Way of the Knights

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Promotion Tests.

It's a procedure one has to go under in order to graduate from the Outer Branch of the Institute. No matter who that person is, or what background they posses, if they want to get out from the Outer Branch towards the Inner Branch, then they must pass these tests.

"Hmm? Run that by me again?"

"Y-yes sir. There was a news from Outer Court that just arrived. It is said that there are six people who were attempting the Promotional Tests."

"Okay? So what's with all the fuss then?" The old man eyed the man in front of him while folding the book on his lap. He thought that it was just a simple Promotional Test, this happened from time to time so there shouldn't be this much of a bustle now is it?

"Y-yes, the report said that the people who requested for the tests are a bunch of thirteen to fourteen year olds."

The old man raised his brow when he heard this, he thought for a bit then a foreboding feeling rose in his chest. "You don't mean…"

"W-well, at first we were shocked too. We thought that the person who sent the message must be jesting but…but…"

"But what!?" The old man exclaimed, making the man squirm in terror, nevertheless he needed to finish the report, or else he will lose job…his life even if he didn't hurry.

"The report said that students by name of Mark, Paul, Raven, Ellen, Anne and Luna are the one's who are participating. This message came personally from Mister Lee."

"WHAT!!" The old man roared as soon as he heard these familiar names.

First of all, the old man who just exclaimed is none other than the current Dean of Heavenly Cloud Institute, Ian Gregory Jr.

Sufficed to say that he was shocked to hear that this rebellious son of his, whom he had didn't even see for the past two years, was suddenly attempting the promotional tests. Not only that, his rumored partners in crime which is Mark and Raven were participating too!

It won't be a lie to say that, if it were only the girls, then he wouldn't be this shocked. He knew their identity, he won't be the dean of this institute if he wasn't even paying attention to who steps in to his area of responsibility.

'Why? Is this another prank of his? But that can't be? That little shit didn't even bother to visit me even once, not to mention make my life harder than it is for years! Is this his comeback? No, I shouldn't think like that, this report was sent by Geezer Lee, he might be all sorts of something but he will never do something without meaning. Then, this means…'

Ian's eyes widened like saucers as he thought of something: "God Damn it you Geezer! Acting all mysterious and shit!" He grunted coldly while putting on his university robes and heading towards the door.

"U-uhm, Headmaster-…"

"Shut it!" Ian roared and pointed at him, "Ask the Vice Dean to deal with all of this shit! I'm going!"

*Boom!*

And with that said, the door slammed in front of poor despairing man. He sighed helplessly and murmured: "How am I going to deal with all of this shit…" and he was none other than the Vice Dean himself.

***

"Grand Elder! Urgent news!"

Bradley nearly choked on his tea when the door behind him suddenly slid open along with a trembling voice of a middle aged man…

"Have mercy on the old man Benny-boy, he nearly died from shock." A delicate voice echoed from the adjacent room. A woman walked over and sat down in front of Bradley while grinning. He could only roll his eyes from the antics of his wife.

"I-I do apologize for my brazen actions Lady Aina! But this is of great matter!"

"What are you on about Benny? Can't you see it's my precious tea time?" Bradley turned around and faced the man named Benny with an annoyed expression.

"It's about Young Miss, Grand Elder!"

"And what about Ellen?"

"We received a message from her instructor named Lee that she is about to take the Promotion Tests!"

Bradley and his wife gasped, but he managed to recover faster since he understood what this implies. He was nonetheless surprised by this news, 'She already reached that point?' He thought.

He heard a frantic noise on his side. It was his wife who's currently rushing towards their closet. It didn't take long before he was already holding up a bunch of neatly folded clothes while staring dumbly at his wife.

"Are you seriously going to stare at me all day?" Aina placed her hands on her waist and asked with an annoyed expression.

"W-what are these for?"

"For you to eat…Duh!?" He flinched as he heard her sarcastic remark. "Look. Just say if you don't want to go alright? I mean I get it…your tea time is more important than your own daughter…I totally get it. It's not like she wants you to come either right? She gets it…but oh…how sad, my daughter is being neglected by her own-…"

"Okay! Okay! Okay! I'm going with you! Happy now?" Bradley exasperatingly exclaimed.

"You sound like I'm forcing you...look I'm not forcing you or something alright-…"

"Argh!" Bradley can't take it anymore and just went to the bedroom to change. He knew that his wife is now giggling in amusement as soon as he left.

***

"Dear!"

Luis exclaimed as soon as he received a letter from his companion hawk. A woman peeked from the kitchen while asking: "Yes Dear!?"

"I just received a letter saying that our boy is taking the Promotional Tests…" he sounded half-skeptical and nasally at the same time. He suddenly heard something shatter from the kitchen which made him flinch. He hurriedly stood up to check on her only to find out that she was somewhat…'malfunctioning'.

"Dear, are you okay?"

"Y-you received what now?" Eva asked, wanting to check if she heard the new correctly.

"A letter saying Champ is taking the Promotional Tests." Luis repeated.

"From a legitimate source?" Eva asked, just wanting to make sure. When she saw Luis nod, she immediately started panicking. "OMG! OMG! OMG! What's should I do? I'm not prepared! I didn't take any good clothes with me."

Luis smiled wryly as he sneakily glanced at her clothing rack nearby.

"Oh my! He must be feeling really nervous right now! What should I do? Say, do you think he ate properly already? Do you think it's too late if I cook something? O-oh darn, I should've shopped for ingredients so that I could cook his favorite meal! What to do!? What to do?"

"Eva…"

"Oh! I should also bring my essential oils! Just to prevent him from barfing in the middle of the tests! Where did I place it again?"

"Eva…!"

"Oh right! He might get injured during one of the tests! I should being my first aid kit with me just in case he-…"

"EVA!"

Luis roared just to wake up his wife in stupor. Eva flinched and noticed that her heart was beating so quickly, she took several deep breaths while paying close attention to her heart rate. She smiled but it contained a profound sense of melancholy and a tinge of sadness…

"He's growing up so quickly."

"I know."

Luis sighed, he too felt this news too shocking. He never doubted his son before but he can't even imagine how he managed to do this. He could only remember his son being too strict on himself that it's physically hurting him, and now this.

"I just wish that he's not in a hurry to become an adult you know." Eva's eyes moistened a bit.

"Our son is a capable child. He knows what to do." Luis hugged his wife and comforted her, "For now, let's go okay? We have to be there in his first step towards the world, whether he fails or not, I'll shoulder the skies for him."

"Mn."

***

Every branch of the Heavenly Cloud Institute has Central Stadium on which most of the important events are being held. This wasn't the first time that there was someone who applied for the graduation but because of the sudden announcement, the instructors and staff were startled and were caught unprepared. There was an immediate bustle that left the students wondering about what's going on.

While the staff were busy, the people who caused this entire thing could be seen relaxing on a random room inside the facility while gobbling up some munchies.

There are no tension in the air, they just highly appreciated this peace since they knew from the bottom of their hearts, that this peace won't last long. So they just leisurely ate and talked about random things while waiting for the time.

After an hour of waiting, a staff knocked and told them to follow him to the central stadium. And ss soon as the crew went out, all of gawked at the sheer sight that they saw.

"Seriously!!?"