Way of the Knights

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"E-Elizabeth…"

The King stuttered on his bed, slowly getting up to see if he's truly seeing things properly.

The statue of the Queen was alive. Raven successfully made an anchor for the Queen's soul to prevent it from dissipating. 

Elizabeth glanced at her own hands. Feeling a bit strange since she knows that this is not her real body, yet strangely it feels just like it. She knows that she is a statue. She could breath but she doesn't have a respiratory system, in fact she has no organs at all. This body that she's possessing right now is completely made out of stones and some other things, but for some reason she felt alive. 

She's back home.

Her husband is lying on the same bed that they slept on before this whole mess started, even the chambers were the same as the last time she saw it. Her children, Balmung and Luna was in front of her, tears pouring out of their faces as they stared at her with overwhelmed emotions. Her friends, Morel, Leona and Lee were also here, their faces filled with complex emotions upon seeing her.

The Queen didn't even notice that she was sobbing voicelessly already. Well, who knew that statues could cry right?

Sitting on the ground, next to the bed was an exhausted Raven. Smiling at her while giving her an encouraging smile. He was a bit out of breath since he just used a decent portion of his blood essence to give life to this statue. Yet he didn't seem to be upset in any way, shape or form. In fact he was extremely happy and satisfied at the moment. 

"Welcome home, Queen Elizabeth." Raven said towards her, he would've performed a formal salute if it weren't for the fact that he's a bit too exhausted right now.

Elizabeth's emotions seemingly burst like an open dam. She was so overwhelmed that she didn't even know what to do or to say. All she could do, is to smile and say:

"I'm home."

"Elizabeth/Mom!!"

The King, Balmung and Luna rushed towards her and pulled her in a tight hug. All of them were openly crying and overwhelmed with joy upon their reunion. The Golden Knights who watched their reunion also expressed their joy and satisfaction upon seeing this scene. 

While everyone is drowning with emotions, Raven signaled Richard and Jacob to get the Queen's real body and leave them alone to catch up for now. Raven wanted them to settle down and allow the Queen to enjoy the embrace of her family. 

Richard was the one who carried the body while Jacob assisted Raven since he was still a bit weak from the ritual.

***

"I'm sorry, Teacher." Richard said, "This is all that we could do for now. I hate to admit it but I am still lacking so much that we can't cure her body yet."

"Don't mind it too much." Raven replied, feeling much better now since he had a little rest. "Honestly, I am already expecting this much. For now, this shall suffice. Don't worry, I have a plan."

The three of them - well, four counting the Queen's body, were on a separate room. They used one of the private rooms in order to prepare something for the Queen's body.

Curing her completely is an impossible task for now. 

It is like what Richard said earlier. He hadn't reached the appropriate level to cure this kind of condition. In fact, none of these three reached that level yet. In fact, it would be extremely surprising for Raven if one of them reached that level already.

The Alchemic Skill Level that he was referring to is the Grandmaster Alchemist level. 

Since the reform happened, Raven established a new ranking system for Alchemists. They are: Student, Novice, Apprentice, Expert, Elite, Master, Grandmaster and Saint. 

So far, Raven and Richard reached the level of Master Alchemist while Jacob is at the Peak of Elite rank. Master Alchemists could concoct A - ranked pills which rare even at the current state of the Kingdom. Unfortunately, such level is not enough to completely cure the Queen's real body.

Giving the Queen a temporary 'body' is just a temporary cure. Plus, they still have to provide the Soul Anchor with proper maintenance or else it won't be able to hold the Queen's Soul for that long. 

All they could do right now, is to place her in a tub filled with medical fluids that they have just made right now. This medicine is mild since it won't be wise to let her body absorb tons of efficacy. They have to encourage the natural recovery of her body, even so this too, is just a temporary cure.

"The injury she suffers is on her psyche, where her soul resides." Raven stated, "Due to the enemy planting another soul in her body forcefully, her psyche suffered too much. It would've been fine if the soul was weak but they placed a strong one in her, one that could manipulate laws. Poison Laws on top of all that."

"The Poison Laws eroded her body too much." Raven sighed, feeling a headache. "Even her psyche too. Relying on natural recovery is the best way possible yet from my estimations, it would take at least a decade for her to reach a state where we could return her to her body."

"That's not acceptable. Having a soul missing from it's original body for that long would produce an adverse effect. The body might even reject her soul if it was away for that long. But there is a way…although it'll be dangerous."

"I know what you're referring about Teacher, getting the ingredients needed for that will endanger you." Richard said, "Are you certain?"

"Well, who else would do this?" Raven stated. "You can't just expect me to leave her like this. I have to do this. Plus, it shall serve as a good training for me."

"If you say so, Teacher." Richard said, "But please be careful. We can always try again."

"I know, I know." Raven smiled and patted his shoulder, "But I also need you for this operation. From now on you have to work hard and reach that stage. Just to be sure that we could proceed with the concoction in the future."

"Yes, Teacher. I promise to do my best." Richard replied.

***

"Come in."

Raven opened the door and went inside the King's Chambers. He then saw the Royal Family still together, minus the Golden Knights of course. As soon as they saw him, all of them gave him a smile which made Raven think that he was a part of this family.

Luna immediately jumped to his embrace, much to his surprise actually. He was a bit flustered but seeing that her parent's didn't mind the show of affection, he calmed down.

"Thank you." Luna whispered, eyes puffy and a bit teary, "Thank you for making my family complete."

Raven smiled in a satisfied manner and returned the hug, telling her: "Anything for you Princess."

He then shifted his attention to the Queen and asked: "How are you feeling, A-Aunt." 

Elizabeth smiled at him and said: "Much better thanks to you. Although it still feels surreal, I am glad that I'm back. Thank you so much for returning me to them. I don't even know how to repay this favor."

"Don't worry about that, Aunt." Raven immediately said, "It's fine, y-you're family to me so…anything I could do to help." 

"See, I told you!" Balmung interjected, "He's such a good brother-in-law!" 

The Queen laugh and ruffled Balmung's hair, Alexander then said: "Why does it sound like you're already handing your sister over to him, hmm?"

"U-um…well, haha." Balmung could only laugh nervously under the glare of his father. 

"How are you doing Uncle?" Raven asked, taking the chance to learn about his current state.

"Much better." The King smiled in a heartfelt manner, though he's still bedridden no one could even tell that he's still ill. "There's pain here and there but it's nothing too serious. I believe that I'll recover in no time. Thank you child, for everything."

"Don't mention it, Uncle." Raven replied, he then cleared his throat and placed on a serious expression. "I don't want to ruin this atmosphere as much as I could but still, you deserve to know everything."

Raven held Luna's hand and found a seat for the two of them, he heaved a deep breath and started talking: 

"I apologize to all of you but for now, returning Aunt to her original body is impossible." The atmosphere inside the room dampened, still the family remained silent and waited for him to continue.

"Richard and I hadn't reach the level to completely cure the Queen's body. The damage done, not only on her physical body, but also on her psyche is too severe. For now, all that we could do is to place her in a medical bath that promotes natural recovery. Even so, that too is just temporary."

Alexander and Elizabeth nodded to his words, they've thought this much as well.

"After deliberating with Richard, we came up with solution." Raven continued: "Uncle, I have to go the Four Extremes."

Upon saying this, everyone saw just how much the King's expression changed.

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