“This… What?”

Sett was at a complete loss for words. He had been prepared and ready for the former grandmaster’s admonishment considering his lack of respect. Instead, he had been invited to become his student. The situation was completely different from what he had imagined, and he was not at all ready to answer, resulting in the two words he had uttered.

Adriel let out a slight dry chuckle, likely because of Sett’s overly flustered state.

“It is quite alright, young Sett.” The former grandmaster reaffirmed that he had done nothing wrong. “The fault lies with me. I realize that it is indeed a rather troublesome question to ask someone outright. That is especially so, considering your relationship with the current Grandmaster. Thus, I must apologize.”

Sett sighed in relief and allowed himself to calm down after hearing Adriel’s words.

“No need to apologize, Master Adriel. We both simply got a little too excited, that is all.” Sett quickly waved his hands in front of him. “That said, I do believe I have to clear something up. Your words that I have a relationship with the Grandmaster Miles are wrong.”

Hearing Sett’s words, Adriel’s eyes lit up in interest and he trained his eyes upon Sett once again like a hunter that had located its prey.

“Oh, you are not under the thumb of the grandmaster nor are you, his student? Then why would Ivis say otherwise?”

“It is a simple misunderstanding. While I have entered into an agreement with Grandmaster Miles, it only requires loyalty to the order. He may be able to order me around, but only to the extent that he would be able to any other crusader in the order. Once his tenure as grandmaster ends, we will return to have no relationship.”

“I see…” Adriel stroked his stubbles as he looked upon Sett in a new light. “It is a peculiar position that you have placed yourself in, but not one that is necessarily bad for you. Furthermore, if my thoughts hold true, your agreement does not stop you from taking any master. Am I correct?”

“Though I have not given the matter much thought, I do believe you are correct. The only problem stems from the fact that Grandmaster Miles has already arranged for a teacher for me.”

“He has sent for a teacher? It seems that the old clergyman really wants to drag you into his faction by all means possible. Thankfully, as long as it is only a teacher, you can still come under my masterhood.”

“I can?”

Sett was confused. Did he not just say that he already had a teacher? Why did Adriel completely disregard that matter?

“It seems that you are a newcomer to the higher societies of high-level ascendants and do not understand the mannerisms that are hidden within them. Let me explain.” Adriel began pacing slowly with his hands behind his back, looking like a true scholar. “Any ascendant can have multiple teachers at the same time and their term usually does not exceed one year in length. Any single teacher ordinarily covers a single topic. A master, on the other hand, is usually chosen for life. The relationship between a master and a student is far more intimate than that of a teacher’s and thus allow for a greater exchange of information. That includes any secret techniques that the master might own, as well.”

Sett almost felt his mouth come agape. The difference between a teacher and a master was huge, even astronomical. They could not even be compared. One was a small part of your life that existed for at most a couple of years. Sure, you would feel thankful towards them, but that was it. The other, however, was incredibly significant. The master-student relationship was something that was likely to last for your entire life. It would bind the two’s fates together, leaving the other party implicated if you suddenly did something bad or illegal.

Only then did Sett realise the significance of Adriel wanting to take him as his student. He had not meant it in the capacity of a teacher but as a master. Even if Adriel was nearing death, it was still not something that could be said lightly. In essence, Sett would become his legacy.

Although the importance of the question was vast, the one who had asked it had said it so lightly. Sett simply could not wrap his head around it.

“Once again, I know that it is unfair for me to ask you such a question without allowing the relationship between us to deepen. Please, for all of our sakes, take your time thinking the matter through.”

Sett nodded. Something like this was not supposed to be answered immediately. It could very well ruin either of their futures if one of them made a bad choice. Although Adriel seemed to have made his choice, Sett was not entirely certain of the matter.

Sure, he had seen the lives of Adriel and Ivis and felt that he was truly a good person, but basing his choice entirely on those memories could be troublesome. He had seen the memories, but one had to remember that those memories were seen through the rose-tinted glasses of Ivis. Ivis adored and loved Adriel with all his being, it was only natural if the fox had inadvertently forgotten some of the memories that depicted Adriel in a worse light.

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He would have to think long and hard on the matter later.

“That said, I do believe that it is tradition for the potential master to showcase what sort of abilities and methods that he can teach the student. Follow me to my training field.”

With a flourish of his robe, Adriel left the small quaint courtyard and walked towards a part of the island that was slightly obscured from view. Ivis and Sett followed in his trail.

They soon arrived at an area completely devoid of plant life and trees, which made it look entirely out of place on the nature-filled island. Instead, the ground was filled with a huge concrete looking block. From afar, it almost resembled an arena.

“This is our training field.” Adriel nonchalantly introduced the place. “Please stand back while the runes activate.”

As he said this, he infused his essence into a small rune. Immediately, a thin transparent film sprung up on the edge of the training field, effectively severing the inside of the training field from the outside world.

That said, Sett could not fathom why Adriel would feel a need for such precautions.

“The methods that we make use of are severely restricted and cannot be seen by outsiders. “Seeing the evident confusion on Sett’s face, Adriel explained the reasons why. “Some of our methods have been taught to us under the condition that we would not share it anyway, while others would land us in potential dangers if they were to be recognized.”

Sett had long since figured out that ascendant methods were highly secretive. Even a third-tier ascendant like Captain Thomas, would not necessarily have access to one. If one did give out their methods, it was only natural to place the stipulation that it could not be freely given to others.

The other part of the reasoning made even more sense. Sett knew of Adriel’s and Ivis’s past and knew that they practised a very high-profile method from Adriel’s family. If someone affiliated with the family were to see them practising it, they would instantly report it back to the family.

Still, Sett had a hard time believing that someone would dare to try and spy on a former grandmaster like Adriel.

“Come, young Sett. You will be one of the first outsiders to be bestowed my angelic family lineage method.”

Before Sett could question Adriel further, the latter had already spoken and invited him into the insides of the training field.

“Are you ready?”

“As ready as I will ever be.”

“Good.” Adriel sat on the ground and urged Sett to do the same. “The Celestia divine method is one that was originally based on the archaic angel’s methods. As it is derived from another race’s methods, it is incredibly powerful in the right hands and downright useless in others. Even I am not able to use it to its full extend and I am one of the few in the younger generation that has awakened to a considerable angelic bloodline. Should the method prove to ineffective to you, we will simply find something else.”

Sett did not mind all that much if the method proved too ineffective on him. He had, after all, only arrived on this island to hideaway. Finding an ascendant’s method was one of the last things on his mind.

“The Celestia divine method is made up of two parts. The cultivation part, to build up your essence, and the combat part, which will bolster your strength in combat. Apart, these two methods are considerably strong, but when brought together their might is undeniably stronger. Given that you have yet to mature into the first tier of ascendancy, we will be focusing on the cultivation part.”

As Adriel spoke, something happened in the surrounding area. It started out small, like small gusts of wind, but eventually grew into a great gale. Looking upon the scene with his mind’s eye, Sett saw what was really happening. The essence in the area had gone into a frenzy. It all originated from Adriel. With a mere thought and without any strain, he could greatly influence essence many meters from him.

“Observe, young Sett. I will proceed slowly, but I recommend that you pay close attention, nonetheless.”

With those words, Adriel began to cultivate. Sett was flabbergasted. The essence, which had been in a frenzy only a moment ago, suddenly began to flock towards Adriel. It would swarm around him for a moment, after which it would enter him. It was not the complexity of the method that surprised Sett, but rather the efficiency. Even absorbing a hundredth of that which Adriel was currently absorbing, would surely make him explode from excessive energy.

“This is the basic tier of our cultivation method. Even the most basic students of the Celestia family would be able to achieve this with some training. This next part, however, is only achievable for the family’s most accomplished members.”

Adriel spoke with a serene voice that almost made Sett keel over.

A moment later, Adriel’s demeanour changed as he began to truly concentrate. For a moment, nothing happened, but it was not to last. Without any warning, Adriel was bathed in an intense golden light that seemed to come from nowhere. It was truly overwhelming to Sett. The essence that was contained within the light was simply too much. He could not even look directly at it with either his normal eyes or his mind’s eye.

Sett had thought the matter to be over, but he would be proven wrong. From within this golden shower of pure light, Adriel’s figure could only be faintly seen. Suddenly, the figure began to glow along with the light showered upon him, turning into a golden statue. At this moment, the last change happened.

It was faint, but Sett could almost swear that he could see a faint pair of golden wings materializing, which largely resembled those of angels, on Adriel’s back.

For many more minutes, this bizarre show continued, but eventually, it died down. The light curtain gradually disappeared and took Adriel’s radiance with it.

What was left behind, was an Adriel that was breathing heavily and who was covered in sweat. Still, underneath his battered body, Sett could vaguely feel that he was overflowing with energy.

“Hah…” Adriel breathed out heavily. “I am sorry, young Sett. I had thought it possible to give you a good show, but in the end, I did not manage to see it through. For this I am sorry.”

Adriel, despite his weary demeanour, apologized towards Sett.

“Now, let us see if you have learned anything!”