Way of the Knights

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"We welcome your glorious return, Your Majesty Vendrick."

"Oh, stop it." Raven shivered as he heard the old man's way of greeting him. "But yeah, now you know why I can't agree to your request. I have to ascend to the Divine Realm old man. I need to prepare for my rematch against that Big Mouthed Imbecile."

"I understand, Your Majesty." The old man replied, "But still, I want to implore your aid. If there's any suitable candidates you have on your mind, please do tell me. I'm afraid that I won't last for long."

The old consciousness really didn't want to bother Raven with his request, but at the same time he was out of options as well. He needs to be replaced or else the Grand Ancestral Plane is done for, and if there's anybody who could help him, it would be Raven. So he figured that he at least have to ask for his help. 

"Relax." Raven replied while smiling, "I already found a solution for your problem."

The old man visibly relaxed as he heard his reply. He found this behavior of his rather funny since he just instinctively felt relief and faith towards Raven just because he said he has a solution. Raven hadn't even said word about it yet but the old man's already convinced that whatever he had in mind, was going to work for sure. 

"You don't really need to be replaced." Raven said, which somehow surprised the old man. "The forces of humanity that is residing in the Divine Realm nowadays, all came from this place. And the first group of people who ascended never forgot about where their roots are."

"They've left some things for you. It's just that you're aware of it yet. Actually, it is a good thing that you're not aware of it, since there is a great chance that once you found out about it, Vit'hum's also going to know due to the bloodline pact."

"We need to get the Pale Bastard away from you first. Wait until I'm finished with my errand, after that we'll deal with him."

The old man could feel the confidence oozing out of Raven's body as he heard him speak. Which in a way, convinced the old man even more. He nodded and said:

"We'll go according to your arrangements, Your Majesty." 

"Also I would like to stop you from calling me 'Your Majesty' but I get the feeling that you won't, even if I told you that, isn't that so?" 

"Exactly." The old man replied. 

His reply made Raven sigh in defeat, he already had the idea that such was the case and he couldn't do anything about it. 

"Where have you taken me anyway?" Raven asked the question that was bothering him for sometime now. 

"We are five miles away from the North, Your Majesty. This is a hut that the Ice Emperor used to live in when he wanted some time by himself."

"Oh, is that so?" Raven said, he then stood up and stretched his body. He then looked at the old man and said: "Anyway, I've got to go now. I need to reach the east before the Sun Temple emerges. Wait for me at the Center of the Plane. Once I'm finished with this errand, we'll deal with your problem."

"Do you need me to assist you in your travels?"

"No need." Raven shook his head and refused. "What I want you to do, is to focus all your energy on preventing Vit'hum from sapping more of your lifespan. Do it how you usually do, but increase the intensity for a bit. Make him think that you are desperate and out of options. That would cause him to focus more of his attention to you."

"But some time and make him think that his victory is almost at reach. When that happens, I will smack him down from his pedestal to really hurt his pathetic pride."

"I understand, Your Majesty." The old man nodded. 

"That's it then." Raven then summoned the Spatial Abode and walked towards it. Before he boarded, he said: "I'll be leaving now. Stick to the plan as best as you could."

"Be safe, Your Majesty. I'll be waiting for your visit." 

Raven waved his hand and boarded the ship. The old man then watched as the spatial abode flew farther and farther until it disappeared from his sight. 

He sighed and looked at the skies. A fond smile appeared on his face as he remembered who he just had the pleasure of speaking with just now. And even though he won't be a part of his adventures in the future, he felt a great excitement from what's about to come. 

"I'm afraid that even the Oracles of the Divine Realm doesn't know about his return at all. I wonder what kind of faces they will make once His Majesty made his formal return in their land?"

The old man believed that no one is prepared for Raven's return at all. Just from what he saw just now, Raven's foundations alone could reduce their so-called geniuses in shame, and that's not even accounting for the rest of what he could do as well. 

"This is just the beginning." The old man whispered, "By the time that he reached a certain stage in his cultivation, he would become unstoppable."

His smile became even wider, he stood up and supported his frail body with his cane. He snapped his fingers and the campfire was extinguished. His body then started disappearing from sight, but before he disappeared, a few words were heard from him. 

"Ah, how I wish I could witness the moment when he returns to his rightful throne. I envy the people who would be able to witness such a glorious moment."

As soon as his words ended, the old man disappeared from the hut, leaving a lingering silence to the place where the Ice Emperor once lived. 

***

Three days after Raven's meeting the with Old Man. 

Final Haven Kingdom. 

"Any developments?" A man clad in majestic golden armor asked a group of people gathered around the desk. 

"None, Prince." One of them replied, "The disturbance that we felt was nowhere to be found, there are no signs of Beast Hordes as well."

Prince Balmung then nodded and sighed, he then said: "You guys think that this is all just a false alarm?"

"It could be." Mark who's nearby replied, "I mean, there's no mistaking that we felt a very strong presence three days ago. We've been monitoring the Skynet Array ever since but we found nothing. The lairs are all relatively peaceful, there are no signs of a horde, no signs of the guild, and no signs of a storm either."

"I agree." Anne added, "The Skynet Array is working just fine as well. It's been three days since that disturbance and nothing happened. I don't think that the being that has that kind of strength would take three full days to arrive here. If it even has plans of attacking at all."

"I think so too." Ellen agreed as well. "If anything, we could just reduce the alert level while continuing to monitor the Skynet. That way, if a new development happens, we will be informed."

"If nothing happens within a week, then it's safe to say that it's a false alarm." Paul added. 

The Prince nodded and carefully considered their opinions, he then looked at Luna as said: "What do you think?"

"I agree to what they say." She said, "If anything, I think we should be calming down the crowd as well. Everybody is on edge right now, it wasn't just us cultivators who felt that disturbance, the common folk also did. I think we should pacify their worries and strengthen their faith that we'll be there to protect them."

"Not bad." The Prince nodded, he then faced the crowd and made a decision. "Alright, we'll do as they say. Reduce the alert level but continue monitoring the Skynet Array closely. Should any kind of developments happen, make sure to report it as soon as you can."

"Golden Knights, you guys march around the civilians and ease their worries. Do everything you can to make them feel protected. We'll continue with this pattern until a week pass, and if there are no major developments, we'll treat this as a false alarm and return to our usual routine."

"Wow, how shameless. You didn't even used your brain there. Some Prince you are." Luna scoffed. 

"That's not shameless, that's being resourceful. I didn't make you guys my Advisors for nothing." Balmung laughed.

"Plus, if things really went south. Brother-in-law will come flying towards here, wouldn't it be nice if that happens? I'm pretty sure you're dying to meet him."

"Shut up!" Luna said while blushing. 

"Don't want to!" The prince laughed, "Actually, I'm not even going to be surprised at all if he was the cause of that disturbance."

The whole became silent as soon as he said that. 

"You know…" Paul.

"Now that you say that…" Ellen.

"Huh…" Mark.

"Well…" Anne.

"Hah…" Luna. 

Even the Prince himself realized what he just said, and couldn't help but wear a wry smile. 

"Uh, guys? You know I'm kidding right? Unless…" 

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