Anne advised Flint to do three things.
One, get admitted into the magus guild as a student- and study magic.
Two- find a good holy knight and study under him, to become one himself and-
Three- find a stable source of income.
Namely-
Work.
Basically, she wanted him to secure both the present and the future.
With his level of skill- it wasn't unlikely for him to find jobs as a mercenary- or a hunter or even an adventurer as long as he was in a party.
However-
Flint wanted none of that.
His parents were dead and so was his sister.
The reasons for him to live-
Were gone.
So-
What was the point of sacrificing for the future?
What was the point of working hard for the future?
Why not just give his everything, become the strongest and-
And just-
Just-
Go kill them or die…?
Of course, Flint had no way of knowing whether the overlords really were the ones who destroyed his village or not but-
But even if they weren't- whoever destroyed his village was at least that strong.
Meaning-
He had to prepare accordingly.
And for that he had to get stronger.
But now?
If he stayed with Anne- he could have learned her secrets and even her spells.
If he listened to what she was saying, though slowly, he still would have gotten stronger.
And would have perhaps had a better future.
However-
No matter what, it was true he had to seek an apprenticeship.
And-
'Wait- wasn't there a-'
"Excuse me- but- which way is Lord Archivis' house?"
Knights.
They came in all kinds of flavors.
Knights- as the same suggested, they were a group well versed in swords and spears… and though they were good in both defense and offense. They didn't have much in terms of mana if any. So no, magic blade strikes.
Holy knights- strong in defense, moderate in offense. Their key specialty was their toughness and their holy attributed attacks. They were often touted as the most sought out class but only few could master it.
Rune knights- strong in offense and decent in defense. Unlike the other two knight classes- they could easily imbue their weapons and body with magic, empowering themselves severely. They call it infusion.
And Chaos knights- the strongest of the four in offense- and the deadliest.
Flint- though he was a Rune knight specializing in both defense and offense, right now- he wanted to forsake that and change his focus.
No-
He wasn't aiming to be a holy knight- a paladin, no.
Rather-
He wanted to become a Chaos knight-
A harbinger of destruction.
And for that-
***
Half an hour-
It took half an hour of walking around before he arrived at the gates of a mansion.
A large white mansion surrounded by a wall on all sides.
Locked gates.
"Halt- name and business-"
Two guards-
"Flint Maysheather- I wish to speak with lord Archivis."
"Regarding?"
"Apprenticeship."
The two guards looked at each other- chuckled, and laughed hard.
"Apprenticeship? You, boy?" They truly did laugh hard. "Run back home to mama."
"She's dead-" he said, glaring, and stepping forward.
A snort- and a swing- "Let's see-" Chuckles!
But-
Ducking- Flint dodged, taking out his knife, swiftly closing in, and holding against the man's neck. "I just want to talk to him, not with you. Would you let me pass or not-" He also kept an eye on the other one- who kind of didn't know what to do-
"Enough-" A word from the inside-
Fine clothes- black and blue.
'A butler?'
Tidied hair- a thin build- and a pair of small reading glasses hovering loosely on his nose.
"Sir- Alberto-" the soldier managed.
Flint moved back sheathing his knife. "I just want to speak with lord Archivis."
"And what makes you think he would take you as his apprentice?" Soft- calm.
He didn't have a beard- but he did have a twirly mustache.
'He heard.'
"Nothing. But I heard he's the greatest chaos knight in this region and I have the will to learn. I don't have much to offer but I want to learn."
Apprenticeship-
The act of letting someone else study under you- and charge a hefty sum.
Most didn't like the idea and didn't bother becoming anyone's apprentice. They went to schools instead.
However-
Some did seek apprenticeships- namely from extraordinary people.
But that also meant those extraordinary people were sought out by quite a few people, making the act of becoming an apprentice, way more daunting than just being able to afford the price.
And not just that-
Knights in particular were often picky with who they mentored…
Flint had to beg his previous master nine days in a row before she decided to teach him- and that too only happened because of a housefire incident…
So right now-
His chances were really, really low and he knew that.
Yet-
He stood there-
He just stood there- staring- not a shred of doubt in his eyes.
"You yourself said you don't have much to offer. Why would he teach you?"
"I have no valid answer to that sir, but it'll be his decision, not yours."
Haughty attitude wasn't something he wanted to show- but at the same time- if he acted way too meek, he was just going to be trounced upon. So-
A faint grin. "Let him in." The man turned around, walking- "But do be prepared to be escorted out in case you fail to follow etiquette."
Flint frantically followed the man. "I shall try my best, sir." He didn't know how to speak formally. But his mother did teach him some basics-
And his master taught him how to walk like a noble- a knight.
Right now-
'But they let me in, just like that?' Flint was prepared to be booted off when he came here…
So, he was slightly confused- as to what was going on…