Chapter 8: Knighthood

Urien softly chuckled and embraced him back. "I assume that sir Bellmark already briefed you about Aeon Academe and the four paths?"

Heaven stood obediently and nodded, "Mn."

"Chairman, she was not paying attention to it." Leo revealed the truth.

Heaven made a face and sticked her tounge out to her new friend.

The chairman was not surprised at all. He even looked like he already expected her easy-going behavior, as if he knew her for a very long time.

The chairman looked at her helplessly. "Heaven, it would greatly benefit you in the future if you would know the history and rules of the Academe. I'll make sure to assign my most trusted people to guide you, but for the meantime, I'll brief you on what to expect and what you must do, myself."

Leo was stupefied. He must be hallucinating. The high and mighty Ice King will personally teach an ace?! That was unheard of. It was definitely a history in the making once news of it came out.

"No need for that, big brother. I already know about it."

Urien's eyes softened upon hearing her calling him big brother. He leaned down and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Did your mysterious friend taught you about it?"

Leo and Heaven's eyes bulged and they gasped loudly in shock. "H-how--"

"I know everything that's happening in Aeon and Militia. But don't worry," he trailed off and placed his index finger in front of his red lips, "It will be a secret between the three of us."

"It must be your gift," Heaven accused loudly like a child.

Urien only gave her a mysterious smile but did nothing to confirm or deny the charge. He ruffled her soft hair affectionately.

"All aces must choose a path so they could focus on the curriculum suited for their development. If you choose the Knighthood Path, I can arrange for you to be on the same class as Leo. But after your 'heroic display' of 'savageness' in the grand hall, you may have a chance of survival in Militia Path. Although, I personally don't recommend it to a cute girl like you. I heard that their trainings are simply beyond abnormal.

"Noble Path is also out of the question as you are just a mere 'commoner' and a 'nobody.' I also remember that you 'don't have any talent' for magic. So, Magus Path is also not for you. Hmm? Whatever happen to you, Heaven?" Urien was surprised to see Heaven playing dead on the floor.

Heaven dropped dead on the floor due to blood loss. And Leo was trying his best to revive her. She just had a taste of his brutally honest side and he delivered it in a most casual way.

"Big brother, you're so cruel." She heaved a breath as if it was her last.

"Eh?" Urien looked confused at her sudden drama, but still continued on the topic, nonetheless. "Mn. I shall finalize your enrollment to Knighthood path, then. I'm sure sir Bellmark would be happy to help you out, given that you two would be in the same class."

"Of course!" Leo clapped in excitement. He was really glad to be with his new friend. "I'm glad that we'll be in the same class from now on, Heaven."

When she saw that Urien walked towards his desk to sign her papers, she finally stood up and stopped him.

"W-wait, big brother!" Heaven called out. "I don't want to be in Knighthood."

Leo's ecstatic aura suddenly gloomed. "Oh, so y-you don't want to be with me?"

"Idiot! It's because I want to be with you that's why I refuse to be on the Knighthood." She reasoned out.

"Huh?" Both of the gentlemen had a confused expression on their faces.

"M-more importantly," Urien started, his voice sounded anxious, "Is there something going on between the two of you?"

"Huh?!"

The two aces looked at the chairman with a dumbfound expression, as if he was speaking a different language. Their innocent reaction made him sigh in relief.

"I want Leo to become my knight!" She loudly announced. Her eyes were clear and confident, totally determined for her plan to materialized.

Leo had completely lost count of how many times he was left speechless and astounded just for one day. When he finally calmed down, this fiesty girl said something that made his throat constricted in pain again. He suddenly felt the urge to cry by her kindness.

Urien, on the other hand, bursted their bubbles with his signature bluntness. "Impossible! Little sister, in case you forgot, let me remind you that you are dirt poor. You don't have any means to get a normal knight, much less a noble knight like sir Bellmark."

Heaven grimaced upon realizing the truth.

Urien continued, "In order for an ace to have a knight, he must spend an insanely amount of money. It was a tradition created by the nobles way back 300 years ago. It's the noble's way to increase their popularity and create a force outside of the military government. That's why majority of the knights are under the care of aces in Noble Path.

"To finalize the bond between the master and the knight, both must undergo the Knighthood Ceremony. During the ceremony, the master will give the knight a 'bounty'. It could be in a form of money, power, fame and the likes. But it should be twice the worth of the knight's entire household. The bounty represent the master's never-ending support to his knight. In return, the knight must swore absolute loyalty and lay down his life to protect his master. A lifetime of servitude.

"It's an easy money and fame for the aces of Knighthood. The aces in Noble Path, on the other hand, take advantage of such event to show off their wealth and vain. The ceremony is very popular and highly anticipated by the people of the empire, hence, it's always broadcasted in Militia's Time, the most popular and influencial media in the empire. The highest spender would be the talk of the country for days."

"What a waste of time and resources," Heaven disdainfully reacted.

"That's true," Urien agreed.

"Then why don't you abolish the damn thing. You are the chairman of this place."

"Your big brother already has countless things to take care of. I don't want to add an upset, arrogant and shallow nobles in my list. Their power is actually pretty intimidating." Urien stated seriously. "Besides, their big donation just to house their ceremony is a welcome event to my academe's treasury." He also admitted shamelessly.

"I-I can lend her money," said the small voice.

It actually came from Leo. He was so touched by her gesture that he wanted to help. But the only way to help that he could think of was to lend her money.

"No!" Urien vehemently objected. "It was unheard of that a knight was the one who lend money to the master. I can also lend her money, but if the public finds out, both master and knight would be subjected to embarrassment and insults. As your big brother, I would not let that happen." Urien seemed to take their new 'sibling relationship' seriously. "Are you aware of sir Bellmark's background?"

"C-chairmain, please no!" Leo tried to stop him.

But he did not listen. "The real reason why no one from the Noble Path wants him to be their knight was because they can't afford his bounty. If any normal noble wants to make him his knight, then his house must be prepared to announce bankruptcy. Afterall, the house of Bellmark belongs to the ten richest families in the empire. The only families that could afford his bounty are those that belongs to the top. But no nobles would admit the truth, hence they resolved to dirty means, and that was to bully him."

Heaven's eyes grew wide in shock. She already guessed that Leo was rich. But she didn't expect that he was THAT rich.

"What?! Then why did you choose the Knighthood? Why don't you go to the Noble Path instead and I'll proceed to the Knighthood?"