Chapter 19
Imperial Knight Institute Headquarters: Front Courtyard
The Next Day
In the early morning, All the apprentice knights of the 24th imperial knight institute gathered at the institute’s entrance as they prepared to depart. Deon and his friends were talking amongst each other while they waited for instructor cain
“Say hello for me to Father James and the kids,” Deon said
“Yeah, We will. I bet they will be surprised when they hear you succeeded in the awakening ceremony in your first time” Lucien smiling said as he imagined the reaction of Father James to deon’s success
“Thanks,” Deon said as silence ensued among the trio. Now that deon is separating from his friends, he doesn’t know what to say
“What’s with the depressing mood? It’s not like we are dying,” Caleb said, ending the silence. “We will be back next year, so don’t slack off.”
“Heh… I should be saying that to you guys,” Deon smilingly said. “And ill be waiting for you guys, so guys better train hard.”
“Please, I always train hard,” Caleb replied
“Don’t worry, ill make sure Caleb train properly,” Lucien said
“What’s that supposed to mean? I always train harder than you. I should be supervising you to make sure you are not lazing around with your readings,” Caleb remarked
“How is that lazy? I’m training my mind. You should do it sometimes,” Lucien mockingly replied
“You always say that. That’s why you should just become a scholar,” Caleb said, equally mocking Lucien
*Sigh* “This is why you won’t get much in life. Knighthood is more than just physical strength. It’s also about wisdom” Lucien solemnly shook his head, seemingly down-hearted as no one could understand his enlightenment.
“Bah… You should focus on becoming a knight first if you want to spout that nonsense,” Caleb mockingly said
Deon couldn’t help but laugh when he heard the duo banter. “I’ll miss you guys, So make sure to come back next year.”
Before Lucien and Caleb could reply, Instructor cain arrived with his loud voice resounding in the front courtyard, “Are you guys ready?”
“Yes, Sir,” the other apprentice knights replied
“Oh. Deon. You’re here. Did you come here to say goodbye to your friends?” instructor cain said. With how deon performed during the awakening ceremony, instructor cain made more effort to be friendly with deon as deon might become a higher rank official in the future.
“Yes, Instructor,” Deon politely said. He didn’t mind the change of attitude since having a friendly relationship is better than a hostile one.
“All right, Make it brief. We will be going soon,” The instructor said
“Thank you, Instructor,” Deon said
Instructor Cain nodded and went to the grade 10 apprentice knights, giving deon and his friends some space.
“Well, I guess this is it,” Deon said with a bitter smile to his friends
“Mm-hmm. Take care of yourself,” Caleb said
“Good luck with your magical education,” Lucien said
“You guys have a safe trip. I’ll try to write to the orphanage or the institute,” Deon said
“Good, We’ll look forward to that,” Caleb said
“Yeah, Tell us where you are too so that we can write to you too,” Lucien said
“All right,” Deon replied as Lucien and Caleb mounted their horses, ready to depart.
“All right! Let’s move out!” Instructor Cain shouted as he led the apprentice knights out of the institute
Deon waved goodbye to his friends as they exited the institute with his friends also waving goodbye to deon
…
After saying goodbye to his friends, deon went back to his room to go back to sleep. He plans to visit his dreamscape.
The institute has granted the apprentice knight a day off today before they head to the imperial knight headquarters tomorrow.
Deon initially wished his friends would leave in the afternoon so he could hang out with them in the morning and explore the city once more. However, since they didn't, Deon chose to spend the day in his own dreamscape.
Before long, deon “awoke” in his dreamscape and was greeted by the cloud Plainfield
*Snap*
Deon snapped his fingers, and the cloud Plainfield started to change, and before long, deon returned to his Life Flame room that he discovered during the awakening ceremony.
Inside the room, Deon’s Life flame still burns brightly at the center, lighting the room. Deon approached his life flame and sat inside it. He plans to spend his day meditating, hoping to reach 100% control over his life flame.
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Deon is determined to maintain his advantage over the other apprentice knights, regardless of the unknown outcomes that may arise upon reaching 100%. He wants to guarantee his position as the top candidate upon his arrival at the imperial knight headquarters.
Deon has no plan of giving the top rank to the other apprentice knights as he knows that having a top rank would allow him some special privilege or more resources, or at least that’s what deon is hoping for. With the help of his dreamscape, deon could easily enter his meditative state.
.
A few hours later
Deon, who is in his meditative state, feels the whole dreamscape shake which wakes deon. “Someone is waking me?” before snapping his fingers
*Snap*
Deon returned to the waking world, where he saw William shaking his body, trying to wake him up. “What is it?” Deon groggily asked
“Are you all right? You have been sleeping since this morning,” William worriedly asked.
“No… I was just meditating,” Deon replied, but it wasn’t very convincing with how sleepy he looked.
“Are you sure?” William doubtingly asked
“Yeah… What is it? Do you want something?” Deon asked as he yawned, not caring about whether William believed him or not
“Oh. It’s lunchtime, so I thought I would wake you up so you won’t miss it,” William said
“Oh. Is it already?” Deon asked in surprise as he looked at the clock in the room. ‘I meditated for five hours?’ deon thought since he thought he only meditated for an hour or so. “Thank you for waking me up.”
“It’s all right. We have to look out for each other, right?” William said
“Right, Did you eat your lunch already?” Deon asked
“Not yet. I trained the whole morning and was changing clothes when I saw you,” William said
“Oh. Then let’s go eat together then,” Deon said
As deon and William walk together to the cafeteria, deon can’t help but think about his meditation earlier.
‘I wonder how much improvement I did during those five hours. Did I reach 100%? Does the institute have one of those crystal orbs? So that I can check my progress. Hmm.
Let’s think this through, In the awakening ceremony, I meditated for at least nine hours and got 86%, so with another 5 hours of meditation today. I should’ve reached 100%, right?
But then again, According to the books, It stated that meditating during the awakening ceremony can lead to faster progress than normal meditation. However, it didn’t specify how much faster. Hmm. I really need that crystal orbs from the awakening temple.
Maybe, I could visit the awakening temple today? They won’t kick me out, right? Or maybe I could ask some staff here about it or wait until I go to the imperial knight headquarters. Surely they have one, too, right?’
After eating his lunch, deon returned to his room to meditate again, and oddly enough, William followed him and meditated as well, with the duo meditating for the rest of the day.
…
Imperial Knight Institute Headquarters: Training Ground
The Next Day
All the 122 awakened apprentice knights assembled at the training ground, with the head of the institute before them.
“Good Morning, lads. Today you will all be going to the Imperial Knight headquarters: The Adamantium Fortress. The travel will last four days, so I want you lads to prepare properly. If you need anything, ask any staff here; they will do their best to assist you. Remember to assemble again here around 3 pm, and the imperial knights will punish anyone late, so I suggest you all be early, Is that understood?”
“Yes, Sir,” The apprentice knights replied
“Good, You’re all dismissed,” The head of the institute said before walking away.
Deon and the others didn’t expect the morning assembly to be so quick but still did what they were told and started preparing for the trip to the imperial knight headquarters.
Deon and William returned to their room and started packing, and they packed all their stuff in just a few minutes. They didn’t have much stuff in the first place, so packing wasn’t really an issue for them, and during that time, deon and William also got to know more about each other.
By 2:30 pm, the majority of the apprentice knights had already gathered at the training ground and were waiting for the imperial knights.
Before long, the head of the imperial knights and the other imperial knights arrived at the training ground with their full-clad armor as the head of the imperial knight addressed the apprentice knights before him:
“My Fellow Knights,
today is the start of your journey as an imperial knight for our kingdom, and it begins with us going to our headquarters but do not underestimate this beginning, for the road ahead will be treacherous, and we must remain alert at all times. We cannot afford to let our guard down, for the dangers we face are real and formidable. We must prepare ourselves for the worst and hope for the best, but never let our guard down.
Let us not waste any more time and begin our journey.”
The head of the imperial knight led the group out of the training ground and into the front courtyard, where all the horses were stationed and prepared for the journey.
Deon took one of the horses and mounted his belongings to its side before mounting himself, with William picking the horse beside him.
The head of the imperial knight’s horse is at the front of the group and immediately mounts his horse with his belongings already strapped into the horse. He waited for the others to mount before addressing the group once more:
“Are you all ready, My fellow knights?” The head of the imperial shouted when he saw all the horses with riders on them
“Sir, Yes, Sir,” the group shouted.
“Excellent, Let us depart!” The head of the imperial knight shouted as he led the group out of the institute.
Their massive group attracted a lot of attention in the city, which drew many crowds as they marched through the city.
Deon remembered their march to the awakening temple, but this time, their group was smaller, but with the head of the imperial knight leading them, it felt more awe-inspiring as he felt like one of those knights in the stories where they are marching to slay a dragon and with how the crowd looks at them in admiration, it truly felt like that.
The city guards at the city gate saluted to the group as they ventured out of the city, with the head imperial knight saluting back.
The group exited the city’s north gate and kept heading north, opposite to where Whitehill town is located.
“Do you think someone will sing during our journey like last time?” William amusedly asked deon
“Heh. I don’t think anyone will sing because of speech of the head,” Deon replied, also wondering if anyone would try it.
“I guess that’s true,” William said
“I mean, you can try if you want,” Deon amusedly said
“Heh. I would’ve if I could sing,” William confidently said
“Yeah, Right…” Deon doubtingly said
“I guess this will be a long journey,” William said
“Mm-hmm. If one of the imperial knights starts singing, then the others might follow, but I don’t think any apprentice knights would try it out first. But then again, who knows? Maybe there’s someone who really likes singing,” Deon said
“Heh. It would be funny if an apprentice knight starts singing and no one sings with him,” William amusedly said
“Haha… You want to bet that someone would do that?” Deon asked
“Sure, but I want to bet that no one would sing,” William said
“Oh. What do you want to bet?” Deon asked
“I will bet all my coins,” William said
“Really? How much do you have?” Deon asked
“Wait… You’re not allowed to sing if you take the bet… no… actually, I dare you to sing,” William amusedly said
“Haha. It depends. How much do you have?” Deon asked
“I got 11 bronze,” William said
“You want me to sing just for 11 bronze? You must be joking,” Deon said
“Oh. How much do you want?” William asked
“1 gold will do,” Deon said
“1 gold? Are you kidding me? I would even dance with that kind of money,” William remarked.
“Haha…”
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Thought for thoughts
* Finally, the Knighthood arc is here
* Deon and william’s friendship is blossoming nicely