Kiszac the Red-Nose Pit-Bull clan head, lead Raiken and the Crying Dart tribe members into the tall building. When they walked in, a crowd of youths that ranged from their mid to late teens were the only ones in the area away from the entrance.

They were in the middle of shouting over each other in a loud discussion when a pretty girl with straight braids hanging off her shoulders cut off what she was saying, letting out a shriek of surprise. Her heart couldn't help but speed up nervously at the appearance of a respected clan head.

Her reaction made the other youths look around at the entry way in surprise, wondering what could startle the girl that much. Their eyes widened in astonishment seeing the short clan head walk in with his arms folded at his back. Sounds of chairs scrapping the floor filled the silence as everyone straightened in their seats.

As their hearts thumped in their chests, no one dared to speak before Kiszac addressed them first.

Kiszac's sharp gaze looked in each of their faces before it stopped on the pretty girl who still stood frozen like a statue.

"Good day to you, young lady. I have an important matter to speak about with your mother, can you let her know that I'm here"?

The girl felt pressured at being directly spoken to by the clan head. Lowering her waist in a respectful bow, she returned, "Good day to you likewise, Red-Nose clan head. I'll go inform her right away".

As she was about to scurry away, a tender voice spoke out, making her halt when she was just spinning around.

"This girl has decent potential, the shadow of her spirit form intrigues me. She should be a cook as well correct"?

Astonishment came on the face of everyone present at the words "potential" and "spirit form" being used together to describe a human. To the knowledge of every conscious creature in the world, humans were trash at refinement. From what this lizard said, Liqi, which was the girl's name, possessed the talent to refine energy.

They wondered how that was true without the effects being shown.

Raiken took in their doubtful expressions, " You all believe that humans have no future as refiners"? A grin spread across his gleaming snout, chuckling to himself at their ignorance.

"Yes, it is an agreed upon fact. The oldest civilization in the world, the gnome society, also has old records to back this up, Esteemed Guest".

Kiszac snapped out of his daze to respond, nodding his head surely.

"Perhaps it would still be a known fact if I never came along. But I can prove it is wrong".

The silver lizard stood on the shoulders of a Crying Dart female, waving it's claw grandly. Such big words from a tiny body like his were even more mystifying.

"You're truly able to see spiritual bodies Esteemed Guest"? Kiszac asked, stunned by such a skill that only the most magical of creatures could possess.

"I can", Raiken confirmed, he opened his mouth. "Take a look at this human I'm training".

A twist of light spun in the middle of his mouth, a blue orb was tossed from inside of it, landing on a clear space on the floor.

The blue orb was smaller than a pebble when it first came out, but the moment it touched the ground, it rapidly enlarged. Because of the high concentration of energy, it gave off a pleasant hum. A shadow could be seen floating inside of it.

Raiken used multiple refined astral energy to make the orb, after being in his materialization field for a good length of time, it became even more refined. When the light scattered in winks around the shadow, a young man with hair that rose up in waves on his head became visible.

It only took the Red-Nose clan head a single look to identify him. "The Clover family's warrior? How'd he end up in your company Esteemed Guest"?

Unexpected cases seem to often occur around the lizard.

"I ran into these guys on my way searching for a good place to eat at", the baby demon said, not paying too much mind. To him, picking up a few strays and teaching them refinement methods since he was short of hands wasn't a big deal. He wouldn't care about it unless they bacame grandmasters or higher.

"Here are the rest of them", he raised his arm, showing the bracelet of red orbs around his wrist.

Looking back at the grinning silver lizard, Kiszac's mouth and eyes twitched. It seemed that he was out of his depth dealing with this little terror. Nothing it did appeared to be ordinary.

"What's the purpose of the orbs they're inside of", he couldn't resist his curiosity.

Raiken wasn't bothered by the clan head's questioning, he only smiled at casually being able to capture his interest.

"Those are merely light body condensers, designed for the physical body to harness the properties of energy bodies. Training in one will boost the effectiveness of your refinement practice. It could really cause your competitors to commit suicide out of helplessness".

A look of yearning couldn't be concealed from the Red-Nose clan head's eyes. He said to himself, "Leaving your competitors in the dust"........? "I can be a master as well"....?

While he was lost in thought, Raven, who was previously inside a light body condensation orb, opened his eyes. The youths in their long white shirts and black pants, all wearing head coverings, had their attention fully focused on him.

This was their first time being around the young hero except in passing. His flapping green cloak and white shirt waved behind him as he went about on official business. He was the only youngster to pass Hawk-Bow's archery class.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Raven was among the ranks of those acknowledged as a true warrior! He wasn't that much older than them, yet he already occupied a position of command!

As he completely returned to consciousness, Raven's black horn boots returned to the ground. A golden seal burned in his right eye, another black one brightened up the left one. From the center of his mind, a clear measure of the surroundings spread across his senses. These new sensations had him moving slowly and carefully, closing up previous openings he didn't know existed.

His heart couldn't help being rocked again as he recalled the scripture that instructed him on how to refine astral glands. Using the breath to draw energy into the dormant materialization field was the first step in a human's entry into the world of refiners!

Getting the energy to maintain a stable form could already leave a practitioner in despair, they might cough up blood in a sick depression if you were to further ask them to complete a circulation. Discovering figures that energy could be shaped into which would have an effect on physical matter was a tough task to fulfill.

Patriarch Four-Leaf thought mixing high level herbs to refine the ultimate body transformation pellet could be a way to attain initiation. He had no knowledge of materialization fields, but he knew about energy circulation channels and energy centers. Directly getting the energy to support an effect and perform in higher and broader ranges of activity left the magical herb farmer stuck.

With that being the case, the Clover family was an old faction. They were a group that had researched matters of the supernatural for many hundreds of years. Their name was spoken of in a number of households, even traveling gnome merchants and experts came to have exchanges of information with them.

It wasn't their lack of ability that prevented the generations of Clover family from producing a suitable refinement method. There were just too many areas that had to be studied, certain energies needed to be maneuvered in certain places, smooth lines of connection had to be placed, each strand had to have a firm form and solid expression.

Meeting the requirements to have the energy display the effect you intended had more than a few steps to it. A human's lifespan wasn't enough to pioneer one either without having a successful example to take notes from.

Raven's dream of becoming a refiner was bleak, without a materialization formula, he would need a level 5 Infantile Spiritualization pellet. The ingredients for it can only be gathered by advanced level supernaturals, a human shouldn't even dream of ever seeing one.

He was rescued from the heartache and bitterness of not being able to measure up by a lizard who took him on the most terrifying ride of his life. Although he didn't like the manner it happened in, Raven was nonetheless grateful at escaping the fate of living out his life as a failure.

He moved his eyes and made contact with a pair of crimson ones, which were full of a carefree mirth.

"Great Lizard Lord, I and my future offspring owe you a debt a million generations couldn't repay"!

Raiken smiled back at him with a pleased twinkle in his eyes,"Then make it a trillion and that should square it up. Congratulations on successfully becoming a Novice Spirit, the scripture you're training in is an astral refinement one. Early morning, noon, and midnight are the best times to train it".

Speaking of this particular stray he picked up, Raiken was satisfied with him. In barely a day this guy was able refine a astral gland and connect a few energy channels. Being in his materialization field helped, but it would only allow him to get initiated, going beyond that will require work and effort on his part.

"I'll have pellets ready for when you hit the Scholar stage. No need for you to spend too much time on it. Once you become an Adept, you'll finally be able to run some light errands for me".

Hearing the lizard speak as if the future of him getting stronger was already set in stone, Raven couldn't stop his blood from pumping.

"Now be a good brother and show your fellows what a day under my guidance can bring", Raiken waved his hand in Raven's direction in a signal for a great presentation to begin.

Serving as physical proof that humans can be refiners as well suddenly filled Raven with a sense of responsibility. He recognized the hope and thirst in these teen's eyes. That light never goes away in the eyes some people. In others, the winds of time blew away their desperate hopes with a heave of finality.

Law of Divine Gates Ch. 13 pg. 2

Patriarch Four-Leaf still carried the light, his wife as well. Hawk-Bow, the revered human archer, was another who refused to dwell in the darkness.

Having the figures of these people he looked up to and respected appear so vividly in his mind, Raven felt that it was his duty to show them that their dreams weren't empty.

There was no room for confusion in his gaze, the look he gave the young cooks made them gulp down a breath.

"The way of refinement is now open to us as well. The correct methods to perform might be difficult to apply even when you know them. Breathing, state of consciousness, flow of life signature, you need to be able to effect these first before trying to maneuver objects outside of you".

One couldn't help but praise Raven's impressive understanding. He was able to explain clearly even with his short time learning. He did such a surprisingly good job that there weren't too many areas to correct him. The budding shadow of an expert appeared on him in this moment.

Holding up his two hands solemnly, he said to the young cooks, "I can't even be said to have begun my career as a refiner, but look what I can do".

An uncountable number of characters flowed across his hands. His hands themselves become light when the characters reached his nails. The light burst away from them, leaving a black claw on his left and golden colored one on his right.

Astral energy leaped from his materialization field to circulate in the channels he connected. His mind's capability to process input was enhanced in this state. He looked towards the Red-Nose clan head to see what he could pick up.

The normally short clan head suddenly grew in his startled eyes. He became a titan carrying a sword that always hung over Raven's head no matter how he adjusted his center of defense.

"Hum? Already able to combine the senses in such a short time? It seems all the hype that is placed on you isn't unfounded".

When he detected the sensation of something scanning for his range of awareness, Kiszac was stunned to realize the Clover family warrior was capable of reaching out with his senses.

Growing curious, he decided to do a test to get a measure of the boy's newfound abilities. Judging by his wide eyes and the sweat breaking out on his face, the kid was able to tell how much of a threat the clan head was to his life without leaving behind any doubts.

Getting such a big scare made Raven lose control of his breathing. He was ejected from the wondrous state he was just in. The blood in his body flowed chaotically as he stared wide-eyed at the clan head. Something inside of him warned that this senior of the village who looked at everything so calmly could kill him without even having to circulate his energy.

There wasn't enough daring in Raven's heart to test the accuracy of it.

"Better watch out clan head, this trainee of mine could surpass you in no time if you slack off on your training", with a teasing chuckle, Raiken's voice pulled Raven from under the heavy spell his body went in when Kiszac's intent brushed across his senses.

"Is that so? Then I'll need your help, since you're the one who created the predicament".

The clan head returned half lightly, and half seriously. A chance to improve, living out a scenario where you could stand with your head held high amongst peerless experts was a goal of every true warrior. Those who walked the path of the sword like him had an even more prideful image to live up to.

A look of reluctance crossed Raiken's eyes, "The path of a warrior huh? A swordsmen at that. Although I have no interest in warrior specializations, I happen to know the greatest swordmen there is. One of these days I might remember some of the things he showed me".

Now that he was totally convinced by Raiken's methods, Kiszac anticipated any hints from him that could be applied to further advance his own training. The lizard could even guide humans onto the path of refinement, only a fool would continue doubting his magnificence at this point.

Bringing his attention back on the girl, Raiken looked at her like a fishermen who knows that have irresistible bait.

"How is it girl? You saw what I could do, do you want to serve as my personal chef"?

Everyone in the rooms eyes were suddenly concentrated on Liqi. The young maiden couldn't remember ever being this anxious, even when she had to take the orders of those scary monsters that came to eat at her family's dining hall.

Rubbing her sweaty hands together nervously, she stuttered while speaking with her head down. " But I hate cooking, I want to be a magic user".

Hunching her shoulders reflexively, she waited to be scolded.

"You hate cooking? Even if there's a way to do both without them interfering with each other"?

She was asked this instead, startling her to where she looked wide-eyed back at the beautiful lizard. "There's an option even for me"?

"Yes, there are techniques where you could use your magical energy to heighten the quality of the ingredients you'll cook with".

Liqi's eyes opened wider with her hand covering her mouth at the reveal.

"Can you teach me like you did with Brother Raven"?

"I can, but you'll have to become my personal chef and cook for me everyday".

"Alright, and you can't go back on our deal", the young maiden was delighted to have someone to teach her magic like she always dreamed about. She might still have to cut bloody meat, which she detested doing, but at least there will be magic lessons included!

The young cooks wanted to plead with the lizard for lessons as well, but they didn't have the heart when they realized it didn't show any interest in them. They were left mercilessly to the side with their hearts drowning in eagerness.

Raiken looked towards the clan head, "Have someone separate a generous portion of the meat I brought with me, it was already further refined by me. It could go straight to the fire to be cooked".

"Oh! I'll let mother know to clear a space while they're at it. You guys come with me", Liqi said in a tone that was used to bossing people around.

Her and the young cooks jogging behind her headed for the stairs.

"While we're waiting, clan head, with your status, I assume you'll have a good map lying somewhere. Can you have it brought here for me to have a look at it"?

Said Raiken with a glint deep in his eyes.