Corvin let out a cold breath as he stared at the far horizon.
"It seems the Ashmaw Horde is coming back."
He looked at his son.
"Leo, remember this. The Ashmaw Horde is strong, but we will never bow to them. We are knights. Until our last drop of blood is spilled, we protect our homeland."
"Yes!"
Leo nodded.
To him, his father was more than a master. He was his hero. His idol.
Without seeing it with his own eyes, Leo could never have imagined how terrifying a Divine Throne could be.
That vast ocean of Spiritual Energy had shaken the sky and the earth.
That shining Verdict had been carved into Leo’s heart forever.
---
"Father, do we have to leave this place?"
Corvin turned his head toward him.
"Yes. But you aren’t coming with us."
"What?"
Leo froze. He stared at his father, completely lost.
Corvin spoke gently.
"A chick that never leaves its parents’ shadow can never touch the height of the sky."
"I had planned to teach you for three years. But it seems we’ll have to part sooner than that."
"I’ll take your mother and go back to the Temple Alliance. I have some work to settle. And a promise to keep."
"The Temple Alliance isn’t the right place for you. If you come with us, I’m afraid you’ll never become a Divine Knight like me."
"You have to walk your own path. One step at a time. Everything must be earned with your own effort. Only then will you truly have your own honor as a knight."
---
"Father, I don’t want to be apart from you and Mama!"
Leo suddenly grabbed his father around the waist. Deep sadness filled his eyes.
Elena looked at Corvin, silently begging him.
Corvin stroked Leo’s head.
"Silly boy. If you stay with us from start to finish, your heart will always rest on our support and our worry."
"And even if you came to the Temple Alliance with us, I wouldn’t always be able to stay with you. I have too many duties."
"So I have to leave you here for a few years. I’ve already decided. You stay here."
Leo was still in shock. He tried to hold back the tears running from his eyes.
Elena had already gone back into the wooden cabin. She was crying there, unable to stop.
---
Corvin pulled Leo in front of him and spoke softly.
"Leo, before I go, I have one last thing to teach you."
Leo asked, dazed.
"What?"
"The Spiritual Stove."
"Spiritual Stove?"
His body trembled at those two words.
In the past two and a half years, he had heard his father say "Spiritual Stove" countless times.
But back then, Corvin had never taught him how to use one.
Corvin nodded.
"Spiritual Stoves are, in truth, furnaces that smelt Spiritual Energy. Learning to use one isn’t about a skill. They are among the most precious magical treasures in nature."
"A knight’s abilities can be chosen in many ways. Except for a few that rely on natural talent, most come from practice."
"But Spiritual Stoves are different. Most stoves let you use abilities that practice can never give you."
"And every Spiritual Stove is different. Each has its own special traits. Even if different people train with the same stove, their results will differ."
---
"There are many kinds of Spiritual Stoves. So far, seventy-four types have been recorded."
"Each one suits only certain paths. For the knight path, there are twenty-three."
"Some stoves help knights more. But warriors can use them too."
Leo was being drawn deeper into his father’s words.
"Father, where can I get a Spiritual Stove?"
"Usually, only in places where a huge amount of Spiritual Energy gathers. Or in ancient ruins."
"In any path, on average, only one person in a thousand has a Spiritual Stove. It’s the same among knights."
"Even so, people of every path want one. The reason is simple. Just by having one Spiritual Stove, a person becomes far more dangerous than others of the same stage."
---
As he spoke, Corvin slipped off the black ring from Leo’s index finger.
It had blended into his finger as if it had been made for him. It had shrunk to fit perfectly.
"This is a six-layer seal."
"I sealed every powerful Retribution Knight skill, from the fourth rank to the ninth, inside your ring."
"Whenever your Spiritual Energy reaches a high enough rank, you’ll be able to break one part of the seal. And learn these skills one by one."
Then he took out a book and handed it to Leo.
"Everything you need to know about Spiritual Stoves is written in detail in this book."
"I don’t have time to show you myself. So you’ll have to learn it on your own. Understood?"
"Father..."
That was all Leo could say. His eyes turned red, out of control.
"And don’t forget the favor of the one who gave you that ring."
Leo nodded slowly.
After his Spiritual Energy awakened, Corvin had told him how grateful he should be to the mute girl who gave him that ring.
---
When Spiritual Energy flowed into the ring, the thin golden pattern on it seemed almost alive.
A thin blue light rose from it and began to glow brighter.
Leo held the book of Spiritual Stove secrets.
The ring he had received was a very precious Spatial Ring. It could hold up to ten cubic meters of belongings.
It carried only one defensive ability. When Spiritual Energy flowed in, it formed a thin blue shield.
As long as Spiritual Energy kept flowing into the ring, the shield would stay. And its strength would grow with Leo’s Spiritual Energy.
Corvin had said it was a rare kind of magic.
As Leo put the book away, Corvin gave a soft sigh.
"Leo, I have many excellent weapons and tools. But I don’t plan to give any of them to you."
"Because weapons and tools are only truly valuable when you earn them through your own effort. Only then will you truly respect them."
"Father, I don’t want to be apart from you."
Leo’s tears finally stopped.
---
Corvin hugged his son and let out a breath.
"Leo, your emotions are your strength. But they’re also your weakness."
"Remember, in the future, neither your father nor your mother will be at your side. You must learn to stay calm. You can’t open your heart to everyone."
"Don’t cry. This is only a short parting."
"Your father hopes that the next time we meet, you’ll force me to see you in a whole new light."
"Your mother and I are about to leave. I can’t leave you any equipment. But there’s one gift I prepared for you long ago."
With that, Corvin let go of his son’s hand and pressed his right hand to his chest.
He pressed it hard. And a strange white light burst out.
---
The white light was soft.
After that, a special kind of energy rippled outward. Anyone who saw it felt dizzy.
It wasn’t the energy of sacred light. And it wasn’t Corvin’s Spiritual Energy.
Corvin slowly opened his palm in front of Leo’s eyes.
Leo was stunned. A white glow shone from his father’s palm.
And in his palm appeared a tiny cauldron, three feet long.
The white glow was coming from that cauldron.
It bobbed gently up and down, forming an enchanting sight.