Way of the Knights

---

Team 45 shivered as they felt the coldness radiating off of Raven's body. 

All of the started sweating coldly as they felt the massive suppression due to Raven carelessness to handle his mood. These students were told just how dangerous it is to fight against beasts, yet they somehow awakened one. Just their luck…

Raven inhaled sharply and the dangerous air coming off of him disappeared, yet his face remained cold. It was evident that he did not like what he heard. He decided to calm himself down, the students were already frightened enough when he told them about the chairs, they even felt a tinge of his rage, that was enough for them.

Raven then used his badge to inquire the background of each student in front of him. There was an uncomfortable silence inside the room as he did this. 

Most members of the Team 45 were still frightened minus the one who took the Assault Role. The 'Leader' of the team rested against the back of the chair with an exhausted expression in his face. 

Inwardly, he cursed his luck and even Raven for that matter. He didn't expect his plan to backfire at all. All he wanted was to switch a team member just so that he could get rid of an annoying fly that constantly stopped his advances towards his servant, that's all. Unfortunately, he severely underestimated the methods of the Academy, more so Raven. 

Aside from the anger that he felt, he was scared more than ever. Though he knew how to hide his horns in front of Raven in order to not make him suspicious, he always insulted Raven in his mind. Saying that he was nothing but a dog of the Royal Family and a bootlicker. He never understood why someone who's just a few years older than him would have this much fame and luck, so much to the point that even his parents personally told him to make a positive impression towards Raven. 

Luckily for him, he will find out why soon.

"Oh, so you came from a Merchant Clan. It seems that me and merchants don't really get along huh?" Raven sneered as he said this. He didn't even hid the insulting tone on his words, making the Leader of Team 45 scowl on his seat.

"Well, I guess it's due time for someone to experience some punishments of the Academy. You should be honored, you will famous. But not for valiance I'm afraid." Raven said as he shook his head.

"You will be removed from the team." Raven said towards the Leader. "On top of that, you will face a two weeks inside one of the Discipline Areas of the Academy: The House of Maddening Illusion."

The Leader's face visibly paled as he heard the punishment he will receive. The House of Maddening Illusion was one of the separate spaces that Formation Core that Raven built. Inside that place, they will be forced to experience powerful illusions that could terrify even the most battle scarred man, none of the students wanted to remain to that place even for an hour. Every student had a brief experience of the each rooms that is tied to the Formation Core thanks to Luna's suggestions, so to hear that he will sent into that place for two weeks, greatly horrified him.

"Your deeds will also be submitted directly to the Academic Council since your actions went beyond the line. Me along with the rest of the Instructors will decide whether you will be directly expelled or not, but whatever the case is, your family will surely hear this. Who knows, maybe the King himself might learn about your conduct as well. He's paying a close attention to mine and Luna's students after all."

"Armond." Raven called out to his assistant. His assistant then entered the room with a calm look and went beside Raven. "Take this student to his 'jail'. Make sure he's nice and comfy." 

"As you wish, Instructor." Armond replied as he removed the squirming 'Leader' from his seat. His teammates watched secretly as they saw the pitiful end of their teammates. 

Raven then faced the Healer who was feeling a little distressed over this events. He smiled for one which caused the atmosphere to feel lighter, he then said: 

"Don't worry, Young Miss. Your parents won't be in danger. I already sent some people to take care of them. For now, the Academy will hire them in order to help them provide for their daily needs. I know that you have a new born brother as well so we won't force your mother to work for us. They will receive ample support from us and will be protected from harm, I can assure you that. All you have to do, is to do your best and become a worthy Knight. Once you achieve that, you won't have to live in fear anymore."

Tears fell from the eyes of the young healer. She then profusely expressed her thanks towards Raven and felt gratitude stemming from her soul. There's no reason for her to doubt Raven's words at all, with his status, why would he lie to a student?

"This is a strange day for you, Team 45. And because your 'Leader' is gone, I'm afraid that you won't be able to function as a six-man cell." Raven announced, the rest of the team was feeling a little worried and down since they couldn't participate with missions anymore, fortunately Raven already had a solution for that.

"Luckily, I have a solution for that." Raven stated which made the eyes of the student's brighten. "I'll send another team leader for you people. Don't worry, this person won't be the same as that guy. Go to Training Field 7 after leaving this office. Your new teammate is already waiting for you there."

"And since were done here, you lot are free to go." Raven waved his hand and deactivated the Interrogation Chairs. The students regained their movement capabilities. They then stood up and expressed the gratitude towards Raven once more for fixing their problems. 

Raven waved them off and sent them away after saying: "Work hard, you guys. Remember that the Academy always have your back."

***

After the drama of Team 45, the next batch of students who wanted to switch members were less dramatic and more rational. Some of the teams managed to give out sufficient reasons for the member switch, while some did it for personal reasons, which were then turned down by Raven himself.

Once all of that was dealt with, Raven thought that he could go back to making some changes to the curriculum but was once again interrupted by an urgent message from his assistant.

"Instructor." Armond's voice echoed in his ears as he viewed the recorded message that his assistant sent him. "I received news from Professor Maddock. He told me that the Center was ready. Shall we arrange for a meeting?"

Raven then activated the voice recording function of his badge and sent a message to Armond. 

"We shall." He started, "Send word to rest of Instructors on my behalf. You along with the rest of the assistants shall gather the teams who performed well on their missions, their current Ranking shouldn't matter too much. Tell them that there will be an urgent event and tell them to be ready. I'll go to the Meeting Hall now."

Once he was done recording his message, he sent it towards his assistant and got an affirmative response from him. 

He stepped out of the office as soon as he sent the message. But before he could do so, he was once again interrupted by something. 

Raven felt a buzz inside his Spiritual Sea. He briefly checked it and saw that it was coming from the Slave Seal that he planted on one of the members of the Black Curtain Guild. He then checked it closely, and saw that there is a message from the slave.

He briefly read the encrypted message which reads: "Master, I have returned to the base. I did what you asked me to and marked the path I took towards here along with the additional requirements for entry. I have also reported to them according to your instructions which enabled me to survive. I thank Master for considering this Slave's life. I am indebted to you eternally."

"For now, my superior here arranged a meeting with the Emissaries. I also wanted you to know that there are 10 Emissaries by now, I don't know how they managed to raise that many but I will assume that their power didn't come from them. They mostly like sold their souls to our Leader in order to gain such power. Even so, I could feel that you, my Master, is stronger than them specially with the support of your comrades."

"I am not able to gather more details as of now since I could tell that someone's observing me. Rest assured that this Slave will continue to provide more details to Master about the matters here in this disgusting place.. That's all for now, take care Master."