Chapter 54

Letting his eyes rest on his teacher's face Alvar wondered why he had been separated from the crowd behind him. But before he could continue his contemplations he was pushed further forwards, away from the crowd, while another child around his age was pulled from the crowd and lead the same way as Alvar was.

Only then, when he watched the child get pulled away from the crowd, did Alvar realise that his grandparents, just like the parents of the child after him, remained standing in the crowd and watched all the children being moved away.

As he was watching this scene play out on different parts all over the crowd a growing sense of dread and horror made itself home inside his guts. Hoping beyond all else Alvar made to turn around and return to his grandparents but the steel like arms from his teacher kept Alvar from doing so.

With the sinking feeling in his stomach growing with every second Alvar began to struggle more and more until he was about ready to drive his shield on his left arm into his teachers guts and rush back to his grandparents when Sjorn drove an all too familiar fist into Alvar's guts that robbed the lad of his breath and was promptly afterwards lifted off his feet and carried forwards, away from the crowd.

Still groaning while Alvar was being carried on Sjorn's shoulder the boy could only watch in despair as his grandparents, who tried to keep their faces as blank as possible but failed miserably which was only too apparent by the trembling hands or his grandmother's tear filled eyes that threatened to overflow any second, grew further and further into the distance until Sjorn and Alvar rounded a corner and with it cut of any vision he had had of his remaining family. Only later would he realise that this was the last time he saw his grandparents alive…

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Sjorn knew what he was doing was heartless and cruel but he saw no other way. He knew his student, better than most actually, and was sure that the boy would fight tooth and nail in order to not get separated from his remaining family. Thus, a few weeks ago when the leaders of the Norn had convened, it had been decided that the parents or those charged with looking after the new generations would be informed about the emergency protocol. The protocol stated to protect the next generation at all costs and with it secure the survival of the Norn, should the worst-case scenario come to pass.

Of course when the leaders had created the protocol they hadn't actually believed that it would ever come to pass as the preparations for the relocation of the Norn was going very smooth so far. But, as luck would have it, the worst-case scenario became reality and thus the emergency protocol was activated.

Now here he was. Walking through the wooden corridors of the great hall, his student gasping for air laid over his shoulder and probably having figured the situation out by now, to a certain degree only of course. Behind the pair of student and teacher many more children with their small bundles hung over their torso fearfully and downtrodden followed after their teachers, none knowing that they would possibly never see their families again and Sjorn was rather happy, if he were to put some word as description of his current emotions, that such was the case.

With a grunt Sjorn marched forwards and soon entered the small hall that was their first destination. As the old man was letting his gaze roam over the ones waiting there already he was glad that none was missing. For one there was the old necromancer that would make sure the group of escapees would not run into any ambushes through the advice of the spirits of the dead. Then there was the small contingent of Mesmers that would hide the children under a shroud of invisibility while they all escaped Hoelbrak and made a beeline towards the south of the Shiverpeak mountains.

Last but not least there was the Havroune along with the last members of the mist guard who would look after the children and act as leaders once they entered the territory south of the mountains and could hopefully arrange for some living quarters in one of the capitals belonging to the other races.

Walking inside the hall all the children threw apprehensive glances around while the Mesmers who often possessed kind and cheerful personalities greeted them and told them to group together for a bit which in turn lightened the heavy mood that weighed down on all the children for a little bit.

Sjorn though had long since removed his attention from the group of children being gathered and looked after by the Mesmers and put his focus on his student whom he had softly put down on the ground.

Though once he saw the look in his student's eyes Sjorn wished he hadn't as he was greeted by burning anger and fear, emotions he knew only all too well and was loath to admit that he played no small role in causing such tormenting feelings for the boy before him…

"Why? What is going on here?!" Alvar snarled in anger and confusion while Sjorn braced himself for the repercussions his words would inevitably summon and told his disciple.

"A few weeks ago an emergency protocol was put into place to secure the survival of our race should the worst case come to pass. It did. Tonight. Thus, your grandparents, just like all the other parents and guardians who looked after the future of our race, knew what needed to be done and did so without fail. They were to lead their children to the great hall where they would be escorted without exception into a separate room from where they would be lead out of Hoelbrak and down south, out of the Shiverpeak mountains. I, as your teacher, was asked to bring you as all the other teachers had to bring their students as well." Sjorn spoke while Alvar's eyes grew wider and wider the more he spoke until the boy just couldn't contain his anger and fear anymore and tried to move his teacher by brute force in order to return to his family as he knew with certainty what would happen to them while he ran like a coward…!

Unfortunately, as much as Alvar had learned in the last months under Sjorn, he was nowhere near a match for the man and was without hesitation punched a second time, just as hard and mercilessly as the last time which robbed the boy his breath once again.

"I know you are angry Alvar but you have to understand that we had no choice in the matter! Do you understand my words? The survival of our race is at stake! Neither you nor I have the room to act on emotions right now!" Sjorn grit out in order not to let his words be heard by the other children in the room though his voice had lost none of its intensity in doing so.

Letting out a sigh after making some of the bottled up emotions in his guts come out Sjorn kneeled down before the kneeling boy who tried his best to keep his emotions contained but looked so frail compared to normal days in the process that it nearly broke Sjorn's old hardened heart in two at the sight.

"Listen Alvar. I know you are angry and afraid. Angry at me, at the enemies, angry at the whole unfairness of the situation, afraid what will happen to your grandparents, to your friends and to you but there is a time and a place to let those emotions rule you. You are a warrior! Do what we do best and fight! Fight your fear, your anger and your enemies but never let them decide your fate for you!

I wish you all the best Alvar and I'm proud that you are my student, even though you can be such a damn hard head sometimes, hehehe... Look after those children for me, will you? After all, they are all that is left of our people after tonight…" After saying his piece with a little mirth tinging his words towards the end Sjorn put his hand onto Alvar's head once more and stood up. Leaving Alvar to himself Sjorn moved over towards the other adults that would be in charge of the children.

Once he had informed the leaders of Alvar Sjorn turned around and left the great hall to join his troops in defending the city he had always called home and would continue to do so till the end.

With confident steps Sjorn disappeared into the wooden corridors of the great hall and soon joined his men and women at the gates of Hoelbrak. He had a war to fight after all, just like he had always done...