The Big Three

As the sun began to rise, Ray knew he had to rush back to camp before anyone noticed his absence. Moving swiftly through the swamp, he relied on his Dragon Eyes skill to find the best path, identifying solid footholds that allowed him to move faster.

He arrived at camp just in time, slipping into his tent moments before the first light of dawn. He barely had time to close his eyes when—

Bang! Bang!

"Rise and shine, you lazy bumps! Time to get moving!" Lanon's voice rang through the camp.

Ray's eyelids felt like they were made of lead, dark circles forming under his eyes. He had barely gotten any rest after a full night of hunting. Meanwhile, Gary stretched his arms, looking as though he'd had the best sleep of his life. The sight annoyed Ray more than he expected.

"Whoa, what happened to you? Did you see a ghost or something?" Gary asked, noticing Ray's bloodshot eyes.

"I couldn't sleep last night," Ray muttered.

The group packed up their belongings and resumed their journey through the swamp. The narrow dirt and gravel path barely accommodated the carriages, and swamp water loomed on either side. While riding, Ray kept nodding in and out of sleep. The rough terrain made it impossible to rest properly, but for a short stretch, the road smoothed out, and he managed to drift off.

Suddenly, Lanon's voice shattered his brief reprieve. "Prepare for battle! We are under attack!"

The students scrambled out of the carriages and into the swamp, forming a defensive circle with their backs against the vehicles. The murky water reached the tops of their boots, slowing their movements—an advantage for whatever was lurking beneath the surface.

Ray scanned the group. Some students trembled in fear, likely never having fought a magical beast before. Others were eager, ready to prove themselves before the knights and Wilfred. Wilfred himself remained composed, positioning himself toward the center to oversee the battle. Ray, however, felt nothing but exhaustion. After a whole night of hunting, staying awake was a struggle.

Activating Dragon Eyes, Ray quickly assessed their opponents. Basic-tier creatures. Not worth his time. He sheathed his sword and turned toward the carriage.

"What are you doing? We need to stay in formation!" a student shouted.

"They're just basic-tier beasts. You don't need my help." Ray leaned against the carriage, observing the fight—much like Wilfred.

"Leave him be. Someone like that will only earn a red sash," one of the knights scoffed.

"Maybe he's just scared," another added.

Movement rippled through the water, but the creatures remained hidden until one suddenly burst out, flying straight toward Gary's face.

A Sharp Worm.

Around a hundred of them had surrounded the group.

Gary tightened his grip on his sword and swung. In a single strike, the worm was split in two. Another lunged at him, but he stepped back and delivered a horizontal slash, cleaving it apart with precision.

"Did you see that? He took it down in one hit!"

"He barely moved."

"Maybe he'll become a White Sash," one knight mused.

Meanwhile, the other students struggled. Many hesitated, blocking instead of striking, giving the worms a chance to latch onto their weapons with razor-sharp teeth. Some weapons broke, while others were yanked away, leaving their wielders defenseless.

The knights stepped in whenever a student was overwhelmed, ensuring no one was seriously harmed. Wilfred remained watchful, evaluating each student's performance.

Three students in particular caught his attention. The first was Gary, who fought on instinct, targeting the worms' critical points. Despite lacking Ray's Dragon Eyes, his natural talent was undeniable.

The second was Slyvia Heart. Unlike Gary, she fought methodically, observing the worms' movements and patterns. She carefully kited her enemies, striking only when necessary. Though her attacks weren't powerful, her cautious approach left her unscathed.

The third was a muscular student with long red hair—one Ray recognized but hadn't known by name. He fought with brute force, sometimes tearing the worms apart with his bare hands. More impressively, he looked out for those around him, intervening when a fellow student was in danger and even taking hits on their behalf. Yet, his iron-like resilience made it seem as if he barely felt the damage.

Wilfred continued to observe these three closely, occasionally glancing at Ray, who responded with nothing but a yawn. Wilfred simply shook his head in disappointment.

Ray didn't care. He had no interest in impressing anyone. He was at Avrion Academy for himself—to get stronger and uncover the truths of the world. What others thought of him was irrelevant.

After thirty minutes, the worms were defeated. The students returned to the carriages with minor injuries, some casting glares at Ray as they passed.

"Didn't feel like joining in?" Gary asked.

"I was too tired. Besides, you had the knights to protect you if anything went wrong." Ray stretched as he settled onto a wooden bench inside the carriage.

As the journey resumed, the other students couldn't stop talking about "The Big Three"—the nickname they had given Gary, Slyvia, and the red-haired student, Ian. They speculated that the three were destined to become White Sash Squires, marveling at their fighting techniques.

Gary, overhearing the conversation, turned red with embarrassment, while Ray remained puzzled by one question.

"What the hell is a White Sash Squire?"