark made by either the Elders or the regiment that was being gifted.
"Yes! Of course Lo- I mean Your Highness! I am honored to be counted amongst your loyal subordinates!" Loki gave a firm nod once his guard regiment had all kneeled at once and lowered their heads.
"From now on you will call yourselves the Silver Guard! Eurys will remain the captain! Now rise!" As one the Silver Guard rose to their feet and Loki then turned his attention to the three Verdant Council Elders.
"Elders Hyrein, Unos, and Reid let us depart for the Colliseum. I'd like to watch both the Youth Division and the Adult Division if possible before my Ranking Match takes place." Giving half bows the group along with the newly formed Silver Guard set out for the Colliseum though within the Palace, more specifically the chambers of the Crown Prince, there was a rather peculiar scene.
**Guinn V POV**
PA! PA! PA! PA! PA! PA!
The Crown Prince was with a single Elf in his chambers who had been made to wear a silver wig and had amber like colored contacts over her eyes. There was a gag in her mouth as he was spanking her rear, each time causing a sound that would echo into the hall.
"Hah! All you Elves are such base creatures! I should have all the male Elves killed off! All the females made into toys!" The wig and contacts had made it apparent what the source of his grudge was though after having been reprimanded for having organized another attempt to kill Loki, his youngest brother moments after he got the news of his stats. It had been quickly found out and he was left with the warning that if he made a single extra attempt during the time he was being watched, he would lose his eligibility for the throne. As such he was venting on an elven slave he acquired.
"Once I become Emperor! I'll crush those dammed Elves for getting in my way! How dare they try to obstuct my divine self!" His insane laughs could be heard mixed with more slaps to the poor Elf eventually robbing her of her consciousness even. Panting he looked over to a letter he had received and no longer hesitated an evil grin surfacing on his face after he read its content throwing the letter into the fireplace afterwards. "Just you wait Loki ... Just you wait."
This hadn't gone unnoticed by the spies sent by the Emperor, but their hands were tied as this sort of behavior was actually allowed under the idea of fostering the best Emperor. One must undergo many tribulations to be most worthy of the throne as long as they don't threaten the lives of their competitors and siblings before sitting on the throne.