Way of the Knights

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***

Kyle Palestine, 17 years old. Student of Heavenly Cloud Academy. 

Spiritual Entity: Great Desolation King. Preferred weapon: Greatsword. 

Remarks: Righteous to a fault. Stubborn yet loyal. A bit prideful but still, an excellent seedling.

Recommendations: To be subjected to a Strong Leader. 

***

Raven viewed the student profile of the young man who's struggling to come close to him and felt a headache coming. 

'I was too eager back then, I shouldn't have agreed to this.' He lamented inwardly though his face remained expressionless. 'I thought I'll get rid of my responsibilities in the academy by now but, here we are.'

Never in his wildest dreams did he think that he'll end up accepting a disciple upon his return. He purposefully cranked-up the difficulty of obtaining the Apprenticeship Ticket so that he won't be subjected to this yet someone still got it. 

Originally, he was planning to use his remaining time in the lower plane to enjoy the company of his loved ones and friends. As much as possible, he didn't want to create another tie that would bind him to this place since that will turn into an obstruction upon his ascent, but on the other hand, he also brought this to himself. He had to take responsibility for this guy. 

*Hu* *Hu* *Hu*

Kyle's heavy breathing could be heard all around. Raven emotionlessly gazed at him, looking at his intense perspiration and his eyes that contained fiery determination. He watched as Kyle dragged his body forward, suffocating under the stifling pressure that Raven's emitting. 

In the end, Kyle was able to come close to him, unfortunately before he could even say anything, Kyle fainted and fell to the ground with a loud thump. 

Raven helplessly sighed and flicked his finger. Kyle's body levitated in the air. He took out a wooden barrel and poured in contents of Body Restoration Fluid before flinging Kyle's body inside the barrel. 

He turned his back against him and started creating materials that would help him in raising this disciple of his. 

Like this, a hour passed. Kyle eventually regained consciousness, finding himself inside a barrel filled with water and residual medicine efficacy. His head was hurting as he was struggling to remember what happened before he lost consciousness. 

Raven was obviously aware that he regained consciousness, he then transmitted his voice to him saying: "Stabilize your cultivation."

Kyle was alarmed by this booming voice, eventually he recalled everything, looking incredulously at the man casually sitting behind him. He then recalled his words and to his surprise, he actually broke through the next level of his cultivation! 

Before this meeting, Kyle was already at the precipice of breaking through the Marrow Cleansing Realm. That being said, the obstruction he met was too solid, causing him to be stuck at the same stage for quite sometime. Who would've thought that only one action from Raven was enough for to help Kyle shatter the barrier that's preventing him from breaking through for quite some time?

Kyle did was he was told and stabilized his cultivation. After that, he jumped out of the medicine barrel with renewed vigor, smiling to himself as he felt strength coursing through his body. He wanted to shout towards the heavens and laugh out loud but one sentence from Raven trampled his enthusiasm. 

"Feeling very strong are we?" 

Raven's tone was filled with thick sarcasm, causing Kyle's pride to curb down. He then turned around to look at his idol but another sentence from him knocked Kyle from his pedestal. 

"When I was at your age, I was already a Silver Knight and was already roaming the world."

Kyle's eyes dimmed from that statement, thought he wanted to say something in rebuttal, what could he say anyway? In front of Raven, his pride was nothing. 

He then heard Raven sigh. He saw him stopping what he's currently doing to stand up. Kyle started tensing up once more as he saw Raven staring at him. 

"In truth, I never wanted to accept any apprentice at all." Raven's statement caused Kyle to pale and feel despair. "But then again, seeing that you worked hard to obtain it, I'll honor the ticket."

Kyle's eyes brightened up as he heard Raven say that. Many thoughts flashed on his mind, he felt giddy and excited. It feels like he was dreaming, his idol was really taking him in as a disciple? 

Seeing his fanatical gaze, Raven felt inwardly depressed. He began thinking: 'Am I really taking him as a disciple? I think if I gave him my autograph he might completely forget about the other matter.'

However, Raven dispersed this thought. He then raised an eyebrow since Kyle still hasn't woke up from his stupor. His voice boomed as he said: 

"Still not greeting me?"

This sentence woke Kyle out of his stupor, his face panicked as he hurriedly knelt in front of him and said: "STUDENT GREETS TEACHER!"

"Geez." Raven's lips twitched. This disciple of his, isn't he a little too loud and stiff? "Rise and relax. I have a few things to tell you before we start. Pay attention because I won't repeat them."

Kyle stumbled and took out a notebook from his spatial ring, he then looked at Raven with anticipation as he waited for him to speak. 

"First of all, our relationship as Teacher and Student will only be effective for a short period of time. As for how long, four to five years. It will ultimately depend on your performance." 

His first statement dampened Kyle's enthusiasm once more, this time he couldn't help to ask: "Why Teacher?"

"That's the length of my vacation, once it's up, I'll be somewhere far and I don't know when I'll be returning." Raven's words were stated with outmost seriousness. Seeing Kyle's saddened look, he tussled his hair and said: "Don't feel sad. I'll make sure that before I leave, you'll be able become unobstructed anywhere you go."

"That being said, since it was your decision to take me as your teacher, you have to prepare yourself since my methods will push you to the brink of insanity. If you can't take it, I will ne forced to cut our relationship short. You understand?"

"Yes Teacher!" Kyle nodded, determination flashing on his eyes as he was already aware that his training under Raven will be extremely difficult. 

"Good!" Raven nodded, "Now do you see this stone house behind me?" 

Kyle nodded, Raven then said: "From now on, this is where you'll live. You don't have to report to the academy anymore since. Pack up your things and move here by the end of the day, tomorrow will be the start of your official training."

"I understand Teacher!" 

"Alright, you may go now." Raven then waved his hand and Kyle immediately sprinted out, heading towards the academy to fetch his belongings and move to this stone house.

This stone house is the same house where Raven and his friends once lived in. Nothing has changed in here except for the fact that this is treated as a private property now. Without permission from Raven or his friends, no one is allowed to step within its perimeter. 

The reason why he chose this is because the training equipment that they once used are still here. The training dummies, the air projectile chamber, the gravity room, the beast formation, all of these would prove to be helpful for Kyle's growth. While the academy also has these things, the competition is tight, each student are only limited to a few hours of stay. 

Due to limited time, Raven decided to make the most out of it in order to fully transform Kyle into another pillar that will protect the Kingdom. Therefore, this is not the time for him to hold back for Kyle's growth. 

Raven tinkered some new things that will help Kyle's training. After setting them up, he left the stone house and returned to his own house. 

Luna was already there waiting for him, just in time for lunch. A warm smile appeared on his face as their eyes meet. 

"How's your disciple?" Luna asked with a giggle. Raven rolled his eyes and hugged her from behind, saying:

"It's like I'm teaching a younger Paul, only with an overly stiff attitude." 

Luna giggled once more he held his arms, gently smiling as she accepted the shower of kisses Raven was giving her. 

"Well, at least he has a good character." She then separated herself from him and took a seat. 

"He better be." Raven snorted, "Or else, even if he had the ticket stub, I won't accept him."

They then started chatting about normal things like what a normal mortal couple would do. This current situation of theirs might be simple and ordinary yet it's filled with bliss and happiness causing the both of them to be satisfied.

Raven's mentality is great benefitting from this, due to his past and the times that he had been away, his mind was always alert and taut. This simple way of living cleanses the stress on his mind, allowing him to feel extreme comfort that seeps onto his soul. 

"Love, I plan on taking the smelting trial tomorrow."