Way of the Knights

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Marrow Cleansing.

To many people who wanted to tread the path of Knighthood, they have a few opinions about this stage, ultimately they came into a conclusion that not everyone could reach this stage, or for others…

A Fabled Stage.

Why was it a Fabled Stage? Aside from the fact that not everyone could reach this stage, it is also because people deemed it unnecessary to reach this stage in order to enter the Solider Realm. The reason is as soon as they reach peak Bone Forging Realm, they could just ask to undergo the Righteous Bestowal Ceremony and they would automatically enter the Solider Realm.

Raven himself used to believe this, but now he could confidently say that there's almost no chance for them to reach the Knight Stages if the omit the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

A large portion of human body is filled with blood. Whenever one loses blood due to a wound or a fatal injury, it's the duty of the Marrows to replace those missing blood so that the human body would function normally. Raven didn't know where the idea of skimping the cleaning of the blood came from. It was common sense that the point of the Fighter Stages is to prepare one's body to handle the energy intake. One's body is the foundation, and it's a no-brainer by now that an unstable foundation won't let them go anywhere.

The whole reason as to why the ritual could assail them to the next realm is because the ritual helps with the formation of Energy Body something that would only show up once they enter the Soldier Realm. But relying on the ritual to reach this stage, is going to severly weaken their foundations. As they go closer to the Knight Stages, their bodies won't be able to handle the stress and weight of their Energy Body and one fatal mistake could lead to being a cripple or death.

This is one of the main reasons why there are only very few people who reached the Knight Stages in this Kingdom. And if this really continued, then the Black Curtain Guild didn't even need to move, all they need to do is wait and the kingdom will eventually fall.

***

One month passed and the crew was gathered.

Ellen might be the first one to achieve breakthrough but it didn't take it long for the rest to follow. Now, all of them are formally standing at Peak Marrow Cleansing Realm.

The path wasn't as smooth sailing like everyone experienced in the past realms. The process of Marrow Cleansing was painful, even more painful than Bone Forging. Each time they experienced it, it felt like their blood was boiling to the point of evaporation.

There were many times that their muscles were damaged and blisters even showed up on their skin. Some of them went so close to giving up during the process, if it weren't for Raven's close monitoring, they might not be able to make it.

Good thing they did. And the benefits they received was totally worth it. Saying that their raw strength was at least doubled would be an understatement. On top of the strength boost, their longevity was also extended to a large degree. Their stamina, endurance, and energy reserves all received a boost from each breakthrough. Each of them were confident to take on any Soldier Realm experts and stand on equal terms.

"You guys ready?"

Raven asked them as they stood in front of the institute gates. He saw them nodded with a fierce determination on their faces. He smiled and opened the entrances ans together, they walked towards their classroom. A place that they haven't visited for quite sometime.

A brief nostalgia welcomed them, but it didn't last long since as soon as they entered, the whole attention was focused on them. They looked at each other and smiled wryly, as much as they don't want being on the spotlight it couldn't be helped. Plus it would do them good to get used to it, after all, their silent life would slowly slip away as soon as they start.

The crew sat on their seat, they ignored the befuddled gazes of their classmates. They talked to each other while waiting for the professor to enter the class.

"Am I seeing things?"

"I'm not dreaming am I?"

"Our goddesses are back!"

"But why are they hanging out with those…those…"

"How come they are close? Last time I knew they were civil to each other at best! What happened?"

"I don't want to live anymore!!"

Whispers of their classmates buzzed around the room. Unbeknownst to them, no matter how hard they tried hush their voices, it was very audible to the crew. So much so that even them felt the awkwardness of the situation.

Raven sighed in mind and thought: 'Same old ignorant people huh? I could see a select few who barely advanced their cultivation, as for the rest, awful.'

He could care less about what they think of this current situation, what's irritating him is instead of focusing on cultivation, these people paid more attention to gossips and chasing skirts. It had to be known that they didn't attend class for at least five to six months, at the start of their leave all of them were at the same realm of cultivation, now they're miles apart.

Only a few people managed to raise their cultivation and that didn't even made him happy, since in just one glance, he could tell how unstable and how awful their foundations are.

'I will change this. Now's not the time, but I will surely change the way how this kingdom works. Even if it means offending the royal family. I will not lose my home again. Never.'

The flame of determination flared in his heart. He sighed and decided to throw this at the back of his head first, there will be time for all of this later. For now, he had to focus at the task at hand.

***

The class finished without any interruptions.

Old Lee was surprised to see Raven and his crew present on his class once more. What surprised him even more was the fact that they all reached Marrow Cleansing Stage. Appreciation emerged at the very depths of his heart. He remembered back in the day when Raven free Luna from the curse that tormented her since childhood, in a blink of an eye, she now had friends beside her and they are doing their best to usher a better future for the kingdom.

"Is there anything that I could help you?"

He asked feigning ignorance about their purpose even though it was as clear as day for him. Nevertheless, Raven and his crew rode along with the act.

"We are here to give our thanks for your tutelage, and that we are asking for permission to be promoted the Inner Branch of the Institute."

When the whole class heard Raven's proclamation, they gasped in shock and awe. Silence followed by a huge outburst of reactions from every student that's present happened.

"Huh!? What's he on? Promotion?"

"He's crazy."

"He's insane."

"Did he lost a few screws on his head during the time he was gone?"

"Heh, what a dumb guy."

"If it were my goddess and savior Luna, that asked for a promotion, I would believe it, but this guy? Fat chance!"

"What does he think he's doing?"

"I don't know, being embarrassing I guess…"

"I've seen many ways on how people boast, this guy…is on another level."

And so on and so forth. Honestly, it was such a headache for Old Lee to hear. He raised his hand and glared at the talkative students, he then said: "Silence."

His voice was amplified by energy so it resounded to each corner of the room. The students shivered and sank back to their desk. Seeing the students calm down, Old Lee returned his attention to Raven and his crew to maintain the act.

"You people should know the requirements for the Promotion right?"

"We are aware sir." Raven nodded to him and looked towards his crew. They nodded to each other and decided to flare their cultivation bases for everyone to see and feel.

The whole room became heavy, the student felt a lump on their throats as they felt the pressure that these people are releasing. A thin curtain of blue light covered their bodies, to some, it looked like their bodies were on fire since movement to light curtain resembled a flickering flames.

Old Lee watched with glistening eyes, how lively and tangible these auras are. He was full of glee to see that even though their cultivations were too fast, their foundations are firm and steady. This was the product of natural breakthroughs, which Raven heavily plastered onto their minds.

"Paul Gregory, 14 years old. Peak Marrow Cleansing Realm."

"Mark Anderson, 14 years old. Peak Marrow Cleansing Realm."

"Ellen Redcrest, 13 years old. Peak Marrow Cleansing Realm."

"Anne Fiore, 13 years old. Peak Marrow Cleansing Realm."

"Luna Moonsong, 13 years old. Peak Marrow Cleansing Realm."

"Vendrick Valorheart, 13 years old. Peak Marrow Cleansing Realm."

As they announced this, silence permeated inside the classroom.