Way of the Knights

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"I just don't like that I can't help you…" Luna said while her face is buried in a pillow. 

"Don't think of it that way Princess." Raven coaxed, "You will be helping me out a lot by staying here. Aunt needs you here, and it's the best time for the two of you to catch up with each other. She's been away for far too long, I'm sure you have lots to talk about."

"That doesn't make me feel good at all." She replied, "You're telling me that I should go ahead and catch up with Mom while you're out there risking your life to search for a cure."

She shifted her position and turned her back against him. Saying: "If anything, it should've been us who's supposed to this. Or at least, we should be a part of this, yet we are of no help to you."

Raven can't say anything at all. He could only just smile as he finds this attitude of hers extremely cute.

"Dang it, this your fault." She continued after throwing a pillow at him. "Why did you have to be so formidable? Why does it always have to be you who takes all the responsibilities? You're making us look bad and appear like losers!"

Raven laughed as he stood up and walked towards her bed. He lied down beside her and gently pulled her close, wrapping her in his embrace and closing his eyes to cherish small moments like this. 

"Well, I can't really help it..." Raven said, "I guess it's my fault for being super strong, super smart and super handsome."

*Smack!*

"Ow!" Raven said while laughing, holding the hand she used to smack his chest and wrapping it around him. 

"Well? Why do you worry so much about that anyway? Do you think that I'm going to resent you because of this?"

Luna shook her head.

"Do you think that I'm doing this because I'm expecting something in return?"

She shook her head once more.

"Or are you thinking that I'm after the throne and I'm just doing this for you all to trust me?"

Again, she shook her head.

"Then? Why do you think I'm doing this?" Raven asked, looking down at her and meeting her gaze.

Luna was silent for a bit, she bit her lip and hugged him even tighter. She knows the answer to his question, she just can't say it out loud since it's a bit embarrassing and it will prove that she really can't go with him.

"You get it right?" Raven whispered, Luna nodded and burrowed her face on to his chest. "Then don't think too much. You can't come with me not because you are weak, but because you need to be here. And don't get me wrong, just because you need to remain here it doesn't mean that you will slack off on your training."

"I know that." Luna replied.

"Look at me, Princess." Raven said, Luna raised her head and met his gaze once more. Raven tucked the scattered pieces of hair on her face behind her ears and continued saying: "I don't know how long I'll be away."

"The fastest will be three years, but to be totally honest I don't see that happening since I'll be training on the way there as well. It might take me more than five years according to my estimations. While that is not a long time for us Knights, that is not short either."

"While I'm away, I cannot possibly help you with the skirmishes that will happen between our and the enemy forces. You are the most talented person I've ever met. But I need you to become stronger. You know that you are part Druid right?"

Luna nodded and already have a faint guess on where this is going.

"With the help of Aunt, I think it's possible for you to awaken your bloodline. Train under her and also with your Dad. There will be a huge battle soon and we need to be prepared. I don't want to lose you, you know that right?"

Luna nodded once more and bit her lips. Trying hard not to cry once again.

"Then that's that." Raven said as he closed his eyes and tightened his hug, "A lot happened today so let's rest for now."

The two then enjoyed the warm embrace of each other as they drifted off to sleep. Well, at least Luna did.

***

Raven left as soon as Luna fell asleep. He placed a sleeping powder on his clothes and chest since he knows that Luna will definitely come close to those areas. After saying his farewells to his in-laws, he made his way home and talked to his parents. 

After a difficult conversation, Raven met his father outside to bid his farewells.

"Are you sure you want to do it this way?" Luis asked and he gazed far off to the distant skies. Raven was standing behind him, garbed in a black cloak with his face covered with a white scarf.

"I'm terrible with goodbyes anyway. I already said my piece, I don't think I'll be able to leave if I see her crying face." Raven replied while sighing and smiling wryly.

"You'll be slapped hard when you return though." Luis jeered as he tried making the atmosphere lighter. 

"Well, I guess I better be prepared then." Raven laughed.

Luis turned around and walked towards his son. Placing his hand on shoulders, and saying: "While I originally didn't want to agree with this, I also know that no one can stop you once you've decided. So I might as well let you go."

"You are a man now. I know that you are aware of what you're getting yourself in to but I still want you to be careful." Luis grabbed Raven's face and looked at him intently, "You have to return in one piece. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Dad. I promise, I'll return in one piece."

"Good." Luis nodded, "Otherwise, your Mom is going to kill me. Worse, chop my balls and feed it to the dogs."

The father and son laughed, making this farewell more lighthearted compared to how it should normally go. 

"Leave the issues of the Kingdom to us and go in peace." Luis said, "Once you have everything that you need, return to us and cure your in-laws. Simple as that."

"Fetch the ingredients and return. Simple as that." Raven replied and gave his father a hug before disappearing in a blur. 

After he disappeared, Luis returned to his star-gazing spot and released a long and heavy sigh. He was silent for a bit, trying hard to calm himself down to prevent himself from intercepting his son and calling off his prior decision of letting him go. 

Luis really didn't want Raven to go. 

At the end of the day, who's parents wants to see their child sending themselves into danger? In all honesty, Luis was even more afraid for Raven's well being, it was as if he was the one's who's going out. 

Eva didn't say a word, but it was obvious that she's against this, adamantly so. Still, she too knows that she couldn't do anything to stop Raven at all. In the end, she couldn't bear to watch as her son leaves so she locked herself up in the room of their twins and distracted herself.

Just like Luis said, Raven is a man now. A man has to go out and experience the world beyond. He has to face all the hardships and danger in order to grow and become stronger. 

Now, all they could do is to pray for his safety and believe that he will return. And when he does, who knows just how strong he will turn out to be? 

Before Raven left the walls, he made sure to visit some places before he leaves. 

First and foremost, he has to deliver the compiled curriculum list towards his assistant since he will replace him as the Instructor. Along with this file is his letter, letting him know about his departure and his words of encouragement for him.

Next he went towards the houses of students, he left them a letter which contained his overall outlook towards their growth and the training regimens that he personally created for them, as well as words of encouragement from him.

He visited many people after that. All in all, this is him settling his remaining concerns and passing down his responsibilities to them since he's going to be away for quite some time. 

Then comes with bidding farewells with his team. Well, it's not like he's going to talk to them personally to inform them about his plans to leave but he also knows that leaving like this won't make them happy.

Nevertheless, it's better this way. Lest his heart become swayed and erode his determination to leave as soon as he can. 

But even so, he couldn't help but to visit Luna one more time. 

Just seeing her sleep peacefully greatly swayed his heart. But he has to do this. For the sake of her happiness. 

Parting her with a last kiss, he left her room and disappeared through the shadows of the night.. And with that, starts his long journey towards the places to cure his in-laws.

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