"Establishing a master and disciple relationship is considered a big deal. One can choose to take a disciple and vice versa, but the relationship can only be established if the two parties are willing. Forceful relationships will only lead to betrayal and it is a taboo in this world."
"Once a master has been taken, a disciple is expected to treat their master as one would treat their parents. One would be lucky to have a nice, caring master and it would be unfortunate if one had an unreasonable master with unpredictable mood swings. Are you sure you want this?" asked Old Man Hayato.
"Absolutely," Ibnor said, grinning confidently.
"Let the world be the witness… I, Hayato Wilson is accepting a disciple," said Old Man Hayato.
As he completes the sentence, a circle of light expands, forming a halo around Hayato and Ibnor. The light is bright and clear as it can be seen from miles away. The halo of light split into two directions with one halo going into the ground and the other went to the sky, leaving a trail that formed a semi-transparent pillar.
Somewhere in Pyrion's Main Bazaar, two workers were cleaning the dishes.
"Jamal, can I borrow some money from you?" asked Jamil.
"Wasn't the payday just two days ago? Where did you money go?" asked Jamal
"Well. My basic pay is only 920 credits, after deducting for the Employee Provident Fund and Social Security Organization, it's only around 800 something. After I paid my… Whoa, look! What's that?" Jamil didn't get to finish his sentence when he noticed a pillar of light at the direction of the Sacred Sanctuary.
"Hoh, it's not every day that you get to see an Acceptance Invocation," replied Jamal looking at the sight.
"Acceptance Invocation..? What's that?" ask Jamil
"An Acceptance Invocation is the process of a master and a disciple confirming their willingness to accept each other. From now on, they will be like family, even more than family for some. If one party is not willing to or being forced to, the Acceptance Invocation will fail. If it fails, you won't see the 'light pillar' there," explained Jamal.
"So, this means that they are willing to accept each other?" asked Jamil.
"Yeah, the 'light pillar' that we are seeing now is the world's Mana resonating with both of the parties invoked by their will to accept each other. It also acts like a beacon to the world. The world, which is us, the people around it, is to bear witness of their acceptance. Thus the name, Acceptance Invocation," Jamal continues to explain.
Similar conversations can be found all over Pyrion. Those who saw the light will be amazed, those who don't know will ask and those who know will explain.
Meanwhile in the Sacred Sanctuary…
"Let the world be the witness… I, Ibnor Ezad, am willing to enter the tutelage of Hayato Wilson and be his disciple," said Ibnor, completing the Acceptance Invocation.
What Ibnor doesn't know is that when he was saying his full name, Old Man Hayato was surprised. After the Acceptance Invocation was over, the light disappeared and everything went back to normal. Ibnor stood up only to see Hayato watching him from head to toe.
"What is it?" Ibnor asked.
"I knew something was fishy. This place is not a place anyone could just enter but I really didn't expect you to be his grandchild. Maybe it's my fate to be bound to your family. But, last I heard is that you are a good-for-nothing, unlike your brother," said Old Man Hayato.
"..."
"How old are you?" asked Old Man Hayato.
"I'm 16 years old this year," Ibnor answered.
"16 years old but still at level 39 Battle Expert. What the hell have you been doing? By right, after awakening, during elementary school you should be a Battle Novice and become a Battle Fighter after you graduate."
"Breaking through to level 30 Battle Expert before entering middle school and will graduate, at least as a level 46 Battle Master. Most people will break through to level 50 Battle Grandmaster before entering high school and even if they are stupid, they will at least graduate as a level 60 Battle Sage. So, why are you still at level 39 Battle Expert?" Old Man Hayato starts to criticize Ibnor.
"I..." Ibnor tried to say something but Old Man Hayato cut him off.
"You what? What is your excuse for being such trash? Hmph! In this one year, I'll train you to be at least a Battle Sage. You'll either raise to Battle Sage or die trying. I don't care even if you are a prince," said Old Man Hayato harshly.
"I can't!" Ibnor tried to object but once again was cut off by Old Man Hayato.
"What the fuck do you mean you can't? I am your master now and I say you will," said Old Man Hayato overbearingly.
"I can't be here for a year! I'm taking an entrance test in two months." said Ibnor.
"Entrance test in two months? Are you retarded? You are a level 39 Battle Expert! You think I can miraculously transform you into a Battle Grandmaster in two months? What do you think cultivation is?"
"You can't transform me into a Battle Grandmaster in two months but you can help me to be a Battle Master," said Ibnor.
"What good is a Battle Master? You think that weak ass cultivation will help you to pass the entrance test?" Old Man Hayato objected.
"It won't if I rely solely on one major," said Ibnor.
"Are you saying that...."
"Death March." Ibnor cuts Old Man Hayato off.
"Wha..? How do you know..? No, even so.. It's not enough. it still won't help you much," Old Man Hayato disagrees.
"By itself it won't. Let me use the Dark Silver Attachment too," said Ibnor.
"You even know about Dark Silver Attachment? On top of Death March? That's practically suicide! I didn't accept you to be my disciple only to let you die two months later," Old Man Hayato still disagrees.
"Master, trust me. I can do it!" Ibnor said. "Plus, You'll be smiling to your ears if I make it to that academy."
"What do you mean?" asked Old Man Hayato.
"I'm taking the entrance test to Avalon Academy," said Ibnor, smiling.
"Not too shabby. So?" Old Man Hayato asked, still confused.
"There is a certain old Battle Emperor there," said Ibnor, smirking.
"You don't mean... "
"Yeah, if a certain underdog managed to enter the academy, won't he be a genius? And when that old Battle Emperor finds out who the genius's master is, can you imagine his face?" said Ibnor, raising one of his eyebrows playfully. Old Man Hayato went silent for a while before bursting into laughter. Ibnor lets his new master indulge in his imagination. Finally, Old Man Hayato stops laughing and stares at Ibnor.
"Kid, I wonder how many there are, this secret of yours."
"I will tell you all about it later," Ibnor scratched his head.
"Is it related to why you were crying earlier?" asked Old Man Hayato. Ibnor flinched.
"I will tell you everything. Just... Not now. I promise," he said but thought to himself "Damn... this old man's intuition is as sharp as ever."
"Take this crystal card. It should allow you to enter the sanctuary freely," Old Man Hayato said while tossing Ibnor a crystal card. Ibnor catches the card and stares at him.
"What?" Old Man Hayato asked.
"Tsk... Try to learn how to use SD already. It will make both of our lives easier," Ibnor complained. Old Man Hayato has never been fond of new technology.
"Shut it. I'm a warrior, what do I need SD for?" Old Man Hayato retorted. "Shoo... go back and prepare what you need. I have some preparations to make as well."
Meanwhile, somewhere in Pyrion Great Forest…
A silhouette was running through the forest. After taking multiple turns, the silhouette stops in front of a great tree.
"You have arrived," a hoarse voice can be heard and a person emerged from within the shadows.
"Master Crow," the figure knelt, saluting the person known as Master Crow.
"The Acceptance Invocation. Who is it?" asked Master Crow.
"We still have no clue. However it is confirmed that it happened in a place called Sacred Sanctuary," the silhouette replied. "Also, the second son has been reported to be inside the sanctuary during this time."
"Hmm... even if it's him, it won't make any difference. He is just a level 39 trash. Nothing he can do to affect our plan. Keep monitoring," Master Crow said before disappearing into the shadows again. The figure stays kneeling for a moment before it, too, disappears into the darkness.