Way of the Knights

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"If no one has any questions, pick up the weighted armors on that side of the field. Wear them and start running laps around, those who finish ten laps will receive something from me."

After his lengthy monologue, Raven remained standing in front of the students and said nothing more. He had given out instructions so he just silently observed while the students carried out his words.

When took a glance of student profiles earlier, he knew that this class is filled with beginners. Meaning that all of them just took their very first steps on cultivation. Raven didn't have any grand expectations from this class or any classes at all. He just wanted them to learn how to fend for themselves and understand that the road they are taking is not a simple one.

Each students now wore weighted armor and some were already doing laps. The lightest armor here is about 30 kilograms, while the heaviest is at 100. Once he saw them all running, a smile appeared on Raven's face as he made another rule.

"No changing of armors from now on, finish at least ten laps with your current weighted armors. Those who violate this rule would not receive any kind of rewards even after finishing the task."

Raven saw some students paled as they heard his words. His plain voiced once again echoed on the field: "Let's see whether you could truly show off or not. I hope you could entertain me."

As Raven was telling his piece earlier, he saw some students who weren't paying attention to his words and were just carrying their smugness all around. He could already spot who were the arrogant brats and those who were taking his words seriously. 

Some students wanted to show off actually took the heaviest armors on and started doing laps. They must've been thinking that they could just switch to a lighter armor when they feel tired to finish the remaining laps and brag about being able to finish with the heaviest set of armor later. Unfortunately, Raven liked foiling their shitty plans with a smile in his face.

Those who decided to play it safe and took the lightest armors silently congratulated themselves for doing so, while those who didn't and decided to show off, were now suffering under the weights. 

Raven silently watched as the students ran. As time went on, some students managed to finish the task but were now panting and sweating heavily. Most of these students were the one's who had the lightest armors on while the others had the medium weighted armors. As for those who hadn't finished yet, they were the ones who had the heaviest armors. Some of them already admitted defeat after one to three laps, while some persisted. 

What's surprising for today is that someone actually managed to finish ten laps while having the heaviest armor on. Raven had to admit that this was pleasant surprise. 

"Once I call out your names, step on the right side of the field. John Abster…" 

After seeing that every student either finished the task or simply gave up, Raven then started calling out names of the students. There's at least 50 students in this class, after calling about 20 names, he then said:

"Those who are on the right side of the field are the one's who managed to finish my task. You will be receiving two vials of Body Restoration Fluid." After saying this, vials started floating towards those who finished the task. "And since one managed to finish ten laps with the heaviest armor on, he'll be receiving three vials. Good job."

Everyone was surprised. They didn't expect that this simple exercise would merit this kind of reward. Those who persevered and managed to finish the laps, specially the one who had the heaviest armor on, were celebrating in glee. These understood that they have to work hard and fight for resources, they now tasted the fruits of their hard work which made them feel even better. 

As for those who gave up, they felt bitter. They inwardly cursed and scolded themselves or just plainly placed the blame on Raven to make them feel better, unbeknownst to these students, this is just the start of their lectures. If they don't drop their attitudes, they will just fall behind even more. 

"Wait a second, Instructor!" 

Raven turned his head and found the source of the voice. He saw a female student raising her hand with a pondering expression on her face. 

"What is it?" He asked.

"I was wondering why my name wasn't called. I, too finished ten laps." The girl said as she smiled at Raven. 

"Hmm." Raven hummed and asked: "What's your name?"

"Annalise Vernon." The girl replied. 

Raven then checked his list and searched for her name. He didn't see it on the list. "Well, I don't see your name on the list so that means you didn't finish."

"That can't be…" the girl said in a meek voice, "I ask instructor to believe me, I really did finish the task. Maybe Instructor missed it since there's a lot of us here." 

The class became silent as they heard the girl's words. Raven stared at the girl intently, he saw her staring at him. Other's might not see it but for Raven it is clear as day. He sighed and asked her once again:

"Are you really sure that finished the task?" Raven asked one more time, just to be sure.

"Yes, Instructor." The student named Annalise replied with confidence. 

Raven sighed once more and said: "I was willing to let it go, but you just have to pursue it. Okay then, have it your way."

"What Instructor means is-"

But before she could even finish her words, Raven tapped his badge and screen of light appeared in front of the students. The screen was big enough for everyone to see, it then showed an image of the students, placing their weighted armors on, according to Raven's point of view. 

Raven smiled and said: "I'll let you in on a secret. Everything that you do inside the class is being recorded, this is specially helpful for times like this." 

He then looked at Annalise who were paling visibly, Raven sneered and said: "Class, you heard her say that she finished the task right?" He asked the class without breaking eye contact with the girl.

"Yes, Instructor." The class replied right away.

"Good. Do you see Miss Annalise anywhere on the screen?" Raven asked once again.

"Yes, Instructor." The class replied once more.

"Good. I'll let you watch what I saw earlier, do observe Miss Annalise closely and count how many laps she finished. Once we're done, we'll see if she really finished the task or not, am I clear?"

"Yes, Instructor." 

"Very good. Watch and observe." 

Raven then played the recording and the students watch and observed what Annalise was doing. They saw pick up the lightest armor and ran along the group. What she did was clever. She runs with group at the same pace for a good while before feeling exhausted and falling behind, once they manage to catch up with her after a lap, she will once again run at the same pace and feel fatigued once again, this happened multiple times until the majority of the students manage to finish the entire task while she only finished three laps in total.

What's even funnier is that she appeared to be as tired at the students who genuinely finished the task. Some even saw her giggling herself like a crazed lady. She must've thought that she was so smart for thinking such a plan, not knowing that she was being watched like a hawk. 

The recording finished and the light screen disappeared. Annalise froze from where she stood with a pale face, feeling extremely humiliation as of the moment. She then remembered Raven's words earlier:

"I was willing to let it go, but you just have to pursue it. Okay then, have it your way."

He didn't mean that he was relenting and would just hand the resources to her. He meant that he was already aware of what she was doing and was willing to drop the matter but she just had to push it forward.

In short, she brought this upon herself.

"I've got to say…" Raven sneered, which caused Annalise to shiver on the spot. "Your plan was clever, it's even admirable to some extent. Others might fall for that trick but you chose the wrong target Young Lady."

The class was silent, even more so Annalise who couldn't even raise her head and meet Raven's uncaring eyes unlike a few moments ago. 

"Cheating is alright, under the premise that you aren't caught." Raven stated, "I won't punish you heavily for this."

"But!" Raven stressed, "You can't go unpunished. I'll make a report and attach it to you student profile. This will allow everyone in the academy to view it and know what you've done. A letter about your deeds will also be sent to your family to inform them of your attitude."

Annalise visibly shivered and looked incredously at Raven, she wanted to say something but Raven's cold expression already gave her answers.

"This isn't just for you, but for the rest of the students as well." Raven announced, "Be careful and fix your attitudes. Remember what I said before the class. If you accumulate at least five reports under your Student Profiles, you might face expulsion."

"That would be it for today. Class dismissed.." Raven said as he disappeared from where he was.