Chapter 18
"May all the apprentice knights kneel as you pledge your oath to the kingdom and its people," the head of the imperial knight said, ending his speech.
The 122 apprentice knights at the center of the hall kneeled before the raised platform and started reciting their oaths with their heads bowed in respect to their oaths:
"I, Deon, swear upon the power of the winter winds and the magic of this kingdom to uphold the honor of my sword and the sanctity of my heart. I shall defend the innocent and vanquish the wicked, using the gifts bestowed upon me by the gods and the elements. I vow to never falter in my quest for justice, to never abandon my comrades in battle, and to never surrender to the darkness that seeks to consume us all. May the frosty grip of winter steel my resolve, and the warmth of my noble heart guide my path. This, I swear, as a High Knight of the winter kingdom." Deon spoke solemnly, with each line filled with determination and resolve.
The voices of the apprentice knights echoed throughout the halls filling the room with virtue and nobility as the other failed apprentice knights could only look with envy and heartache, but even then, they couldn't deny the worthiness of apprentice knights before them.
Lucien and Caleb looked toward deon with a smile and proud faces. All their sadness from their failure disappeared as they saw their brother becoming the high knight that they had always dreamed of.
The head of the imperial knights nodded in satisfaction when he heard the determinations within the voices of the apprentice knights and spoke again:
"As the head of the imperial Knights, I welcome you all to our noble order and always remember our ten commandments:
First: Protect the innocent: As a High knight, it is your responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Use your powers and skills to defend the innocent from harm.
Second: Show courage: In the face of danger and adversity, show courage and do not falter. Your bravery can inspire others to do the same.
Third: Be chivalrous: Practice chivalry in all your dealings with others. Show respect, courtesy, and kindness to everyone you encounter.
Fourth: Uphold justice: Always act with honor and integrity, and never stray from the path of justice. Your actions should be guided by a strong moral compass.
Fifth: Be loyal: Show loyalty to your allies, your kingdom, and your cause. Stand by your principles and support those who share your values.
Sixth: Respect all life: Every living creature has value and deserves respect. Use your powers for good, and never use them to harm or exploit others.
Seventh: Show compassion: Be compassionate towards those in need and offer assistance whenever possible.
Eight: Use your powers wisely: Your magical abilities are a powerful tool, but they can also be dangerous. Use them with caution and always consider the consequences of your actions.
Ninth: Show mercy: In situations where mercy is appropriate, show it. Compassion and forgiveness are powerful weapons.
And Finally, the Tenth: Adapt to change: The world is constantly changing, and as a magical knight, you must adapt to these changes. Be flexible and open-minded." One by one, the imperial knight spoke the ten commandments with vigor and passion in his voice, lighting the passion of all the youths before him
All the apprentice knights know of the ten commandments, but they have never heard it with such vigor and passion as though the head of the imperial knight's voice and stature is the embodiment of the Ten Commandments.
Deon's heart raced as he listened to the ten commandments from the head of the imperial knight. He had never given much consideration to them before, but now they seemed like a crucial aspect of his journey as a knight. Deon felt foolish for previously disregarding the commandments.
The head of the imperial knight took out his sword from his waist, drawing all the attention to him as he placed his sword near his chest with the blade pointing to the heavens and spoke the motto of the imperial knight:
"By the light of the stars and the power of the elements, I am an imperial knight sworn to protect and serve the innocent and uphold justice."
When the other imperial knights and the institute staff members heard the head of the imperial knight saying the motto, they followed and recited the motto along with the head of the imperial knight.
"With honor and courage, I will wield my powers wisely and responsibly, always seeking to learn and grow in knowledge and wisdom. I stand united with my fellow knights, respecting all forms of life and embracing diversity and inclusion."
The apprentice knights also recited the motto when they heard all the imperial knights. They were familiar with the long motto as they always recited it every day before training.
"With humility and selflessness, I am dedicated to my mission, never giving up in the face of adversity. For the greater good, I will serve with all my heart and soul, bringing light to the darkness and preserving the world's natural balance. This is my duty, my destiny, and my honor as an imperial knight."
The knights' voices echoed through the halls, making their words sound more impressive. When they finished speaking, the ceremonial sword glowed brightly, as if it had heard their chants.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
The light in the hall created a warm and safe atmosphere, making the imperial knight's presence even more impressive. It seemed like no cold or evil could penetrate this sense of security.
"Rise, Imperial Knights," the head of the imperial knight said with a commanding voice
All the 122 apprentice knights that were kneeling started to rise to their feet with their backs straighter than ever before as newfound confidence and resolve entered their hearts.
…
Imperial Knight Institute Headquarters: Training Ground
The institute made the main training ground into their outdoor banquet area for the knighting ceremony banquet because of its large space that will fit everyone.
Compared to the awakening ceremony banquet, the knighting ceremony banquet has a different sitting than before, with another large table for the awakened apprentice knights.
Deon wanted to sit with his friends as this might be their last dinner together for a very long time, but in the end, he had to follow orders. He can't disobey the first order that the imperial knights gave him.
Next to deon is William and another grade nine apprentice knight from another institute branch. He didn't mind sitting next to William since they were at least acquaintances and had the same hometown and had a lot of things to talk about, making the celebration more interesting.
There is a difference between the awakening ceremony banquet and the knighting ceremony banquet, and that is the food. During the awakening ceremony banquet, the dining was divided into three parts, whereas during the knighting ceremony banquet, only the main course was served.
Their table is full of meats from different animals that the imperial knights hunted for this occasion, and apparently, the meat is very good for apprentice knights and their developing bodies, which made the apprentice knights full of admiration.
"What kind of meat is this?" Deon asked in amazement at how delicious the food was
"I have no idea. Did you hear what they said?" William asked
"What?... What did they say?" Deon asked, engrossed in eating
"Some say that this meat might be a chimera," William said
"Chimera? Really?... Is it okay to eat them?" Deon asked in surprise
"I think so… they wouldn't give it to us if it weren't, right?" William said while inspecting his food with caution
"Maybe… it's the reason why it's so delicious," Deon said while taking a large bite from his food. He wasn't really cautious about his food and fully enjoyed it. However, deon tried to hear conversations around him to find some facts that might interest him.
'I wonder what kind of chimera is this? It's so delicious,' Deon thought as he looked at the food in front of him, trying to figure out the creature he was eating but with no avail.
'It tastes like chicken and beef? Is it a cow chicken?' Deon amused himself in thought. He didn't really have any friends around him, so he might as well enjoy himself.
Chimeras are monsters from underground dungeons, and they are composed of cells from two or more different organisms. They are considered an abomination from nature and are usually killed on sight, but most chimeras are stronger than a normal human making it the job of the high knights to kill and hunt them.
The chimeras are considered a higher threat than the neighboring kingdom as the chimera indiscriminately kill and eat any creatures in front of it, making the chimera a more immediate threat than the other kingdoms.
Most knight stories feature a knight battling a powerful chimera. As a result, many young apprentice knights aspire to one day defeat a chimera in combat, including Deon.
Deon hasn't seen a chimera in person but wants to, mainly because he wants to copy it to his dreamscape so that he can try fighting it. Even though the copy might be weaker than its original, he still wants to try it.
Deon even tried using a drawing of a chimera to try to create a chimera in his dreamscape but to no avail.
'I wonder, do the imperial knights have a captive chimera that I could look at or maybe train with?' deon amusedly thought as he ate the food while listening to the conversations around him.
The apprentice knights around deon mostly talked about their future stations and what it is like to be part of the imperial knights, which made deon quite bored.
Although deon could talk to William, he still preferred talking to his friends and enjoying the most delicious dinner he had ever had with them.
*Sigh*
'Would I get punished if I switched sit? I mean, the formality is over. Surely, I can switch sit now? Or will it be considered rude if I switch now? Would William think I'm being rude? Hm.' Deon thought deeply, but, in the end, he didn't move
Deon doesn't know why he is suddenly feeling clingy toward his friends. Maybe it's because it will be their last night together before separating, and he wants to spend it with his friends and not some random people.
"When do you think the imperial knights will teach about magic?" Deon asked William, trying to divert his mind to something else
"Hm. I don't know. But I think they will teach us about magic first before deploying us to our stations, right?" William answered, quite unsure himself as he deeply thought about it
"I guess that makes sense. I can't wait to learn more about magic. So far, everything about the magic seems very interesting," Deon nonchalantly said
"I agree," William said before going back to his food. With silence ensuing, the two youths
'Do I really have to start every conversation? This is why it's better to have Caleb in this situation. No… I'm being rude. Maybe, William is just too focused on eating right now, he did start the conversation earlier, and I only made a small comment on it,' Deon thought. 'Tsk, this is so annoying… Ohh. Let's try that one,' as he took a piece of meat from another dish that he wasn't familiar with.
'Wow… this is so delicious. What is this? They should at least give us the names of the foods' deon thought before hearing a conversation that perked his interest.
"Hey, Do you know what will happen to the awakened nobles?"
"I'm not sure about that one."
"Oh. I know. Every noble that awakened will attend the Royal Magic Academy."
"Royal Magic Academy? There's a place like that? How come we aren't going there?"
"Because we're imperial knights now, dummy."
"Are nobles only allowed there?"
"I don't think so. I think it's possible to attend there even if you aren't noble."
"How do you know that?"
"Heh, I'm pretty well connected."
"Is it possible to study there even if we are an imperial knight?"
"That... I'm not sure of."
"I thought you were connected?"
"Yes, but that doesn't mean I know everything."
"Bah... That's the most important part."
"What important part… As long as we get a magic education, that's good enough for me."
"Do we have to go to another imperial institute to study magic?"
"I have no idea."
"Does anyone know?"
"I don't think so, buddy."
"Should we ask the imperial knights?"
"That's some balls on you."
"Yes, Go ahead. I support you."
"Yes, I agree... Ask them"
"I said We, not just me."
'Why is this conversation so messy? Cant you guys stick to one topic?' deon annoyedly thought as he returned to his own dish, ignoring the people around him.
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Thought for Thoughts
* Royal Magic Academy
* End of the knighting ceremony
* 13 years olds – please sort your conversations, please
* Will we get to see more about Royal Magic Academy?