Meeting with the General [1]

At the practice venue, when Sir Hones got a break, he approached Raymond, who was sitting from afar. He then gave him the news he had been keeping the whole day.

"Raymond, I have good news. I received a notice from the general that he would visit us here, at the same venue, later."

When Raymond heard it, he instantly jumped in delight with his beaming face and smiling eyes. Sir Hones was also delighted.

"Really? I had been waiting for this. I can't believe that it will actually happen now."

"Hmm? Yes, it is exciting as well. But may I ask, why are you so fixated on bringing yourself under the general?" Sir Hones asked.

"Why would I not? It is a privilege."

"No, what I mean is that you are still unawakened. You could wait until you have your profile opened in the system and notify them of your Talent. With you being a genius, it would surely be an amazing grade Talent."

Raymond knew that Sir Hones would think of it. And others as well, if they don't know his situation. But as Raymond didn't want to deepen their relationship yet, he drew a line between them.

"I think I will still not be able to share it with you. But instead, I have a question. Do you have any connections? Can you help my father join the hunting group again?" Raymond asked.

"Hmm... You are a bit secretive. But anyway, what happened to your father."

Sir Hones looked for a seat while Raymond was sitting on a huge rock and sat on it while Raymond answered his questions.

"It is because my father was restricted from hunting even though he was good at it. I don't know how to help him and he is too disheartened by that notice." Raymond explained, with a saddened tone.

Sir Hones, on the other hand, couldn't help but feel sad about it as well. He thought that he could understand Raymond a little since he is also from a line of family that excels in hunting.

"I don't know if I can help you, but I will try." Sir Hones said.

Raymon suddenly stood up from his seat as his excitement took over him. He then grabbed Sir Hones's hands and thanked him for it.

"I am indebted to you. And I would surely pay it a great time, Sir Hones." Raymond said this with intense sincerity.

Sir Hones only snickered as he tapped Raymond's shoulder.

"Ah... I am not the kind of person who is humble when it comes to debts. You are also not my student, so be sure to pay it back, okay? Don't forget about my legs."

Awkwardly, Raymond smiled and replied, "Of course, I will."

Later on, to kill time, Sir Hones started teaching Raymond about some of the basics that the academy teaches. It was about a few hunting techniques, but Raymond thought of changing the lesson.

"Instead, teach me martial arts," Raymond said that made Sir Hones dumbfounded.

"Martial arts? Why would you ask to learn martial arts? It is not like you could use it while being unawakened."

Raymond scoffed secretly as he heard how absurd Sir Hones had become. Martial arts are useless for the unawakened? It is the most effective way to fight if you are powerless. But of course, this world does depend on their Talents so it is reasonable for Sir Hones to speak in that way.

"Hunting techniques can be learned later since we won't be going into hunting until we reach 18. But martial arts could be used in fights, which I think is useful since we don't know when we will have an argument with someone violently."

"Well, you have a good reason there. I will teach you some. How about we warm up first?"

Then, they started stretching their bones and went jogging for a few minutes. And after that, Raymond and Sir Hones started moving with some basic moves.

"Here, when in front of a potential enemy, always check for the shoulder. Do not let go of your gaze at your enemy and always check out with the shoulder."

"Because every action needs your shoulders to move, and mostly, actions are equal to attacks and defense. Check this out."

While explaining, Sir Hones was also gesturing some of what he wanted to explain. He would point his shoulder to explain how to react to a possible upcoming attack.

"If I kick with my left, you would see that my shoulder is moving as well. Can you see that?"

Raymond nodded as he saw how Sir Hones was smoothly teaching him the basics. He already knew them, but refreshing his mind and teaching his body is also better than just remembering them.

Later on, Sir Hones started teaching Raymond some moves that he probably hadn't used before in an actual fight, but he learned how to keep them in his system.

He taught Raymond for about an entire hour until the both of them got tired of doing some simple exchanges in their training.

"Sir Hones, won't your students look for you?" Raymond asked.

"Nah. I left some assignments for them; at least it would take a week for them to need my full focus. Right now, I should wait until the general finally meet you."

Raymond smiled at what Sir Hones said.

"You do really like working with me, huh? I bet you are thinking of your future son having me as his godfather."

Sir Hones scoffed so much that he almost snorted from suppressing his laughter.

"You wish, kid." Then they laughed softly.

"But I was lucky in meeting you. You are smart and also a genius. I could use you."

"Wow... You are being too honest, Sir Hones, that I might forget about why I approached you." Raymond retorted.

"Hey, kid. You said that you were indebted to me. Maybe you are forgetting that part."

Raymond scratched his nape as he replied, "Sorry for that, Sir Hones."

They chuckled for a moment, but then someone unexpected interrupted their conversation. He was a tall person with a well-built and preserved body, and even with some wrinkles on his face that were present, he still had the vigor of a man.

He had a thin beard and a mustache, and also blonde hair. He was entirely looking at him, raising his head, and as he was familiar with the man's face, he suddenly moved backward and bowed to him.

"I greet General McWorthy. Thank you for visiting me, sir, even though I am the one who needed your audience."

Sir Hones was paused by Raymond's sudden greeting, and as he looked at the man who had arrived, he was agape.

'This is General McWorthy?! Holy!' Sir Hones shouted inwardly.