Way of the Knights

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'Oy! What do we do? The kid doesn't appear to be lying.'

'Tch. Anyone who could reach this place can lie through their noses. Don't be fooled.'

'But what if he isn't? We can't handle the consequences.'

'Yes, and it's exactly why you're still at the bottom after all this years. You've never been able handle any consequences. You can run away if you want, honestly I don't care. If a kid who's not even a Knight Monarch is enough to frighten you, then you have no place amongst us.'

'That's rich coming from you, asshole.. Want me to remind you who the hell groveled on the ground in front of the last Insider we encountered?' 

'That's called being resourceful, that one is an Empyrean, what do want me to do?'

'No, I don't think that's being resourceful. I think its called being shameless. Bullying the weak while fearing the strong. That's exactly why you're with me, genius.'

'Alright you two, enough. The kid's getting suspicious of us.' 

The group of Outsiders communicated through voice transmission and due to that, it took them sometime before they replied. Raven was obviously aware that they are doing this but he remained calm and composed. 

"Young man..." One of the Outsiders finally replied, "Your words certainly are convincing, don't get me wrong. I was an Insider once, I was never an important figure but I've been alive for a long time so I'm aware of things."

"Trust me, I want to believe you but you're gonna have to show us something more...convincing." The man continued. 

"That's right." Another one stepped-in and interjected. "Pardon us, Young man. But since you're aware that we are Outsiders, you should also be aware of what our situation is."

Raven nodded. Indeed, he knows exactly the situation of the Outsiders, that's the only reason why he's still talking to them in a civilized manner. 

The Outsiders had it rough, exiled from their homes, forbidden from ever returning and perpetually on alert for the dangers lurking around the Outer Worlds...

One would think that these people will stick together and act as an absolute unit but no...far from actually. 

See, there are two ways a person becomes an Outsider; either they willingly did it or they were forced to become one. They may have their own personal reasons but in general these are the two categories they fall under. 

No, the conflict amongst their ranks didn't arise from the way they became Outsiders, it's simply due to personal interest. All though they share a common title - being Outsiders, the words doesn't represent or makes equals. 

This group maybe a bunch of Scavengers. They search for young stars, preferably newborn or one that has a huge potential. They harvest the cores and sell it to the 'Merchants' in exchange for smuggled supplies.

Smuggling isn't really a big issue. It is - on paper, but that never stopped the activity at all. The goods the Outsiders has are useful, Raven encountered them before in his previous life, they do put a steep price tag but it's worth it. Even if it's overpriced, the Insiders just treated that as some sort of charity for the Outsiders. 

Being a Scavenger isn't an easy job. The Outer Worlds are virtually boundless. Finding resources that can be exchanged for supplies will take months, years even. Not the mention the Space Beast and other foreign life forms that will not hesitate to attack them as well as the natural calamities they have to face on top of a ruthless competition, these people really have it rough. 

Raven sighed. He understood their persistence. He didn't really want to fight them at all since he's in a strange land without any back-ups and there's lots of them. He didn't want to have another headache to deal with. 

He closed his eyes and pulled something out of his consciousness. It was the Stone Steele that the Trial Administrator gave him. 

The moment it appeared, the stone steele released a brilliant glow which illuminated the faces of the Outsiders. This caused them to involuntarily stepped back. The brilliance of the Stone Steele was a harsh glare to them, it felt like concentrated heat flares scalding their skin. 

"I'm sorry, Gentlemen. This might be painful for you but since you want proof, here it is. Kindly read what's written in here and you'll know that I'm not lying." Raven said. 

"Ack!! Heavenly Laws!!" One of the Outsiders can't take it and retreated to a safe distance. 

"Gene! This kid's messing with us! What are we waiting for!?" One of them summoned his weapon before someone stopped him. 

"Moron!! The man who's presumed name was Gene, smacked the head of his teammate. "The kid didn't do anything wrong. It was you who insisted for him to produce a more convincing proof and that's what he exactly did! He's an Insider, it's to be expected that he's protected by the Heavenly Laws of the Divine Realm! Now, read the goddamn words and use your fucking brain!!"

The Heavenly Laws of the Divine Realm hates Outsiders. It's mere presence hurts the Outsiders for this very reason. And if any Outsiders can't get a hint and tried to force their way back to the Divine Realm? The Heavenly Laws will turn them to ash before they knew it. 

The Outsiders who could still endure the harsh glare, read the words written on the Stone Steele and saw that Raven was indeed taking care of the star. The mere intensity of the Divine Realm's Heavenly Laws fused with that Stone Steele was a definite proof that he's not purposefully antagonizing them. 

"Alright, alright, we get it. We believe you. Now put that thing away, it hurts!" The aggressive Outsider said, Raven sent the stone steele back to his consciousness and looked at them with an apologetic gaze. 

"Ugh, how unlucky." One of the Outsiders grumbled. "Here I thought we hit the jackpot. Turns out we were a little bit late, and of all people who, it has to be an Insider too. They just can't be contented with what they have, they still want more." 

"They're also our competitors now too? Ugh." Another Outsider grumbled. 

Raven didn't say anything. Nothing he says will make things better anyways, if anything, him speaking might just make it worse. 

The man named Gene spoke to his comrades first, they discussed something briefly and then he turned to Raven. 

"Pardon us, if we were a little bit intense. This might sound like we're making excuses but we're on a tough spot too. Anyways, we won't disturb you any longer. We'll be on our way." 

"I understand. Thank you as well for keeping things civilized. I won't impede on your activities any longer gentlemen. Have a safe trip and good luck. I wish you all the best." 

Raven watched as the group of Outsiders left using their spacecraft. He sent them away with his gaze, only releasing a sigh once they're completely gone. 

He landed on the star and inspected it a bit. Seeing that nothing seems to be out of place, he was relieved. 

"Thankfully, they didn't become too greedy." Raven shook his head. "I didn't want to spill blood as much as possible."

He then looked back at the direction the group disappeared to and narrowed his eyes. He silently raised his brush and began drawing new runes. 

"...I can't expect every single one of them to be as civilized as them though." 

He was hit by a premonition which caused him to make some necessary arrangement...just in case. 

Raven didn't doubt that the those group of Outsiders were decent people. They knew that they won't hold a grudge against him since he brought out proof of his true purpose. That being said...it doesn't mean he trust them the keep quiet about this. 

"...never underestimate a desperate person." Raven muttered to himself as he continued drawing runes in the air. 

Not all Outsiders are decent people. Some of them were no different from locusts. Jumping from star to another, draining all value out of it and not even leaving a single thing that has a worth behind. They can be ruthless too. They won't hesitate to step on people, betray and/or backstab their friends just to increase their own chance of surviving. Some of them do that just to spite them. 

These are the people that Raven really didn't want to see going near this place. 

The group he encountered right now might never return but he can't be sure that they won't tell anyone else about it. In fact, he's already expecting them to make a report about it. 

When that happens, there will be people whose interest will be piqued, and it's almost certain that they will make a trip here. Raven can't expect that every single one of these people are as decent as the previous ones right? 

Therefore, he thought that it'd be best if he made some preparations right now. Sending the news back will take sometime, the arrival of the second group of Outsiders will take even longer. 

To Raven, a few months is enough to make sure that none of those Outsiders will have the chance to lay finger to this star.

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