Way of the Knights

Chapter 896: Kyle’s Return, Stephen’s Progress

Kyle has returned from his trip on the Outer Worlds.

The moment Raven laid eyes on him, a smile appeared in his face upon looking at his young disciple’s eyes.

There was visible glint of determination and firmness in them. A burning will that is, for now, silent and slumbering, but make no mistakes for it could burn the entire world if it was provoked.

His guesses were practically confirmed the moment he heard that Kyle chose to enter seclusion right away to prepare for his breakthrough.

Raven knows that Kyle’s trip was fortuitous. He was sent to the Outer Worlds by accident and Raven advised him to explore it, hoping that it will trigger something in him. Kyle didn’t disappoint him. He returned as a changed and fully matured man.

Raven, not even once, lacked any kind of resources or knowledge to impart to his disciples. As the one who stood at the top, it’s practically impossible for him to not be able to provide for his two current disciples. He can give them a world if he wanted to and he wouldn’t even feel a pinch.

What he can’t provide is motivation and decision.

As their Master, he isn’t the one who can choose their Path. It ultimately relies on them. He can only guide them and show them the way, treading the road of their chosen Path is something that they must do by themselves.

Kyle never lacked opportunities nor resources. Ask and he shall receive, that’s the idea. Still, piling up countless of resources had never been the way to properly cultivate. Raven told him about this and he himself understands this. Which is why there were times when he sought out the world to experience it for himself.

Upon his return to the Divine Realm, he was filled with ambition and determination.

Seeing the state of those who lived in the Outer Worlds was a massive eye-opener for him. Understanding what kind of ending they might face if they failed to defend their home, brought out the flames slumbering within him.

This unwillingness and defiance to suffer the same fate as the Outsiders, triggered the shattering of bottleneck. Through sheer will and determination alone, he broke past his limits and his potential roared.

Still, he didn’t breakthrough. He suppressed the urge and followed his Master’s advise. He returned to the Divine Realm to proceed with his breakthrough, he can’t do it in the Outer Worlds since he’d be risking to be marked as an Outsider as well, he didn’t want that.

It’s unknown how long his seclusion will last but one thing’s for sure. When he emerges from it, Kyle’s strength will explosively increase like no other.

Let’s pry off our eyes away from Kyle and look Raven’s other disciple, Stephen.

Roughly four years had passed since he entered Raven’s tutelage, and to say that he changed will be an understanding.

Originally, Stephen was traumatized child. An orphan who experienced hardships growing up. His fate changed when he encountered Raven’s inheritance and under Raven’s tutelage, he transformed into an outstanding young man.

Gone was timid and uncertain kid from before. He’s now 18 years old, standing at an impressive height and handsome face. He has a noble and scholarly aura around him which made him appear as a gentleman.

He’s intelligent and held immense power despite his lean frame.

Originally, Stephen’s potential was only so-so. His Spiritual Entity isn’t all that impressive and because of his malnutrition, his physique wasn’t optimal either.

Fortunately, that has never been an obstacle when it comes to Raven. Solving these deficiencies is as easy as snapping a finger on his part, but for the sake of not ruining Stephen’s future, he did it step by step.

Raven followed his teaching virtues when it comes to teaching Stephen. He will only show him the way and sometimes give him clues, but the rest is up to him.

He didn’t admonish him for being slow, nor did he praise him for accomplishing his achievements. He just taught him steadily and constantly. He didn’t force him, not even once, he allowed Stephen to go at it as his own pace and let him discover his own Path by himself.

Interestingly enough, Stephen had a different way of using the Sealing Arts he imparted.

No, he wouldn’t call Stephen a genius. He’s slow to be totally honest. Even with him explaining the profundities of Sealing Arts to him numerous times, understanding them depends on the day for Stephen. There are days when he gets them right away and there are days where he just can’t.

He’s mediocre at best, but Raven didn’t anything about it.

His unique way of brandishing a seal was something that was born out of his pure curiosity.

There’s this one day when they were testing the structure and sturdiness of seals and an idea struck Stephen. He thought to himself;

‘If the seals are as sturdy as Master said, then it can be used on a physical battle right?’

This was the start of his ingenuity when it comes to wielding seals…

If Raven uses them as they were intended…you know, to ‘seal’ someone or something, Stephen began using the seals to bash the head of his enemies in.

It was barbaric at first glance. Even Stephen himself found this mildly embarrassing. Raven didn’t say anything when he saw it since, funnily enough, he was amused by his disciple’s thought process.

Raven had to admit that the idea was clever. The seals are really sturdy and flexible. While it is weightless, it is very effective as a blunt weapon.

In addition to this, Stephen actually modified the seals in a way that disperses the recoil trauma, therefore he can use his entire physical strength when using it without fearing the recoil damaging his body.

Again, it was clever and amusing, which is why Raven didn’t say anything about it in the first place.

Unknowingly though, because Raven didn’t seem to be against his thought process, Stephen took this as a silent encouragement from his Master, and this where his ingenuity took him to places.

One thing lead to another and at this point, Stephen was using seals as a conduit to control various forms of energy at will.

With the right array attached to his hands, he can summon strong gusts of winds capable of wiping out patches of forests. He can form golems to do his bidding, calm the raging seas, douse his enemies into the depths of their worst nightmares, call upon the blessings of the stars to bless his physique can make him temporarily stronger, summon the terrifying might of lightning to smite his foes and etc.

Raven watched this all in interest and discovered that Stephen might as well discovered his true calling.

He didn’t interfere, not even once. He just observed his progress and offered advise here and there. Although Raven didn’t specialize in this kind of art, he can more or less discover the possibilities of what Stephen could do. He could follow Stephen’s thought process and was even way ahead of him when it comes to this path.

This was Raven after all and even though his usage differs from him, the foundation still lies of seals, how can he not know?

This is why Raven could still offer Stephen clues on how to advance and this will continue until Stephen was strong enough to figure out things on his own.

Not far from now, Raven will have to leave Stephen to fend for himself. At the pace he’s going for right now, it won’t be long until he finds himself unmatched in this world.

Time will come where his adventures takes him to the Divine Realm. At that time, the training wheels are off, Raven will leave him to fend for himself as a true test of skill. Whether he can make a name for himself or submerge himself into the sea of mediocrity, depends on him and him alone.

For now though, Stephen was satisfied with his progress. He was plenty strong for a youth of his age. He had been steadily accumulating experience and following the unorthodox Path of Seals that he discovered for himself.

He’s living his best life and think that things couldn’t get any better than they are right now.

He has friends that he can call family, he was adventuring the world with them and seeing what kind of mysteries lies at the depths of the wilderness beyond the mighty walls of the Empire.

He now have the ability to protect and fend for himself. He no longer has to worry whether he can fetch food or not since he has the ability to do so. He has a home he can return to, people that accepts him and adventures waiting for him.

Life truly couldn’t get any better for him…for now at least.

He heard tales about the realm beyond this world and honestly, he was looking forward to it. Deep down, he instinctively knows that he’ll go there eventually.

For now though, he can tell that he isn’t ready yet. But soon…soon he will arrive there.

Stephen could only accumulate as much as he can so that the day when that happens, arrive sooner.