Way of the Knights

---

Time and Space. 

Two of the most profound existences in all of creations. One contains and one erodes. Mastering these two elements had always been one of the lofty goals of practitioners, some even claimed that these are the key to unlock the secrets of Immortality. 

That being said, Time and Space are two of the most ancient existences in all of the Creations. Those who were gifted, unlocked or gained enlightenment over their profundity, are too few in numbers, much less those people who actually mastered them. 

Tenrou didn't claim to have mastered neither Time nor Space, he said that he was gifted with both talents due to his ancestry - the Innate Spatial Awareness of the Elves, and the gift of Time Manipulation from the Dwarves. This alone was impressive fact, but then again his life became terrible since he was labeled as a forbidden existence. That being said, these talents might also be the reason why he was able to live long enough. 

Unfortunately, even though he had the potential to achieve greatness in his life. The narrow-mindedness of his kin prevented him from doing so, ultimately leading his end. 

Which is the reason why he created this inheritance. He wanted to leave something behind as a proof of his existence. He wanted the world to know that he was here and he made contributions. 

This is why Raven held nothing but respect for this person. 

"The vial has my blood. A blood that might be considered as a forbidden existence but held endless potential. Take my blood and fuse it to yourself, you might experience an incredible pain but if you endured long enough and survive, it will all be worth it." He said with his voice filled with seriousness.

"The book contains my insights. The techniques I developed from my gifts and ways how to learn them. It also contains insights about Time and Space Laws but beware…" Tenrou warned. "The things I understood will be different from what you will understand. It is always better to forge and follow your own path rather than following someone else's."

"If you want my advice, then unless you gain enlightenment from these two laws yourself and have gained a least some mastery over it, then do not read my Law insights. That will be the best."

"This place is also yours." Tenrou said with a trace of melancholy in his voice. "This became my humble abode for at least a thousand years. I've left many resources, manuals, historical texts and training equipment behind. Use them to make yourself stronger."

Tenrou then turned around and looked up, leaving Raven to gaze at his lonesome back. "Although we will never meet each other, it makes me glad to know that my hard work will be of use to you. It is a shame that I never had any descendants to pass these through and could only wait for one fated person to find it. Still, I am extremely satisfied."

Tenrou then started walking away, his silhouette started fading away but before he completely disappeared, his final words rang on Raven's ears. 

"Be strong, my Fated Disciple. Do not seek vengeance for me. Instead, make use of what I left behind to contribute to the greater good of this world. Farewell."

There was silence all around as Raven refused to speak nor move from where he stood. After a brief silence, Raven performed a solemn salute towards the direction where Tenrou vanished. 

"Thank you for this gift, Master Tenrou. May you be freed from all of the suffering on the other side. Farewell."

That's right. Raven had no qualms of calling Tenrou his Master since he truly accepted him as one. Even though he achieved greater things compared to him, even though his reputation far exceeds him, even if he was treated as an outcast, evil and a forbidden existence. And even if he never met him in person. To Raven, none of those matters. Tenrou is his Master and he was his disciple, nothing will change that so long as Raven exists.

This is the reason why Raven came into this place - to meet his Master once more. 

Tenrou never had the chance to witness it, but he had left a profound impression on Raven's life. Their meeting was considered as a fated one since not just anyone could enter this place. The method to reach this place was written in a piece of paper, which could he found inside this place and not on the hut or outside. Raven fulfilling the requirements to reach this place in his previous life was a work of fate. 

When Raven reached this place during his past life, he had no idea that he's going to experience something so incredible as well. All of this was due to fate connecting them together, of course Raven had no intentions of severing that connection - not now, nor in the future. 

After sending off his Master one more time. He stood up and walked towards the altar. He picked up the gifts that Tenrou left behind and started climbing up the spiral staircase. As he walked up, the staircase retracted behind him. Once he reached the top, the ritual circle disappeared from where it was before as well as the skeletal remains of Tenrou. 

A flash of light suddenly struck him but Raven didn't falter. He knew what that flash of light was for. It came from the core controls of this place, this was its way of recognizing him as its new owner. 

Raven performed one final salute before walking towards one of the doors in order to absorb Tenrou's blood. 

Since he was the new owner of this place, the doors automatically opened whenever he goes near them. He went inside a room which is specifically made by Tenrou to be used as a Cultivation Room. 

This room is littered with runic carvings and totems which helped in many ways. Be it making sure that this room remains tough and clean, or making sure that cultivating here would be the optimal choice with twice the effect for half of the effort. 

Raven sat on the middle of the room and as soon as he did so, the runic carvings and totems around automatically activated. At this very instant, Raven his mind becoming clearer and his focus sharp. He could also sense the dense purified energies funneling towards him. He smiled and lifted the vial. 

He transferred its contents to a syringe and injected it to his arm. After doing this, he closed his eyes and waited patiently. This is just the calm before the storm. 

After a few minutes, Raven started feeling hotter and hotter. As time goes on, his temperature kept on rising until there smoke coming off of his body. 

Raven was frowning but he held on since he knew that this is just the beginning, and he was right. 

"Ugh." A muffled ground escaped from his lips. 

Raven could feel his insides warping, the veins on his arms legs and head started to show up. His body was treating Tenrou's blood like an intruder and he was keeping his best to reel in his defenses since he didn't do that, they will swiftly deal with this blood and he didn't want that to happen. 

Tenrou's blood slowly moved inside his body, he could feel their density and the vitality it holds, it almost feel like he injected himself with mercury. 

As the foreign blood got closer to his marrows, his bodily defenses are acting up even more. So much so that it's becoming a real struggle for him to keep them in check. 

But all of this was nothing compared what he experienced when Tenrou's blood penetrated his marrows. 

Raven started bleeding from his orifices. His blood gushed out like a stream of water, it was as if they were running away from the foreign blood that intruded their previous home. Raven nearly fainted from the blood loss but he held on to his consciousness. He couldn't afford to faint since that will minimize the effects of Tenrou's blood, ultimately lowering its potency and therefore, its potential. This happened in his previous life and he didn't want it to happen again. 

Raven could feel his life slipping away from him, yet through his incomparable will, he didn't let go and patiently waited until the process was finished. 

Minutes turned into hours…

Raven's body became more and more shriveled. Venus already reverted onto her original form earlier and started communicating with Raven through their link. Thankfully, Raven was strong enough to ease her up and comfort her, telling her that everything was fine. 

Thankfully, on the fourth hour mark, everything started changing for the better. 

His body started reverting back to normal. The shriveled skin was shed as scabs that turned into ashes as soon as it left his body. Raven started gaining more muscle mass, he became bald for a minute before his hair started growing back. His organs started working again and then his body resumed creating blood. 

The process of Raven's healing went faster and finally he was back to his old self, only…his awareness towards his surroundings experienced a drastic change.