Even though the sun was shining brightly in the sky, the world seemed dark for all the captives, who had their dreams brutally shattered. The leader waited for some time to let the truth sink into their fragile minds, and then continued,
" This world is a harsh place. It doesn't allow any unworthy person to survive. Yet, you all have a chance! A chance to change your destiny! Everyone amongst you has a relatively high body talent, that can take you to greatness on the path of Knights! However, a talented person without any nurture is like a beautiful flower without any source of water, with its end being to wither away and return to earth!"
The captives were transfixed as they were finally starting to realise their destiny, their only way out of the hell.
" I think many of you are starting to realise about your future path. We have only ten places of nurture to provide. So, ten out of everyone amongst you all that will be able survive the next test will be incorporated amongst our organisation."
' Finally, I can expect a new beginning now, without any fear of disappearance. Though, I still think that there will be some kind of trick involved. There is no way that they will allow us to enter their organisation without any sort of restrictions.', thought Flavian as he continued to pay attention to the leader's speech, who directed his speech at the absconders.
" However, majority of you tried to run away. Even though you have your reasons, but we don't care! We only allow loyal, restricted or dead people to leave the castle. As a punishment, only half of you will be given the proper nurturing. The remaining resources that are leftover will be provided to Mr. Flavian Reese and Ms. Tasha Preston, who were not a part of your abominable plan.
As for you, Mr. Kapten Marbell, I had always assumed that you were the most worthy person amongst everyone present here. But you betrayed my trust in you! For that, you won't be participating in any test. Guards! Escort Mr. Marbell out of here!"
Two black robed and red masked figures quickly walked over and 'dragged' Kapten away amidst his 'struggle'.
Flavian did not pay attention to them, as he performed a quick calculation, and realised that he and Tasha will have one extra portion of the resources each, as the rest of the twelve captives would fight amongst themselves and decide the six winners.
Though he didn't have any idea what these resources were, they must be something good if the leader placed so much importance on them.
Meanwhile the rest of the captives were looking at him with malicious eyes. Flavian was responsible for their failure, and he was enjoying the benefits while they were punished. It was unfair!
' Truly, the environment produces the folks. This hellhole will only produce cowards and bastards. Why do you resent me? Why not resent the leader? You all are nothing but trash that fear the strong and bully the weak.', thought Flavian angrily, as he ignored the glares directed towards himself.
Of course, he was only thinking so in a fit of rage. The truth was that he pitied them for their predicament, as he vividly remembered his own experiences. If he truly believed them to be trash, then he too would be nothing but trash.
It was just as Flavian believed. A person's disposition is nothing but a product of their environment. His current circumstances denied him the option of stable growth.
Flavian would not have grown mature and sharp enough to possess a modicum of wisdom, and would have died a nameless death without his previous life's memories.
Hence, he was self-aware enough to not let his current successes to swell his ego and impair his judgement.
" The test will be conducted after two months, and your training will recommence regularly starting tomorrow. Mr. Flavian and Ms. Tasha, please follow me."
The leader ended his speech as he started walking towards the keep, while Flavian and Tasha followed after him.
Flavian kept his head down, displaying his great fear of the leader, while he thought, ' A powerful orator, a skilled manipulator, an adept actor and an accomplished deceiver. This leader is a very dangerous person to be around.
He acted in a gracious and elegant manner even towards his captives, which means that he is a very sophisticated person and has a meticulous nature. Damn it, all this thinking has definitely killed many of my brain cells.'
The trio climbed their way to the higher stories of the keep. The trainees resided on the first and second floors, and were not allowed to climb higher. It was the first time for Flavian to climb up to the higher stories, and he was curious about it.
Though Flavian was not some expert historian in his previous life, he had visited many medieval castles, and so he realised that there were various differences between them and the castle he lived in.
The keep was fifteen stories high, and was equipped with the great hall, kitchen, pantry, larder and buttery on the ground floor. The higher floors were used as living quarters for the trainees and the instructors, with each floor having shared bathrooms and toilets. The underground area had dungeons and cellars adjacent to each other.
This was in stark contrast to his previous life, where all the mentioned structures were separate, instead of accomodating everything in a single gigantic structure.
Bailey was used for the sole purpose of training, whereas in his previous life the bailey was used as both a residential area for soldiers and servants, and a training area.
The only other structure that was present within the castle walls was a cylindrical tower adjacent to the keep. The tower was as high as the keep, and was surrounded with a large botanical garden with plants that were unknown to Flavian.
The trio arrived at the eleventh floor. A wooden partition was present near the stairs, with a door large enough for three normal men to simultaneously walk through it. As they entered through the door, Flavian realised that the entire floor was a single gigantic hall.
The hall was arranged like a library, containing a large number of books. A few teenagers were seated on wooden chairs surrounding a large table at the centre of the hall. They were engrossed in reading the books. Flavian and Tasha were seeing them for the first time, and were surprised at their presence. The teenagers noticed them and were surprised as well.
" These two are a year younger than you. They have passed the test just like you, and will join you on your upcoming mission after eight months.", the leader introduced Flavian and Tasha to their seniors. Then, he took them to a desk near the entrance, where a black robed and red masked figure was writing something. He seemed to be the clerk of the library.
" Mr. Ted, please arrange two books of 'Tidal Wave' cultivation method for these two. And give them a basic access card for the library.", said the leader to the clerk.
The clerk stopped his work, as he made way to a shelf, while the leader addressed Flavian and Tasha, " We search for children having Silver level body talent, and select ten out of them to be recruited as spies. You have passed the selection process and will be considered from this point onwards as a recruit.
You will have to undergo a mission after eight months. If you are successful in it, then you will be introduced to the higher ups of our organisation, who will properly incorporate you into the organisation and tell you about your duties. Let me remind you that failure will lead to your demise, whereas success will lead to riches and glory."
As the leader finished his dialogue, the clerk had returned with two thin books which he handed over to Flavian and Tasha.
" Alright, you may leave now. Follow the instructions in the book and you can embark on the path of Knights. Also, you are forbidden to leave the keep until allowed otherwise."
Both of them nodded in acknowledgement, and left through the door, made their way down the stairs.
Flavian curiously glanced at Tasha a couple of times, as if he was looking at an alien. Tasha noticed his curious glance, and snapped, " Why are you acting in such a furtive manner?"
Flavian asked with great curiousity, " Why didn't you argue with the leader? I thought you liked training. Won't you be deprived of your favourite hobby if you are forbidden to leave the keep?".
He was really shocked that Tasha didn't throw a tantrum in the library. He didn't believe that it was due to the fear of leader. This brat didn't fear the heavens and the earth.
Tasha disdainfully smirked, as she said, " You really missed great opportunities during your time in the castle. If you had been favoured by the leader, you wouldn't have been ignorant about many things. You should start acting a bit tough, to get noticed by others. You will find the answer to the question after you start training the cultivation method."
Flavian ignored her disdainful manner and humbly asked, " Is that so? Can you please give me some advice that you may think to be helpful?"
Tasha clearly liked Flavian's humble attitude, as she replied, " The library is a great source of knowledge. You should check out the 'Catalogue' section in the library. But don't act like those fools that were present in the library, everyday reading about the biographies of high ranking knights."
Clearly, she looked down on those fellows at the library. Flavian asked curiously, " Have they participated in any missions?"
" No, first mission given to us is carried out every two years and the contents are always the same. Currently, within the keep, there are only fourteen and fifteen year old recruits. Those old fellows reside in third and fourth floors, and are similarly not allowed to go down the keep. Hence, you have not met them until today.", explained Tasha.
" What happens after we pass the mission?" Flavian asked.
" I don't know." Tasha replied.
Flavian stopped asking more questions and Tasha didn't care to continue talking with Flavian who was considered as a weakling by her.
The two separated shortly, as Flavian resided on the second floor and Tasha on the first. Flavian went towards his room and opened the book containing cultivation method.
As he was about to immerse himself in the book, he heard a familiar prompt in his head.
*Ding* [ The candidate for the throne of Almighty never hesitates in front of danger, yet he never puts himself in a compromising position. The user resisted the enticement of a peak grade Arch rank cultivation method, and didn't try to foolishly breakout. The Initiating Mission is considered a success!]
"...."